The family is just back from a great week in the Northwoods, in a cabin on a lake where swimming, water skiing and all the rest were wonderful. Great fun for the kids and grand kids, and a relaxing time for those not into being pulled around the lake on a pair of slender slats.
Except for one problem. Mosquitoes. Hundreds of them. Thousands of them. As many as the national debt and more. A deep breath resulted in a mouth full of the buggers—not an exaggeration. I slapped my arm and dispatched a half-dozen with one blow.
What to do? Off to the store for mosquito dope. Stuff with DEET in it. Stuff to keep the mosquitoes at bay.
While inspecting the mosquito repellent display—quite an elaborate one I might add—I spotted something new—at least for gullible me. I spotted an ultrasonic mosquito repellent, battery operated and of a size where I could clip it to my belt. No Deet to spray on tender skin. A modern piece of technology. I bought one. Could have bought two spray cans of Deet for the price, but that’s something my wife doesn’t need to know.
I brought it to the cabin, cut the device loose from its plastic bindings, pushed a little button and saw a tiny bulb glow red. It was obviously emitting high frequency sounds that disturbed mosquitoes and sent them away to antagonize someone else. At least that’s what it was supposed to do.
I stood in a shady place where I had previously been unmercifully attacked that morning. I waited to hear the buzzing of mosquitoes, held at bay some six feet from me by my new piece of modern technology—as the advertising claimed would happen.
There was no buzzing at six feet. Squadrons of menacing little beasties tore at me as if my new piece of electronics were a homing device.
Back to Deet. No more mention of my new piece of mosquito deterring equipment. Mosquitoes won again.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: When you find something that works. Stay with it. On the other hand, kind of fun to try something new once in a while.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
July 31-August 6, Writing Workshop, The Clearing, Door County.
August 10. 5 p.m., program at 6 p.m. Red Crown Lodge, 3852 Highway 51 North, Arbor Vitae, WI Preview of Ken Burns’ latest film, Prohibition. Discussion of Prohibition in Wisconsin. Free. Registration required by August 5. Register: UWalumni.com or call 608-263-4508.
August 13. 5:30 p.m. Manitowoc County Historical Society. Horse Drawn Days
August 18, 7:00 p.m. Three Lakes Historical Society, Three Lakes Wisconsin. History of cheese making in Wisconsin.
August 21, 4:00 p.m. Arcadia Books, Spring Green, WI. Presentation and Book Signing.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Bookstore Closings
I stopped at Brown’s Bookstore in Rhinelander this week and discovered they were closing. After 18 years they are locking their doors and calling it quits. A loss to the community; a loss to publishers, a loss to writers.
I also noticed this week that the Borders' book chain, second only to Barnes and Noble in size, has lost its battle to continue after declaring Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this year.
Little bookstores, big bookstores, independents and chains—closing. Not able to compete with the juggernaut called E-books that are digital and require no paper. Books read on such devices as Kindle and Nook and iPads and Blackberries. Books that cost less, oft times considerably less than their paper printed versions.
What are we losing when we lose a bookstore, whether a little independent such as Brown’s in Rhinelander or the Borders’ chain that had stores scattered across the country? Are bookstores, real ones not virtual, digital versions, important enough so that some will survive? Should some survive?
We appear to be in the midst of a great revolution—an earthshaking reshaping of defining what is a book and how they are made and sold? It’s both an exciting and a depressing time.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: How do we decide what of the past we should keep when something new comes along and threatens to replace it?
CHECK THIS OUT: My friend, Phil Martin, who is a writer, editor, and publisher, has just published a new book: HOW TO WRITE YOUR BEST STORY. It’s advice for writers who want to polish their story writing skills. Great collection of practical tips. Available on Amazon.com, www.itascabooks.com and other booksellers. And only $14.95. What a deal!
UPCOMING EVENTS:
July 26, Noon, Wis Historical Society Museum, on the Square, Madison, WI. Ringling Bros. Circus.
July 31-August 6, Writing Workshop, The Clearing, Door County.
