I had an extremely aggressive bacterial infection, which I discovered last Saturday. By Sunday it was really on the move. Urgent Care doctors quickly identified the culprit and put me on massive doses of antibiotics, including IV infusions for a couple days. As one of the doctors said yesterday, “You’re over the hump.” That appears to be modern-day medical language to mean I’m getting better. If all proceeds normally, and there is every reason to believe that it will, I’ll be back to my regular schedule next Monday. It was a bit of a scare. Watch out for infections, there are some nasty bugs out there.
Thanks to all who sent notes of concern; I really appreciated it.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Cancelled Events
Do to medical problem--got a diagnosis this afternoon--I will have to cancel the following:
Tuesday, March 29, 7:00 p.m. Strum Public Library (Manawa). (In a Pickle).
Friday, April 1, 7:00 p.m. Oconto Falls Library. (Stories from the Land)
Saturday, April 2, 9:00-11:00 a.m. Oconto Falls Library. (Writing workshop: Writing Family Stories. Call the library for further information.)
I'm hoping I can be back on the road in a week or so.
Tuesday, March 29, 7:00 p.m. Strum Public Library (Manawa). (In a Pickle).
Friday, April 1, 7:00 p.m. Oconto Falls Library. (Stories from the Land)
Saturday, April 2, 9:00-11:00 a.m. Oconto Falls Library. (Writing workshop: Writing Family Stories. Call the library for further information.)
I'm hoping I can be back on the road in a week or so.
Early Spring Flowers
Last Monday morning. Three little flowers peeking their heads above the leaf mulch. Welcoming spring. First color of the season. Crocus. The bravest of the brave. The earliest of the early.
By mid-week. Rain. Cold Rain. Sometimes mixed with sleet. Sometimes mixed with snow. Winter returning. Snuffing out spring. Sending the new season in retreat. Closing up the yellow flowers. Reprimanding them for their enthusiasm, for their optimism, for believing that spring has arrived in the north.
The yellow flowers will return. And winter, with all its fuss and bluster, threats and cold weather will retreat and wait a few months, to gather strength and verve.
The crocus knows patience. Patience is the watch word for those of us who have given up on winter and want no more of it. Spring is just around the corner. We’ve gotten glimpses of it—so have the crocus flowers.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Patience is often in short supply these days.
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.
Friday, April 1, 7:00 p.m. Oconto Falls Library. (Stories from the Land)
Saturday, April 2, 9:00-11:00 a.m. Oconto Falls Library. (Writing workshop: Writing Family Stories. Call the library for further information.)
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)
Saturday, April 16, Wild Rose High School Centennial Program
By mid-week. Rain. Cold Rain. Sometimes mixed with sleet. Sometimes mixed with snow. Winter returning. Snuffing out spring. Sending the new season in retreat. Closing up the yellow flowers. Reprimanding them for their enthusiasm, for their optimism, for believing that spring has arrived in the north.
The yellow flowers will return. And winter, with all its fuss and bluster, threats and cold weather will retreat and wait a few months, to gather strength and verve.
The crocus knows patience. Patience is the watch word for those of us who have given up on winter and want no more of it. Spring is just around the corner. We’ve gotten glimpses of it—so have the crocus flowers.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Patience is often in short supply these days.
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.
Friday, April 1, 7:00 p.m. Oconto Falls Library. (Stories from the Land)
Saturday, April 2, 9:00-11:00 a.m. Oconto Falls Library. (Writing workshop: Writing Family Stories. Call the library for further information.)
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)
Saturday, April 16, Wild Rose High School Centennial Program
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Waterwheel
On the home farm, when the snows began melting in March, a little stream of melt water trickled from behind the corn crib, continued on between the house and the barn, and finally curled under the barnyard gate to disperse in the barnyard.
One year Pa suggested we make a little waterwheel and place it in the melt water river. He made the waterwheel from a cedar wood shingle. He cut two pieces, each about three inches long and a half inch wide. He notched the two pieces and pushed them together making a waterwheel with four little paddles. With two other pieces of shingle wood he made a little frame that held the waterwheel in place while the running melt water turned it.
