We’ve made history this spring. The first time ever that I planted garden in March. I plowed down my winter rye on March 20th, and on Saturday the 24th, when my helper crew arrived, we began planting. A little reluctantly, I might add, as a year ago on that date there was still snow on the ground. We planted lettuce, radishes, carrots, beets, onions, peas and two rows of early potatoes.
The temperature was in the 70s, a pair of sandhills was raising a raucous in the valley to the west, and two pair of very noisy Canada geese were staking out nesting claims on either end of the pond. We could hear them, but we kept working. A pair of bluebirds worked as hard as we, as they were building a nest in the bird house to the north of the cabin. All the creatures at the farm are hustling and hurrying, believing that spring is really here and a month early.
On April 2, we planted ten rows of late potatoes. The radishes are up, the lettuce is poking through, and the peas are deciding if they want to face considerably less warm weather than we experienced a couple weeks ago. But the rest of the garden crops—especially the tomatoes will sit on my window sill until near the end of May.
One of the reasons I keep gardening is the mystery of it all, and never knowing what will happen, and whether things will grow or not. So far, this season appears to have the most mystery I’ve seen in my more than 60 years of vegetable gardening.
CHECK THIS OUT: Listen in to Wisconsin Public Radio, the Larry Meiller Show on Friday, April 13 at 11:00. We’ll be in front of a live audience, and I’ll be talking about my book, GARDEN WISDOM.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: If it’s surprises you’re looking for, try growing a vegetable garden.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
April 12, 7:00 p.m. McMillan Library, Wisconsin Rapids. Garden Wisdom
April 13, 11:00 a.m. Larry Meiller Show, Wisconsin Public Radio. Broadcasting at Fox Cities Book Festival. Garden Wisdom.
April 13, 2:00 p.m. Fox Cities Book Festival, Neenah Library. Garden Wisdom
April 14, 10 a.m.-12 a.m., AAUW, Lacrosse, WI (Garden Wisdom)
April 15, 12:30 p.m. -2:00 p.m. Barnes and Noble, LaCrosse (Campfires and Loon Calls, and my newest book, Garden Wisdom)
April 21, 1:00 p.m. Cedarburg Public Library. Garden Wisdom
April 22, 11:30 a.m. Fond du Lac Historical Society (795 Fond du Lac Ave). Dinner. Remembering our Rural Heritage.
April 27, 4:30 p.m. Friends of Wisconsin Historical Society: Old World Wisconsin (Eagle, WI, Dinner, auction, and presentation on BARNS OF WISCONSIN.
April 28, 11:00 – 4:00. Wisconsin Public TV at Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose. Residents of the area are asked to bring in family farm photos for possible inclusion in a documentary film about farm life in the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s that Wis Public TV is doing. Photos will be immediately scanned and returned.
April 29, 2:00 p.m. Lucille Tack Center for the Arts, Spencer, WI. I will be discussing my Ames County series of novels: THE TRAVELS OF INCREASE JOSEPH, BLUE SHADOWS FARM, IN A PICKLE and CRANBERRY RED. Free to the public
Saturday, April 07, 2012
Sunday, April 01, 2012
Morton Arboretum
Ruth and I are visiting the Morton Arboretum about twenty-five miles west of Chicago this weekend. I am sharing information from my book, GARDEN WISDOM; Ruth is talking about vegetable and fruit preservation.
The Morton Arboretum, some 1700 acres of flowers, trees and prairie, (it includes a one-hundred acre prairie restoration project) was once the country estate of Joy Morton of the Morton Salt Company.
Morton moved here in 1910 and named the place Thornhill. The arboretum was established in 1922 by six members of the family and two executives of the Morton Salt Company.
Today, this showplace of the Mid-west is open to the public, and the public is here, hiking the 16 miles of trails, and biking along the nine miles of paved roads. With our early spring, they could see acres of daffodil’s, many, many red bud trees in full bloom, and even some lilacs sending forth their fragrant flowers.
The address for the Arboretum is Lisle, IL, a bustling business and corporate center. Check it out on www.mortonarb.org.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: It’s good to know that there are still places where peace, tranquility and beauty exist in our hurry, hurry “make a buck” society.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
April 12, 7:00 p.m. McMillan Library, Wisconsin Rapids. Garden Wisdom
April 13, 11:00 a.m. Larry Meiller Show, Wisconsin Public Radio. Broadcasting at Fox Cities Book Festival. Garden Wisdom.
April 13, 2:00 p.m. Fox Cities Book Festival, Neenah Library. Garden Wisdom
April 14, 10 a.m.-12 a.m., AAUW, Lacrosse, WI (Garden Wisdom)
April 15, 12:30 p.m. -2:00 p.m. Barnes and Noble, LaCrosse (Campfires and Loon Calls, and my newest book, Garden Wisdom)
April 21, 1:00 p.m. Cedarburg Public Library. Garden Wisdom
April 22, 11:30 a.m. Fond du Lac Historical Society (795 Fond du Lac Ave). Dinner. Remembering our Rural Heritage.
The Morton Arboretum, some 1700 acres of flowers, trees and prairie, (it includes a one-hundred acre prairie restoration project) was once the country estate of Joy Morton of the Morton Salt Company.
Morton moved here in 1910 and named the place Thornhill. The arboretum was established in 1922 by six members of the family and two executives of the Morton Salt Company.
Today, this showplace of the Mid-west is open to the public, and the public is here, hiking the 16 miles of trails, and biking along the nine miles of paved roads. With our early spring, they could see acres of daffodil’s, many, many red bud trees in full bloom, and even some lilacs sending forth their fragrant flowers.
The address for the Arboretum is Lisle, IL, a bustling business and corporate center. Check it out on www.mortonarb.org.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: It’s good to know that there are still places where peace, tranquility and beauty exist in our hurry, hurry “make a buck” society.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
April 12, 7:00 p.m. McMillan Library, Wisconsin Rapids. Garden Wisdom
April 13, 11:00 a.m. Larry Meiller Show, Wisconsin Public Radio. Broadcasting at Fox Cities Book Festival. Garden Wisdom.
April 13, 2:00 p.m. Fox Cities Book Festival, Neenah Library. Garden Wisdom
April 14, 10 a.m.-12 a.m., AAUW, Lacrosse, WI (Garden Wisdom)
April 15, 12:30 p.m. -2:00 p.m. Barnes and Noble, LaCrosse (Campfires and Loon Calls, and my newest book, Garden Wisdom)
April 21, 1:00 p.m. Cedarburg Public Library. Garden Wisdom
April 22, 11:30 a.m. Fond du Lac Historical Society (795 Fond du Lac Ave). Dinner. Remembering our Rural Heritage.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
When Spring is Summer
It’s mid-March and I’m sitting on a bench by my pond. I’m in shirt sleeves and remembering just last year at this time the pond was still ice covered and the valley was buried in snow. But this year the pond is open, the grass around it is greening up and the spring frogs are raising a raucous.
In the deep woods to the north I hear a ruffed grouse drumming—boom….boom….boom, then faster, boom, boom, boom. Like an old John Deere two-cylinder tractor.
As I watch, a muskrat with its head above water swims across the pond to the north. A few minutes later, another muskrat swims from the north side of the pond to the south. A case of “the grass is greener on the other side of the pond” it appears.
And then, from the east, a pair of sandhill cranes glide in. their wings set, their landing gear down. They land effortlessly, near where they’ve had a nest for many years on the west side of our pond. One of them lets loose with its throaty call that I place right up there with the call of the loon for its mystery and mystic—and its tie to prehistoric times.
A pair of wood duck wings in from the north, completing the spring scene—albeit about a month early. Is it time to start planting my garden? I’m tempted to plant some cool weather vegetables. A hard freeze and another snowstorm on the way? Maybe. But if the critters at the pond appear to believe it’s spring, maybe I should, too.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Pay attention to nature’s critters; they can tell you more about seasonal change than a calendar.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
March 31-April 1. Morton Arboretum (Thornhill Education Center), Chicago area. Presentation on vegetable gardening, 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. on March 31. Sunday, April 1, 1:30-3:30 features a vegetable gardening workshop, with tips on planting and caring for a vegetable garden. Additionally, Ruth will discuss preparing vegetables and fruits for canning and freezing.
April 12, 7:00 p.m. McMillan Library, Wisconsin Rapids. Garden Wisdom
April 13, 11:00 a.m. Larry Meiller Show, Wisconsin Public Radio. Broadcasting at Fox Cities Book Festival. Garden Wisdom.
April 13, 2:00 p.m. Fox Cities Book Festival, Neenah Library. Garden Wisdom
April 14, 10 a.m.-12 a.m., AAUW, Lacrosse, WI (Garden Wisdom)
April 15, 12:30 p.m. -2:00 p.m. Barnes and Noble, LaCrosse (Campfires and Loon Calls, and my newest book, Garden Wisdom)
April 21, 1:00 p.m. Cedarburg Public Library. Garden Wisdom
April 22, 11:30 a.m. Fond du Lac Historical Society (795 Fond du Lac Ave). Dinner. Remembering our Rural Heritage.
In the deep woods to the north I hear a ruffed grouse drumming—boom….boom….boom, then faster, boom, boom, boom. Like an old John Deere two-cylinder tractor.
As I watch, a muskrat with its head above water swims across the pond to the north. A few minutes later, another muskrat swims from the north side of the pond to the south. A case of “the grass is greener on the other side of the pond” it appears.
And then, from the east, a pair of sandhill cranes glide in. their wings set, their landing gear down. They land effortlessly, near where they’ve had a nest for many years on the west side of our pond. One of them lets loose with its throaty call that I place right up there with the call of the loon for its mystery and mystic—and its tie to prehistoric times.
A pair of wood duck wings in from the north, completing the spring scene—albeit about a month early. Is it time to start planting my garden? I’m tempted to plant some cool weather vegetables. A hard freeze and another snowstorm on the way? Maybe. But if the critters at the pond appear to believe it’s spring, maybe I should, too.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Pay attention to nature’s critters; they can tell you more about seasonal change than a calendar.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
March 31-April 1. Morton Arboretum (Thornhill Education Center), Chicago area. Presentation on vegetable gardening, 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. on March 31. Sunday, April 1, 1:30-3:30 features a vegetable gardening workshop, with tips on planting and caring for a vegetable garden. Additionally, Ruth will discuss preparing vegetables and fruits for canning and freezing.
April 12, 7:00 p.m. McMillan Library, Wisconsin Rapids. Garden Wisdom
April 13, 11:00 a.m. Larry Meiller Show, Wisconsin Public Radio. Broadcasting at Fox Cities Book Festival. Garden Wisdom.
April 13, 2:00 p.m. Fox Cities Book Festival, Neenah Library. Garden Wisdom
April 14, 10 a.m.-12 a.m., AAUW, Lacrosse, WI (Garden Wisdom)
April 15, 12:30 p.m. -2:00 p.m. Barnes and Noble, LaCrosse (Campfires and Loon Calls, and my newest book, Garden Wisdom)
April 21, 1:00 p.m. Cedarburg Public Library. Garden Wisdom
April 22, 11:30 a.m. Fond du Lac Historical Society (795 Fond du Lac Ave). Dinner. Remembering our Rural Heritage.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Early, Early Spring?
What happened? It’s several days before spring and summer has arrived. Several days now in the high 70s and even low 80s. Confusion reigns. Daffodils are opening. Tulips are trying. Maple trees are budding.
Has the weather world gone mad? Or is it just an early, early spring? Or, or—a dirty trick that Mother Nature is playing on us before flinging one more snowstorm our way.
I’m going for the former, as I remember—memory has its tricks I know—that back in the 1940s,or maybe early 50s we had such an early spring. On the home farm we were in the fields in mid-March, planting the early crops such as oats. Saw a farmer out in his field yesterday, doing the same thing.
I’ve caught spring fever along with everyone else. I’ll be planting some garden vegetables this week—radishes, lettuce, peas, onions, maybe even a few rows of potatoes. I’ll not follow conservative Old Timer’s advice.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Watch out for Mother Nature. She can be mighty unpredictable.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
March 24. Central Wisconsin launch of Garden Wisdom at Patterson Memorial Library Wild Rose. Dinner at six. Contact the library for reservations: 920-622-3835. Presentation and book signing to follow.
March 31-April 1. Morton Arboretum (Thornhill Education Center), Chicago area. Presentation on vegetable gardening, 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. on March 31. Sunday, April 1, 1:30-3:30 features a vegetable gardening workshop, with tips on planting and caring for a vegetable garden. Additionally, Ruth will discuss preparing vegetables and fruits for canning and freezing.
April 12, 7:00 p.m. Mcmillan Library, Wisconsin Rapids. Garden Wisdom
April 13, 11:00 a.m. Larry Meiller Show, Wisconsin Public Radio. Broadcasting at Fox Cities Book Festival. Garden Wisdom.
April 13, 2:00 p.m. Fox Cities Book Festival, Neenah. Garden Wisdom
April 14, 10 a.m.-12 a.m., AAUW, Lacrosse, WI (Garden Wisdom)
April 15, 12:30 p.m. -2:00 p.m. Barnes and Noble, LaCrosse (Campfires and Loon Calls, and my newest book, Garden Wisdom)
April 21, 1:00 p.m. Cedarburg Public Library. Garden Wisdom
April 22, 11:30 a.m. Fond du Lac Historical Society (795 Fond du Lac Ave). Dinner. Remembering our Rural Heritage.
Has the weather world gone mad? Or is it just an early, early spring? Or, or—a dirty trick that Mother Nature is playing on us before flinging one more snowstorm our way.
I’m going for the former, as I remember—memory has its tricks I know—that back in the 1940s,or maybe early 50s we had such an early spring. On the home farm we were in the fields in mid-March, planting the early crops such as oats. Saw a farmer out in his field yesterday, doing the same thing.
I’ve caught spring fever along with everyone else. I’ll be planting some garden vegetables this week—radishes, lettuce, peas, onions, maybe even a few rows of potatoes. I’ll not follow conservative Old Timer’s advice.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Watch out for Mother Nature. She can be mighty unpredictable.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
March 24. Central Wisconsin launch of Garden Wisdom at Patterson Memorial Library Wild Rose. Dinner at six. Contact the library for reservations: 920-622-3835. Presentation and book signing to follow.
March 31-April 1. Morton Arboretum (Thornhill Education Center), Chicago area. Presentation on vegetable gardening, 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. on March 31. Sunday, April 1, 1:30-3:30 features a vegetable gardening workshop, with tips on planting and caring for a vegetable garden. Additionally, Ruth will discuss preparing vegetables and fruits for canning and freezing.
April 12, 7:00 p.m. Mcmillan Library, Wisconsin Rapids. Garden Wisdom
April 13, 11:00 a.m. Larry Meiller Show, Wisconsin Public Radio. Broadcasting at Fox Cities Book Festival. Garden Wisdom.
April 13, 2:00 p.m. Fox Cities Book Festival, Neenah. Garden Wisdom
April 14, 10 a.m.-12 a.m., AAUW, Lacrosse, WI (Garden Wisdom)
April 15, 12:30 p.m. -2:00 p.m. Barnes and Noble, LaCrosse (Campfires and Loon Calls, and my newest book, Garden Wisdom)
April 21, 1:00 p.m. Cedarburg Public Library. Garden Wisdom
April 22, 11:30 a.m. Fond du Lac Historical Society (795 Fond du Lac Ave). Dinner. Remembering our Rural Heritage.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Canoecopia
They came from all around Wisconsin, from other states, and from Canada, too. Paddlers, canoe people, kayak people. Those with years of experience; those who’ve never set foot in a canoe or kayak.
They all converged on Madison, Wisconsin for the annual Canoecopia billed as the “World’s largest Kayak, Canoe and Outdoor Expo.” The Rutabaga Store in Madison sponsors the event and it hauls thousands of paddling enthusiasts out of their winter doldrums into the promise of spring and another season of on-the water fun.
There were umpteen opportunities for learning as well, with speakers sharing everything from wildlife photography to paddling Alaska’s North Slope, from kayak fishing to river trails of Wisconsin. Something for everyone, especially those looking for a little outdoor adventure and an opportunity to leave behind cellphones, laptops, and ipads.
I shared a bit of our adventures in the Boundary Waters Canoe area where my son, Steve and I have canoed for more than 25 years—stories from my book, Campfires and Loon Calls. Lots of interest; lots of story sharing.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: There is more to be gained from paddling a canoe than merely going from here to there.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
March 11, 2:00 p.m. Book talk and signing, Arcadia Bookstore, Spring Green. (Garden Wisdom)
March 17, 10-2:00 p.m. Rock River Gallery and Coffee House, Jefferson. (Garden Wisdom)
March 24. Central Wisconsin launch of Garden Wisdom at Patterson Memorial Library Wild Rose. Dinner at six. Contact the library for reservations: 920-622-3835. Presentation and book signing to follow.
March 31-April 1. Morton Arboretum (Thornhill Education Center), Chicago area. Presentation on vegetable gardening, 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. on March 31. Sunday, April 1, 1:30-3:30 features a vegetable gardening workshop, with tips on planting and caring for a vegetable garden. Additionally, Ruth will discuss preparing vegetables and fruits for canning and freezing.
April 12, 7:00 p.m. Mcmillan Library, Wisconsin Rapids. Garden Wisdom
April 13, 11:00 a.m. Larry Meiller Show, Wisconsin Public Radio. Broadcasting at Fox Cities Book Festival. Garden Wisdom.
April 13, 2:00 p.m. Fox Cities Book Festival, Neenah. Garden Wisdom
April 14, 10 a.m.-12 a.m., AAUW, Lacrosse, WI (Garden Wisdom)
April 15, 12:30 p.m. -2:00 p.m. Barnes and Noble, LaCrosse (Campfires and Loon Calls, and my newest book, Garden Wisdom)
They all converged on Madison, Wisconsin for the annual Canoecopia billed as the “World’s largest Kayak, Canoe and Outdoor Expo.” The Rutabaga Store in Madison sponsors the event and it hauls thousands of paddling enthusiasts out of their winter doldrums into the promise of spring and another season of on-the water fun.
There were umpteen opportunities for learning as well, with speakers sharing everything from wildlife photography to paddling Alaska’s North Slope, from kayak fishing to river trails of Wisconsin. Something for everyone, especially those looking for a little outdoor adventure and an opportunity to leave behind cellphones, laptops, and ipads.
I shared a bit of our adventures in the Boundary Waters Canoe area where my son, Steve and I have canoed for more than 25 years—stories from my book, Campfires and Loon Calls. Lots of interest; lots of story sharing.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: There is more to be gained from paddling a canoe than merely going from here to there.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
March 11, 2:00 p.m. Book talk and signing, Arcadia Bookstore, Spring Green. (Garden Wisdom)
March 17, 10-2:00 p.m. Rock River Gallery and Coffee House, Jefferson. (Garden Wisdom)
March 24. Central Wisconsin launch of Garden Wisdom at Patterson Memorial Library Wild Rose. Dinner at six. Contact the library for reservations: 920-622-3835. Presentation and book signing to follow.
March 31-April 1. Morton Arboretum (Thornhill Education Center), Chicago area. Presentation on vegetable gardening, 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. on March 31. Sunday, April 1, 1:30-3:30 features a vegetable gardening workshop, with tips on planting and caring for a vegetable garden. Additionally, Ruth will discuss preparing vegetables and fruits for canning and freezing.
April 12, 7:00 p.m. Mcmillan Library, Wisconsin Rapids. Garden Wisdom
April 13, 11:00 a.m. Larry Meiller Show, Wisconsin Public Radio. Broadcasting at Fox Cities Book Festival. Garden Wisdom.
