Dregne's in Westby

This past Saturday, Ruth and I helped Dregne’s celebrate 40 years on Westby’s Main Street.    When Dave and Jana Dregne bought the corner building in 1975, it was a full service hardware store with nuts and bolts and ropes and wrenches and all the rest that makes up a hardware store.

But now, 40 years later, it’s a gift shop worthy of a destination visit.  Not just a gift shop either, but a Scandinavian gift shop that shines a bright light on Westby’s Norwegian heritage.  If you want authentic Norwegian sweaters and a lefse grill or maybe some Swedish clogs and pair of Scandinavian mittens, this is the place.  And much, much more of course.

An enormous crowd trailed through the store on Saturday, coming from near and far.  A bus load of Norwegians arrived, 40 of them, each one with a camera and a smile.  I spent 15 minutes talking with a fellow from Oslo about Wisconsin’s barns and silos, and comparing pictures in my book about barns with Norwegian barns that he knew.

Dregne’s also have a wide selection of books by local authors, and not so local—I was there signing books, sharing a table with Tomah author, Larry Scheckel.

It was a busy, interesting day.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: No matter what your ethnic background, a visit to Dregne’s in Westby is a fun experience—even for this old German.

BOOK OF THE WEEK:

NORWEGIANS IN WISCONSIN, by Richard J. Fapso (Wisconsin Historical Society Press).  The book begins with the mass movement of Norwegians to Wisconsin in 1837 and continues with the history of this second most popular ethnic group in the state.

Purchase Jerry’s DVDS and his Books from the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose, Wisconsin (a fund raiser for them):

The library now has available signed copies of Jerry’s DVDs, Emmy Winner, A Farm Winter with Jerry Apps and Jerry Apps a Farm Story.

Also available are several of Jerry’s signed books including The Quiet Season (on which the DVD A Farm Winter is based), as well as Rural Wit and Wisdom and Old Farm, (which are related to the DVD Jerry Apps a Farm Story). Also available is Jerry’s new novel, The Great Sand Fracas of Ames County as well as Whispers and Shadows and his newest nonfiction book, Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.

Contact the library for prices and special package deals.

Patterson Memorial Library

500 Division Street

Wild Rose, WI 54984
barnard@wildroselibrary.org
www.wildroselibrary.org
920-622-3835

UPCOMING EVENTS:

October 4, 1-3 p.m.  Readers Realm bookstore, Montello. Ag. History

October 7, 6:30 p.m. Reedsburg Library, Whispers and Shadows

October 11, 10-12:00 a.m.  Heartland Forum, Chicago.

October 11, 3:00 p.m. Old World Wisconsin-Wisconsin Ag. History

October 12, 6:00 p.m. Coloma Historical Society.  Limping Through Life

October 15, Prairie du Sac Library, Whispers and Shadows

October 17, 9-4 Teaching writing workshop at The Clearing, Ellison Bay, WI

October 17, 4:30-6:00 p.m. The Clearing.  Book signing, Whispers and Shadows, Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.

October 23, 10-11:00 a.m. Wisconsin Historical Society Museum (on the square). Whispers and Shadows.  Wisconsin Book Festival.

October 23, 3:30 p.m. Wisconsin Historical Society Auditorium (On UW Campus) Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.  Wisconsin Book Festival.

October 25, 2:00 p.m. Schlitz Nature Center, Milwaukee with Boswell Books.  Whispers and Shadows.

October 29, Brown County Library.  Premier of TV Documentary,” The Land With Jerry Apps. “ Book signing, Whispers and Shadows.

November 1, 2:00 p.m. Gard Theater, Spring Green. Ag History and Wisconsin Place Names (a Robert Gard book).

November 5, 7:00 p.m. Baraboo Library, Whispers and Shadows.

November 7, Edgerton Book Festival, The Land (TV documentary) and Whispers and Shadows

November 10, 6:00 p.m. Wausau Public Library, Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.

November 12, 7:00 p.m. Bellville High School Auditorium with Bellville Public Library.  Wisconsin Agriculture: A History

November 14, 9:30 -11:30 a.m. Sheboygan County Historical Research Center.  Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.

November 15, 9:15 Midvale Lutheran Church, The Land (TV documentary)  plus discussion of Whispers and Shadows.

