September 3-2-1

3 things that made me happy in September

1. Olivia got accepted to go to both colleges that she applied to, and is very happy about it. She already received an initial academic scholarship and alum referral scholarship ($29,000 per year total) for her second-choice college. It will be interesting to see what her top choice academic scholarship is, and if it competitive with or matches her second choice's offer. 

  

Olivia received her acceptance packet from Bethel University first.

Olivia received her acceptance packet from the College of St. Benedict second.

2. The major event that I was co-coordinating went exceptionally well. 

The food trucks/trailers were a huge hit!

The weather was pleasant, turnout was very high, and the new activities we added this year were well-received. 

Sophia and some of her suitemates playing Bingo at Taco Daze.

Minnesota Armored Combat.

I was responsible for the vendor area, food trucks/trailers, and the flyover (the latter of which was handled by a pilot who had connections to veterans who fly vintage aircraft...I was the point-person on the event team who worked with the pilot).  

Everyone was using their cell phones to record the Huey helicopter take off.

The Huey helicopter flew right overhead.

Three military aircraft kicked off the Taco Daze parade.

The director of Gammelgarden was happy to 

see Sophia back from college for the weekend.

My sister, Sophia, her two suitemates, and me in a Huey helicopter.

I used a 1960s filter since the Huey flew in 1966-67 in Vietnam.

The dance team from the local high school performed in the parade.

3. Olivia and I have been able to do some activities together during her senior year of high school. Some of the activities are new ones - like going to Chalk Fest - which we both enjoyed. The chalk drawings were much larger than we anticipated. Some were in 2D and others were in 3D which I've never seen done before. 

One of the chalk drawings at Chalk Fest.

This chalk drawing had a 3D effect.

Olivia, Addy, and Jim.

Another chalk drawing that was done in 3D.

There was so much detail in many of the chalk drawings.

Other activities are ones that we used to do together when she was younger - like nature hikes and collecting leaves as part of her nature study. The first photo below is from the day when we were collecting leaves and needles from the trees so she could press them. Our goal is to identify each type of tree on our property. 

Olivia by one of the tall pine trees in the front yard.

Olivia and I went on a night hike so she could get some photos for her photography PSEO course. We didn't go on a long walk...just long enough to get some photos of the sky and landscape during the "blue hour") when the sun has set is far below the horizon and the sky takes on a dark-blue or indigo tone.

Olivia using her flashlight to light the way up the hill 

as we took photos during the Blue Hour.

2 things I'm looking forward to in October

1. I'm looking forward to going to the Twin Cities Harvest Festival and Corn Maze on October 9th. Paige, Olivia, and I went last year, and it was a lot of fun going through the complex corn maze. Each year the corn maze has a different theme and design. On the weekends, there also are food trucks and activities to do. We are picking up Sophia from college so we can do something together as a family. The photos below are from last year.

Olivia and me at the corn maze in 2020.

Paige and Olivia in the corn maze in 2020.

Olivia marking off where we had been in the corn maze.

2. Later in the month, I am going to the Regional Lions Leadership Institute. My Lions Club is paying for all the expenses which will be nice. It's about 3 1/2 hours from home, so I am carpooling with another Lion from my club. During the days and early evenings, there are sessions focused on building one's leadership skills. The evenings and early mornings I have to do whatever I want. I'm looking forward to bringing some things that I've wanted to get done, and doing those when there are no activities. 

1 thing from September that I'd rather forget

1. On September 17th, Bailey and Hoss (our horses we have had for 12 years), were picked up and returned to the Minnesota Hooved Animal Rescue Foundation (MHARF). The miniature horse - Hoss - developed an issue with his hooves, especially his front right one, that impacted the way he was able to move. 

Since February 2021, we had been working with our vet and farrier, and the problem persisted. We tried numerous things and his hooves were not improving. We felt it would be best to have the MHARF look at his hooves and give him different medical care than what we could provide.

Bailey galloping in the field on her last evening at the farm. 

I will miss hearing the clopping of her hooves as they hit the earth.

Because Bailey and Hoss are a bonded pair, we felt it would be in the horses' best interest to go together rather than being separated and alone. 

Bailey and Hoss eating together on Thursday evening.

