Marion Gunderson Art (and the Farmer's Daughter)

I’m going to write about my January 3, 2012, caucus experience as if it were for my personal journal. (Almost. Not 100% candidly, but close.) I don’t journal often and later wish I had a record of those moments especially important to me. I’m too lazy to write a post here and a separate private journal entry so, here goes. Hopefully when 5-year-old grandson Jackson is 25, he’ll enjoy reading of my experience. Just as I enjoy reading my dad’s speech from when he campaigned in 1968 to be a delegate to the National Republican Convention.

The basic premise here is that I believed in something and felt that I shouldn’t sit back and let others do the work to promote what I believed in. And, that now, with the event in the past, I feel really good about it.

It has to do with promoting a conservative candidate. If you don’t want to read any more, just click out of this post. If you do want to read further, scroll down past the dotted/blank space (below) and read on. I realize that by posting this, I may alienate some readers. However, I hope that my posting at this point is ok with readers, since, now that the caucus is past, I’m not trying to persuade anyone to vote for “my” candidate. (I guess…unless you are from out of state and your caucus/primary hasn’t taken place yet.) I’m just really excited about my experience and want to record it. And share it with those who want to be shared with.

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In Tuesday night’s Iowa caucus, I spoke on behalf of, and voted for Newt Gingrich. Anything of a political nature is so unlike me. I’ve been on the core committee (co-chair in 1989 and chair in 1999) for two bond referendums for new school buildings in Perry. Other than that, I’ve pretty much been a political wallflower, too timid and too non-versed (I thought) to feel like I could develop an opinion 100% on my own.

The contrast is that in the last five years before the caucus, I’d been in the presence of Newt three times (now four) to listen to him speak regarding how history relates to our nation’s future. (Two of those times were book signings.) My gosh. Why couldn’t Newt Gingrich, instead of Marshall Farley, have been my high school history teacher? Newt makes history come alive for me. He made me feel like I was crossing the Delaware with Washington. He made me feel as if I was at Pearl Harbor in 1941. He made me feel as if I was present when the Constitution was developed and signed. And, for me he connected it all to our country’s future. For me his methodology makes everything such a compelling history lesson that Newt doesn’t need to turn on some fake, kiss-babies campaign smile.

Callista Gingrich, me (Louise), Bill (my husband), and Newt Gingrich at the Santa Maria winery in Carroll, Iowa. December 29, 2011. (Click on image to enlarge.)

I’m a conservative (not necessarily Republican) by nature. I have been for several years. The difference in recent years, due to Newt, is that I now have a fire lit under me.

So I started to pay more attention by watching, when possible, this fall’s debates. I saw more of the same from Newt during the debates. Then I saw all the attack ads targeted at Newt, while Newt was trying to wage a positive campaign. And I got disgusted.

On Thursday night before the caucus, Bill and I drove to Carroll to, once again, listen to/see Newt. Callista was with him. What a pleasant experience. (Callista kept saying she really liked my camera. I thought, “Oh sure, she probably doesn’t know anything about photography, and is just saying that. Little did I know that one of her loves is photography. She provided the photography for one of the books authored by Newt, Rediscovering God in America.)

On Facebook I had written about seeing and listening to Newt in Carroll, “We really enjoyed Newt. It’s the third time I’ve seen him over the past five years (second time for Bill). Each time he seems so much like a younger version of my educated/no-nonsense/strict-but-gentle dad who “didn’t know anything” until I “got it” as I got older. Bill is more versed in history, the Constitution and what’s going on today than I am. So, a lot (all?) of what Newt says reinforces what Bill already knows/believes. For me, listening to Newt is like getting a comprehensive (connecting history with the present and also connecting disciplines) education instead of a campaign speech. We like that. Even though he is very intellectual and has expertise, his answers/explanations meet with common sense and resonate with my value system. He’s pragmatic and his answers are no-nonsense, non-scripted. He seems so genuinely passionate about his concern for our future. And throughout his entire speech and Q and A, he did not say one negative thing about any other GOP candidate; he was 100% positive. All of that just makes us just really, really enjoy and trust the guy. On top of that, no plastic about him. (We also enjoyed Callista. I had assumed she would seem artificial. She seemed very warm and personable.)”