November 17, 7:00 p.m. Hotel Red (1501 Monroe Street- corner of Regent and Monroe, Madison.)  “Wisconsin Agriculture: A History, a discussion with Doug Moe. Sponsored by Mystery to me Bookstore.  Book signing to follow.

November 18, Preview of TV Documentary, “The Land With Jerry Apps” Wild Rose High School Auditorium.  Whispers and Shadows book signing. (Time to be announced)

Great River Road Festival

It was a beautiful pre-autumn day with a blue sky and no wind as my daughter, Sue and I headed for Cassville and the Wisconsin Historical Site called Stonefield.  We were there as a part of the Great River Road Festival, which included everything from horse drawn wagon rides—a big hit with the kids—to log cutting and spinning demonstrations, sheep shearing and sorghum making.

Father and daughter, Roger LaBarge and Mandy LaBarge-Mathis played river music from eleven to two, adding a nice musical touch to the event.

Sue and I were there to sign books and share stories.  I shared some tales from my book WHISPERS AND SHADOWS, and from WISCONSIN AGRICULTURE: A HISTORY.  Sue talked with folks about her book, ONE ROOM SCHOOLS FROM THE DAYS OF 1 ROOM, 1 TEACHER 8 GRADES.

A highlight of the festival was an antique tractor pull, something I had not seen before.  I spotted a couple of Farmalls, a John Deere and an old Oliver.  There were other makes as well that I didn’t see.  It was a smiling good time for these tractor drivers as they competed with each other—but also stood around swapping stories and generally enjoying the day.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Summer and autumn in Wisconsin are a time for festivals and celebrations.  Take some time to enjoy them.

BOOK OF THE WEEK: Want to learn more about one-room country schools that many of us attended when we were kids?  Check out my daughter’s book, ONE ROOM SCHOOLS: STORIES FROM THE DAYS OF 1 ROOM, 1 TEACHER, 8 GRADES by Susan Apps-Bodilly. (Wisconsin Historical Society Press) Sue writes about student experiences, the role of the teacher, and what life was like in these little buildings sprinkled across Wisconsin, and in many parts of the country.

Purchase Jerry’s DVDS and his Books from the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose, Wisconsin (a fund raiser for them):

The library now has available signed copies of Jerry’s DVDs, Emmy Winner, A Farm Winter with Jerry Apps and Jerry Apps a Farm Story.

Also available are several of Jerry’s signed books including The Quiet Season (on which the DVD A Farm Winter is based), as well as Rural Wit and Wisdom and Old Farm, (which are related to the DVD Jerry Apps a Farm Story). Also available is Jerry’s new novel, The Great Sand Fracas of Ames County.

Contact the library for prices and special package deals.

Patterson Memorial Library

500 Division Street

Wild Rose, WI 54984
barnard@wildroselibrary.org
www.wildroselibrary.org
920-622-3835

UPCOMING EVENTS:

September 23, 6:00 p.m. Patterson Memorial Library, Wild Rose. Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.

September 26, 10:30 -2:00, Dregne’s, Westby, Book signing.

October 4, 1-3 p.m.  Readers Realm bookstore, Montello. Ag. History

October 7, 6:30 p.m. Reedsburg Library, Whispers and Shadows

October 11, 10-12:00 a.m.  Heartland Forum, Chicago.

October 11, 3:00 p.m. Old World Wisconsin-Wisconsin Ag. History

October 12, 6:00 p.m. Coloma Historical Society.  Limping Through Life

October 15, Prairie du Sac Library, Whispers and Shadows

October 17, 9-4 Teaching writing workshop at The Clearing, Ellison Bay, WI

October 17, 4:30-6:00 p.m. The Clearing.  Book signing, Whispers and Shadows, Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.

October 23, 10-11:00 a.m. Wisconsin Historical Society Museum (on the square). Whispers and Shadows.  Wisconsin Book Festival.

October 23, 3:30 p.m. Wisconsin Historical Society Auditorium (On UW Campus) Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.  Wisconsin Book Festival.

October 25, 2:00 p.m. Schlitz Nature Center, Milwaukee with Boswell Books.  Whispers and Shadows.

