Undoubtedly, many gardeners who grow tomatoes have more than they can handle — unless they do some canning. Even those who put up whole tomatoes, tomato juice, salsa or the like might have their hands full if they were overzealous and plotted too many plants, especially this summer in which there have been ideal growing conditions for those who have …
As a kid, I remember long drives to California. We never deviated from the planned route. Sometimes, our plan took us west to Washington, then south to Lakewood and Spring Valley, Calif., where our relatives lived. Once we went south to Texas to visit Mother’s relatives and then west along the old wooden highway that was featured in Steinbeck’s “Grapes …
Alexandria, Va., photographer Jeff Olson captured these scenes in Salers, a commune in the Cantal department in south-central France, on his recent trip.
Despite the prediction this summer would be hot and dry, the opposite was the case, which didn’t bode well for some gardeners who raise tomatoes. Early summer rains coupled with damp, cloudy weather conditions severely damaged this season’s crop. If your tomatoes were in a dry spot with lots of sunshine, you probably fared better. According to the Minnesota Extension Service, …
Alexandria, Va., photographer Jeff Olson and his traveling companions, including his wife, Joanne Barclay Burke Plager, and Dean Plager and Barclay Jackson, has an “incredible day and tea in Salers, a commune in the Cantal department in south-central France. It is famous for the Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée cheeses Cantal and Salers. It is also famous for the Salers breed of cattle …
On his recent European trip to France, Alexandria, Va., photographer Jeff Olson ended his boat travel in Mâcon, a small city in east-central France in the department of Saône-et-Loire, located in Burgundy. From there, he and his group headed west by automobile to Massif Central, an elevated region in south-central France, consisting of mountains and plateau with numerous castles and parks. Their …
The latest episode in my travels with Mister Rogers came recently in Fort Worth, Texas, when I told the story of our friendship to a district meeting of the Optimist’s Club. Before my talk, I read the international organization’s principles, among them —to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. To talk health, happiness and prosperity to …
The was a time when 5-and-10-cent stores (also known as five-and-dime stores or dime stores) were a 20th-century fixture in American downtowns. Then came the emphasis on specialty stores, and the rest is history. But that can’t erase the memories of many people who are 50 or older. Going to the five-and-dime store was something we all grew up with and loved. …
The following is from Tim Norton, re: his mother and my second-grade teacher. See: My last post, “A Serendipitous Chance to Remember Mrs. Norton.” Deeply touched, Tim, and hug your mom for me. “Tim, Your kind words were shared by me here at Creighton University as a tribute to all teachers (professors, TA, Adjunct, etc.) in the classroom and otherwise. …
Pablo Picasso’s famous untitled sculpture overlooking over a farmer’s market in Chicago and Georges Seurat’s “A Sunday on La Grande Jatte” in the Art Institute of Chicago caught the eye of Bloomington, Minn., photographer Dave Vorland on a recent trip to the Windy City.
The recent travels of Alexandria, Va., photographer Jeff Olson and his wife, Joanne Plager Burke Olson, took them to the commune of Port-de-Vaux in Ain department in eastern France, where hungry swans and ducks were their marina neighbors.
In 1965, my parents decided to move my younger brother and me from public to Catholic school in our little town in Minnesota. That meant I was the new kid in second grade, which probably explains, at least in part, why Mrs. Norton has such a special place in my heart. My teacher that year was tall and thin, somewhere …
In one of my mother’s closets, our family found some items she wanted in her funeral. We found them the day AFTER her funeral, of course. They included the Bible passage and poem below. We can’t turn back time and use them in her service, but we can place them here. PSALM 121 Behold, he who keeps watch over Israel …
Way back when I was a mere news puppy, wise old editors counseled us on all the news that was — and, specifically, wasn’t — fit to print. “Remember that our subscribers read the paper over breakfast,” they’d caution. “The kids are at the table, too.” Those were the words we lived by. Today’s edition of our local daily newspaper …
When I think of fall flowers, immediately the majestic mums come to mind. These are wonderful flowers that can become part of your landscape until the cold and snow arrives in November. While mums have more frost tolerance than most flowering plants, once the mercury drops to the mid 20s, even the late ones surrender. Mums come in a rich array …
Two comments on the state of politics today: John Hoeven lied. Start practicing now, so you are ready, in 2017, to say “Gov. Stenehjem” and “President Clinton.” First John Hoeven. I am glad that it took me a few days to get around to writing this because last week I was walking through a dusty parking lot in the Bad …
Alexandria, Va., photographer Jeff Olson’s travels in France on Sunday and Monday took him through 14 locks from Saint-Leger-sur-Dheune to Chegny and then to Fragnes, all located in in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne.
