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  • I hope you had a good Thanksgiving yesterday. I walked to Greenmill in downtown St. Cloud MN and had a brunch style meal. I had plenty to eat. I walked back home!
    I mainly watched television.  I took only a 10 minute nap. The walk home must of did me good!  Thank You!
    Hello this is Randy from randlsauthor.com.    A  environmentalist  job is to  be ones  conscience.eLearn More

Life at  the Farmstead  by Randy Schreifels      Inspired by trip to New Salem in Illinois



     He built it with the help of an older and more experienced friend and neighbor Salmon Shields. John Bigelow did. It was his  medium size cabin in the woods.  There was  enough open area for a small field.

     A small sitting and eating area, plus a small kitchen area. The table had drop leaves. There was a folding table against the wall that was used for baking. There was a wood burning cooking stove. There was a small windmill on the roof for the lights. On one side of the cabin, there was a double bed. It was high enough so a lower bed could be rolled under. A tumble bed. 

  Hard times in the 21st Century Economy gave  folks like Bigelow the opportunity   to get back to nature to survive. He found the land on the internet.

    John, a lean, but strong man about 5, 8, 26 years old, gets out of a car. It is owned and driven by a friend and neighbor Salmon Shields. Shields and his wife Bessie are 50  and 48 yrs. old respectively.

Like most folks John's age, he had no car.

     With them is John's Mail new Bride.  Frances Trowbridge, now Mrs. Bigelow. Folks just called her Fanny. She was an Native American with some white blood.  Somewhat tall, plump and plain looking. Yet had an attractive figure. She was honest. She had black hair. It was pulled back in the library look.

  With modern computers, one can see what the other looked like before they saw each other in person.

  On the ride from the wedding, (John had to go on ahead)  Mrs.  Shields gave Fanny some good advice.

  Fanny looked forward to living with John on his land.

     John sweped his bride off her feet with a grunt. She looked startled, but  happily at him through her large size eyeglasses. They were solid black plastic frames with silver metal around the bottom and the nose bridge. .  John bounced his bride vigorously around in his arms.  She laughed hardily. She was in tears of joy. When she beamed her high cheekbones would gently raise her lenses then drop them down. Every time she'd grip the whole frame and adjust her glasses.   When he set her down over the trestle, she removed her glasses briefly to whip them.  She then slowly cleaned her glasses as she scanned the room  in a squint. All without breaking stride.

She placed her glasses back on and said very touched, ``Wow John", This is wonderful. You guys did a beautiful job". John held her a little tighter.

  Fanny was no stranger to farm work, though she never lived in a cabin. She spent her life thus far on her Aunt and Uncle's farm. She loved the work and learnt to be a good cook and baker.

  She put an ad to be a Mail Order Bride. She was guaranteed safety. Yet it was risky. John had to borrow money to get her, but he had plans on how to pay his creditors.  They were both lucky.

  The shields help bring her belongings inside.The Bigelows changed clothes, then John showed her the rest of the farmstead. There was a small animal barn for the mule team and a Holstein-Friesian milking cow.There was a hay barn above and two small bins for gain and dry nuts or and fruit. There was an adjacent shed for a few hogs complete with a farrowing crate and a chicken coop. There was enough laying chickens to keep them supplied and have extra to sell. There was a corn crib also. There were also ducks and geese from the nearby brook. A man made pond with constant running water circulation from the brook brought the ducks and geese to the barnyard. The following water and the birds help keep the mosquitoes down. . There were a couple of Purple Martin houses for the same purpose.

  John bartered for the animals and birds. 

     They went back to the cabin where the Shields were patiently waiting. They drove the Bigelows to a lakeside resort that was ideal for a honeymoon. The neighbors watched the farmstead during the two day reservation. They relaxed and had fun on their honeymoon.

     When the Bigelows returned they set out for work. John checked  his tools. The farm was too small with too many trees for  regular machinery, so they used wide spaded hoes and other hand tools. Fanny picked out a good place for a garden. Much of what they planted could be within the shade of the trees. Sweet corn was planted at different times. In fact the whole garden was rotatable. Before Fanny came Bessie Shields grew her early garden food and gave the Bigelows the extras.From now on  Fanny could grow her own early  and late crops.  Taller plants could

Just to remind you about my books.   They will interest you.   I am sure I told you that :  My Travels into History"    has a large print version!   Blog again at some time.   Hope had a nice Thanksgiving!

Yes for my books get a hold of Barnes & Noble or Amazon.  I do not have my own computer to take day long request!  Thank You!

   Scroll down to find " The Garrison"   Please!

    I did not think of it until last night ,though it was hinted, to give you better information on how to buy my books.  My bad!   Sorry! How dumb can I get?

   To add on to last time; Alternate energy prices are and will be dropping more and more.   It is better for ones health.  Cleaner environment, healthier person, less time with Doctor.   Thank You again!

      Whether if you believe there is Global Warming or not and there are too many signs for it,  pollution is pollution.  Too many people know this for people like Trump to get his way to purposely pollute the world .  Pollution actually cost humidity not save it or jobs.  Remember I am a Moderate.  I do agree with the President on some things.   Thank You!      

    I read recently that people who work in oil do get a contaminating illness.   Donald Trump wanted to shrink the Federal Government.  I am all for it like I said, but at the same time he wants Canada and Greenland !  Would that be costly?  