October 29, Brown County Library.  Premier of TV Documentary,” The Land With Jerry Apps. “ Book signing, Whispers and Shadows.

November 1, 2:00 p.m. Gard Theater, Spring Green. Ag History and Wisconsin Place Names (a Robert Gard book).

November 5, 7:00 p.m. Baraboo Library, Whispers and Shadows.

November 7, Edgerton Book Festival, The Land (TV documentary) and Whispers and Shadows

November 10, 6:00 p.m. Wausau Public Library, Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.

November 12, 7:00 p.m. Bellville High School Auditorium with Bellville Public Library.  Wisconsin Agriculture: A History

November 14, 9:30 -11:30 a.m. Sheboygan County Historical Research Center.  Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.

November 15, 9:15 Midvale Lutheran Church, The Land (TV documentary)  plus discussion of Whispers and Shadows.

November 17, 7:00 p.m. Hotel Red (1501 Monroe Street- corner of Regent and Monroe, Madison.)  “Wisconsin Agriculture: A History, a discussion with Doug Moe. Sponsored by Mystery to me Bookstore.  Book signing to follow.

November 18, Preview of TV Documentary, “The Land With Jerry Apps” Wild Rose High School Auditorium.  Whispers and Shadows book signing. (Time to be announced)

Gone Fishing

When my dad reached age 90, I asked him, “If you had to do it over again what you do differently?”

Without a moment’s hesitation he answered, “I’d have gone fishing more often.”

It’s good advice.  Steve, my brother Don, and I went fishing last Friday afternoon.  The weather was cool, the breezes were slight, and it was an all-around good day for fishing—but as my dad also often said, “Every day is a good day for fishing.”

We fished off the dam at the old Wild Rose Mill—doing it the lazy way as we sat on folding chairs, and as the old timers of my generation would said, “Shot the breeze” as we watched bobbers dance on slight ripple in the pond.

Donald almost immediately caught an undersized small-mouth bass that put up a considerable fight with its splashing and thrashing.  He returned it to the water.  Now I’m not one to give extra powers to such creatures as fish, but I think this is what happened.

That little small- mouth bass, with a sore mouth from the hook that had been removed, quickly spread the word among the other bass, perch,  bluegills, and the occasionally trout that they should avoid what appeared to be a free lunch dangling over them and was there for the taking.

The message must have spread quickly, for the rest of the afternoon we got not one more fish, indeed not one more bite.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Don’t confuse fishing with catching fish.  Fishing is always good; catching fish can be a problem.

BOOK OF THE WEEK: Want to learn more about one-room country schools that many of us attended when we were kids?  Check out my daughter’s book, ONE ROOM SCHOOLS: STORIES FROM THE DAYS OF 1 ROOM, 1 TEACHER, 8 GRADES by Susan Apps-Bodilly. (Wisconsin Historical Society Press) Sue writes about student experiences, the role of the teacher, and what life was like in these little buildings sprinkled across Wisconsin, and in many parts of the country.

Purchase Jerry’s DVDS and his Books from the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose, Wisconsin (a fund raiser for them):

The library now has available signed copies of Jerry’s DVDs, Emmy Winner, A Farm Winter with Jerry Apps and Jerry Apps a Farm Story.

Also available are several of Jerry’s signed books including The Quiet Season (on which the DVD A Farm Winter is based), as well as Rural Wit and Wisdom and Old Farm, (which are related to the DVD Jerry Apps a Farm Story). Also available is Jerry’s new novel, The Great Sand Fracas of Ames County.

Contact the library for prices and special package deals.

Patterson Memorial Library

500 Division Street

Wild Rose, WI 54984
barnard@wildroselibrary.org
www.wildroselibrary.org
920-622-3835

UPCOMING EVENTS:

September 16, 11:00-11:45.  Larry Meiller Show, Wisconsin Public Radio.  Wisconsin agricultural history.

September 17, 11:-a.m.  St. Luke’s Church, Middleton, WI   Limping Through Life

September 19, Stonefield Village, Cassville. Wisconsin agricultural history (11:30), Whispers and Shadows (2:30)

September 23, 6:00 p.m. Patterson Memorial Library, Wild Rose. Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.

September 26, 10:30 -2:00, Dregne’s, Westby, Book signing.

