Harken Back to Boon Lake Township Days – Part One
It was weather such as we are having today . . . wet and damp that we had closed the chapter of moving from Beaver Falls and being a hired beef cattle couple to being owners of a farm in the beginning months of 1966. It began in January of 1966 and finalized in March 1966.
Dad, Raymond Wendlandt, had realized that a 160 acre farm was up for sale in the first portion of 1966 several sections from where my folks farmed. We had been approached in the early winter of 1965 if we would be interested in taking on the responsibility. Breathless! That is how Orlin and I spent the last days of 1965. Orlin and I would be purchasing the farm on a contract for deed from my parents.
It was a lot to think on. We had to give notice to Orlin’s sister and her husband that we would be leaving their farm and moving onto our own. The news was accepted with grace and they were happy that we would have a chance to improve ourselves.
What had cinched the decision for Orlin and I was that Carrie had gotten quite sick. Carrie was born in October of 1965 and by early December she was having a hard time keeping her formula down. She was too young for solid foods and she was loosing from her birth weight. Good old Doc Anderson in Hector had gotten on top of the problem. The water needed to be tested at Beaver Falls. It came back as having high levels of nitrates. Did we feel like horrible parents or what! It was a spring fed well. We were living in the midst of farm land. Farm land that was challenged with fertilizers and additives for more production. Though we changed out to bottled water immediately, the lasting effects for Carrie would be unknown.
Doc Anderson put her on a heavy dose of Phenobarbital for a short time to slow down the pyloric vomiting. After a month, the dose was lessened but was constant. We headed into the new year with a baby that was gaining weight and on rice cereal, all the while keeping an eye on Carrie’s health.
We were preparing for the move to the Boon Lake Township farm beginning in January of 1966. The target date to be moved and have livestock on board was March. Ironically, I new this farm from stem to stern. My best friend all through rural country school, Marith Kurth and her family lived on this farm. Marith’s parents were retiring and moving into Hutchinson.
—————— to be continued.
Today on Stauffer Avenue the day is feeling cold and damp. I have begun a project in the sewing studio. It is a lengthy stitching project. I know that I am running the sewing machine at a slow rate. I have also found out that if I want to finish the stitching with a break in between time, the machine can be set on “eco” and finished perhaps tomorrow. Time will tell.
It wasn’t raining this morning and we each knew we had agendas for the day. Dennis put up a hook on the attic stairs for me to put my little shop vac’s hose on. Easy for me to get down the lengthy hose and out of the way while the vac settles in on the attic steps. I do enjoy having that vac so close at hand. I am not a fan of carrying items up and down the basement steps that are as clumsy as a vac and hose.
I got my Saturday cleaning done and headed out for a walk as it was beginning to drizzle. As I rounded the corner for home, I saw that Dennis had taken down the swing from the huge Maple tree. He had mentioned yesterday that the rope didn’t look any too safe anymore. For now, we no longer have wee ones to push on the swing and if a neighbor happened to use it, we would feel horrible if the rope broke and there might be an injury.
Dennis has agreed to having brussel sprouts for supper. I added the incentive that we had some grated cheese that could be added. The sprouts will be added to chicken and some mashed potatoes. Sounds good for a meal on a chilly and wet day.