Nic's Diner Changes Hands

Sunday, June 15, 2014. It's been one of those weeks: I haven't gotten much done, and took all week doing it. The weather isn't helping: it rained on three days this week. I've heard that crops around here are not looking good. Water is good for plants: but too much at the wrong time: not so much.


Thursday's Sauk Herald. June 12, 2014.

On a happier note, the Sauk Centre Herald put the new owners of Nic's Diner on the front page: Gary and Karyn Nelson. The paper says they're planning a Grand Opening for Sinclair Lewis Days.

Harvest Time, and Looking Forward to Winter

Sunday, November 10, 2013. It's harvest time, we've had rain, snow, and dry spells. The dry spells are good, since harvesting goes easier then: but the process kicks up an amazing amount of dust, grain, dust, and assorted respiratory irritants. That's probably why I feel like I've had a cold for more than a month now.

I'm not alone, but 'misery loves company' doesn't apply in this case. I'm looking forward to winter.


Southern sky, where Ash Street crosses Lake Woebgone Trail. November 4, 2013.

Just one photo this week. I'd been taking a walk, and caught one of our more interesting skies.

A Quiet Week

Sunday, August 11, 2013. It's been a cool summer: not good news for farmers, since crops aren't growing as fast as usual: and may not yield as much when it's time for harvest.

On the other hand, we've had some beautiful days.


("The Original") Main Street, near the Interstate. August 9, 2013.


A nice, quiet Friday afternoon. August 9, 2013.

I took those photos Friday afternoon, riding along with my son as he practiced for his first driving test. Being able to sit back, relax, and enjoy the view while someone else drove was a treat.

Talking About the Weather

Sunday, February 24, 2013. We had snow Friday, two inches in St. Cloud, about an hour down the Interstate. Minndot (Minnesota Department of Transportation) said driving was hazardous between Avon and Sauk Centre, and 124 accidents in the state make that seem plausible. Sadly, one of the crashes was fatal.

This is another week when I didn't get out much. I found that news at the St. Cloud Times' website:

• "2 inches of snow falls in Central Minnesota"
  St. Cloud Times (February 22, 2013)

One of the neighbors was out this morning, shoveling snow off his roof. Sounds like this was a good day to get that done. There's freezing fog in the forecast: "which may lead to slick spots," as a somewhat understated hazardous weather outlook put it.

This map shows where we can look forward to interesting driving tomorrow. "Look forward" may not be quite the right way to put that.


National Weather Service map, with the "Hazardous Weather Outlook" area shaded. February 24, 2013.

That possible freezing fog is fairly minor, compared to what'll be going on in northern Texas, Oklahoma, and elsewhere:


National Weather Service map, with the weather forecast areas shaded. February 24, 2013.

One of the stereotypes of life in small towns, at least in this part of the country, is that we're 'always talking about the weather.' There's some truth to that, although I don't think it's because there's nothing else going on. Towns like Sauk Centre are nowhere near as far removed from agribusiness as larger cities. Around here, weather affects crops and livestock - which directly or indirectly affects the rest of us.

Drought, History, and a County Fair Next Week

Sunday, July 22, 2012. As we say in Minnesota, 'it could be worse.' My yard is tan, with patches of green highlighting the weeds: not exactly a 'house beautiful' scene, but the lawn will recover.


It's been a dry summer: but at least the weeds are green. July 19, 2012.

I haven't heard how crops are coming along in this part of central Minnesota: but my guess is that we're better off than folks down in southern Illinois, Nebraska, and other places with "extreme" to "exceptional" drought. I made 'thumbnail' copies of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's U.S. Drought Monitor's last two maps:


(from U.S. Drought Monitor, used w/o permission)
Drought conditions, July 10, 2012.


(from U.S. Drought Monitor, used w/o permission)
Drought conditions, July 17, 2012.

The good news is that it's been worse: in the 1930s, and again in the 1950s. We learned from the Dust Bowl, and farmers should be doing a much better job of soil management these days.

The bad news is that we'll probably be spending more for food, later this year. Still - 'it could be worse.' Pricier steaks and a tighter household budget is a whole lot better than a famine. This article compared this year's drought to some of what happened in 'the good old days:'

"Historic drought to bring higher food prices, experts say"
FoxNews.com (July 17, 2012)

"The historic drought baking the nation's breadbasket is about to hit American consumers where it hurts most -- the supermarket checkout.

" 'Prices are going to go up, Justin Gardner, assistant professor of agribusiness at Middle Tennessee State University, told the Christian Science Monitor. 'The only question is when.'

"Everything from breakfast cereal to roast beef will cost more as a result of the worst drought in 24 years, which has already prompted authorities to declare more than 1,000 counties in 26 states -- nearly two-thirds of land in the lower 48 states, stretching from Nevada to South Carolina -- natural disaster areas.

