I’d like to wish all my friends a Merry Christmas. Here’s a story I wrote in 2005. The clatter was tremendous. Decorative brass fireplace implements clanged off the brick hearth and a fine black cloud of soot billowed, and when it had cleared, there stood a man who looked just like the one in the Christmas cards — right down …
When you think of Christmas, what do you think about? For me, Christmas is magic. Not the kind we usually think of when we think of Christmas. By way of explanation, a short story. The first part of it may seem a little sad, but don’t worry, it has a happy enough ending. When I was 8 years old, my …
As promised to one of my readers, here is my Mom’s recipe for Hershey Dream Bars, which I mentioned in an earlier blog, as well as a few other favorites, including Grandma Menard’s recipe for Rolled Butter Cookies. I hope you have time to make these before Christmas! Hershey Dream Bars 1 cup brown sugar 1 cup shortening (butter or …
It’s the end of an era for sure: The last calendar from First State Bank in Ashby, Minn., hangs in our kitchen at La Farm as one has every year for probably over 70 years. I don’t know when the bank started printing the simple, austere calendar in red, white and blue with the black and white photo of the …
Sunday morning addendum No. 1: Lillian and I went to a Christmas party last night. I drank some wine. We came home and I drank some more wine and stayed up late and watched “Saturday Night Live.” I woke up this morning at 5:59 a.m. I rolled over and went back to sleep and got up at 8:44 a.m., 19 …
The holidays wouldn’t be complete without a good assortment of cookies, bars and the like. At least that’s the way it was in our house when I was growing up. My mom always made sure we had plenty of goodies around Christmas, which was very pleasing to her three growing boys and their dad. I have fond memories of her …
You can tell a lot about a person’s character by how they respond to adversity. Implying the spouse of someone who voted to impeach you is in hell is reprehensible at any time, but when you are at a rally where you say you are celebrating Christmas, it goes beyond any form of human decency. I truly and deeply do …
Like the humble Rob Port, who brags that his defunct blog was “part of the fabric” (Only argali wool thread for Rep. Rick Becker) of “politics in North Dakota,” the unassuming Donald Trump also can’t be steam-cleaned out of the democratic socialist manufactured couch sitting by the capitalist Coke machine in the breakroom of our socialist State Mill. That’s because …
Olivia Lane scored 17 points and added eight rebounds to lead the University of North Dakota women’s basketball team to a 83-52 win over Mayville State University on Wednesday night in Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. The Fighting Hawks (9-2) also received double-figure scoring performances from Maggie Manson (14) and Julia Fleec (10). The Comets (3-4) were paced by Kylee Heurung, who …
If there was ever a food that lends itself to leftovers, it is chicken. From casseroles to salads to enchiladas to pizza to sandwiches, the list goes on and on and on. Once every week or two, we roast a regular or smoked chicken, which we get from the Hutterites of the Forest River Colony, in a Dutch oven. This …
Me: To whom it may concern: I’m reprinting these unambiguous words I found on the Lutheran Social Services website. I found them. They were merely laying there on the internet. Anyone could have grasped them, but few of the self-appointed experts did. I have no association with LSS, but “Jebus Jay Jones,” desperate people! At least pretend to look contemptuously, …
As we approach this most joyous time of year, a time of giving, of good will, of caring for our fellow humans, especially those among us with the least of resources, I want to share the words of Dan Rather, which I put in this space a couple of years ago. I’ll do that in a minute. But first a …
OK, so The Triumvirate (Mom and my sisters) decreed that we’d have German food for Christmas. My three brothers and I are not consulted on decisions of such import, even though we constitute a majority, but we don’t have to cook, either. It may be a simple matter of public safety. It’s a relatively benevolent dictatorship — Mom and her …
From this: To this, in just one week: I’m pretty sure that is the biggest headline ever in the Adams County Record. And well it should be. Just a week after the paper announced Nov. 29, “This is the final issue of the Adams County Record” because its corporate owner was shutting it down, a local neighboring publisher picked it …
If someone like me, a lifelong political junkie who is continually appalled at what is transpiring in this current administration, is wearied at the impeachment votes unfold, I cannot imagine what people who are less obsessed with politics feel. But that is exactly what authoritarian regimes want to happen and why they succeed. Because people get worn down by the continual …
