As a little kid of 6 or 7 years old, our
family would regularly eat Schweigert's
Braunschweiger. (I remember it being
called liverwurst.) My dad loved it! I didn't
at first.
The liverwurst would be spread on little
crackers (usually Hi Ho's, I liked the Lone
Ranger), and then consumed with a tall glass of
cold milk.
There was a Schweigert radio commercial
back in 1947 that promoted liverwurst, and . . .
I got the great idea to send them possible
words for a commercial that they could use.
Liverup . . . things could be wurst!
Always an optimist, I actually thought they
would jump at the chance to use it!
Guess what? They didn't.
As Moses was once overheard to have said back
whenever . . .
You can't help but give it a try.
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Friday, September 18, 2015
Thunbergia Tamed
I was being watched
from within
a dense tangle
of vines.
Eyes -
liquid and dark,
framed within petals
of yellow-orange,
peering at me
from within
an edge of a
Kenyan jungle.
That was
long ago.
Today, I see
that same vine, with its
liquid-dark eyes, and petals
of yellow-orange,
clinging to a cluster of
red geraniums - growing in
a backyard deck
flower pot.
-I will never forget seeing
those flowers from a corn
field bordering an edge
of a jungle
from within
a dense tangle
of vines.
Eyes -
liquid and dark,
framed within petals
of yellow-orange,
peering at me
from within
an edge of a
Kenyan jungle.
That was
long ago.
Today, I see
that same vine, with its
liquid-dark eyes, and petals
of yellow-orange,
clinging to a cluster of
red geraniums - growing in
a backyard deck
flower pot.
-I will never forget seeing
those flowers from a corn
field bordering an edge
of a jungle
Monday, September 7, 2015
C r e e p i n g C h u c k
The dilemma: to eradicate, to extricate these pesty
lawn plants to another locale, or to simply let them
be what they are.
Could it possibly be that - just maybe they thrive on attention?!
Perhaps to not be so harsh on them, would do the trick. After all,
they are part of the "wed of life."
Meanwhile, the Creeping Charlie plants live by stringing low
through the grass . . . sending out new roots at each and every
stem-joint.
And, they are in the mint family. This you can tell by their
beautiful blue florets, the minty odor, and the square stems. (A handy
rule of thumb mantra, could be:
All mints have square stems . . . but not all plants
with square stems are mints.
Things could be worse . . . the stems could morph to be the size of
garden hoses, the flowers as big as bushel baskets, and the copiously
exuded odor of the crushed leaves and stems would necessitate
everyone in the neighborhood to don gas masks!
Now, that would be something for the national and local news!
lawn plants to another locale, or to simply let them
be what they are.
Could it possibly be that - just maybe they thrive on attention?!
Perhaps to not be so harsh on them, would do the trick. After all,
they are part of the "wed of life."
Meanwhile, the Creeping Charlie plants live by stringing low
through the grass . . . sending out new roots at each and every
stem-joint.
And, they are in the mint family. This you can tell by their
beautiful blue florets, the minty odor, and the square stems. (A handy
rule of thumb mantra, could be:
All mints have square stems . . . but not all plants
with square stems are mints.
Things could be worse . . . the stems could morph to be the size of
garden hoses, the flowers as big as bushel baskets, and the copiously
exuded odor of the crushed leaves and stems would necessitate
everyone in the neighborhood to don gas masks!
Now, that would be something for the national and local news!
Sunday, August 16, 2015
I ONCE THOUGHT THAT I COULDN'T FIX THINGS
Guess what ?! I was just about ready to give one of my grandsons
a call for some consultation on how to get my computer back-on-track
and running again . . . (Every time I would go to write an e-mail, it
ran super slow and the letters and the cursor kept jerking around the
screen.)
It was then, I checked my moose. (Oops! mouse) Darn it anyway, I
hate it when the computer changes words on me . . . OK, back to the
issue at hand. I checked my mouse to see if it needed new batteries.
It didn't. (I remembered that I had put new ones in only two days before.)
Then, I happened to look on the bottom of the mouse - and there I found
a smeared smidgen of gunk (pizza or whatever?)
With great skill, I deftly flicked the stuff off from the mouse bottom and . . .
now it works !
That means that I fixed it !
WRIGHT ?
a call for some consultation on how to get my computer back-on-track
and running again . . . (Every time I would go to write an e-mail, it
ran super slow and the letters and the cursor kept jerking around the
screen.)