October 4, 1-3 p.m.  Readers Realm bookstore, Montello. Ag. History

October 7, 6:30 p.m. Reedsburg Library, Whispers and Shadows

October 11, 10-12:00 a,m.  Heartland Forum, Chicago.

October 11, 3:00 p.m. Old World Wisconsin-Wisconsin Ag. History

October 12, 6:00 p.m. Coloma Historical Society.  Limping Through Life

October 15, Prairie du Sac Library, Whispers and Shadows

October 17, 9-4 Teaching writing workshop at The Clearing, Ellison Bay, WI

October 17, 4:30-6:00 p.m. The Clearing.  Book signing, Whispers and Shadows, Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.

October 23, 10-11:00 a.m. Wisconsin Historical Society Museum (on the square). Whispers and Shadows.  Wisconsin Book Festival.

October 23, 3:30 p.m. Wisconsin Historical Society Auditorium (On UW Campus) Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.  Wisconsin Book Festival.

October 25, 2:00 p.m. Schlitz Nature Center, Milwaukee with Boswell Books.  Whispers and Shadows.

October 29, Brown County Library.  Premier of TV Documentary,” The Land With Jerry Apps. “ Book signing, Whispers and Shadows.

November 1, 2:00 p.m. Gard Theater, Spring Green. Ag History and Wisconsin Place Names (a Robert Gard book).

November 5, 7:00 p.m. Baraboo Library, Whispers and Shadows.

November 7, Edgerton Book Festival, The Land (TV documentary) and Whispers and Shadows

November 10, 6:00 p.m. Wausau Public Library, Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.

November 12, 7:00 p.m. Bellville High School Auditorium with Bellville Public Library.  Wisconsin Agriculture: A History

November 14, 9:30 -11:30 a.m. Sheboygan County Historical Research Center.  Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.

November 15, 9:15 Midvale Lutheran Church, The Land (TV documentary)  plus discussion of Whispers and Shadows.

November 17, 7:00 p.m. Hotel Red (1501 Monroe Street- corner of Regent and Monroe, Madison.)  “Wisconsin Agriculture: A History, a discussion with Doug Moe. Sponsored by Mystery to me Bookstore.  Book signing to follow.

November 18, Preview of TV Documentary, “The Land With Jerry Apps” Wild Rose High School Auditorium.  Whispers and Shadows book signing. (Time to be announced)

How Our Garden Grew

Labor Day 2015 and a time to look back at a summer of gardening and do an assessment of what vegetables did well and which didn’t.  The following are the collective scores of Steve and Natasha, who did most of the planting,weeding and harvesting, and me, dubbed  the Senior Adviser.

The scores range from 0 (the crop that didn’t come up) to 10 (beyond all doubt outstanding).

Onions-10 (Best crop ever on our sandy soil,)

Broccoli-10 (Keeps on producing, earlier in the season cut a head 10” across.)

Cabbage-10 (Wow, never have we grown such big, beautiful heads)

Zucchini-9 (If you can’t grow zucchini—don’t know what to say.)

Rutabaga- 8-9 (A short row, not yet harvested but looking very good.)

Potatoes-8  (Good, clean crop.  But better last year.  Will harvest several bushels.)

Egg Plant-8 (Big and beautiful)

Collards-8 (Four times harvested and more to come)

Radishes-8 (Early and quite good)

Leaf Lettuce-7 (Earlier good, doesn’t like hot weather)

Cucumbers-6 (Germination poor, what grew, did well)

Sweet Corn-5 (We’ve had better years)

Tomatoes-5-6 (Decent yield, but hit with blight, which killed several plants.)

Peppers-5 (Harvested several, but we’ve done better)

Beets-5 (So-so year.)

Carrots-4 (Those growing are good, but so few.)

Gourds -4 ((Terrible germination, due to cold, wet spring)

Squash-3 (Only a few hills due to poor germination.)

Pumpkins -0 (Planted a dozen hills.  Not one pumpkin this year.  Awful.  Germination problem.)

Average score for 19 vegetables planted is 6.5-7.0.  Always room for improvement.

Steve gave a score of 5 to the weeds this year—he does the rototilling.  He also gives high marks to Natasha for the outstanding onions.  She hand weeded two long rows four times.

