Northwest Wind

At 6:30 a.m. the air was still and the temperature was eight degrees. I sat on the bench at a deer stand deep in my woods.  My coffee thermos was on my right, a book to read at my left, along with some note cards and a pen to capture an important idea (they usually arrive when least expected).

About 7:00 a.m., after two cups of coffee, no inspiring ideas to note, and hands too cold for book reading, the wind came up.  A stiff, serious, “winter is on the way” wind that blew out of the northwest.  It roared through the tops of the naked oaks and maples. It shook lose the still attached oak leaves.  It caused this old hunter to pull up the hood on his jacket and tuck his cold hands in his pockets. No book reading.  No note taking. Not even any more coffee drinking.

 By 7:30 a.m. the wind was howling through the treetops, reminding me of winter days on the farm, when the wind, this northwest wind, tore around the barn while I was tossing down hay from the hay mow for the comfortable cattle below.  Screeched around the corners of old farm house, sending a chill to the corners of the kitchen and dining room where the heat from the wood stoves didn't reach. Caused my brothers and me to pull up the collars of our wool Makinaw coats, pull down the ear flaps on our wool caps, and hurry us along our snow packed road to the country school a mile away.

 By 10:30 the wind was a near gale, shaking the trees, making a mournful sound as it rushed through the naked branches, a sound that I remember so well in years past.  Enough is enough.  I gathered up hunting equipment, my thermos, my untouched note cards, my unread book and I headed back to the cabin, poured a cup of coffee and crowded up to my wood stove.   And I tried to think of what I would tell my hunting partners when they learned that “a little wind” had sent me seeking a warmer place.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS:  Oh, the great mysteries of the wind.

SPECIAL EVENT: December 4, 7:00 p.m. Premier showing of “A Farm Winter with Jerry Apps.”  All Wisconsin public TV stations.  

UPCOMING EVENTS:

December 7, Velveteen Rabbit Book Store, 20 Sherman Avenue East, Fort Atkinson, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.  Book signing.

December 8, Barnes and Noble West Madison, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Book signing.

December 14, Fireside Books, West Bend, 10:30 to 2:30 p.m.  Presentation and book signing.

December 23, Larry Meiller Show, Wisconsin Public Radio, 11:00-11:45 a.m.

Annual Deer Hunt

In 1946, when I was twelve years old, I bought my first hunting license with the legal right to hunt rabbits, squirrels, ruffed grouse, and most importantly deer.  Deer hunting was on the top tier of hunting adventures.  Since I was old enough to know what was going on in the world I remembered Pa and Bill Miller, our neighbor, sharing tales of hunting deer.  And what wondrous tales they were.  Now, at age 12, I could join in. 

 I don’t recall I even saw a deer that first deer season when I was a legal hunter.  I lugged a double barrel 12-gauge shotgun, which if I had fired it, would have felt like a horse had kicked me in the shoulder.  But deer hunters, no matter what their age, don’t worry about such things.

Now, some 67 years later, I am still deer hunting—sort of—for I mostly enjoy being out in the woods, and deer hunting is one more reason to do it.  I have never missed a deer season since the first one—some kind of a record but a long way from the one Pa held as he hunted until his was 92.  Nothing got in the way of opening day of deer season for him.

In addition to being out in the woods, deer hunting has long been a family tradition for the Apps clan.  My brother, his sons, my son, and this year my Colorado grandsons, Christian and Nicholas—their first time—all hunt deer.  And eat together and tell tall tales of earlier hunts and what was seen and not seen.

For the Apps family there is much more to deer hunting than bagging a deer—it is a tradition filled with memories, stories, and high adventure.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS:  Deer hunting is one more excuse for spending sometime in the nature.

SPECIAL EVENT: December 4, 7:00 p.m. Premier showing of “A Farm Winter with Jerry Apps.”  All Wisconsin public TV stations. 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

December 7, Velveteen Rabbit Book Store, 20 Sherman Avenue East, Fort Atkinson, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.  Book signing.

December 8, Barnes and Noble West, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Book signing.

December 14, Fireside Books, West Bend, 10:30 to 2:30 p.m.  Presentation and book signing.

            

Wild Rose

Hats off to my home town community of Wild Rose—located in central Wisconsin and a goodly distance from any major city.  And a special thanks to the staff of Patterson Memorial Library, its Friend’s Group, and Director Kent Barnard.

On an evening when the leaves had mostly fallen from the trees, the grass was dead, and it felt like winter was just around the corner, people gathered at Wild Rose High school to enjoy cookies and cider, and to see a special premier showing of Wisconsin Public TV’s new documentary, “Winter on the Farm with Jerry Apps.” More than 300 people watched the show, chatted with each other, asked questions, and shared their stories.

It was a wonderful example of groups cooperating in putting on the event: Wisconsin Public TV, Wisconsin Historical Society Press (publishers of The Quiet Season on which the show was based), and the village of Wild Rose--its high school, the Kiwanis Club and of course Patterson Memorial Library.

Much thanks to all for a very special evening for my wife and me.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: For those of us who grew up in the north, winter is a season that never leaves us.

SPECIAL EVENT: December 4, 7:00 p.m. Premier showing of “A Farm Winter with Jerry Apps.”  All Wisconsin public TV stations. 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

November 21: Wisconsin Historical Society Museum (On the Square). 6:30 p.m. The Quiet Season.

December 7, Velveteen Rabbit Book Store, 20 Sherman Avenue East, Fort Atkinson, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.  Book signing.

December 8, Barnes and Noble West, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Book signing.

December 14, Fireside Books, West Bend, 10:30 to 2:30 p.m.  Presentation and book signing.

