Bodie is a dog. A seven- month old Wheaton Terrier. He is tan, has a cute face and looks something like a Teddy bear. He lives with my son Jeff, wife Sandy and their kids, Christian, Nick, and Libby in Eagle-Vail, Colorado, in the mountains.
Bodie and his family were in Wisconsin this past week, at a cabin on Lake George near Rhinelander. Bodie went swimming and hiking. Bodie ate a lot, and napped a lot.
Bodie showed off a unique part of his developing personality. Much to everyone’s surprise, he demonstrated that he has literary tendencies. He likes novels. One day we caught him chewing on the cover of the paperback edition of my novel, THE TRAVELS OF INCREASE JOSEPH. What more could an author ask—a dog that likes to read. And novels? Wow.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Never stop reading. Read books, all kinds of books, fact and fiction, usual and unusual, and ordinary books written by local people with a story to tell and a message to share.
CHECK THIS OUT: THE TRAVELS OF INCREASE JOSEPH, (UW Press) the first novel in my Ames county historical fiction series is now in paperback. Buy at your favorite bookstore, or order off my website.
WRITING WORKSHOPS
Saturday, October 30. There is still room in my day-long workshop. Contact: The Clearing Folk School www.theclearing.org P.O. Box 65 | 12171 Garrett Bay Road | Ellison Bay, Wisconsin 54210 Toll Free: 877.854.3225 | clearing@theclearing.org Monday - Friday 8-4
UPCOMING EVENTS
August 4. 10:30 a.m. Flying Farmers Meeting, Holiday Inn, Fond du Lac. Stories from the Land.
August 8-14, The Clearing, Ellison Bay, WI. Writing Class.
August 21. Railroad Days, Stonefield Village, Cassville.
August 22, 11:00-3:00, Barnes and Noble, Racine, WI. Horse Drawn Days and more.
August 25, 7:00 p.m. Bailey’s Harbor Town Hall, Door County Environmental Council. Ames County Novels plus Old Farm.
September 13, 10:00 a.m., Attic Angels Retirement Center, Madison. Horse Drawn Days.
September 14, noon, Waupaca Library, Waupaca, WI. Ames County Novels.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
Black-Eyed Susans
With all the rain in central Wisconsin in recent weeks, my prairie has the tallest, thickest grass and the most wild flowers I remember since we began restoring it back in the late 1960s.
Black-eyed Susans have taken center stage for the past couple weeks, they are abundant, they are tall, and they are making a statement this year. For those who may not know, the Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is daisy-type flower, yellow with a brown center. It grows about two to three feet tall. And it likes my sandy, gravely, rather poor prairie soil.
Black-eyed Susans are native to the United States and they take care of themselves—I have not planted one Black-Eyed Susan seed since we began our prairie restoration. They come back year after year, some years more than others.
If you keep track of states and their official flowers, it is Maryland that has claimed the Black-Eyed Susan, since 1918.
More prairie reports later—along with the status of my garden’s three sisters who continue to duke it out.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: All gardeners know better than other gardeners.
CHECK THIS OUT: For those who read the Wisconsin State Journal, look for a review of Horse Drawn Days in the Sunday edition (July 25).
WRITING WORKSHOPS
Saturday, October 30. There is still room in my day-long workshop. Contact: The Clearing Folk School www.theclearing.org P.O. Box 65 | 12171 Garrett Bay Road | Ellison Bay, Wisconsin 54210 Toll Free: 877.854.3225 | clearing@theclearing.org Monday - Friday 8-4
UPCOMING EVENTS
July 29, 7:00 p.m. Brown Street Books, Rhinelander, WI. Horse Drawn Days and more.
August 4. 10:30 a.m. Flying Farmers Meeting, Holiday Inn, Fond du Lac. Stories from the Land.
August 8-14, The Clearing, Ellison Bay, WI. Writing Class.
August 22, 11:00-3:00, Barnes and Noble, Racine, WI. Horse Drawn Days and more.
