Solstice Son

I was googling around on the subject of "solstice" and came across an interesting detail, that I hadn't known before today. My mom was born on December 22, 1913. As it happens, December 22, 1913 was the winter solstice that year. This year of course, the solstice is today December 21. But I have a question. Isn't it exactly a year from winter solstice to winter solstice? Isn't that what defines a year, i.e. one complete trip around the sun. Our calendar is only a pretty good approximation of a year, one that has to be corrected with a leap year now and then. My point is: Lillie Anderson Miller is exactly 96 years old today, not tomorrow which one might expect when looking at the calendar. Happy birthday, today and tomorrow.

So these photos are the earliest known photos of baby Lillie, taken in 1914. The first one is taken with her Aunt Minda, her mom, Hansine, and dad, Richard Anderson on their farm in Burnett County, Wisconsin. There is also a cow in the photo, apparently a very important cow, and a well loved cow, to show up in this photo. I think the photo was taken by Jake Hansen, who is in the next photo with baby Lil. Lillie is dressed identically in both photos in what appears to be a baptism outfit. Baptisms are important events that should be recorded for posterity. The shadow of the photographer indicates a male in control of the camera.


In the second photo, Jake Hansen is holding his new niece and looking a little uncomfortable. The photographer, from the shadow, appears to be female - either Hansine or Minda. I think Jake took his hat off for the photo.



The cold weather continues here on the tundra. We continue our below freezing streak, now a record for this early in the winter season, 19 days and counting. A huge winter storm is supposed to attack on Wednesday, and is expected to toss a monkey wrench into people's travel plans (monkey wrench??).

And I'm a son of a solstice baby. And not the only one.

Wood Tick Wonderland

The day after Memorial Day was cloudy and cool. The crowds at the various places of remembering were gone, and I had decided to visit a place I remember pretty well, but one that doesn't exist in the way it used to exist fifty years ago. I took a drive in the country. To Wisconsin.

This is a view of Dick's Ranch from the far side of the County U bridge over the Yellow River (not far from the junction of FF and U). Richard Anderson owned this land until he died in 1954, 55 years ago. The land is now controlled by the Burnett County Historical Society to commemorate an old trading post that existed there in 1803 - 206 years ago. It's named Fort Folle Avoine, which translates roughly to Fort Wild Rice. I used to do some fishing off this bridge as a lad.



The farm buildings have disintegrated over the years and not much is left to indicate that Richard and his large family actually lived here for at least 40 years. In contrast, the trading post was burned down after a single season in business - 1803. The silo foundation which stood next to the old barn is still visible, and probably a hazard to hikers. Plants are growing out of it.



Richard's spouse, Hansine, had a flower garden that was created by filling the center of an old tractor tire with dirt and planting flowers in it. The tire was still in place, but the flowers have been replaced with forest plants. It was located somewhere between the house and the barn.



I came across an old washing nachine that was still lying in the yard. I think it belonged to the Anderson family, but can't really swear to the fact. It's a really old style washing machine, as you can see. It's been there a long time.


I walked along the driveway, past the foundation of the house and the farm sheds. The pump is still standing, too, but not pictured here. The Historical Society has a nature walk in the "woods" that used to be the farmyard. They have signs that identify various interesting trees as one walks along the trail. One stands next to the large oak tree by where the house used to be and identifies it as a white oak. I think it may have been planted by Richard 75 to 100 years ago. I know it was there when I played in the yard as a child. I guess it's a wild tree again.

This is the old driveway to the farmyard. There used to be a garden on the left side of the drive, and maybe on the right side, too. The culvert for drainage under the drive is still in place and seems functional.


The trees have grown a lot. New trees have appeared. There are still a lot of woodticks on the grounds. Four of them came home with me and met their doom soon after I discovered their existence.

One from WWII

There was USTA mixed doubles at St Kate's at five p.m. It was in the high 80's, but not very humid. My partner, Carol, and I played against a Sylvia and a Mike. It was the first time that I'd played against this Sylvia, and probably any other Sylvia. I tried to be kind and also to compete adequately. It was pretty good tennis and used most of two water bottles before we finished, and we snatched victory from the jaws. Two hours of fun in the sun.

"A man hears what he wants to hear, and disregards the rest." Paul Simon, "The Boxer."

A photo from the past. One of my favorites. It is me as a toddler with my grandpa, Richard W. Anderson. There is a shadow of the head of the photographer, and I take it to be Lillie. Grandpa was born October 9, 1877. This photo was taken in 1943 or 1944 at his farm near Webster, Wisconsin, the place they called "Dick's Ranch," but it wasn't a ranch. He was, likely, 65 or 66 when this picture was snapped, about a year older than I am today. He is carrying a cane, because of his arthritis, I think, and looks older than 65 to me. I was born a scant 5 days after his 65th birthday. He lived another twelve years after I was born.


He was born in Grantsburg, Wisconsin, and married my grandmother, Hansine, when he was 35, nearly twice her age. His dad and his older brother, Frank, were born in Sweden. He and Hansine had six children.

The bicycle tour of Paris ended today and a winner was named. It's hard to accept that the doping expulsions had no effect on the outcome. They should give yellow jerseys to the top three and work for a better and cleaner tour next year.

KS continues her visit in these parts and will be looking forward to more road trips. To track down the blueberries.