Getting a Handle on It

Dave at Halco Press and I were laughing as we remembered Ken stories last week.  One of my favorites involves Ken, Dave and Dave’s dad Jim.  Jim Slack was a warm –  hearted man with a crusty exterior.  He loved teasing Ken.  He would often ask Ken what he was up to and once Ken explained that afternoon he planned to put handles on cups.  Ken further explained that one had to wait for the …

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Ken and Dave – and the Postcards

In the days before we were doing publicity on the internet, Ken commissioned art and made postcards to announce his pottery shows.  He worked with our local Turtle Lake printer, Dave.  Dave’s family published the Turtle Lake Times, and ran a print shop.  One of Dave’s first printing jobs was to deal with that weird, long haired artist up in the woods who made pots – Ken.  Ken had an art degree and was often …

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Snow in April

Wow.  This has been quite a month and it’s only half over!  We had lows in the single digits earlier in the month, and Last weekend many of us got a foot of new snow after an earlier eight inches.  So, today I was shoveling.      Today sun was in the forecast, so I went down and opened vents and shoveled out the area by the door.  The sides have so much snow!   …

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Bread and Crackers

I took on Ken’s sourdough when he died.  I am still learning about bread baking, but can do a passable loaf.         I ended up with extra sourdough.  I guess this is a fairly common occurrence.  I am not a big pancake eater – one of the ways to use the extra starter, but I decided to try the recipe using starter in crackers.  Today I made my first batch, and I …

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Taking on Tasks Ken Did – Starting Seeds

Ken and I formed a team.  People are often surprised at areas where our skills did not overlap.  Ken loved planting seeds.  And he had his set up on the lower level adjacent to the pottery studio.  A few years ago he built a germination cabinet.     Ken started each season with the onion seeds.  On a trip to the root cellar I could walk by and see him planting.  Sometimes we’d discuss what …

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Bread – Ken’s and Mine

Ken was such a good cook and baker.  His experience was broad and deep.  He grew up cooing and canning from a garden in his back yard.  His grandmother owned and cooked at the Afton House.  Ken worked in restaurants, a bakery,  pizza shoppe, hospital kitchen, and finally as a private chef for one of the Pillsbury family.          I grew up in a food family, too.  My maternal grandmother had a …

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Snowshoes on April 5th

Yes, those are snowshoes, and yes, this IS April 5th.  Although this are often gets spring snows in April, it is usually after the frost has come out of the ground, and the snow melts quickly.  This year the frost has come out only in some areas, and the amount of snow was greater than I remember.       So, I got out the snow shoes to get to the greenhouse at the bottom …

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Keppers Pottery Annual Spring Opener

This year Keppers Pottery is fortunate to join the Earth Arts Spring Art Tour on Saturday May 5th and Sunday May 6th from 10 – 5 both days.  Again this year Joyce Halvorson of Barron will be demonstrating her blacksmithing skills and offer her wares for purchase.         As many of you know Ken died December 19, 2017. I will be here as well as the usual cast of characters – Big …

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Memorial Service for Ken Keppers

  Memorial Service and Celebration for Ken Keppers     When: Sunday, May 20, 2018 at 1 p.m. Where: D D Kennedy Park Shelter,  1459 Kennedy Mill Ave, Amery, WI 54001 What: Sign guest book, music, readings to remember and celebrate the life of Ken Keppers BRING YOUR OWN CHAIRS Directions: From highway 8 head south on 120th St. for one mile.  Then head west onto 120th Ave for 2.5 miles.  Head south on Kennedy …

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Small Things that Take Time

Ken viewed everything as a potential material for a project of some sort.  He loved finding things.  He was a hunter and gatherer.  Some people called him a pack rat, but he used what he had.  Who else could build an entire chicken coop from scavenged materials?      People called our place the “Reuse center.”  But now I want my house back.  I am sorting through boxes, drawers, tubs of rags people gave me …

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