August 25, 7:00 p.m. Bailey’s Harbor Town Hall, Door County Environmental Council. Ames County Novels plus Old Farm.
September 13, 10:00 a.m., Attic Angels Retirement Center, Madison. Horse Drawn Days.
September 14, noon, Waupaca Library, Waupaca, WI. Ames County Novels.
Black-eyed Susans have taken center stage for the past couple weeks, they are abundant, they are tall, and they are making a statement this year. For those who may not know, the Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is daisy-type flower, yellow with a brown center. It grows about two to three feet tall. And it likes my sandy, gravely, rather poor prairie soil.
Black-eyed Susans are native to the United States and they take care of themselves—I have not planted one Black-Eyed Susan seed since we began our prairie restoration. They come back year after year, some years more than others.
If you keep track of states and their official flowers, it is Maryland that has claimed the Black-Eyed Susan, since 1918.
More prairie reports later—along with the status of my garden’s three sisters who continue to duke it out.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: All gardeners know better than other gardeners.
CHECK THIS OUT: For those who read the Wisconsin State Journal, look for a review of Horse Drawn Days in the Sunday edition (July 25).
WRITING WORKSHOPS
Saturday, October 30. There is still room in my day-long workshop. Contact: The Clearing Folk School www.theclearing.org P.O. Box 65 | 12171 Garrett Bay Road | Ellison Bay, Wisconsin 54210 Toll Free: 877.854.3225 | clearing@theclearing.org Monday - Friday 8-4
UPCOMING EVENTS
July 29, 7:00 p.m. Brown Street Books, Rhinelander, WI. Horse Drawn Days and more.
August 4. 10:30 a.m. Flying Farmers Meeting, Holiday Inn, Fond du Lac. Stories from the Land.
August 8-14, The Clearing, Ellison Bay, WI. Writing Class.
August 22, 11:00-3:00, Barnes and Noble, Racine, WI. Horse Drawn Days and more.
August 25, 7:00 p.m. Bailey’s Harbor Town Hall, Door County Environmental Council. Ames County Novels plus Old Farm.
September 13, 10:00 a.m., Attic Angels Retirement Center, Madison. Horse Drawn Days.
September 14, noon, Waupaca Library, Waupaca, WI. Ames County Novels.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Three Sisters Still Fighting
For those waiting breathlessly for more about how the three sisters are getting along: They aren’t. Talk about sisters competing with each other. Sister pole bean is so far the bully of the bunch; she has crawled to the top of the stake I pushed in the center of the little garden mound,and has stuck her sticky tendrils a good 18 inches in the air beyond the end of the pole. Searching for an unknown something to latch onto.
Not to be out competed (if that’s a word), sister squash now has leaves a foot across, already has several yellow blossoms, and is also trying to crawl up the center pole, mixing it up with sister pole bean. I’ve never seen anything like it. What a vegetable competition.
Alas, meek and mild sister corn, now about half as tall as the center stake, seems to have accepted defeat in the sister competition. Where will it end? Why can’t the sisters get along—they are supposed to. That’s what I read somewhere. Not only are they supposed to get along, they are supposed to help each other. Care for each other. Look out for each other. Not in my three-sister garden. Cutthroat competition goes on. And may the best sister win.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: You can count the seeds in an apple, but the number of apples in a seed will remain forever a mystery.
CHECK THIS OUT: A new edition of BARNS OF WISCONSIN (Wisconsin Historical Society Press) is now available. Check my website: www.jerryapps.com for details and ordering information.
WRITING WORKSHOPS
Saturday, October 30. There is still room in my day-long writing workshop. Contact: The Clearing Folk School www.theclearing.org P.O. Box 65 | 12171 Garrett Bay Road | Ellison Bay, Wisconsin 54210 Toll Free: 877.854.3225 | clearing@theclearing.org Monday - Friday 8-4
UPCOMING EVENTS
July 29, 7:00 p.m. Brown Street Books, Rhinelander, WI. Horse Drawn Days and more.
August 4. 10:30 a.m. Flying Farmers Meeting, Holiday Inn, Fond du Lac. Stories from the Land.