That night at Carroll, I signed the attendance sheet, including providing my address and phone number. When I provided the number, I knew I was setting myself up to get a call from the Newt campaign. (I’d not yet received one.)

The Friday before the caucus, I received that call, although when I answered the phone, I had no idea who the caller was, since I only could see that it came from a 515 area code number. I’m not sure why I stayed on the line, because for all the other calls (bazillions of them) I would hang up as soon as I realized it was a political call (even though many of them showed up on caller ID as a local-looking 515 phone number). For this one particular call, I stayed on the line. It was a recording saying that Newt was going to have a teleconference call and that I could dial in to participate. I could even ask questions.

Dial in I did. On Friday. Again on Saturday. And a third time on Monday. It was fascinating to listen to all the questions people asked each time, and to hear Newt’s sincere, personalized responses.

On Friday evening Bill and I had a voice message saying that I had volunteered to give a speech at the caucus on behalf of Newt. Typically I think that assumption would have prompted me to return the call and firmly let the caller know that I had NOT volunteered to do any such thing. I’d only provided my phone number.

However, I think I was kind of titillated by the idea of giving a speech in support of Newt. I was especially drawn in because I knew I believed in what Newt stands for and I didn’t think it was right to just sit back and rely on other people to use their energy to stick their necks out on a limb. So, I made the return call…saying that I’d be glad to provide a speech. I was told that I’d receive a letter that I could read at the caucus, or I could write my own speech.

(I’ll post Part II tomorrow, January 6th, or over the weekend.)

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When in Carroll, I recorded a little video of Newt’s speech. Unfortunately, I didn’t begin early enough to record the “history lesson” part. But, if you’d like to see the other (i.e., campaign) segments, if you’ll email me, I’ll send a link to that video. MGundersonArt@gmail.com

Click here to go to Louise Gunderson Shimon’s blog’s home page.

This evening 5-year-old grandson Jackson said to me, “Your brain is like a hard drive.” After a few seconds of his serious thinking he said, “It IS a hard drive!!!”

Earlier he asked, “Nanna, why do you look old?” No simile or metaphor with the “old” question, but it warrants inclusion in this post!

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(Click here to go to Louise Gunderson Shimon’s blog’s home page.)

I know I’ve been lax with blogging lately. I’ve had quite a bit (not holiday related) going on that’s been taking a lot of time. Good stuff, but just very time consuming.

Now I’m in full holiday mode. This weekend I’m in Texas with Abby and grandson Jackson. On today’s agenda is making clove-and-cinnamon scented orange pomanders and also baking gumdrop muffins. I remember making an orange pomander for my grandmother DeElda Gunderson when I was a little girl. I think that was the only time I ever made one until two years ago. I knew when I made one for Grandma that my mom thought it would be something from my heart that my ill grandmother could/would enjoy. It transcended the generations.

I was introduced to the gumdrop muffins at a P.E.O. meeting hosted over 25 years ago by Nancy Martin of Rolfe. She let me take some muffins home. My daughters fell in love with them and I’ve made them every year since.

This post is a copy of my post from two years ago. That is the year Jackson and I first made orange pomanders, with my dad making them with us. Three generations of hands. That was my dad’s last Christmas but we are keeping the tradition alive. Also, Jackson and I have made gumdrop muffins together I think every December (except maybe his first December?) of his little life.

If you want to have a pomander ready for Christmas Day giving, it would be good to make it now. It might even be a little late to have it ready for Christmas, because it needs to have time to dry out. However, if you 1) place it loosely in some tissue paper 2) in some sort of paper bag so air can circulate around it 3) in a fairly dark (I think?) and dry environment, it should be mostly dried by Christmas. Even if it isn’t, you can still give it, telling the recipient to give it a little longer before taking it out of the bag permanently.

A link to a video with pomander directions and also the gumdrop recipe are below.

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Nancy Martin’s Gumdrop Muffin recipe is 99% for certain being posted by the end of tomorrow. [It is now posted. See the update below.]

