Kristie Kandoll's Blog

Sod Busting

This photograph belonged to my grandfather Arthur LaBrant, who was a homesteader, but I'm not sure who it is. I love this picture though!...

A Battle Hammer

Our daughter Jana found this Indian tool on my Mom's farm in northwestern North Dakota. It is 7 1/2 inches long and weighs almost 3 1/2...

Beaver Dams and Damage

Although I've never seen a beaver on Mom's farm, I'm fascinated with them. The damage we saw in recent years was something we never saw...

Lignite coal in North Dakota

Lignite coal made homesteading possible in frigid winter weather in western North Dakota. The region had little timber to heat with, and...

Grandma's Beckwith Piano-Organ

My Grandpa LaBrant bought a used piano-organ in 1943. My Mom, Dorothy Kannianen, found an entry in Grandpa's record books that said he...

Grandpa and Grandma's Farm

I was blessed growing up about a mile away from my grandparents' farm. The old house looks sad and decrepit now, but I have wonderful...

Big Rock

One of my favorite landmarks on our North Dakota farm is "Big Rock." You may have guessed that I didn't lead a very complicated or exotic...

Teepee Rings

The farm I grew up on had teepee rings in the pasture. We had no idea how old they were, or which native tribes had made them. I've read...

Sloughs and Ducks

I love the sloughs in northwestern North Dakota. A slough--pronounced 'slew'--is a pond at low elevations. They are a mecca for ducks,...

Binders and Shocking

Early homesteaders used a "binder" to cut down the ripened grain before harvesting. This machine was a huge improvement over doing things...

KRISTIE