April 13, 2:00 p.m. Fox Cities Book Festival, Neenah. Garden Wisdom
April 14, 10 a.m.-12 a.m., AAUW, Lacrosse, WI (Garden Wisdom)
April 15, 12:30 p.m. -2:00 p.m. Barnes and Noble, LaCrosse (Campfires and Loon Calls, and my newest book, Garden Wisdom)
Sunday, March 04, 2012
Winter Awakens
I spoke too soon last week. It’s likely all my fault that Old Man Winter awakened, crawled off his couch and dumped five inches of snow on many of us in southern Wisconsin. It may be late in the winter season with signs of spring wherever I look, but this morning it looked, and felt like winter. Even the usually happy cardinals were quiet—their feathers ruffled as they huddled in the cedar trees back of the house.
Outside of more shoveling—we really haven’t had much this winter—it was really quite beautiful this morning with snow hanging on everything, and sparkling like sugar sprinkled on sorghum cookies.
Which reminds me to mention that all are invited to Barnes and Noble, West Madison on Tuesday evening at 7:00 for sorghum cookies and some tales from Garden Wisdom. And if you miss Tuesday evening, drive a short distance to Spring Green for a presentation and signing at Arcadia Bookstore at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 11.
CHECK THIS OUT: March 6, 5:00 p.m. Tune in “Live at Five” on WISC, Channel 3, Madison (Charter Cable Channel 9), for a little bit about GARDEN WISDOM.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Without winter, spring would merely be a yawn.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
March 6, 5:00 p.m. Madison TV Channel 3 (Charter Cable 9)
March 6, 7:00 p.m. Barnes and Noble-West, Madison. Launch of Garden Wisdom.
March 9-11. Canoecopia, Alliant Center, Madison. (Trade show for all things canoeing) I am speaking at 4:30 on Friday, March 9 and at 2:30 on Saturday, March 10. Steve will share Boundary Waters photos as part of Saturday’s presentation.
March 11, 2:00 p.m. Book talk and signing, Arcadia Bookstore, Spring Green. (Garden Wisdom)
March 17, 10-2:00 p.m. Rock River Gallery and Coffee House, Jefferson. (Garden Wisdom)
March 24. Central Wisconsin launch of Garden Wisdom at Patterson Memorial Library Wild Rose. Dinner at six. Contact the library for reservations: 920-622-3835. Presentation and book signing to follow.
March 31-April 1. Morton Arboretum (Thornhill Education Center), Chicago area. Presentation on vegetable gardening, 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. on March 31. Sunday, April 1, 1:30-3:30 features a vegetable gardening workshop, with tips on planting and caring for a vegetable garden. Additionally, Ruth will discuss preparing vegetables and fruits for canning and freezing.
April 12, 7:00 p.m. Mcmillan Library, Wisconsin Rapids. Garden Wisdom
April 13, 11:00 a.m. Larry Meiller Show, Wisconsin Public Radio. Broadcasting at Fox Cities Book Festival. Garden Wisdom.
April 13, 2:00 p.m. Fox Cities Book Festival, Neenah. Garden Wisdom
April 14, 10 a.m.-12 a.m., AAUW, Lacrosse, WI (Stories from the land)
April 15, 12:30 p.m. -2:00 p.m. Barnes and Noble, LaCrosse (Garden Wisdom)
Outside of more shoveling—we really haven’t had much this winter—it was really quite beautiful this morning with snow hanging on everything, and sparkling like sugar sprinkled on sorghum cookies.
Which reminds me to mention that all are invited to Barnes and Noble, West Madison on Tuesday evening at 7:00 for sorghum cookies and some tales from Garden Wisdom. And if you miss Tuesday evening, drive a short distance to Spring Green for a presentation and signing at Arcadia Bookstore at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 11.
CHECK THIS OUT: March 6, 5:00 p.m. Tune in “Live at Five” on WISC, Channel 3, Madison (Charter Cable Channel 9), for a little bit about GARDEN WISDOM.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Without winter, spring would merely be a yawn.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
March 6, 5:00 p.m. Madison TV Channel 3 (Charter Cable 9)
March 6, 7:00 p.m. Barnes and Noble-West, Madison. Launch of Garden Wisdom.
March 9-11. Canoecopia, Alliant Center, Madison. (Trade show for all things canoeing) I am speaking at 4:30 on Friday, March 9 and at 2:30 on Saturday, March 10. Steve will share Boundary Waters photos as part of Saturday’s presentation.
March 11, 2:00 p.m. Book talk and signing, Arcadia Bookstore, Spring Green. (Garden Wisdom)
March 17, 10-2:00 p.m. Rock River Gallery and Coffee House, Jefferson. (Garden Wisdom)
March 24. Central Wisconsin launch of Garden Wisdom at Patterson Memorial Library Wild Rose. Dinner at six. Contact the library for reservations: 920-622-3835. Presentation and book signing to follow.
March 31-April 1. Morton Arboretum (Thornhill Education Center), Chicago area. Presentation on vegetable gardening, 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. on March 31. Sunday, April 1, 1:30-3:30 features a vegetable gardening workshop, with tips on planting and caring for a vegetable garden. Additionally, Ruth will discuss preparing vegetables and fruits for canning and freezing.
April 12, 7:00 p.m. Mcmillan Library, Wisconsin Rapids. Garden Wisdom
April 13, 11:00 a.m. Larry Meiller Show, Wisconsin Public Radio. Broadcasting at Fox Cities Book Festival. Garden Wisdom.
April 13, 2:00 p.m. Fox Cities Book Festival, Neenah. Garden Wisdom
April 14, 10 a.m.-12 a.m., AAUW, Lacrosse, WI (Stories from the land)
April 15, 12:30 p.m. -2:00 p.m. Barnes and Noble, LaCrosse (Garden Wisdom)
Sunday, February 26, 2012
An Aging Old Man Winter
Old man winter is showing his age. This year he seems content to spend most of his time napping on the couch rather than periodically hurling blizzards at us and trying to frost our systems with days-on-end below zero weather.
Besides that he appears to have given up what little hold he had on the 2011-2012 season. I saw a robin last week; others have seen bluebirds and sandhill cranes. These creatures appear to have accepted the demise of what winter we’ve had in anticipation of an early spring.
But be careful. Old man winter may be old, but like some old people I know, he can be unpredictable and even at times a little crotchety. Just because old man winter is getting on in years doesn’t mean he lacks power—at least I, for one, don’t think so.
CHECK THIS OUT: March 6, 7:00 p.m. at Barnes and Noble West in Madison Ruth and I’ll be launching GARDEN WISDOM. Ruth has prepared some great door prizes ranging from her famous home-made grape jelly, to her even more famous zucchini bread.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: You haven’t got it until you get it.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
March 6, 7:00 p.m. Barnes and Noble-West, Madison. Launch of Garden Wisdom.
March 9-11. Canoecopia, Alliant Center, Madison. (Trade show for all things canoeing) I am speaking at 4:30 on Friday, March 9 and at 2:30 on Saturday, March 10. Steve will share Boundary Waters photos as part of Saturday’s presentation.
March 11, 2:00 p.m. Book talk and signing, Arcadia Bookstore, Spring Green. (Garden Wisdom)
March 17, 10-2:00 p.m. Rock River Gallery and Coffee House, Jefferson. (Garden Wisdom)
March 24. Central Wisconsin launch of Garden Wisdom at Patterson Memorial Library Wild Rose. Dinner at six. Contact the library for reservations: 920-622-3835. Presentation and book signing to follow.
March 31-April 1. Morton Arboretum (Thornhill Education Center), Chicago area. Presentation on vegetable gardening, 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. on March 31. Sunday, April 1, 1:30-3:30 features a vegetable gardening workshop, with tips on planting and caring for a vegetable garden. Additionally, Ruth will discuss preparing vegetables and fruits for canning and freezing.
April 12, 7:00 p.m. Mcmillan Library, Wisconsin Rapids. Garden Wisdom
April 13, 11:00 a.m. Larry Meiller Show, Wisconsin Public Radio. Broadcasting at Fox Cities Book Festival. Garden Wisdom.
April 13, 2:00 p.m. Fox Cities Book Festival, Neenah. Garden Wisdom
April 14, 10 a.m.-12 a.m., AAUW, Lacrosse, WI (Stories from the land)
April 15, 12:30 p.m. -2:00 p.m. Barnes and Noble, LaCrosse (Garden Wisdom)
Besides that he appears to have given up what little hold he had on the 2011-2012 season. I saw a robin last week; others have seen bluebirds and sandhill cranes. These creatures appear to have accepted the demise of what winter we’ve had in anticipation of an early spring.
But be careful. Old man winter may be old, but like some old people I know, he can be unpredictable and even at times a little crotchety. Just because old man winter is getting on in years doesn’t mean he lacks power—at least I, for one, don’t think so.
CHECK THIS OUT: March 6, 7:00 p.m. at Barnes and Noble West in Madison Ruth and I’ll be launching GARDEN WISDOM. Ruth has prepared some great door prizes ranging from her famous home-made grape jelly, to her even more famous zucchini bread.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: You haven’t got it until you get it.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
March 6, 7:00 p.m. Barnes and Noble-West, Madison. Launch of Garden Wisdom.
March 9-11. Canoecopia, Alliant Center, Madison. (Trade show for all things canoeing) I am speaking at 4:30 on Friday, March 9 and at 2:30 on Saturday, March 10. Steve will share Boundary Waters photos as part of Saturday’s presentation.
March 11, 2:00 p.m. Book talk and signing, Arcadia Bookstore, Spring Green. (Garden Wisdom)
March 17, 10-2:00 p.m. Rock River Gallery and Coffee House, Jefferson. (Garden Wisdom)
March 24. Central Wisconsin launch of Garden Wisdom at Patterson Memorial Library Wild Rose. Dinner at six. Contact the library for reservations: 920-622-3835. Presentation and book signing to follow.
March 31-April 1. Morton Arboretum (Thornhill Education Center), Chicago area. Presentation on vegetable gardening, 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. on March 31. Sunday, April 1, 1:30-3:30 features a vegetable gardening workshop, with tips on planting and caring for a vegetable garden. Additionally, Ruth will discuss preparing vegetables and fruits for canning and freezing.
April 12, 7:00 p.m. Mcmillan Library, Wisconsin Rapids. Garden Wisdom
April 13, 11:00 a.m. Larry Meiller Show, Wisconsin Public Radio. Broadcasting at Fox Cities Book Festival. Garden Wisdom.
April 13, 2:00 p.m. Fox Cities Book Festival, Neenah. Garden Wisdom
April 14, 10 a.m.-12 a.m., AAUW, Lacrosse, WI (Stories from the land)
April 15, 12:30 p.m. -2:00 p.m. Barnes and Noble, LaCrosse (Garden Wisdom)
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Wisconsin Agriculture
As some of you know, I’m writing a book on the history of Wisconsin Agriculture. I thought it might be interesting to share where our state ranks today in its agricultural production. How does Wisconsin fare—in comparison to all the states in our several agricultural pursuits?
More than half of Wisconsin’s agricultural income comes from its dairy industry—so we truly are a dairy state. But the state is also a national leader in several other agricultural areas.
Wisconsin’s Ranking:
Milk Production—2 (California leads)
Milk Cows—2 (California leads)
Cheese Production—1 (2.6 billion pounds—25 % of nation’s production)
Milk Goats—1
Mink Pelts—1
Corn for silage—1
Oats—2 (Minnesota leads)
Cranberries—1 (60% of nation’s production)
Potatoes—3 (Idaho leads)
Cherries—5 (Michigan leads)
Maple Syrup—4 (Vermont leads)
Mint for oil—6 (Washington leads)
Carrots for processing—2 (Washington leads)
Sweet Corn for processing—3 (Minnesota leads)
Green Peas for processing—3 (Minnesota leads)
Snap Beans for processing—1
Cucumbers for pickles—5 (Michigan leads)
So be proud, Wisconsinites, our state not only has a rich agricultural heritage, but a powerful agricultural presence in 2012.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: If someone calls you a cheesehead, smile and say, “thank you.”
UPCOMING EVENTS:
March 6, 7:00 p.m. Barnes and Noble-West, Madison. Launch of Garden Wisdom.
March 9-11. Canoecopia, Alliant Center, Madison. (Trade show for all things canoeing) I am speaking at 4:30 on Friday, March 9 and at 2:30 on Saturday, March 10. Steve will share Boundary Waters photos as part of Saturday’s presentation.
March 11, 2:00 p.m. Book talk and signing, Arcadia Bookstore, Spring Green. (Garden Wisdom)
March 17, 10-2:00 p.m. Rock River Gallery and Coffee House, Jefferson. (Garden Wisdom)
March 24. Launch of Garden Wisdom at Patterson Memorial Library Wild Rose. Dinner at six. Contact the library for reservations: 920-622-3835. Presentation and book signing to follow.
March 31-April 1. Morton Arboretum (Thornhill Education Center), Chicago area. Presentation on vegetable gardening, 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. on March 31. Sunday, April 1, 1:30-3:30 features a vegetable gardening workshop, with tips on planting and caring for a vegetable garden. Additionally, Ruth will discuss preparing vegetables and fruits for canning and freezing.
April 12, 7:00 p.m. Mcmillan Library, Wisconsin Rapids. Garden Wisdom
April 13, 11:00 a.m. Larry Meiller Show, Wisconsin Public Radio. Broadcasting at Fox Cities Book Festival. Garden Wisdom.
April 13, 2:00 p.m. Fox Cities Book Festival, Neenah. Garden Wisdom
More than half of Wisconsin’s agricultural income comes from its dairy industry—so we truly are a dairy state. But the state is also a national leader in several other agricultural areas.
Wisconsin’s Ranking:
Milk Production—2 (California leads)
Milk Cows—2 (California leads)
Cheese Production—1 (2.6 billion pounds—25 % of nation’s production)
Milk Goats—1
Mink Pelts—1
Corn for silage—1
Oats—2 (Minnesota leads)
Cranberries—1 (60% of nation’s production)
Potatoes—3 (Idaho leads)
Cherries—5 (Michigan leads)
Maple Syrup—4 (Vermont leads)
Mint for oil—6 (Washington leads)
Carrots for processing—2 (Washington leads)
Sweet Corn for processing—3 (Minnesota leads)
Green Peas for processing—3 (Minnesota leads)
Snap Beans for processing—1
Cucumbers for pickles—5 (Michigan leads)
So be proud, Wisconsinites, our state not only has a rich agricultural heritage, but a powerful agricultural presence in 2012.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: If someone calls you a cheesehead, smile and say, “thank you.”
UPCOMING EVENTS:
March 6, 7:00 p.m. Barnes and Noble-West, Madison. Launch of Garden Wisdom.
March 9-11. Canoecopia, Alliant Center, Madison. (Trade show for all things canoeing) I am speaking at 4:30 on Friday, March 9 and at 2:30 on Saturday, March 10. Steve will share Boundary Waters photos as part of Saturday’s presentation.
March 11, 2:00 p.m. Book talk and signing, Arcadia Bookstore, Spring Green. (Garden Wisdom)
March 17, 10-2:00 p.m. Rock River Gallery and Coffee House, Jefferson. (Garden Wisdom)
March 24. Launch of Garden Wisdom at Patterson Memorial Library Wild Rose. Dinner at six. Contact the library for reservations: 920-622-3835. Presentation and book signing to follow.
March 31-April 1. Morton Arboretum (Thornhill Education Center), Chicago area. Presentation on vegetable gardening, 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. on March 31. Sunday, April 1, 1:30-3:30 features a vegetable gardening workshop, with tips on planting and caring for a vegetable garden. Additionally, Ruth will discuss preparing vegetables and fruits for canning and freezing.
April 12, 7:00 p.m. Mcmillan Library, Wisconsin Rapids. Garden Wisdom
April 13, 11:00 a.m. Larry Meiller Show, Wisconsin Public Radio. Broadcasting at Fox Cities Book Festival. Garden Wisdom.
April 13, 2:00 p.m. Fox Cities Book Festival, Neenah. Garden Wisdom
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Potato Lover's Month
Did you know that February is National Potato Lover’s Month? I sure didn’t. When I was growing up on a farm, every month was potato month. In fact, it was the rare meal, whether it was breakfast, dinner or supper that we didn’t eat potatoes in some form—boiled, mashed, baked, fried, in soup, in a casserole, in a stew—we grew a lot of potatoes and we ate a bunch of them, too.
We called potatoes by a variety of names: spuds, taters, even Murphies (apparently some connection to the Irish who were known for their potatoes). My brother Darrel, a great lover of potatoes as a kid, was nicknamed Murph, which he seldom goes by these days.
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, that helps promote the various national promotions, says the average American eats 126 pounds of potatoes each year, which is a good thing as Wisconsin produces 2.2 billion pounds of potatoes making it third in the nation after such potato giants as Idaho and Washington State.
So forget about calories (a medium size spud only has 110), and dig in. Who can’t love a potato, whether its potato lover’s month or not?
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: If all you have left in the pantry is potatoes, you still have plenty to eat.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
March 6, 7:00 p.m. Barnes and Noble-West, Madison. Launch of Garden Wisdom.
March 9-11. Canoecopia, Alliant Center, Madison. (Trade show for all things canoeing) I am speaking at 4:30 on Friday, March 9 and at 2:30 on Saturday, March 10. Steve will share Boundary Waters photos as part of Saturday’s presentation.
March 24. Launch of Garden Wisdom book at Patterson Memorial Library Wild Rose. Dinner at six. Contact the library for reservations: 920-622-3835. Presentation and book signing to follow.
March 31-April 1. Morton Arboretum (Thornhill Education Center), Chicago area. Presentation on vegetable gardening, 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. on March 31. Sunday, April 1, 1:30-3:30 features a vegetable gardening workshop, with tips on planting and caring for a vegetable garden. Additionally, Ruth will discuss preparing vegetables and fruits for canning and freezing.
April 12, 7:00 p.m. Mcmillan Library, Wisconsin Rapids. Garden Wisdom
April 13, 11:00 a.m. Larry Meiller Show, Wisconsin Public Radio. Broadcasting at Fox Cities Book Festival. Garden Wisdom.
April 13, 2:00 p.m. Fox Cities Book Festival, Neenah. Garden Wisdom
We called potatoes by a variety of names: spuds, taters, even Murphies (apparently some connection to the Irish who were known for their potatoes). My brother Darrel, a great lover of potatoes as a kid, was nicknamed Murph, which he seldom goes by these days.
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, that helps promote the various national promotions, says the average American eats 126 pounds of potatoes each year, which is a good thing as Wisconsin produces 2.2 billion pounds of potatoes making it third in the nation after such potato giants as Idaho and Washington State.
So forget about calories (a medium size spud only has 110), and dig in. Who can’t love a potato, whether its potato lover’s month or not?
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: If all you have left in the pantry is potatoes, you still have plenty to eat.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
March 6, 7:00 p.m. Barnes and Noble-West, Madison. Launch of Garden Wisdom.
March 9-11. Canoecopia, Alliant Center, Madison. (Trade show for all things canoeing) I am speaking at 4:30 on Friday, March 9 and at 2:30 on Saturday, March 10. Steve will share Boundary Waters photos as part of Saturday’s presentation.
March 24. Launch of Garden Wisdom book at Patterson Memorial Library Wild Rose. Dinner at six. Contact the library for reservations: 920-622-3835. Presentation and book signing to follow.
March 31-April 1. Morton Arboretum (Thornhill Education Center), Chicago area. Presentation on vegetable gardening, 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. on March 31. Sunday, April 1, 1:30-3:30 features a vegetable gardening workshop, with tips on planting and caring for a vegetable garden. Additionally, Ruth will discuss preparing vegetables and fruits for canning and freezing.
April 12, 7:00 p.m. Mcmillan Library, Wisconsin Rapids. Garden Wisdom
April 13, 11:00 a.m. Larry Meiller Show, Wisconsin Public Radio. Broadcasting at Fox Cities Book Festival. Garden Wisdom.
