Preserve Those Memories!

My parents: Jerry and Theresa Johnson

In one of my first blog posts, I mentioned inviting my parents to be "guest bloggers." Since then, I've been pestering them to jot down some of their favorite memories. They finally finished their assignment!  

Here they are:

It Could Have Been Ripley's Believe it or Not

Written by Jerry Johnson - 83

"Many years ago I lived on a farm, near Blue Grass,  Minnesota. It was the winter of 1942-43. I was 9 years old. We had an R.E.A. electric high line pole with a transformer in our yard. One cold winters day I saw something by it. There was a little snow on the ground but something looked different from the snow. It was an owl with a rat in its claws. 

                                                     Click to enlarge all pictures.

A young Jerry Johnson. How cool is that?

The owl had caught the rat then flew to the pole to have his lunch. But instead of sitting on the pole, it landed on the R.E.A. power line leading into our yard and was electrocuted. My dad and I took it to the nearby town of Wadena. The local paper took my picture holding the owl and rat. Afterwards, I found out the story made it out to a California paper. Strange things do happen!"

Poor owl, must've been a real shocker! But imagine what a find that would be for a nine year old boy! Dad says growing up on a farm in those days was hard work. Fields were still plowed using horses. He has some interesting stories. I've heard him tell the owl story numerous times and it never gets old.

Railroad Town
Written by Theresa Johnson - 82

"Staples, Minnesota was a railroad town and I was born there. Growing up we would say: 
 

"I'm from the Railroad Town. Toot, Toot. 
We make the wheels go round and round. Toot, Toot"

  

Staples Depot - mid 70's

Several freight trains would pass through Staples daily. There were always hobos riding in the box cars. Some of the hobos would get off the trains and look for food. We lived 5 blocks from the depot. My mother fed any who came to our door. 
She never turned them down. 

Grandpa and Grandma and the very
 steps those Hobos sat on.

The Hobos would pass onto others how generous she was. They would give others our address: 425 - 5th St North. Some days she would have 2 or 3 stop by. They would knock on the door - she would say, "Wait a couple minutes". Then slowly hand him a plate of hot food. They would sit on the steps  and eat it all. Then they would put the plate on the steps and leave."

Grandma Wrede - Isn't she lovely?

Typical Hobo

Grandma never had any problems with the hobos. They were always polite and humble. It was the Great Depression era, nobody had money. They were simply poor, hungry men wanting a hot meal. She fed the hobos for many, many years. Long enough for even my oldest sister to remember them. What a lovely testament to my Grandma and Grandpas compassion and generosity.

Staples, MN - Circa 1910

Railroads and railroad towns were the lifeblood of many rural communities back then. They employed many, including my dad and Grandpa.

Seattle - St. Paul Mpls. Northern Pacific Train - 1950's

Our family frequently took the train back and forth to Staples or Wadena to visit our Grandparents or other relatives. Passing from one car to the next was always a little scary. I remember feeling cold air, the rumble and sway of the train and watching the ground speed by below my feet. "What if they separated I wondered?" I always walked quickly! When I was 6, mom and I even took a train to Seattle, Washington.

 
Folks born around the years of my parents: Dad - 1932, mom - 1933 have seen the world change more then any other generation in history. Think about it...

Transportation: Horses, trolleys, the newly emerging automobile to ALL forms of mass transit and even space travel. 

Communication: Scratchy radios, shared party line phones, five channel TV's, to smart phones, limitless TV access and the instant anything internet. 

Not to mention the advancement of modern medicine.  They've witnessed the Great Depression, WWII, the Atomic Bomb, Korean war, Vietnam war, the Middle East wars and the rise of global terrorism.  


Except for the invention of the wheel and the discovery of fire, they've seen pretty much the invention or evolution of just about everything!!  

 






It's important to preserve their memories!!  

Thanks mom and dad for sharing your stories. Keep 'em coming!

PS: I think the ditty is my favorite, toot toot!  ;)

1972 - Sorry Mr. Westerhaus!

It never fails. Every time I am poking around in my old (and unorganized) photos, I come across "the picture." I'm starting to wonder, is it trying to tell me something? Possibly. I'll admit, every time I see "the picture" I silently hope that someday, I might run into the teacher I had that year, Mr. Westerhaus. 

Yeah, that's me - lower left corner.

If that day should ever come, I would first thank him for being an excellent (and patient) teacher, which he was. I would make some small talk and tell him that I grew up to be a happy and mostly normal person. I would thank him again. Then...I would apologize for all the headaches I'm sure I must've caused him that year.

