Throughout history most people have lived with few possessions, by necessity, economic limits, or cultural norms. Early nomadic groups moved regularly. Most people for thousands of years were, or are still, just surviving. After WWII in the United States there was an economic boom that resulted in many people owning homes and experiencing financial stabilityContinue reading “Too Much Stuff”
Category Archives: Stories
My New ETSY Shop
I am excited to let you know that I have opened an ETSY shop called LakesCountryHandMade. I am selling products I made including hand spun yarn and hand knit items, as well as store samples from my yarn shop inventory purchase. You can search on the store name in ETSY, or you can click onContinue reading “My New ETSY Shop”
Bricks of Fergus Falls
Some of the streets in Fergus Falls were paved with bricks until around 1960. At that time the bricks were removed in order for a gas main to be installed, after which the street was resurfaced with asphalt. The bricks were relocated to a massive pile where they were available for purchase at 1 centContinue reading “Bricks of Fergus Falls”
Bison Fiber Part 1
Last fall we attended the Buffalo Roundup at Custer State Park in South Dakota, an annual event for maintaining the herd of 1,300 bison. As many as 20,000 spectators gather on each side of a large viewing area where the bison are herded past by cowboys and cowgirls on horses, and in vehicles. Breakfast isContinue reading “Bison Fiber Part 1”
Tornado
Back in the days before phone weather apps we would occasionally hear the civil service siren going off with warnings about severe thunderstorms or tornados in our metro area. Now living out in the country on a lake, I have been a bit worried that we are not within range of a civil service siren.Continue reading “Tornado”
Birds
My grandma Lu knew about all the local birds species, and here at my parents house where we live now, there are bird books and binoculars ready for use in the kitchen. Displayed on shelves are beautiful wooden birds and ducks hand carved by my grandfather and uncle. I know many people who love birdContinue reading “Birds”
My 1970’s Afghan
During high school in the 1970’s I crocheted several granny square style afghans. I recently came across a photo showing the afghan I made for my orange and yellow themed bedroom, with the coordinating curtains my mom had sewed. You can see the afghan on the bed in the lower left of the photo, andContinue reading “My 1970’s Afghan”
The Gopher in the Front Yard
Last summer, when my mother was still with us, mounds of dirt were appearing in the front yard. One day when we were looking out the kitchen window my mom commented that the last time she noticed there was only one mound, but now there were two. At the time she was struggling with memoryContinue reading “The Gopher in the Front Yard”
60 Years of The Yarn Shop
In the late 1950’s my grandmother’s sister and her husband, Margie and Doc, were teachers in Glen Arbor, Michigan, near Traverse City. Margie liked to knit, so Doc had the idea of selling yarn to make money during the summer. They rented space and “The Yarn Shop” was born. Doc also ran small ads inContinue reading “60 Years of The Yarn Shop”
Quarantine 1950s Style
My mother-in-law spent over a year in a sanatorium for Tuberculosis after my husband was born in the 1950s. It seems timely to share an essay he wrote about this experience. Wayne’s Essay about his Mother’s TB Experience On my birthday in late March, as the Coronavirus pandemic was being declared, I thought about theContinue reading “Quarantine 1950s Style”
