Hey Rolfsruds, gather 'round! What kind of candy do you want? Dark choc'late? Caramel apples? Fudge favors? Peanut butter sweets? You've come to the right place, because you're related to the Oompa-Loompa (by marriage) and Mrs. Wonka (by birth).Who can take a sunrise,
Sprinkle it with dew,
Cover it with choc'late and a miracle or two?
Who can take a rainbow,
Wrap it in a sigh,
Soak it in the sun and make a groovy lemon pie?
Oh, who can take tomorrow, Dip it in a dream,
Separate the sorrow and collect up all the cream?
Your Red Wing Family Can!
(Talk about your childhood wishes,
You can even eat the dishes.)
(Adapted from "The Candy Man," by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley)
So here we are, Kids in a Candy Store on a Sunday afternoon. From left, Carolyn Veeder, Kathy Boos, Dennis Boos, Marilyn Rolfsrud, Harold Rolfsrud, Larry Veeder and, kneeling, Stan Rolfsrud. Kathleen took the picture.
A year ago, Kathy and Dennis Boos bought the 20-year-old Red Wing Confectionery. Kathy is a nutritionist at the Red Wing hospital (truth, not fiction) and Dennis is a nurse (like the fictional Gaylord Focker). So, my dear Rolfsruds, just how are you related to the Candy Man? Erling Rolfsrud and Agnes Veeder were brother and sister; her son, Larry Veeder is your cousin; he married Carolyn and raised a family in Red Wing; one of their daughters is Kathy (your second cousin) and she married Dennis Boos.Sweet, huh?
On Sunday, Kathleen, Stan, Marilyn and Harold Rolfsrud got a private tour of the Red Wing Confectionery. Wonderful smells of fudge and chocolate greeted us; we were surrounded by copper pots and vats of dark chocolate interposed by trays of nutty brown goodness and gooey, sticky items clad in bright cellophane and shiny wraps with protruding white gripping sticks.
Kathleen, now in a weakened condition, began hunting and gathering. Marilyn searched for her favored caramel, Harold, the constant provider, filled a brown corrugated box with brown paper bags of sweet favors for his dear ones. It was left to Stan to record the orgy.
Please visit the Red Wing Confectionery website on your own. There you will learn that "At Red Wing Confectionery we make candy the old fashion way ... handling with care, taking the time necessary, and using the freshest ingredients and no preservatives. Our candies contain butter, fresh whipping cream, choice nuts and pure chocolate. Because our products are hand made and hand dipped you will find each and every piece delectably different."--
Just Google "Red Wing Confectionery" and you'll find everything you need. Order something for the holidays. We are not sure what the actual web address is. Right now Stan is watching the World Series and working on a pecan-caramel Bear Claw and has his hands full.
Red Wing Confectionery323 Main Street
Red Wing, Minnesota 55066
651-388-0174
(That's Harold Rolfsrud, licking his lips.)