"Only in the 1930s and the 1950s has a drought covered more land, according to federal figures released Monday. So far, officials say there's little risk of a Dust Bowl-type catastrophe, but crop losses could mount if rain doesn't come soon -- and that means across-the-board higher food prices...."

That drought map probably doesn't tell the whole story. I was near Hillsboro, North Dakota, this weekend: an area that the U.S. Drought Monitor shows as having 'severe' drought conditions. Harvest was under way: come to think of it, this seems rather early for that sort of thing. Besides, I don't know what the yield per acre is.


Harvest in the Red River Valley of the North. July 20, 2012.

The Stearns County Fair starts this week. Folks were starting to set up the midway when I got home this afternoon.


Getting ready for the Stearns County Fair. July 22, 2012.

I missed Sinclair Lewis Days: that was July 15 through today. It's been a mildly hectic week: at least it felt that way.


Sunset. July 22, 2012.

I plan to get a good night's sleep, start Monday morning refreshed and - good grief. I've got medical stuff to do in St. Cloud tomorrow. Oh, well: there's only a 20 percent chance of rain, and I gather that we could use the moisture.

Red Carpet For Sale, Harvest, Stearns County Fair

Wednesday, July 28, 2010. The Red Carpet, downtown, has been a part of Sauk Centre for decades: it was established before I moved here in 1986. Now, someone has an opportunity to take over a Sauk Centre landmark.


The Red Carpet has been there, next to the Palmer House, since before I moved to Sauk Centre back in 1986. July 26, 2010.


Here's a chance for someone to own a Sauk Centre landmark. July 26, 2010.

All I know, at this point, is what I saw in the window: the owner of the Red Carpet is retiring, and the place is for sale.

Driving to Alexandria this afternoon, I saw several fields ready for harvest. And this one, near the tank farm west of town, where harvest was already happening.


Harvest has started on this field, just west of Sauk Centre. July 28, 2010.

Folks have been setting up the midway and getting exhibit spaces ready for the Stearns County Fair.


Stearns County Fairgrounds. July 27, 2010.


One day to go before the fair opens - and a whole lot of activity at the fairgrounds. July 27, 2010.


Stearns County Fair is a fund-raising opportunity for several local groups: like the VFW, with their parking spaces. July 28, 2010.

I plan to see what's happening at the fair tomorrow. And, probably, Friday. Saturday evening I'm scheduled to help at the Knights of Columbus Bingo booth. I've mentioned the VFW in that photo's caption: the Lions are just west of the K. of C. Bingo booth. Or, looking at it another way, K. of C. has their Bingo game in the east side of the Lions' building.

October's Bright Blue Weather: And Otherwise

Wednesday, October 21, 2009. The flag at the National Guard armory downtown was flying at half-staff today. I think - but haven't found out for sure - that it's to honor National Guard Specialist George Cauley, who died recently, of wounds incurred in Afghanistan. There's more at the Minnesota National Guard website and KSAX.


National Guard Armory, Sauk Centre, Minnesota. October 21, 2009.

We had "October's bright blue weather" on Monday. Blue skies, fluffy clouds, sunlight, the whole works.


Harvest's happening. October 19, 2009.

Agribusiness is a very big deal here in central Minnesota: and messages on the 1st State Bank sign often reflect this.


Ironically, H1N1 showed up in a few Minnesota pigs this month. October 19, 2009.


I'd have been at the Harvest Graces Mass, but they say to stay home if you're sick. October 19, 2009.

The big holiday trio is coming up: Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Quartet, with New Year's. Which gives some householders a chance to decorate their yards.


One of the more thorough Halloween displays. October 19, 2009.


Some folks put up a sort of combination display. This one would be fine for Halloween and Thanksgiving. October 19, 2009.

October's bright blue weather ended sometime Monday night.


"October's bright blue weather"? The poet didn't have this in mind. October 21, 2009.


Hardly the day to take a leisurely stroll. October 21, 2009.

Rain or not, some jobs won't wait. Like the fellow I spotted near Lake Wobegon Trail. Hats off, to everyone whose job takes them outside on days like this to keep the systems we all use working.


He's probably wondering why I stopped. October 21, 2009.


Tourist agencies don't emphasize it: but this is a fairly typical October day in Minnesota. October 21, 2009.

It's getting late, I'm still not feeling up to par, and there's more to do tomorrow. I trust that Sunday will be a better day. Dryer, anyway.

Monday: A Gloomy Day, But the Rain is Welcome

I see that Alexandria got just over 1/10 of an inch of rain so far today. I suppose we got around that, here in Sauk Centre. Just as well: the last I looked, we were still shy on soil moisture.

I've made the point before: if folks in small towns talk a lot about the weather, it's probably because agribusiness is important to the local economy - and the weather affects crop yields, big time.