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President Shelley Vogel hosted the October 15 meeting of the Brownsdale Study Club.

She called the meeting to order with the reading of the Collect.

Five members responded to the roll call “I remember when a nickel would buy …”

The secretary’s report had a correction. Rena Perrigo shared her grandmother Rina’s butter churn, not her mother’s. The treasurer’s report was approved.

Under old business, the tea party at Alamo Annie’s was a success. Thanks to Barb Swanson for donating a door prize of a teapot, cups and napkins. Everyone signed a card for Diane.

Therese Manggaard went over the itinerary for our fall outing to Winona on Oct. 25. We will leave at 8 a.m. from Barb’s house.

Under new business, Shelley made a motion, seconded by Barb, to donate some of our treasury funds to the new pickle ball court in Brownsdale and the Mower County Historical Society.

Barb suggested that we give Christmas cards to the residents of The Legacy. She will bring them to the November meeting for all to sign.

Next month’s hostess will be Mary Kidwiler Moritz. Shelley will do the outside reading and Barb will do the main topic.

Therese made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Barb.

Barb presented the main topic, “The Blue Hour.” That time at the close of the day that we call twilight, dusk or the gloaming. The blue hour is when the day’s work is over and our rest has begun. We know now that our bodies and our minds need this slow-down time, this pause between the busyness of the day and the sleep of night that resets and restores our body’s rhythms. In summer we become more intimate with the blue hour. We are outdoors almost every evening: one last check of the gardens, closing the chickens in for the night, linger by the campfire.

Therese presented the outside reading, “Cleaning up Waterways with Hair?” A Belgian company gathers hair left at salons which are turned into matted squares that can absorb oil and other hydrocarbons polluting the environment. A single kilogram of hair can absorb seven to eight liters of oil and hydrocarbons.

Mary’s blast from the past October 1924:

Oct. 1: Born in Plains, Georgia, Jimmy Carter, 39th president of the United States.

Oct. 4: New York Giants become the first team in history to play in four consecutive World Series.

Oct. 9: Municipal Grant Park Stadium, now known as Soldier Field is dedicated in Chicago.

Oct. 24: William Einthoven, a Dutchman, is awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine with his discovery of the electrocardiogram.

Shelley served a delectable sugar free and gluten free zucchini spice cake.

Therese sent everyone home with tomatoes and peppers.

Therese Manggaard, secretary.