April 13, 2:00 p.m. Fox Cities Book Festival, Neenah. Garden Wisdom
Sunday, February 05, 2012
Red Wing Water Cooler
A five gallon Red Wing water cooler sat on the edge of the sink at the Chain O’ Lake country school that I attended for eight years. An older student filled it each morning with water carried from the pump house just south of the school building, an every morning task no matter if it was 80 degrees or minus 20. The school building had no indoor plumbing, so carrying water was one of the many daily duties we students helped with.
At home a water pail sat at the edge of the kitchen sink, filled each day in the same manner as at school, except at home we drank from a dipper that hung on the side of the water pail.
The dull gray Red Wing water cooler was much, much fancier than a water pail. A shiny curved metal tube came out of the bottom of the cooler, and ended at a little metal bowl hanging over the sink. By pushing a button, water burst up from the bowl a couple of inches or more, depending on how much water there was in the cooler. As we might say today, how cool it was to be able to drink water this way.
This weekend we visited Red Wing, Minnesota and toured the former manufacturing plant for Red Wing Pottery, an enormous four-story brick building near the Mississippi River. Red Wing Pottery goes back to the 1870s, and some pottery is still made in Red Wing but on a much more limited scale and not in this old historic building. In addition to antique stores, and numerous shops and several restaurants, one can tour the pottery museum on the second floor of the building.
I have never seen so many pottery crocks, water coolers and assorted dinnerware. I couldn’t believe it when I learned that water coolers similar to the one at our country school now sell for between $1,600 and $2,000 dollars on the antique market. “And when one comes in, someone immediately buys it,” the woman at the antique store said.
I can picture that old schoolhouse water cooler in my mind as clearly as the first day I saw it in 1939. My memory is worth at least $2,000 I am telling myself.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Sometimes I don’t see as well as I think I remember.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
February 10, Garden Expo, Alliant Center, Madison. 6-8 p.m. Wisconsin Historical Society Press booth, signing copies of Garden Wisdom.
February 11. Janesville, Holiday Inn, noon luncheon speaker, FFA Alumni meeting.
February 12, Garden Expo, Alliant Center, Madison, 1-4 p.m. Wisconsin Historical Society Press booth, signing copies of Garden Wisdom.
March 6, 7:00 p.m. Barnes and Noble-West, Madison. Launch of Garden Wisdom.
March 9-11. Canoecopia, Alliant Center, Madison. (Trade show for all things canoeing) I am speaking at 4:30 on Friday, March 9 and at 2:30 on Saturday, March 10. Steve will share Boundary Waters photos as part of Saturday’s presentation.
March 24. Six p.m. dinner followed by presentation and book signing. at Patterson Memorial Library Wild Rose. Garden Wisdom.
March 31-April 1. Morton Arboretum (Thornhill Education Center), Chicago area. Presentation on vegetable gardening, 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. on March 31. Sunday, April 1, 1:30-3:30 features a vegetable gardening workshop, with tips on planting and caring for a vegetable garden. Additionally, Ruth will discuss preparing vegetables and fruits for canning and freezing.
April 12, 7:00 p.m. Mcmillan Library, Wisconsin Rapids. Garden Wisdom
April 13, 11:00 a.m. Larry Meiller Show, Wisconsin Public Radio. Broadcasting at Fox Cities Book Festival. Garden Wisdom.
April 13, 2:00 p.m. Fox Cities Book Festival, Neenah Public Library. Garden Wisdom
At home a water pail sat at the edge of the kitchen sink, filled each day in the same manner as at school, except at home we drank from a dipper that hung on the side of the water pail.
The dull gray Red Wing water cooler was much, much fancier than a water pail. A shiny curved metal tube came out of the bottom of the cooler, and ended at a little metal bowl hanging over the sink. By pushing a button, water burst up from the bowl a couple of inches or more, depending on how much water there was in the cooler. As we might say today, how cool it was to be able to drink water this way.
This weekend we visited Red Wing, Minnesota and toured the former manufacturing plant for Red Wing Pottery, an enormous four-story brick building near the Mississippi River. Red Wing Pottery goes back to the 1870s, and some pottery is still made in Red Wing but on a much more limited scale and not in this old historic building. In addition to antique stores, and numerous shops and several restaurants, one can tour the pottery museum on the second floor of the building.
I have never seen so many pottery crocks, water coolers and assorted dinnerware. I couldn’t believe it when I learned that water coolers similar to the one at our country school now sell for between $1,600 and $2,000 dollars on the antique market. “And when one comes in, someone immediately buys it,” the woman at the antique store said.
I can picture that old schoolhouse water cooler in my mind as clearly as the first day I saw it in 1939. My memory is worth at least $2,000 I am telling myself.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Sometimes I don’t see as well as I think I remember.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
February 10, Garden Expo, Alliant Center, Madison. 6-8 p.m. Wisconsin Historical Society Press booth, signing copies of Garden Wisdom.
February 11. Janesville, Holiday Inn, noon luncheon speaker, FFA Alumni meeting.
February 12, Garden Expo, Alliant Center, Madison, 1-4 p.m. Wisconsin Historical Society Press booth, signing copies of Garden Wisdom.
March 6, 7:00 p.m. Barnes and Noble-West, Madison. Launch of Garden Wisdom.
March 9-11. Canoecopia, Alliant Center, Madison. (Trade show for all things canoeing) I am speaking at 4:30 on Friday, March 9 and at 2:30 on Saturday, March 10. Steve will share Boundary Waters photos as part of Saturday’s presentation.
March 24. Six p.m. dinner followed by presentation and book signing. at Patterson Memorial Library Wild Rose. Garden Wisdom.
March 31-April 1. Morton Arboretum (Thornhill Education Center), Chicago area. Presentation on vegetable gardening, 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. on March 31. Sunday, April 1, 1:30-3:30 features a vegetable gardening workshop, with tips on planting and caring for a vegetable garden. Additionally, Ruth will discuss preparing vegetables and fruits for canning and freezing.
April 12, 7:00 p.m. Mcmillan Library, Wisconsin Rapids. Garden Wisdom
April 13, 11:00 a.m. Larry Meiller Show, Wisconsin Public Radio. Broadcasting at Fox Cities Book Festival. Garden Wisdom.
April 13, 2:00 p.m. Fox Cities Book Festival, Neenah Public Library. Garden Wisdom
Sunday, January 29, 2012
More Weather Predictors
My last week’s discussion of old time weather forecasting caught the attention of several people who replied to my blog. One writer asked, in regard to wild bird behavior, “If birds crowded together on an electric wire, does that mean cold weather is on the way, and are they cuddling for warmth?” Could be. I must pay more attention to cuddling birds on a wire to affirm the suggestion.
Other weather predictors: red sky at night, sailor’s delight, red sky in the morning—bad weather within 24 hours. A ring around the moon usually means a major storm is on the way. Another weather predictor I learned from my father: watch the smoke coming from the chimney. If it rises, good weather at hand. If it trails downward, a storm is on the way. Last week, when I returned to the cabin from a short hike I smelled oak smoke and noticed the smoke from the kitchen chimney was hanging near the ground. Yup, it snowed that evening.
Send me your tried and true weather predictors, and I’ll share them.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Find some time to read a book. You might be surprised what you’ll learn.
CHECK THIS OUT: Steve Henry wrote a review of my Boundary Waters book for the Chippewa Herald. http://chippewa.com/news/opinion/columns/henry-outdoors-provides-an-invaluable-education/article_fa6a7830-46be-11e1-9692-001871e3ce6c.html
A REQUEST: Got any good family stories about early farming history in Wisconsin? I’m working on a new book about Wisconsin agricultural history. Contact me at jwapps@tds.net.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
February 10, Garden Expo, Alliant Center, Madison. 6-8 p.m. Wisconsin Historical Society Press booth, signing copies of Garden Wisdom.
February 11. Janesville, Holiday Inn, noon luncheon speaker, FFA Alumni meeting.
February 12, Garden Expo, Alliant Center, Madison, 1-4 p.m. Wisconsin Historical Society Press booth, signing copies of Garden Wisdom.
March 6, 7:00 p.m. Barnes and Noble-West, Madison. Launch of Garden Wisdom.
March 9-11. Canoecopia, Alliant Center, Madison. (Trade show for all things canoeing) I am speaking at 4:30 on Friday, March 9 and at 2:30 on Saturday, March 10. Steve will share Boundary Waters photos as part of Saturday’s presentation.
March 24. Six p.m. Launch of Garden Wisdom book at Patterson Memorial Library Wild Rose. Details coming.
March 31-April 1. Morton Arboretum (Thornhill Education Center), Chicago area. Presentation on vegetable gardening, 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. on March 31. Sunday, April 1, 1:30-3:30 features a vegetable gardening workshop, with tips on planting and caring for a vegetable garden. Additionally, Ruth will discuss preparing vegetables and fruits for canning and freezing.
Other weather predictors: red sky at night, sailor’s delight, red sky in the morning—bad weather within 24 hours. A ring around the moon usually means a major storm is on the way. Another weather predictor I learned from my father: watch the smoke coming from the chimney. If it rises, good weather at hand. If it trails downward, a storm is on the way. Last week, when I returned to the cabin from a short hike I smelled oak smoke and noticed the smoke from the kitchen chimney was hanging near the ground. Yup, it snowed that evening.
Send me your tried and true weather predictors, and I’ll share them.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Find some time to read a book. You might be surprised what you’ll learn.
CHECK THIS OUT: Steve Henry wrote a review of my Boundary Waters book for the Chippewa Herald. http://chippewa.com/news/opinion/columns/henry-outdoors-provides-an-invaluable-education/article_fa6a7830-46be-11e1-9692-001871e3ce6c.html
A REQUEST: Got any good family stories about early farming history in Wisconsin? I’m working on a new book about Wisconsin agricultural history. Contact me at jwapps@tds.net.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
February 10, Garden Expo, Alliant Center, Madison. 6-8 p.m. Wisconsin Historical Society Press booth, signing copies of Garden Wisdom.
February 11. Janesville, Holiday Inn, noon luncheon speaker, FFA Alumni meeting.
February 12, Garden Expo, Alliant Center, Madison, 1-4 p.m. Wisconsin Historical Society Press booth, signing copies of Garden Wisdom.
March 6, 7:00 p.m. Barnes and Noble-West, Madison. Launch of Garden Wisdom.
March 9-11. Canoecopia, Alliant Center, Madison. (Trade show for all things canoeing) I am speaking at 4:30 on Friday, March 9 and at 2:30 on Saturday, March 10. Steve will share Boundary Waters photos as part of Saturday’s presentation.
March 24. Six p.m. Launch of Garden Wisdom book at Patterson Memorial Library Wild Rose. Details coming.
March 31-April 1. Morton Arboretum (Thornhill Education Center), Chicago area. Presentation on vegetable gardening, 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. on March 31. Sunday, April 1, 1:30-3:30 features a vegetable gardening workshop, with tips on planting and caring for a vegetable garden. Additionally, Ruth will discuss preparing vegetables and fruits for canning and freezing.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Predicting The Weather
My dad, a life-long farmer, had an uncanny ability to predict the weather. After the evening chores were done in summer, he’d watch the sunset, note the direction of the wind, and proclaim what kind of weather we’d have for the next couple days. Quite important to know when you’re a farmer.
During the winter, he often predicted snowstorms and cold weather using even more subtle techniques than wind direction or the sunset. He’d say something like, “Big storm is coming, I can feel it in my bones.” I don’t know what he was feeling, but he was usually correct.
Dad has been gone for nearly twenty years, so I’m stuck with figuring out the coming weather on my own. Of course I could listen to radio weather reports and watch the fancy radar clouds march across the TV weather map while someone, with an overly confident voice predicts future weather. I do that of course.
But these days my surefire way to predict winter snowstorms is to watch my backyard bird feeder. Take last Thursday, the day before four inches of snow fell in our part of the world. The cardinals were especially busy, competing with each other, crowding each other away from the little trough of sunflower and other cardinal delectables.
Today, with the storm in the past, the bird feeder is quiet—except for a nosy squirrel trying to figure out why the birdfeeder closes when it crawls on the perch bar. But I keep watching the feeder. This time of the year another snowstorm is usually not too far in the future.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: The best thing to do when it snows is to let it snow.
CHECK THIS OUT: My website is updated. www.jerryapps.com
A REQUEST: Got any good family stories about early farming history in Wisconsin? I’m working on a new book about Wisconsin agricultural history. Contact me at jwapps@tds.net.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
February 10, Garden Expo, Alliant Center, Madison. 6-8 p.m. Wisconsin Historical Society Press booth, signing copies of Garden Wisdom.
February 11. Janesville, noon luncheon speaker, FFA Alumni meeting.
February 12, Garden Expo, Alliant Center, Madison, 1-4 p.m. Wisconsin Historical Society Press booth, signing copies of Garden Wisdom.
March 6, 7:00 p.m. Barnes and Noble-West, Madison. Launch of Garden Wisdom.
March 9-11. Canoecopia, Alliant Center, Madison. (Trade show for all things canoeing) I am speaking at 4:30 on Friday, March 9 and at 2:30 on Saturday, March 10. Steve will share Boundary Waters photos as part of Saturday’s presentation.
March 24. Six p.m. Launch of Garden Wisdom book at Patterson Memorial Library Wild Rose. Details coming.
March 31-April 1. Morton Arboretum (Thornhill Education Center), Chicago area. Presentation on vegetable gardening, 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. on March 31. Sunday, April 1, 1:30-3:30 features a vegetable gardening workshop, with tips on planting and caring for a vegetable garden. Additionally, Ruth will discuss plus preparing vegetables and fruits for canning and freezing.
During the winter, he often predicted snowstorms and cold weather using even more subtle techniques than wind direction or the sunset. He’d say something like, “Big storm is coming, I can feel it in my bones.” I don’t know what he was feeling, but he was usually correct.
Dad has been gone for nearly twenty years, so I’m stuck with figuring out the coming weather on my own. Of course I could listen to radio weather reports and watch the fancy radar clouds march across the TV weather map while someone, with an overly confident voice predicts future weather. I do that of course.
But these days my surefire way to predict winter snowstorms is to watch my backyard bird feeder. Take last Thursday, the day before four inches of snow fell in our part of the world. The cardinals were especially busy, competing with each other, crowding each other away from the little trough of sunflower and other cardinal delectables.
Today, with the storm in the past, the bird feeder is quiet—except for a nosy squirrel trying to figure out why the birdfeeder closes when it crawls on the perch bar. But I keep watching the feeder. This time of the year another snowstorm is usually not too far in the future.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: The best thing to do when it snows is to let it snow.
CHECK THIS OUT: My website is updated. www.jerryapps.com
A REQUEST: Got any good family stories about early farming history in Wisconsin? I’m working on a new book about Wisconsin agricultural history. Contact me at jwapps@tds.net.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
February 10, Garden Expo, Alliant Center, Madison. 6-8 p.m. Wisconsin Historical Society Press booth, signing copies of Garden Wisdom.
February 11. Janesville, noon luncheon speaker, FFA Alumni meeting.
February 12, Garden Expo, Alliant Center, Madison, 1-4 p.m. Wisconsin Historical Society Press booth, signing copies of Garden Wisdom.
March 6, 7:00 p.m. Barnes and Noble-West, Madison. Launch of Garden Wisdom.
March 9-11. Canoecopia, Alliant Center, Madison. (Trade show for all things canoeing) I am speaking at 4:30 on Friday, March 9 and at 2:30 on Saturday, March 10. Steve will share Boundary Waters photos as part of Saturday’s presentation.
March 24. Six p.m. Launch of Garden Wisdom book at Patterson Memorial Library Wild Rose. Details coming.
March 31-April 1. Morton Arboretum (Thornhill Education Center), Chicago area. Presentation on vegetable gardening, 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. on March 31. Sunday, April 1, 1:30-3:30 features a vegetable gardening workshop, with tips on planting and caring for a vegetable garden. Additionally, Ruth will discuss plus preparing vegetables and fruits for canning and freezing.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Midwest Farm Show
They came from the north and from the south, from the east and from across the Mississippi River to the west. Farm people mostly. Those who had spent their years tilling the land and were now taking it a little easy. Those younger and actively farming. Kids and grand kids. Lots of kids and grandkids; trying to crawl up on the huge tractors and sneaking a peek behind the curtains. All coming to LaCrosse, to the Midwest Farm Show, one of the first of the season.
The 34th annual Farm Show held January 11-12 at the beautiful LaCrosse Center on the banks of the Mississippi.
They came to kick the tires of giant tractors, see modern milking equipment, talk with the dealers and the salespeople, learn about new farm buildings, and chat with friends and neighbors. If they arrived on Wednesday, they basked in 57 degree temperatures; if they came on Thursday, they drove in a snowstorm with temperatures struggling to reach the high teens.
A goodly number gathered each day to hear me remind them of what farming was like in an earlier day, before electricity and indoor plumbing when we milked cows by hand and lighted the barn with a kerosene lantern, talked on a party-line telephone and listened to a battery-powered radio.
A couple of days of contrasts—old and new ways of farming, and warm, near spring like weather abruptly replaced with a January snowstorm.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Try not to get ahead of yourself. And never forget where you’ve been.
CHECK THIS OUT: My website is updated. www.jerryapps.com
UPCOMING EVENTS:
February 10, Garden Expo, Alliant Center, Madison. 6-8 p.m.
Wisconsin Historical Society Press booth, signing copies of Garden Wisdom.
February 11. Janesville, noon luncheon speaker, FFA Alumni meeting.
February 12, Garden Expo, Alliant Center, Madison, 1-4 p.m. Wisconsin Historical Society Press booth, signing copies of Garden Wisdom.
March 6, 7:00 p.m. Barnes and Noble-West, Madison. Launch of Garden Wisdom.
March 9-11. Canoecopia, Madison. (Trade show for all things canoeing) Scheduled speaking time not yet determined.
March 24. Six p.m. Launch of Garden Wisdom book at Patterson Memorial Library Wild Rose. Details coming.
March 31-April 1. Morton Arboretum, Chicago area. Talk and workshop. Details coming.
The 34th annual Farm Show held January 11-12 at the beautiful LaCrosse Center on the banks of the Mississippi.
They came to kick the tires of giant tractors, see modern milking equipment, talk with the dealers and the salespeople, learn about new farm buildings, and chat with friends and neighbors. If they arrived on Wednesday, they basked in 57 degree temperatures; if they came on Thursday, they drove in a snowstorm with temperatures struggling to reach the high teens.
A goodly number gathered each day to hear me remind them of what farming was like in an earlier day, before electricity and indoor plumbing when we milked cows by hand and lighted the barn with a kerosene lantern, talked on a party-line telephone and listened to a battery-powered radio.
A couple of days of contrasts—old and new ways of farming, and warm, near spring like weather abruptly replaced with a January snowstorm.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Try not to get ahead of yourself. And never forget where you’ve been.
CHECK THIS OUT: My website is updated. www.jerryapps.com
UPCOMING EVENTS:
February 10, Garden Expo, Alliant Center, Madison. 6-8 p.m.
Wisconsin Historical Society Press booth, signing copies of Garden Wisdom.
February 11. Janesville, noon luncheon speaker, FFA Alumni meeting.
February 12, Garden Expo, Alliant Center, Madison, 1-4 p.m. Wisconsin Historical Society Press booth, signing copies of Garden Wisdom.
March 6, 7:00 p.m. Barnes and Noble-West, Madison. Launch of Garden Wisdom.
March 9-11. Canoecopia, Madison. (Trade show for all things canoeing) Scheduled speaking time not yet determined.
March 24. Six p.m. Launch of Garden Wisdom book at Patterson Memorial Library Wild Rose. Details coming.
March 31-April 1. Morton Arboretum, Chicago area. Talk and workshop. Details coming.
Sunday, January 08, 2012
January
January is:
A time for endings, and a time for beginnings.
A time to regroup and a time to reconsider.
A time to reflect and a time to revise.
A time to evaluate and a time to plan for the morrow.
January is a quiet month, when all of nature rests—
the trees and the grasses,
the wildflowers and the birds,
the animals and the pond creatures.