• UPDATE: One of Santa’s elves came through with the typed (instead of Nancy’s with my chicken scratches on it) version of the Gumdrop Muffin recipe. Here is the Gumdrop Muffin recipe!

Some pomanders are simply made with just these ingredients and a ribbon. To watch how to make a pomander with these ingredients and a ribbon (or without a ribbon), scroll down to the "click here" link for a video demonstration. (Be sure to notice that you'll need whole cloves as opposed to ground cloves.)

Also, are you looking for the perfect gift for a child to give to an elderly person who doesn’t really need anything? Or, actually, for the perfect item for anyone to give to anyone?

How about an orange pomander? Basically an orange pomander is an orange with whole cloves pushed into it. It is used as an air freshener because it smells really, really, really good. If you google “orange pomander” you’ll find many sets of directions for making one. Some directions call for a preservative called orris or sandalwood oil. Others use just an orange, whole cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon…and a ribbon.

I remember making a pomander for my grandmother when I was little. (I’m almost positive I didn’t use orris or sandalwood oil.) I was so proud to give it to her because I made it all by myself (and because it smelled so good).

Click here for a less-than-3-minute video of a young girl demonstrating how to make an orange pomander.

If you do google, you’ll find that some directions are for a “quick” making of a pomander that could be given right away. Some versions are for a pomander that isn’t given until after three or four weeks of drying. Either way, it is a gift from the heart, inexpensive, and smells so refreshing.

(Click here to go to this blog’s home page.)

What I remember as the Standard Oil station (earlier known as something else and more recently known as Ropa’s Restaurant) in Rolfe, Iowa, was knocked down today, December 2, 2011.

I was in Rolfe this afternoon for about 90 minutes. When I drove into town, this old Standard station building was standing. When I left, it looked like this (below).

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The former Standard Oil station in Rolfe, Iowa. Looking southeast from the northeast corner at the stoplight intersection in Rolfe. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

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My earliest memory of this building is from when either my sister Peggy and/or I had an appointment with (I think?) Dr. Clark. His office used to be in the building across from the former Standard station (pictured above). After the appointment, Peggy and I crossed the street to the Standard station where we purchased candy cigarettes. When Daddy (Deane Gunderson) came along and picked us up, Peggy and I proudly displayed for him our candy cigarettes. I bet we were so proud that Peggy and I each probably had one dangling from our lips.

Up until this part of the blog post, I’m just sort of imagining the scenario. But…Oh — my — gosh. When Daddy picked us up he was so livid that we had candy cigarettes. He angrily drove straight home and went straight to the incinerator to burn them.

At the time I had no idea how addicting cigarette smoking could be, nor any other factors associated with smoking. However, because Daddy was so upset, to this day, I’ve never smoked one puff of anything.

It’s odd that his disgust had this lifelong impact as opposed to making me rebel. Maybe there needs to be a little more of that type of parenting today. Of course, sometimes it really is difficult to determine if a parent’s action will result in the intended reaction from a child, or unintended rebellion. All I know is, I’m so thankful for that put-the-fear-of-God-in-me parenting moment from my dad.

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Taken from the post office parking lot corner in Rolfe, Iowa. Looking east. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

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I’m sure there is a lot of history associated with this building. Maybe sometime I’ll do some research. However, if you remember something about it, feel free to comment at the end of this post, or email me. mariongundersonart@gmail.com

(Click here to go to Louise Gunderson Shimon’s blog’s home page.)

Today I saw steam fog over West Lake Okoboji. According to this web site, “Steam fog forms when cold air moves over warm water. When the cool air mixes with the warm moist air over the water, the moist air cools until its humidity reaches 100% and fog forms. This type of fog takes on the appearance of wisps of smoke rising off the surface of the water.”

This was a view today of Browns Bay at Lake West Okoboji. Brrrrr!

The view from Browns Bay, West Lake Okoboji, looking to the northwest. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

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(Click here to go to Louise Gunderson Shimon’s blog’s home page.)