They have been able to be together during this transition time at a foster home. However, the foster family let me know that the MHARF director wants to separate them so that Bailey can be trained to be a riding horse versus a pasture pet. Hoss would be "marketed" as a 4-H mini horse or pasture pet once his hooves are 100% better and he is healed. 

So, as painful as this decision is, I'm hoping that Bailey develops the confidence to be separated from Hoss and is able to do some fun things that she'll enjoy - like trail rides and being with other horses where she can get along with them and she isn't picked on (like at the first farm she was at and why she was rescued from it). 

Bailey looking at me after looking at the trailer 

pulling up outside the barn.

I will miss seeing both Bailey and Hoss look out of

the barn window and into the backyard.

The trailer with Bailey and Hoss headed out of our driveway

and to their new life.

I know that Hoss is getting the medical care he needs, and - because there are fresh eyes on him (both a new vet and farrier) - he already is walking better thanks to better hoof trims and the treatment of an abscess (which neither our farrier or vet identified). 

Things will work out for the best, I have to believe.  

Change Your World (Book Notes)

 During the past year, I've read a few books by John Maxwell. I like his message and writing style. The most recent book I read is Change Your World - How Anyone, Anywhere Can Make a Difference.

 Below are some points from the books that I found particularly interesting or meaningful:

- Hope has two beautiful daughters; their names are Anger and Courage. Anger at the way things are, and Courage to see that they do not remain as they are. (Augustine of Hippo)

- It's estimated that 40 million people worldwide are victims of modern slavery.

- People change when they hurt enough that they have.

- People change when they see enough that they are inspired to.

- People change when they learn enough that they want to.

- People change when they receive enough that they are able to.

- Dare to Dream, but please also Do. For Dreamers are many, but Doers are few. (Brad Montague)

- Regardless of what people aim to achieve...those who set themselves apart from the rest maintain a sense of urgency in order to be the best they can be. (Rob Llewellyn)

- The most successful entrepreneurs not only have courage and imagination, they also have a sense of urgency....Their feeling of urgency moves them to take action. Right now!

- It doesn't matter how old you are. It doesn't matter what you have or haven't done yet. It's never too late to do something to change your world.

- Third-grade literacy is the number-one determinant of whether kids graduate from high school.

- The most significant and powerful way to bring generational change to this community would be through good education, especially of younger kids with reading.

- The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are usually the ones who do. (Steve Jobs)

- Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world. (Harriet Tubman)

- Many things in life just happen, but positive change isn't one of them. Changing anything in our world requires someone to be the catalyst.

- People with good intentions want to add value to others, but find reasons not to do it. People with good actions want to add value to others and find ways to do it. People with good intentions can be passive, inconsistent, and disappointing. People with good actions are deliberate, consistent, and willful. Good actions represent the dividing line between words and results. 

- "May I stress the need for courageous, intelligent, and dedicated leadership....Leaders of sound integrity. Leaders not in love with publicity, but in love with justice. Leaders not in love with money, but in love with humanity. Leaders who can subject their particular egos to the greatness of the cause." (Martin Luthern King, Jr.)

- "We can't change everything, but we can change something." (Bill Austin, billionaire philanthropist) The questions to ask are: What can I change? What can I do exceptionally well? What's my A-game? What do I do that consistently makes a positive impact? That's what you should be focusing on.

- Your best contribution will be based on your gifts, past successes, passions, and opportunities.

- I can do what you cannot, and you can do what I cannot; together we can do great things. (Mother Teresa)

- No matter how brilliant your mind or strategy, if you're playing a solo game, you'll always lose out to a team. (Reid Hoffman)

- I want to make a difference with people who want to make a difference. If we wanted to make a difference, we had to be fighting for the same cause. That taught me to become more selective about who I teamed up with.

- Let both sides explore what problems united us instead of belaboring the problems which divide us. (John F. Kennedy)

- All players have a place where they add the most value.

- Your present circumstances don't determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start. (Nido Qubein)

- There was a shift from survival thinking to significant thinking during the COVID-19 pandemic:

- Teachers offered their classes online.

- Neighbors shared necessities like food, water, and toilet paper.

- Neighbors put up Christmas lights to boost spirits.

