Month: May 2015

CUP CAKES TO DIE FOR

Loran Swanson    Food 

Like so many mothers of the depression, my mother had the ability to make something so wonderfully delicious, even when it first appeared, the cupboard was bare.  Often when I had ran the three miles home from school, my empty stomach would be growling as I searched the cupboard for something to tide me over…continue reading »

A Pizza Party Like No Other

Loran Swanson    Food 

After two hours of tennis, I stepped off the court, salty sweat dripping from my face, feeling good about a  strenuous 7-6, 7-5 hard fought match with friends.  Heading for the club house, something began feeling  unusual on the upper left side of my chest so I sat down, resting for a while, thinking some…continue reading »

Graveyard Stew

Loran Swanson    Food 

So what is it? The standard recipe is lightly toasted bread with a generous spread of butter served in a shallow bowl with steaming hot, fresh, whole milk poured over the top. Doesn’t sound good? Have you ever tried it?  Or maybe you know someone like my grandma, who did not like her false teeth,…continue reading »

What’s for Dinner?

Loran Swanson    Food 

Unless you grew up on a farm you probably would be thinking dinner as being the evening meal.  It was only 10:00 AM and several hours of hard work were behind us.  Supper was still about eight hours away.  Dinner for us was a hearty meal served at noon with a lunch break around 9:30,…continue reading »

Yesterdays Menu

Loran Swanson    Food 

I didn’t know we were poor.  Most young children don’t.  The 30’s were some of the most difficult times in our recorded history.  But I can’t recall of ever being really hungry. If you could choose one food that you would have to eat every day, what would it be?  For me, I think I…continue reading »

The Mulberry Tree’s Ultimate Gift

Loran Swanson    Uncategorized 

One lonely tree was planted in the pasture, about a quarter of a mile from our house.  The only water it got was when it rained.  While my father not only thought of his family with a garden and orchard near the house, the mulberry tree was planted to provide shade and shelter for the…continue reading »

The Horrors of War

Loran Swanson    Uncategorized 

You have all heard of General George Patton, but how many of you have heard of Private Henry “Pat” Patton? Even though he was about ten years older, I got to know “Pat” while we both were working as spike pitchers with a threshing crew.  At that time, it appeared to me, many of the…continue reading »

Just Pick’in!!!

Loran Swanson    Uncategorized 

“Years wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.”   Traces of blood on the neck from fingers tips that were bleeding were not a pleasant sight. The callouses on my hands, should have been hardened from the manual labor they had performed in those early years.   Once I picked up the…continue reading »

A Boy and his Dog Named JIP

Loran Swanson    Uncategorized 
Jip

Are there dogs in Heaven?  I can only imagine. We always had farm animals; cats we never fed, or they wouldn’t catch mice and working dogs to tend the livestock and even a pet pig.  However, I had never had a pet dog, one whose only job was to eat, sleep and be my friend….continue reading »

CAPTURE THE FLAG

Loran Swanson    Lincoln 

November 30, 2010 we saw our new home to be, for the first time.  As we entered the Grand Lodge in the Preserve we were waiting for the elevator to take us to the third floor when a resident introduced himself and his wife.  He said “you probably won’t remember my name because you will…continue reading »