Sunday, September 25, 2011

Book Convention

Books, books and more books. We’ve just returned from the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association 2011 Trade Show in Minneapolis, which was held this year in a delightfully renovated downtown train depot.

For those who believe the book, one with real paper, is dead, recall what Mark Twain once said about his own demise--the information is considerably exaggerated. Books, publishers, independent book store owners, book distribution companies, librarians and authors prowled the aisles of exhibits for new ideas, connected with old friends, discovered new book titles, and generally had a great time, my wife and I included.

I was in Minneapolis promoting my new book, CAMPFIRES AND LOON CALLS, (Fulcrum Press), but I was also introducing two new books that will appear in 2012. The first is GARDEN WISDOM (Wisconsin Historical Society Press), which comes out in January, 2012. The book was a family project. I wrote about my many years of vegetable gardening; Ruth included some of her favorite garden recipes and Steve snapped the photos.

My second new book is RURAL WIT AND WISDOM (Fulcrum Press). This book is a complete re-do of an earlier book, with a third new material, new photos from Steve and lots of wit and wisdom from the country. It’s due out in June 2012.

An unspoken but important theme for the MIBA show: continue to support your independent bookstore and your local library. They are both treasures that we too often take for granted.

CHECK THIS OUT: I learned this past week that there are a few more slots available for my Saturday, October 29 writing workshop at The Clearing in Door County. It’s all about writing stories from your life. Go to The Clearing’s website for more information: www.theclearing.org.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Books do not scold when you blunder, laugh when you are ignorant, or hide when you seek them.

UPCOMING EVENTS:
October 1, Family History Fair, Walworth County Genealogical Society. Faith Christian School, HWY 67, Williams Bay, WI. 9-3. (Speaking at 1:00) Horse Drawn Days.

October 2, Old World Wisconsin, Eagle, WI. Barns of Wisconsin, Horse Drawn Days, Old Farm.

October 4, Union Grove Library. 1:30 p.m. Horse Drawn Days, 6:30 p.m. History of Cheese Making.

October 8, Stonefield Village, Cassville, WI. 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Speaking at 12:00 and 2:00 p.m. Horse Drawn Days.

October 15, Wade House, Green Bush, WI. 1:00 p.m. Horse Drawn Days.

October 18, New Holstein Library, 1:00 p.m. Book talk featuring Cranberry Red. 6:30-8:30 Writer’s Workshop.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Jack Frost

The other night when the moon was up and the wind was down, he came visiting for the first time this autumn season. When I was kid we called him Jack Frost who, with his magical brush, painted roof tops and grassy areas with a sparkling sheen of white frost. Annoying to some who wanted him to remain north at least until the end of the month, but welcomed by others who have waited for the heat and humidity of summer to sink south and leave us alone for a few months.

As to damage, so far just a grape leaf here and there that is crinkled and dead—and exposing more bunches of Concord grapes that I missed with the first picking.

Now I look forward to one of my favorite times of the year, cool mornings with bright sunny days while I dig my potatoes, discover the onions I previously couldn’t find, load up the pumpkins and squash, husk the Indian corn with its many surprising colors, and enjoy sitting by my old wood stove on a cool, clear evening when the only sound is that of an owl calling far off to the west.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Smell fallen leaves on the forest floor as you search for dead oak trees to cut for the wood stove.

UPCOMING EVENTS:
September 21, Cumberland Library, 5:30 p.m. The Lighter Side of Country Living.

September 22, Midwest Bookseller Convention, Minneapolis

October 1, Family History Fair, Walworth County Genealogical Society. Faith Christian School, HWY 67, Williams Bay, WI. 9-3. (Speaking at 1:00) Horse Drawn Days.

October 2, Old World Wisconsin, Eagle, WI. Barns of Wisconsin, Horse Drawn Days, Old Farm.

October 4, Union Grove Library. 1:30 p.m. Horse Drawn Days, 6:30 p.m. History of Cheese Making.

October 8, Stonefield Village, Cassville, WI. 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Speaking at 12:00 and 2:00 p.m. Horse Drawn Days

October 15, Wade House, Green Bush, WI. 1:00 p.m. Horse Drawn Days.

