The year is 1907, one hundred years ago......














Theodore Roosevelt's ideas on Immigrants and being an AMERICAN in 1907.


"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

Theodore Roosevelt 1907

Light At The End Of The Tunnel.....

It has been some time since I have had a chance to sit down in front of the computer and actually catch up on e-mail and news. I have 80 e-mails!

We, as you know, have been remodeling and yesterday we completed the upstairs. Well not completely. I have three pieces of trim to go around the window seat in the office and, of course, the carpet is not yet installed. The trim I will do today. The carpet will be done by professionals. So we are through.

Wait a minute. Blinds. I have to get them up. So trim and six blinds and were done. Oh yeah and paint the office door. That’s it. Well, I do have to put a door on the upstairs hall closet. And, of course, we haven’t even started on the upstairs bathroom, that’s next winters project.

On Tuesday the gas company came and ran a line for the new kitchen range. We now sit and wait for the county inspector to come, who knows when, and inspect the work. Then the gas company will come back and connect the range. Until then it is sandwiches and eating out.

We had hoped to get everything done before April 13. That’s when Bente’s big brother and his wife, from Denmark, arrive for a short, 46 day visit. We figured out last week that we were not going to make the deadline. So we took the weekend off to enjoy a little rest and relaxation. Sunday was Easter and we spend the day with my little sister and her family. It was a very nice day and had a great time visiting with them. The only thing that would have made it nicer is if my two brothers had been there.

So I see light……do you hear a noise? Is that a train?