Prairie Home Companion

Ruth and I had the opportunity to see Garrison Keillor’s Prairie Home Companion show Saturday night performed at the Overture Center in Madison.  It was a sellout audience of more than 2,000 people who clapped and laughed and had a great time seeing their radio favorites in person: Sue Scott, who does many women’s voices, Tim Russell, who does as many men’s voices, and Fred Newman, the man of many sound effects.   And of course, the many talented Garrison Keillor who has been doing the show since 1974.

Today the Prairie Home Companion radio show has an audience of four million people and is broadcast on 600 radio stations throughout the country and in many foreign countries.

A theme for the show, as one might suspect, was winter, with several memorable lines and songs. Remember, the cold that grips you and makes things difficult is a DRY cold.

Also remember the first rule of winter.  Don’t leave beer in your car.  It will freeze and the bottles will explode.   I might add, especially if it is cheap beer with a low alcohol content.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Winter is a state of mind (perhaps).

UPCOMING EVENTS:

February 9, 12:00-2:00 p.m., Garden Expo, Alliant Center, Madison. Signing books in UW-Press booth.

February 22, 11:00 a.m. Retired Federal Workers Meeting, Waunakee.

February 27, Noon, Mt. Morris Insurance Company annual meeting, Richford, Wi

March 2, 7:00 p.m. Minnesota Public TV, “Jerry Apps: A Farm Story.”

March 3, 7:00 p.m. Wisconsin Public TV, “Jerry Apps: A Farm Story.”

March 6- 27: Writing Retreat, Florida.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING “JERRY APPS: A FARM STORY” 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.)

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Northern Lakes Center for the Arts

The Northern Lakes Center for the Arts is a beacon for creativity in northwestern Wisconsin. Located in Amery, not quite 3,000 people, and led by the dynamic team of Mary Ellen and LaMoine MacLaughlin, the center sponsors everything from art exhibits (currently an exhibit by Amery H.S. art students) to musical performances, from writing workshops to publishing the “Hometown Gazette,” a newspaper with headquarters in nearby Clayton, WI.

This past weekend, Ruth and I were quests at the Center where on Saturday afternoon I taught a writing workshop for area budding writers.  On Saturday evening, with the wind howling and the temperature dropping, I talked to a wonderful group of sturdy folks about my novels and about the importance of storytelling in our hurry-up world.

The Center, long associated with the Robert E. Gard Foundation, has a considerable collection of Gard memorabilia including his old manual typewriter.  Those who know me are aware that Bob Gard was my writing mentor, going back to the 1960s when I first began professional writing.

So it was a good weekend, filled with memories, and an opportunity to meet a wonderful group of people.  And see once more our long-time friends, the MacLaughlins.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: As the days lengthen, the cold strengthens.

A REQUEST: For those of you who have read my new novel, TAMARACK RIVER GHOST, and are so inclined, you might write a brief review for Amazon.  Go to Amazon.com, type in the name of the book, and you’ll find instructions for writing a review.  Thanks much.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

February 9, 12:00-2:00 p.m., Garden Expo, Alliant Center, Madison. Signing books in UW-Press Booth.

February 22, 11:00 a.m. Retired Federal Workers Meeting, Waunakee.

February 27, Noon, Mt. Morris Insurance Company annual meeting, Richford, Wi

March 2, 7:00 p.m. Minnesota Public TV, “Jerry Apps: A Farm Story.”

March 3, 7:00 p.m. Wisconsin Public TV, “Jerry Apps: A Farm Story.”

March 6- 27: Writing Retreat, Florida.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING “JERRY APPS: A FARM STORY” 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.)

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Time For A Break

After nearly a month of below freezing temperatures, the other morning I woke up to the sound of melt water dripping from the roof.  The ice was melting, the snow was settling, and a dense fog rolled in to make travel challenging.

Old man winter was taking a break, regrouping for the next bit of excitement he planned to toss our way as slowly we wend our way toward spring.

This brief break in winter reminds me that not even nature charges ahead with all its fury all the time.  We can learn a lesson here—especially those of us who don’t know the importance of slowing down from time-to-time in our quest for whatever we are questing.

            We can learn from nature’s example—take a time-out to reconsider, regroup, reflect, or read a good book and relax—before jumping back on the relentless treadmill that defines so many of our lives these days.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Take time to watch the snow melt. Consider building a

Snowman.

A REQUEST: For those of you who have read my new novel, TAMARACK RIVER GHOST, and are so inclined, you might write a brief review for Amazon.  Go to Amazon.com, type in the name of the book, and you’ll find instructions for writing a review.  Thanks much.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

January 14, 5:00 p.m.  Whole Foods, 3313 University Ave.,  Madison. Excerpt from TV show, “A Farm Story,” and discussion.

January 17, 7:00 p.m. Fitchburg Library, Garden Wisdom

January 19, 3:00 p.m. (Writing Workshop) Northern Lakes Center for the Arts, Amery, WI

January 19, 7:30 p.m. Northern Lakes Center for the Arts.  Presentation and Discussion: The Ames County Novel Series.

SPECIAL  ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING  “JERRY APPS: A FARM STORY” 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.)

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Quiet Morning

It was five above zero when I put on my down jacket, pulled the earflaps down on my cap, grabbed my walking stick and set out from the cabin for my morning walk.  The sun, struggling to climb about the pine woods to the east provided a bit of light for what had been a very dark night, but offered little warmth as I headed down the trail.

How soon one forgets how quiet a chilly winter morning can be.  I heard not a sound, no crow call, no rustling of dead oak leaves, no creaking of bare tree limbs.  Nothing, save for the crunch, crunch of the cold snow under my boots as I trudged along, often stopping to listen and hearing nothing.  Hearing silence.

As the landscape grew lighter with the rising sun, the frost covered branches of the trees along the trail sparkled and glittered and reminded me how beautiful can be the most simple of things—morning frost in first light.

Upon returning to the cabin, I pushed another stick of oak wood in our wood stove, sat in my rocking chair with a cup of coffee and reminded myself that life couldn't get much better than this.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Take time to appreciate the simple things.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

January 14, 6:30 p.m.  Whole Foods, 3313 University Ave.,  Madison. Excerpt from TV show, “A Farm Story,” and discussion.

January 17, 7:00 p.m. Fitchburg Library, Garden Wisdom

January 19, 3:00 p.m. (Writing Workshop) Northern Lakes Center for the Arts, Amery, WI

January 19, 7:30 p.m. Northern Lakes Center for the Arts.  Presentation and Discussion: The Ames County Novel Series.

SPECIAL  ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING  “JERRY APPS: A FARM STORY” 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.)

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