It was then, I checked my moose. (Oops! mouse) Darn it anyway, I
hate it when the computer changes words on me . . . OK, back to the
issue at hand. I checked my mouse to see if it needed new batteries.
It didn't. (I remembered that I had put new ones in only two days before.)
Then, I happened to look on the bottom of the mouse - and there I found
a smeared smidgen of gunk (pizza or whatever?)
With great skill, I deftly flicked the stuff off from the mouse bottom and . . .
now it works !
That means that I fixed it !
WRIGHT ?
Friday, May 1, 2015
HOPEFULNESS
My prayers
are as wisps of
field stubble
blown across
open prairies.
Tumbleweeds
race with the wind,
lodging where
they are needed.
Seeds well scattered
are my prayers -
sown in hope of
being rooted.
are as wisps of
field stubble
blown across
open prairies.
Tumbleweeds
race with the wind,
lodging where
they are needed.
Seeds well scattered
are my prayers -
sown in hope of
being rooted.
Monday, April 20, 2015
YOUR GUESS IS AS GOOD AS MINE
This spring season is almost totally out of whack!
Some would say non-sensical. In the not-so-recent
past, a person could count on certain weather events
occurring in a sequential fashion. Yes - predictable.
Elizabeth and I so love gardening and can hardly wait
to begin! We have had the packets of veggies and
flower seeds for some time now. A normal spring
would see the first of the peas in the ground by the
first of March (at least in this part of Minnesota.) It is
well into the third week in April and we slipped them
into the cold soil just last week.
This morning's "exploration walk" braved the thick,
cold wind. The elderberry bushes have, just now,
pushed out their buds to greet the world. Normally,
they are among the first to bud out and flower.
Snowdrops did come up.
However, the joyous news is that our bougainvillea
vines are crawling all over the inside windows of our
"garden room". They cling to light fixtures and rungs
of the rocking chair for support. And they are blooming
in a profusion of pastel pinks and oranges. It is as if
they somehow know that this is the time for them to
escape to the outside to explore the fresh spring air.
Of course, the outside vincas and pachysandra peer out
from under last year's fall's dead leaves, waiting for
just enough warmth to launch their flowers for yet one
more season.
Meanwhile - the robins are caroling!
Some would say non-sensical. In the not-so-recent
past, a person could count on certain weather events
occurring in a sequential fashion. Yes - predictable.
Elizabeth and I so love gardening and can hardly wait
to begin! We have had the packets of veggies and
flower seeds for some time now. A normal spring
would see the first of the peas in the ground by the
first of March (at least in this part of Minnesota.) It is
well into the third week in April and we slipped them
into the cold soil just last week.
This morning's "exploration walk" braved the thick,
cold wind. The elderberry bushes have, just now,
pushed out their buds to greet the world. Normally,
they are among the first to bud out and flower.
Snowdrops did come up.
However, the joyous news is that our bougainvillea
vines are crawling all over the inside windows of our
"garden room". They cling to light fixtures and rungs
of the rocking chair for support. And they are blooming
in a profusion of pastel pinks and oranges. It is as if
they somehow know that this is the time for them to
escape to the outside to explore the fresh spring air.
Of course, the outside vincas and pachysandra peer out
from under last year's fall's dead leaves, waiting for
just enough warmth to launch their flowers for yet one
more season.
Meanwhile - the robins are caroling!
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
IN THESE DAYS - ONE HAS TO LOOK AHEAD
(One just never knows what lies ahead) Now that's a common
saying I have often heard. And, who hasn't? NOTE: The following essay on
Abraham Lincoln is almost totally made up . . . other than Lincoln was assassinated
on the 15th of April. (A true thing includes inventing the floating dry dock.)
).
* * * * * *
An Envelope Belonging to Abraham Lincoln?
April, 3, 2011
Dear Keepers of Official U.S. Documents,
I believe I have uncovered something of historic value and that it should
be archived somewhere in Washington, DC. I can't believe what I am
about to share with you.
I found a very old envelope in a side pocked of an ancient storage trunk in
Wanamingo, Minnesota. I almost paid no heed to it. On the front of the
envelope was a "to do" list which, at first, didn't catch my eye. That was . . .
until I read it!
Does what I found have any value? What should I do with it?