In early morning, when the temperature had fallen below freezing, the little waterwheel hung motionless in its frame, but usually by mid-day, with climbing temperatures and more snow melting, the waterwheel turned furiously, making a “flip ,flip” sound. The waterwheel turned for more than a week; Pa, my brothers and I would stop, watch and listen to it as we went about doing our various spring chores.
One warm, late afternoon day, we noticed the melt water river had stopped running and the water wheel no longer turned. On that day we knew that spring arrived.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Oft times the little things in life can provide the most pleasure.
CHECK THIS OUT: Plan to attend the Strum Memorial Library (Manawa) special program 7:00 p.m., March 29. The library selected my book, IN A PICKLE, for their “One Book/One Community” program. I’m told that more than 100 people in the community have read the book so far. I’ll discuss the background for writing the book as well as do a reading at the March 29 event.
COMING EVENTS:
Wednesday, March 23, 1:00 p.m., New Berlin Banquet and Conference Center. Learning in Retirement Group, (Remembering Our Agricultural Heritage).
Saturday, March 26, 9:30 a.m., Richland County Electric Co-op, Richland Center High School.
Tuesday, March 29, 7:00 p.m. Strum Public Library (Manawa). (In a Pickle).
Friday, April 1, 7:00 p.m. Oconto Falls Library. (Stories from the Land)
Saturday, April 2, 9:00-11:00 a.m. Oconto Falls Library. (Writing workshop: Writing Family Stories)
Tuesday, April 5, 6:00 p.m. Salem Public Library (Stories from the Land)
Saturday, April 9, 9:30 a.m. Mead Public Library, Sheboygan. (Old Farm)
Saturday, 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)
Saturday, April 16, Wild Rose High School Centennial Program
One year Pa suggested we make a little waterwheel and place it in the melt water river. He made the waterwheel from a cedar wood shingle. He cut two pieces, each about three inches long and a half inch wide. He notched the two pieces and pushed them together making a waterwheel with four little paddles. With two other pieces of shingle wood he made a little frame that held the waterwheel in place while the running melt water turned it.
In early morning, when the temperature had fallen below freezing, the little waterwheel hung motionless in its frame, but usually by mid-day, with climbing temperatures and more snow melting, the waterwheel turned furiously, making a “flip ,flip” sound. The waterwheel turned for more than a week; Pa, my brothers and I would stop, watch and listen to it as we went about doing our various spring chores.
One warm, late afternoon day, we noticed the melt water river had stopped running and the water wheel no longer turned. On that day we knew that spring arrived.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Oft times the little things in life can provide the most pleasure.
CHECK THIS OUT: Plan to attend the Strum Memorial Library (Manawa) special program 7:00 p.m., March 29. The library selected my book, IN A PICKLE, for their “One Book/One Community” program. I’m told that more than 100 people in the community have read the book so far. I’ll discuss the background for writing the book as well as do a reading at the March 29 event.
COMING EVENTS:
Wednesday, March 23, 1:00 p.m., New Berlin Banquet and Conference Center. Learning in Retirement Group, (Remembering Our Agricultural Heritage).
Saturday, March 26, 9:30 a.m., Richland County Electric Co-op, Richland Center High School.
Tuesday, March 29, 7:00 p.m. Strum Public Library (Manawa). (In a Pickle).
Friday, April 1, 7:00 p.m. Oconto Falls Library. (Stories from the Land)
Saturday, April 2, 9:00-11:00 a.m. Oconto Falls Library. (Writing workshop: Writing Family Stories)
Tuesday, April 5, 6:00 p.m. Salem Public Library (Stories from the Land)
Saturday, April 9, 9:30 a.m. Mead Public Library, Sheboygan. (Old Farm)
Saturday, 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)
Saturday, April 16, Wild Rose High School Centennial Program
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Canoecopia 2011
It’s the weekend for Canoecopia, an annual event held at the Alliant Center in Madison where hundreds of winter weary people gather to think about summer, outdoor camping, canoeing, and traveling to wilderness areas to get away from it all for a few days.
Canoecopia is billed as the world’s largest paddlesports expo. Sponsored by an outdoor supply store in Madison with the rather exotic name of Rutabaga, visitors to the three day show can leave behind the waning days of winter by checking out new canoes and kayaks, paddles of various shapes and prices, life vests, appropriate clothing , new ideas for backpacks and much, much more.