- Your values become your destiny. (Mahatma Gandhi)

- As individuals embrace good values, they realize they have the potential to change their own lives. They begin to realize they have the opportunity to add value to others. 

- Transformation begins in an individual, grows in community, and impacts a society.

- Values not only help people to live better, they also help people to stay true to themselves.

- A meaningful life is not a matter of speed or efficiency. It's much more a matter of what you do and why you do it, than how fast you get it done.

- For partnerships to thrive, trust must be the foundation. Movements move at the speed of trust because they are dependent upon the collaboration process.

- To work together you need three things: Generosity (giving up resources for the whole), Humility (giving up your own importance, position, and power), and Integrity (truthfulness so that others can depend on your character).

- Good values always add value to us. And they make us more valuable to others. You can work with someone whose skills are weak if their values are good. You can train someone who is inexperienced as long as they value growth. You can trust someone who makes mistakes if the person is honest. But when good values are absent in someone, working with them becomes very difficult. 

- We measure what we treasure.

- Leaders understand that activity is not necessarily accomplishment. 

- No matter how you're working to make a difference, measuring results is one of the greatest skills you can develop in becoming a person that can change your world. 

- The 5 Ds:

- Discover - find out what's really going on and who is doing something about it.

- Design - develop a strategy that begins with the end in mind nad builds on your strengths, not your weaknesses.

- Deploy - implement your plan. Start small, fail soon, and adjust often.

- Document - measure to make sure that your intended outcomes are being accomplished.

- Dream - start the cycle over, expanding what works and abandoning what doesn't. 

- You can make a great plan on paper, but it may not work out the way you imagined. How do you guard against that? By building in checkpoints along the way to ensure you're headed in the right direction. And if you discover your plan isn't working out the way you hoped, be prepared to pivot. 

- The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. (Walt Disney)

- Big life change comes through a series of small life changes.

- Find hope in every situation. Bring hope to the people who need it: those who have lost hope, become discouraged, and don't see a positive way forward.

- Stop asking "Can we?" and start asking "How can we?"

- When we hope we have high expectations for the future and a clear-eyed view of the obstacles that we need to overcome in order to get there. 

- A person with high hope has goals, the motivation to pursue them, and the determination to overcome obstacles and find pathways to achieve them.

- Stories are remembered up to 22 times more than facts alone. IF you want people to remember what you communicate in a transformation conversation, include a story.

- Four-step transformation process to change the world: I want to make a difference, with people who make a difference, living values that make a difference, taking action that makes a difference.

Website to Check Out: 

ChangeYourWorld.com

Tao Te Ching (Book Notes)

 One of the books that was recommended for the photography class I took earlier this spring was Tao Te Ching by Stephen Mitchell. This is a new English version of the Tao Te Ching written by Lao-tzu.

There were some parts that resonated with me. I've noted them below:

- In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple. In conflict, be fair and generous. In governing, don't try to control. In work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present. (8) 

- Care about people's approval and you will be their prisoner. Do your work, then step back. The only path to serenity. (9)

- We join spokes together in a wheel, but it is the center hole that makes the wagon move. We shape clay into a pot, but it is the emptiness inside that holds whatever we want. We hammer wood for a house, but it is the inner space that makes it livable. We work with being, but non-being is what we use. (11)

Horse and buggy in southeast Minnesota.

- When the Master governs, the people are hardly aware that he exists. Next best is a leader who is loved. Next, one who is feared. The worst is one who is despised. (17)

- Express yourself completely, then keep quiet. Be like the forces of nature: when it blows, there is only wind; when it rains, there is only rain; when the clouds pass, the sun shines through. (23)

- He who stands on tiptoe doesn't stand firm. He who rushes ahead doesn't go far. He who tries to shine dims his own light. He who defines himself can't know who he really is. He who has power over others can't empower himself. He who clings to his work will create nothing that endures. (24)

- Thus the Master travels all day without leaving home. However splendid the views, she stays serenely in herself. If you let yourself be blown to and fro, you lose touch with your root. (26) 

- A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent upon arriving. A good artist lets his intuition lead him wherever it wants. (27)

My mom, sister, and me on vacation in the late 1960s.