  
I will relay one such incident, which in the context of today's classroom, is actually pretty mild.  

The Bees Knees.

A Hip mom or what?

Things were changing in 1972. It had only been the year before, thanks to the pushing of the "hipper" parents, (my mom being one of them - yea mom.) that girls were finally allowed to wear pants to school. This small town Catholic school, was no match for the newest, hippest trend of the 70's:  The Pant Suit. The men's version was known as a leisure suit.

Leisure Suit - I so remember Dad wearing these.

The early 70's also marked the beginning of the end for nuns being the primary teachers in the Lab school. One-by-one they were eventually all replaced by lay people. Mr. Westerhaus was one of the first. 

I was ten years old when my 6th grade school year began. Our second story classroom sat on the south-east corner of the school. The only windows in our classroom faced east, towards the church. (Before being retro-fitted to save energy, the windows were the size of the white square.) One cold, especially blue and clear winter morning, before classes started, Mr. Westerhaus instructed us to stand near the windows.  We were told to be silent and  reflective and watch the sun rise over the church. He indicated he was going to start some music, (to further enhance the experience, I'm assuming.)

The Lab School - uppermost left window-my classroom.

Already a smidge irreverent at 11 years old, "reflective, silent and watch the sun come up" seemed tiringly adult-ish, cheesy and boring. The music, Cat Stevens, "Morning has Broken" started, (the first three words of the song being the same.)  I don't know why, but something about that song...I could not keep a straight face. Distracting everyone I rolled my eyes, mock prayed, fake sang along, contorted my face, and laughed. Basically I made fun of (disrespected) him and what he was hoping (I'm guessing) to accomplish: experience the serenity of Gods presence in the wonder and beauty of the rising sun. 

I get it now, but obviously didn't then. What a brat. His "moment" was ruined. I was sent to the principals office (where I had a reserved chair...sigh) and duly reprimanded, which I deserved. (By the way, "Morning has Broken" was a chart topper that year and is actually a really good tune.)  

   

I don't know why I remember that story. I don't even know if it's a good story. But every time I come across that picture, that's what I think of. I also know that if I ever happen to see my teacher, Mr. Westerhaus, (now, 44 years later), I would tell him (awkwardly) I am sorry for ruining his "moment". It's never too late. Hopefully, we would both have a laugh over it. Last I heard, he was alive and still in the area...you just never know.

The St. Joseph Lab School Class of 1973:

What a fine group of 1973 kids...even the mischievous red-head.

Do You Believe?

Ever since I saw a fairy garden on display at a locaI greenhouse a few years ago, I was completely enamored. I've created many over the last couple years in whatever I can find: jars, leaky bird-baths, vases, flower pots, etc.

Fairy house under construction.

I usually tear them down once the seasons change. But wanting something more permanent, last summer I built a gnome house made of twigs and attached it permanently to a tree that sits near the road.  (As shown in slide show).

Think that's crazy? Well I'm not alone. A search of Fairy Gardens on Google or Pinterest will yield oodles of sites, clubs, stores and even contests of  a whole culture of people who have the same fascination.
 
Last fall, when my sister called to say she had some unused, unwanted, dumpster-bound bird houses and wondered if I was interested, sight unseen, I was quick to say "yes". When you're a crafter, you don't say no to much: there is potential in even the humblest forms of crap! 

Crap...

...or Fairy Garden accessory.

Don't throw those bottle tops away!

When I got them, I wasn't surprised to see they were kits: cheap, cookie-cutter style, "Made in China" Christmas-themed, wood birdhouse kits. And I couldn't have been happier! Oh the possibilities!! I knew my first project was definitely NOT going to be a cookie-cutter Christmas bird house. In more ways then just crafting, I've never been one to color between the lines!!

I tossed out the instructions. When it comes to fairies or gnomes...I don't want or need instructions. There truly is no right or wrong. Fairy/gnome worlds evolve, taking on unique personalities and almost magically, come alive before your very eyes. 

Plain Jane

Door and steps needed...

...and of course a deck!

Posts and prep for paint.

Color! (which later changed)

Now that's curb appeal!

What about the door?

Looking Good!

 


















With spring on the horizon, it was with much satisfaction that I put the final touches on my "cookie-cutter" gnome house.  

A little Greenery!

Cookie Cutter - Before

Transformation - After!!!

Eventually it will go outside, near the other gnome house, where I will surround both with flowers, plants, paths, lighting, bridges, fairies and gnomes. I can't wait!!!!