August 10. 5 p.m., program at 6 p.m. Red Crown Lodge, 3852 Highway 51 North, Arbor Vitae, WI Preview of Ken Burns’ latest film, Prohibition. Discussion of Prohibition in Wisconsin. Free. Registration required by August 5. Register: UWalumni.com or call 608-263-4508.
August 13. 5:30 p.m. Manitowoc County Historical Society. Horse Drawn Days.
I also noticed this week that the Borders' book chain, second only to Barnes and Noble in size, has lost its battle to continue after declaring Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this year.
Little bookstores, big bookstores, independents and chains—closing. Not able to compete with the juggernaut called E-books that are digital and require no paper. Books read on such devices as Kindle and Nook and iPads and Blackberries. Books that cost less, oft times considerably less than their paper printed versions.
What are we losing when we lose a bookstore, whether a little independent such as Brown’s in Rhinelander or the Borders’ chain that had stores scattered across the country? Are bookstores, real ones not virtual, digital versions, important enough so that some will survive? Should some survive?
We appear to be in the midst of a great revolution—an earthshaking reshaping of defining what is a book and how they are made and sold? It’s both an exciting and a depressing time.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: How do we decide what of the past we should keep when something new comes along and threatens to replace it?
CHECK THIS OUT: My friend, Phil Martin, who is a writer, editor, and publisher, has just published a new book: HOW TO WRITE YOUR BEST STORY. It’s advice for writers who want to polish their story writing skills. Great collection of practical tips. Available on Amazon.com, www.itascabooks.com and other booksellers. And only $14.95. What a deal!
UPCOMING EVENTS:
July 26, Noon, Wis Historical Society Museum, on the Square, Madison, WI. Ringling Bros. Circus.
July 31-August 6, Writing Workshop, The Clearing, Door County.
August 10. 5 p.m., program at 6 p.m. Red Crown Lodge, 3852 Highway 51 North, Arbor Vitae, WI Preview of Ken Burns’ latest film, Prohibition. Discussion of Prohibition in Wisconsin. Free. Registration required by August 5. Register: UWalumni.com or call 608-263-4508.
August 13. 5:30 p.m. Manitowoc County Historical Society. Horse Drawn Days.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Bur Oak
I like trees, all kinds of trees, pine trees and oak trees, trees I’ve planted and trees that have been on my farm for a hundred years and probably more. But of all the trees that grow at Roshara, I am most impressed with the Bur Oak (sometimes spelled Burr).
First off, I respect the Bur Oak’s toughness. They withstand fire, storms, dry weather, wet weather—they come through it all and continue living and growing year after year, sometimes surviving two or three hundred years.
Bur Oaks are not especially attractive when compared to some other trees such as a Balsam Fir (I have but one of these at my farm). But in their own way, with their thick, corky bark and scraggly limbs going this way and that, they have a beauty all their own. Besides, Bur Oak trees are native to my farm. No one hauled them in from somewhere else. They have thrived in much of central and southwestern Wisconsin as long as anything living has been here. I marvel at that.
Some Bur Oak facts: They may grow 80 feet tall, even taller in richer soils, and reach diameters greater than four feet. The Bur Oak roots may reach depths of 20 feet and a lateral spread of 40 feet. The weight of the roots can equal that of the tops. One of the reasons the Bur Oak lives so long and does so well is its tremendous root system—what you see of the tree is only about half of it—the other half is below ground.
Sort of like people. What you don’t see about a person is often more important than what you do see.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: No matter how old you are, plant a tree. And don’t forget to speak up when someone wants to cut a living tree for no good reason.
CHECK THIS OUT: My friend, Phil Martin, who is a writer, editor, and publisher, has just published a new book: HOW TO WRITE YOUR BEST STORY. It’s advice for writers who want to polish their story writing skills. Great collection of practical tips. Available on Amazon.com, www.itascabooks.com and other booksellers. And only $14.95. What a deal!
UPCOMING EVENTS:
July 26, Noon, Wis Historical Society Museum, on the Square, Madison, WI. Ringling Bros. Circus.