- Weapons are the tools of violence; all decent men detest them. (31)

- Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. If you realize that you have enough, you are truly rich. If you stay in the center and embrace death with your whole heart, you will endure forever. (33)

- When there is no desire, all things are at peace. (37)

- In harmony with the Tao, the sky is clear and spacious, the earth is solid and full, all creatures flourish together, content wit hthe way they are, endlessly repeating themselves, endlessly renewed. When man interferes with the Tao, the sky becomes filthy, the earth becomes depleted, the equilibrium crumbles, creates become extinct. (39)

- Ordinary men hate solitude. But the Master makes use of it, embracing his aloneness, realizing he is one with the whole universe. (42)

- I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures. Simple in actions and in thoughts, you return to the source of being. Patient with both friends and enemies, you accord with the way things are. Compassionate toward yourself, you reconcile all beings in the world. (67)

Sophia putting one of many scarves out for someone who is cold to take.

- The best leader follows the will of the people. [This embodies] the virtue of non-competition. (68)

- Men are born soft and supple; dead, they are stiff and hard. Plants are born tender and pliant; dead, they are brittle and dry. Thus whoever is stiff and inflexible is a disciple of death. Whoever is soft and yielding is a disciple of life. The hard and stiff will be broken. The soft and supple will prevail. (76)

What the Amish Can Teach Us About the Simple Life (Book Notes/Review)

I recently read What the Amish Can Teach Us About the Simple Life - Homespun Hints for Family Gatherings, Spending Less, and Sharing Your Bounty by Georgia Varozza.

Having been raised by parents who grew up during the Great Depression, there were many ideas in the book that I already knew. My parents were great role models in how to live simply and frugally, yet not feel like you're living in poverty. They created a life of joy and meaning and centered it around family and the beauty of nature. Of course, they also were very religious so that also was a key component in our lives.

My sister, grandma, me, dad, and brother celebrating my birthday.

My mom made a cake from scratch which was always the highlight. 

It looks like I was six years old. So, this was in June 1972.

Some things that resonated with me from the book:

- We see [the Amish] ordered existence and a deep sense of belonging their quiet and peaceable lives - and we yearn for these same things in our own families.
- The Amish way of life highlights the family. There is never a time when a person is considered a liability, no matter if young, old, infirm, or disabled in some way. Each person is loved, honored, and welcomed in the family circle.
- Some ideas for doing a family fun night:
   => bird watch

Sandhill cranes that Sophia and I saw on August 16, 2020.

This is part of the gathering of 49 cranes.

   => take a walk in the park or hike on a nature trail
   => ride bikes
   => visit the library
   => enjoy a backyard cookout
   => pick a book to read aloud together
   => fly kites
   => make homemade pizzas
   => make your own sundaes. Have plenty of goodies to sprinkle on top
   => play group games
   => enjoy a classic movie
   => make birdhouses or bird feeders and put them in the yard

Two new feeders we added this summer. 

   => write letters to grandparents or loved ones
   => make a family flowerpot. Each person chooses one annual flowering pot to put in the pot
   => stargaze
   => enjoy a family campout
   => as a family, write and illustrate a story
   => create a family newsletter and send it to your relatives
   => go through your photos and talk about family history
   => grab some magnifying glasses and go on a backyard bug safari
   => go to an animal shelter to pet the cats and take some dogs for a walk
   => go on a treasure hunt. Write clues that lead to other clues. Send participants all over the house and yard in search of treasure you've hidden
- create family traditions
- celebrate special moments
   => birthdays and holidays
   => well-earned grade
   => first and last days of school
   => getting caught doing an act of kindness
   => a goal or achievement realized

We got a French silk pie (Olivia's favorite pie) to celebrate the 

plantings of two public gardens that were part of a 4-H leadership project

she led on August 22, 2020.

   => first day of a new season
- build community
   => start a new church activity or ministry (or through a volunteer organization)

One of the public gardens that Sophia, Olivia, and I 

planted with volunteers on August 22, 2020.

   => at each church or club gathering, learn the name of one person you don't know
   => organize "card showers" where people send encouraging cards to shut-ins, the elderly, people who are sick or injured, and people who are struggling
   => make a sunshine box for a family or individual who could use a bit of cheer and encouragement. Sunshine boxes consist of small wrapped gifts with a card that explains the recipient is to open one a day
   => organize a neighborhood spring yard cleanup. Plant some pretty annuals to brighten the neighborhood
- Plan a weekly or monthly menu and stick to it. When you buy your groceries, you'll know what items you need and how much to make the meals you have planned

Salad using items in the refrigerator and tomatoes from the garden.