Second Saturdays

Thirteen years ago the Sheboygan County Historical Research Center began offering a special series of lectures they called “Second Saturdays.”  The Center is located in Sheboygan Falls and for many years, the programs were held in the community room of the Sheboygan Falls public library.

 I was one of the first speakers for “Second Saturdays” and I remember the day well.  It was a blustery fall day and I was scheduled to talk about Barns of Wisconsin, the title of one of my books.  It was an experiment—who would turn out to hear some guy from Madison talk about barns?  But the room was full (coffee and sweet rolls certainly helped to swell the crowd).  Ruth usually travels with me and sits in the back of the room.  She heard a couple of farmers talking.  “Too wet to work in the fields today anyway, so thought we’d come and hear something about barns—and drink some coffee.”

This past Saturday I appeared on the program for the thirteenth time.  The program has outgrown the Sheboygan Falls Library for many of its offerings.  We met at the Plymouth Art Center and one-hundred-thirty people turned out to hear about Limping Through Life—my memoir describing my bout with Polio back when I was 12 years old.

In many ways, it was like coming home as many people in the audience had been there as many years as I had.  I told stories.  People laughed—they  enjoyed coffee and sweet rolls—and I hope  learned just a little more about a disease that ravished this country and Wisconsin, especially during the years 1945 to 1955.  To learn more about the research center go to: http://www.schrc.org/events-and-programs/second-saturdays/

SPECIAL EVENT: December 4, 7:00 p.m. Premier showing of “A Farm Winter with Jerry Apps.”  All Wisconsin public TV stations.  This hour-long documentary is based on Jerry’s new book, THE QUIET SEASON.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Never forget your friends.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

November 13: Wisconsin Public TV Documentary Screening, “A Farm Winter with Jerry Apps” and book signing. Wild Rose High School Auditorium, 6:15 p.m. Free and open to the public. (In cooperation with the Patterson Memorial Library, Wild Rose.)

November 17: Lebanon Historical Society.  Fire Hall, Lebanon, 7:00 p.m.  Letters from Hillside Farm and Limping Through Life.

November 21: Wisconsin Historical Society Museum (On the Square). 6:30 p.m. The Quiet Season.

December 7, Velveteen Rabbit Book Store, 20 Sherman Avenue East, Fort Atkinson, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.  Book signing.

December 8, Barnes and Noble West, Madison, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Book signing.

December 14, Fireside Books, West Bend, 10:30 to 2:30 p.m.  Presentation and book signing.

FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING “A FARM STORY WITH JERRY APPS” DVD

DVD Jerry Apps: A Farm Story List $16.95 The Patterson’s price only $15.00 ($20.00 shipped)
Special Bundle Offer exclusively by the Patterson:
Tamarack River Ghost & Jerry Apps: A Farm Story – List $43.90
The Patterson’s Price Only $35.00 ($43.00 shipped)

Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division St. PO Box 305
Wild Rose, WI 54984

(All items are sold by the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library. They will accept checks or cash, they’re sorry but they don’t have any way to accept credit or debit cards, checks should be made out to the Friends of Patterson Memorial Library.

Telling Your Story

With the maple leaves at The Clearing in Door County still in prime bright yellow and brilliant red.   Cool invigorating early November temperature surrounding the place.  And yes, with the occasional spit of rain, forty of my writing students gathered to learn about stories and how to write them based on personal memories and experiences. 

How to craft a story so people keep reading.   How to write about joy, and loss, how to use humor and appreciate the power of it.  How to write about the weird uncle and a bullying aunt.  How to write about the place where people grew up.  How to write about a person who made a difference in their lives.

            How to write about the ordinary and make it extraordinary. How to shape a memory into a story.  How to release the creativity that is inside each of us.  And above all, how to have fun while doing it.

People came from Iowa and Illinois, from Wisconsin and Michigan.  High school age and octogenarians and all ages in between.  Husbands and wives.  Brothers and sisters.  People who had been in my classes before, and many who were new and were at The Clearing for the first time.   Accomplished writers and those who were just beginning—trying to figure out where to start. 

All writing their stories.  Lots of laughter.  Some sadness.  A reflection of life itself with its peaks and valleys.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Never forget the power of the story.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

November 6, 3:30 UW PLATO group, Oakwood West, (Mineral Point Road), Madison.  Quiet Season.

November 7, 7:00 p.m. Baraboo Public Library. Ringlingville U.S.A.

November 9, 9:30 a.m.: Sheboygan County Research Center, Plymouth, Limping Through Life.

November 10: 3:30 p.m. Books and Company bookstore, Oconomowoc, The Quiet Season.

November 13: Wisconsin Public TV Documentary Screening, “A Farm Winter with Jerry Apps” and book signing. Wild Rose High School Auditorium, 6:15 p.m. Free and open to the public. (In cooperation with the Patterson Memorial Library, Wild Rose.)

November 17: Lebanon Historical Society.  Fire Hall Lebanon, 7:00 p.m.  Letters from Hillside Farm and Limping Through Life.

November 21: Wisconsin Historical Society Museum (On the Square). 6:30 p.m. The Quiet Season.

December 4, 7:00 p.m. Premier showing of “A Farm Winter with Jerry Apps.”  All Wisconsin public TV stations.

FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING “A FARM STORY WITH JERRY APPS” DVD

DVD Jerry Apps: A Farm Story List $16.95 The Patterson’s price only $15.00 ($20.00 shipped)
Special Bundle Offer exclusively by the Patterson:
Tamarack River Ghost & Jerry Apps: A Farm Story – List $43.90
The Patterson’s Price Only $35.00 ($43.00 shipped)

Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division St. PO Box 305
Wild Rose, WI 54984

(All items are sold by the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library. They will accept checks or cash, they’re sorry but they don’t have any way to accept credit or debit cards, checks should be made out to the Friends of Patterson Memorial Library.