Laurel, but not Nebraska

Wed., February 26, 2003 - Mary took me to have my hair-do and Zoya brought me home -- we had planned to have lunch together but she wasn't feeling too well.  Went to Book Club in evening.

Thurs., February 27, 2003 - Called Marjorie C. -- today is her birthday.  Tom came in the evening for the usual reasons.  We played 2 games of Rummikub.

Fri., February 28, 2003 - Went to the movies in the library this evening.  Saw a Laurel & Hardy show and also a Roy Rogers show.  Called Helen.

And here's some information on Laurel and Hardy, most of which I absolutely did not know.  From Wikipedia:

    "Laurel and Hardy were a comedy duo act during the early Classical Hollywood era of American cinema, consisting of Englishman Stan Laurel (1890–1965) and American Oliver Hardy (1892–1957). Starting their career as a duo in the silent era, they later successfully transitioned to "talkies". From the late 1920s to the mid-1950s, they were internationally famous for their slapstick comedy, with Laurel playing the clumsy, childlike friend to Hardy's pompous bully.  Their signature theme song, known as "The Cuckoo Song", "Ku-Ku", or "The Dance of the Cuckoos" (by Hollywood composer T. Marvin Hatley) was heard over their films' opening credits, and became as emblematic of them as their bowler hats.

    Prior to emerging as a team, both had well-established film careers. Laurel had acted in over 50 films, and worked as a writer and director, while Hardy was in more than 250 productions. Both had appeared in The Lucky Dog (1921), but were not teamed at the time. They first appeared together in a short film in 1926, when they signed separate contracts with the Hal Roach film studio.  They officially became a team in 1927 when they appeared in the silent short Putting Pants on Philip. They remained with Roach until 1940, and then appeared in eight B movie comedies for 20th Century Fox and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer from 1941 to 1945.  After finishing their film commitments at the end of 1944, they concentrated on performing stage shows, and embarked on a music hall tour of England, Ireland and Scotland. They made their last film in 1950, a French-Italian co-production called Atoll K.

    They appeared as a team in 107 films, starring in 32 short silent films, 40 short sound films, and 23 full-length feature films. They also made 12 guest or cameo appearances, including in the Galaxy of Stars promotional film of 1936.  On December 1, 1954, they made their sole American television appearance, when they were surprised and interviewed by Ralph Edwards on his live NBC-TV program 'This Is Your Life'. Since the 1930s, their works have been released in numerous theatrical reissues, television revivals, 8-mm and 16-mm home movies, feature-film compilations, and home videos. In 2005, they were voted the seventh-greatest comedy act of all time by a UK poll of professional comedians. The official Laurel and Hardy appreciation society is The Sons of the Desert, after a fictitious fraternal society in the film of the same name."

Robbers Cave in 2021

Mon., February 17, 2003 - Played cards in Party Room this evening.  Delores was sick -- others all there.

Tues., February 18, 2003 - Zoya took me to have my hairdo.  Then we went to an oriental restaurant, Thai House.  I had seafood soup, very good and many different kinds of seafood.

Wed., February 19 2003 - Went to Book Club in evening.  Weather has been nice. 

I can't think of anything to say about Grandma's adventures in 2003, so I'll mention that Mom, Nancy, Anna and I went to Robbers Cave in Lincoln last month.  It was really interesting and really fun.  I can't believe I've lived in and around Lincoln for so many years and had never been there before.  But, now that's something off the list of things to do.  I highly recommend the cave tour and the facilities for a party or some such.  Really nice.

Plentiful snow

Wed., January 15, 2003 - Went to Book Club in evening.  Zoya cooked a chicken and gave me the dark meat - she only likes the white meat.

Thurs., January 16, 2003 - We have about 6 or 7 inches of snow. It started snowing yesterday afternoon and stopped during the night.  I baked a pumpkin pie & 6 loaves of banana bread.  Tom came in evening.  We had chicken casserole.  The usual laundry, etc. and Rummikub.  I called Lester to wish him Happy Birthday.  Also talked to Myrtle - 5 inches of snow there.

Fri., January 17, 2003 - Spent the afternoon in Zoya's apartment.  She had special medical examination in the morning & needed someone around in p.m.  Pat Ross was there, too. We had a good talk.  In evening Mitch & Anna came while Mary went to a company party.

Ack.  I don't remember a work party in January 2003.  Oh, well.  