January is a month of great beauty,
of blacks and whites, and grays
and a sprinkling of green from the pines,
the firs and the spruces that dot the northern regions.
January is a time to listen for the silence,
when the cold tightens its grip,
turning breath into clouds and thickening the ice on the lakes,
When snow cover muffles all sound.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Take time to appreciate January.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
January 11 and 12. 12:30 each day. Midwest Farm Show, LaCrosse Center, LaCrosse, WI. Stories from the land.
February 10, Garden Expo, Alliant Center, Madison. 6-8 p.m. Wisconsin Historical Society Press booth, signing copies of Garden Wisdom.
February 11. Janesville, noon luncheon speaker, FFA Alumni meeting.
February 12, Garden Expo, Alliant Center, Madison, 1-4 p.m. Wisconsin Historical Society Press booth, signing copies of Garden Wisdom.
March 9-11. Canoecopia, Madison. (Trade show for all things canoeing) Scheduled speaking time not yet determined.
March 24. Six p.m. Launch of Garden Wisdom book at Patterson Memorial Library Wild Rose. Details coming.
March 31-April 1. Morton Arboretum, Chicago area. Presentaton and workshop. Details coming.
A time for endings, and a time for beginnings.
A time to regroup and a time to reconsider.
A time to reflect and a time to revise.
A time to evaluate and a time to plan for the morrow.
January is a quiet month, when all of nature rests—
the trees and the grasses,
the wildflowers and the birds,
the animals and the pond creatures.
January is a month of great beauty,
of blacks and whites, and grays
and a sprinkling of green from the pines,
the firs and the spruces that dot the northern regions.
January is a time to listen for the silence,
when the cold tightens its grip,
turning breath into clouds and thickening the ice on the lakes,
When snow cover muffles all sound.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Take time to appreciate January.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
January 11 and 12. 12:30 each day. Midwest Farm Show, LaCrosse Center, LaCrosse, WI. Stories from the land.
February 10, Garden Expo, Alliant Center, Madison. 6-8 p.m. Wisconsin Historical Society Press booth, signing copies of Garden Wisdom.
February 11. Janesville, noon luncheon speaker, FFA Alumni meeting.
February 12, Garden Expo, Alliant Center, Madison, 1-4 p.m. Wisconsin Historical Society Press booth, signing copies of Garden Wisdom.
March 9-11. Canoecopia, Madison. (Trade show for all things canoeing) Scheduled speaking time not yet determined.
March 24. Six p.m. Launch of Garden Wisdom book at Patterson Memorial Library Wild Rose. Details coming.
March 31-April 1. Morton Arboretum, Chicago area. Presentaton and workshop. Details coming.
Sunday, January 01, 2012
New Year Thoughts
Did you know that the Romans named the first month of the year after Janus? Janus was the god of beginnings and was depicted with two faces. One looked forward into the future; the other looked backward to the past. The Romans believed that on New Year’s Eve, Janus looked back at the old year and forward to the new.
Did you know that the Babylonians were believed to be the first to make New Year’s resolutions? Early Christians believed the first day of the new year should be spent reflecting on past mistakes and resolving to improve oneself in the coming new year.
Did you know that the traditional dropping of the ball on New Year’s eve in New York's Times Square started in 1907 with a ball made of iron and wood.
THE OLD TIMER remembers an oft spoken farmer phrase, “This year will be better.”
UPCOMING EVENTS:
January 11 and 12. 12:30 each day. Midwest Farm Show, LaCrosse Center, LaCrosse, WI. Stories from the land.
February 11. Janesville, noon luncheon speaker, FFA Alumni meeting.
March 9-11. Canoecopia, Madison. (Trade show for all things canoeing) Scheduled speaking time not yet determined.
March 24. Six p.m. Launch of Garden Wisdom book at Patterson Memorial Library Wild Rose. Details coming.
March 31-April 1. Morton Arboretum, Chicago area. Talk and workshop. Details coming.
Did you know that the Babylonians were believed to be the first to make New Year’s resolutions? Early Christians believed the first day of the new year should be spent reflecting on past mistakes and resolving to improve oneself in the coming new year.
Did you know that the traditional dropping of the ball on New Year’s eve in New York's Times Square started in 1907 with a ball made of iron and wood.
THE OLD TIMER remembers an oft spoken farmer phrase, “This year will be better.”
UPCOMING EVENTS:
January 11 and 12. 12:30 each day. Midwest Farm Show, LaCrosse Center, LaCrosse, WI. Stories from the land.
February 11. Janesville, noon luncheon speaker, FFA Alumni meeting.
March 9-11. Canoecopia, Madison. (Trade show for all things canoeing) Scheduled speaking time not yet determined.
March 24. Six p.m. Launch of Garden Wisdom book at Patterson Memorial Library Wild Rose. Details coming.
March 31-April 1. Morton Arboretum, Chicago area. Talk and workshop. Details coming.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Christmas and Remembering
Christmas is for remembering.
I remember Christmas morning when I was a kid, with a stack of presents under the tree that couldn’t be opened until the morning milking was done. Of receiving new wool socks and mittens that Grandmother Witt had knitted, and a new pair of skates, the type that clamped onto the bottoms of your shoes and were tightened with a key.
I remember Christmas dinner with aunts and uncles and cousins all gathered around the big dining room table in our farm house, enjoying a meal comparable to what we saw when the threshing crews came. Roast turkey or duck. A heaping bowl of mashed potatoes. Home-made dill pickles. Apple and mincemeat pie. Christmas cookies of many shapes and flavors.
I remember walking a mile with my brothers to the neighbor’s farm with a small present and a freshly baked pie, because we knew that the neighbor’s wife had recently died and his grown children had left home and moved to the cities, and he was there alone on Christmas day.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Take time in your busy life to remember.
CHECK THIS OUT: My newest book, Garden Wisdom (Wisconsin Historical Society Press) is out. It’s all about vegetable gardening from seed selection to keeping away the critters. Included are a number of Ruth’s favorite fruit and vegetable recipes. Check at your local bookstore.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
January 11 and 12. 12:30 each day. Midwest Farm Show, LaCrosse Center, LaCrosse, WI. Stories from the land.
February 11. Janesville, noon luncheon speaker, FFA Alumni meeting.
March 9-11. Canoecopia, Madison. (Trade show for all things canoeing) Scheduled speaking time not yet determined.
March 24. Six p.m. Launch of Garden Wisdom book at Patterson Memorial Library Wild Rose. Details coming.
March 31-April 1. Morton Arboretum, Chicago area. Talk and workshop. Details coming.
I remember Christmas morning when I was a kid, with a stack of presents under the tree that couldn’t be opened until the morning milking was done. Of receiving new wool socks and mittens that Grandmother Witt had knitted, and a new pair of skates, the type that clamped onto the bottoms of your shoes and were tightened with a key.
I remember Christmas dinner with aunts and uncles and cousins all gathered around the big dining room table in our farm house, enjoying a meal comparable to what we saw when the threshing crews came. Roast turkey or duck. A heaping bowl of mashed potatoes. Home-made dill pickles. Apple and mincemeat pie. Christmas cookies of many shapes and flavors.
I remember walking a mile with my brothers to the neighbor’s farm with a small present and a freshly baked pie, because we knew that the neighbor’s wife had recently died and his grown children had left home and moved to the cities, and he was there alone on Christmas day.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Take time in your busy life to remember.
CHECK THIS OUT: My newest book, Garden Wisdom (Wisconsin Historical Society Press) is out. It’s all about vegetable gardening from seed selection to keeping away the critters. Included are a number of Ruth’s favorite fruit and vegetable recipes. Check at your local bookstore.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
January 11 and 12. 12:30 each day. Midwest Farm Show, LaCrosse Center, LaCrosse, WI. Stories from the land.
February 11. Janesville, noon luncheon speaker, FFA Alumni meeting.
March 9-11. Canoecopia, Madison. (Trade show for all things canoeing) Scheduled speaking time not yet determined.
March 24. Six p.m. Launch of Garden Wisdom book at Patterson Memorial Library Wild Rose. Details coming.
March 31-April 1. Morton Arboretum, Chicago area. Talk and workshop. Details coming.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Christmas 1946
The Christmas season brings back many memories, especially those when I was a kid. I fondly remember Christmas, 1946. We were all happy that World War II was over and that my several cousins who fought overseas had returned home safely. Mother was happy that she could once more buy sugar and return to her much beloved Christmas baking (sugar was one of many items rationed during the war).
And the entire family was especially thankful that come the next spring we would have electricity on our farm. In looking forward to the 1946 Christmas, my brothers and I spent hours paging through the Sears Christmas catalog, looking for toys that required electricity. Battery operated toys had not yet appeared.
We found an erector set and together agreed (a rare moment among my brothers and me) that we wanted it for Christmas. An erector set was one where you built cranes and other such important machines. A tiny electric motor came with the set.
On Christmas morning, we found the erector set under the tree, complete with electric motor. We assembled a first rate crane, but, alas, we had to wait until the following April before we could operate it with our little electric motor. That’s when we got electricity for the first time, and how things changed after that. But that’s a story for another time.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: A most Merry Christmas to all.
CHECK THIS OUT: My newest book, Garden Wisdom (Wisconsin Historical Society Press) is out. It’s all about vegetable gardening from seed selection to keeping away the critters. Included are a number of Ruth’s favorite fruit and vegetable recipes. Check at your local bookstore.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
January 11 and 12, Midwest Farm Show, LaCrosse Center, LaCrosse, WI. Details to come. Speaking on both days.
And the entire family was especially thankful that come the next spring we would have electricity on our farm. In looking forward to the 1946 Christmas, my brothers and I spent hours paging through the Sears Christmas catalog, looking for toys that required electricity. Battery operated toys had not yet appeared.
We found an erector set and together agreed (a rare moment among my brothers and me) that we wanted it for Christmas. An erector set was one where you built cranes and other such important machines. A tiny electric motor came with the set.
On Christmas morning, we found the erector set under the tree, complete with electric motor. We assembled a first rate crane, but, alas, we had to wait until the following April before we could operate it with our little electric motor. That’s when we got electricity for the first time, and how things changed after that. But that’s a story for another time.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: A most Merry Christmas to all.
CHECK THIS OUT: My newest book, Garden Wisdom (Wisconsin Historical Society Press) is out. It’s all about vegetable gardening from seed selection to keeping away the critters. Included are a number of Ruth’s favorite fruit and vegetable recipes. Check at your local bookstore.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
January 11 and 12, Midwest Farm Show, LaCrosse Center, LaCrosse, WI. Details to come. Speaking on both days.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Sheboygan Co. Historical Research Ctr.
For ten years the Sheboygan County Historical Research Center in Sheboygan Falls has sponsored a series of programs called “Second Saturdays.” The programs, held at the Sheboygan Falls Library, are free and attract a sizeable audience from throughout the area.
I’ve been privileged to have been part of this interesting contribution to the Sheboygan County Community for each of the ten years. This past Saturday, on a chilly, frosty morning, more than 100 people gathered to learn about agricultural history and share stores of farm life from an earlier time.
Tales of growing up without electricity, stories about party-line telephones and battery operated radios—and the early radio programs such as Fibber McGee and Mollie, The Life of Riley, Jack Armstrong, The Lone Ranger, The Shadow and Captain Midnight. Stories of hard work and perseverance. Stories of “making do” when times were tough. Stories about kerosene lanterns and cow bells. Stories about the history of Wisconsin from the earliest settlement days to the present time.
At times there was laughter, at other times serious quiet as people thought about their own histories, many of them having grown up on farms.
The Sheboygan County Historical Research Center, with Beth Dipple as Director, is located at 518 Water Street, Sheboygan Falls. Check their website for information on program activities including “Second Saturdays” but also much, much more. www.schrc.org.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: When we forget our histories, we forget who we are.
CHECK THIS OUT: My newest book, Garden Wisdom (Wisconsin Historical Society Press) is coming off the presses this week. It’s all about vegetable gardening from seed selection to keeping out the critters. Ruth has included a number of her favorite fruit and vegetable recipes as well. Check at your local bookstore.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
January 11 and 12, Midwest Farm Show, LaCrosse Center, LaCrosse, WI. Details to come. Speaking on both days.
I’ve been privileged to have been part of this interesting contribution to the Sheboygan County Community for each of the ten years. This past Saturday, on a chilly, frosty morning, more than 100 people gathered to learn about agricultural history and share stores of farm life from an earlier time.
Tales of growing up without electricity, stories about party-line telephones and battery operated radios—and the early radio programs such as Fibber McGee and Mollie, The Life of Riley, Jack Armstrong, The Lone Ranger, The Shadow and Captain Midnight. Stories of hard work and perseverance. Stories of “making do” when times were tough. Stories about kerosene lanterns and cow bells. Stories about the history of Wisconsin from the earliest settlement days to the present time.
At times there was laughter, at other times serious quiet as people thought about their own histories, many of them having grown up on farms.
The Sheboygan County Historical Research Center, with Beth Dipple as Director, is located at 518 Water Street, Sheboygan Falls. Check their website for information on program activities including “Second Saturdays” but also much, much more. www.schrc.org.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: When we forget our histories, we forget who we are.
CHECK THIS OUT: My newest book, Garden Wisdom (Wisconsin Historical Society Press) is coming off the presses this week. It’s all about vegetable gardening from seed selection to keeping out the critters. Ruth has included a number of her favorite fruit and vegetable recipes as well. Check at your local bookstore.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
January 11 and 12, Midwest Farm Show, LaCrosse Center, LaCrosse, WI. Details to come. Speaking on both days.
Sunday, December 04, 2011
Fireside Books and Gifts
Visiting an independent book store is like going home. The clerks greet you by name; they stand ready to help you find a particular book of interest; they chat with you about books they like and have recently read, and they ask you how things are going in your life. Sometimes they even offer you a free cup of coffee.
Fireside Books & Gifts in West Bend is such a store. I was there this past Saturday, when the weather was wet and cold, and the day more than a little dreary. I was giving a talk and signing books. Ruth was along, and as I signed books, she browsed and sought out Christmas presents.
This was my 12th consecutive year at the store, and what a pleasure it was. Dennis Uhlig, bookseller and event organizer extraordinaire, asked people to reserve seats ahead of time for my presentation—and they did.
The chairs were filled with more folks standing in the back—thanks to Dennis’s promotional efforts. We stuck around until two-thirty, talking with people, talking about books—and chatting about how important it was to have a bookstore such as Fireside in their community.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Hard to think of anything more pleasant on a dreary day than spending time in a bookstore.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
December 7, Memorial Union, University of Wisconsin-Madison. 7:00 p.m. Max Kade Institute. Stories from Wisconsin: Germans, Beer and Prohibition.
December 10, Sheboygan Falls Library, 9:30 a.m.: A brief history of Wisconsin Agriculture.
January 11 and 12, Midwest Farm Show, LaCrosse Center, LaCrosse, WI. Details to come. Speaking on both days.
Fireside Books & Gifts in West Bend is such a store. I was there this past Saturday, when the weather was wet and cold, and the day more than a little dreary. I was giving a talk and signing books. Ruth was along, and as I signed books, she browsed and sought out Christmas presents.
This was my 12th consecutive year at the store, and what a pleasure it was. Dennis Uhlig, bookseller and event organizer extraordinaire, asked people to reserve seats ahead of time for my presentation—and they did.
The chairs were filled with more folks standing in the back—thanks to Dennis’s promotional efforts. We stuck around until two-thirty, talking with people, talking about books—and chatting about how important it was to have a bookstore such as Fireside in their community.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Hard to think of anything more pleasant on a dreary day than spending time in a bookstore.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
December 7, Memorial Union, University of Wisconsin-Madison. 7:00 p.m. Max Kade Institute. Stories from Wisconsin: Germans, Beer and Prohibition.
December 10, Sheboygan Falls Library, 9:30 a.m.: A brief history of Wisconsin Agriculture.
January 11 and 12, Midwest Farm Show, LaCrosse Center, LaCrosse, WI. Details to come. Speaking on both days.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Ups and Downs
This is an up and down story, or better said, a wet and dry story. It involves the pond at our farm as well as the neighboring lakes and ponds such as Chain O’ Lake and Wagner’s Lake (Lake Wautoma it’s called today).
In 1966, our pond was nearly not a pond, but merely a wet marshy area. Then each year a little more water returned and the pond filled. I should point out that it’s a “water table pond,” which means it goes up and down as the water table fluctuates.
By the late 1980s and into the early 1990s our pond was a fine body of water, higher than we had ever known it to be. A place for canoeing and fishing, and even swimming. Same for the other lakes and pond in the area.
By the early 2000s the water began disappearing, a little more each year until last year, our once about three to four acre pond was about the size of a football field. Most of the pond had once more become a marsh.
But starting last fall and continuing throughout the summer and into this fall, the pond is once more filling with water. Each month it is a few more inches deep. The marsh is disappearing and the pond is on the rise. For the first time in several years, we have muskrat houses scattered about—I counted eight of them the other day. The deer and the turkeys are happy, as well as all the other wildlife that depend on our pond and enjoy its existence.
How large will the pond become on this current cycle? I have no idea, but different from lakes and ponds to our west such as Plainfield Lake and Twin Lakes near Almond, both of which are now dry, former lakes, our pond is coming back. At least it appears so.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Everything appears to have its ups and downs.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
December 3, Fireside Books, West Bend. 10:30-2:00. Speaking at 11:00 a.m. Celebrating 12 years of speaking/signing at Fireside books. Campfires and Loon Calls—travels in the Boundary Waters of Northern Minnesota. Also featuring Agriculture history books: fiction and nonfiction.
December 7, Memorial Union, University of Wisconsin-Madison. 7:00 p.m. Max Kade Institute. Stories from Wisconsin: Germans, Beer and Prohibition.
December 10, Sheboygan Falls Library, 9:30 a.m.: A brief history of Wisconsin Agriculture.
In 1966, our pond was nearly not a pond, but merely a wet marshy area. Then each year a little more water returned and the pond filled. I should point out that it’s a “water table pond,” which means it goes up and down as the water table fluctuates.
By the late 1980s and into the early 1990s our pond was a fine body of water, higher than we had ever known it to be. A place for canoeing and fishing, and even swimming. Same for the other lakes and pond in the area.
By the early 2000s the water began disappearing, a little more each year until last year, our once about three to four acre pond was about the size of a football field. Most of the pond had once more become a marsh.
But starting last fall and continuing throughout the summer and into this fall, the pond is once more filling with water. Each month it is a few more inches deep. The marsh is disappearing and the pond is on the rise. For the first time in several years, we have muskrat houses scattered about—I counted eight of them the other day. The deer and the turkeys are happy, as well as all the other wildlife that depend on our pond and enjoy its existence.
How large will the pond become on this current cycle? I have no idea, but different from lakes and ponds to our west such as Plainfield Lake and Twin Lakes near Almond, both of which are now dry, former lakes, our pond is coming back. At least it appears so.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Everything appears to have its ups and downs.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
December 3, Fireside Books, West Bend. 10:30-2:00. Speaking at 11:00 a.m. Celebrating 12 years of speaking/signing at Fireside books. Campfires and Loon Calls—travels in the Boundary Waters of Northern Minnesota. Also featuring Agriculture history books: fiction and nonfiction.
December 7, Memorial Union, University of Wisconsin-Madison. 7:00 p.m. Max Kade Institute. Stories from Wisconsin: Germans, Beer and Prohibition.
December 10, Sheboygan Falls Library, 9:30 a.m.: A brief history of Wisconsin Agriculture.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
The Hunt Is On
The highest of the high Wisconsin celebrations begins at the break of dawn on Saturday. It is opening day of deer season, a day scratched on new calendars in January. A day when nothing, absolutely nothing takes precedence over trekking into the woods. The opening day of fishing season approaches, but really is no competition for the opening day of deer season. This one is the biggie.
