Happy New Year

Well....hello...... this night of 2012!
I have just worked to write this..for at least an hour.
I guess the reason has quite a lot to do with Google.
My granddaughter tried to help me with some of the MAC difficulties with which I suffer so mightily and the changes that created for me are nigh unto insurmountable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can't find how to get my blue ink or my favorite font for one thing...but the most stupid response when I put in my address...is that when I do that... they say I can't use it because it is already being used...of course it is and has been for nearly 5 years.  
The other question I can't get the answer to is the constant use of 3 letters..and I'm terrified to use them on this page ...maybe the computer will blow up in my face...but here goes...URL...I'm still here... hi.. I do not know nor have I ever needed to know what they mean...
You see, I've been enlisted in gmail...and it looks like Google is quite insistant that they control my Blog...
My brain has been wiped out as far as my barn is concerned...I better go look out the window to see if it is still there...so that is that...now is the time for all good men to go ,\...blah..blah...goodbye...I am thoroughly exhausted and wonder if I'll ever again be able to return to blogging again...I did find this nearly invisible block of words that let me do this much...and I sincerely fear I will never see it from this moment onward...
Have a good year in case you don't hear from me...JoAnne and all 12 cats and 10 chickens and 3 fish.... as well as a possible mouse even though I've.killed 5 now in the basement...2 are still in their sticky traps so when I stop this mickey mouse diatribe I will go with a plastic grocery bag and pick them up from the floor to burn them ....yippee...
Oh..I could mention that Christmas was filled with all the better things than I've reported...best beings 3 great grandchildren named...3yr Kaj Delys Naujokas...8mo Ona Volden Naujokas...14mo Reese Abigail Roeder...I trimmed the tree with only 2 of my collections..those being angels and snowmen...and it was placed to we could walk around it and sing Away in the Manger...Norwegian style...
..finally,..you can smile...and so will I with love in my heart that doesn't believe my Jesus had anything to do with computers...he came to earth for the best reason having to do with the peace that will come to me when I close this down and go get those mice..goodbye

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Hello this evening of November without snow, but that is all I will say about the white stuff. I've just come home from WWW where we bring to each other (4 0f us) what we have written, since we are Whining Women Writers. Best thing is that if we fail to do it we are in trouble, so we do it. We write. and it is fun. Pretty big stretch from cooking for hunters. The feed back is what I like. I guess it's called editing. Today was a push for me

.

In the past months I've bought some art which tells me about change and progress and green power. One piece hangs at the end of the barn alleyway framed by a Russian window we brought home with us from Moscow in 1977. The Chinese artist painted his play ground as a child in his village in China. The scene is his alleyway lined with very very old houses featuring crumbling corbels, dark corners and a wondrous ice blue sky persuading you that just behind that row is a yellow sun. The reason I needed to have it is the electric lines cutting across at an angle toward ancient insulators across and higher than anyone walking or riding his bike along that narrow path/road would find as a nuisance.

I wondered if that change was one or two generations ago. And how did that power represented, change the lives in that alleyway.

Enough already. This paragraph lets you think about the possible subject of what I wrote, and read today at WWW.

Hunters are finished. Many happy guys left with their treasured deer pheasant or duck. And full stomachs from the table scape.

come back for the rest of the story...til then...JoAnne

Here I am with the weeks behind me which I had such great hopes for as far as getting into starting the plan for next year's schedule...meaning this is now October 14...and my brain works overtime with not a jot or tittle down on paper...

This winter will be serious business for 2012 starting in May and going until September 1 when hunting will probably get busy...

At this point I have had good luck with hunters enjoying the barn bunk rooms as well as having a few meals out in the "area for conferencing"...plus finding out how the kitchen works when we eat the birds and deer at suppertime...whenever that happens...and the terrace with grill is handy beyond any early dreams regarding food prep...in the barn...

By the way, you can get a good feeling about how the barn is looking with these few shots we got up on this spot...I have been to the Outer Banks with 9 of my family of near 30...at Kitty Hawk...we own at Duck...Barrier Island Station...but didn't reserve it early enuf to be able to stay there...traded thru RCI for a couple units down the road...but we could still use the sand and sea at our regular place...SO...while there with my computer some grandchild...entered photos for me...oh if I could only become a techy...