Well, the liberals did it now. “Human scum,” if you prefer. How are we going to pay for THIS? How are we going to put a price on human life this time? Burleigh County, 1,668 mostly empty square miles, is willing to accept a whole 25 refugees from probably not Northern Europe. What an imposition on somebody somewhere in that …
Michael Notlestad scored three goals to lead Grand Forks Red River to a 7-3 win over Fargo North in North Dakota boys high school hockey play Tuesday night in Purpur Arena in Grand Forks. Wyatt LeDuc, Mason Thingvold, Michael Coleman and Logan Huus also scored for the Roughriders (3-0-1). Michael Hallquist and Harrison Astrup were goal scorers for North, which …
The late, great American chef Julia Child, in her “Mastering the Art of French Cooking,” described fricassee as “halfway between a sauté and a stew.” In a fricassee cut-up meat is first sautéed, then liquid is added and it is simmered to finish cooking. A stew includes liquid from the beginning. For me, someone who doesn’t think cooking is a …
“Oh, you would LOVE that wouldn’t you?” smirks a loudmouth into an iPhone while waving a glazed bear claw. “Like you know anything, Steeeve. Who are YOU to tell ME what you supposedly know about president Maynard T. Loser and his unbecoming band of hysterical liars?” “Right, right, right — shut up a minute — I just heard that one of the …
A note from Lillian and Jim on this sad day. Our hearts are broken today (Monday) as we have had to say goodbye to our beloved Lizzie, our adorable Springer Spaniel, on this sad, dark day. We pause to write this homage to her and to give thanks for all the joy she brought to our lives. There are a …
A note from Lillian and Jim on this sad day. Our hearts are broken today (Monday) as we have had to say goodbye to our beloved Lizzie, our adorable Springer Spaniel, on this sad, dark day. We pause to write this homage to her and to give thanks for all the joy she brought to our lives. There are a …
As probably you know, the People’s Republic of China has a serious and robust moon landing program. Late this year or early next, China is preparing to land a probe on the moon that will dig up some rock samples and then return safely to Earth. China has made it clear that it intends to send men and women to …
On Wednesday, North Dakota Congressman Kelly Armstrong (Cult45 —Bastiat Chapter) found his inner Kevin Cramer and spat out this chewed up olive pit: “We have the alleged victim of quid pro quo, bribery, extortion — whatever we’re dealing with now today — repeatedly and adamantly shouting from the rooftops that he never felt pressure, that he was not the victim …
Skillet entrees have a lot of appeal. Not only do they cut back on the cleanup, they are also quick and easy. There are some foods that are just conducive to being cooked on the stovetop. Two of those are peppers and onions. Many a tasty dish starts off with that duo being sautéed in a little butter or olive …
“It’s been a nice warm week with a high of 57 degrees on Sunday, Looks like more cold winter weather is headed this way, so we better enjoy the balmy days. “There were more replacement surgeries this week. Ron Jenson and Kelly Britton got new hips on Monday and Ron Floyd got a new knee. Thankfully, it sounds like everything …
When I come home after a long day at work, I admit the last thing I want to do is follow what is happening in the impeachment process or even follow what is unfolding in our government. It is doubly hard during the Christmas season. Truth be told, I just want to put on Christmas music, bake cookies, tune out …
A few years ago, in an interview with the documentary filmmaker Ken Burns about Theodore Roosevelt, I said on camera that Roosevelt liked to kill wild animals, that he was, as I perhaps inauspiciously put it, a killer. When you leave a Ken Burns interview you have no idea what you said will wind up in the film, if anything. …
On Monday. I posted a story here about the financial woes of Meridian Energy Group, triggered by the filing last week of a huge construction lien against the company by one of its contractors. There were some things in it I just couldn’t figure out, and I probably should have held off for a day or two until I got …
The University of North Dakota football team stayed with Nicholls State University into the third quarter, trailing by just four points, but the No. 19-ranked Colonels struck for the next two scores to defeat the No. 24 Fighting Hawks 24-6 in the first round of the FCS playoffs in Thibodaux, La. UND’s only scoring came on two Brady Leach field …
Leftovers are usually a given when you host Thanksgiving Day dinner, even if everyone eats too much. There is always some leftover stuffing, squash, scalloped corn and the like besides the star of your feast — the turkey. Even if you sit down for a slice or two of turkey on a bun(s) around suppertime, there often is plenty of …