To brag for a moment—this will be my 65th consecutive year of participating in the hunt—I didn’t even miss when I was in the army. I’m not much of a hunter anymore, these days my hunting companions ask if I remembered to put bullets in my rifle.
Of course deer season is much more than bagging a deer. It’s about families getting together, grandfathers and grandmothers, sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters. Swapping stories. In most families the deer hunting stories, told over and over again, have become the stuff of legends as a little embellishment each year adds to their flavor and fun.
For me, it is one more excuse for being outdoors, walking in the woods, enjoying the sights and smells of late autumn. I’ve been known to nap on warm afternoons in the woods; and I’m often caught reading a book—but I am out there. I am deer hunting—my way of course.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: There are no shortcuts to important places.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
December 3, Fireside Books, West Bend. 11:00 a.m. Celebrating 12 years of speaking/signing at Fireside books. Campfires and Loon Calls—travels in the Boundary Waters of Northern Minnesota. Also featuring Agriculture history books: fiction and nonfiction.
December 7, Memorial Union, University of Wisconsin-Madison. 7:00 p.m. Max Kade Institute. Stories from Wisconsin: Germans, Beer and Prohibition.
December 10, Sheboygan Falls Library, 9:30 a.m.: A brief history of Wisconsin Agriculture.
To brag for a moment—this will be my 65th consecutive year of participating in the hunt—I didn’t even miss when I was in the army. I’m not much of a hunter anymore, these days my hunting companions ask if I remembered to put bullets in my rifle.
Of course deer season is much more than bagging a deer. It’s about families getting together, grandfathers and grandmothers, sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters. Swapping stories. In most families the deer hunting stories, told over and over again, have become the stuff of legends as a little embellishment each year adds to their flavor and fun.
For me, it is one more excuse for being outdoors, walking in the woods, enjoying the sights and smells of late autumn. I’ve been known to nap on warm afternoons in the woods; and I’m often caught reading a book—but I am out there. I am deer hunting—my way of course.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: There are no shortcuts to important places.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
December 3, Fireside Books, West Bend. 11:00 a.m. Celebrating 12 years of speaking/signing at Fireside books. Campfires and Loon Calls—travels in the Boundary Waters of Northern Minnesota. Also featuring Agriculture history books: fiction and nonfiction.
December 7, Memorial Union, University of Wisconsin-Madison. 7:00 p.m. Max Kade Institute. Stories from Wisconsin: Germans, Beer and Prohibition.
December 10, Sheboygan Falls Library, 9:30 a.m.: A brief history of Wisconsin Agriculture.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
November Snow
In Wisconsin we don’t count on the calendar to tell us when winter arrives, because if we did we’d have to wait until late December. November is our “beginning of winter” month. If we’re lucky, this happens toward the end of the month, around Thanksgiving time.
Not this year. Winter came roaring out of the north on November 9th, early and mostly unwelcomed. On that day I crawled out of bed, started the fire in the wood burning cook stove, and noticed a few flakes of snow flying on the wind. Only a dusting I hoped, because I had wood to cut and other outside chores to do. With breakfast finished, the snow continued, lots of it, big flakes, heavy flakes. I watched a parade of turkey gobblers walking a few yards from the cabin, one after the other, five of them stepping high in the ever deeper snow. Not too much bothered by the snow.
By mid-morning it was snowing so hard I couldn’t see the end of my driveway. The heavy snow gathered on the big spruce tree by the woodshed, its lower branches nearly touching the ground. I pulled on my boots and trudged to the woodshed for more wood. Three or four inches of heavy snow to waddle through and it continued falling.
A little after noon, the lights flickered a couple times and then clicked off. No power. I rounded up a flashlight, kept the wood stove going, and decided to enjoy the day. These early snowstorms can be dangerous and at minimum, inconvenient. But oh how beautiful the landscape had become as the drabness of fall had become pure white.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: When it snows, the best thing to do is let it snow.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
November 14, Elmbrook Historical Society annual meeting and dinner. 5:45. Horses and Barns (For Elmbrook Historical Society members and guests).
December 3, Fireside Books, West Bend. 11:00 a.m. Celebrating 12 years of speaking/signing at Fireside books. Campfires and Loon Calls—Travels in the Boundary Waters of Northern Minnesota. Also featuring agriculture history books, fiction and nonfiction.
December 7, Memorial Union, University of Wisconsin-Madison. 7:00 p.m. Max Kade Institute. Stories from Wisconsin: Germans, Beer and Prohibition.
December 10, Sheboygan Falls Library, 9:30 a.m.: A brief history of Wisconsin Agriculture.
Not this year. Winter came roaring out of the north on November 9th, early and mostly unwelcomed. On that day I crawled out of bed, started the fire in the wood burning cook stove, and noticed a few flakes of snow flying on the wind. Only a dusting I hoped, because I had wood to cut and other outside chores to do. With breakfast finished, the snow continued, lots of it, big flakes, heavy flakes. I watched a parade of turkey gobblers walking a few yards from the cabin, one after the other, five of them stepping high in the ever deeper snow. Not too much bothered by the snow.
By mid-morning it was snowing so hard I couldn’t see the end of my driveway. The heavy snow gathered on the big spruce tree by the woodshed, its lower branches nearly touching the ground. I pulled on my boots and trudged to the woodshed for more wood. Three or four inches of heavy snow to waddle through and it continued falling.
A little after noon, the lights flickered a couple times and then clicked off. No power. I rounded up a flashlight, kept the wood stove going, and decided to enjoy the day. These early snowstorms can be dangerous and at minimum, inconvenient. But oh how beautiful the landscape had become as the drabness of fall had become pure white.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: When it snows, the best thing to do is let it snow.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
November 14, Elmbrook Historical Society annual meeting and dinner. 5:45. Horses and Barns (For Elmbrook Historical Society members and guests).
December 3, Fireside Books, West Bend. 11:00 a.m. Celebrating 12 years of speaking/signing at Fireside books. Campfires and Loon Calls—Travels in the Boundary Waters of Northern Minnesota. Also featuring agriculture history books, fiction and nonfiction.
December 7, Memorial Union, University of Wisconsin-Madison. 7:00 p.m. Max Kade Institute. Stories from Wisconsin: Germans, Beer and Prohibition.
December 10, Sheboygan Falls Library, 9:30 a.m.: A brief history of Wisconsin Agriculture.
Monday, November 07, 2011
Dyersville
Ruth and I spent the past weekend in Dyersville, Iowa, at the National Farm Toy Collector’s convention, where I signed books and talked tractors for three days. Talked mostly about old tractors, Farmall H’s (which I grew up with) and Farmall M’s, John Deere A’s and B’s, and the lesser models-- Oliver and Allis Chambers (Ruth grew up with an Allis), Minneapolis-Moline and Massey-Harris, Case and Cockshutt.
Talked about the days in farming when tractors were small, as were the farms. Talked with a few old guys about driving horses and the transition from horses to tractors, not as easy as one might think.
Lots of grandparents toting grandkids. The grandkids excited to see all the farm toys to play with. And the kids’ parents remembering their childhoods because these farm toys were symbols of their early history on the farm, and triggers for stories.
Lots of stories at the toy show, coming from every direction, from all parts of the country from the north and south, and many from the Midwest, of course. Stories about growing up on a farm. Stories about first tractors. Stories about why the Farmall was better than the John Deere, or the other way around. Lots of friendly joshing about these matters that, at one time, were taken very seriously by farmers proud of their iron horses, as the early tractors were called.
Now it’s back to work, back to writing stories.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: There are never too many stories.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
November 12, Barnes and Noble, Racine, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
November 14, Elmbrook Historical Society annual meeting and dinner. 5:45. Horses and Barns (For Elmbrook Historical Society members and guests.)
December 3, Fireside Books, West Bend. 11:00 a.m. Celebrating 12 years of speaking/signing at Fireside books. Campfires and Loon Calls—travels in the Boundary Waters of Northern Minnesota. Also featuring Agriculture history books, fiction and nonfiction.
December 7, Memorial Union, University of Wisconsin-Madison. 7:00 p.m. Max Kade Institute. Stories from Wisconsin: Germans, Beer and Prohibition.
December 10, Sheboygan Falls Library, 9:30 a.m.: A brief history of Wisconsin Agriculture.
Talked about the days in farming when tractors were small, as were the farms. Talked with a few old guys about driving horses and the transition from horses to tractors, not as easy as one might think.
Lots of grandparents toting grandkids. The grandkids excited to see all the farm toys to play with. And the kids’ parents remembering their childhoods because these farm toys were symbols of their early history on the farm, and triggers for stories.
Lots of stories at the toy show, coming from every direction, from all parts of the country from the north and south, and many from the Midwest, of course. Stories about growing up on a farm. Stories about first tractors. Stories about why the Farmall was better than the John Deere, or the other way around. Lots of friendly joshing about these matters that, at one time, were taken very seriously by farmers proud of their iron horses, as the early tractors were called.
Now it’s back to work, back to writing stories.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: There are never too many stories.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
November 12, Barnes and Noble, Racine, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
November 14, Elmbrook Historical Society annual meeting and dinner. 5:45. Horses and Barns (For Elmbrook Historical Society members and guests.)
December 3, Fireside Books, West Bend. 11:00 a.m. Celebrating 12 years of speaking/signing at Fireside books. Campfires and Loon Calls—travels in the Boundary Waters of Northern Minnesota. Also featuring Agriculture history books, fiction and nonfiction.
December 7, Memorial Union, University of Wisconsin-Madison. 7:00 p.m. Max Kade Institute. Stories from Wisconsin: Germans, Beer and Prohibition.
December 10, Sheboygan Falls Library, 9:30 a.m.: A brief history of Wisconsin Agriculture.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Writing Your Story
Last Saturday was a beautiful fall day at The Clearing in Door County where thirty of us gathered for my annual one-day writing workshop that I call “Writing From Your Life.” Plenty of fall color. The waters of Green Bay were deep slate; the birch still showed some yellow and the sky was clear and blue.
The writers gathered to share stories—stories of early memories, of first toys, of growing up, of first jobs for pay, of joyous moments and many not as joyous as a few tears fell. These writers of several generations filled pages with tales from their lives—stories long forgotten, by some at least.
They shared their tales with each other and laughed and nodded knowingly, for though the details may have been different, the stories of each generation had many similarities as well.
Why do it? Why spend a gorgeous late autumn day writing stories? Because we are each a story, more accurately we are each a collection of little stories contributing to a larger one. Our stories make us human. When we forget our stories, we forget who we are.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: It’s never too late to write down your stories.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
November 2, Cobb Library, 7:00 p.m. Old Farm
November 4-6, Dyersville, Iowa, National Farm Toy Show; Friday (5-8 p.m.), Saturday, (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and Sunday, (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.) (Signing various book titles).
November 12, Barnes and Noble, Racine, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
November 14, Elmbrook Historical Society annual meeting and dinner. 5:45. Horses and Barns (For Elmbrook Historical Society members and guests.)
December 3, Fireside Books, West Bend. 10-2:00, speaking at 11:00.
The writers gathered to share stories—stories of early memories, of first toys, of growing up, of first jobs for pay, of joyous moments and many not as joyous as a few tears fell. These writers of several generations filled pages with tales from their lives—stories long forgotten, by some at least.
They shared their tales with each other and laughed and nodded knowingly, for though the details may have been different, the stories of each generation had many similarities as well.
Why do it? Why spend a gorgeous late autumn day writing stories? Because we are each a story, more accurately we are each a collection of little stories contributing to a larger one. Our stories make us human. When we forget our stories, we forget who we are.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: It’s never too late to write down your stories.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
November 2, Cobb Library, 7:00 p.m. Old Farm
November 4-6, Dyersville, Iowa, National Farm Toy Show; Friday (5-8 p.m.), Saturday, (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and Sunday, (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.) (Signing various book titles).
November 12, Barnes and Noble, Racine, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
November 14, Elmbrook Historical Society annual meeting and dinner. 5:45. Horses and Barns (For Elmbrook Historical Society members and guests.)
December 3, Fireside Books, West Bend. 10-2:00, speaking at 11:00.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Sounds of Fall
The sounds of fall. Mysterious, interesting, sometimes even mythical. The calling of Canada geese winging south from their summer home in the far north. The “rat-tat-tat” of a Pileated woodpecker chiseling a hole in a dead white pine. The barking of a gray squirrel from the top of a naked black oak. The call of an owl echoing through the darkness on a quiet October evening, then its call returned—a late evening conversation between creatures of the night.
The sound of wind moaning through the tops of bare-branched oak trees on a windy day; the next day, in the same oak woods, the wind has gone down—the sound of silence.
Memories of the sounds of the old Aermotor windmill on the home farm, and how on the nights around Halloween when the wind was up just a bit, the old windmill squeaked and squawked and tried to turn, but its brake would not let it. In my upstairs bedroom I could hear the noise and envisioned ghosts and goblins and creatures of the nether world on their way to visit me.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Occasionally do nothing—and enjoy it.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
October 26, Sheraton Hotel, Madison. Foster Grandparents conference. “Writing From Your Life” workshop, 4:15 to 5:15; Keynote address, 6:30 (Remembering an Earlier Day).
October 27, Richfield Town Hall, Richfield, WI. 7:00 p.m. Horses and barns.
October 29, The Clearing. Writing From Your Life Workshop, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
November 2, Cobb Library, 7:00 p.m. Old Farm
November 4-6, Dyersville, Iowa, National Farm Toy Show; Friday (5-8 p.m.), Saturday, (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and Sunday, (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.) (Signing various book titles).
November 12, Barnes and Noble, Racine, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
November 14, Elmbrook Historical Society annual meeting and dinner. 5:45. Horses and Barns (For Elmbrook Historical Society members and guests.)
The sound of wind moaning through the tops of bare-branched oak trees on a windy day; the next day, in the same oak woods, the wind has gone down—the sound of silence.
Memories of the sounds of the old Aermotor windmill on the home farm, and how on the nights around Halloween when the wind was up just a bit, the old windmill squeaked and squawked and tried to turn, but its brake would not let it. In my upstairs bedroom I could hear the noise and envisioned ghosts and goblins and creatures of the nether world on their way to visit me.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Occasionally do nothing—and enjoy it.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
October 26, Sheraton Hotel, Madison. Foster Grandparents conference. “Writing From Your Life” workshop, 4:15 to 5:15; Keynote address, 6:30 (Remembering an Earlier Day).
October 27, Richfield Town Hall, Richfield, WI. 7:00 p.m. Horses and barns.
October 29, The Clearing. Writing From Your Life Workshop, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
November 2, Cobb Library, 7:00 p.m. Old Farm
November 4-6, Dyersville, Iowa, National Farm Toy Show; Friday (5-8 p.m.), Saturday, (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and Sunday, (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.) (Signing various book titles).
November 12, Barnes and Noble, Racine, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
November 14, Elmbrook Historical Society annual meeting and dinner. 5:45. Horses and Barns (For Elmbrook Historical Society members and guests.)
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Historic Sites
If you haven’t made the rounds of the Wisconsin Historical Society sites, you may want to plan such a tour. For the past three weekends, I’ve been speaking and or selling books at three of them. On Sunday, October 2, I was at Old World Wisconsin, near Eagle; on Saturday, October 8, Ruth and I were at Stonefield Village, near Cassville; and on Saturday, October 15 we visited Old Wade House at Green Bush (a few miles from Sheboygan).
All of Wisconsin historic sites are treasures, but these three are especially appealing to those interested in small town and rural history. Old World is a creation of ethnic farmsteads, with the actual buildings gathered from around the state (and much more). Stonefield boasts a re-created pioneer village, and has the largest exhibit of horse-drawn machinery in Wisconsin. Old Wade House, the site of an early stagecoach inn, has a wonderful collection of horse drawn wagons, from old milk delivery wagons to several horse-drawn fire wagons, and much more.
We met lots of interesting people and heard many stories about early farm life—I was talking about farming with horses and the history of farm machinery.
Go to http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/sitesmuseum.asp for more information, and put visiting these sites on your “must do” list.
CHECK THIS OUT: I’m talking about and reading from my book, CAMPFIRES AND LOON CALLS (Fulcrum Press) at The Wisconsin Book Festival on Sunday, October 23 at 4:00 p.m. Here are details:
Voices of the Water, Voices of the Trees: Apps & Andrews
Sunday, October 23 | 4:00PM - 5:30PM
Rotunda Studio/Overture, State Street, Madison.
Sponsor: Wisconsin Historical Society Press
Presenter(s): Candice Gaukel Andrews, Jerry Apps
Whether you are preparing to travel or just want to be temporarily transported to some of the upper Midwest’s unique and precious environments, Andrews and Apps will offer you their deep, personal, and informed appreciations of Wisconsin’s forests (Andrews) and the Boundary Waters (Apps).
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Quoting from Bruce Springsteen, “We’d better start savin’ up for the things that money can’t buy.”
UPCOMING EVENTS:
October 18, New Holstein Library, 1:00 p.m. Book talk featuring Cranberry Red (free). 6:30-8:30 Writer’s workshop. Workshop fee $10.00. Call 920-898-5165 for signup information.
October 22, Toll/Londowski Family Farm, one mile west of Hwy 49/Co. Rd. J. Intersection, Green Lake, WI; “From the Land,” (A gathering of traditional crafts and skills with demonstrations) 11:00 a.m. Horse Drawn Days. 1:00 p.m. Lighter Side of Country Living.
October 23, Madison, WI. Wisconsin Book Festival. 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Campfires and Loon Calls.
October 26, Sheraton Hotel, Madison. Foster Grandparents conference. “Writing From Your Life” workshop, 4:15 to 5:15; Keynote address, 6:30 (Remembering an Earlier Day)
October 27, Richfield Town Hall, Richfield, WI. 7:00 p.m. Horses and barns.
October 29, The Clearing. Writing From Your Life Workshop, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
November 2, Cobb Library, 7:00 p.m. Old Farm
November 4-6, Dyersville, Iowa, National Farm Toy Show; Friday (5-8 p.m.), Saturday, (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and Sunday, (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.) (Signing various book titles).
November 12, Barnes and Noble, Racine, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
November 14, Elmbrook Historical Society annual meeting and dinner. 5:45. Horses and Barns (For Elmbrook Historical Society members and guests.)
All of Wisconsin historic sites are treasures, but these three are especially appealing to those interested in small town and rural history. Old World is a creation of ethnic farmsteads, with the actual buildings gathered from around the state (and much more). Stonefield boasts a re-created pioneer village, and has the largest exhibit of horse-drawn machinery in Wisconsin. Old Wade House, the site of an early stagecoach inn, has a wonderful collection of horse drawn wagons, from old milk delivery wagons to several horse-drawn fire wagons, and much more.
We met lots of interesting people and heard many stories about early farm life—I was talking about farming with horses and the history of farm machinery.
Go to http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/sitesmuseum.asp for more information, and put visiting these sites on your “must do” list.
CHECK THIS OUT: I’m talking about and reading from my book, CAMPFIRES AND LOON CALLS (Fulcrum Press) at The Wisconsin Book Festival on Sunday, October 23 at 4:00 p.m. Here are details:
Voices of the Water, Voices of the Trees: Apps & Andrews
Sunday, October 23 | 4:00PM - 5:30PM
Rotunda Studio/Overture, State Street, Madison.
Sponsor: Wisconsin Historical Society Press
Presenter(s): Candice Gaukel Andrews, Jerry Apps
Whether you are preparing to travel or just want to be temporarily transported to some of the upper Midwest’s unique and precious environments, Andrews and Apps will offer you their deep, personal, and informed appreciations of Wisconsin’s forests (Andrews) and the Boundary Waters (Apps).
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Quoting from Bruce Springsteen, “We’d better start savin’ up for the things that money can’t buy.”
UPCOMING EVENTS:
October 18, New Holstein Library, 1:00 p.m. Book talk featuring Cranberry Red (free). 6:30-8:30 Writer’s workshop. Workshop fee $10.00. Call 920-898-5165 for signup information.
