Farm families

 This past weekend I had the rare pleasure of attending a family reunion in southern Minnesota. By the time I returned home, I had been hugged, squeezed, kissed by a sweet older lady and even adopted into a family of truly fine folks.

   Most of this grand group originated in Minnesota’s farming areas and spent many hours playing in the hay mow. What can be more fun than that!

   Some of that bunch migrated out west where the sky seems a lot bigger. One gentleman said that his new combine doesn’t even need a driver. You just sit in the cab and read the newspaper. 

   In case I made it all sound a bit too easy, consider these things. A hail storm can take you from riches to rags in an hour. A good rain can make you a half a million dollars.  The stock market can be pretty tough on farmers.

   So thank you to those fine folks the Habbens and Williams. I had more fun than a man my age is entitled to.

   You can find the EBook Kindle edition of this book, "To Waltz with a White Horse" at  Amazon.com and www.peaceriverbooks.com. The Peace River Books blog is updated each day. 

   Stop in once in a while. I'll try to write something new and informative about my book To Waltz with a White Horse.
  Good Reading,
Ron

Cover design and formatting by COVERSAREUS.COM

Neighborhood Bully

     Well, the neighborhood bully paid a visit to our little place in the woods last night. The bird feeder is in a shambles and the fence around the chickens looks a little worse for wear. Bears do whatever they want, whenever they want.

   WWBD. Yes that's the main question. What would a bear do. If you were a bear strolling through the woods and you smelled a big juicy cheeseburger, you'd do whatever you could to get it. That's the way bears are about bird feeders. There are no limits on them.
   After having this one uprooted so many times, I just gave up. I put a big ball of concrete on the bottom so that when they tip it over, I can just go outside and stand it up again. The important part is to wait until the bear leaves.

   You can find the EBook Kindle edition of this book, "To Waltz with a White Horse" at  Amazon.com and www.peaceriverbooks.com. The Peace River Books blog is updated each day. 
   Stop in once in a while. I'll try to write something new and informative about my book To Waltz with a White Horse.
  Good Reading,
Ron

Cover design and formatting by COVERSAREUS.COM

Alaska

   If you're a dreamer, if you look at rivers and wonder where they go, if you see a glint of gold and your imagination does cartwheels, maybe you need to make a trip to Alaska. I mean a real trip to Alaska. 
   Bring a canoe you can trust and a friend you can trust even more. Alaska is a jealous lady and will kill you at her first chance. The only way to get around is by river. It requires strong arms and stronger mental attitude. Around each bend in the river you can expect a surprise. It might be a big bear with cubs or a big bull moose in a bad mood. Or maybe its a glint of gold sparkling in the sunshine.
   The one thing you'll never find in Alaska is boredom. 
   In the book "To Waltz with a White Horse" you'll find this adventure and as you keep turning pages, you'll feel your muscles tense as if you were really there.
   You can find the EBook Kindle edition of this book, "To Waltz with a White Horse" at  Amazon.com and www.peaceriverbooks.com. The Peace River Books blog is updated each day. 
   Stop in once in a while. I'll try to write something new and informative about my book To Waltz with a White Horse.
  Good Reading,
Ron

Cover design and formatting by COVERSAREUS.COM

Thank a Vet

   We are getting a lot of new veterans coming home from overseas operations. Some stand up straight and tall and some sit straight and tall in their wheel chairs. Some didn't make it home at all. 
   But when you see one of our troops, tell them "Thank You".  If you're in a position to help him find a job, do it. He stood on the front lines for us, now let's do something for him.
   You can find the EBook Kindle edition of this book, "To Waltz with a White Horse" at  Amazon.com and at www.peaceriverbooks.com. The Peace River Books blog is updated each day. 
   Stop in once in a while. I'll try to write something new and informative about my book To Waltz with a White Horse.
Good Reading,
Ron
Cover design and formatting by COVERSAREUS.COM

Spawning time.

    For a fisherman one of the best times of year to put up some extra meat is during the spawn in the early spring. Big Northerns slowly move upstream and find small creeks with slow moving water to lay their eggs. The smaller males seek out the females ripe with eggs. 
   The female finds a secluded spot and with the male along side, lays her eggs in one large mass. As the eggs fall to the bottom, the male fertilizes them.
   The next thing he does is get the heck out of the area. The female sometimes outweighs the male by twenty-five pounds. If he stays too long, he's invited to a candle light dinner with him being the main course.
   You can find the EBook Kindle edition of this book, "To Waltz with a White Horse" at  Amazon.com and at www.peaceriverbooks.com. The Peace River Books blog is updated each day. 

