New Images/OLLI/What Santa Brought

January 4, 2010 by

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Within the next month, I hope to post a new image/print of another of Mother’s (Marion Gunderson) original watercolors. We are so close to having it profiled and ready for printing. However, the weather is wreaking havoc on different factors affecting the process.

In addition, I have a second original of Mother’s watercolors at Wild Faces Gallery in Rolfe (Iowa) awaiting the beginning of its profiling process. The prints of both of these originals will be the result of people seeing the originals at the November open house and asking if prints could be made of them.

(If you haven’t seen what prints of Mother’s watercolors are available so far and would like to do so, click on the “View and Order Prints” link on this blog’s home page.)

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Not the most exciting photo, but the classes are the cat's meow.

On my Christmas wish list, I included a few items related to photography. I’m a novice-of-a-novice as far as photography goes, but am enjoying learning more about it via OLLI classes at Iowa State University.

OLLI classes were formerly known as College for Seniors, with the main requirement being that participants needed to be at least 50 years old. These classes are the cat’s meow for anyone 50-and-above who wants to continue learning…perhaps after retirement…but without a huge time or monetary commitment. (We’re talking in the ballpark of a total of ten hours — sometimes fewer — and, depending upon the specific course, around $50 for most of the offerings.)

Last spring I took an OLLI digital SLR photography class. This fall I took an OLLI photography field trip class. (The field trips were on or near campus.) Several of us in the class have continued meeting on an informal basis with the instructor, Sam Wormley. Sam seems to know the answer to any photography-related question. He also answers with kindness, great patience and individualization.

Through the OLLI classes and informal meetings it seems that every time I come home, there’s a new photography “toy” that I’m excited about. Getting realistic about what I might actually use as an amateur, and what might fit in Santa’s budget, on my “wish list” I included three specific items. I was fortunate to receive all three items and am looking forward to learning how to use them. Sam is nice enough to continue helping me with my learning curve via emails, informal field trips, and another four-session photography field trip class. (That class will meet on Wednesday afternoons from April 21st through May 12th.)

Soon, I plan to include a post about one of the items I received for Christmas, thanks to learning about it via the OLLI classes. For an experienced photographer, the item won’t be any revelation. But, for me it is. (I’ll also post a link for a video about the item that is hilarious, even if you don’t care anything about photography!)

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

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Yes, Virginia, there is a Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit!

January 1, 2010 by

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Today has been a two-post day. If you didn’t see today’s earlier post yet, I hope you’ll scroll down to it. If you do, I think you’ll enjoy the video.

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Inquiring minds have asked for an explanation of “Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit.” Here it is…

Last night, after Iowa State won its bowl game, I sent this RRR photo to my extended family. (Click photo to enlarge.)

Ever since I can recall, members of the Gunderson family (I should say those who are in the spirit of participating) have indulged in the practice of saying “Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit” as their first words after midnight the first day of every month. It can be said immediately at the stroke of midnight, or when awakening in the morning. Anyone successful in saying “Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit” in this manner is due good luck for the rest of the month.

Now, I tell you…this is tried and true. After all, in December of 1987, Abby, Katie, Bill and I all said “Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit” on the first day of that month before saying anything else. It turned out that that very same month the negotiation process for purchasing our Perry home was complete. I’m sure that anyone who might have been skeptical of the good fortune following the saying of “Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit” can see that no more proof is needed than our December of 1987 example.

Mother (Marion Gunderson) was the first person in the Gunderson family to be aware of this practice. I’ve asked four members of my Gunderson family if anyone knows who made Mother aware of it. No one does; however, Daddy (Deane Gunderson) thinks that she was aware of it since she was a little girl.

THE ORIGIN?

Today I googled “Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit” to learn of its origin. Most sites make reference to “Rabbit, Rabbit” (saying the word twice, but not three times). “White Rabbit” is referred to most frequently. But, very few make reference to, “Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit.” One site said that one of these variations when translated involving Hebrew, means “Month abundant.” Wikipedia says that it is an “Old childhood invocation of hope for a lucky month.”

THE GRACE PERIOD

Grace periods can come in so handy. Every once in awhile, it is just beyond a person’s control to say, “Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit” before other words come spewing out of one’s mouth on the first day of a month. Because of this, there are proclaimed (by moi) grace periods. There are all kinds of grace periods that fit different criteria for why a person might not have been able to say RRR in time. However, these are not meant to be taken lightly. If they are, or if they are used too often, they become as ineffective as the cries by the Little Boy Who Cried Wolf.