October 22, Toll/Londowski Family Farm, one mile west of Hwy 49/Co. Rd. J. Intersection, Green Lake, WI; “From the Land,” (A gathering of traditional crafts and skills with demonstrations) 11:00 a.m. Horse Drawn Days. 1:00 p.m. Lighter Side of Country Living.
October 23, Madison, WI. Wisconsin Book Festival. 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Campfires and Loon Calls.
October 26, Sheraton Hotel, Madison. Foster Grandparents conference. “Writing From Your Life” workshop, 4:15 to 5:15; Keynote address, 6:30 (Remembering an Earlier Day)
October 27, Richfield Town Hall, Richfield, WI. 7:00 p.m. Horses and barns.
October 29, The Clearing. Writing From Your Life Workshop, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
November 2, Cobb Library, 7:00 p.m. Old Farm
November 4-6, Dyersville, Iowa, National Farm Toy Show; Friday (5-8 p.m.), Saturday, (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and Sunday, (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.) (Signing various book titles).
November 12, Barnes and Noble, Racine, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
November 14, Elmbrook Historical Society annual meeting and dinner. 5:45. Horses and Barns (For Elmbrook Historical Society members and guests.)
Friday, October 07, 2011
Cranberry Harvest
Wisconsin is in the midst of its annual cranberry harvest. It reminds me of October, 1955 when my brother, Donald and neighbor boys, David and Jim Kolka and I experienced cranberry harvesting firsthand.
I was waiting to go into the army(not until January); my brother Donald was waiting to attend barber college, and I don’t recall what was up with the Kolka boys. We’d heard they were hiring workers at a cranberry marsh near Wisconsin Rapids—the pay was good ($1.00 an hour),and the four of us enjoyed working outside. Besides, this was something we hadn’t done before.
The cranberry industry at that time was just beginning to shift from hand harvesting (which is what we did) to mechanical harvesting (which is done now). For hand harvesting, we each received a rake, which is a little wooden box with an open end with tines on it and two bow handles, and a pair of hip boots.
The cranberry bog was flooded so that the ripe, red cranberries floated and thus could be more easily gathered with our rakes. The water was knee deep, sometimes a little more, and on chilly October mornings was cold, cold, cold.
In addition to the rake and the hip boots, we each pulled behind us a wooden box tied to our belts with a short rope. When our rake was full we dumped the cranberries in the box. And when the bushel box was full, we carried it to high ground that surrounded each bog. But before we got to the high ground we carefully navigated a narrow wooden plank placed across a water filled ditch. One misstep and we were in water up to our arm pits.
One inaccurate swing with the rake, and a tine would puncture a hip boot and we’d have a wet foot all day. My hip boots had patches upon patches by the end of the season.
We worked in a long line, about eight or ten of us, with the person on the far right setting the pace—we had to keep up with that person, and often times, when our arms felt like they’d come out of our sockets, we considered drowning the guy.
Of all the many jobs I’d had, from working in a pea cannery, picking cucumbers, traveling with a threshing crew, working in a pickle factory, and doing all sorts of farm work, this proved one of the most difficult—and physically challenging. Of course quitting was never an option, so we all four toughed it out until the season ended. Army life proved a breeze compared to harvesting cranberries.
CHECK THIS OUT: See my book, CRANBERRY RED (University of Wisconsin Press, 2010) and learn all about the cranberry industry in Wisconsin, and much more.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: We often learn more from miserable experiences than those more pleasurable.
October 15, Wade House, Green Bush, WI. 1:00 p.m. Horse Drawn Days.
October 18, New Holstein Library, 1:00 p.m. Book talk featuring Cranberry Red (free). 6:30-8:30 Writer’s workshop. Workshop fee $10.00. Call 920-898-5165 for signup information.
October 22, Toll/Londowski Family Farm, one mile west of Hwy 49/Co. Rd. J. Intersection, Green Lake, WI; “From the Land,” (A gathering of traditional crafts and skills with demonstrations) 11:00 a.m. Horse Drawn Days. 1:00 p.m. Lighter Side of Country Living.
October 23, Madison, WI. Wisconsin Book Festival. 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Campfires and Loon Calls.
October 27, Richfield Town Hall, Richfield, WI. 7:00 p.m. Horses and barns.
October 29, The Clearing. Writing From Your Life Workshop, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
I was waiting to go into the army(not until January); my brother Donald was waiting to attend barber college, and I don’t recall what was up with the Kolka boys. We’d heard they were hiring workers at a cranberry marsh near Wisconsin Rapids—the pay was good ($1.00 an hour),and the four of us enjoyed working outside. Besides, this was something we hadn’t done before.
The cranberry industry at that time was just beginning to shift from hand harvesting (which is what we did) to mechanical harvesting (which is done now). For hand harvesting, we each received a rake, which is a little wooden box with an open end with tines on it and two bow handles, and a pair of hip boots.
The cranberry bog was flooded so that the ripe, red cranberries floated and thus could be more easily gathered with our rakes. The water was knee deep, sometimes a little more, and on chilly October mornings was cold, cold, cold.
In addition to the rake and the hip boots, we each pulled behind us a wooden box tied to our belts with a short rope. When our rake was full we dumped the cranberries in the box. And when the bushel box was full, we carried it to high ground that surrounded each bog. But before we got to the high ground we carefully navigated a narrow wooden plank placed across a water filled ditch. One misstep and we were in water up to our arm pits.
One inaccurate swing with the rake, and a tine would puncture a hip boot and we’d have a wet foot all day. My hip boots had patches upon patches by the end of the season.
We worked in a long line, about eight or ten of us, with the person on the far right setting the pace—we had to keep up with that person, and often times, when our arms felt like they’d come out of our sockets, we considered drowning the guy.
Of all the many jobs I’d had, from working in a pea cannery, picking cucumbers, traveling with a threshing crew, working in a pickle factory, and doing all sorts of farm work, this proved one of the most difficult—and physically challenging. Of course quitting was never an option, so we all four toughed it out until the season ended. Army life proved a breeze compared to harvesting cranberries.
CHECK THIS OUT: See my book, CRANBERRY RED (University of Wisconsin Press, 2010) and learn all about the cranberry industry in Wisconsin, and much more.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: We often learn more from miserable experiences than those more pleasurable.
October 15, Wade House, Green Bush, WI. 1:00 p.m. Horse Drawn Days.
October 18, New Holstein Library, 1:00 p.m. Book talk featuring Cranberry Red (free). 6:30-8:30 Writer’s workshop. Workshop fee $10.00. Call 920-898-5165 for signup information.
October 22, Toll/Londowski Family Farm, one mile west of Hwy 49/Co. Rd. J. Intersection, Green Lake, WI; “From the Land,” (A gathering of traditional crafts and skills with demonstrations) 11:00 a.m. Horse Drawn Days. 1:00 p.m. Lighter Side of Country Living.
October 23, Madison, WI. Wisconsin Book Festival. 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Campfires and Loon Calls.
October 27, Richfield Town Hall, Richfield, WI. 7:00 p.m. Horses and barns.
October 29, The Clearing. Writing From Your Life Workshop, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 01, 2011
Garden Assessment
It’s time for my annual garden assessment. The vegetables are harvested—except for ten rows of potatoes to be a dug and a row of rainbow corn that’s yet to be husked.
One of the great joys of vegetable gardening is not knowing which crops will do well and which will falter. So, for some of the main crops, here are the scores for the 2011 season. A five means great, a one means not so good.
Sweet corn: (5) Best crop in years, harvested a couple bushels of plump ears.
Lettuce (3): Weather too hot too soon; crop likes cool weather.
Onions (3): Okay, but I’ve done better. Big family demand. Must plant more next year.
Cucumbers (5): Rave reviews for my new smooth skinned variety that also yielded well.
Zucchini (5): Kept right on producing right up to and even past the first light frost.
Pumpkins (4): Dry weather in August cut yield—and diminished size.
Green Beans (4): Good yield. High quality. But not quite as good as some year’s.
Squash (3): Dry weather about did in my squash. Have less than a half bushel. Pitiful.
Tomatoes (5): How about this year for tomatoes? Harvested several bushels.
Potatoes (3): Didn’t stop the enormous invasion of Colorado beetles in time—knocked down my yield. So far have dug maybe two bushels. Quality good. Size average.
Concord Grapes (5): Best year ever. Close to a bushel off of one vine.
Cabbage (1): Three scrawny heads. Failure. And I know how to grow cabbage, I thought.
Lesser crops such as beets, radishes, carrots, broccoli, spinach, gourds—average, not terrible, not good.
But as we old farmers grew up saying, “Next year will be better.”
CHECK THIS OUT: There are a few more slots available for my Saturday, October 29 writing workshop at The Clearing in Door County. It’s all about writing stories from your life. Go to The Clearing’s website for more information: www.theclearing.org.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: You are never closer to the land than when you are gardening.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
October 4, Union Grove Library. 1:30 p.m. Horse Drawn Days, 6:30 p.m. History of Cheese Making.
October 8, Stonefield Village, Cassville, WI. 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Speaking at 12:00 and 2:00 p.m. Horse Drawn Days
October 15, Wade House, Green Bush, WI. 1:00 p.m. Horse Drawn Days.
October 18, New Holstein Library, 1:00 p.m. Book talk featuring Cranberry Red. 6:30-8:30 Writer’s workshop.
October 22, Toll/Londowski Family Farm, one mile west of Hwy 49/Co. Rd. J. Intersection, Green Lake, WI; “From the Land,” (A gathering of traditional crafts and skills with demonstrations) 11:00 a.m. Horse Drawn Days. 1:00 p.m. Lighter Side of Country Living.
October 23, Madison, WI. Wisconsin Book Festival. 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Campfires and Loon Calls.
October 27, Richfield Town Hall, Richfield, WI. 7:00 p.m. Horses and barns.
October 29, The Clearing. Writing From Your Life Workshop, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
One of the great joys of vegetable gardening is not knowing which crops will do well and which will falter. So, for some of the main crops, here are the scores for the 2011 season. A five means great, a one means not so good.
Sweet corn: (5) Best crop in years, harvested a couple bushels of plump ears.
Lettuce (3): Weather too hot too soon; crop likes cool weather.
Onions (3): Okay, but I’ve done better. Big family demand. Must plant more next year.
Cucumbers (5): Rave reviews for my new smooth skinned variety that also yielded well.
Zucchini (5): Kept right on producing right up to and even past the first light frost.
Pumpkins (4): Dry weather in August cut yield—and diminished size.
Green Beans (4): Good yield. High quality. But not quite as good as some year’s.
Squash (3): Dry weather about did in my squash. Have less than a half bushel. Pitiful.
Tomatoes (5): How about this year for tomatoes? Harvested several bushels.
Potatoes (3): Didn’t stop the enormous invasion of Colorado beetles in time—knocked down my yield. So far have dug maybe two bushels. Quality good. Size average.
Concord Grapes (5): Best year ever. Close to a bushel off of one vine.
Cabbage (1): Three scrawny heads. Failure. And I know how to grow cabbage, I thought.
Lesser crops such as beets, radishes, carrots, broccoli, spinach, gourds—average, not terrible, not good.
But as we old farmers grew up saying, “Next year will be better.”
CHECK THIS OUT: There are a few more slots available for my Saturday, October 29 writing workshop at The Clearing in Door County. It’s all about writing stories from your life. Go to The Clearing’s website for more information: www.theclearing.org.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: You are never closer to the land than when you are gardening.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
October 4, Union Grove Library. 1:30 p.m. Horse Drawn Days, 6:30 p.m. History of Cheese Making.
October 8, Stonefield Village, Cassville, WI. 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Speaking at 12:00 and 2:00 p.m. Horse Drawn Days
October 15, Wade House, Green Bush, WI. 1:00 p.m. Horse Drawn Days.
October 18, New Holstein Library, 1:00 p.m. Book talk featuring Cranberry Red. 6:30-8:30 Writer’s workshop.
October 22, Toll/Londowski Family Farm, one mile west of Hwy 49/Co. Rd. J. Intersection, Green Lake, WI; “From the Land,” (A gathering of traditional crafts and skills with demonstrations) 11:00 a.m. Horse Drawn Days. 1:00 p.m. Lighter Side of Country Living.
October 23, Madison, WI. Wisconsin Book Festival. 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Campfires and Loon Calls.
October 27, Richfield Town Hall, Richfield, WI. 7:00 p.m. Horses and barns.
October 29, The Clearing. Writing From Your Life Workshop, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Book Convention
Books, books and more books. We’ve just returned from the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association 2011 Trade Show in Minneapolis, which was held this year in a delightfully renovated downtown train depot.
For those who believe the book, one with real paper, is dead, recall what Mark Twain once said about his own demise--the information is considerably exaggerated. Books, publishers, independent book store owners, book distribution companies, librarians and authors prowled the aisles of exhibits for new ideas, connected with old friends, discovered new book titles, and generally had a great time, my wife and I included.
I was in Minneapolis promoting my new book, CAMPFIRES AND LOON CALLS, (Fulcrum Press), but I was also introducing two new books that will appear in 2012. The first is GARDEN WISDOM (Wisconsin Historical Society Press), which comes out in January, 2012. The book was a family project. I wrote about my many years of vegetable gardening; Ruth included some of her favorite garden recipes and Steve snapped the photos.
My second new book is RURAL WIT AND WISDOM (Fulcrum Press). This book is a complete re-do of an earlier book, with a third new material, new photos from Steve and lots of wit and wisdom from the country. It’s due out in June 2012.
An unspoken but important theme for the MIBA show: continue to support your independent bookstore and your local library. They are both treasures that we too often take for granted.
CHECK THIS OUT: I learned this past week that there are a few more slots available for my Saturday, October 29 writing workshop at The Clearing in Door County. It’s all about writing stories from your life. Go to The Clearing’s website for more information: www.theclearing.org.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Books do not scold when you blunder, laugh when you are ignorant, or hide when you seek them.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
October 1, Family History Fair, Walworth County Genealogical Society. Faith Christian School, HWY 67, Williams Bay, WI. 9-3. (Speaking at 1:00) Horse Drawn Days.
October 2, Old World Wisconsin, Eagle, WI. Barns of Wisconsin, Horse Drawn Days, Old Farm.
October 4, Union Grove Library. 1:30 p.m. Horse Drawn Days, 6:30 p.m. History of Cheese Making.
October 8, Stonefield Village, Cassville, WI. 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Speaking at 12:00 and 2:00 p.m. Horse Drawn Days.
October 15, Wade House, Green Bush, WI. 1:00 p.m. Horse Drawn Days.
October 18, New Holstein Library, 1:00 p.m. Book talk featuring Cranberry Red. 6:30-8:30 Writer’s Workshop.
For those who believe the book, one with real paper, is dead, recall what Mark Twain once said about his own demise--the information is considerably exaggerated. Books, publishers, independent book store owners, book distribution companies, librarians and authors prowled the aisles of exhibits for new ideas, connected with old friends, discovered new book titles, and generally had a great time, my wife and I included.
I was in Minneapolis promoting my new book, CAMPFIRES AND LOON CALLS, (Fulcrum Press), but I was also introducing two new books that will appear in 2012. The first is GARDEN WISDOM (Wisconsin Historical Society Press), which comes out in January, 2012. The book was a family project. I wrote about my many years of vegetable gardening; Ruth included some of her favorite garden recipes and Steve snapped the photos.
My second new book is RURAL WIT AND WISDOM (Fulcrum Press). This book is a complete re-do of an earlier book, with a third new material, new photos from Steve and lots of wit and wisdom from the country. It’s due out in June 2012.
An unspoken but important theme for the MIBA show: continue to support your independent bookstore and your local library. They are both treasures that we too often take for granted.
CHECK THIS OUT: I learned this past week that there are a few more slots available for my Saturday, October 29 writing workshop at The Clearing in Door County. It’s all about writing stories from your life. Go to The Clearing’s website for more information: www.theclearing.org.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Books do not scold when you blunder, laugh when you are ignorant, or hide when you seek them.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
October 1, Family History Fair, Walworth County Genealogical Society. Faith Christian School, HWY 67, Williams Bay, WI. 9-3. (Speaking at 1:00) Horse Drawn Days.
October 2, Old World Wisconsin, Eagle, WI. Barns of Wisconsin, Horse Drawn Days, Old Farm.
October 4, Union Grove Library. 1:30 p.m. Horse Drawn Days, 6:30 p.m. History of Cheese Making.
October 8, Stonefield Village, Cassville, WI. 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Speaking at 12:00 and 2:00 p.m. Horse Drawn Days.
October 15, Wade House, Green Bush, WI. 1:00 p.m. Horse Drawn Days.
October 18, New Holstein Library, 1:00 p.m. Book talk featuring Cranberry Red. 6:30-8:30 Writer’s Workshop.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Jack Frost
The other night when the moon was up and the wind was down, he came visiting for the first time this autumn season. When I was kid we called him Jack Frost who, with his magical brush, painted roof tops and grassy areas with a sparkling sheen of white frost. Annoying to some who wanted him to remain north at least until the end of the month, but welcomed by others who have waited for the heat and humidity of summer to sink south and leave us alone for a few months.
As to damage, so far just a grape leaf here and there that is crinkled and dead—and exposing more bunches of Concord grapes that I missed with the first picking.
Now I look forward to one of my favorite times of the year, cool mornings with bright sunny days while I dig my potatoes, discover the onions I previously couldn’t find, load up the pumpkins and squash, husk the Indian corn with its many surprising colors, and enjoy sitting by my old wood stove on a cool, clear evening when the only sound is that of an owl calling far off to the west.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Smell fallen leaves on the forest floor as you search for dead oak trees to cut for the wood stove.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
September 21, Cumberland Library, 5:30 p.m. The Lighter Side of Country Living.
September 22, Midwest Bookseller Convention, Minneapolis
October 1, Family History Fair, Walworth County Genealogical Society. Faith Christian School, HWY 67, Williams Bay, WI. 9-3. (Speaking at 1:00) Horse Drawn Days.
October 2, Old World Wisconsin, Eagle, WI. Barns of Wisconsin, Horse Drawn Days, Old Farm.
October 4, Union Grove Library. 1:30 p.m. Horse Drawn Days, 6:30 p.m. History of Cheese Making.
October 8, Stonefield Village, Cassville, WI. 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Speaking at 12:00 and 2:00 p.m. Horse Drawn Days
October 15, Wade House, Green Bush, WI. 1:00 p.m. Horse Drawn Days.
October 18, New Holstein Library, 1:00 p.m. Book talk featuring Cranberry Red. 6:30-8:30 Writer’s workshop.
As to damage, so far just a grape leaf here and there that is crinkled and dead—and exposing more bunches of Concord grapes that I missed with the first picking.
Now I look forward to one of my favorite times of the year, cool mornings with bright sunny days while I dig my potatoes, discover the onions I previously couldn’t find, load up the pumpkins and squash, husk the Indian corn with its many surprising colors, and enjoy sitting by my old wood stove on a cool, clear evening when the only sound is that of an owl calling far off to the west.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Smell fallen leaves on the forest floor as you search for dead oak trees to cut for the wood stove.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
September 21, Cumberland Library, 5:30 p.m. The Lighter Side of Country Living.
September 22, Midwest Bookseller Convention, Minneapolis
October 1, Family History Fair, Walworth County Genealogical Society. Faith Christian School, HWY 67, Williams Bay, WI. 9-3. (Speaking at 1:00) Horse Drawn Days.
October 2, Old World Wisconsin, Eagle, WI. Barns of Wisconsin, Horse Drawn Days, Old Farm.
October 4, Union Grove Library. 1:30 p.m. Horse Drawn Days, 6:30 p.m. History of Cheese Making.
October 8, Stonefield Village, Cassville, WI. 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Speaking at 12:00 and 2:00 p.m. Horse Drawn Days
October 15, Wade House, Green Bush, WI. 1:00 p.m. Horse Drawn Days.