Broccoli is one of those garden vegetables that keeps on giving. After the first cutting of a large center head, the plant will produce smaller side heads for several weeks. And for those like me who enjoy a good broccoli salad, that’s dandy. Just yesterday, I was able to harvest several smaller heads on my four plants, which Therese used to …
The name David Vorland might ring a bell. Vorland spent most of his career at the University of North Dakota. As a UND student, he reported part time at the Grand Forks Herald and summers at the Harvey (N.D.) Herald-Press. After teaching journalism full time for five years at UND and St. Cloud (Minn.) State, he returned to UND as …
Bloomington, Minn., photographer Dave Vorland has an eye for the outdoors, as evidenced by these photos: A hummingbird checking out one of his partner Dorette Kerian’s feeders at their home, an orange-ish moon over the city Friday evening and a scenic view of the St. Croix River near Taylor Falls. The optical effect as shown in the moon photo is known …
Scenes from Le Crest, Chateau De la Verrerie in La Creusot and Saint-Léger-sur-Dheune in France caught the eye of Alexandria, Va., photographer Jeff Olson during his recent trip.
The large forest fires in the western United States have made for some spectacular photos of the moon and sun the past several days. Grand Forks photographer Russ Hons captures that beauty in these images.
Can Donald Trump keep it up? When will he implode? What explains his rise in the polls? How do we stop him? The pundits wring their hands. Josh Marshall thinks Trump is a doofus who uses sophisticated military strategy. Peggy Noonan, who penned the phrase “1000 points of light” for George H. W. Bush, declares Trump to be a sign of molecules …
Alexandria, Va., photographer Jeff Olson captured these images from Paris recently. Among them are shots from Notre-Dame-de-Paris, also known as Notre Dame Cathedral; the Latin Quarter; The Sainte-Chapelle, a royal medieval Gothic chapel, located near the Palais de la Cité, on the Île de la Cité in the heart of Paris; and the Eiffel Tower.
Shrimp and rice are staples of New Orleans and Cajun cooking. Jambalaya and gumbo are just two of the mouth-watering dishes that combine the two and have made Louisiana cuisine a favorite of many people. However, for those who work or are on the go, time is at a premium and preparing entrees such as those listed above is not always …
I watched the “CBS Evening News” last night. Not surprisingly, the lead story was about another shooting. But because this one involved journalists, in a small market, covering an everyday story about a worthwhile community activity, it resonated a bit more. No, this wasn’t KXMD in Williston, N.D. Or KXMB in Bismarck. Or KXJB in Fargo. But the faces of …
I want to bring you up to date on the threats to the Elkhorn Ranch, Theodore Roosevelt’s ranch in the North Dakota Badlands, called by many the “Cradle of Conservation.” It was there that the future president began developing his deep conservation ethic and later became our greatest conservation president ever. I’ve mentioned these things a couple of times in …
Maybe the name Eric Bergeson sounds familiar to you. For the past 15 years, several northwestern Minnesota newspapers have carried Bergeson’s weekly columns. Or maybe you’ve read one of six books, including “Pirates on the Prairie,” which the Minneapolis Tribune called “a Minnesota cultural and historical treasure.” Or maybe you saw his name in the news when he sought the …
Even though plants may look ripe for picking in August, most gardeners say you shouldn’t harvest rhubarb after the Fourth of July. That is good advice, since rhubarb becomes coarse and woody and loses its flavor later in the summer. And continued harvest through the summer months weakens the rhubarb plants and reduces the yield and quality of next year’s crop. But if …
The Minnesota Twins salvaged their season by sweeping the Baltimore Orioles this past weekend. Their offense is still stagnant, but their pitching seems to be gaining steam. On Sept. 1, the rosters expand from 25 to 40 players. In the past, the Twins have been conservative about bringing up prospects for the month of September. This year should be different. …