August 8-14, The Clearing, Ellison Bay, WI. Writing Class.
August 22, 11:00-3:00, Barnes and Noble, Racine, WI. Horse Drawn Days and more.
August 25, 7:00 p.m. Bailey’s Harbor Town Hall, Door County Environmental Council. Ames County Novels plus Old Farm.
September 13, 10:00 a.m., Attic Angels Retirement Center, Madison. Horse Drawn Days.
September 14, noon, Waupaca Library, Waupaca, WI. Ames County Novels.
Not to be out competed (if that’s a word), sister squash now has leaves a foot across, already has several yellow blossoms, and is also trying to crawl up the center pole, mixing it up with sister pole bean. I’ve never seen anything like it. What a vegetable competition.
Alas, meek and mild sister corn, now about half as tall as the center stake, seems to have accepted defeat in the sister competition. Where will it end? Why can’t the sisters get along—they are supposed to. That’s what I read somewhere. Not only are they supposed to get along, they are supposed to help each other. Care for each other. Look out for each other. Not in my three-sister garden. Cutthroat competition goes on. And may the best sister win.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: You can count the seeds in an apple, but the number of apples in a seed will remain forever a mystery.
CHECK THIS OUT: A new edition of BARNS OF WISCONSIN (Wisconsin Historical Society Press) is now available. Check my website: www.jerryapps.com for details and ordering information.
WRITING WORKSHOPS
Saturday, October 30. There is still room in my day-long writing workshop. Contact: The Clearing Folk School www.theclearing.org P.O. Box 65 | 12171 Garrett Bay Road | Ellison Bay, Wisconsin 54210 Toll Free: 877.854.3225 | clearing@theclearing.org Monday - Friday 8-4
UPCOMING EVENTS
July 29, 7:00 p.m. Brown Street Books, Rhinelander, WI. Horse Drawn Days and more.
August 4. 10:30 a.m. Flying Farmers Meeting, Holiday Inn, Fond du Lac. Stories from the Land.
August 8-14, The Clearing, Ellison Bay, WI. Writing Class.
August 22, 11:00-3:00, Barnes and Noble, Racine, WI. Horse Drawn Days and more.
August 25, 7:00 p.m. Bailey’s Harbor Town Hall, Door County Environmental Council. Ames County Novels plus Old Farm.
September 13, 10:00 a.m., Attic Angels Retirement Center, Madison. Horse Drawn Days.
September 14, noon, Waupaca Library, Waupaca, WI. Ames County Novels.
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
Ducks or DUKWs
The discussion at the Fourth of July family picnic the other evening got around to the ducks at Wisconsin Dells, and plans to take a tour on them. I pointed out that the folks at the Dells spelled the name of the vehicles incorrectly and that the correct spelling was DUKW. For the reaction I got, you’d think I’d spelled Wisconsin backwards.
The reason I knew the correct spelling is when I was in the U.S. Army Reserve (Transportation Corps) back in the late 50s and early 60s, we had these strange (I thought them strange at the time) vehicles in my battalion. They traveled on land as well as in water. I know that many of you have longed to know this important information, but the letters DUKW are not an acronym, as is so much the case with the U. S. army. The D refers to a vehicle designed in 1942; the U means “Utility-amphibious,” the K refers to front-wheel drive, and the W means two powered rear axles.
The army used DUKWs to transport equipment and troops from ships to shore—each could haul 2 ½ tons of equipment, or up to 12 soldiers. They are 31 feet long, a little over eight feet wide and 7 feet tall. Not exactly a fishing boat. The DUKW fleet’s greatest fame came during D-Day, June 6, 1944, when DUKWs helped bring troops and equipment ashore during that famous battle in WW II. So now you know.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: (He remembers what someone told him) Those who have a fifth on the Fourth have trouble going forth on the fifth.
