SUMMERTIME CLIPS

Here are a couple clips from past summers.

This one is called Pet Spider

And this one is Beautiful Butterflies

Have a great day and enjoy your gardens!

The pumpkins are a coming!

Lake Hallett 10 Years Ago

The following clips are from SPPA Connections.  Trudi Olmanson and I rowed around the lake on June 11, 2003. She explained many details of Lake Hallett.

Trudi explains the testing procedure for water clarity on the lake.

The water clarity test results from June 11, 2003.

Trudi explains some of the history of Lake Hallett.

If you would like more information visit the website.

www.lakehallett.com

It’s Time for a Laugh

Before I had gained recognition through contests and awards there was a lot of work that went into each and every one of the programs I produced.  “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again”, comes to mind.

In my program Keep on Growing, my intro into the following clips gives you some clues.

Either at the beginning or end of a program I summarized what the viewer would be seeing or the outcome of what I was trying to get across to my audience.  Sometimes that took a bit of practice.

And finally, the element of patience comes out loud and clear, especially when dealing with children and wildlife, two of my favorite subjects.

I think the main element of the whole process for me was to have fun!

And that I did!

First Fishing News Story

Fishing either on ice or water is particularly popular in Minnesota.  The clips you are about to see are from I think 1988.  I did not write down the date.  However, I do recall the story and the people involved.

Get a load of the nifty graphics.  My intro summarizes the news feature.

This next clip is some of the people included.  Do you recognize any of these individuals?

This walleye fishing contest was sponsored by Randy Voss & Jeff Smith and the Caribou Gun Club.  As I best recall, the club had been sponsoring this event in the summertime for a few years.  Keep in mind that this was 25 years ago.  The guys explain it all.

The two children at the end of this clip are my son, Willie and daughter Katie heading toward the Mill Pond.  They loved going to that park to play and fish.

It seems to me that fishing satisfies so many humanly needs.  It was an excellent way of teaching the kids patience.  It was very relaxing and sometimes made some mighty fine suppers!

My Connection with John Hartford

The date:  July 22, 1995, eighteen years ago yesterday I met the late John Hartford.

It was suggested by friends that I might want to see about taping music at the New York Mills Continental Divide Music & Film Festival.  The opportunity to capture John Hartford couldn’t be turned down.  My daughter, who was nine at the time and her friend, accompanied me on an approximate three to four hour drive.

We arrived in the early afternoon.  While strolling the festival grounds and viewing various artisans’ wares I looked up and there was John Hartford!  I said, “John Hartford?”  He said, “Yes.”  I quickly introduced myself and asked his permission to tape his performance.  I remember this.  I was wearing sunglasses and he asked me to remove my glasses.  Not too many people make that kind of request but never-the-less I obliged.  I went onto explain that I wanted to tape his performance for our town’s local cable TV.  I also mentioned that St. Peter has a music festival as well and we would be thrilled to have him perform at our festival.  I introduced him to my friends who were on the Rock Bend Folk Festival Committee and the rest is history.

This clip was his first song of an hour and a half performance from the New York Mills Continental Divide Music & Film Festival on July 22, 1995.

This next clip was from his performance at the Rock Bend Folk Festival, September 9, 1995 and his Grammy Award winning song, Gentle on My Mind.

Even if my part was small in Hartford’s performance at Minnesota Square Park in St. Peter, Minnesota, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to capture the moments and bring them back for your viewing pleasure!

Have a wonderful day!

Connections with John Mayer and the Govenaires

I had gotten permission from John to go ahead and tape anything I wanted to on the 4^th of July and had about a day to cogitate over a plan.  I decided to take my bike for the excursion.  I figured the bike would provide a faster means of transportation.

I swiftly assembled the articles I would need for this venture and set out with camera slung around neck taking off on my trusty Canondale.  As I got closer to the parade route so were cars that were trying to find a parking place.  I quickly got on the parade route and proceeded to the beginning of the parade. 

I found out where the Govenaires were in the line-up and road over to where the group assembled for the parade.  John was still getting ready and as I introduced myself I also mentioned that we were connected through our Mothers and their work in St. Peter’s Catholic Church Senior Choir.  He has his memories of the choir as well but I think that’s a different story.

After chit chatting for a bit I got on my bike and headed toward Gorman Park where I waited for the group.  The people along Washington Avenue were anxiously awaiting the parade as well.

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As they came by they played, “Grand Old Flag”.  I got what shots I could and hopped back on the bike and road ahead toward the end of the parade route where I was able to park my bike at a friend’s home.  I quickly spied my niece and their family and got some snaps of their family before the Govies appeared.

Again, they played, “Grand Old Flag”.  So, this clip you are about to see is a combination of the same song in two different locations.

Afterward, I headed to the park and taped their performance.  And while I would love to show you that whole performance time and limitations with my equipment will not dictate that video at this time but I would like to recap another clip that gave me the inspiration to present this story in the first place.

When I was finished I headed back home and stopped at a couple friends on my way.  As I was peddling, my Mom’s jingle for the Grain Belt Commercial popped into my head.  And that is my transition into the next feature story for the month of August.

Mom and I collaborated on the Grainbelt commercial contest back in 2005.  We didn’t win but the Govenaires are in this for a brief moment.

I’m taking the weekend off from writing but I’ll be back on board next week.  Till then, as Joseph Campbell said, “Follow your bliss, and the universe will open doors for you where there were only walls.” 

Have a Great Weekend!

FISHING TRADITIONS

Son, Willie, age 14

30# Flathead Catfish

Caught on the 

Minnesota River

Most Minnesotans enjoy a sport very near and dear to their hearts, fishing.  Our family is no exception.

The following clip that you’re about to see was taken from “40 Years of Memories”, an anniversary video I did for the folks in 1995.  This particular blip is of the guys while fishing in Canada.

I have an even better clip from that same video in 8mm.  I used the music from the Hula-Poppers, “Walleye”.  It’s a cute song set to the melody of “Rawhide”.  Lyrics by Richard A Lewis & Larry Hayes.  If I can get ahold of the guys for permission I will definitely play it as the clip is rather entertaining.  I still have that 45rpm record.  If anyone has any information on these two guys I would enjoy contacting them.  The record was cut at Shadow Records in 1986, 1517 West Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN  55408.

The weather continues to stay hot and muggy and even our pets just want to lay around.  Minion, my son’s cat wasn’t even interested in the catnip that I practically stuck under his nose.  Oh well.  Notice the lovely bouquet that was freshly picked this morning.  My poppies are blooming.  I planted this variety from seed.

This post is short as I am planning on the Govenaires post tomorrow and have a bit of editing left on that clip.

"Flowers may beckon toward us, but they speak toward heaven & God."

Henry Ward Beecher

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