Grand Forks photographer Russ Hons has an eye for the outdoors. Here are some of the photos he took recently on a trip to western North Dakota. Among the shots is the majestic Milky Way photo taken above the Medora Musical at the Burning Hills Amphitheater just as the show concluded. The bull elk pictured came out to feed above the …
In 1981, I was a young broadcaster at KXMD-TV in Williston, N.D. Although the station had hired me to be their sports director, it became clear early on that I would wear many hats, due to the small staff and limited resources. That included shooting video and doubling as a news reporter from time to time. One afternoon, our News …
Most gardeners love large vegetables. So do the people who are the recipients of extra veggies from gardening friends whose bounty is beyond expectations. But there is an exception: large zucchini. Over my 40-plus years of gardening, I’ve never had any trouble giving away vegetables from my garden. That’s unless the vegetable is a humongous zucchini. (And in the case of one …
Grand Forks photographer Russ Hons took in the 50th Medora Musical recently. Here are some classic shots of the summer favorite. Among the performers in the musical is Misti Koop from Grand Forks.
If the early-fruiting apples are any indications, this year’s crop will be big. That’s unlike the 2014 harvest, which was down due to the awful winter the trees endured. The past winter was very mild, though, and we will have the apples as evidence. Apples are the most-dependable fruit for this area, which is in Zone 3. A frequent question is when will …
It’s been quite the (traumatic) year for those of us who enjoy the late night talk shows, what with the recent departures of Jon Stewart from “The Daily Show” and David Letterman from “The Late Show.” Earlier, Craig Ferguson from “The Late Late Show.” And earlier still, Jay Leno from “The Tonight Show.” It seemed like a good time to pick …
Anyone who has read one of Donna Leon’s best-selling novels knows about Commissario Guido Brunetti. Brunetti is the intelligent and capable police commissioner who confronts crime around his hometown of Venice, Italy. And he’s also the namesake of a cookbook by Leon and Roberta Pianaro, which features Venetian recipes such as orecchiette with asparagus; ravioli with squash, butter and sage; artichokes stuffed with …
I live in New York City, and have for 10 years. I lived in North Dakota, my home state, for 25. To me, these are mundane facts. But given the stunned reaction when I tell North Dakotans that I now live in NYC or when I tell New Yorkers that I am from N.D., most of you find me just slightly less …
Glads are a wonderful addition to any garden as we discussed in a recent column on this wonderful flower. There is so much information, though, so we want to devote a second column to glads. Glads are more effective and easier to care for if they have their own exclusive bed in the garden. If grown for cutting, the glads …
A few farmers launched the 2015 grain harvest south of Grand Forks last week. The ritual on the land herald’s at least two things: the arrival of fall and the beginning of a new school year are creeping ever closer.
Hats off to teachers on the move! All across Minnesota and North Dakota, fresh education graduates are setting off right about now for the great unknown … along with the rest of the tribe of itinerant teachers whose careers take them beyond the beaten track each August to classrooms over the horizon. If teaching is a calling, it often turns …
Home-grown tomatoes are nothing like those that can be purchased in grocery stores or supermarkets. That might be an understatement. In fact, in the opinion of many gardeners, there probably isn’t any food better than the first tomato of summer. I just sampled my first of the season — with just a dab of salt — from our garden today. It …
Thursday is the end of the workweek in the Arab world. Friday is the Sabbath. The sidewalks on Souk Street (Market Street) in Al Khoud are almost empty this Thursday night. Usually on Thursday night, the plastic tables and chairs outside the restaurants and coffee shops that line Souk Street are filled with men gathering to eat and talk. Moms, …
The great British writer and poet Rudyard Kippling wrote a book in 1901 titled “Kim.” In it, Kim, the young orphan of Irish parents, who has grown up among Indian playmates in old Lehore, is called “Friend of All the World” by an old Muslim horse trader who uses Kim to run errands. The modern-day Friend of All the World …