October 18, New Holstein Library, 1:00 p.m. Book talk featuring Cranberry Red. 6:30-8:30 Writer’s workshop.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Black Locust
We have black locust trees growing on our farm. Farmers who owned the place back in the 1930s planted them to plug up the gulleys that had formed on several steep hillsides. The black locusts did their job well, way too well, because they, once established, climbed out of the gulleys and marched into the open fields. We must have more than five acres of black locusts now, threatening to take over the place, to become one gigantic black locust forest of trees with long spikes that tear into your skin and crowd out more desirable species.
To keep the marauding locust trees at bay, we mow several of our open fields each year. But the next year they always return, seemingly more vigorous than the previous year. Some will grow five or six feet in one summer. None of my other tree species can begin to compete with the black locusts’ enthusiasm and competitive nature. Except perhaps buckthorn, but that is topic for another time.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Remember 9-11-01. Where were you on that fateful morning? What were you doing?
UPCOMING EVENTS:
September 13, Town Hall Library, North Lake, Wisconsin. 6:00 p.m. Barns of Wisconsin
September 17, Creekside Bookstore, Cedarburg. Book Signing, 1-4.
September 18, Creekside Bookstore, Cedarburg, Book signing, 12-3.
September 21, Cumberland Library, 5:30 p.m. The Lighter Side of Country Living.
September 22, Midwest Bookseller Convention, Minneapolis
October 1, Family History Fair, Walworth County Genealogical Society. Faith Christian School, HWY 67, Williams Bay, WI. 9-3. (Speaking at 1:00) Horse Drawn Days.
October 2, Old World Wisconsin, Eagle, WI.
October 4, Union Grove Library. 1:30 p.m. Horse Drawn Days, 6:30 p.m. History of Cheese Making.
October 8, Stonefield Village, Cassville, WI. 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Speaking at 12:00 and 2:00 p.m. Horse Drawn Days
October 15, Wade House, Green Bush, WI. 1:00 p.m. Horse Drawn Days.
October 18, New Holstein Library, 1:00 p.m. Book talk featuring Cranberry Red. 6:30-8:30 Writer’s workshop.
To keep the marauding locust trees at bay, we mow several of our open fields each year. But the next year they always return, seemingly more vigorous than the previous year. Some will grow five or six feet in one summer. None of my other tree species can begin to compete with the black locusts’ enthusiasm and competitive nature. Except perhaps buckthorn, but that is topic for another time.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Remember 9-11-01. Where were you on that fateful morning? What were you doing?
UPCOMING EVENTS:
September 13, Town Hall Library, North Lake, Wisconsin. 6:00 p.m. Barns of Wisconsin
September 17, Creekside Bookstore, Cedarburg. Book Signing, 1-4.
September 18, Creekside Bookstore, Cedarburg, Book signing, 12-3.
September 21, Cumberland Library, 5:30 p.m. The Lighter Side of Country Living.
September 22, Midwest Bookseller Convention, Minneapolis
October 1, Family History Fair, Walworth County Genealogical Society. Faith Christian School, HWY 67, Williams Bay, WI. 9-3. (Speaking at 1:00) Horse Drawn Days.
October 2, Old World Wisconsin, Eagle, WI.
October 4, Union Grove Library. 1:30 p.m. Horse Drawn Days, 6:30 p.m. History of Cheese Making.
October 8, Stonefield Village, Cassville, WI. 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Speaking at 12:00 and 2:00 p.m. Horse Drawn Days
October 15, Wade House, Green Bush, WI. 1:00 p.m. Horse Drawn Days.
October 18, New Holstein Library, 1:00 p.m. Book talk featuring Cranberry Red. 6:30-8:30 Writer’s workshop.
Sunday, September 04, 2011
No Electricity
The electrical power is out at our Waushara County farm. The entire neighborhood and well beyond lost power last Friday morning when a vicious wind and rain storm tore through the area, uprooting trees and smashing down power lines. At this writing, three days later, the power is still out. The main electric line, torn down by a tree limb is in the ditch, broken. No water. No refrigeration. Considerable inconvenience for those who do not have their own generators.
We weren’t concerned about the electric lines going down when I was a kid, because there were none in our neighborhood. No one had electricity. Kerosene lamps lighted our house; barn lanterns gave us enough light for milking cows. An ice box kept things cool, and a gasoline engine powered our water pump. We were quite self-sufficient.
Today, we’ve become so dependent on electrical power that when it’s not there, we are in trouble, especially if it’s missing for several days. The days of self-sufficiency are gone. For most people, anyway.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Neighbor’s stand alone as they stand together.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
September 7, Noon. Friends of Eagle River Library Banquet. Riverstone Restaurant, Eagle River
September 10, Barnes and Noble, La Crosse. 1:00 p.m. Campfires and Loon Calls.
September 11, Woodland Country School Reunion, 1-4, Speaking at 2:00 p.m. Two miles from Hustisford on Highway R.
September 13, Town Hall Library, North Lake, Wisconsin. 6:00 p.m. Barns of Wisconsin
September 17, Creekside Bookstore, Cedarburg. Book Signing, 1-4.
September 18, Creekside Bookstore, Cedarburg, Book signing, 12-3.
September 21, Cumberland Library, 5:30 p.m. The Lighter Side of Country Living.
September 22, Midwest Bookseller Convention, Minneapolis
October 1, Family History Fair, Walworth County Genealogical Society. Faith Christian School, HWY 67, Williams Bay, WI. 9-3. (Speaking at 1:00) Horse Drawn Days
.
October 2, Old World Wisconsin, Eagle, WI.
October 4, Union Grove Library. 1:30 p.m. Horse Drawn Days, 6:30 p.m. History of Cheese Making.
October 8, Horse Drawn Days, Stonefield Village, Cassville, WI. 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Speaking at 12:00 and 2:00 p.m. Horse Drawn Days.
October 15, Wade House, Green Bush, WI. 1:00 p.m. Horse Drawn Days.
October 18, New Holstein Library, 1:00 p.m. Book talk featuring Cranberry Red. 6:30-8:30 Writer’s workshop.
We weren’t concerned about the electric lines going down when I was a kid, because there were none in our neighborhood. No one had electricity. Kerosene lamps lighted our house; barn lanterns gave us enough light for milking cows. An ice box kept things cool, and a gasoline engine powered our water pump. We were quite self-sufficient.
Today, we’ve become so dependent on electrical power that when it’s not there, we are in trouble, especially if it’s missing for several days. The days of self-sufficiency are gone. For most people, anyway.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Neighbor’s stand alone as they stand together.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
September 7, Noon. Friends of Eagle River Library Banquet. Riverstone Restaurant, Eagle River
September 10, Barnes and Noble, La Crosse. 1:00 p.m. Campfires and Loon Calls.
September 11, Woodland Country School Reunion, 1-4, Speaking at 2:00 p.m. Two miles from Hustisford on Highway R.
September 13, Town Hall Library, North Lake, Wisconsin. 6:00 p.m. Barns of Wisconsin
September 17, Creekside Bookstore, Cedarburg. Book Signing, 1-4.
September 18, Creekside Bookstore, Cedarburg, Book signing, 12-3.
September 21, Cumberland Library, 5:30 p.m. The Lighter Side of Country Living.
September 22, Midwest Bookseller Convention, Minneapolis
October 1, Family History Fair, Walworth County Genealogical Society. Faith Christian School, HWY 67, Williams Bay, WI. 9-3. (Speaking at 1:00) Horse Drawn Days
.
October 2, Old World Wisconsin, Eagle, WI.
October 4, Union Grove Library. 1:30 p.m. Horse Drawn Days, 6:30 p.m. History of Cheese Making.
October 8, Horse Drawn Days, Stonefield Village, Cassville, WI. 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Speaking at 12:00 and 2:00 p.m. Horse Drawn Days.
October 15, Wade House, Green Bush, WI. 1:00 p.m. Horse Drawn Days.
October 18, New Holstein Library, 1:00 p.m. Book talk featuring Cranberry Red. 6:30-8:30 Writer’s workshop.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Canoe Trip
My son, Steve, and I have just returned from the BWCAW, a long set of initials that mean Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. For those who are unaware, the BWCAW is located in far northeastern Minnesota, snuggled up against the Canadian Border. It’s one of the few true wilderness areas left in our country (outside of Alaska). The BWCAW is more than 100 miles long, some 30 miles wide and includes more than one million acres, with no motorboats allowed on almost all of its 1,000 lakes and streams.
It’s a place for canoes and quiet contemplation, a place for settling down and checking out (no cell-phone access). A place to listen for loon calls, and, if you are lucky, hear a wolf’s lonesome howl in the night. A place to hear waves slapping against ancient rocks. A place to reconnect with nature.
Oh, it’s also a place to fish. In our annual fishing contest, Steve landed an 18-inch small mouth bass, which meant I had to buy him breakfast on Friday morning when we began our long drive home. I won’t get into my fishing success this year—I’ll save that for another day.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: You can’t catch a fish if your line is not in the water.
CHECK THIS OUT: See my new book, Campfires and Loon Calls. It’s all about the Boundary Waters and our adventures there. Publisher: Fulcrum Press, 2011. Check my website, www.jerryapps.com for more information.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
September 7, Noon. Friends of Eagle River Library Banquet.
September 10, Barnes and Noble, La Crosse. 1:00 p.m. Campfires and Loon Calls.
September 11, Woodland Country School Reunion, 1-4, Speaking at 2:00 p.m. Two miles from Hustisford on Highway R.
September 17, Creekside Bookstore, Cedarburg. Book Signing, 1-4.
September 18, Creekside Bookstore, Cedarburg, Book signing, 12-3.
September 21, Cumberland Library, 5:30 p.m. The Lighter Side of Country Living.
September 22, Midwest Bookseller Convention, Minneapolis
October 2, Old World Wisconsin, Eagle, WI.
October 4, Union Grove Library. 1:30 p.m. Horse Drawn Days, 6:30 p.m. History of Cheese Making.
October 8, Horse Drawn Days, Stonefield Village, Cassville, WI. 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
October 15, Horse Drawn Days, Wade House,Green Bush, WI. 1:00 p.m.
October 18, New Holstein Library, 1:00 p.m. Book talk featuring Cranberry Red. 6:30-8:30 Writer’s workshop.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Say Cheese
The last couple of weeks I’ve been giving presentations about the history of Wisconsin’s cheese industry. For those who have accepted California as the leading dairy state in the nation—remove those thoughts from your mind. Wisconsin continues as the leading cheese producing state in the nation—a honor our state has held since 1910.
In 2010 Wisconsin produced 2.6 billion pounds of cheese. Lots of cheese. Mozzarella, then cheddar lead the pack of cheese varieties produced.
Some additional cheese trivia that you can use to wow your friends:
It takes 10 pounds of milk to make a pound of cheese.
Colby and brick cheese are Wisconsin originals—meaning they were invented here.
There is but one cheese factory in all of North America that manufactures limburger cheese—Chalet Cheese Factory near Monroe in Green County.
In 1950, Wisconsin had 143,000 dairy farms. In 2011 the number of dairy farms is about 12,000 and dropping.
Wisconsin has about 1.3 million cows.
Artisan cheese, small batch handmade cheeses, now make up 16 percent of total cheese produced in Wisconsin. More than 400 different kinds.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: I’m a cheesehead and proud of it.
CHECK THIS OUT: The Wisconsin Historical Press, one of my publishers, has recently produced a “trailer” for my new barn book. You can watch it by going to: http://www.youtube.com/user/whspressvideo.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
September 7, Noon. Friends of Eagle River Library Banquet.
September 10, Barnes and Noble, La Crosse. 1:00 p.m. Campfires and Loon Calls.
September 11, Woodland Country School Reunion, 1-4, Speaking at 2:00 p.m. Two miles from Hustisford on Highway R.
September 17, Creekside Bookstore, Cedarburg. Book Signing, 1-4.
September 18, Creekside Bookstore, Cedarburg, Book signing, 12-3.
September 21, Cumberland Library, 5:30 p.m. The Lighter Side of Country Living.
September 22, Midwest Bookseller Convention, Minneapolis
October 2, Old World Wisconsin, Eagle, WI.
October 4, Union Grove Library. 1:30 p.m. Horse Drawn Days, 6:30 p.m. History of Cheese Making.
October 8, Horse Drawn Days, Stonefield Village, Cassville, WI. 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
October 15, Horse Drawn Days, Wade House,Green Bush, WI. 1:00 p.m.
October 18, New Holstein Library, 1:00 p.m. Book talk featuring Cranberry Red. 6:30-8:30 Writer’s workshop.
In 2010 Wisconsin produced 2.6 billion pounds of cheese. Lots of cheese. Mozzarella, then cheddar lead the pack of cheese varieties produced.
Some additional cheese trivia that you can use to wow your friends:
It takes 10 pounds of milk to make a pound of cheese.
Colby and brick cheese are Wisconsin originals—meaning they were invented here.
There is but one cheese factory in all of North America that manufactures limburger cheese—Chalet Cheese Factory near Monroe in Green County.
In 1950, Wisconsin had 143,000 dairy farms. In 2011 the number of dairy farms is about 12,000 and dropping.
Wisconsin has about 1.3 million cows.
Artisan cheese, small batch handmade cheeses, now make up 16 percent of total cheese produced in Wisconsin. More than 400 different kinds.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: I’m a cheesehead and proud of it.
CHECK THIS OUT: The Wisconsin Historical Press, one of my publishers, has recently produced a “trailer” for my new barn book. You can watch it by going to: http://www.youtube.com/user/whspressvideo.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
September 7, Noon. Friends of Eagle River Library Banquet.
September 10, Barnes and Noble, La Crosse. 1:00 p.m. Campfires and Loon Calls.
September 11, Woodland Country School Reunion, 1-4, Speaking at 2:00 p.m. Two miles from Hustisford on Highway R.
September 17, Creekside Bookstore, Cedarburg. Book Signing, 1-4.
September 18, Creekside Bookstore, Cedarburg, Book signing, 12-3.
September 21, Cumberland Library, 5:30 p.m. The Lighter Side of Country Living.
September 22, Midwest Bookseller Convention, Minneapolis
October 2, Old World Wisconsin, Eagle, WI.
October 4, Union Grove Library. 1:30 p.m. Horse Drawn Days, 6:30 p.m. History of Cheese Making.
October 8, Horse Drawn Days, Stonefield Village, Cassville, WI. 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
October 15, Horse Drawn Days, Wade House,Green Bush, WI. 1:00 p.m.
October 18, New Holstein Library, 1:00 p.m. Book talk featuring Cranberry Red. 6:30-8:30 Writer’s workshop.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Wild Grape Vine
I have wild grapes on my farm and this has been a banner year for them. They crawl over the lilac bushes by the cabin. They climb nearly to the top of the oak trees that line the trail to the pond. They curl up the red cedar tree by my machine shed. And this year they have succeeded in climbing to the peak of my pump house, nearly completely covering the east wall of the building.
My grape vines are aggressive and exploratory. One mischievous vine snuck through a crack in a pump house window. Once inside the curious vine discovered (can plants discover?) that no sunlight existed in my dark and dreary pump house, now mostly used as a woodshed. Know what? The vine crawled along the south wall inside the building, found a crack above the door and exited to the outside where it was once more treated to the afternoon sun. It appears happy as can be and seems rather proud that it has crawled in and out of my pump house. I must say, I’m impressed.
Anyone with a wild grape story? Love to hear from you.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: The road home is often the longest.
CHECK THIS OUT: The Wisconsin Historical Press, one of my publishers, has recently produced a “trailer” for my new barn book. You can watch it by going to: http://www.youtube.com/user/whspressvideo.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
August 18, 7:00 p.m. Three Lakes Historical Society, Three Lakes Wisconsin. History of cheese making in Wisconsin.
August 21, 4:00 p.m. Arcadia Books, Spring Green, WI. Presentation and Book Signing.
September 7, Noon. Friends of Eagle River Library Banquet.
September 10, Barnes and Noble, La Crosse. 1:00 p.m. Campfires and Loon Calls.
September 11, Woodland Country School Reunion, 1-4, Speaking at 2:00 p.m. Two miles from Hustisford on Highway R.
September 17, Creekside Bookstore, Cedarburg. Book Signing, 1-4.
September 18, Creekside Bookstore, Cedarburg, Book signing, 12-3.
My grape vines are aggressive and exploratory. One mischievous vine snuck through a crack in a pump house window. Once inside the curious vine discovered (can plants discover?) that no sunlight existed in my dark and dreary pump house, now mostly used as a woodshed. Know what? The vine crawled along the south wall inside the building, found a crack above the door and exited to the outside where it was once more treated to the afternoon sun. It appears happy as can be and seems rather proud that it has crawled in and out of my pump house. I must say, I’m impressed.
Anyone with a wild grape story? Love to hear from you.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: The road home is often the longest.
CHECK THIS OUT: The Wisconsin Historical Press, one of my publishers, has recently produced a “trailer” for my new barn book. You can watch it by going to: http://www.youtube.com/user/whspressvideo.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
August 18, 7:00 p.m. Three Lakes Historical Society, Three Lakes Wisconsin. History of cheese making in Wisconsin.
August 21, 4:00 p.m. Arcadia Books, Spring Green, WI. Presentation and Book Signing.
September 7, Noon. Friends of Eagle River Library Banquet.
September 10, Barnes and Noble, La Crosse. 1:00 p.m. Campfires and Loon Calls.
September 11, Woodland Country School Reunion, 1-4, Speaking at 2:00 p.m. Two miles from Hustisford on Highway R.
September 17, Creekside Bookstore, Cedarburg. Book Signing, 1-4.
September 18, Creekside Bookstore, Cedarburg, Book signing, 12-3.
Sunday, August 07, 2011
Garden Update
A few weeks ago, shortly after I wrote about my garden suffering from dry weather, it began raining. Sometimes an inch, occasionally a half an inch, enough to give my sandy soil garden the boost it needed.
Yesterday I picked about ten pounds of snap beans; a half grocery bag of cucumbers, five pounds or so of zucchini and our first three tomatoes of the season. I could have dug more red potatoes—I dug a half sack last week, I could have dug more onions—how well they have developed. And I could have dug more beets—I also did that a week ago. But the day was hot and steamy, hanging just around ninety, so—Ruth and I quit harvesting early.
Two weeks ago the pumpkins showed nothing but blossoms, today they have pumpkins the size of softballs and larger. The pumpkin vines are everywhere, crawling up the sweet corn, snaking over the tops of the tomatoes, and sneaking under the fence on their way to the cabin.
Can you believe it, I have tomato vines five feet tall? Tallest tomato vines I remember for several years. We have 48 tomato plants. If they continue developing as they recently have, we will have tomatoes—lots of tomatoes.
But I know full well the hazards of gardening. This week’s joy can turn into sorrow with one hail storm, another spell of dry weather, a broken deer fence and a critter raid. So I must be careful. When people ask me how my garden is doing, I usually say, “Could be better.”
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Keep things simple. They’ll get complicated enough, soon enough, without you intending that they should.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
August 10. 5 p.m., program at 6 p.m. Red Crown Lodge, 3852 Highway 51 North, Arbor Vitae, WI Preview of Ken Burns’ latest film, Prohibition. Discussion of Prohibition in Wisconsin. Free.
August 13. 5:30 p.m. Manitowoc County Historical Society. Horse Drawn Days
August 18, 7:00 p.m. Three Lakes Historical Society, Three Lakes Wisconsin. History of cheese making in Wisconsin.
August 21, 4:00 p.m. Arcadia Books, Spring Green, WI. Presentation and Book Signing.
September 7, Noon. Friends of Eagle River Library Banquet.
September 10, Barnes and Noble, La Crosse. 1:00 p.m. Campfires and Loon Calls.
September 11, Woodland Country School Reunion, 1-4, Speaking at 2:00 p.m. Two miles from Hustisford on Highway R. One-Room Country Schools.
September 17, Creekside Bookstore, Cedarburg. Book Signing, 1-4.