And we still have snow here.  You really gotta love that some snow melts during the day, making for muddy roads and chores in the p.m., and then freezes overnight so that I am confronted with a rugged landscape of frozen ice/snow/mud.  Almost gets me cranky by the time I am done and back in the house.  So, glad that today is sunny and warm.  Hoping for less snow by tomorrow morning, even though it means more mud tonight.  The photo is from a day or two after our 8 to 10 inches of snow and everything was all frosty one morning.

Chugging along

Sun., January 12, 2003 - Nancy & I to church at All Saints Luth. Church where Mary goes.  We ate dinner at Popeyes - then got groceries & back here.  I showered, Nancy vacuumed & then we played Rummikub.

Mon., January 13, 2003 - Had a nice chat over the phone with Zoya. Played cards tonight.  Didn't win any game this evening.

Tues., January 14, 2003 - Had a Handi-Van take me to the "College."  Mary brought me home.  Asked Delores to come in evening to play Rummikub.

Grandma isn't giving me much to work with here, but I guess Life can't be exciting and newsworthy every single day, especially if you are over 90 like Grandma was here.  But, I'll get this posted nonetheless so I can keep this blog going.  Chugging along like the little engine that could.  (I put "train" first, but realized that was wrong, and it makes sense because it was the engine that did all the work, not the whole train.)

 

Fingers crossed

Sun., December 22, 2002 - I baked banana bread & apricot bread.  Nancy came in a.m.  She did some laundry & vacuumed, etc. while I showered.  Mary went to Writers Club meeting at Zoya's.  Mitch & Anna stayed here.  We played UNO, Go Fish, and Crazy Eight.
Mon., December 23, 2002 - Went to Zoya's apartment in a.m.  Gave her a loaf of apricot bread & some peppernuts.  Had a nice visit.  In p.m. I went to Grace's apartment with a loaf of apricot bread & some peppernuts.  She was sorry to tell me that her children didn't want her to drive me places -- they are concerned about her health.  She seems to have more problems than are apparent.  Went to Card Club in evening & took the sleigh bells along.  After club I stopped at Dolores's place & we played Rummikub.  Home Nurse came at noon and I'm discharged from that service.
Tues., December 24, 2002 - Made some candies with almond bark, marshmallows, and peanuts.  Also made apple crisp to take to Nancy's this evening.  Tom & Merilyn stopped after their 5:00 church service & took me to Nancy's.  Had supper there.  Mary, Mitch & Anna came too.  We exchanged gifts.  I stayed all night at Nancy's.

I clearly remember Grandma's banana bread and apricot bread.  Also, many many treats that she made for Christmas.  I must say we do not have the volume of sweets these Christmases as we did when Grandma was around to make them, but that's probably okay.  We do fine with the sweets that are there.

It's a long shot to be sure, but there is a competition to have special items included in an exhibition at the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen.  People are to submit a short essay about a particular object and why it brings them happiness.  Some of the items will be selected for the exhibition and those contributors will receive tickets to see the whole collection.  One person will receive two airline tickets to Copenhagen.  And it's all by email to start, so I've risked not even an overseas postage stamp by entering.  I wrote about the little tag I took from Grandma's place at the Pioneer House.  The one that she put outside the door to let the person checking tags know that she was okay.  It makes me happy to look at the tag because I am reminded of how adventuresome Grandma was to leave Winside behind and move to Lincoln and start making new friends at her age.  The tag reminds me that things will be okay.

I do not have high hopes of my submission making the cut nor especially of winning airline tickets, but it doesn't hurt to try, right?

Gearing up for Christmas

Sat., December 7, 2002 - Finished addressing most of my Christmas cards.  Talked to Greta in p.m.  Mary brought meat of 2 wild ducks & 1 wild goose.  Friends of hers hunt but don't care for the meat.  They skin the birds & then cut off the meat.  I soaked the meat in cold water.
Sun., December 8, 2002 - Nancy came at noon & brought KFC - I had potatoes & fried apples ready.  I showered & she did some cleaning.  Mitch & Anna here while Mary went to a meeting at Zoya's.  We played UNO.
Mon., December 9, 2002 - Mailed 11 Xmas cards.  Played cards tonight.  Dolores came (I baked 4 loaves of pumpkin bread) here afterward & we played Rummikub.

Now I do remember getting the duck and goose meat from my former co-worker.  I do not recall specifically giving it to Grandma, but I obviously did.  Half of a memory is better than none at all, right?