   President Trump is perhaps correct  on the borders.   We do need to be careful on who comes in.  In my travels, I experienced Hispanic.  They are good folks.  Surely they have come   legally. Same as those who came from the north.

     I would think that most folks let go due to Doge are trained workers and can find jobs with the same skills in the private sector.  Let pray for them!

   President Trump has put a huge amount of tariffs on many nations to create jobs for Americans to build American companies.  Many business have their companies outside the US because it is too expensive here.  Wouldn't things be hard for the folks DOGE fired to get jobs now? 

     President Trump said that trading partners are giving the United States the shaft!   perhaps.  Don't all countries take such advantages?   Is Trump looking out for the country or is he looking to reflex his muscle?  Thank You!

    I hope things turnout with the tariffs in spite of things. Trump has a growing list of nations he says has been giving the United States the shaft. But the question is.  Is the whole world giving the United States the shaft.  Are we the only victims?  We're no giving certain nations the shaft?  Is Trump going to let things go to his head and demand more than we deserve?   He has threatened to take away protection from public land!  So oil companies and loggers can move in and drill.  The loggers have to replant.  Is he going order them not to replant and burn or cut down what is already there, ending the jobs for these folks and send them to oilfields? He has got to be mad!  I am not for the New Green deal. Businesses and concerned folks can take care of that.  As long as the government makes it easy .  Thank you! 

     I had recently agreed with Trump about cutting off fund thus let the individual states take care of their own. Ford had similar issues.  But I am hearing from America Rivers that the  federal government is still needed.  It makes sense.  The Federal Government  needs to cut fat.  My question is.  Do they really give that big of a percentage. Is America Rivers and other good environment really demanding that they give a bundle.  The Nation Government does have their responsibility.  Perhaps if they invest in  an dominant  fund to solve the problem ( in this case the rivers) and clear up and make nature healthy for good then perhaps bug out.  As a government body, they I don't give their grocery money or whatever. I am trying to keep an open mind!

       I believe I said one time before, Wouldn't that be nice if members of Congress dig out of their own pocket rather than pass it through a vote to, and give to a important cause or two or three ect, ect, ect.    Thank You!  

 

 

      HAPPY EASTER!

    Hello there!   On April 26, I got a ride from a nice couple and fellow members of the Central Minnesota Civil War Round table for a Civil War Tour.  We were with the Litchfield or rather members of.  We enjoyed it.   Images below.       One is of Gettsburg with the  1st Minnesota, a couple at Missionary Ridge at Chattanooga, one is the 9 is Little Rock ,  others I am not sure.  I didn't write it down.  A chance to learn.

From the capitol looking toward St. Paul's Cathedral.

A miniature capitol in legos  . 

A preserved Minnesota flag of the Civil War.

            The 3rd Minnesota entering Little Rock ARK

    Corinth 1862

    Statue of William Colville , Commanding Officer of the 1st Minnesota at Gettysburgh.  He was wounded, but survived.

Fascination all around

The Golden Horses  on top the St. Paul Capitol.

Minnesota troops charge in the Battle of Nashville in 1864!

First Minnesota in their famous charge at Gettysburg in 183

The Governor and others speak in from of these flags in the Governor's Room.

    President Trump wants to cut the Federal Government down!  Yes by all means!  But he wants also spends on things that cost more to do. Like replacing everything environmentalist  have achieve to aid his oil people who in turn pay him a bundle to help pollute the earth.  Thank You! 

       I must let you know that in my book " My Adventures at Jay Cooke" and more so if you get the opportunity to have it in your hands, you should take note that a main reason is my love for the art of black and white photography.  It is a book for people  after my own heart.  You need to really look good at the images.

     The Botanical Gardens and the St. Cloud Parks Department.  The Music in the Gardens and the Barden Park concerts respectfully  serve root beer floats for fundraising.  It is a fun and popular way, but look at all that plastic from the large, I believe it 2 litter bottles to the plastic straws going to the garbage and eventually to the land and to the rivers.   Can't they put their thinking caps on and think of a better way?  Are they polluting   Mother Nature just because plastic is cheap? They should perhaps purchase reusable equipment plus setup different tables among the listeners.  Provide container to place the empties and do dishes as part of their volunteer work.    Do they have a conscience ?    Thank You!     

      President Trump believes that  our climate problems are a hoax!  That  is his opinion, but is polluting the world righteous?  Does he have to in so many word order people to pollute?     

     President Donald Trump is now attacking institutions like the Smithsonian because they express the bad as well as the good in history.  Like telling how bad slavery was.   Do we made America great again by lying?     You take the good with the bad!    I had an earlier thought on another day.  Maybe I'll will recall it some day.  Thank You!

    Congressman Tom Emmer wants to even do away with The Northern Lights train before it gets started for cheaper infrastructure.  That sounds fine, but folks have a right to alternative travel.  There is other this like abused handling of welfare to cut.   like folks on it so can have a car and live a higher lifestyle.  Governments all over the world supplement their public transportation.  We can not have everybody driving cars I like Mr. Emmer, but give The Northern Lights a chance! Cheaper is not always the best.  If they drill all those wells as the President wants, will they able to keep soil in place and prevent flooding?  Thank You!

        I once heard somebody say, " If you want to have a gun, you take what you can"  Meaning one does not have to have big powerful guns.  I once visualized having a semi automatic weapon because I thought It would be cool, but I didn't.   On an environmental note.  I carry a sliver set of a spoon, knife and a folk so, I don't have to use plastic.   Thank You!  

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