And that was 9-17-thru 9-25...with daughter Lisa & her Bjorn...Thomas Vigesaa...daughter Holly's boy...daughter in law Shelley with her Danielle & Kate & Nick & 3yr old Kaj & 5mo old Ona...meaning 4 generations at the... Time Share... Jim and I bought in 1987...felt satisfying to watch the little guy take on the "Wold Spirit" for our special world...son Kevin wasn't able to take a week off since he broke a foot and couldn't work back a couple months ago...so needed to make up for lost time...by staing home and letting Danielle go in his slot...

I walked in my door 7:30 PM Sunday night and greeted hunters the next day at 1:00 PM...seems the story of my life when I turn away from the daily duties during the Fall Hunting Lodge atmosphere...if the work were not so interesting...I'd give a second thought to being so tied down...truth is I love it...one Fall there were men from 15 states ...Maine to Florida to Arizona to Washington to Pennsylvania along with states between...

And this IS to do with the barn...now a lodge filled with boots and occasional mud and so forth...it's suits me to cook and clean and learn new ways of life at the same time...just a workshop for us all...

Still look into locating Wind Tower Makers with hopes they would be interested in sleeping with the throbing blades just outside their door for a couple nights...and a candlelight dinner within sight of over 50 of the PRAIRIE DASIES... as some call them...

Did I catch you up a little for Sept and Oct...????? bye for now...JoAnne

August already?

How did that happen?

Do you suppose the spat I've had with this white box had any influence?

Yes - could be - so it's been to the doctor but there isn't much change that I am able to notice - except that now I can send emails. Could that make my work more smooth and caring and acceptable? We'll see now.

June is the first catchup month: we had a noteworthy event which kickstarted the sodding of black weedy areas following installation of septic digging - not ignoring the terrace and pergola edged with thousands of pounds of 1903 rock barn foundation which Kevin's fork lift resurrected down the hill where no doubt it expected to remain forever after a 1978 remodel of said barn-(feel free to reread that last bit)

THE event was a WEDDING out in the TREE FARM! do trust that Jim was looking on - noting 100 chair backs beribboned in white gauzey covers - as four no longer usable church-window frames of gothic vintage found use once again as an altar - background for tuxedos and gowns and 100 humongous white/ivory ROSES blending into white lilacs - stately pines - oaks - gentle new-green walnut trees - crowned by a commanding spire of tamarack.

At this point I choose to tell you that this tree farm was where we sprinkled our Jim the fighter pilot's ashes 8 years before. Uncountable Joy was palpable in this blessed hour. Prayer for at least a day without rain was more than answered. A few days later the mother of the groom stopped by and we shed a couple thankful tears that our perfect day was miraculous - framed by two rainy windy cold days - smile!

July: a month full of kitties and B&B families with lots of kitty loving kids - helping the effort of find homes for "nice" kittens. Are you listening? - and the bunk rooms in the barn are getting raves - for which I'm feeling smug - plus grateful - even added an extra 5th place to sleep for a grandparents with three little ones who all wanted to stay a few days in the barn -

AND - Finklestein came home to roost - my stuffed favorite pantaloon festooned rooster who died inexplicably during feeding one deeply frozen day last January - which I wrapped in plastic and a box and in a wheelbarrow highly heaped with snow til Spring when we moved him to the freezer to await news of having found a taxidermist who would be "anxious" to try dealing with this chicken - now it's a done deal and I picked him up in Fargo and he's busy finding the right spot to show off - in the barn - at this moment he's moved from the highchair to the shelf where we pass through the food - interesting? come meet him.

August: more folks with kids - so all the farm animals are parading - even the cows and calves who rent the pasture seem to know their duty is to be part of the action - and at this point to mention the windtowers is okay - the 55 or so pinwheels have settled into being the local interstate on my formerly quiet prairie -

Some day I'll become proficient enough to add wonderful photos to this effort. Meantime just use your imagination - please - or better yet come to see for yourself.

It's paasst bedtime - g'nite - good wishes - JoAnne

I have good news for us all.. together.. this last day of May in the year of our effort 2011..especially that of son Kevin and lifemate Shelley as they placed a final touch.. with humongous rocks and chunks of old 1903 barn foundation sections which weighed down the FORKLIFT big time..leaving  grooves not so groovy in my green soggy rain gooped green grass..forgive me those of you who will attend the wedding held near this sod in only a few gulp .."days"..(I'm weak at this mental picture)..

