It’s that time of year. Will it flood? If so, how high? My father’s history of what it was like to farm around th floods gives us some good historical context. –Janet As I grew up I was aware of the river’s “flood stage,” but only as a matter of interest, not survival. The Riehl…
If you have a rich family history. If you have an Elder who holds the history of your locale and region. Don’t let it slip through your fingers. Don’t let that lore die when they do. It’s history. And, as my father likes to say, “History belongs to everyone.” With great generosity he continues to…
Quiet, quiet Christmas Eve Day morning as the birds wake up on top of our bluffs above the Mississippi. They flitter and twitter around the Ruth E. Thompson memorial bird feeders. A nod to one of my mother’s most passionate pass times. Snow, snow, snow. Even the river is frozen. We used to skate on…
We had our work cut out for us to narrow down the nominations to select a winner of The Second Mile Award. We’re pleased to announce that Tom Hoe, 95, of Ennis, Montana is the winner of the 2010 Second Mile Award. He is a musician, storyteller, community contributor, and so much more. Tom continues…
My father, Erwin A. Thompson, turns 95 this November 9th. My birthday present to him is to establish an annual Second Mile Award. The holder of the 2010 award receives: –a $500 honorarium, –a certificate designed by my niece, –publication on Riehlife of the nomination essay. The deadline for nomination essays is November 9, 2010–my…
Every year for decades our family gathers to make cider in the barn yard on our ancestral press. It’s always the Saturday of Columbus Day weekend. For this reunion I drove my brother’s truck up to Ringhausen’s Orchard where I bought five bushels of mixed cider apples and one bushel of #2 reds. How do…
My cousin Cynthia (aka “Cynthie”) belongs to a long standing book club called “The Ladies of the Club.” Every year they feature books by my father…and, music from his wealth of memories. Here are the notes from Meeting #31 compiled by Melodie Denson. The Ladies of the Club The Ladies of the Club met at…
For decades my father carved a menagerie of animals from walnut and pine. Some of this wood came from our own place. He whittles these with two blades of a pocket knife. He’s given away 100s of these to folks who proudly display them on their desks and mantle pieces. He started to write up…
I’ve been listening to the song Stephen Foster’s 1854 song “Hard Times Come Again No More.” You’ll see the lyrics below. Then, this evening, my father sent me this story to post about the hard times of Christmas 1934. May they come again no more. –Janet ______________________ Hard Times: Christmas, 1934 by Erwin A. Thompson…
For those of The Old School–such as my father–praise and expressions of love aren’t given casually or lavishly. I can count on one hand the times my father has said in words that he loves me. He shows his love through actions. When praise comes, prick up your ears. It might come in ways you’d…