FOLK COLLECTION 11: The Skaggs Foundation Cowboy Poetry Collection

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

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

195

Rod Nelson

We North Dakotans like to work hard and stay busy

A friend recently sent me an article that mentioned that North Dakota is the least inactive state. I managed to get the drift that we North Dakotans sleep a little less, watch less television, and work more than the average American. I question that information.

railroader, labor, work

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

197

Rod Nelson

Raising son to be a chiropractor was one smart move

I jumped the yard fence a couple weeks ago. I'm thinking about trying it again, preferably when I have a better audience. I did have a couple witnesses when I did this feat, but they aren't talking about it enough. Perhaps jumping a fence since I broke my leg 10 years ago.

fence, pain, son, chiropractor

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

199

Rod Nelson

Labor Day was wet, but wasn't a wash

Things are picking up here at Sims. I woke up to rain on Labor Day and went to bed with the rain still patting on the roof. The total rainfall in Sims was 2.62". Labor Day is a big day in the Sims/Almont area.

rain, holiday, participation, parade

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

201

Rod Nelson

Deleting 'The Bleep' from our society

It is getting to be that time of year again when I am tempted to watch a little television. The evenings are starting to lengthen faster than my ability to find a good book. I am once again tired of the bleep.

profanity, movie, entertainment

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

203

Rod Nelson

2010 political campaigns hinging on health care reform

Well, we're grinding down to the end of another painful campaign. I haven't seen a campaign ad yet that gives anyone an idea of how qualified the candidate may be. I wish campaigning would be limited to debates or public forums.

politics, election, health, policy

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

205

Rod Nelson

Car deal was best it could be for 'family heirloom'

The Missus sold Sharkie. It was a long time coming. Sharkie was a 1986 Honda. My brother-in-law bought Sharkie when he was brand new. For some reason Lance really liked that car.

sale, car, bargain, deal

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

208

Rod Nelson

Lutefisk supper is a long-standing tradition for many

Almont pulled it off again. The lutefisk supper is over. It takes a lot of loyalty to put on a lutefisk supper; loyal people to help, and loyal people to eat the lutefisk.

lutefisk, veteran, tradition, culture