Visitors can also listen to a vast array of speakers (I was one of them) talk about everything from their new books (I shared stores from my book, CAMPFIRES AND LOON CALLS) to camping in the Grand Canyon, Treasures of the Apostle Islands, Essential Equipment for Paddling and How to Build Your Own Canoe.
The show provides three days of escaping winter, propelling visitors to a time when they are sitting on a high point overlooking a lake with waves lapping the rocks below their campsite, and a loon calling in the distance as the sun slips slowly below the horizon to the west.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: I need to hear the call of the loon at least once a year to remind me that everything is not as bad as it may sometimes appear.
CHECK THIS OUT: Plan to attend the launch party for CAMPFIRES AND LOON CALLS at Barnes and Noble West in Madison on Tuesday, March 15 at 7:00 p.m. Ruth is making chocolate chip cookies for the event. (We take chocolate chip cookies along on our wilderness camping trips).
COMING EVENTS:
March 15, 10:30 a.m. Eager Free Library, Evansville, WI.
March 15, 7:00 p.m. Barnes and Noble, Madison West. (Launch for Campfires and Loon Calls).
March 17, 2:00-4:00. Monroe Arts Center, Monroe. Memories into Memoirs—Writers’ Workshop.
March 17, 7:00 p.m. Monroe Arts Center. (Our Rural Heritage).
March 20, 7:00 p.m. Lebanon Historical Society, Fire Station, New Lebanon. (Horse Drawn Days).
March 23, 1:00 p.m., New Berlin Banquet and Conference Center. Learning in Retirement.
March 26, 9:30 a.m., Richland County Electric Co-op, Richland Center High School
.
March 29, 7:00 p.m. Manawa Public Library. (In a Pickle).
April 1, 7:00 p.m. Oconto Falls Library. (Stories from the Land)
April 2, 9:00-11:00 Oconto Falls Library. (Writing workshop: Writing Family Stories)
April 5, 6:00 p.m. Salem Public Library (Stories from the Land)
Canoecopia is billed as the world’s largest paddlesports expo. Sponsored by an outdoor supply store in Madison with the rather exotic name of Rutabaga, visitors to the three day show can leave behind the waning days of winter by checking out new canoes and kayaks, paddles of various shapes and prices, life vests, appropriate clothing , new ideas for backpacks and much, much more.
Visitors can also listen to a vast array of speakers (I was one of them) talk about everything from their new books (I shared stores from my book, CAMPFIRES AND LOON CALLS) to camping in the Grand Canyon, Treasures of the Apostle Islands, Essential Equipment for Paddling and How to Build Your Own Canoe.
The show provides three days of escaping winter, propelling visitors to a time when they are sitting on a high point overlooking a lake with waves lapping the rocks below their campsite, and a loon calling in the distance as the sun slips slowly below the horizon to the west.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: I need to hear the call of the loon at least once a year to remind me that everything is not as bad as it may sometimes appear.
CHECK THIS OUT: Plan to attend the launch party for CAMPFIRES AND LOON CALLS at Barnes and Noble West in Madison on Tuesday, March 15 at 7:00 p.m. Ruth is making chocolate chip cookies for the event. (We take chocolate chip cookies along on our wilderness camping trips).
COMING EVENTS:
March 15, 10:30 a.m. Eager Free Library, Evansville, WI.
March 15, 7:00 p.m. Barnes and Noble, Madison West. (Launch for Campfires and Loon Calls).
March 17, 2:00-4:00. Monroe Arts Center, Monroe. Memories into Memoirs—Writers’ Workshop.
March 17, 7:00 p.m. Monroe Arts Center. (Our Rural Heritage).
March 20, 7:00 p.m. Lebanon Historical Society, Fire Station, New Lebanon. (Horse Drawn Days).
March 23, 1:00 p.m., New Berlin Banquet and Conference Center. Learning in Retirement.
March 26, 9:30 a.m., Richland County Electric Co-op, Richland Center High School
.
March 29, 7:00 p.m. Manawa Public Library. (In a Pickle).