July 31-August 6, Writing Workshop, The Clearing, Door County.
August 10. 5 p.m., program at 6 p.m. Red Crown Lodge, 3852 Highway 51 North, Arbor Vitae, WI Preview of Ken Burns’ latest film, Prohibition. Discussion of Prohibition in Wisconsin. Free. Registration required by August 5. Register: UWalumni.com or call 608-263-4508.
August 13. 5:30 p.m. Manitowoc County Historical Society. Horse Drawn Days
First off, I respect the Bur Oak’s toughness. They withstand fire, storms, dry weather, wet weather—they come through it all and continue living and growing year after year, sometimes surviving two or three hundred years.
Bur Oaks are not especially attractive when compared to some other trees such as a Balsam Fir (I have but one of these at my farm). But in their own way, with their thick, corky bark and scraggly limbs going this way and that, they have a beauty all their own. Besides, Bur Oak trees are native to my farm. No one hauled them in from somewhere else. They have thrived in much of central and southwestern Wisconsin as long as anything living has been here. I marvel at that.
Some Bur Oak facts: They may grow 80 feet tall, even taller in richer soils, and reach diameters greater than four feet. The Bur Oak roots may reach depths of 20 feet and a lateral spread of 40 feet. The weight of the roots can equal that of the tops. One of the reasons the Bur Oak lives so long and does so well is its tremendous root system—what you see of the tree is only about half of it—the other half is below ground.
Sort of like people. What you don’t see about a person is often more important than what you do see.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: No matter how old you are, plant a tree. And don’t forget to speak up when someone wants to cut a living tree for no good reason.
CHECK THIS OUT: My friend, Phil Martin, who is a writer, editor, and publisher, has just published a new book: HOW TO WRITE YOUR BEST STORY. It’s advice for writers who want to polish their story writing skills. Great collection of practical tips. Available on Amazon.com, www.itascabooks.com and other booksellers. And only $14.95. What a deal!
UPCOMING EVENTS:
July 26, Noon, Wis Historical Society Museum, on the Square, Madison, WI. Ringling Bros. Circus.
July 31-August 6, Writing Workshop, The Clearing, Door County.
August 10. 5 p.m., program at 6 p.m. Red Crown Lodge, 3852 Highway 51 North, Arbor Vitae, WI Preview of Ken Burns’ latest film, Prohibition. Discussion of Prohibition in Wisconsin. Free. Registration required by August 5. Register: UWalumni.com or call 608-263-4508.
August 13. 5:30 p.m. Manitowoc County Historical Society. Horse Drawn Days
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Dry Weather
Dry weather in central Wisconsin. Hot days, cool nights and no rain. Ten days ago the lawn grass in front of my cabin, native grass as I planted no grass seed was green, lush and growing rapidly. This morning it is brown and crunches underfoot when I walk across it. The grass appears dead, but it is not. It is merely waiting for the next rain when it will once more turn green. Tough stuff this centuries old grass that knows the ways of sandy, dry soils.
My garden suffers. Potato vines curl, squash leaves wilt, the bottom leaves of the sweet corn are turning brown, the tomato plants have stopped growing. Even some of the weeds have wilted—but not all as weeds, better than the fancy, hybrid vegetable varieties know dry weather, know how to send their roots ever deeper, searching for life-giving moisture.
Those of us in central Wisconsin look to the western sky and wait for rain as we have for generations as these sandy soils never have enough it seems. The rains in mid-summer make all the difference as to whether a crop will produce well, indeed even survive. Farming sandy soil without irrigation is a gamble, always has been, always will be.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: One of the best ways to solve a problem is to walk. It may take a mile, it may take longer.
July 26, Noon, Wis Historical Society Museum, on the Square, Madison, WI. Ringling Bros. Circus.
July 31-August 6, Writing Workshop, The Clearing, Door County.
