Valerie's Voice – Page 98 – Musings on Life

Stinging Nettle and an Angel

On our camping trip to Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park we did some hiking (and toured the cave too.) On one hike we had a great, wide trail to walk on but there was a very narrow section that took us through some brush…and Stinging Nettle. We, of course, did not know the nettles were there but we quickly found out even though I’ve never been stung by nettles before we knew the symptoms. It’s distinct!

After pouring some drinking water on our legs we continued to hike on but just a few minutes later we stopped to talk to the camp host who was on his ATV checking on the trail. He was a kind man and eager to talk to us and had a wealth of knowledge about the park and its plants. I asked about nettles. He said there were a lot of Stinging Nettle in the park but he had an antidote…Jewelweed. Within seconds he identified some Jewelweed and picked a few leaves for us to rub on our legs. Almost instantly it took away the sting! We were pleasantly surprised and very happy to run across this angel on the trail. The nettle sting didn’t bother us any more!

Four Raccoons and a Cooler

We rented a camping cabin in Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park. This is not our first experience with camping cabins but it is our first time staying in a MN State Park camping cabin. Can I say they are adorable?

The “main room” has two built-in bunk beds with room to sleep 6 (single on top and double on bottom – both sides). It also has a small, built-in table with two benches and an overhead, electric light fixture that looks like a camping lantern. The furniture is made of pine logs and the entire cabin lined with knotty pine. There are many hooks and electrical outlets. A small screened- in porch is attached to the main cabin with a door between the two rooms. The door between is solid and lockable but the screen door to the outside only has a hook which locks from the inside.

As we unloaded our gear from the provided, pull-in cart we put our small cooler with our drinks on the porch. Then I noticed the freshly-made banana bread I brought along and last minute put the bread in the “drink cooler” to get it out of the heat.

Off we went, hiking with friends and had a campfire after that so we didn’t walk back to our cabin until later that evening, after dark. We had forgotten our flashlight so my husband used his iPhone’s flashlight feature. (My phone was charging inside the cabin…that’s modern camping!)

As we opened the screen door my husband said “look!” He shined the light in the corner and there were four raccoons backed against the wall…caught! They had successfully opened the screen door (did one hold it open for the others???) and all four raccoons entered the porch, somehow turned the handle on the cooler from the closed position to the open position, took off the cooler cover and proceeded to eat all two bags of banana bread! Immediately one of the bigger guys bravely walked right past us and out the door we held open, but the other three were still cowered in the corner. My husband had to shoo them out the door. I wish I had a photo but the picture is clear in our minds of the four guilty raccoons and two empty bags of banana bread. I hope they liked it!

Blueberry Picking

I picked blueberries this morning at Little Hill Berry Farm. It’s great to have fresh, local, organic fruit available close to home. My motivation this morning, on the last day of picking for this season, was to have some available for my son who is home for a short visit from Mozambique. He made arrangements to come back to attend a college friend’s wedding in MI and stopped by MN for a few days before heading back to Africa. It’s so good to see him. It was a sweet moment when he Skyped home this morning and precious, little Zoey (21 months) said “Hi Daddy!” It’s the first time I’ve heard her say daddy.

Last July when his wife and daughter were visiting us in Minnesota and I took them Little Hill Berry Farm to pick blueberries. It was a first experience for them and now a fun memory.

Lakewood Memorial Cemetery

My Auntie Ag is buried in Lakewood Cemetery. So are my paternal grandparents Torkel and Elizabeth. Torkel left Norway when he was 17 years old. After he established himself in America he went back and married his sweetheart, Elizabeth, and brought her back to America.

The Lakewood Cemetery is in the heart of the city of Minneapolis. Roads meander the rolling hills through the cemetery that overlooks Lake Calhoun, with lovely majestic trees, stately monuments, large head stones and grave makers. There is a large, modern mausoleum but the hidden gem is the Lakewood Memorial Chapel. On a recent visit I brought my friend to see this chapel that is on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s an amazing piece of architecture, completed in 1910, that stands alone in it’s lovely spot without much fanfare.

The website explains:

“The chapel interior was created by New York designer Charles Lamb and many consider it the most perfect example of Byzantine mosaic art in the United States. In 1909, Lamb traveled to Rome to enlist the services of six highly accomplished mosaic artists who had just recently completed a project in the Vatican. The artists created more than 10 million mosaic pieces, called tessellae, from marble, colored stone, and glass fused with gold and silver. The artists then traveled to Minneapolis to assemble the work inside the chapel. Upon its completion in 1910, the Lakewood Memorial chapel was the only building in the country with an authentic mosaic interior.”

Imagine that…10 million pieces of tile and the designs created are stunning! It’s an marvelous piece of art that is worth seeing.