The final touch I refer to is to the east of the cedar terrace under a covering pergola of commanding invitation to gatherings of friendly folk from this day forward....pure joy to have accomplished disguise of a mindful extent when considering the 59 pinwheels already diagnosed in previous notings...yes?  As we open the kitchen door to walk out onto the new structure..there is a tipped on end old corral gate rescued from the refuse pile..through which the monoliths attempt be noticed ..talk about laughing at their proverbial spinnings...a great guffah rises to them..

Effort accomplished..a dream beginning.. to hold an energy conference in the face of  such bravado..for our investigative decision makers..where else such opportunity..spread the word of this merging of situation..call for a reserved bunk and the sense of "hearing traffic "on the once alonely.. still.. prairie.. 

I, JoAnne of Volden Farm  will await a speculative query ..may we arrange a time?  701-769-2275..

with a smile..bye for now

How in the world did it get to be April?  And could it be that before May comes the snow will be gone and the ground soft enough to dig up all the shrubs and trees that the 39 deer living and sleeping right outside my window literally ate to the nub for breakfast.  You see they knew this was a Bed and Breakfast.  And so now "we"--who?  -- need to plant trees and shrubs with green on them.  You see, on the 11th of June we plan on having a wedding at Volden Farm.  You see, it needs to be looking nice for such an illustrious event.  How I wonder as I look around, begin raking where there is no snow-- the muck of what happens during the long months down under, can it possibly be a green world by June.  That is when faith comes by and sort of reminds me that it does--every year.  You see, it just doesn't seem possible.  And where there was snow yesterday, there is mud today.  Boots heavy with mud are lined up on the porch of this northerly wooden ancient looking " Russian Dacha "--proving what I say is true.

Come see for yourself if you are brave enough.  O my.  Wonder of Wonders. And I should be finishing taxes and writing dates and plans for the almost finished barn.  Some  alleyway interior finish work and some painting of 5 small windows to be installed for the exterior and hopefully a ramp and smoothing out the piled up dirt from winters labors--bathroom, kitchen, and bunkrooms having been completed.

Lots of fun surprises in this space used for horses and cats and straw and hay and all the stuff under foot that is gone...GONE  Twenty five years of that life..and POOF...no more.  Now it's paintings and candles and MOOD.  And comfy chairs and techy ways to bring the big screen to us.  I am one excited woman.  Do think about what you need this barn to do for you

Cold War..Russian History..Quilting...Reading out loud..head busting discussions...best of all a week of music every night..Conferencing Energy Issues with the Luverne Wind farm RIGHT OUTSIDE the windows.  And John Steinbeck..he is stored on his very own bookshelf..upstairs just waiting to worm around in our brains..

Enough...back to taxes...gobs of good dreams to all of you...JoAnne...bye

What a day....trucks and materials and dirty shingles from 1903 all coating tons of snow banks around the granery (cathouse) where a new roof top is installed so that Kevin could still have his fork lift here in order that the new liner for the broken chimney flues resulting during the blazing 7 ft high tower of flames......and so on and so on.....just what I needed in the midst of barn refurbishing...yes?...a chimney fire!  

A couple friends brought me ..us.. pizza for "cheer" during a horrible cold I had..  so in my usual unthinking mode..I threw the pizza box into the fireplace where it instantly exploded ..next apparently setting the chimney burning with sounds like shots as it whooshed it's way up  up  and through the top over the roof with showers of sparks.....we know... since no matter the cold....we tore thru the door and out to see if we would need to vacate.

I turned and tore in...grabbing the phone dailing 911 answering...yes we would stay out of the house...here is where we are located...okay....but I did go back in to drive my car out of the garage....below zero...in no time three sheriffs...the mayor...lots of firemen..were swarming over the house looking for hot walls...even up to my closet...the attic..(was told that place was tight)..

Suffice it to say I kept my house...have a new liner ....a cleaned hearth and better system for enjoying calm....  quiet evenings with a book..... in the conversation pit where the rug is wrecked and I'm waiting for an estimate....

Now back to the sigh of ...is it really finished out in the barn..are they not going to need dinner tomorrow?????  will the last cute sconces be installed by Mike even if Kevin is gone to other snow filled yards  ...  maybe it would be cosy to turn up the cove heat right above the top bunk...climb the ladder with a mystery from one of the drawers in the nutty sort of chest with 8 inch square spaces I filled with paper backs by the dozen...........

Ooooh flannel sheets spotted color exploding ...lush bright blanket ...feathers galore comforting..Yes...next week when I get back from Chicago...a must...find a friend???

It's almost sinful to have this much fun.   Altho the fire did sober any suspicion that all days are fun...but I can segregate my fun days pretty well from the not so fun days....I've lived long enuf to have learned how........come and see what I'm talking about....OK???

