Treasured Public Libraries

When I was a kid growing up on a farm in central Wisconsin and attending a one-room country school, we had few books at home, and the school had but three shelves of books located near the wood stove in the back of the schoolroom.

As a lover of books since I learned to read, by fifth or sixth grade I had read every book in the school’s limited collection.  And I wanted more.  In those days, the Wild Rose library would not lend books to kids who lived outside the village.  So I was stuck.

Mr. Roberts, owner of the Wild Rose Mercantile knew about my love for books.  In the basement of his store, where you could buy everything from four-buckle barn boots to groceries, Mr. Roberts offered a small collection of hard cover books; none priced more than .49 cents each.

While my mother was busy grocery shopping, Mr. Roberts would take me down to his book collection and recommend books for me to buy.  I saved my money from picking cucumbers, potatoes and green beans—and bought books.  I still have several of them in my collection: SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON, TREASURE ISLAND,  THE BLACK ARROW and several others.

I was reminded of all of this last week when I attended and spoke at the 2012 Wisconsin Library Association Conference held in La Crosse.  How fortunate we are in Wisconsin to have such a fine collection of public libraries—that are open to the public, country kids included.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS.  Support our libraries.  They are community treasures.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

October 30, 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Bramble Books, Viroqua, WI.  Book Signing.

October 30, 5:30 p.m. Temple Theater, Viroqua, WI. Showing of “Jerry Apps: A Farm Story.” Wis. Public TV. Refreshments.  Free to the public. Apps will speak and take questions from the audience following the show.

November 1, 6:30 p.m. Minoqua Public Library. Minoqua, WI. “Rural Wit and Wisdom.”

November 7, Platteville Historical Society, Platteville, WI. “Garden Wisdom.”

November 11,  5:15 p.m. Wisconsin Book Festival, Madison,”Overture Center, “Garden Wisdom.”

November 13, Barnes and Noble Book Store, Madison West. 7:00 p.m. Launch of

“Tamarack River Ghost.”

November 14, Columbus, Wi Public Library. 6:00 p.m. “Tamarack River Ghost”

 November 15, 7:00 p.m. Brown County Central Library, 515 Pine Street, Green Bay, WI. Showing of “Jerry Apps: A Farm Story.” Wis. Public TV.   Free to the public. Reception with cider and cookies. Apps will speak and take questions from the audience following the show.

November 28, 7:00 p.m. “Jerry Apps: A Farm Story.” State-wide broadcast on all Wisconsin Public TV stations.

December 1, 10:30-2:30 Fireside Books, West Bend, WI. Presentation at 11:00

Writing From Your Life

Last Saturday, at The Clearing in Door County, as rain splattered against the windows of the Jens Jensen Center, I worked with a wonderful group of writers.  I call the workshop “Writing From Your Life,” and I do it a couple times a year at this special place near the tip of Wisconsin’s thumb.

It was a great day for writing, gloomy, wet, but so beautiful as the maples and birch were in their full fall splendor.  The stories ranged from hilarious to sad, but all personal and written from the heart.  Long forgotten memories were recalled and put down on paper.  A record for the family.  History for the community.

For story writing tips, I suggest—with no modesty—looking at my new book RURAL WIT AND WISDOM (Fulcrum Press, 2012) where I have a long chapter on the importance of personal stories and how to write them.  Go to my website, www.jerryapps.com for more information.  Or order directly from Fulcrum Press http://www.fulcrum-books.com/productdetails.cfm?PC=6171

THE OLD TIMER SAYS.  The history of a community resides in its storytellers.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

October 24, 2:15 p.m., Wisconsin Library Assoc. Annual Meeting, LaCrosse Conference Center, LaCrosse, WI  “Garden Wisdom.”

October 30, 3:00 p.m. Bramble Books, Viroqua, WI.  Booksigning.

October 30, 5:30 p.m. Temple Theater, Viroqua, WI. Showing of “Jerry Apps: A Farm Story.” Wis. Public TV. Refreshments.  Free to the public.

November 1, 6:30 p.m. Minoqua Public Library. Minoqua, WI. “Rural Wit and Wisdom”

November 7, Platteville Historical Society, Platteville, WI. “Garden Wisdom”

November 11,  5:15 p.m. Wisconsin Book Festival, Madison,” Garden Wisdom.”

November 13, Barnes and Noble Book Store,  Madison West. 7:00 p.m. Launch of

“Tamarack River Ghost”.

November 14, Columbus, WI Public Library. 6:00 p.m. “Tamarack River Ghost”

 November 15, 7:00 p.m. Brown County Central Library, 515 Pine Street, Green Bay, WI. Showing of “Jerry Apps: A Farm Story.” Wis. Public TV.   Free to the public. Reception with cider and cookies. Apps will speak and take questions from the audience following the show.

November 28, 7:00 p.m. “Jerry Apps: A Farm Story.” State-wide broadcast on all Wisconsin Public TV stations.

December 1, 10:30-2:30 Fireside Books, West Bend, WI. Presentation at 11:00

Rainy Days

The forecasters said 100 percent chance of rain.  They usually hedge a bit on their forecasts—80 percent, 60 percent.  But not this time.  They were sure.  And they were right.

The rain began Friday evening, slow and easy, not like a typical shower that rolls in with a lot of show and bluster and soon moves on.  No thunder, no lightning.  Just dark clouds and rain.  Saturday morning, drippy rain continued.  Not hard rain, not enough to keep visitors away from harvest festivals, but enough to get you wet if you chose not to wear rain gear. 

