Saturday, April 23, 2011

Spring at the Pond

Spring has arrived at the pond on our farm. A pair of sandhill cranes is staking out their nesting site, mamma and papa Canada geese are making inspection tours, several mallard and wood ducks have already taken up residence, and the frogs are singing out their hearts.

That’s not to credit less the turkey gobblers that are strutting and calling and making a fuss about finding a mate, and the song birds that are returning, some to stay and nest, others to move on further north.

I spotted at least three bluebirds nesting in our string of houses alongside our prairie—another good sign that some things appear right with the world.

Now we need the weather to cooperate a little—too cold, too much late snow and thus little plant growth. And no garden planted, not one seed. Another year with winter morphing into summer with no spring in between?

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Spring is full of promises, many not kept.

CHECK THIS OUT: Interested in old barns. The Wisconsin Historical Society Museum on the square in Madison is sponsoring a special program on Wednesday, May 11, 6:30-9:00 P.M. The program includes a meal catered by the Underground Food Collective, plus a presentation with history and stories from Wisconsin barns (my part of the program). Call 608-264-6563 for reservations.

UPCOMING EVENTS:
May 3, 12:00-2:00 p.m. Book signing. Barnes and Noble, Denver West Village, 14347 Colfax Ave., Lakewood, Colorado.

May 7, 1:00-3:00 p.m. Book signing. Apple Blossom Books, Oshkosh, WI.

May 11, 6:30 p.m. Dinner and Presentation, Barns of Wisconsin. Wisconsin Historical Society Museum on the Square in Madison. (See above for details)

May 14, 10 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Books signing. Dregni’s, Westby.

May 18, 7:00 p.m., Beloit Library. Ames County Novels.

May 23, 7:30 p.m. Brodhead Historical Society. History of Wisconsin Agriculture
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May 26, 7:00 p.m. Eagle River Library. Campfires and Loon Calls.

June 2, 7:00 p.m. Luck Library. Campfires and Loon Calls.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Arbor Day

Long before the celebration of Earth Day, which is April 22, we set aside a day at our one-room country school to spend outside, sprucing up the school grounds. We called it Arbor Day, a day long associated with planting trees.

We planted no trees in our one-acre schoolyard on Arbor Day—there were already plenty of giant black and white oaks. What we did was bring garden rakes from home and spent the day raking leaves and grass and piling them in the middle of our softball diamond. It was a fun day, a chance to be away from the routine of studying and reciting and following a rather tight schedule of learning.

I especially remember Arbor Day when I was in seventh grade. Maxine Thompson was our teacher and she joined us in the clean-up operation and seemed to be having as much fun as we did as we raked, carried, and piled leaves and dead grass.
When there was no more grass to rake, and no more winter-tired oak leaves to gather, Miss Thompson touched a match to the big pile and we had a glorious bonfire with pungent smoke trickling skyward. While the pile was burning, we searched for sticks as we knew that a wiener and marshmallow roast would follow. It was a day to remember.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: (Quoting Increase Joseph, from my novel, The Travels of Increase Joseph)”It’s the land. I’m talking about the land and how we must take care of it or we shall all perish.”

CHECK THIS OUT: The Sturm Public Library in Manawa has selected my novel, In a Pickle, for its community read program this spring. I will be speaking at the library on April 19, 7:00 p.m. Want to learn more about cucumbers and their history? Plan to attend.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Grape Vine

I pruned my grape vines this week; I really should say “vine” as I have only one. I planted it about 15 years ago in front of my house and next to my split rail fence. The idea was to add a “little something” to the fence as my wife said.

It’s a Concord grape and I really didn’t expect much from it, beyond tangling itself along the top rail of the cedar fence and looking nice. But was I surprised. This single vine produces up to a half-bushel and sometimes more of rich, lush purple grapes each year. By mid-summer Its leaves and vines cover an entire section of the fence. Last year the grape vine was especially rambunctious and threatened to overrun a rose bush that is more than dozen feet away from the base of the vine.

As for care, beyond severely pruning the vine each early spring, I do nothing but watch it grow. No watering, no fertilizing, no spraying—nothing. It’s about the easiest plant to take care of I have on my property. Come late August and early September, I begin checking for ripe grapes, snipping them off with a shears when they are ready and carrying them into the kitchen.

Ruth has a wonderful grape jelly recipe—we feast on grape jelly and toast all winter. And the family and friends do as well as we give away jars of grape jelly as Christmas presents.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Expect little from something and be surprised.

CHECK THIS OUT: The Sturm Public Library in Manawa has selected my novel, In a Pickle, for its community read program this spring. I will be speaking at the library on April 19, 7:00 p.m. Want to learn more about cucumbers and their history? Plan to attend.

Tuesday, April 12, 7:00 p.m., Fall Creek Library (Horses and Barns)

Thursday, April 14, 6:30 p.m. Marathon County Library, 300 N. First Street, Wausau. (Horses and Barns)

Friday, April 15, 1:00 p.m. Kaukauna Public Library (Fox Cities Book Festival. Horses and Barns)

Saturday, April 16, Wild Rose High School Centennial Program. 1-4:00 p.m. Program at 2:30.

Tuesday, April 19, Sturm Public Library, Manawa, 7:00 p.m. In a Pickle.

Saturday, April 02, 2011

Strawberries

I uncovered my strawberry bed today, if you can call six plants a bed. They have been waiting out the winter tucked under a warm cover of maple leaves that I piled on them last fall.

My strawberry plants (I have a variety called Cabot that was developed in Canada), appeared bewildered as they once more saw the sun, plus a little bedraggled and winter worn. But they were green as summer, and most importantly, alive. A welcome sight they are, with memories of lush fresh fruit in a couple months or so depending on what kind of spring we have (so far it’s been a bust with an inch of wet snow on April Fool’s day).

California and Florida ship tons of strawberries to Wisconsin, but nothing beats the taste of homegrown berries, and especially those I grow myself. I cheat a bit. I planted my strawberries in the flowerbed in front of my house in town. The strawberries don’t seem to mind, in fact, with a little competition from daylilies, mums, and dahlias, the strawberries thrive, even a little too much. If given a choice they surely would take over the entire flowerbed. It wouldn’t be all bad. I’ve never much cared for the taste of mums and dahlias. Someone once said daylilies make a good salad. I’ll stick with fresh strawberries.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Don’t let April fool you; it will try. Spring is out there—At least I think so.

CHECK THIS OUT: The Mead Public Library in Sheboygan has selected my book, OLD FARM, for their Sheboygan Reads program. On Saturday, April 9, at 9:30 a.m., I will be reading from the book and answering questions. We will meet in the Quiet Study Room at the library. Hope to see you there.

Tuesday, April 5, 6:00 p.m. Salem Public Library, Salem, WI (Stories from the Land)

Saturday, April 9, 9:30 a.m. Mead Public Library, Sheboygan. (Old Farm)

April 9, 1:30-4:00 p.m. Mead Public Library, Sheboygan Writing Workshop. Call 920-459-3400, ext. 3422 for reservations.

Tuesday, April 12, 7:00 p.m., Fall Creek Library (Horses and Barns)

Thursday, April 14, 6:30 p.m. Marathon County Library, 300 N. First Street, Wausau. (Horses and Barns)

Friday, April 15, 1:00 p.m. Kaukauna Public Library (Fox Cities Book Festival. Horses and Barns)

Saturday, April 16, Wild Rose High School Centennial Program

Tuesday, April 19, Sturm Public Library, Manawa, 7:00 p.m. In a Pickle. A rescheduled program.