Ruth MacFarlane briefly describes her education and career background as a botanist at Eastern Michigan University’s Herbarium, what brought her up to the Upper Peninsula, living on a small farm near Mass City, Michigan, and her writing career for local newspapers. She mentions Red and White Finns, cooperative stores, her work with the local 4-H writers group, Olaf Rankinen from Suomi College, and the long-lasting impression left on her by the generosity of a snowplow driver in saving her snow-scoop.