By late Saturday afternoon, the clouds darkened even more, and the rain began falling ever heavier.  Soaking rain.  And it continued all night.  Pounding on the bedroom windows, pouring off rooftops—and soaking the doughty land that had suffered most of the summer.

Sunday morning.  The rain continued, heavy at times. Making puddles where puddles had not been for months.  Giving my garden’s winter wheat cover crop the boost it needed.  Green showing everywhere as the little green wheat shoots pushed through the thoroughly soaked soil.

By Sunday evening, when the raindrops ceased falling and the clouds moved on to the east, the rain gauges in my part of central Wisconsin measured four inches. My brother in Wild Rose said that he’d measured five inches. The most rain we’d gotten at one time all summer.  And how welcomed it was.  Smiles all around.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS.  What do you do when it rains?  Let it rain.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

October 24, 2:15 p.m., Wisconsin Library Assoc. Annual Meeting, LaCrosse Conference Center, LaCrosse, WI  “Garden Wisdom.”

October 30, 5:30 p.m. Temple Theater, Viroqua, WI. Showing of “Jerry Apps: A Farm Story.” Wis. Public TV. Refreshments.  Free to the public.

November 1, 6:30 p.m. Minoqua Public Library. Minoqua, WI. Rural Wit and Wisdom.

November 7, Platteville Historical Society, Platteville, WI.

November 11,  5:15 p.m. Wisconsin Book Festival, Madison,” Garden Wisdom.”

November 13, Barnes and Noble Book Store,  Madison West. 7:00 p.m. Launch of

“Tamarack River Ghost”.

November 14, Columbus Library. 6:00 p.m. "Tamarack River Ghost"

A Farm Story

In the fall of 2011, Wisconsin Public Television began developing a documentary about farm life in Wisconsin during the late 1930s and through the War years of the 1940s.  I helped them with the project and they gave the hour-long program the title of “Jerry Apps: A Farm Story,” which is now complete.

 The show includes still photos that many Wild Rose area people contributed-- one-room country schools, making hay, threshing bees,  cucumber picking, swimming at Little Silver Lake and much more  The film also has several shots of Wild Rose’s Main Street featuring Hotz’s Hardware and the old Mercantile, still the largest building in the village, as well as the millpond and the old grist mill.

The narration includes stories from several of my books  including, RURAL WIT AND WISDOM, WHEN CHORES WERE DONE, LIVING A COUNTRY YEAR, EVERY FARM TELLS A STORY, ONE-ROOM COUNTRY SCHOOLS and OLD FARM: A HISTORY.

The premier showing of the film will be at the Wild Rose H.S. auditorium (600 Park Avenue, Wild Rose) on Monday, October 15, 5:30 p.m.  The showing will include a reception with light refreshments.  There is no charge and everyone is invited—I’ll be making some brief remarks as part of the program.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS:  Remembering where we have been can help us see where we are going.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

October 13, 9-4.  The Clearing.  Writing Workshop: Writing From Your Life. Go to www.theclearing.org for information.

October 15, 5:30 p.m. Wild Rose High School Auditorium.  First showing of “Jerry Apps: A Farm Story.” Wis. Public TV. Refreshments. Free to the public.

October 24, 2:15 p.m., Wisconsin Library Assoc. Annual Meeting, LaCrosse Conference Center, LaCrosse, WI  “Garden Wisdom.”

October 30, 5:30 p.m. Temple Theater, Viroqua, WI. Showing of “Jerry Apps: A Farm Story.” Wis. Public TV. Refreshments.  Free to the public.

November 1, 6:30 p.m. Minoqua Public Library. Minoqua, WI.

November 7, Platteville Historical Society, Platteville, WI.

November 11,  5:15 p.m. Wisconsin Book Festival, Madison,” Garden Wisdom.”

November 13, Barnes and Noble Book Store,  Madison West. 7:00 p.m. Launch of “Tamarack River Ghost”.

Canada Geese

As long as I can remember, the honking of geese flying south on a cool autumn day was a thrilling sound.  It still is. Sometimes the geese fly at night. With a full moon the sight of geese in a moonlit sky along with the sound of their honking is a one of those never forgotten experiences.

Yesterday, when Steve and I visited our pond with the intention of viewing the maples, birch, and aspen in full autumn splendor, I spotted movement on the far end of our small body of water—maybe a couple hundred yards from where the pond path ended by the water’s edge.

There they were, fifteen Canada geese.  I don’t know if they were northern geese passing through and spending the day resting in this beautiful quiet place, or if they were locals making the rounds of area ponds.  They made no sound at all.  Nor did we.  We watched them for more than a half hour.  They looked in our direction—but didn’t panic and fly off.  Maybe they were just too tired from already flying a long distance.  Or, maybe they found this quiet place ablaze in fall color too nice to leave.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS:  Take time to watch migrating geese fly overhead.  Notice how they take turns leading and following—and helping each other.

CHECK THIS OUT: Wisconsin Public Television premier showing of “Country life from an earlier day” documentary at Wild Rose High School Auditorium, Monday, October 15, 6:30 p.m. Show includes several photos from Wild Rose and the surrounding area. Free to the public. I will be offering introductory comments.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

October 3, 6:00 p.m. Onalaska Public Library, Rural Wit and Wisdom

October 4-6. Midwest Booksellers, Minneapolis. Book Signing.

October 13, 9-4.  The Clearing.  Writing Workshop: Writing From Your Life. Go to www.theclearing.org for information.

October 15, 6:30 p.m. Wild Rose High School Auditorium.  Wis Public TV showing of a “Country life from an earlier day” documentary.  Free to the public.

October 24, 2:15 p.m., Wisconsin Library Assoc. Annual Meeting, LaCrosse.  Garden Wisdom.