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Minnesota Floods We're having floods in Minnesota....... It's been especially rough in the Red River Valley, between Minnesota and North Dakota --- the Red River flows north, which is not a good idea for a river, because the upper river is thawing while the lower river is still frozen solid, so every year they get a flood and this year there has been bad flooding combined with a blizzard ---- we're talking to Mrs. Deeanna Brower up near---- SS: Hello? Hello---- GK: Turn your radio down, Mrs. Brower. SS: Okay. --- Couldn't hear you with the sump pump going. GK: You've got the sump pump running in the basement? SS: Got two of em. Two of em going. GK: So how bad is it up there, Mrs. Brower? SS: You mean here? GK: Yes. SS: Oh, it's not that bad. GK: No? SS: No, no. It's not that bad. GK: I heard that a lot of people were without power. SS: Yes, that's right. GK: You're without power? SS: That's right. GK: So the pumps are working off a generator--- SS: That's right. Got the generator going. GK: So you're in candlelight or kerosene lanterns---- SS: We've got both. Candles and lanterns. GK: What about heat? SS: We're burning wood in the fireplace. GK: Isn't it cold in the house? SS: It's not bad. Forty-five. You wear a sweater, it's not bad. GK: Now, I heard that a lot of farm places up there are surrounded by water--- you're on the farm--- SS: That's right. GK: Is your house surrounded by water? SS: Right up to the back door. GK: So --- you have firewood in the basement? SS: Nope, basement's full of water. GK: So what are you burning, Mrs. Brower? SS: Well, I been breaking up this old dining room table for firewood. GK: You're heating the house by burning furniture? SS: Never cared that much for it. GK: Do you have animals? SS: Cows --- yes. GK: Are they okay? SS: They're fine. GK: Are they calving now? SS: Yes---- GK: How do you get out to see to them? SS: They're all up here in the house. GK: Your cows are? SS: We've got a lot of extra bedrooms with the kids gone. GK: So they're fine---- SS: Everything's fine. It's not that bad. GK: How about food? Are you running short on that? SS: No, no. Got plenty. Got pasta, got canned soup, got a whole freezer full of stuff. GK: How about the cows? SS: We've been feeding them linguini. GK: I see. And they like that? SS: Spinach linguini. It's not that bad. GK: So you and your husband and the cows are going to just sit it out together, huh? SS: No, he's not here. GK: Your husband's not there? SS: He's in the barn. GK: I see. SS: He went down there after we drove the cows up to the house. GK: I see. SS; He was checking to see if there were any more, and then I guess the water got too high for him to come back. GK: Well, how is he? SS: He's okay. GK: You're sure? SS: He's fine. GK: Is there anything to eat there? SS: Silage. GK: He's eating silage? SS: I tried to float him a Tupperware dish with linguini in it but the water is flowing the other way. GK: I see. So he's eating silage. What does silage taste like? SS: It's not bad. GK: Okay, thank you very much. SS: It's like cole slaw. GK: Thank you, DeeAnna Brower, from the Red River Valley. © 1997 by Garrison Keillor |
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An Interview with Heather Masse
In a 2009 interview, Heather Masse tells us about her earliest influences, auditioning in a women's bathroom, and a few memorable moments from A Prairie Home Companion.
Old Sweet Songs: A Prairie Home Companion 1974-1976
Lovingly selected from the earliest archives of A Prairie Home Companion, this heirloom collection represents the music from earliest years of the now legendary show: 1974–1976. With songs and tunes from jazz pianist Butch Thompson, mandolin maestro Peter Ostroushko, Dakota Dave Hull and the first house band, The Powdermilk Biscuit Band (Adam Granger, Bob Douglas and Mary DuShane).