POOLING EFFORTS to ensure REMEMBERING

Around midnight just before the first day of each month, between three of my sisters and myself, one of us always sends to the others and extended family an email that includes a photo of three rabbits. We sort of take turns, altbough I think I have only twice been the sender. Last night, when I sent the above photo after Iowa State won its bowl game, was one of those two times. The four of us, as well as nieces and nephews, have fun with RRR, with fond thoughts of Mother/Nanna as we do so.

(Who has time to write posts like these? Someone who is procrastinating on finishing her S.M.A.R.T. goals and writing her thank-you notes. I’ll get in gear on those and see you in three or four days…or sooner.)

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

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Tournament of Roses, Ray Charles, and America, the Beautiful

January 1, 2010 by

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I brought the laptop into the family room so that I could post about my family’s Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit tradition while watching the Tournament of Roses Parade. I got sidetracked just a little bit, and I’m so glad that I did.

Just as I sat down to watch and write, the theme of the parade float being showcased was one recognizing/honoring our United States’ military. The sound track accompanying the float (as the cameras panned military personnel) was a recording of Ray Charles singing America, the Beautiful. Oh, my gosh. How humbling. And, what a reminder that I am indebted to our military, past and present, for protecting my freedoms.

Since I’m in a deep-in-thought and patriotic mode right now, I’ll let Ray be by himself in this post.  (I.e., I’ll post about R, R, R later today.)  I hope you’ll watch/listen to Ray’s rendition of America, the Beautiful in this YouTube video.

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

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2010 S.M.A.R.T. Goals (a.k.a. Specifying the “Bucket List” for 2010)

December 30, 2009 by

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Mona Majorowicz posted on her blog her personal 2009 Goals in Review. There she goes again, setting a good example for the rest of us.

In the ’80s, I facilitated training sessions stressing S.M.A.R.T. goal setting. Since then, when setting goals for myself I’ve had the S.M.A.R.T. strategy in the back of my mind; however, I’ve been better at telling others about the strategy than personally implementing it. Now, with reading Mona’s posting indicating her 2009 goals and her achievement related to them, and having an open-slate 2010 in front of me, I’m looking forward to setting goals for 2010. (Correction: I’m looking forward to meeting/exceeding goals, but not the effort involved in setting them.)

For any of you who are not aware of what S.M.A.R.T. (in relation to setting goals) stands for, I thought I’d research a bunch of web sites and then summarize. However, since there are so many variations and explanations of S.M.A.R.T., I’m basically acknowledging that I’m going to set goals for 2010, structuring them in such a way that I believe I can/will be accountable for them. (I.e., by setting S.M.A.R.T. goals.) Where I’m going to differ from Mona is that I’m not going to be brave enough to publish them!

The basic premise of S.M.A.R.T. goal setting, depending upon which source you look at, is goals should be:

S:  Specific

M:  Measurable

A:  Attainable/Achievable

R:  Realistic (I also like “relevant.”)

T:  Time Bound (I also like “trackable.”)

If you google “goals smart acronym” you’ll find a plethora of different perspectives on what the S.M.A.R.T. acronym letters stand for. Most sources agree on the basics, but have their own little twist.  To glean what details would resonate most with me, I looked at most of the first ten “hits” in the Google listing (at the link at the beginning of this paragraph).

To see variations of words used in the  S.M.A.R.T. acronym , click here. Then scroll down about 1/10th of the site where you will see a table with the bold heading “Smart Acronym Variations.”

In case you are interested in the background about S.M.A.R.T. goal setting, after scrolling down about 8/10ths of the way at the same link you’ll see the bold heading “History and Origins of the SMART Objectives Acronym.”

Hmmm…In the spirit of efficiency (which will be a part of my 2010 goals) I’ll abruptly end this post and tie up some unrelated loose ends.  Oh, my. “Tie up loose ends” is not specific.  Nor measurable.  I guess it is achievable…if I can figure out what the loose ends are.  Hmmm…It is realistic…if I know what the loose ends are.  Time Bound?  Yes, I guess bound by today…but, what are those loose ends?

Man…sigh…I guess I’d better go make a specific “to do” list so that I get off on a good S.M.A.R.T. foot for the day!

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

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An Orange POMANDER: The perfect gift for anyone to give to almost anyone.

December 20, 2009 by

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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.

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It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

December 18, 2009 by

Posts between now and a couple of days after Christmas might be kind of slim.  Ham balls for Christmas dinner are cooking right now, and tomorrow I’ll be making a run to Rolfe to have some gift baskets made up at Busy B’s.  (The jams there are the draw for me.) While I’m in Rolfe, I  might be approving proofs of an additional watercolor. Within the next month, I’ll unveil the image of another of Mother’s watercolors that will be available.