Last weekend I was a vendor at Art On the Prairie in Perry. While “vendor” sounds so impersonal, the (in my opinion) luscious aspect of the weekend was attendees viewed nine framed watercolors of Mother’s. (Actually two were prints.) And, I sold prints of Mother’s watercolors…over $600-worth to help out the Rolfe Public Library (Trust) where Mother worked for 35 years. That means, to date, more than $4,000 has been raised for the Rolfe Public Library Trust as a result of Mother’s watercolors.

As my Great-Aunt Ruth always used to say, “Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!”

Thank you to those who are supportive of this venture. If you are interested in seeing what prints are available, you may see them (and order) at this site. As of right now, there aren’t any prints at the Rolfe Public Library or Wild Faces Gallery in Rolfe because I have all of them. I’ll get prints there within the next week or two. The library and gallery usually have one size of each image. I typically have the largest inventory, trying to have on hand one of every size of every image (watercolor).

To avoid ordering online, I can be reached via email. mariongundersonart@gmail.com

In preparation for Art On the Prairie, I neglected a bunch of to-do list items and will be playing catch-up. I’ll soon get back to posting somewhat routinely.

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(Click here to go to Louise Gunderson Shimon’s blog’s home page.)

Ever since the fall harvest of 2010, I’ve wanted to take one swoop of video of the four grain elevators visible from Section 24, Roosevelt Township, Pocahontas County in northwest Iowa.

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CLICK on this map TO ENLARGE it. This map shows the location of the combine from which the video (below) was taken and the four grain elevators: Gilmore City, Rolfe, Havelock and Pocahontas. It also shows where I was raised, where my dad was born, and where he was raised.

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On October 5, 2011, during soybean harvest, Dan Allen let me catch that video from inside his and his brother Roger’s combine. The day was quite windy and dusty. Otherwise I might have taken the video from outside of the combine cab. The quality of the video (below) is lousy and I learned to use different camera equipment if there is a “next time.” Still, I’m pleased I got all four grain elevators in this order: Gilmore City, Rolfe, Havelock and Pocahontas. The Rolfe and Pocahontas grain elevators are easy to see…Havelock not so easy. And, you might have to watch the first 20 seconds of the video two or three times to catch the grain elevator in Gilmore City.

To catch them all (anyway if your eyesight is like mine), play the video in full-screen mode. If you pause the video at about 12 seconds from the start, you’ll see on the horizon at the far right one large grouping of trees. To the left of that grouping is another large grouping of trees. There’s a little fuzzy area of whitish mass above that second grouping of trees. That is the Gilmore City grain elevator.

At about the 1:04 point, the Havelock grain elevator is pretty faint whitish/grayish on the horizon somewhat near the right edge of the video.

I’m thankful to Dan and Roger for humoring me by allowing me this (as Roger called it) “pirouette” in the combine. Next year during corn harvest I’ll try for better footage.

Remember…full-screen mode to catch all four elevators.

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Mother painted grain elevators in three of these towns: Gilmore City, Rolfe and Pocahontas. The Gilmore City and Pocahontas grain elevators still stand. The Rolfe grain elevator in Mother’s watercolor was destroyed by fire in the fall of 1969.

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"Railway Station and Grain Elevator" at Gilmore City, Iowa, painted in 1951. 17.25" W x 13.25" H limited edition prints are available, $35.

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Pocahontas Grain Elevator II Prints are available in three sizes: Small (Limited Edition, ~10" W x ~12.3" H, $25), Grand (~ 17.9" W x 22" H, $50) and Largest ($70).

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Rolfe grain elevator watercolor by Marion Gunderson, circa 1950. In 1969 this grain elevator was destroyed by fire.

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The originals of these three grain elevator paintings will be on display at Art On the Prairie in Perry, Iowa, this weekend, November 12 and 13, 2011. Prints will also be available, with all profits going to the Rolfe Public Library.

(Click here to go to Louise Gunderson Shimon’s blog’s home page.)

Click on this postcard image to enlarge it.

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This weekend is Art On the Prairie in Perry, Iowa. At the Hotel Pattee (one of the venues), I’ll showcase several of Mother’s (Marion Gunderson) original watercolors. I’ll also have available prints of 30 of her watercolors. The pricing of the prints is very affordable: from $15 to $70.