For no reason whatsoever, here's a recipe.  :-)

Done and done

Tues., November 19, 2002 - Nancy here at 7:30.  We thought the surgery was to be in the morning but it was changed to afternoon.  Mary came & we told her to come back after lunch.  The nurses took me to the "room" about 12:30.  Mary came back a little after 11:00 and Dale also came.  Back in my room about 3:00.  All went well.  Tom came in the evening.
Wed., November 20, 2002 - Bill's birthday.  Nancy stopped in the morning before work.  Lora took me home from the hospital.
Thurs., November 21, 2002 - A home nurse came in a.m.  Zoya brought telephones so I could pick one out I wanted to use.  Lora brought a scale.  I was told to weigh myself every day-- since I had no scale she brought one -- my Xmas present from the Wahoo Iversens.  Nancy came in evening -- brought potato soup -- did the laundry.

It still amazes me that one can be opened up for a fairly involved surgery in the afternoon and then go home the next day.  It's good in most cases I'm sure, but still impressive and slightly unnerving in my opinion.

How nice that even with everything going on, the first thing Grandma mentioned on the 20th was that it was Bill's birthday.  Seems fitting to find a photo of the three kids that were mentioned in these entries.  (And look, Tom's smiling!)  Surely Mom called at some point there to find out things were going?  Maybe she talked to someone other than Grandma.

Almost too much excitement, then and now

August 1, 2002:  Talked to Myrtle this morning.  Tom here this evening for the usual tasks -- laundry, shower and Rummikub.
August 2, 2002:  Made rhubarb swirl for tomorrow.  Not a "blah" day.  Dolores came right after dinner and we played Rummikub.  Zoya came about 3:00 -- brought some Pepperidge Farm snacks. Delores left then.  Later Marilyn M. came -- she brought some "egg rolls" -- first time I had some -- really good.  Zoya and I played Rummikub before Marilyn came.  Was a very enjoyable day.
August 3, 2002:  Tom came for me at 11:00 a.m.  Merilyn had to work today.  We went to Nancy's for the July birthdays.  Bill's and Jayson's couldn't come -- had a wedding in Omaha.  Greta, Mary, Mitch, Anna, Dale and family, and Jeff M. all there for dinner. The men helped Dane move some furniture.  We gals and kids went over to Dale's new house -- really nice.  They will be spending tonight there for the first time.  Quite an occasion.  Mary, Mitch, Anna, Tom and I had lunch with Nancy before we went home.  A wonderful day!!!

Well, I got a bit confused with the above retelling of 2002 events.  I think the men probably helped Dale move some furniture since Dane would have been 14 years old and hadn't moved out of the house yet.  And I think the last bunch of us had supper before we went home; lunch was probably with the big bunch.  But, it sounded like a grand couple of days for Grandma, so maybe she was thinking faster than she was writing.  Or else, equally possible, I am just missing something obvious to everyone else.

The internet at home is up and running!  As it turns out, three volunteer trees, one by the east pasture gate and two in the goats' pen had grown enough to block the radio signal from Ceresco.  So, the very nice internet guy that came out (ex-Army, which explains it) helped John cut down the trees.  Then we had a 100% signal.  Yay!  I told John to leave the branches in the goats' pen where they were because 1) it was 98 degrees out, and 2) the goats love eating leaves and bark.  That turned out to be a bit of a mistake.  The goats had a great time to be sure, but one of them apparently does not have an "off" switch.  He was bloated-looking last night but acted okay.  This morning when I went for chores, he was down instead of standing like he always is.  I had read previously that sick goats can go downhill very rapidly and die without much warning.  So, I consulted some online friends and have been tending to poor Andy ever since.  We went for a couple of walks to get his innards moving and of course, had to take Barney along so he wouldn't cry.  I have massaged Andy's belly and generally have been checking on him every 30 minutes.  I think he may be out of the woods; for awhile there he was straining like he was throwing up, but instead of anything coming out, his cheeks would fill a bit and he would chew, like a cow chewing cud.  I am thinking that meant he was re-arranging things, so to speak.  I also heard some loud bowel sounds around that time.  Lesson learned with excess leaves.

Here's a photo of the sick boy and myself last night before he got sick.  [Oops, noticed after originally posting that this is Barney, not Andy.  And for the record, Andy seems to be doing much better.]

