The Fall party was a great success, colder weather on the horizon.
Happy Fall to everyone! We are currently having the type of weather, 60-75F days and 55F nights, that we would like to see continue until next May. Living in Minnesota, however, we always know that the evil cold snap / blizzard can be anytime, so …. Enjoy it!
Our orchard apple harvest only took us 2 hours, with 1250 mainly MacIntosh apples. We donated them to the Pepin School District, and they distributed then in 75 bags at a community event on October 7. We hope someday to have a harvest event, and, no doubt, a Party!
Our Lost Creek Hippies Vineyard 9th Annual Fun(d) Raising Party on Saturday, September 14 was a success in many ways. We had almost perfect weather, and the 30 or so folks who came all the way down to our farm and apple orchard in Pepin had a great time. We, as hosts, were able to chat with everyone, the games, mainly corn hole were hilarious at times, with Sara demonstrating a new throwing technique never seen before, we think. Steve was able to “focus” and be “in the groove” some of the time… hey you do the best you can, right ?
The conversations were interesting, snacks, beverages, and finally dinner of pork stew delicious. It happened so well only because Linda and I got so much help from Ginny and Andrew, Brad and Rori, Pat, Nathania, and Jay. At our age we simply couldn’t have had such an event without their enormous help… Thanks, you made it work!
Financially, the event continues to seriously help out our 3 charities:
Hope Coalition: $1,725.00 from 10 donors, plus our match : $3,450.00
Habitat For Humanity: $485.00 from 5 donors, plus our match: $980.00
Central Asia Institute: $900.00 from 8 donors, plus our match: $1,800.00
Total donations were $6,230.00. Clearly, we are helping our near and far neighbors find success in improving their individual and their communities lives. People, as a result of your caring and generosity, will live better, with progress towards health and prosperity:
Hope Coalition: Providing comprehensive services to women and their children struggling with abuse and/or homelessness in the Lake Pepin area with temporary housing, counseling, and employment services.
Habitat For Humanity of Minnesota: Providing an opportunity for financially challenged individuals and families to obtain and own quality and affordable housing, benefitting them while stabilizing their communities.
Central Asia Institute, Bozeman, Montana: Providing education and employment opportunities to rural residents, particularly women, in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Tajikistan. Each country has unique challenges, and CAI is making progress in sometimes extremely difficult conditions. Women and their families are succeeding. Click on the link to their website, and read about the success of Sulhiya of Pakistan in starting a small business.
We have said it in the past, but it bears repeating: We are all ultimately bound together as human beings, and when we help another improve their emotional and physical health, then our communities and each of us personally become healthier. We all do these things daily inner lives, by helping a neighbor, contributing to community events, and donating to worthy charities. Our Lost Creek Hippies Vineyard Annual Fun(d) Raising Party is our way of giving back to a world that has given us so much joy and love. One of the joys we get each year is hosting this event and interacting with all of you… an invaluable pleasure! We will continue to do this as long as it works.
We have a 40 year connection with some beautiful people in Key West, Florida. One group is One Human Family. They have mailed out millions of bumper stickers promoting their philosophy, which we find so positive:
Like Fingers of a Hand
We are all different and unique
We are all of equal value
We are all created to work together
And although we appear separate
We are all linked – and a part of – each other
We believe the above, as each of us is a spark of the consciousness that pervades the cosmos, everyone a lamp that shines, all equally precious, and each contributing to a bright beam of consciousness. When we help others live better lives, then our lives improve with the shared joy.
So, hopefully this warm weather will continue, at least until May of next year. We are against global warming, except for Minnesota! Stay warm, and mark your calendars for our 10th Annual Fun(d) Raising Party, on Saturday, September 13, 2025.
Peace, Love and Charity,
Jim Lee, Linda Norris, and Lost Creek Hippies Vineyard
N1901 County Road CC
Pepin, WI 54759
Cell: 763-354-0880