- Consistently spend less than you make
- If you spend less, you'll need to earn less, which means you'll have more time to spend with your family and work on meaningful activities
- Pay off unsecured debt as quickly as is feasible
- To the greatest extent possible, shun all types of debt. If you have to borrow, don't borrow the maximum you're able to.
- De-clutter
- What we have has nothing to do with our worth. We worked to meet our needs, and our goal was well-being, not making money or having more possessions. And because we weren't in the habit of always wanting something new, we weren't as distracted by possessions.

My Favorite Photos - October 2019

This was a rather unusual month for us. It started with Olivia recovering from pneumonia and a double-ear infection. On October 10th, I had spinal surgery to address an injury from a car accident in November 2018 and the next day Sophia had a follow-up oral surgery due to complications from wisdom teeth removal in June 2019.

Aspen, one of our dogs, had surgery to remove a growth on her back left leg on October 21st. She had to go in to get it re-stitched because she opened it up by licking it at one day. She's been wearing a cone ever since then.

With that being said, there were some times I was able to capture some photos. Below are some of my favorite ones.

Normally we see some frogs on the window at night trying to catch bugs. This grasshopper, by far, is the largest and perhaps creepiest thing I've seen on the window yet.

On October 2nd, I took Olivia to the hospital after the walk-in clinic suggested she be admitted. She was struggling with getting over pneumonia and ear infections that she had since September 18th. A positive thing that came out of this visit was that she did not have to be admitted to the hospital. Instead, they gave her both prednisone and albuterol (on top of the other medications she was already taking). These helped her start feeling better and not coughing as much. So, it was a very good visit to the doctor.

On October 3rd, Scooby had made himself comfortable on the pile pillows on the cedar chest. I think of it as his own little throne since he is sitting higher than everyone else in the room.

We went to college to visit Sophia and have a meal in the dining center. As always, the food was excellent. Each of us had a different entrée.

The next day, the 4th, Olivia and I went back again to visit Sophia. We dropped off a couple of breakfast sandwiches that I made and froze in preparation for my surgery on the 10th. Our favorite part of the meal that day was the dessert: an ice cream/cookie sandwich, ice cream cone, and strawberry malt.

I washed the sheets on the bed and brought back the comforter when I was done. Aspen had wrapped herself in it. She looks comfortable on a chilly, rainy day.

On the 6th, I was washing blankets. I brought out this blanket from the dryer and cover Danny in it. He looked so content and toasty warm on another chilly day.

I created another care package for Sophia with the saying, "Orange you glad it's Fall" on the inside box flaps. It was filled with a variety of items that were orange or had orange in the packaging. She was surprised and happy to receive the package. 

As I mentioned above, I went in for spinal surgery on October 10th. In a matter of less than a morning, the nerve that was pinched that went from my neck to hands was released. I went in with pain and numbness in that arm and hand that was constant from November 2018 to the 10th. I left with NO pain or numbness. It was amazing! The only pain I have now is in the back of my neck at the surgical site. It should heal by mid-November or so.

Sophia came home on the 10th so she could have her surgery the next door. The dogs were thrilled to see her.

On the 13th, we celebrated 29 years of marriage. Olivia helped Paige pick out the bouquet of flowers. I like the autumnal colors and variety of flowers.

By the 18th, I was up and around and starting to walk longer distances. Olivia took her bike and I walked behind. We had a nice 2-mile ride/walk on a beautiful day.

We have been seeing beautiful sunsets throughout October.

Olivia is working on repairing and quilting two quilts. Cooper is looking out the window to protect Olivia from squirrels and rabbits.

On another walk/ride that Olivia and I went on, she rescued 16 woolly bear caterpillars as they were crossing the road. I'm not sure why they like crossing the road. They have plenty of natural elements on the sides of the road.

Here's a close-up of one of the caterpillars.