GOODBYE...your friend JoAnne

 

Here I am again after an unbelievably stretched out space in our chat time...and now it is the best news I have for you since the long planned work downstairs in the BARN is about 99 and 9 tenths finished...we actually set up the two sets of bright blue...color of this ink...bunkbeds...plus...the tables...chairs...dressers...shelves...lights that will move to let you read in your bunk...the rooms are named...THE CRIB...THE ROOKERY...and I won't tell you why until you ask...I am so happy

Then in Nov we did get the kitchen and bathroom finished so the hunters got to use those spaces last fall... and once not too long ago...I was locked out of my house temporarily and so I popped into that sweet space...made a pot of coffee...spent time writing in a kitchen journal I keep out there on my writing and reading desk/table with it's auction lamp find...and killed time til I could manuever getting into my house again

Folks are making plans to use the BARN a wedding...some retreats are on the calendar...and in my head I have many ideas...too many

So keep coming to find what those ideas are...such as making tassels from string...cord...skinny satin...for adding to your creative corners...and a regular quilt making day or night or both...as I do have Jim's mom's wood squares...

Writing...Reading...with discussion of John Steinbeck at last...also Bluegrass...starting slow and maybe working up to a Festival even two days with gobs of guitars and singers and fun...

goodbye for now

By the way, I probably have never told you that the major color of my barn workshop,"haymow", is this same blue that I use to write to you about my barn...it puts me in the mood somehow...

The other thing that I must talk about is the disappeared brown panels that were in my heading until recently...well I just found out that they get dropped by whomever when it is deemed they are out of style???DUMB

My blog helper, Caristy Olson, is leaving Cooperstown where her husband John is our pastor, and will be living in Taiwan.  I hope she will give me some final tips before she goes...John will be an English speaking pastor in our Mission area there.

I wish Caristy could do  panels of my photos of the work we have done in the barn...but that may not be possible...I can just make such photos part of the message ...we'll see..

Sooo..do you like the paragraph style I 've started?...it seems I can get more said in a shorter time...

AND I HAVE A NEW GREAT GRANDDAUGHTER....BORN 10 23 10...HER NAME IS REESE ABIGAIL ROEDER...and that is special since my middle name is also Abigail...as was my mom's mother...and since I've introduced the fact that I have family..I may as well say that I have a GREAT GRANDSON who is already two years old...his name is KAJ DELYS NAUJOKAS...

seems we have left "MARTHA" and "ROBERT" in the dust...yes?

Nope...now is the time to do supper for the hunters...bye and thinks for listening..JoAnne

Well here I am again in the month of Sept mind you...and altho I've been asked to put a few pictures of the progress in building the barn bathroom and kitchen on this blog...I need help to do that and help is hard to find due to the fact that most people I know do not have Mac...

however my report is more than .. fine as regards the new rooms...I am thrilled to tell you that they were done by my son Kevin with planning by both of us...in about 5 weeks...and exceed any of my expectations...took a shower in the new bathroom this morning and it was very workable...we are waiting to get the dryer exhaust through the cement wall...so although I threw my towel into the washing machine (in the barn bathroom that is) I need the dryer vent for that...

Hunters start again on Thurs...day after tomorrow...some of whom have been here other years and who will be happy about making their coffee at 5:00AM out in the cosy sweet mini kitchen...where I've been happily doing my last 3 crossward puzzles sitting at a table we brought from my dad's office in Altadena CA...it has been in an old granery changed into a cathouse..at present 11 of same inc 4 two wk old kittens...such a story...but will leave that alone for now...

Granted... all I've just written may confuse you...I only hope it will spike your curiosity to intend to follow any plans for music or quilting or the always expected John Steinbeck promised events...

Truth be told...there are ideas put on a backlist til the facilities were improved and now they are...so when the new year comes there will be plans unfolding ... retreats and festivals and more...

time for shuteye...hope you feels encouraged...JoAnne...I do

I guess it has been awhile...now is a momentous time to say a few words about the barn itself since I've been at a standstill with regard to workshops...with more important work in progress...there are walls going up on a new sturdy floor made of wood from the old school in Cooperstown which was torn down last winter...wood 2" thick...12"wide...24 'long...so the two new rooms within the 24 ' are a bathroom and a kitchen...to be....soon!!!...hunters arrive tomorrow so the ones later will be able to use the facilities...not these first three from Louisiana...boohoo

will keep you informed as to when the 24' bunkroom space devided into two rooms will start...sleep two bunks will be available when finished..using some old windows from the Law Office which were saved during the upgrading for new occupants there...do you have questions about that???...come and see... the center of the downstairs will not be heated but I want light to flow into the heated spaces we're creating so ..thus...the windows..Kevin (my son) is patient about all this...give him credit!!!...