How did your garden grow?  Let me know.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Every garden year has its surprises.

BOOK OF THE WEEK: Know how to polka?  Like polka music?  Then you will like POLKA HEARTLAND by Rick March with photos by Dick Blau. (Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 2015).  March not only writes about polkas and their history, by he is a band leader and knows how to get the most out of a concertina.

Purchase Jerry’s DVDS and his Books from the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose, Wisconsin (a fund raiser for them):

The library now has available signed copies of Jerry’s DVDs, Emmy Winner, A Farm Winter with Jerry Apps and Jerry Apps a Farm Story.

Also available are several of Jerry’s signed books including The Quiet Season (on which the DVD A Farm Winter is based), as well as Rural Wit and Wisdom and Old Farm, (which are related to the DVD Jerry Apps a Farm Story). Also available is Jerry’s new novel, The Great Sand Fracas of Ames County.

Contact the library for prices and special package deals.

Patterson Memorial Library

500 Division Street

Wild Rose, WI 54984
barnard@wildroselibrary.org
www.wildroselibrary.org
920-622-3835

UPCOMING EVENTS:

September 12, 2-4 p.m. Remarks at 3:00 p.m. West Madison Agriculture Research Station, Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.  Call 888-748-7479 for reservations. Alice in Dairyland will be there.

September 16, 11:00-11:45.  Larry Meiller Show, Wisconsin Public Radio.  Wisconsin agricultural history.

September 17, 11:-a.m.  St. Luke’s Church, Middleton, WI   Limping through Life.

September 19 , Stonefield Village, Cassville.  Whispers and Shadows and Wisconsin Agriculture a History. 

September 23, 6:00 p.m. Patterson Memorial Library, Wild Rose. Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.

September 26, 10:30 -2:00, Dregni’s, Westby, Book signing.

October 4, 1-3 p.m.  Readers Realm bookstore, Montello. Ag. History

October 7, 6:30 p.m. Reedsburg Library, Whispers and Shadows

October 11, 10-12:00 a,m.  Heartland Forum, Chicago. Signing Whispers and Shadows.

October 11, 3:00 p.m. Old World Wisconsin-Wisconsin Ag. History

October 12, 6:00 p.m. Coloma Historical Society.  Limping Through Life

October 15, Prairie du Sac Library, Whispers and Shadows

October 17, 9-4 Teaching writing workshop at The Clearing, Ellison Bay, WI

October 17, 4:30-6:00 p.m. The Clearing.  Book signing, Whispers and Shadows, Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.

October 23, 10-11:00 a.m. Wisconsin Historical Society Museum (on the square). Whispers and Shadows.  Wisconsin Book Festival.

October 23, 3:30 p.m. Wisconsin Historical Society Auditorium (On UW Campus) Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.  Wisconsin Book Festival.

October 25, 2:00 p.m. Schlitz Nature Center, Milwaukee with Boswell Books.  Whispers and Shadows.

October 29, Brown County Library.  Premier of TV Documentary,” The Land With Jerry Apps. “ Book signing, Whispers and Shadows.

November 1, 2:00 p.m. Gard Theater, Spring Green. Ag History and Wisconsin Place Names.

November 5, 7:00 p.m. Baraboo Library, Whispers and Shadows.

November 7, Edgerton Book Festival, The Land (TV documentary) and Whispers and Shadows

November 10, 6:00 p.m. Wausau Public Library, Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.

November 12, 7:00 p.m. Bellville High School Auditorium with Bellville Public Library.  Wisconsin Agriculture: A History

November 14, 9:30 -11:30 a.m. Sheboygan County Historical Research Center.  Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.

November 15, 9:15 Midvale Lutheran Church, The Land (TV documentary)  plus discussion of Whispers and Shadows.

November 17, 7:00 p.m. Hotel Red (1501 Monroe Street- corner of Regent and Monroe, Madison.)  “Wisconsin Agriculture: A History, a discussion with Doug Moe. Sponsored by Mystery to me Bookstore.  Book signing to follow.

November 18, Preview of TV Documentary, “The Land With Jerry Apps” Wild Rose High School Auditorium.  Whispers and Shadows book signing. (Time to be announced)