A Midsummer Celebration

Welcome, dear friends, to our Merry Hearts Cottage today. Sometimes we have to remind ourselves of our home's name, so we can remember to keep a cheerful outlook on a rainy day!

The sun is actually smiling on us at the moment, although we have been tempted to wonder if we had moved to Seattle without knowing it!

We had the opportunity of attending the local Midsummer Festival, which occurs the second Saturday of every June, at the farm of a dearly beloved family friend. This man and his family come from Swedish stock, and he is the most humble and sweet man you could meet. Plus, he plays a mean accordion! He and my father served on the Idaho Conservation League, back in the late 1960s-early 1970s, making him even dearer in our estimation.

Come along with us and meet everyone!

David Sealander, the Master of Ceremony

A plaque honoring Grandfather Sealander, who was a musician, too.

It was a thundery, rainy day on Saturday, but we headed up anyway, knowing that the kindred souls who love such rare cultural events would be there, no matter what the weather. True to form, they had set up a tent borrowed from the local S.C.A., and folks were busily making daisy wreaths and cutting juniper foliage to decorate the maypole. Some had umbrellas, and some did not, but no one complained about the weather. No one was upset that there was mud everywhere (In fact, some little boys were happy to have puddles to jump in!), and some even danced in the rain!









There were wagon rides (Good thing there was a cozy roof on top!) to be enjoyed, and lots of calves and their mothers staring at the behemoth vehicle lumbering by.




When it was time to put the pole up, the rain ceased for a bit, and all able-bodied persons manned poles and ropes to raise the symbol of summer's blessings into place. Everyone was invited to dance around the maypole, which they did, according to their abilities.

That's our able-bodied Mr. Graham in the foreground!

A little band played polkas and traditional Swedish music, and everyone exhibited a true sense of small-town openness one to another. There was even a little playground for the children to enjoy.


We took a little nature walk while the older girls made daisy chains, and reveled in the magic of woods mingled with the volcanic deposits on the farm.

"Look at all this catnip! 'Twould be a pity to let it go to waste!"

We'll have to make a return trip when the weather is a bit warmer, and explore all the little fairy places we spied.

Thank you for sharing in our special day; having our friends along makes life even more wonderful!

Till next time,

Love,

Marqueta

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"Thus happened it to Mabel
On that midsummer day,
And these three fairy blessings
She took with her away.

'Tis good to make all duty sweet,
To be alert and kind:
'Tis good, like little Mabel,
To have a willing mind!"