Still think this is crazy? Last year, during the warmer months, I occasionally heard voices outside. It was with a happy, smiling heart that I saw the neighborhood children (and even some adults) hunched over the fairy-scape, pointing, eyes wide, wondering..."how did this get here?" I hope that, if only for a moment, they were able to forget their troubles and believe in those welcoming, cheerful gnomes and fairies and their enchanting tiny world. I know I do!

New Orleans - Beyond Mardi Gras

It is easy to be over-zealous when booking activities while planning a trip. Kevin and I are mostly anti-schedule when it comes to traveling. Except for specific "bucket list" events we are perfectly happy to let the days plan themselves.  

For this trip we reluctantly (but enthusiastically!) booked four walking tours: Garden District/Cemetery, Taste Bud (Courtney booked this one), Ghost and Voodoo.  We made it to three of them, I'd only recommend two, but ONE was my favorite.

Initially, I had misgivings about the Taste Bud Tour. I wasn't sure how my mid-western, "bland" palate would respond, but I'll try anything once. No worries! The food, all of it, was fabulous. Hands down, the Taste Bud Walking Tour was my favorite. We enjoyed all of the tasty New Orleans favorites: Po-Boys --- Beignets --- Jambalaya --- Gumbo --- Muffalettas --- Pralines --- Chickory Coffee --- Grasshoppers (yes, the drink, which by the way was invented in the French Quarter, New Orleans - deliciously refreshing!) 

Grasshopper

Beignets & Chickory Coffee

Jambalaya

Muffalettas

Gumbo

Po-Boy

Pralines

The history and stories behind the foods made them that much better. I love this kind of stuff and could go on and on, but I don't want to "Cliff Clavin" you to death.  (I did however add links that give some background if interested.) The food pictures are stock photos from the internet. Sorry, but I just wanted to eat and enjoy and not worry about taking pictures. The slide show I put together captures random sights of our walking tour and 3 of the 5 food locations. Except for the repeat food pictures, all others I took during our tour.

                                          Don't do New Orleans without signing up for one of the Walking Taste Bud Tours. Strolling through the French Quarter with a proud New Orleanian native, who understandably wants to show off the city and its food, you really can't go wrong!

 

The ghost tour seemed like a good idea when I booked it. Any Google search of "the most haunted places in America" will list New Orleans in the top ten. Many list it at number one. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but since I didn't meet any ghosts I felt disappointed. Really? The tour guide was friendly and knowledgeable - it was not his fault. I have only myself to blame - think expectations next time Diane.

(The Voodoo tour got tacked on last, but was nixed as we were all toured out by Friday.)

Ghost tour - Can you find the real ghost?

                               

 




       







 

                Initially, I was most looking forward to the Garden District/Cemetery Tour. The La Fayette Cemetery No. 1 is nestled in the midst of the Garden District. The tombs were built above ground because most of NO sits below sea level. Many of the tombs are owned by societies or families and for the most part are maintained. Some though have no known owners and the tombs are left to deteriorate, which makes them all the more eerie. The dates on the graves span from the early 1700's to present day. Years ago when someone passed, a strict mourning period of 1 year and 1 day was observed. Once the body was placed in the tomb, it was sealed tight. During the hot summer months the temperature inside the tomb exceeds 300 degrees. After the proper mourning period, the tomb is opened. Due to the intense heat of the previous year, only bones and ashes are left. The remains are pushed to the side or scooped into bags and hung from poles within the tomb. The vaults are home to the remains of generations of families. It truly is a family affair. 

The houses in the Garden District are beautiful...and huge! During our tour I noticed much construction and landscaping activity. There is likely never-ending maintenance required given many of them are over 150 years old. Windows and balconies were clearly essential design elements. Before air-conditioning there were not many options for staying cool. Some of the streets had these odd cement blocks placed near the curb. Turns out they were used by the debutantes to step into carriages to avoid soiling the bottom of their dresses and to not show their ankles (scandalous!). The nearby poles are hitching posts.

The Garden District housed (and still does) some of the cities most wealthy and famous residents. This well kept yellow beauty is home to Archie Manning, former NFL quarterback and father to current NFL quarterbacks, Peyton and Eli Manning.   

This was their childhood home. I was hoping Peyton would be home visiting his parents, and be out and about, but then he goes and wins the Superbowl three days earlier. For years now my eldest son Adam (pictured) has been told he looks like Peyton Manning - so just had to get a picture of him outside his "home".

Speaking of home...eventually it was time to say good-bye to NO. I was ready. It was 7 degrees when our plane landed in Minneapolis Saturday evening. I couldn't of been happier: smooth flight, safe on the ground, a great trip and best yet - sleeping in my own bed. 

Good-Bye New Orleans...til we meet again.