During October, we had the back garden completely trimmed down with the exception of a rose bush. It has been a challenge since we've moved in. I refuse to use chemicals in the gardens, so there's always weeds and grass in it. This year, I started pulling up the weeds and grass and replacing them with perennials. I got about 2/3 of the garden planted. Next Spring, I'm hoping that the perennials will overtake the weeds and grass.

One of the flowers we planted  were cleomes. They are about three feet tall and a beautiful shade of purple. Last year I harvested the seed pods. This year, I'm letting them drop to see if they will re-seed themselves and we'll have more next year.

Danny and Eenie enjoyed sitting in the sunlight one afternoon.

Since I'm still not able to drive because of the surgery, my sister took me out on a leaf-watching drive. Down the road from us was this big osprey at the top of a pine tree. Its talons were grasping either edge of the top of the tree. Its legs looked so powerful; and its body reminded me of a strong chicken body.

This is one of many beautiful roads around my home that we traveled down. The colors were so pretty against the blue sky.

This is my favorite oak tree in our northwest pasture. I'm taking the photo from the road looking south.

Some of the leaves on one of our trees.

This is a hibiscus that bloomed. Olivia and I got the hibiscus tree in Spring 2018. It did not overwinter well indoors, so we put it outside in Spring 2019 just to see what would happen to it. It went from having very few leaves to being filled out by the Fall. In October, there were two blooms - both orange. We were thrilled! There are many blooms on the tree so we should be seeing more in the next couple of months.

One of the sunsets that was eye-catching during October. I like how the colors of the sky and clouds are reflected in the pond.

Milkweed seeds are now formed and the pods are splitting open. The wind carries the seeds to new places where plants will grow next Spring. On many walks I've been taking, I pick the pods and spread the seeds to further distribute the milkweed seeds. I'm hoping to see a lot of milkweed plants next Spring and Summer for the monarchs.

In late-October, there was a lone thistle that was still bright purple. A week later, when I went by it on a walk, the color had faded substantially. This is a black-and-white version of the thistle. I thought all the textures of the plant and flower were interesting.

An  overcast day made a good backdrop for these tall weeds/grasses that were along the road.

This view of the northwest part of our farm never gets old. This is the view from the road. I like the golds, rusts, and browns of these trees with the bright white birch bark interspersed in landscape.

These milkweed seeds are ready to fly away. The afternoon sun illuminated the fluffy white floss that is attached to the seeds.

The wild cucumber vine is dried at this point in the season. The spikes are still sharp. We had always believed that this plant was invasive. It isn't. It's actually a native plant to Minnesota, and can grow 30-foot vines (or longer) that attach themselves to trees, fences, and other plants. If you don't want this plant to spread, it's important to take it down before the pods dry and the four seeds drop from the pod.

This is the view from the street of our home. The lawn was just mowed and leaves picked up. I can't believe how tall the pine trees have gotten in the front yard. They make the home look so small.

Inside, we decorated for Halloween. We lost a lot of our Halloween decorations in the fire at our farm in May 2018. So, this year I bought some lights for our windows. These lights were quite bright since they had groupings of lights rather than single ones. The window stars are ones I made this year.

The last weekend in October we went to the annual awards ceremony for 4-H. The centerpieces had two items by them on each table representing different 4-H project areas. At our table, we had a stuffed dog and ceramic rabbit.

Sophia earned several awards for her participation in 4-H for ten years, serving as an Ambassador last year, and for project records she did.

Olivia also earned her ten-year pin and certificate as well as many project record pins.

On one of the days counting down to Halloween, we had "Boonilla Shakes" and ghost-shaped pancakes for breakfast. Danny thinks that we've set a place for him at the table next to Sophia. He's ready for a pancake!

This month we each received refurbished bikes from an organization that gives bikes to youth and adults. In our case, we lose all our bikes in the fire last year and were unable to replace them. This organization was able to find a bike for Olivia that has three wheels so she can ride a bike! She has challenges with balance, so the bike she received is perfect for her. The minute she got on it, she was able to ride it. It even has a basket to carry her jacket, food, or even a small dog who may get tired from walking and need a ride.

Five years ago, Olivia planted this tree in the front yard. It now towers above her.

Sophia also planted a tree in the front yard and hers, too, stands well above her head.

It was a good month...despite the multiple surgeries. We were able to do a lot, see the leaves changing, and do fun things together as a family.