Before Christmas I plan to post Nancy Martin’s (of Rolfe) Gumdrop Muffin recipe.  Before we left Rolfe 24 years ago, Nancy shared the recipe with me. My daughters have looked forward to the muffins every holiday season since.

“See” you in two or three days,

Louise

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Cranberry Cotoneasters and Peace on Earth

December 16, 2009 by

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In front of our home. 4:04 PM, Sunday, December 13, 2009. (Click photo to enlarge.)

Years ago, Bill planted Cranberry Cotoneaster shrubs in front of our home. They died about three years ago, most likely due to some sort of disease. We liked the characteristics of those shrubs so much that two summers ago we took a chance by planting Cranberry Cotoneaster shrubs again. (Click here for the pronunciation of “Cotoneaster.”)

I’m such an amateur with my camera.  However, I’ve at least been going two steps forward for every step back in my photography learning curve. I had fun Sunday and Monday messing around with different ISO and exposure settings.  Yes, I want a great product (great photos), but for these photos of the lights melting the snow around them, the process of being outside in the elements was my…um…focus.

11:46 PM, Sunday, December 13, 2009. (Click photo to enlarge.)

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11:54 PM, Sunday, December 13, 2009. Standing outside, facing the front of our house (facing north). (Click photo to enlarge.)

I was by myself when I took the midnight photos.  The air was crisp and, except for the crunch of snow under my boots and the sound of the shutter, there was no noise. As our military serves our country to defend our freedoms, I’m thankful for these Sunday night peaceful moments.

9:06 AM, Monday, December 14, 2009. From inside our home, facing south looking out over the Cranberry Cotoneaster shrubs.

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

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Marilyn Rickard, the Nativity, and our Charlie Brown Christmas Tree

December 12, 2009 by

(Click here to go to this blog’s home page. This is a meandering post. Let’s just say it’s the nostalgia talking.)

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Tree decorating from a 3-year-old's perspective. (Click photo to enlarge.)

Last week Katie, Joe, Abby and Jackson (daughter, son-in-law, daughter and 3 1/2-year-old grandson) came out to help decorate Bill’s and my Christmas tree. This entailed lasagna for supper, a new Christmas CD, egg nog (after the lasagna settled), Christmas tree decorating and…family.

Switching gears…When I was little, Marilyn Rickard of Rolfe was my Sunday School teacher. I remember being disappointed when I learned the following year that I was going to have a different teacher. Wasn’t Marilyn going to be my teacher forever?

My creche ornament from Marilyn Rickard. (Click photo to enlarge.)

Marilyn’s personality had the perfect mix of smiling and caring and of being fun and gentle. I was fond of her as I am of the plastic creche ornament that she gave to me in the late ’50s or early ’60s.

Last week I ran across a creche ornament that reminded me of the creche Marilyn had given me.  It didn’t look all that great, but represented the true meaning of Christmas.  I purchased it and gave it to Jackson hoping that when he’s my age he has a fondness for his creche, just as I have a fondness for mine from Marilyn Rickard.

Our Charlie Brown tree. (Click photo to enlarge the "designer" ornament arrangement!)

Of course, the true meaning of Christmas revolves around the serious miracle of Jesus’ birth. But, after decorating the tree, we (except for Jackson) unsuccessfully tried to contain our laughter when we realized that most of the ornaments were hung at about…hmmm…a 28″ height. Jackson especially liked one small low-on-the-left-side-of-the-tree section where you can see (if you click on the photo to enlarge it) that his little hands clumped several ornaments. Our Charlie Brown tree.

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

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Holiday in the Heartland and Rolfe’s RAM Event Center

December 8, 2009 by

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The Rolfe Public Library and Main Street on Sunday, December 6th, 2009. (Click photo to enlarge.)

Sunday in Rolfe was wonderful. Picture snow falling gently outside as daylight turns to dark, and inside, an intentionally dimly lit gym that used to be the home of Ram and Rammette basketball games. Can you hear the sound of the buzzer, the band playing the loyalty (“We’re loyal to you old Rolfe High…”), and the crowd chanting, “Ram Power — clap, clap — Ram Power”? And, Hank Baade booming, “BE THERE”?!

Only the gym is no longer used for school-sponsored basketball games. Instead it is what I think of as “saved” by hard-working (most likely spread-very-thinly with commitments) volunteers so that the gym can still exist and be used. It is now called the RAM Event Center.

On Sunday it was open for Rolfe’s Holiday in the Heartland. If you weren’t there, I wish you could have seen the line of children that stretched from one side of the tree-decorated stage as they waited their turns to talk with Santa, who was at the other side of the stage.

On Sunday, Roger Mumford purchased prints of two former Rolfe landmarks. (Click photo to enlarge.)