August 10. 5 p.m., program at 6 p.m. Red Crown Lodge, 3852 Highway 51 North, Arbor Vitae, WI Preview of Ken Burns’ latest film, Prohibition. Discussion of Prohibition in Wisconsin. Free. Registration required by August 5. Register: UWalumni.com or call 608-263-4508.
My garden suffers. Potato vines curl, squash leaves wilt, the bottom leaves of the sweet corn are turning brown, the tomato plants have stopped growing. Even some of the weeds have wilted—but not all as weeds, better than the fancy, hybrid vegetable varieties know dry weather, know how to send their roots ever deeper, searching for life-giving moisture.
Those of us in central Wisconsin look to the western sky and wait for rain as we have for generations as these sandy soils never have enough it seems. The rains in mid-summer make all the difference as to whether a crop will produce well, indeed even survive. Farming sandy soil without irrigation is a gamble, always has been, always will be.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: One of the best ways to solve a problem is to walk. It may take a mile, it may take longer.
July 26, Noon, Wis Historical Society Museum, on the Square, Madison, WI. Ringling Bros. Circus.
July 31-August 6, Writing Workshop, The Clearing, Door County.
August 10. 5 p.m., program at 6 p.m. Red Crown Lodge, 3852 Highway 51 North, Arbor Vitae, WI Preview of Ken Burns’ latest film, Prohibition. Discussion of Prohibition in Wisconsin. Free. Registration required by August 5. Register: UWalumni.com or call 608-263-4508.
Tuesday, July 05, 2011
Potato Bugs
Potato bugs we called them when I was a kid, a menace for potato patches. They still are a problem today maybe more so than ever as chemical treatments have toughened them rather than eliminated them.
Their official name is Colorado Potato Beetle; they feast on potato vines and leave most everything else in the garden alone. An age old system for controlling them works –somewhat anyway. We used it when I was a kid; I still use it to today.
You walk down the row of potatoes, and when you spot a potato bug you drop it in a little pail with some water in the bottom. When I was a kid, Pa poured an inch or so of kerosene in the pail. He wanted to make sure that once we picked them they would never ever find another potato plant to chew on.
I saw an ad in a farm paper for a “sure kill “system for eliminating potato bugs. “Mail in five dollars.” I’ll not say who answered the ad, but when the sure kill system arrived, it consisted of two small blocks of wood with some simple instructions. “Place potato bug on block A. Strike smartly with block B.” It worked.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: A good cup of coffee in the morning gives you the gumption to face the day, no matter how many problems and challenges lie in wait.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
July 6, 6:00 p.m. Chilton Library, Chilton, WI Campfires and Loon Calls
July 10, 11-2:00 Pickle Station, Saxeville, WI. Booksigning.
July 26, Noon, Wis Historical Society Museum, on the Square, Madison, WI. Ringling Bros. Circus.
July 31-August 6, Writing Workshop, The Clearing, Door County.
Their official name is Colorado Potato Beetle; they feast on potato vines and leave most everything else in the garden alone. An age old system for controlling them works –somewhat anyway. We used it when I was a kid; I still use it to today.
You walk down the row of potatoes, and when you spot a potato bug you drop it in a little pail with some water in the bottom. When I was a kid, Pa poured an inch or so of kerosene in the pail. He wanted to make sure that once we picked them they would never ever find another potato plant to chew on.
I saw an ad in a farm paper for a “sure kill “system for eliminating potato bugs. “Mail in five dollars.” I’ll not say who answered the ad, but when the sure kill system arrived, it consisted of two small blocks of wood with some simple instructions. “Place potato bug on block A. Strike smartly with block B.” It worked.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: A good cup of coffee in the morning gives you the gumption to face the day, no matter how many problems and challenges lie in wait.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
July 6, 6:00 p.m. Chilton Library, Chilton, WI Campfires and Loon Calls
July 10, 11-2:00 Pickle Station, Saxeville, WI. Booksigning.
July 26, Noon, Wis Historical Society Museum, on the Square, Madison, WI. Ringling Bros. Circus.
July 31-August 6, Writing Workshop, The Clearing, Door County.
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