A Step Back In Time

lamp

We stepped back in time last week when we visited my 96-year-old aunt, Flo. Well, she’s not really my aunt…she’s my aunt’s friend but they lived together since 1937 so she’s a part of the family. My very special Auntie Ag died in 2004 but we try to stay connected with her friend, Flo. My aunt and Flo met at a munitions plant in the 1930’s where they both were working at the time. They became lifelong friends.

Flo still lives in the same house that these two women bought in 1968. It was only a year or two old when they bought it and it was very high-quality construction and workmanship. However, Flo told us the gold living room carpet and draperies were the first on their list to change out. Forty-eight years later the gold, wool carpeting is still there –in remarkably good shape – and the gold, full-length heavy, lined draperies, which cover a wall of windows overlooking a creek running through the backyard, are still hanging.

She recently replaced the original refrigerator because it was making a noise, although it was still working. The original built-in, avocado-green oven and stovetop works and the original vinyl is still covers the kitchen floor.

The living room furniture is mostly original too. My favorites are the two tall gold, glass lamps that adorn each side of the sofa (which I remember the sofa being covered in clear plastic for many years.)

I have always loved going to their home…it holds many happy memories for me.

As we sat in her comfortable living room we asked Flo about the jobs she’s had over the years and for the next hour she told us some very interesting stories. I’d suggest to anyone with a relative or friend over ninety to ask about their work history. It’s revealing. What a delightful afternoon.

As we walk through the door of this wonderful home it seems we take a step back in time for a little while and it feels good. Then awhile later we walk back into the real world again.

Words – the song

I love the lyrics of “Words” a song by Hawk Nelson (partial lyrics below). Words can be very powerful. The old adage “Sticks and stones can break my bones but words will never hurt me” is not true. The words of this song ring true.

“Words” by Hawk Nelson

They’ve made me feel like a prisoner
They’ve made me feel set free
They’ve made me feel like a criminal
Made me feel like a king

They’ve lifted my heart
To places I’d never been
And they’ve dragged me down
Back to where I began

Words can build you up
Words can break you down
Start a fire in your heart or
Put it out

Let my words be life
Let my words be truth
I don’t wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to You {God}

If so inspired, click here to listen to the song in its entirety .

Goats

On a recent walk on Carleton College campus my friend and I came upon the unique smell of manure, and then we heard the sounds of bleating so we turned and walked towards the sound. We found several goats in a fenced-in area on campus. There was a sign that explained the goat’s presence. It said “Eco Friendly control of invasive brush and unwanted weeds.” It was a fun surprise on a routine walk – and the goats seem happy and are doing a good job!

My Lilies in Bloom

Stargazers are my favorite lily and I look forward to their blooms every July.

I’ve forgotten the names of these two types of lilies I purchased from the Day Lily Farm near Lonsdale a few years ago, but they are thriving.

Ava Maria

The sun was shining and the sky was blue the day we went on a three hour boat cruise through the Fjord-du-Saguenay. Hills with lush shades of greens and rocky cliffs met the Saguenay River forming the lovely fjord.

We voyaged up the river and then turned around. On the way back the boat slowed down and the tour guide pointed out a statue of Mary (35 feet high) on the side of a cliff. The story is this: In the winter of 1878 a salesman who traveled the roads in and around Quebec was crossing the Saguenay when the ice broke and he and his horse and sleigh were pulled beneath the icy water. He was alone and helpless. Knowing he was dying he prayed to the Blessed Virgin Mary to save him. He miraculously survived and knew the Virgin Mary had assisted him. He commissioned this statue to be built to honor her.

The boat idled along and the song Ava Maria resounded over the loud speaker. It was an unexpected but holy moment.

Here’s the English translation of the Latin prayer Ava Maria:

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and in the hour of our death. Amen.

Tenting

On our recent trip to Canada we camped one night in a city park on our way home to Minnesota. We enjoyed a campfire then crawled into our sleeping bags about 10ish, but since it was the 4^th of July weekend fireworks sounded late into the night and we didn’t fall asleep right away. So when we woke up in the morning we were surprised to see a tent in the site next to us. The owner must have pulled in late and set up the little tent. When I came back from the bathroom a tall, young man crawled out of the tent. We nodded at each other and I wondered if he’s traveling with anyone. As I was getting breakfast ready another young man crawled out of this tent. I thought that’s nice, he is traveling with someone but I thought the tent must have been cozy. Then to my surprise a third man crawled out of this two man tent and I started to giggle. They rolled up their sleeping bags, lifted the little tent right off the ground, took apart the two poles, folded the tent and put it all into the trunk of their car without saying a word, then drove off. It was comical to think we used our big family tent for the two of us and they had a small two person tent for three of them! What a fun way to start the day.