lately I don't like periods or caps so do be patient with me...bye for now...me

This past weekend Kevin and Eli and Sam put the planer

to the boards for the floors of the bunk room, bath, and kitchen

of the barn...

now these boards are fir...old...2" by 12" by 24 '...and it 

was a considerable learning experience...as in...

there are 20 of these and they finished 4! 

luminous..is the finished product at this point of the process...

and when a glistening coat of protection is applied...

you will no doubt come from far and wide to look!!!

They were saved from the demolition of the Cooperstown

grade school from early 1900's. 

Today Kevin called to talk about the shower size..48"by 38"..with a seat!!

Why not?...  this will be handicapped accessible, after all...

dreams can come true...and this is a big one..God alone knows the

solution needed with this venture...lots and lots of hunters...hopefully...

just keepin' your fingers on the pulse!! 

Let's see now...where were we...guess I need to talk 

about a luncheon for a family who wanted to spend time

after a memorial service in a nearby cemetary for two

of the older generation passed on.  That was on th 29th of June.

They came from all over...23...all ages...cousins...

some stayed longer than others..in the B&B.

I served them in the barn, (or I wouldn't be telling you about it)

And we had meatballs and little potatoes...a bean salad loaded with 

herbs and greens from my mini garden..

along with fruit to die for and...a table

loaded with fresh uncut loaves of bread and Scandinavian

cheeses which I sliced while they sliced their bread of choice...

this is what breakfast is like in the hotels of Norway.

And on the ping pong table stood my 55-cup coffee pot

steaming... to pour into glass handled cups...and be enjoyed with

chocolate and sugared goodies.

altogether a warm and comforting togetherness!!!

Briefly here is the last episode of my

 barn which did not get into print before it happened...

and we seated around 30 for a not ordinary presentation of

 NORWEGIAN ART SONGS  sung by MARLA FOGDERUD

who has put this body of work into a form for the 

 Doctorate she will be finishing...

This happened last Friday evening...

ACCOMPANIST was DAVID   HENRICHSON-

UND official accompanist and teacher of piano.

The evening was glorious in the, "I want to pinch myself. 

.is this really happening in my barn ???",  unusual combination

.So what next in the barn, you are wondering maybe?

I'm needing to put in place Stitch and Bless Friends Day!  

 Monday of the month.

Quilt...Knit...Darn Socks...Patch Aprons...learn Hexogonal Pillow (Japan)

Buttonholing...Crochet Potholders...You think of it...

Come every Monday-  if it isn't a Holiday...

Come if you feel like it...stay home and pout if you feel like it...

But if you do come with  something you're working on

or were working on before the kids came...bring that.

Another name for this could be stitch and finish.

If you want to be here...just come...tiny dues for costs

coupla dollars for lights...so to speak... for lunch...

or brown bag it..

.I say 10 to 4....what say you... 769-2275...789-1771cell

 

Plans are afoot for a bathroom and kitchen and bunk rooms downstairs in the barn..we hope to utilize volunters to work with our family in this effort...two "boxes" insulated and heating within each box...flooring is already here from the school in town...fabulous unseen by most eyes...24ft by 12 inch by 2 inch..nails are out thanks to Eli and Zach and Kevin for Mother's Day.

 It will be planed and notched and laid down for THE mostest gorgest floor... in any barn you 'ever done seen'

Kevin is in charge...you know he's the guy that hangs around the fair grounds and museum...

til soon..I submit these thoughts for your consideration...JoAnne of the barn

 

                              

                                       

Hi...Sat before last the barn was in use by Stacey and friends.  They did their nails...talked...did zumba...talked...found the wine...talked...snacked on bread and cheese...talked...then talked...finally ate a real meal at the table for 10 in the main house...and talked...guess you could say they did what they wanted...all children not under foot...pleasure to have the dads do Sat duty in that regard...home by bedtime...next day Easter...things to do forgotten for 6 0r s0 hours...I heard them say..."let's do this again...Stacey and friends.