I was at the celebration on Sunday with two Rolfe Public Library board members. Our purpose was to display/sell prints of Mother’s watercolors, as well as to promote the oral history project.  But, what a gift for me.

Twinkling Christmas trees sprinkled around the gym provided the perfect backdrop. The late afternoon festivities kicked off with a performance by the Pocahontas Community Chorus. Later, as the children were on the stage waiting for Santa, community members mingled as they zig-zagged between vendors’ displays of crafts, art, baked goods, etc. Also, a meal was provided in what used to be the home ec room off the gym. There was also a live nativity.

As far as the “selling” side of the day, we sold over $350-worth of prints of Mother’s watercolors. The monetary revenue is gladly received to put toward the oral history project, and, of course, is important. The “revenue” that would have made Mother smile even more is that of knowing so many people want to display her artwork in their homes and/or give as gifts.

In addition, on Sunday a handful of oral history audiocassette tapes were sponsored. Yippee!

The spreadsheet and explanation sheet about the sponsorships at the “Oral Histories” link on this blog was updated today.  The spreadsheet at that “Oral Histories” link will continue to be updated as there are more sponsorships.  You can tell how recently the spreadsheet has been updated by looking at the top of the right-hand column on the spreadsheet. (Actually, the spreadsheet isn’t there quite yet, but will be within the next day, maybe within the next hour.)

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This is SO FUN! What is? Listening to and Reading the Rolfe, Iowa, 1980-81 Oral Histories.

December 5, 2009 by

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UPDATE 1/30/2013: This post was written in 2009. The oral history project is now complete via funds raised through private donations.

My eyes are twinkling as I write.  I’m so pleased with the response (i.e., purchases as well as ooohs and ahhhs) related to prints of Mother’s watercolors.  If you are tuning into this blog for the first time, the short version is that Mother, Marion Gunderson, painted watercolors from at least as early as 1933 and as recently as 2000.

Two of the eight boxes of Rolfe, Iowa, 1980-81 oral history audio cassette tapes. (Click photo to enlarge.)

Mother was also the librarian…a librarian very passionate about her work…at the Rolfe Public Library from 1963 until 1998.

During that time, 1980-1981 to be exact, she spearheaded the oral history project in which over 100 Rolfe, Iowa, community members were interviewed, mostly by other community members. Those oral histories were recorded on audiocassette tapes and also transcribed. Both the audiocassette recordings and the transcripts have been housed at the library since 1981.

The transcripts are available for reading at the library.  At some point they will be scanned before the quality of print fades more.

Because the quality of audiocassette tapes also diminishes over time, the need to digitize the recordings (i.e., putting them on audio CDs) has been recognized by the library board.  In conjunction with the board’s support for this digitizing project, the profits from sales of prints of Mother’s watercolors will go toward the cost of digitizing.

This is where the community’s and/or families’ and friends’ of the interviewers and interviewees (even if long ago) help is sought. Sponsorships are requested for digitizing specific tapes.

A sponsorship of one tape entails $29.96 (including sales tax). This provides two archival quality CDs for the library AND one CD for the sponsor.

In this portion of Mother’s oral history transcript, she “tells all” (well…part of the juice, anyway!) about being head librarian. (Click photo to enlarge.)

Not just for me, and not just for people like my dad, but for anyone interested in the history of Rolfe, or Iowa or Midwest history in general, I have no doubt you will be pleased if you sponsor one or more tapes. Donations to the project in general are also greatly appreciated.

A spreadsheet including the names of the interviewees, and of interviewers (if names of the latter were written on the tapes and/or transcripts) has been developed.

Also, an informational Q & A sheet explaining the sponsorships is available.  Both the spreadsheet and Q & A sheet are available at the “oral histories” link on this blog and at the library, including at tomorrow’s (Sunday, December 6th) 2:00 tea.  They will also be available at tomorrow’s Holiday in the Heartland at the RAM Event Center (former school) in Rolfe from 3:30 until 6:00.

If there’s something I didn’t explain well on the Q & A sheet and/or spreadsheet, of if you simply don’t want to mess with those sheets, you may obtain information from me at mariongundersonart@gmail.com (515-465-2746).  Information is also available at the Rolfe Public Library (712-848-3143) and at Wild Faces Gallery (712-848-3399).

Thank you for your interest.

  • It is now Sunday, the 6th:  I had meant to have a link to an “order form” for sponsoring oral history tapes.  I also meant to update the “Oral Histories” link.  Our Internet access went down late last night until right before I’m leaving for Rolfe today, so…no link and no order form yet. Soon, though, or via email, phone, or in Rolfe today works, too.  Tally-ho!  I’m soon off to the festivities at Rolfe.

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