FOLK COLLECTION 11: The Skaggs Foundation Cowboy Poetry Collection

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

143

Rod Nelson

Joe can really play

Have you ever found yourself five miles from home and blundered into something that impressed you more than anything you saw on your vacation? I like surprises like that.

piano, organ, recording

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

146

Rod Nelson

Welcoming new son-in-law to the Nelson family

I was hauling bales on Aug. 27 when I got a call from my daughter, Annika. "Hi, Dad. Guess what? Tyler and I just got married!" I suppose the call wasn't unexpected, but it was a surprise. "You aren't mad, Dad, are you?"

marriage, family, in-law

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

148

Rod Nelson

Fall is a season of preparing for the next season

It's fall again, often the shortest season of the year. It is an overlooked season in North Dakota. It just doesn't last long enough.

fall, season, change

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

150

Rod Nelson

Restaurants can be memorable for all sorts of reasons

I like to eat as well as the next guy but I am not too fussy where I eat or what is on the menu. I don't wake up in the morning and think to myself that I would like to eat Chinese, Japanese, French, or Italian food that day. I guess I like North Dakota food as well as anything.

restaurants, food, cafe, burgers

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

152

Rod Nelson

Recalling Uncle Ernie's many hunting trips to the area

No matter if you are a hunter or not, we are all affected somewhat by the fall hunting seasons. Seems like hunters are everywhere. Back country roads are busy with slow moving four wheel pickups with kennels in the back, small town bars and cafes are busy serving tired hunters, and you see orange all over the place.

hunter, tragedy, cheap, veteran

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

154

Rod Nelson

Another successful year at Senior National Finals Rodeo

Well, we made another trip to the Senior National Finals Rodeo. I have made about 10 trips to the SNFR. It is hard to quit going to rodeos. I guess when I placed in the calf riding at the Bantry rodeo in 1956, I was hooked.

rodeo, elderly, age, youth

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

156

Rod Nelson

It's a proud moment watching a son become a doctor

We just made a trip to Minneapolis for my son's graduation. He has been going to school for 20 years or so. He is glad to be done with his education. We are proud to think he managed to hang in there and reach such a goal.

school, education, pride, doctor

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

158

Rod Nelson

Seasons

They claim we have four seasons, Summer, Winter, Fall and Spring, But I'd guess it's just a theory And doesn't mean a thing.

season, weather, work, harvest

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

159

Rod Nelson

View of a perfect world through my north window

Our old house has been added to many times since the original part of it was built in, I think, 1884. It started out as a homestead shack. Someone made it bigger and dug a basement. Someone added a second floor; the Jacobson's built on a couple bedrooms.

scenery, house, history, sit

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

161

Rod Nelson

Reflections on the holiday season at Sims

Well, they predicted an open winter. People who survive in North Dakota never really dare to believe in weather forecasts. Snow is up to the knees on tall Swedes and higher on shorter people. Temperatures are lower than the bottom lips of those who think they need expensive Christmas presents.

gift, christmas, wife, new years day

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

163

Rod Nelson

Pushing Snow

It's that time of year again That gets me down in the mouth. For how I pity all my friends That winter way down South.

snow, shovel, thaw, south

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

164

Rod Nelson

Power outages create challenges for modern society

Who would ever think warm weather could cause so many problems in North Dakota. Cold, wind, snow, and storms we can handle, but a few days of fog, balmy temperatures and light mist caused countless hundreds of power poles to fall down, causing problems our hardy ancestors never worried about.

electricity, experience, blizzard, outage

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

166

Rod Nelson

The many fine qualities of a good cup of coffee

I don't remember much about my health classes back when I was a kid but I clearly remember the five essential food groups. They are red meat, salt, butter, coffee, and I forgot the last one. Although all are important to physical health, only coffee improves your social skills.

coffee, neighbor, drinking, friendship

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

168

Rod Nelson

Did anyone else gain weight during Winter Olympics

I was in the best condition I had been in for many years. I can't say I really trained, but I was proud of the state of my fitness. I could stand with good posture, look down and see my #13 boots clearly. Perhaps I was overly confident that I was ready for the Olympics.

olympics, pies, weight, gain

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

171

Rod Nelson

Wedding bells have been ringing again at the Nelson's

It was January 31. I was on my way home from Nevada when my cell phone rang. It was my son Lafe. (Rhymes with Safe.) "Where are you Dad?" "Just pulling into Twin Falls," I replied.

proposal, wedding, joy

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

173

Rod Nelson

Meeting weatherman was a humbling experience

I am not the type of person who gets giddy in the presence of celebrities. If I happened to be seated next to Mel Gibson, Katie Couric, or Oprah in a restaurant, I likely wouldn't bother them for a handshake or an autograph. I might not even hang around Julia Roberts very much.

weatherman, disappointment, compliment

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

175

Rod Nelson

April power outage brings mayhem to Sims area

This is the time of year when we used to scan the skies to watch flocks of migrating geese, ducks, sandhill cranes, and perhaps even a once-on-a-lifetime small flock of Whooping creams. Now we climb a hill, now and then, in hopes of sighting a lineman.

migration, birds, power outage

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

177

Rod Nelson

Being mindful of the miracle of electricity

Being mindull it only took me 21 days and eight 21 days and 8 hours have been different, especially if we are going to do a cr

electricity, generator, power

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

179

Rod Nelson

Farms have either too many mice or too many cats

I guess you could all us cat people. We value our cats. That is not to say I can ever remember playing with a cat or a litter of kittens. I don't like house cats, I don't like cats jumping up on my lap or standing on kitchen counters. As much as I enjoy petting and stroking a silky feeling dog, I really don't like touching a cat.

cats, mice, barn, hunt

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

181

Rod Nelson

Attending 8th grade graduation in a one-room schoolhouse

It's graduation time again. We have all suffered through countless graduation ceremonies to see a friend or relative have that moment of glory as they walk across the stage and receive their diploma. Yesterday my friend Saje called and said she was graduating in the afternoon. I turned to the Missus and said, "This is one graduation we are not going to miss."

graduation, education, schoolhouse

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

183

Rod Nelson

Trip to Wisconsin was a trip down memory lane

If you wonder how important you are and how long you will be remembered, tell me all you know about your great-grandparents. I have a great photo of my great-grandmother Inga Olson. It shows a sturdy woman feeding chickens in front of a granary with a nice stone foundation.

trip, great-grandparents, memory

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

186

Rod Nelson

Forget new equipment lots, find me a good junk yard

I have always enjoyed driving around the country and enjoyed driving around the country and enjoying the scenery. I can drive hundreds of miles and never think to turn the radio on. I don't mind traveling by myself, but enjoy company if I have it.

junk yard, vehicle, recycle

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

188

Rod Nelson

Some out-of-state visitors can appreciate North Dakota's beauty

North Dakota sure seems to impress people in different ways. My friend Kenny has a 2-1/2 year old grandson that lives in Minnesota. He came with his mother to visit recently. The little guy had been sleeping on the trip. When he woke up on a lonely stretch of North Dakota highway he straightened up, looked around very puzzled and said, "Where are all the cars?"

nature, empty, tourist, prairie

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

191

Rod Nelson

Heroes in hardhats

Things may be going smoothly, As far as you can see, And you think you and your Missus Live in perfect harmony.

lineman, power line, love

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

192

Rod Nelson

Three ol' cowboys hittin' the rodeo circuit

Summer is almost a joke. It goes by so fast we seldom even notice it until it is over. Rural people, especially, find summer running out before they have had a chance to enjoy it much.

rodeo, experience, age, travel