I want to give you something to think about from Easter morning in Kabul.  My granddaughter (Peter Dyrud's wife) is with the USAF there for 6 mo.  I will let you in on some of her doings from time to time.  Here is what Felisa wrote and sent ... a gift to us on the DAY of Jesus' greatest gift to us 

SUNRISE COMES SOONER

Sunrise comes sooner here

but the sparrows know the same tunes-

the sorrow

the celebration

The dusty hill takes shape

beyond the walls

upon walls

and I know that today

a young girl will pump water

from a well and haul

the yellow cans up

a steep path, home.

She would prefer to keep

doing little girl's chores.

Growing up is uncertain.

A morning you can see

your breath

Smoke seeping skyward

from the city's nostrils

mingles with our praises

incense blended in 

hope of fragrance

surging from young roses

yet to bud.

to bed to bed why do I start these blogging pieces at midnight maybe I think more quietly then but legs restlessly would walk to the place they lie upon feathers as they will  goodnight

It's that time - so here it comes -

I've a head full of new ideas and there just won't be time for much

since it's late and I'd rather lay my head on my feather pillow

But here goes...

Aside from the Steinbeck Fiesta in the middle of August and

Potting #2 in June, I do want badly to again fill the barn with workshops

(sorry - dates not set - yet)And so since we

are hosting again this coming summer ---

the Cold War Museum as well as the Missile Control Center

in the town of Cooperstown, for every interested traveler, I have an idea.

We lived in Moscow at the American Embassy where my husband, Brig Gen

Jim Wold was the Military Attache from May, 1975 until July, 1977.

These years gave us an involvement in Soviet life among the

Russian people. We absorbed their culture. As a result there is this

farmhouse on the prairie, (a dacha of sorts), housing a respectible

collection of memorabilia - books, art, for starters - which I would like

to introduce to you, in workshop space / time conversations.

I am trusting as I put these ideas on paper that you are already curious

- what is a dacha?

- how many books?

Well you will just have to inform me of your curiosity and we will go from

THERE

MEANTIME I AM MAINLY SNOWBOUND - ( a few minutes ago I listened to a

number of coyoties outside - very close ) - but tomorrow I will be able to drive the

15 miles to town for new tires and other errands -

since the reads have been cleared....including the path to my chicken coop!

Hello and Goodbye...thanks for the visit

I am getting antsy for something

these days the pinwheel pinheads

spin in my brain

they stop me in midsentence so

that I dont know what I was saying

and I'm not sure what I need to tell you

from the B&B bathroom window I count 22 of them

so does the promise of prairie go out the window?

from the corner of the barn at the fence I count 59 of them

Pinwheels

40 stories high and very close very close

and I wish all who believe this is good for people who love open

nature would come and buy my used to be best kind of green farm

for a million greeenbacks

just some wandering thinking going on up here in the sunroom in the dark of the night

when you can see  fl  as  hi  ng rr  ee  dd  li  gh ts ss  ss  

ok this is all for now

JoAnne of the industrial park 

It is now the 3rd of December

and

I want to talk to you about the intervening time since...

I last wrote, or rather, talked.

The barn has been a busy place since Sept-

full of hunters from all over the States.

It's bow hunting for the first two months

and

then in Nov we had a few rifle as well as bow hunters.

There are lots of deer out there and most hunters went home

happy!

Ducks and pheasant hit the dust as well - even some gueese

But I want to tell  you how my life has changed since Aug.

We now have wind towers to the north and east and south.

I've changed where I eat so that I can still look over untouched Prairie.

I now sit on the east side of my table whereas I used to (for 30 or so years)

eat on the south side, which I prefer no longer since the monsters feel 

like they're in my plate!

Some of you know that my byline from 1989 in all publicity has been

Come Find Yourself on the Prairie

Now I'm contemplating a "different" byline

COME FIND YOURSELF IN AN INDUSTRIAL PARK

where you will see sprouting for miles on the formerly natural prairie hills 

of the one and only Sheyenne River Valley, 112 white spires or missiles,

poised upward into the sky 360 feet - far above the prairie.

It is no longer quiet here -  with a sound not unlike an airport , and there is

a kind of Circus going on - red "Christmas" lights flashing nightly all year round,

 competing successfully with  stars and constellations.

And when the sun comes up in the morning, we offer flickering, spine tingling

mysterious lighting created by our graceful 90 ft blades spinning 100 mpr - 

again, successfully competing with exquisite sunrises.

HAVE I MADE MY POINT!

Actually, I have only now finished hosting three months of hunters

and they are not impressed (at least not favorably).

