Aitkin Age column: The sport I know best

My latest column for the Aitkin Independent Age is more local, and even personal, in its subject matter, but I want my blog readers to know: it's about one of the best men I've ever known, and now we're in great need of prayers for his healing from several severe injuries from an accident. Thank you.

   I grew up knowing next to nothing about sports.
   When I was very little, my family went to a few baseball games at the Astrodome. (That shows how long ago this was.) I hardly paid attention to the game; the draw for me was ice cream, peanuts and lemon slushies. But over time, I did – very basically – learn how baseball worked.
   That was the extent of my sports knowledge until, in college, I went to study abroad in Northern Ireland. We studied, then attended a game of the at-least 1,600-year-old sport of hurling. It was quite chaotic and the players were very passionate; sticks were broken, they kept playing after helmets fell off and intentional personal fouls happened almost every time a goal was made.
   This covers all my knowledge of sports up until last year, when my sister and I moved to Aitkin and started attending Gobbler football games.

Read the rest here.

The end of summer

Pretty clear that summer's long over here. Here are some photos from over the summertime.

Lilies from our father's small bulb-flower garden.

A salamander, held by Anna.

A mouse made a nest in the gauge cover of the gas tank.

Her babies were nursing.

Currants.

And carrots from the garden, leading into fall harvest time.

Many things in the wings

To anyone who reads my fancomic Batman: Decadence: the next chapter's still not ready; so sorry about that, but I will post it as soon as it is, rather than waiting till the next 25th of the month.

I have been extremely busy and should have some stuff to show once I can get it organized. Thank you for your patience!