Respectfully submitted,
Clem J. Nagel
(The "To Do" List)
To Do Soon
-Finish the speech of Gettysburg
-Give more thought to the idea of a floating dry dock
-Empty garbage as soon as I get home
- ? ? (I was unable to decipher the 4th entry)
-Decide what to do about the problem in Mankato, Minnesota.
What really triggered things for me were the words "Gettysburg", "dry dock"*, and
"Mankato." It could only mean one thing. Abraham Lincoln must have scribbled the
list on the envelope while somewhere away from home.
*(Note: This part about the dry dock is true). On 5/22/1849, Lincoln
received Patent No. 6469 for a device to lift boats over shoals. It was
an invention that never got manufactured.
I then turned the envelope over and couldn't believe my eyes! Whoever had written
on the backside of the envelope was obviously confused in trying to come up with
a phrase to begin some kind of a speech. There were crossed out words, here and there
notations in parentheses, comments clearly added by someone else who must have
known the writer. Just who was that ghost-writer traveling with Lincoln at the time?
His wife? . . . or someone else? Mysteries abound! Fascinating, to say the least.
(THE WRITING FOUND ON THE BACK OF THE ENVELOPE)
The Talk at Gettysburg
(years?)
Fourscore and seven days ago (three score and 27 years ago?) our country . . .
2 x 2 score and (fore?) four (4) years ago, our country . . .
Abe, that doesn't add up. Just take my word for it!
OK. Just possibly, use "A long time ago?" (not sure)
31,755 days ago, our country . . .
Abe, do not use this ! ! !
One score, 7 years and 21,900 days ago, our country . . .
Abe Dear, keep it simple! Just use 87, believe me! Love, Mary
87 years ago (or maybe, just fourscore and seven years ago?) I'll have to
give it more consideration . . .
It's a little early, but need to check with Mary to see if those tickets for the
theatre have arrived yet?
saying I have often heard. And, who hasn't? NOTE: The following essay on
Abraham Lincoln is almost totally made up . . . other than Lincoln was assassinated
on the 15th of April. (A true thing includes inventing the floating dry dock.)
).
* * * * * *
An Envelope Belonging to Abraham Lincoln?
April, 3, 2011
Dear Keepers of Official U.S. Documents,
I believe I have uncovered something of historic value and that it should
be archived somewhere in Washington, DC. I can't believe what I am
about to share with you.
I found a very old envelope in a side pocked of an ancient storage trunk in
Wanamingo, Minnesota. I almost paid no heed to it. On the front of the
envelope was a "to do" list which, at first, didn't catch my eye. That was . . .
until I read it!
Does what I found have any value? What should I do with it?
Respectfully submitted,
Clem J. Nagel
(The "To Do" List)
To Do Soon
-Finish the speech of Gettysburg
-Give more thought to the idea of a floating dry dock
-Empty garbage as soon as I get home
- ? ? (I was unable to decipher the 4th entry)
-Decide what to do about the problem in Mankato, Minnesota.
What really triggered things for me were the words "Gettysburg", "dry dock"*, and
"Mankato." It could only mean one thing. Abraham Lincoln must have scribbled the
list on the envelope while somewhere away from home.
*(Note: This part about the dry dock is true). On 5/22/1849, Lincoln
received Patent No. 6469 for a device to lift boats over shoals. It was
an invention that never got manufactured.
I then turned the envelope over and couldn't believe my eyes! Whoever had written
on the backside of the envelope was obviously confused in trying to come up with
a phrase to begin some kind of a speech. There were crossed out words, here and there
notations in parentheses, comments clearly added by someone else who must have
known the writer. Just who was that ghost-writer traveling with Lincoln at the time?
His wife? . . . or someone else? Mysteries abound! Fascinating, to say the least.
(THE WRITING FOUND ON THE BACK OF THE ENVELOPE)
The Talk at Gettysburg
(years?)
Fourscore and seven days ago (three score and 27 years ago?) our country . . .
2 x 2 score and (fore?) four (4) years ago, our country . . .
Abe, that doesn't add up. Just take my word for it!
OK. Just possibly, use "A long time ago?" (not sure)
31,755 days ago, our country . . .
Abe, do not use this ! ! !
One score, 7 years and 21,900 days ago, our country . . .
Abe Dear, keep it simple! Just use 87, believe me! Love, Mary
87 years ago (or maybe, just fourscore and seven years ago?) I'll have to
give it more consideration . . .
It's a little early, but need to check with Mary to see if those tickets for the
theatre have arrived yet?
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