The flickering morning light confuse and seem to trick the eye

when watching for moving deer.  One hunter told me that after he

was sure his buck was dead, it still seemed to be alive and moving.

The table talk at every meal includes how it used to be year after year,

and is no longer.

You can feel that this is something to deal with as far as my

emotional acceptance is concerned.  The main problem is that they are too close

to my home.  If we could have known ahead of time and persuaded 

the Public Service Commission that no tower should be 

closer than a mile from where any person tries to sleep,

 I would feel somewhat relieved. 

But such is not the case.  The State feels that 1400 ft is far enough.

I count 57 "pinwheels" from the fence next to my barn.

My Workshops my become "Green" discussions.  We'll see.

Stay Tuned - bye for now - JoAnne  

Now you're maybe wondering what I meant when I referred to, "much much", in my life.

  So here it is...the whole truth...it's the USE of my BARN..something pretty unusual for me..

.and even for N.D.

  I hosted a mother and son for nearly two weeks while they 

turned the barn into a writing workshop.  And not your ordinary writing ....no no

This was Hollywood Style

I'm not kidding or even pulling your leg.

Ana flew in from Madrid, Spain,  and Erik from Los Angeles...

It seems they were needing more contact for their ideas than emailing

 back and forth, back and forth 

...this movie script that concerned things like --  War Clowns ??

and making decisions !! and being young.

 They were pacing and pasting ....( just try and visualize that pair of words).

I saw my barn walls covered, not with paintings and such, but with 4 by 6 cards

full of dialog and whatever words either of them had just heard in their head.

Mind you, life went on for me and even though Ana was giving morning

food to the cats and kittens, I did venture down into the lower barn to check on

chores, so I can tell you SPANISH was bouncing around above my head.

Actually, echoing, would also describe it.

The best part of all was that they liked my food.  

WELL

Can't you imagine what fun I had thinking up the next meal for folks who

sort of went gaga (I thought) over a fresh egg from the coop..

so I decided the barn needed a rest and so did I....and since the JS Fiesta wasn't

drawing even the dozen I'd hoped for

I cancelled ... or rather postponed ... and in a few weeks or even January

 (when the weather is cozy)

interested readers of JS will get a call saying, Wanna come?

What next..........stay tuned

by the way, have you noticed that after 15 months of blogging, I have A Follower.

WOW

bye for now..JoAnne, the dizzy one

It is now the 11th of August and the workshops would have started tomorrow.

I am sad to tell you that due to much much in my life at this time, I must cancell.

There has not been much interest in John Steinbeck, in fact none, so I realize the need for more groundwork, if I want to get it all together.  

After all ,this barn thing is very new and I have not felt ready to go out and do much in the way of broad advertising, so I'm not surprised what the response has been.  I also put a price tag on my JS Fiesta, and that was a risk that I think now was a mistake.  

So let's just accept the fact that I'm a kind of dizzy dame.

Forgive me?

JoAnne

Do watch for word of the concert during the Fall. 

So, here is where I want to be, on my blog, letting you know a little about our four days of JS (John Steinbeck)

 The first three days,  Aug 12, 13,  14,   we will have supper at 5:00 pm and proceed through the evenings as we please, reading the play of,  THE MOON IS DOWN.  - after listening to an intro of the story line.  Actually, I hope you will obtain and read the book before you come.  It is available on Amazon.

During each of these evenings we will also watch a Steinbeck movie of our choice.

It could go without saying, that we'll get into the mood of this writer and speak our piece when it must be said.  JS was a free soul and so can we be.

Sat will be somewhat different.  Let's

 meet around 2:00pm for further discussion led by local Steinbeck officianados.  Then after 6;00 we'll swing into a Sea of Cortez party with a great red and yellow spread of edibles...and whatever comparable liquid desired.I think of the Mexico time of  life for Steinbeck and feel it was an attempt to escape.  After all,he did a lot of that.  Maybe we could even swing some on the barn floor......because....the stage is now set for Roger, Merry and friends to tune up for a session of music that will sure fit the mood

JoAnne...and the barn...whoopie

 

You may ask what this will cost.  Here's the scoop.  For the four days,  including  food -  beverage -  movies  -  mental gymnastics.....

$150.00

For the first nights.....

$35.00 per night.....

For just music around 8:00pm....

$20.00

I'm hoping you'll go back to my writing about JS in previous blogs, if you want to see why I'm doing this...happy reading....til I hear from you with a,  "yes,  I'll be

 there, see you then!"  Call me with your questions.

