THE CROW’S
NEST---------------------July
21, 2006
North
Dakota can be wonderful if
we give it a chance. This
summer so far has been
“delicious” in the fact that
we have NOT been invaded by
mosquitoes. I know this all
comes at a cost---farmers
and farmlands really need
moisture, so it is selfish
to be happy with the
mosquito population at a
minimum. Suzie Kartes would
differ as she was bitten and
required lots of medical
attention. Suzie says those
mosquitoes really like her!
It has been 33 days since I
last wrote a “Crow’s Nest”.
I apologize, but we were on
vacation. A good question
is: Do retired people
really need to take a
vacation? The answer is:
Yes, they do and we did. We
spent a wonderful 4th
of July in Red Lodge,
Montana with most of the
Monson cousins. We had our
own “float” in the Red Lodge
4th of July
parade and we sang the whole
time. Time and years just
seemed to “peel back” as we
all got together to enjoy
one another’s company. It
truly was a wonderful,
wonderful time. We also
made fools of ourselves
singing 3 part harmony in a
VERY upscale restaurant
while other patrons had to
“put up with us”! What fun.
One of my main concerns
going to this reunion was
our itinerary. We would go
to Red Lodge but from there
we were going through
Yellowstone into the Grand
Tetons to Ogden, Utah. I
have a (she needs therapy
type of fear) of edges and
heights. I dreaded having
to go over Beartooth Pass to
enter Yellowstone National
Park. Fortunately, Chuck
and Greg “checked out” the
pass a day early so we could
take another entrance into
Yellowstone. It was great
fun watching “Old Faithful”
blow off steam. There must
have been 2,000 people
waiting to see the geyser.
It was special to visit the
Mormon Conference Center in
Salt Lake City. This is
where you see the Mormon
Tabernacle Choir sing. The
building is 8 stories----4
stories are built below
ground and 4 stories are
above ground. It is built
in an arc shape with NO
pillars for support. It
seats 20,000 people. What a
spectacular building.
It is good to be home again
and to get on with all the
Edinburg activities. Last
night was a “Hot time in the
Old Town”! A tour bus of
“Son’s of Norway” members
from the Grand Forks
vicinity spent the day in
this area. They toured
Hall’s Potato House in
Hoople, Icelandic State
Park, Vikur Church and the
Mountain Chalet in Mountain
stopping for lunch at
Byron’s Bar in Mountain.
From there they traveled
south with a stop at Jill
Mullen’s “Oldies but
Goodies” shop in Gardar and
on to Odalen Lutheran Church
west of Edinburg (Odalen was
recently put on the National
Historical Registry) where
Doug Langerud presented a
“mini” concert of gospel
music. Their last stop
before the evening
activities was a visit to
the Park River Bible Camp.
The Edinburg Business Club
served supper to the tour
group and everyone else
interested in attending. We
served 200 people a meal of
potato salad, sliced ham and
turkey, cucumber salad,
Chinese noodle salad,
homemade brown bread and
buns, and skewered fruit
drizzled with chocolate.
Everyone seemed to have a
wonderful appetite! The
evening culminated with
dancing to the music of the
Pecka Band from the Lawton
area. They played old time
music for the enjoyment of
everyone in attendance.
These activities take much
planning but the results
make it a fun event.
One day of recuperation as
tomorrow, July 22nd
is Edinburg’s 2nd
Annual Mud Run held by the
fire station. Harold
Flom dug a long pit with his
bobcat and the firemen will
fill it in with water so
those entering can really
get muddy riding their 4
wheelers. The Business Club
will be serving grilled
brats with all the fixings.
It is supposed to be up to
90 degrees tomorrow so
hopefully we will find a
shady location to set up the
grills.
Summer is flying by.
Harvest has started around
the area. It just seems
those fields were planted.
Already the days have
shortened. It is so
strange, the older one gets
the faster time flies.
Our son, Mike called today
from Kansas City and said he
never wanted to hear me
complain about the North
Dakota heat. He said today
it was 108 degrees with a
humidity factor of
90!!!-----I remember that
kind of heat when we lived
in Kansas!
I hope everyone is having a
fun, fun summer. It is
great hearing from you all.
We are very excited about
our 125th Party
next summer and are looking
forward to many, many people
coming back to celebrate
with us.
Our Edinburg-Mountain Youth
Group leaves tomorrow
morning at 7 AM on a mission
trip with the destination a
secret. Wherever they go
they will be helping to
build or re-build areas that
need attention. I am
guessing there are about 25
young people going on the
trip. They will be in our
prayers as they take this
step of faith to venture
into unknown territory.
July 23, 1946 was a very
special day. Dad got a
new combine for the harvest
and I got a new baby
brother. Happy 60th
birthday Dave. Have a
great day!
I hope everyone is having a
great summer and will talk
with you very soon again. A
special thank you to Gil
Jensen for stopping by to
visit. It was fun to
reminisce about Edinburg and
it’s citizens. Looking
forward to Gil and his wife
Judy coming back next summer
for our celebration.
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