The University of North Dakota men’s hockey team completed a sweep of the University of Minnesota with a 3-2 win Friday night in Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis. UND beat the Gophers 9-3 Thursday night. The victory ran UND’s unbeaten streak to 11 games. Jordan Kawaguchi, Shane Pinto and Jasper Weatherby scored goals for the No. 3 ranked Fighting Hawks (12-1-2 ), while Tyler …
Eight different players scored goals, including two by Jordan Kawaguchi, to lead the University of North Dakota men’s hockey team to a 9-3 drubbing of the University of Minnesota on Thursday night in Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis. Also scoring for the Fighting Hawks (11-1-2) were Grant Mishmash, Jacob Bernard-Docker, Jasper Weatherby, Colton Poolman, Shane Pinto, Dixon Bowen and Cole Smith. Ben …
English cheese. A good Cabernet. The smell of chrysanthemums. A clean house. Chelsea’s warm skin when we hug. Scones and clotted cream. Intelligence. Freshly ground coffee, brewed in a French press, with cream. Sunflowers. Rachel’s smile. Solitude and silence. Fresh walleye. Bookstores. Bison. Ethnic food. Navajo rugs and jewelry. Hiking. Public television and radio. Cooking. Chunky chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. …
Eight players scored in double figures to lead the University of North Dakota women’s basketball team to a 118-35 win over Northland College on Tuesday in Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. Megan Zander scored 18 points and Olivia Lane chipped in 14 to pace the Fighting Hawks (5-2). Bailey Wynn led Northland (2-3) with 12 points. North Dakota travels to South Carolina this …
Gertautas Urbonavicius scored 20 points to lead all scorers and the University of North Dakota men’s basketball team set a team scoring mark in Betty Engelstad Arena en route to a 115-50 win over North Central University on Tuesday night. It the largest margin of victory in a game since a 70-9 win vs. the Grand Forks YMCA in 1921 …
It’s a typical November morning at the Bismarck home of Jackie Stebbins, her husband, Sean Arithson, and their kids, Kennedy, 7, and Kirby, 5. Dad gets up, gets dressed, eats breakfast and heads off to work. Mom gets the kids ready for the day, feeds them breakfast, gets one off to school, the other to preschool, and settles into the …
A door-to-door custom news talker — one think minimum — begins his commentary: “North Dakota, North Dakota, it’s coming to me, OK, in North Dakota news, Gov. Doug Burgum — honorary chair of Donald Trump 2020 — either did something humane or made an empty gesture. More after this.” “Hey dumbass. I told you ‘no’ commercials.” “It was a PSA, man. Geez. So anyway, …
This is the final blog about Paula Mehmel’s trip to the southern border of the U.S. with Abriendo Fronteras/Opening Borders delegation, which spent six days in El Paso, Texas, and Juarez, Mexico, exploring issues related to immigration. Who are the people who are willing to stand in the gap? In the midst of the attack on the people of Juarez from …
Thanksgiving is one of the most reflective of holidays. At least it is for me. Sometimes about now I like to make a little list of some of the things I’m thankful for. Not the big stuff necessarily. That’s sort of a given. Rather, some of the little things I’ve picked up on in my last trip around the sun. …
Illinois State University snapped the University of North Dakota women’s basketball team’s four-game winning streak in Betty Engelstad Sioux Center with a 66-58 win Sunday afternoon. The Redbirds (4-1) took a 12-point halftime lead into the third quarter before the Fighting Hawks (4-2) closed the gap. Lily Keplin and Jaclyn Jarnot paced UND offensively with 12 and 10 points respectively. …
This is a significantly revised version of my original blog posted on Wednesday with the addition of details I’ve located since that date as well as updates on the Thursday’s Unicorn showers. Although the annual Leonids meteor showers have come and gone, the news about a potential “rich burst” of shooting stars from the Unicorn meteor showers has me thinking back …
Jordan Kawaguchi’s goal 3:41 into overtime lifted the University of North Dakota men’s hockey team to a 2-1 win and a weekend sweep of St. Cloud State University on Saturday night in Ralph Engelstad University. The Fighting Hawks won 4-2 on Friday night. The win was the 100th of coach Brad Berry at UND. St. Cloud’s Jack Ahcan and UND’s Jacob …
The University of North Dakota football team outscored Southern Utah University 19-3 in the second half on its way to a 36-18 victory Saturday afternoon in the Alerus Center. Luke Skokna led the way offensively for the Fighting Hawks (7-4), rushing for 116 yards on 11 carries while scoring two touchdowns. Quarterback Nate Ketteringham chipped in 53 yards on the …
Shane Pinto scored the game’s first two goals to put the University of North Dakota men’s hockey on its way to a 4-2 National Collegiate Hockey Conference win over St. Cloud State on Friday night in Ralph Engelstad Arena fans. Cole Smith and Collin Adams (empty net) scored the other goals for the Fighting Hawks, who upped their record to …