Thank You

As 2014 has but three days left, it’s a time for saying thank you to all who helped me this past year.  Topping the list is my wife, Ruth, who has a “to do” list for me that never seems to get done—yet in midst of undone duties, she continues to read all my writing with her critical, consumer eye.  “Jerry what does this sentence mean?  You sure this is the right word?” and so much more. Add to the list, my daughter Sue, who is not only an excellent writer, but a first class editor.  And my son, Steve, who is a big picture (no pun intended as he is a professional photographer) guy who keeps my writing head pointed in the proper direction, and his partner, Natasha, who is a professional editor and always has excellent comments on how to improve my work.  And there is son, Jeff, in Colorado, who gives me a broader, wider perspective on things.

And that’s just the “at home” support group.  A little inside secret; if my writing doesn't get by this cluster of critics it goes nowhere.  You might be surprised at the size of my “gone nowhere” writing—but maybe not.

Now to the next group of folks to thank, my publishers: Wisconsin Historical Society Press, University of Wisconsin Press and Fulcrum Press.  At each publishing house, editors, marketing directors and publicists have done so much to see that my work gets a careful and comprehensive editing before it goes into print and then is well publicized.  Also, a big thank you to the weekly and monthly publications that run my columns.

I add to this list the people at Wisconsin Public TV and PBS who have now produced two hour-long documentaries based on my writing, with a third one in production.  A huge thank you from this once shy farm kid, who has been pushed, shoved, helped and allowed to appear on TV screens across the country.

And to the many, many others who have helped promote my work: booksellers, museum directors, historical society volunteers, farm organization leaders and librarians.  Thank you.

Lastly, to all my readers across this great country who read my work, watch my TV shows and keep me writing.  A huge thank you.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: One thing I believe for sure.  A big reason we’re on this earth is to do something for others.

COMING EVENTS:

January 28, 2015 7:00 p.m. Stoughton Opera House.  A Farm Winter.

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

50 Division St.

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

Dark Days

It’s here.   The first day of winter.  The winter solstice.  The day with the shortest number of daylight hours in the year.  Of course daylight hours depend on where you live.  Here in Madison, Wisconsin we have 8 hours and 59 minutes of daylight on this day.  In Anchorage, Alaska, daylight hours equal but 5 hours and 17 minutes with the sun coming up at 10:14 a.m. and setting at 3:42 p.m.  And for Barrow, Alaska, there is no sunrise or sunset, with but three hours of what they call twilight from noon until three.

            We must have some kind of record for cloudy days here in southern Wisconsin, which make the short days even shorter.  We are going on three weeks of cloudy, dreary, sometimes foggy, sometimes a few ice pellets weather.  Good thing we have the holidays to cheer us up a bit, keep us focused, and more or less in good spirits.

            I remember the saying, better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.  I’d suggest lighting two, maybe three, or even a dozen candles.  A little light goes a long way on these cloudy, dark days.  A lot of light is even better.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Merry Christmas to all—and cheers for the days now begin to lengthen.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

January 28, 2015 7:00 p.m. Stoughton Opera House.  A Farm Winter.

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

The library now has available both 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 book 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

50 Division St.

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

La Crosse Book Signing

After a foggy, dizzily, dreary  Saturday drive to La Crosse, I spent a bright and cheery afternoon signing books at Barnes & Noble.  Joining me for the book signing were Kenny Salwey (the Last River Rat), my daughter Sue, with her book about one room schools, and Travis Dewitz with his Blaze Orange book of deer hunting photos.

It’s the people who stop by to talk that make these events interesting.  A couple drove all the way across the state from Sheboygan to buy a few signed books.  Long time friends from Monona, Iowa, Elmer Marting and his wife Carol and daughter Leanne drove through the gloom of an unusual mid-December day to chat for a bit.  So did nephew and niece Jerry and Barb Johnson—but for them the drive was short as they live in Holman.

And not to forget Sam Scinta, publisher for Fulcrum Press and Richard Chrz with Barnes & Noble who put the event together.  Sometimes we forget to mention and thank those working behind the scenes who make these events work.

It was a good afternoon, and my last event for 2014.  Time now to put my feet up for a few days before 2015 rolls around and a new season of events appears on my calendar.

THE OLD TIME SAYS: In the midst of all the hustle and bustle of the Holidays, remember to spend some time relaxing.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

January 28, 2015 7:00 p.m. Stoughton Opera House.  A Farm Winter.

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

The library now has available both 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 book 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

50 Division St.

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

Storytelling with the Farm Bureau

Ruth, Sue and I attended the annual state-wide Farm Bureau meeting in Wisconsin Dells yesterday.  I taught two “Write Your Life Story” workshops, and a grand time we had.  In the first session, 72 people, in the second 63.  The room was filled with memories and stories as people recounted their favorite toys when they were children, people who made a difference in their lives, and turning points, where something happened in their lives and everything that followed was different. 

            When I asked about people who made a difference in your life, a woman shared a story about the school bus driver she had when she was a little girl and attending grade school.  A bully on the bus broke off a flower the little girl was taking home for her mother. The driver stopped the bus.  In the midst of her tears, the driver, using the first aid kit in the bus, taped the flower back together, and assigned the bully to the front seat for the rest of the school year. She has never forgotten that good deed, now so many years ago.

            People remembered horses on their farms.  One person told about how his grandfather had spent the night in the barn with a sick horse that was dying—for this man a horse was a part of the family and deserved that kind of respect.

            The room was filled with laughter, and some tears, too, as people remembered their stories.  And also listened  as I shared how important it was to write these stories down and share them with their families and friends, as this is history, and when we forget our histories, we forget who we are.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS:  Take some time to write down your stories.

December 8, 8:00 p. m.  Live on Twin Cities Public TV.  A Farm Winter.

December 13, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Barnes and Noble, La Crosse.  Book Signing.

January 28, 2015 7:00 p.m. Stoughton Opera House.  A Farm Winter.

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

The library now has available both 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 book 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

50 Division St.

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

Hunting for the Perfect Christmas Tree

.Three inches of snow at Roshara.  The ponds are frozen; the prairie is snow covered; the trees are bare.  And we are searching for the perfect Christmas tree on a beautiful, sunny, not quite cold Sunday afternoon.

Five of us on the prowl for that special tree, three adults and two kids. Hard walking in the crusty snow.  And then on the top of the hill overlooking the pond we found a cluster of candidates. Doing well after a spring of ample rains and perfect growing conditions.

            “How about this one?”   “Maybe that one?”  Soon we had three trees found, agreed on, and cut.  All wild and naturally growing—a self-seeded white pine and two Scotch pines.

            Then it was back to the cabin for hot chocolate and cookies and a warm up by the wood burning stove.  A fun day on a chilly, snowy afternoon.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: A winter day is a day to enjoy.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

December 3, 7:00 p.m.  Live on Milwaukee Public TV.  A Farm Winter.

December 7, 1:00-2:15 and 2:30-3:15 Kalahari Resort, Wisconsin Dells (Two sessions) Wis Farm Bureau Meeting. Writing From Your Life for Children and Grandchildren.

December 8, 8:00 p. m.  Live on Twin Cities Public TV.  A Farm Winter.

December 13, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Barnes and Noble, La Crosse.  Book Signing.

January 28, 2015 7:00 p.m. Stoughton Opera House.  A Farm Winter.

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