September 18, Creekside Bookstore, Cedarburg, Book signing, 12-3.
Yesterday I picked about ten pounds of snap beans; a half grocery bag of cucumbers, five pounds or so of zucchini and our first three tomatoes of the season. I could have dug more red potatoes—I dug a half sack last week, I could have dug more onions—how well they have developed. And I could have dug more beets—I also did that a week ago. But the day was hot and steamy, hanging just around ninety, so—Ruth and I quit harvesting early.
Two weeks ago the pumpkins showed nothing but blossoms, today they have pumpkins the size of softballs and larger. The pumpkin vines are everywhere, crawling up the sweet corn, snaking over the tops of the tomatoes, and sneaking under the fence on their way to the cabin.
Can you believe it, I have tomato vines five feet tall? Tallest tomato vines I remember for several years. We have 48 tomato plants. If they continue developing as they recently have, we will have tomatoes—lots of tomatoes.
But I know full well the hazards of gardening. This week’s joy can turn into sorrow with one hail storm, another spell of dry weather, a broken deer fence and a critter raid. So I must be careful. When people ask me how my garden is doing, I usually say, “Could be better.”
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Keep things simple. They’ll get complicated enough, soon enough, without you intending that they should.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
August 10. 5 p.m., program at 6 p.m. Red Crown Lodge, 3852 Highway 51 North, Arbor Vitae, WI Preview of Ken Burns’ latest film, Prohibition. Discussion of Prohibition in Wisconsin. Free.
August 13. 5:30 p.m. Manitowoc County Historical Society. Horse Drawn Days
August 18, 7:00 p.m. Three Lakes Historical Society, Three Lakes Wisconsin. History of cheese making in Wisconsin.
August 21, 4:00 p.m. Arcadia Books, Spring Green, WI. Presentation and Book Signing.
September 7, Noon. Friends of Eagle River Library Banquet.
September 10, Barnes and Noble, La Crosse. 1:00 p.m. Campfires and Loon Calls.
September 11, Woodland Country School Reunion, 1-4, Speaking at 2:00 p.m. Two miles from Hustisford on Highway R. One-Room Country Schools.
September 17, Creekside Bookstore, Cedarburg. Book Signing, 1-4.
September 18, Creekside Bookstore, Cedarburg, Book signing, 12-3.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Mosquito Deterrent
The family is just back from a great week in the Northwoods, in a cabin on a lake where swimming, water skiing and all the rest were wonderful. Great fun for the kids and grand kids, and a relaxing time for those not into being pulled around the lake on a pair of slender slats.
Except for one problem. Mosquitoes. Hundreds of them. Thousands of them. As many as the national debt and more. A deep breath resulted in a mouth full of the buggers—not an exaggeration. I slapped my arm and dispatched a half-dozen with one blow.
What to do? Off to the store for mosquito dope. Stuff with DEET in it. Stuff to keep the mosquitoes at bay.
While inspecting the mosquito repellent display—quite an elaborate one I might add—I spotted something new—at least for gullible me. I spotted an ultrasonic mosquito repellent, battery operated and of a size where I could clip it to my belt. No Deet to spray on tender skin. A modern piece of technology. I bought one. Could have bought two spray cans of Deet for the price, but that’s something my wife doesn’t need to know.
I brought it to the cabin, cut the device loose from its plastic bindings, pushed a little button and saw a tiny bulb glow red. It was obviously emitting high frequency sounds that disturbed mosquitoes and sent them away to antagonize someone else. At least that’s what it was supposed to do.
I stood in a shady place where I had previously been unmercifully attacked that morning. I waited to hear the buzzing of mosquitoes, held at bay some six feet from me by my new piece of modern technology—as the advertising claimed would happen.
There was no buzzing at six feet. Squadrons of menacing little beasties tore at me as if my new piece of electronics were a homing device.
Back to Deet. No more mention of my new piece of mosquito deterring equipment. Mosquitoes won again.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: When you find something that works. Stay with it. On the other hand, kind of fun to try something new once in a while.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
July 31-August 6, Writing Workshop, The Clearing, Door County.
August 10. 5 p.m., program at 6 p.m. Red Crown Lodge, 3852 Highway 51 North, Arbor Vitae, WI Preview of Ken Burns’ latest film, Prohibition. Discussion of Prohibition in Wisconsin. Free. Registration required by August 5. Register: UWalumni.com or call 608-263-4508.
August 13. 5:30 p.m. Manitowoc County Historical Society. Horse Drawn Days
August 18, 7:00 p.m. Three Lakes Historical Society, Three Lakes Wisconsin. History of cheese making in Wisconsin.
August 21, 4:00 p.m. Arcadia Books, Spring Green, WI. Presentation and Book Signing.
Except for one problem. Mosquitoes. Hundreds of them. Thousands of them. As many as the national debt and more. A deep breath resulted in a mouth full of the buggers—not an exaggeration. I slapped my arm and dispatched a half-dozen with one blow.
What to do? Off to the store for mosquito dope. Stuff with DEET in it. Stuff to keep the mosquitoes at bay.
While inspecting the mosquito repellent display—quite an elaborate one I might add—I spotted something new—at least for gullible me. I spotted an ultrasonic mosquito repellent, battery operated and of a size where I could clip it to my belt. No Deet to spray on tender skin. A modern piece of technology. I bought one. Could have bought two spray cans of Deet for the price, but that’s something my wife doesn’t need to know.
I brought it to the cabin, cut the device loose from its plastic bindings, pushed a little button and saw a tiny bulb glow red. It was obviously emitting high frequency sounds that disturbed mosquitoes and sent them away to antagonize someone else. At least that’s what it was supposed to do.
I stood in a shady place where I had previously been unmercifully attacked that morning. I waited to hear the buzzing of mosquitoes, held at bay some six feet from me by my new piece of modern technology—as the advertising claimed would happen.
There was no buzzing at six feet. Squadrons of menacing little beasties tore at me as if my new piece of electronics were a homing device.
Back to Deet. No more mention of my new piece of mosquito deterring equipment. Mosquitoes won again.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: When you find something that works. Stay with it. On the other hand, kind of fun to try something new once in a while.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
July 31-August 6, Writing Workshop, The Clearing, Door County.
August 10. 5 p.m., program at 6 p.m. Red Crown Lodge, 3852 Highway 51 North, Arbor Vitae, WI Preview of Ken Burns’ latest film, Prohibition. Discussion of Prohibition in Wisconsin. Free. Registration required by August 5. Register: UWalumni.com or call 608-263-4508.
August 13. 5:30 p.m. Manitowoc County Historical Society. Horse Drawn Days
August 18, 7:00 p.m. Three Lakes Historical Society, Three Lakes Wisconsin. History of cheese making in Wisconsin.
August 21, 4:00 p.m. Arcadia Books, Spring Green, WI. Presentation and Book Signing.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Bookstore Closings
I stopped at Brown’s Bookstore in Rhinelander this week and discovered they were closing. After 18 years they are locking their doors and calling it quits. A loss to the community; a loss to publishers, a loss to writers.
I also noticed this week that the Borders' book chain, second only to Barnes and Noble in size, has lost its battle to continue after declaring Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this year.
Little bookstores, big bookstores, independents and chains—closing. Not able to compete with the juggernaut called E-books that are digital and require no paper. Books read on such devices as Kindle and Nook and iPads and Blackberries. Books that cost less, oft times considerably less than their paper printed versions.
What are we losing when we lose a bookstore, whether a little independent such as Brown’s in Rhinelander or the Borders’ chain that had stores scattered across the country? Are bookstores, real ones not virtual, digital versions, important enough so that some will survive? Should some survive?
We appear to be in the midst of a great revolution—an earthshaking reshaping of defining what is a book and how they are made and sold? It’s both an exciting and a depressing time.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: How do we decide what of the past we should keep when something new comes along and threatens to replace it?
CHECK THIS OUT: My friend, Phil Martin, who is a writer, editor, and publisher, has just published a new book: HOW TO WRITE YOUR BEST STORY. It’s advice for writers who want to polish their story writing skills. Great collection of practical tips. Available on Amazon.com, www.itascabooks.com and other booksellers. And only $14.95. What a deal!
UPCOMING EVENTS:
July 26, Noon, Wis Historical Society Museum, on the Square, Madison, WI. Ringling Bros. Circus.
July 31-August 6, Writing Workshop, The Clearing, Door County.
August 10. 5 p.m., program at 6 p.m. Red Crown Lodge, 3852 Highway 51 North, Arbor Vitae, WI Preview of Ken Burns’ latest film, Prohibition. Discussion of Prohibition in Wisconsin. Free. Registration required by August 5. Register: UWalumni.com or call 608-263-4508.
August 13. 5:30 p.m. Manitowoc County Historical Society. Horse Drawn Days.
I also noticed this week that the Borders' book chain, second only to Barnes and Noble in size, has lost its battle to continue after declaring Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this year.
Little bookstores, big bookstores, independents and chains—closing. Not able to compete with the juggernaut called E-books that are digital and require no paper. Books read on such devices as Kindle and Nook and iPads and Blackberries. Books that cost less, oft times considerably less than their paper printed versions.
What are we losing when we lose a bookstore, whether a little independent such as Brown’s in Rhinelander or the Borders’ chain that had stores scattered across the country? Are bookstores, real ones not virtual, digital versions, important enough so that some will survive? Should some survive?
We appear to be in the midst of a great revolution—an earthshaking reshaping of defining what is a book and how they are made and sold? It’s both an exciting and a depressing time.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: How do we decide what of the past we should keep when something new comes along and threatens to replace it?
CHECK THIS OUT: My friend, Phil Martin, who is a writer, editor, and publisher, has just published a new book: HOW TO WRITE YOUR BEST STORY. It’s advice for writers who want to polish their story writing skills. Great collection of practical tips. Available on Amazon.com, www.itascabooks.com and other booksellers. And only $14.95. What a deal!
UPCOMING EVENTS:
July 26, Noon, Wis Historical Society Museum, on the Square, Madison, WI. Ringling Bros. Circus.
July 31-August 6, Writing Workshop, The Clearing, Door County.
August 10. 5 p.m., program at 6 p.m. Red Crown Lodge, 3852 Highway 51 North, Arbor Vitae, WI Preview of Ken Burns’ latest film, Prohibition. Discussion of Prohibition in Wisconsin. Free. Registration required by August 5. Register: UWalumni.com or call 608-263-4508.
August 13. 5:30 p.m. Manitowoc County Historical Society. Horse Drawn Days.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Bur Oak
I like trees, all kinds of trees, pine trees and oak trees, trees I’ve planted and trees that have been on my farm for a hundred years and probably more. But of all the trees that grow at Roshara, I am most impressed with the Bur Oak (sometimes spelled Burr).
First off, I respect the Bur Oak’s toughness. They withstand fire, storms, dry weather, wet weather—they come through it all and continue living and growing year after year, sometimes surviving two or three hundred years.
Bur Oaks are not especially attractive when compared to some other trees such as a Balsam Fir (I have but one of these at my farm). But in their own way, with their thick, corky bark and scraggly limbs going this way and that, they have a beauty all their own. Besides, Bur Oak trees are native to my farm. No one hauled them in from somewhere else. They have thrived in much of central and southwestern Wisconsin as long as anything living has been here. I marvel at that.
Some Bur Oak facts: They may grow 80 feet tall, even taller in richer soils, and reach diameters greater than four feet. The Bur Oak roots may reach depths of 20 feet and a lateral spread of 40 feet. The weight of the roots can equal that of the tops. One of the reasons the Bur Oak lives so long and does so well is its tremendous root system—what you see of the tree is only about half of it—the other half is below ground.
Sort of like people. What you don’t see about a person is often more important than what you do see.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: No matter how old you are, plant a tree. And don’t forget to speak up when someone wants to cut a living tree for no good reason.
CHECK THIS OUT: My friend, Phil Martin, who is a writer, editor, and publisher, has just published a new book: HOW TO WRITE YOUR BEST STORY. It’s advice for writers who want to polish their story writing skills. Great collection of practical tips. Available on Amazon.com, www.itascabooks.com and other booksellers. And only $14.95. What a deal!
UPCOMING EVENTS:
July 26, Noon, Wis Historical Society Museum, on the Square, Madison, WI. Ringling Bros. Circus.
July 31-August 6, Writing Workshop, The Clearing, Door County.
August 10. 5 p.m., program at 6 p.m. Red Crown Lodge, 3852 Highway 51 North, Arbor Vitae, WI Preview of Ken Burns’ latest film, Prohibition. Discussion of Prohibition in Wisconsin. Free. Registration required by August 5. Register: UWalumni.com or call 608-263-4508.
August 13. 5:30 p.m. Manitowoc County Historical Society. Horse Drawn Days
First off, I respect the Bur Oak’s toughness. They withstand fire, storms, dry weather, wet weather—they come through it all and continue living and growing year after year, sometimes surviving two or three hundred years.
Bur Oaks are not especially attractive when compared to some other trees such as a Balsam Fir (I have but one of these at my farm). But in their own way, with their thick, corky bark and scraggly limbs going this way and that, they have a beauty all their own. Besides, Bur Oak trees are native to my farm. No one hauled them in from somewhere else. They have thrived in much of central and southwestern Wisconsin as long as anything living has been here. I marvel at that.
Some Bur Oak facts: They may grow 80 feet tall, even taller in richer soils, and reach diameters greater than four feet. The Bur Oak roots may reach depths of 20 feet and a lateral spread of 40 feet. The weight of the roots can equal that of the tops. One of the reasons the Bur Oak lives so long and does so well is its tremendous root system—what you see of the tree is only about half of it—the other half is below ground.
Sort of like people. What you don’t see about a person is often more important than what you do see.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: No matter how old you are, plant a tree. And don’t forget to speak up when someone wants to cut a living tree for no good reason.
CHECK THIS OUT: My friend, Phil Martin, who is a writer, editor, and publisher, has just published a new book: HOW TO WRITE YOUR BEST STORY. It’s advice for writers who want to polish their story writing skills. Great collection of practical tips. Available on Amazon.com, www.itascabooks.com and other booksellers. And only $14.95. What a deal!
UPCOMING EVENTS:
July 26, Noon, Wis Historical Society Museum, on the Square, Madison, WI. Ringling Bros. Circus.
July 31-August 6, Writing Workshop, The Clearing, Door County.
August 10. 5 p.m., program at 6 p.m. Red Crown Lodge, 3852 Highway 51 North, Arbor Vitae, WI Preview of Ken Burns’ latest film, Prohibition. Discussion of Prohibition in Wisconsin. Free. Registration required by August 5. Register: UWalumni.com or call 608-263-4508.
August 13. 5:30 p.m. Manitowoc County Historical Society. Horse Drawn Days
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Dry Weather
Dry weather in central Wisconsin. Hot days, cool nights and no rain. Ten days ago the lawn grass in front of my cabin, native grass as I planted no grass seed was green, lush and growing rapidly. This morning it is brown and crunches underfoot when I walk across it. The grass appears dead, but it is not. It is merely waiting for the next rain when it will once more turn green. Tough stuff this centuries old grass that knows the ways of sandy, dry soils.
My garden suffers. Potato vines curl, squash leaves wilt, the bottom leaves of the sweet corn are turning brown, the tomato plants have stopped growing. Even some of the weeds have wilted—but not all as weeds, better than the fancy, hybrid vegetable varieties know dry weather, know how to send their roots ever deeper, searching for life-giving moisture.
Those of us in central Wisconsin look to the western sky and wait for rain as we have for generations as these sandy soils never have enough it seems. The rains in mid-summer make all the difference as to whether a crop will produce well, indeed even survive. Farming sandy soil without irrigation is a gamble, always has been, always will be.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: One of the best ways to solve a problem is to walk. It may take a mile, it may take longer.
July 26, Noon, Wis Historical Society Museum, on the Square, Madison, WI. Ringling Bros. Circus.
July 31-August 6, Writing Workshop, The Clearing, Door County.
August 10. 5 p.m., program at 6 p.m. Red Crown Lodge, 3852 Highway 51 North, Arbor Vitae, WI Preview of Ken Burns’ latest film, Prohibition. Discussion of Prohibition in Wisconsin. Free. Registration required by August 5. Register: UWalumni.com or call 608-263-4508.
My garden suffers. Potato vines curl, squash leaves wilt, the bottom leaves of the sweet corn are turning brown, the tomato plants have stopped growing. Even some of the weeds have wilted—but not all as weeds, better than the fancy, hybrid vegetable varieties know dry weather, know how to send their roots ever deeper, searching for life-giving moisture.
Those of us in central Wisconsin look to the western sky and wait for rain as we have for generations as these sandy soils never have enough it seems. The rains in mid-summer make all the difference as to whether a crop will produce well, indeed even survive. Farming sandy soil without irrigation is a gamble, always has been, always will be.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: One of the best ways to solve a problem is to walk. It may take a mile, it may take longer.
July 26, Noon, Wis Historical Society Museum, on the Square, Madison, WI. Ringling Bros. Circus.
July 31-August 6, Writing Workshop, The Clearing, Door County.
August 10. 5 p.m., program at 6 p.m. Red Crown Lodge, 3852 Highway 51 North, Arbor Vitae, WI Preview of Ken Burns’ latest film, Prohibition. Discussion of Prohibition in Wisconsin. Free. Registration required by August 5. Register: UWalumni.com or call 608-263-4508.
Tuesday, July 05, 2011
Potato Bugs
Potato bugs we called them when I was a kid, a menace for potato patches. They still are a problem today maybe more so than ever as chemical treatments have toughened them rather than eliminated them.
Their official name is Colorado Potato Beetle; they feast on potato vines and leave most everything else in the garden alone. An age old system for controlling them works –somewhat anyway. We used it when I was a kid; I still use it to today.
You walk down the row of potatoes, and when you spot a potato bug you drop it in a little pail with some water in the bottom. When I was a kid, Pa poured an inch or so of kerosene in the pail. He wanted to make sure that once we picked them they would never ever find another potato plant to chew on.
I saw an ad in a farm paper for a “sure kill “system for eliminating potato bugs. “Mail in five dollars.” I’ll not say who answered the ad, but when the sure kill system arrived, it consisted of two small blocks of wood with some simple instructions. “Place potato bug on block A. Strike smartly with block B.” It worked.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: A good cup of coffee in the morning gives you the gumption to face the day, no matter how many problems and challenges lie in wait.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
July 6, 6:00 p.m. Chilton Library, Chilton, WI Campfires and Loon Calls
July 10, 11-2:00 Pickle Station, Saxeville, WI. Booksigning.
July 26, Noon, Wis Historical Society Museum, on the Square, Madison, WI. Ringling Bros. Circus.
July 31-August 6, Writing Workshop, The Clearing, Door County.
Their official name is Colorado Potato Beetle; they feast on potato vines and leave most everything else in the garden alone. An age old system for controlling them works –somewhat anyway. We used it when I was a kid; I still use it to today.
You walk down the row of potatoes, and when you spot a potato bug you drop it in a little pail with some water in the bottom. When I was a kid, Pa poured an inch or so of kerosene in the pail. He wanted to make sure that once we picked them they would never ever find another potato plant to chew on.
I saw an ad in a farm paper for a “sure kill “system for eliminating potato bugs. “Mail in five dollars.” I’ll not say who answered the ad, but when the sure kill system arrived, it consisted of two small blocks of wood with some simple instructions. “Place potato bug on block A. Strike smartly with block B.” It worked.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: A good cup of coffee in the morning gives you the gumption to face the day, no matter how many problems and challenges lie in wait.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
July 6, 6:00 p.m. Chilton Library, Chilton, WI Campfires and Loon Calls
July 10, 11-2:00 Pickle Station, Saxeville, WI. Booksigning.
July 26, Noon, Wis Historical Society Museum, on the Square, Madison, WI. Ringling Bros. Circus.
July 31-August 6, Writing Workshop, The Clearing, Door County.
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