Mother's signature on one of the returned watercolors
Decades ago, my mother, Marion Gunderson, sold to a neighboring farming couple a few watercolors she painted in the late 1940s/early 1950s. Since she painted these before I was born, I was only vaguely aware these watercolors existed.
Last September my father, Deane Gunderson, a retired farmer who also worked in the 1940s as an engineer for John Deere, celebrated his 90th birthday. (Engineers are artists in a way!) In honor of my father’s 90th, the neighboring farming couple (now retired and moved into town—Rolfe, Iowa) returned three of these paintings to my father. My father had me ask my five siblings if any of them would like to have the paintings for themselves and/or their children. Because of either their lack of wall space (somewhat from already having many of Mother’s paintings), or their decor preferences or whatever, I am elated to be the lucky recipient of these paintings for my home.
There has also been interest in these paintings expressed by community members. I’m anxious to see what adventure that interest leads to.
Marion Gunderson Art (and the Farmer's Daughter) 
June 1, 2009 at 9:29 pm |
WOW!!! I had no idea you were so far along with this blog idea! CONGRATULATIONS!!! My hat (if I actually had one ;-)) is way, way, WAY off to you!!!
I LOVE the signature picture. The way you cropped it, the colors it captures, and of course Mother’s signature and my favorite year. 🙂 Who would have thought to zero in on this? (YOU!)
And the Swift quotation. Mother would love it.
And the banner’s colors, off-to-the-side dandelion, the tandem “farmer’s daughter” aspect, and more.
BRAVO!!!
June 1, 2009 at 9:33 pm |
“Watercolors to John Deere.” Mother, Daddy, and you.
Clean, crisp, legible, nice font, not overdone, easy to maneuver, more, more, more.
Ooooh! And the option to be notified of future comments to this post. I LIKE THAT!
June 1, 2009 at 9:40 pm |
So very nice. I, too, love this beginning–the banner, the colors, the title, the quote, the start of the story. Keep up the good work.
June 1, 2009 at 10:40 pm |
I totally agree with everything the other two Gundergals said! Thanks for your wonderful creation.
June 1, 2009 at 11:07 pm |
The “mat” around (and the text under) the signature picture. Subtle but very nice touch.
June 1, 2009 at 11:07 pm |
How fun to hear from you Gundergals. I’m glad you like the banner. That photo was taken from inside the garage at Gunderland, looking to the east and a tad to the south. I had no clue I would use it for the blog, but now am very glad I have it.
Josh told me about this blogging service. Since he has such a great blog and he said this service is popular I was motivated to investigate it.
June 1, 2009 at 11:12 pm |
The soft, pale blue around the blog’s white box (with fade-to-blue at the bottom): Were those your choices? I looked on other blogs, and it seems you must have selected this effect. VERY nice. Again, the whole blog is sort of understated elegance–perfectly suited to Mother.
June 1, 2009 at 11:12 pm |
Jana?
June 1, 2009 at 11:13 pm |
“Pinging”?
June 1, 2009 at 11:15 pm |
And every other comment in a box of an ever softer, paler blue. Nice way of giving some oh-so-subtle definition between the posts.
June 1, 2009 at 11:17 pm |
Oops: “even softer.”
You’re going to be excited when you see the big number of posts . . . only to realize all but two are from me! 😉
June 1, 2009 at 11:29 pm |
I had sort of noticed early on when I was looking at options the fading blue, but then didn’t notice it when I actually selected this customizable option. I’ll keep it since you think it looks nice, and so do I!
I don’t quite get the “Jana” thing. I think there is supposed to be some sort of option to make it so those don’t pop up, but I’m not sure. The pinging…I sort of understand it…kind of. But, not well enough to explain. Anyone out there that wants to explain can feel free to do so!
June 2, 2009 at 11:16 am |
Hey Louise, Congrats on launching your blog. It looks great. We’ll talk later today hopefully. 🙂
It looks great. 🙂
June 2, 2009 at 12:25 pm |
Hi Louise, nice work so far.
June 13, 2009 at 7:24 pm |
Hi Louise,
I am so impressed with the blog! You could have a new career. You truly are an inspiration. Your mother would be pleased.