A running of the words, from last week

Editorial note: Bob’s column arrived a week late due to some postal problems. (None of which were the fault of Bob Hanson)

 

Another Running of the Words column:

 

Genie and I had bean soup followed by a chocolate or butterscotch sundae during the Super Bowl game on February 11th. We think the sundae off-set the bean soup toot!!

 

The game was a nail biter!! First you were sad your team lost, then happy 'cause they won. In conclusion win or not you were happy and sad more than once. (Genie was San Francisco, I was K.C.)

 

“2024, the year of two springs” is what the local weather man is calling this year. His reasoning is, “We just got over spring the first part of February followed by winter weather and then spring weather after that.”

 

The first spring was very unusual. I saw pocket gopher mounds of fresh black soil. Night crawlers were common. Many ducks, geese, and tundra swans stayed local. Ponds and lakes froze over only to re-open and then re-freeze. I saw robins and morning doves hanging around til mid-February.

 

Temperatures were record highs the first spring (late January til about February 10) and back to normal winter temperature after that. Central Freeborn Lutheran Church has red-headed wood-peckers nesting every spring in a huge oak tree. I saw the male checking the nesting site on Saturday, February 3rd, 2024. I wonder if he will leave and return after the second spring. We had green grass 'til about Feb. 10th.

 

Golf courses opened up the first part of January with tee times for about three weeks and then back to being closed.

 

It was so warm that Ole took off his long johns. Lena washed the only pair and replaced them on Valentine's Day with a new pair. Thus, Ole will be wearing two pair in the same winter for the first time!!

 

Being as to how Ole is so cheap, the following ad appeared in the Freeborn-Mower Magazine:

 

For sale cheap: Your choice of used once or used one short winter: Men's full length long johns. Call Ole.

 

Junior and senior high school students: “The colleges and vocational schools in the state of Minnesota want you!! The schools are interested in your attending their school – just let them know you're interested. (Even the possibility of free enrollment with a stipend.)

 

I believe in buying USA made/manufactured products. To my surprise, in buying sunflower seeds, I spotted a bag at Albert Lea Seed House labeled “Made in the U.S.A.” In looking at the label it was manufactured in Meriden, Minnesota!!

 

Maple sap is about three weeks early this year.

 

“Growing old doesn't mean fading away,” is one of my favorite expressions.

 

F.R.O.G. of Central Freeborn Lutheran Church plans on taking a bus to Lutheran Night at the Twins on August 13, 2024. Details later.

 

How does it feel to know you're reading a newspaper that received awards at the annual Minnesota Newspaper Awards Banquet?

 

Thanks to the Whirlwind Kids crew for putting a Happy Valentine's in each mailbox at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church.

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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in New York. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.