October 18, New Holstein Library, 1:00 p.m. Book talk featuring Cranberry Red. 6:30-8:30 Writer’s workshop.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Black Locust

We have black locust trees growing on our farm. Farmers who owned the place back in the 1930s planted them to plug up the gulleys that had formed on several steep hillsides. The black locusts did their job well, way too well, because they, once established, climbed out of the gulleys and marched into the open fields. We must have more than five acres of black locusts now, threatening to take over the place, to become one gigantic black locust forest of trees with long spikes that tear into your skin and crowd out more desirable species.

To keep the marauding locust trees at bay, we mow several of our open fields each year. But the next year they always return, seemingly more vigorous than the previous year. Some will grow five or six feet in one summer. None of my other tree species can begin to compete with the black locusts’ enthusiasm and competitive nature. Except perhaps buckthorn, but that is topic for another time.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Remember 9-11-01. Where were you on that fateful morning? What were you doing?

UPCOMING EVENTS:

September 13, Town Hall Library, North Lake, Wisconsin. 6:00 p.m. Barns of Wisconsin

September 17, Creekside Bookstore, Cedarburg. Book Signing, 1-4.

September 18, Creekside Bookstore, Cedarburg, Book signing, 12-3.

September 21, Cumberland Library, 5:30 p.m. The Lighter Side of Country Living.

September 22, Midwest Bookseller Convention, Minneapolis

October 1, Family History Fair, Walworth County Genealogical Society. Faith Christian School, HWY 67, Williams Bay, WI. 9-3. (Speaking at 1:00) Horse Drawn Days.

October 2, Old World Wisconsin, Eagle, WI.

October 4, Union Grove Library. 1:30 p.m. Horse Drawn Days, 6:30 p.m. History of Cheese Making.

October 8, Stonefield Village, Cassville, WI. 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Speaking at 12:00 and 2:00 p.m. Horse Drawn Days

October 15, Wade House, Green Bush, WI. 1:00 p.m. Horse Drawn Days.

October 18, New Holstein Library, 1:00 p.m. Book talk featuring Cranberry Red. 6:30-8:30 Writer’s workshop.

Sunday, September 04, 2011

No Electricity

The electrical power is out at our Waushara County farm. The entire neighborhood and well beyond lost power last Friday morning when a vicious wind and rain storm tore through the area, uprooting trees and smashing down power lines. At this writing, three days later, the power is still out. The main electric line, torn down by a tree limb is in the ditch, broken. No water. No refrigeration. Considerable inconvenience for those who do not have their own generators.

We weren’t concerned about the electric lines going down when I was a kid, because there were none in our neighborhood. No one had electricity. Kerosene lamps lighted our house; barn lanterns gave us enough light for milking cows. An ice box kept things cool, and a gasoline engine powered our water pump. We were quite self-sufficient.

Today, we’ve become so dependent on electrical power that when it’s not there, we are in trouble, especially if it’s missing for several days. The days of self-sufficiency are gone. For most people, anyway.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Neighbor’s stand alone as they stand together.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

September 7, Noon. Friends of Eagle River Library Banquet. Riverstone Restaurant, Eagle River

September 10, Barnes and Noble, La Crosse. 1:00 p.m. Campfires and Loon Calls.

September 11, Woodland Country School Reunion, 1-4, Speaking at 2:00 p.m. Two miles from Hustisford on Highway R.

September 13, Town Hall Library, North Lake, Wisconsin. 6:00 p.m. Barns of Wisconsin

September 17, Creekside Bookstore, Cedarburg. Book Signing, 1-4.

September 18, Creekside Bookstore, Cedarburg, Book signing, 12-3.

September 21, Cumberland Library, 5:30 p.m. The Lighter Side of Country Living.

September 22, Midwest Bookseller Convention, Minneapolis

October 1, Family History Fair, Walworth County Genealogical Society. Faith Christian School, HWY 67, Williams Bay, WI. 9-3. (Speaking at 1:00) Horse Drawn Days
.
October 2, Old World Wisconsin, Eagle, WI.

October 4, Union Grove Library. 1:30 p.m. Horse Drawn Days, 6:30 p.m. History of Cheese Making.

October 8, Horse Drawn Days, Stonefield Village, Cassville, WI. 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Speaking at 12:00 and 2:00 p.m. Horse Drawn Days.

October 15, Wade House, Green Bush, WI. 1:00 p.m. Horse Drawn Days.

October 18, New Holstein Library, 1:00 p.m. Book talk featuring Cranberry Red. 6:30-8:30 Writer’s workshop.