CHECK THIS OUT: A new paperback edition of THE TRAVELS OF INCREASE JOSEPH (University of Wisconsin Press) is now available. Check my website: www.jerryapps.com
WRITING WORKSHOPS
August 8-14. My week-long writing workshop at The Clearing in Door County. “Writing From Your Life.” The class is full, but you can put your name on a waiting list. There is still room in my day-long workshop, Saturday, October 30. The Clearing Folk School www.theclearing.org P.O. Box 65 | 12171 Garrett Bay Road | Ellison Bay, Wisconsin 54210 Toll Free: 877.854.3225 | clearing@theclearing.org Monday - Friday 8-4
UPCOMING EVENTS
July 10, 10:30-2:30. Bramble Books, Viroqua. New location: 213 S. Main Street, Viroqua. Horse Drawn Days.
July 11, 10:30-2:30, The Pickle Station, Saxeville, WI. In a Pickle.
July 13, 7:00 p.m. Patterson Memorial Library, Wild Rose. Central Wis. Launch of Horse Drawn Days.
July 29, 7:00 p.m. Brown Street Books, Rhinelander, WI. Horse Drawn Days.
August 4. 10:30 a.m. Flying Farmers Meeting, Holiday Inn, Fond du Lac. Stories from the Land.
August 8-14, The Clearing, Ellison Bay, WI. Writing From Your Life Workshop.
August 22, 11:00-3:00, Barnes and Noble, Racine, WI. Horse Drawn Days and more.
August 25, 7:00 p.m. Bailey’s Harbor Town Hall, Door County Environmental Council.
Ames County Novels.
The reason I knew the correct spelling is when I was in the U.S. Army Reserve (Transportation Corps) back in the late 50s and early 60s, we had these strange (I thought them strange at the time) vehicles in my battalion. They traveled on land as well as in water. I know that many of you have longed to know this important information, but the letters DUKW are not an acronym, as is so much the case with the U. S. army. The D refers to a vehicle designed in 1942; the U means “Utility-amphibious,” the K refers to front-wheel drive, and the W means two powered rear axles.
The army used DUKWs to transport equipment and troops from ships to shore—each could haul 2 ½ tons of equipment, or up to 12 soldiers. They are 31 feet long, a little over eight feet wide and 7 feet tall. Not exactly a fishing boat. The DUKW fleet’s greatest fame came during D-Day, June 6, 1944, when DUKWs helped bring troops and equipment ashore during that famous battle in WW II. So now you know.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: (He remembers what someone told him) Those who have a fifth on the Fourth have trouble going forth on the fifth.
CHECK THIS OUT: A new paperback edition of THE TRAVELS OF INCREASE JOSEPH (University of Wisconsin Press) is now available. Check my website: www.jerryapps.com
WRITING WORKSHOPS
August 8-14. My week-long writing workshop at The Clearing in Door County. “Writing From Your Life.” The class is full, but you can put your name on a waiting list. There is still room in my day-long workshop, Saturday, October 30. The Clearing Folk School www.theclearing.org P.O. Box 65 | 12171 Garrett Bay Road | Ellison Bay, Wisconsin 54210 Toll Free: 877.854.3225 | clearing@theclearing.org Monday - Friday 8-4
UPCOMING EVENTS
July 10, 10:30-2:30. Bramble Books, Viroqua. New location: 213 S. Main Street, Viroqua. Horse Drawn Days.
July 11, 10:30-2:30, The Pickle Station, Saxeville, WI. In a Pickle.
July 13, 7:00 p.m. Patterson Memorial Library, Wild Rose. Central Wis. Launch of Horse Drawn Days.
July 29, 7:00 p.m. Brown Street Books, Rhinelander, WI. Horse Drawn Days.
August 4. 10:30 a.m. Flying Farmers Meeting, Holiday Inn, Fond du Lac. Stories from the Land.
August 8-14, The Clearing, Ellison Bay, WI. Writing From Your Life Workshop.
August 22, 11:00-3:00, Barnes and Noble, Racine, WI. Horse Drawn Days and more.
August 25, 7:00 p.m. Bailey’s Harbor Town Hall, Door County Environmental Council.
Ames County Novels.
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