April 1, 7:00 p.m. Oconto Falls Library. (Stories from the Land)
April 2, 9:00-11:00 Oconto Falls Library. (Writing workshop: Writing Family Stories)
April 5, 6:00 p.m. Salem Public Library (Stories from the Land)
Saturday, March 05, 2011
Signs of Spring
It is many years ago; my two brothers and I are in the upstairs bedroom of our old farm house. It has been a long, cold winter, with many below zero days and snow so deep the old timers said they couldn’t remember ever seeing such a tough winter. But something is different this morning—the most obvious, the bedroom isn’t so cold. The thick frost that has covered the inside of the windows since last November is melting, puddling on the window sills. Rain is splashing against the windows, one of the first sounds of spring. I look out the window, toward our snow-covered fields to east and I see wisps of fog.
I pull on my clothes, rush downstairs, grab my barn lantern and trot to the barn. For the first time in weeks, the snow is mushy underfoot. And the subtle smell of spring is in the air. Once in the barn for the morning milking, I notice the animals are aware of the weather change as well. They are restless and wanting to go outside, understandable after being cooped up in the barn for these long winter months.
After breakfast, we let the cows outside, to romp in the barnyard, to run with their tails in the air, to experience spring. To feel the rain on their backs and the soft snow underfoot. But winter doesn’t give up easily. That evening, the rain changes to snow as winter refuses to leave quietly. But we now know that spring is waiting in the wings, waiting for a chance to sneak in and take over, and push winter farther north for a few months.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: We need winter to truly enjoy spring.
CHECK THIS OUT: Tune in the Larry Meiller Show on Wisconsin Public Radio, Wednesday, March 9. 11:45-12:20. I’ll be discussing my new book, CAMPFIRES AND LOON CALLS.
COMING EVENTS:
March 11, 5:30 p.m. and Saturday, March 12, 3:30 p.m. Canoecopia Trade Show, Alliant Center, Madison:. (Campfires and Loon Calls).
March 15, 10:30 a.m. Eager Free Library, Evansville, WI.
March 15, 7:00 p.m. Barnes and Noble, Madison West. (Launch for Campfires and Loon Calls).
March 17, 2:00-4:00. Monroe Arts Center, Monroe. Memories into Memoirs—Writers’ Workshop.
March 17, 7:00 p.m. Monroe Arts Center. (Our Rural Heritage).
March 20, 7:00 p.m. Lebanon Historical Society, Fire Station, New Lebanon. (Horse Drawn Days).
March 26, 9:30 a.m., Richland County Electric Co-op, Richland Center High School.
March 29, 7:00 p.m. Manawa Public Library. (In a Pickle).
I pull on my clothes, rush downstairs, grab my barn lantern and trot to the barn. For the first time in weeks, the snow is mushy underfoot. And the subtle smell of spring is in the air. Once in the barn for the morning milking, I notice the animals are aware of the weather change as well. They are restless and wanting to go outside, understandable after being cooped up in the barn for these long winter months.
After breakfast, we let the cows outside, to romp in the barnyard, to run with their tails in the air, to experience spring. To feel the rain on their backs and the soft snow underfoot. But winter doesn’t give up easily. That evening, the rain changes to snow as winter refuses to leave quietly. But we now know that spring is waiting in the wings, waiting for a chance to sneak in and take over, and push winter farther north for a few months.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: We need winter to truly enjoy spring.
CHECK THIS OUT: Tune in the Larry Meiller Show on Wisconsin Public Radio, Wednesday, March 9. 11:45-12:20. I’ll be discussing my new book, CAMPFIRES AND LOON CALLS.
COMING EVENTS:
March 11, 5:30 p.m. and Saturday, March 12, 3:30 p.m. Canoecopia Trade Show, Alliant Center, Madison:. (Campfires and Loon Calls).
March 15, 10:30 a.m. Eager Free Library, Evansville, WI.
March 15, 7:00 p.m. Barnes and Noble, Madison West. (Launch for Campfires and Loon Calls).
March 17, 2:00-4:00. Monroe Arts Center, Monroe. Memories into Memoirs—Writers’ Workshop.
March 17, 7:00 p.m. Monroe Arts Center. (Our Rural Heritage).
March 20, 7:00 p.m. Lebanon Historical Society, Fire Station, New Lebanon. (Horse Drawn Days).
March 26, 9:30 a.m., Richland County Electric Co-op, Richland Center High School.
March 29, 7:00 p.m. Manawa Public Library. (In a Pickle).
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