Two trips

July 26, 2002:  Called Zoya in a.m. about her trip to Germany.  She came in afternoon and we played Rummikub.  Delores here in evening for more Rummikub.  The kids came home midday from their trip.
July 27, 2002:  Had a long telephone talk with Nancy this morning.  Greta called right after dinner.  She had sweet corn to freeze this p.m.  Mary came in late p.m. to get my surplus fruit salad and cake.
July 28, 2002:  Today is Nancy's birthday -- also little Sarah's.  She came in the late afternoon -- brought KFC chicken dinners for us.  I showered and then we played Rummikub.  She told a lot about their vacation.

I think Germany is probably a fun trip, but my first priority is Denmark.  Unless, of course, Mom's ancestry DNA thingy comes back and we aren't Danish after all but Lithuanian instead.  Then, I would want to to to Lithuania.

I found out via the internet not too long ago, well the 4th of July actually, that some Danes have a big 4th of July celebration.  Not for some holiday or commemoration of their own, but for the United States' holiday.  Seems some transplanted Danes came back to the old country and bought some land.  Well, here I will leave it to an article I found to tell the story.

     It may surprise some Americans to know that the Fourth of July is not just celebrated in America, but around the world. And the biggest celebration of American Independence Day outside the United States takes place in the hills of Jutland in Denmark, where thousands of people have gathered every year since 1912 to celebrate the day in true American style.

     In a story that was repeated throughout Europe in the 1800 and 1900s, many Danes bid farewell to friends and family who set off for America to build a new life for themselves, often never to return. The Rebild Society was founded in order to provide a place for Danish Americans meet with the friends and loved ones they left behind in Denmark.

     The place they chose was the peaceful hilly moorland in Jutland known as Rebild Bakker (bakker means hills in Danish). A collection was taken up by Danish Americans to purchase 190 acres of the property, which was then presented to the Danish government as a national park for the purpose of Danish born Americans to celebrate Independence Day and other American holidays there. The park is open all year round to the public who are free to enjoy its natural beauty.

     Rebild Bakker park is visited by over 400,000 people each year, making it one of Denmark’s top tourist attractions. As well as being an area of natural beauty, the park offers visitors many American-themed attractions such as a replica of Lincoln’s log cabin, which serves as a Danish emigrant museum, telling the stories of the 300,000 or so Danes who left their homeland for America in the 1800 and 1900s. There is a replica of a totem pole given to Franklin D. Roosevelt called Kolteen after an Indian chief located at the park, as well as statues of well known Danes, Danish Americans and President Taft. These include Max Henius, who founded the society, Victor Borge, who served as an honorary president of the society, and Jens Toldstrup, an important member of the Danish Resistance movement during the Second World War.

     The Rebild Society has its own flag, which was designed to combine the American and Danish flags, along with a constellation of stars symbolising emigration and the night sky which we all share.

     The first celebration of American Independence Day at Rebild Bakker in 1912 proved to be a rather inauspicious start to a long and well loved tradition. First, the celebrations were delayed until 5 August, due to the country being in national mourning following the sudden death of King Frederik VIII. The weather proved to be terrible on the day, with rain coming down in buckets. Still, between 10,000 to 15,000 people gathered on the hills, huddling under their umbrellas, where they cheered the new king and celebrated American Independence.

     Over the years, the celebrations continued. Each year, the celebrations feature keynote speakers from both the United States and Denmark. American speakers over the years have included Walt Disney, Walter Cronkite, Pat Boone, Dionne Warwick and even Richard Nixon. Danish speakers have included Queen Margrethe, her sons Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim, film director Bille August, and former Prime Ministers Poul Nyrup Rasmussen and Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

     The nearby city of Aalborg hosts a festival called American Days to coincide with the Fourth of July celebrations at Rebild Bakker, including concerts, exhibitions and tours of the area. Besides the keynote speakers, there are parades, singing, activities for children, and plenty of food and drink on offer to celebrate the Fourth of July at Rebild Bakker.

     The American Independence Day celebrations at Rebild Bakker bring together Americans and Danes to celebrate the bond between their two nations. Although they may now live an ocean away, Americans of Danish heritage have not forgotten where they came from and many return to their homeland to celebrate and visit with the friends and family they have left behind.

That clinches it.  Whenever I do go to Denmark, I will have to go over the 4th!!  Here's just one photo I found from one year's celebration.