In total there will be approximately 50 artists showcasing/selling their work in five venues; musicians and poets will provide entertainment.

On both days (Saturday and Sunday) the event starts at 10:00 AM. On Saturday it runs until 6:00 PM; on Sunday until 4:00 PM.

I will be located in the Nicollet Room on the lower level of the Hotel Pattee. This room is on the same level as the hotel’s bowling alley.

If you attend Art On the Prairie and come to the Nicollet Room, mention that you saw this blog post and you’ll receive a free note card (while supplies last).

ALL PROFITS from prints of Mother’s paintings GO to the ROLFE PUBLIC LIBRARY where Mother worked for 35 years. To date, over $3,500 has been given to the library as a result of the prints.

If you are curious as to what prints are available, you may view the images here. I will also have some matted prints available this weekend.

(Click here to go to Louise Gunderson Shimon’s blog’s home page.)

A new wind farm (or else an extension of an existing wind farm) is going up about five or six miles north of Manson, Iowa. These photos were taken today on-the-go. Nevertheless, they show the massive size of the windmills, especially when compared to the size of the trucks in the second photo.

As the first windmills were constructed in northwest Iowa, I thought they were fascinating and beautiful and I liked the concept. Now there are so many that I look forward to the expanses of horizon where no windmills exist.

Click here for the “Wind Industry Progress”  by Iowa county as of March 31, 2010.

Shown below are two separate windmills at different stages of construction. Clicking on the images will enlarge them. Twice enlarges even more.

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When I look from the road at operating windmills, the blades seem so small and fluid. In this second photo, compared to the size of the trucks, the blades look ENORMOUS.

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On Saturday and Sunday, November 12 and 13, I will be exhibiting originals of Mother’s (Marion Gunderson) watercolors, and selling prints of them at Art On the Prairie in Perry, Iowa. My location will be on the lower level of the Historic Hotel Pattee. Even if you are not interested in prints, if you are at the event, I hope you’ll come to my location. I will be by myself on the lower level (near the bowling alley in the “basement” of the hotel) and really, really, really hope there will be people coming in at least to chat.

In addition to about 50 art vendors, there will be musicians, poets and storytellers for youth (of all ages?!). I attended last year as a patron. It really is a classy event to kick off the holiday season.

So far over $3,500 (from sales of prints of Mother’s work) has been given to the Rolfe Public Library where Mother worked for 35 years.

From now until the event I’ll be posting mostly regarding the Nov. 11, 12 and 13 event.

(Click here to go to Louise Gunderson Shimon’s blog’s home page.)

Saturday night sister Peggy and I sat on the stage of the RAM Event Center…the same venue where we played basketball in high school in (Peggy) the late ’60s and (me) the early ’70s. As we watched the roller derby bout taking place on the gym floor, we mused, “Who would have ever thought when we played basketball in high school that one day there’d be a roller derby bout in that same gym?!”

Saturday night, October 29, 2011, the RAM Event Center (formerly the Rolfe School District’s gym) in Rolfe, Iowa, hosted the Dakota City (Iowa) Demolition Crew and the River City (Mason City, Iowa) Dames of Anarchy. With Halloween only two days away and the Oak Street location of the bout, the bout was billed as “A Nightmare on Oak Street.”

Not including the derby teams, officials, vendors, etc., I’m guessing there were somewhere between 140 and 175 in attendance. The admission fee* was $10 and well worth it for a night out with family.

Photos from the bout are here.

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This late 1960s photo is taken from almost the same vantage point as Peggy's and mine when we watched the roller derby bout Saturday night.( I.e., almost the same vantage point as the video above.) As the clipping caption says, Peggy is at the far right shooting a free throw. I assume the year is either 1967-68 or 1968-69. Does anyone know who the other white-uniformed player is? (Click on photo to enlarge.)

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*The admission fee was charged by the home team…Dakota City Demolition Crew. The same team paid a flat rental fee for use of the RAM Event Center.

(Click here to go to Louise Gunderson Shimon’s blog’s home page.)