   Stop in once in a while. I'll try to write something new and informative about my book To Waltz with a White Horse.
Good Reading,
Ron

Cover design and formatting by COVERSAREUS.COM

Minnesota Gold

   In the book "To Waltz with a White Horse" I talk about how Sarge goes on a trip looking for a gold mine his father left him. But in reality, he didn't have to paddle very far. 
   Here in Northern Minnesota, there's gold, and lots of it. I know of a couple guys who combine their love of camping with their search for gold. They go into the Boundary Waters each summer and pan for gold. While it may not be the richest of  finds, they get enough to make it worth their time.   
   As a kid, I remember finding gold but never had any idea of how to separate it from the mud and sand that it came with. So today I sit here thinking of whether or not there's enough gold to make it worthwhile. Heck, I might just be rich next year..... or maybe not. You see, it's the dreaming that makes life worthwhile.   
   You can find the EBook Kindle edition of this book, "To Waltz with a White Horse" at  Amazon.com and at www.peaceriverbooks.com. The Peace River Books blog is updated each day. 

   Stop in once in a while. I'll try to write something new and informative about my book To Waltz with a White Horse.
Good Reading,
Ron

Cover design and formatting by COVERSAREUS.COM

Bonfires

   
   Have you ever just built a fire outdoors and cooked a meal. It's a real treat for the senses. But not that long ago, that was how your meals were made. It wasn't a means to make a meal, it was the only way to make a meal. Cast Iron frying pans were heavy, but quite necessary. If you had the room you carried a Dutch Oven.
   Now there's a method of cooking that just can't be beat. It's about a four quart kettle with a tight fitting flat lid.
   Once you had a good fire going and a lot of coals were ready, You put your meal together. On the bottom went the days meat and an onion. Then you threw in a potato or two and a carrot if you had it. A dash of salt and pepper rounded out your meal. Then you put on the lid and placed the whole thing in the coals. Then a scoop of the coals covered the flat lid letting it cook from all directions. 
   After about an hour and a half, it was time to eat. Surely food fit for a king.
   You can find the EBook Kindle edition of this book, "To Waltz with a White Horse" at  Amazon.com and at www.peaceriverbooks.com. The Peace River Books blog is updated each day. 

   Stop in once in a while. I'll try to write something new and informative about my book To Waltz with a White Horse.
Good Reading,
Ron

Excitement...

   During the war in Southeast Asia, many GI's fresh out of High School joined the military to expand their horizons and see a bit more of the world. That's exactly what they got a bit more, a bit more than they wanted. Some made it through the first week in country and some didn't. When you're eighteen and full of confidence, you think nothing can hurt you. Many were wrong.

   The stroll along the ocean beach was a great pastime during the few hours off duty. Some went to see the bright lights of Saigon and came back with stories to tell and a prescription for penicillin.

   Some only went out with two or three buddies trying to be safe. Even then, it wasn't too safe. A taxi ride back to base sometimes got you robbed. Sometimes it was worse.

   Some went on patrol and caught a ticket home, over 85,000 actually. 

   So if you want a little excitement, try J-walking at noon or maybe water skiing. But don't leave our great country. This is the best place on earth.

  You can find the EBook Kindle edition of this book, "To Waltz with a White Horse" at  Amazon.com and at www.peaceriverbooks.com. The Peace River Books blog is updated each day. 

   Stop in once in a while. I'll try to write something new and informative about my book To Waltz with a White Horse.
Good Reading,
Ron

Cover design and formatting by COVERSAREUS.COM

Sunfish

   In the book "To Waltz with a White Horse" Sarge talks of spending time on the Bigfork River fishing for his supper. Many people of that area enjoy fishing for sunfish because of their delicate flavor. They are a serious fighter when hooked and swim in tight circles trying to get away.

   The sunfish makes a hollow depression in the lake or river bottom and guards it from predators. Successful fishermen have learned that if they put a piece of bait near the sunfish nest, they are easy to catch. 

   Another thing that makes them so popular is their wonderful taste. No one can forget their first taste of fried sunfish. mmmmm mmmmm mmmmmmmm

   You can find the EBook Kindle edition of this book, "To Waltz with a White Horse" at  Amazon.com and at www.peaceriverbooks.com. The Peace River Books blog is updated each day. 

   Stop in once in a while. I'll try to write something new and informative about my book To Waltz with a White Horse.
Good Reading,
Ron

Cover design and formatting by COVERSAREUS.COM

Fly your flag!

   Around the world and yes even in our own country, people are complaining about the United States and how we are in so many different countries with our troops. Are we the imperialist nation they say. The answer is a resounding "NO". We are invited to help these countries and when they no longer need us, they complain about us. But have you ever heard a thank you from them?
   When Japan suffered such a massive earthquake and tsunami, we were the first ones there with an outstretched hand.
   And then when the tornadoes hit Joplin, Missouri, who came to their aid? Or how about the time the southwest part of our country was on fire. Who came to our aid? The answer is always the same.
   An interesting thing is that being the kind and generous people we are, we will still lend a hand and expect nothing in return. That's who we are.
   You can find the EBook Kindle edition of this book, "To Waltz with a White Horse" at  Amazon.com and at www.peaceriverbooks.com. The Peace River Books blog is updated each day. 

   Stop in once in a while. I'll try to write something new and informative about my book To Waltz with a White Horse.
Good Reading,
Ron

Cover design and formatting by COVERSAREUS.COM