Good Afternoon

The Barn has been a busy spot in the last month

Weaving and Knitting and Potting

FYI

19 participants for the 3 day WE WEAVE workshop

that included the evening performance by three students

from the Cooperstown High School, Kaia and David Lunde

and Christine Berge doing the State Speech Winning

Skits...which we so enjoyed !!!

FYI

basket making was hands on for six "workers"

labeled such because they certainly did put a lot of

energy into this project and produced baskets made with

material from ND Dogwood succors and twigs and twine for 

twisting the handle to the rim--

we did some weaving of wall hung wreaths, mostly from the left

over branches which were unsuitable for the baskets--

our thinking throughout these 3 days was that as we create

together, we are weaving ourselves with each other--

this was a fun idea and all agreed the time was relaxed in

that sharing another's attempt to learn

on May 30--- 11 of us watched and listened to our instructor 

Rene Fuglestad  brought us into the world of CLAY---

and what fun that was---I can't tell about the

many things we attempted to do--except that I did turn a pot

on a wheel for the very first time and it was not bad--and in my own Barn

Imagine!!

next year--2nd annual--we will throw and turn and then fire in a pit

RAKU

if you don't know what that is--come and find out next May or June--stay tuned!

June 7th we successfully served our Master Creator with Worship in

song and scripture and prayer while Rene turned 

many pots on the wheel

in the Barn

40 of us wove our spirits together during this hour unlike any other ever experienced.

centering the pots is vital or they fall apart--and so we thought about 

the need to center our own lives in Christ so we won't be out of balance--

 the POTTER and the CLAY

Isaiah 64:8 " O Lord, You are our Father: we are the clay, You are the Potter: we are all the work of your hand."

I will list the scripture references and you can look them up in the Bible when 

you want: Genesis 2:5-7; Isaiah 45:9,11-12; Jeremiah 18:1-6; 2 Corinthians 4:5-12; Romans 9:20-21; Jeremiah 29:10-11;

So---I've had the clay here since Ren left it for any of us that might want to

fool around...and now I have a bird with old nails and shells and gravel stuck on 

...and yesteray I found branches that resembled a head and a tail

..at least to my eye

...and, oh-my, you should see it

THIS IS WHY I WANT TO SHARE MY BARN WITH YOU

IT'S FUN

FYI

so look here to see some details as we look forward to August, 12-15

we will spend time with John Steinbeck's, "The Moon is Down".  I now have 

a copy of the movie, given to me by a new friend, Dennis Stillings,

and a copy of the play...and you must read the book..you have  2 months...so

get busy

for our never before 

 

John Steinbeck Fiesta

at Volden Farm ..701-2275 ..voldenfarm@ictc.co

voldenfarm.com

til then, JoAnne says dosvedanya

(Russian for goodbye)

Good Morning...here I am again to correct the mistakes I made as I was doing this last night...first of all...the dates for the Weave workshops are the 14th and the 15th and 16th...that is Thurs and Fri and Sat of May

The next mistake is in the phone #..1-701-769-2275...instead of the 760 which I had written...sorry

But the one great thing about blogging for me...is that I can make the change right up front..so to speak...

and I love fooling around with punctuation so that people (friends) will say to me"you know you forgot all the periods and comas" and I can say..."I know" haha

=============

new info on potting WORKSHOP

two dates ... May 30 will be the first day to create lots of pots!

that way Rene Fuglestad who is the teacher, will take them home to Moorhead and fire them so that when he comes back the following Sat the 6th of June ... all of you guys who have potted ... will then be able to glaze ... what you did ...

Now this seems like rough info cause it is ... so here's more ...  Rene will have a couple of other teacher/potters with him and they have different specialties ... that sounds like fun to me ... and you too ...

W want to cover all the expense of their driving and also the materials, so there will be a charge of at least $75 a day ... to also cover a couple meals.  This will be an estimate until we get a better handle on reservations ... OK?

So get back to me on all this ... plus ...

HERE IS THE REAL HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEKEND

The Sunday 3:00 PM Service with Music and Words glorifying God

REN THROWING POTS ALL THE TIME 

while we watch and listen 

I cannot believe my barn will be the locale of all this creative energy

all for now ... bye ... JoAnne signing off

PS ... I forgot to say that we will have a chance to see the pots that Ren makes and they will be on exhibit and offered for sale in the barn

I do have some in the house for you to enjoy seeing as well