Garden Update

With the able assistance of Paul, Steve and Natasha, who did most of the work, the garden at Roshara is planted.  Our goal is to plant most of the garden—especially the more frost-fragile plants such as tomatoes around Memorial Day, and no earlier.

I usually try to have my potatoes in the ground by mid-April.  Not this year.  The garden was still snow-covered in April.  We planted them in early May and they are almost all up and growing well, all ten rows of them.  At that time I also planted radishes, onions, early sweet corn, lettuce, and beets.  All up and looking good.

Last Saturday we planted squash, pumpkins, cucumbers, zucchini, gourds, more sweet corn, some broom corn, and a half-row of sunflowers.  Got to add a little color to the project.

We set out the tomato plants I started back in April.  They look a bit small and scraggly but in a week or two, if all goes well, they will catch up with the fancy much taller, store-bought varieties.  We went overboard a bit this year setting out nearly 60 tomato plants.  Included in the 60 are 25 heirloom tomatoes—a special variety from the Isle of Man (Manx Marvel).  The seeds germinated well, the plants are vigorous,  but  I’ll withhold  saying more until I see and taste the tomatoes.  All told I think we have six different tomato varieties, with the hope that a least a couple of the varieties will produce well this year.

Saturday was also the day to set out the cabbage plants—both red and white—broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and kohlrabi plants, all purchased at the Co-op store in Wild Rose.

We mulch all the tomato plants with a few inches of straw.  It’s a slow tedious job.  Paul drew the short stick for the job this year and completed it without complaint.  We also mulch all of the cabbage, broccoli , etc. plants.  The mulch keeps the weeds down and the moisture in.  And for the tomatoes, the mulch provides a bed for the ripe fruit as I do not stake or put racks around all my tomato plants.

Now, like I have done for every year since growing a garden, I wait to see what does well, what does less well, and what fails.  I have turned it all over to Mother Nature,  who is largely in charge from this point forward.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS:  One of the most difficult things we face in life is learning how to come out from behind ourselves.

ANNOUNCEMENT:  Interested in learning how to write your own stories?  Sign up for one of my upcoming one-day workshops that I am teaching at The Clearing in Door County.

Saturday, June 22, 9-4 (A few openings still left)

Saturday, November 3, 9-4

Contact The Clearing for further information and/or to sign up (www.theclearing.org).

(There will be a book signing at The Clearing on each of these Saturdays from 4-6:00 p.m. The public is invited.)

UPCOMING EVENTS:

June 4, Noon. Milwaukee Rotary Club. War Memorial Building. Limping Through Life.

June 6, 7:00 p.m. Dane County Genealogy. One Room Country Schools.

June 7, 6:30 p.m. Patterson Memorial Library, Wild Rose. Launch of LETTERS FROM HILLSIDE FARM and LIMPING THROUGH LIFE.

June 8, 11:00 -3:00 Book signing, Tri-County Thresheree, Plainfield

June 13, Writing Workshop, Fulcrum Publishing offices, Golden, CO.

June 20, 7:00 p.m. Wisconsin Rapids Public Library.  Limping Through Life

June 22, 9-4. Writing Workshop.  The Clearing, Ellison Bay, WI.

June 25, 8:30-10:00.  Bethel Lutheran Church, Madison.  Homeless Book Club. Limping Through  Life.

June 29-30, Chicago. McCormick Place.  American Library Association Convention.  Letters From Hillside Farm.

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

DVD Jerry Apps: A Farm Story List $16.95 The Patterson’s price only $15.00 ($20.00 shipped)
Special Bundle Offer exclusively by the Patterson:
Tamarack River Ghost & Jerry Apps: A Farm Story – List $43.90
The Patterson’s Price Only $35.00 ($43.00 shipped)

Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division St. PO Box 305
Wild Rose, WI 54984

(All items are sold by the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library. They will accept checks or cash, they’re sorry but they don’t have any way to accept credit or debit cards, checks should be made out to the Friends of Patterson Memorial Library.

Three Days and Spring

Three days make such a difference. Ruth and I set out last Tuesday morning for a three-day mini-book tour—Trempealeau library (early afternoon and evening, Tuesday), Magers and Quinn Bookstore, Minneapolis (Wednesday evening), Chapter Two Bookstore, Hudson (Thursday noon).

The previous weekend had been windy and chilly.  More than that.  Right down cold, even saw some snow flurries when we worked in the garden last Saturday.  When we left Madison on Tuesday morning, the weather person promised a warmer day, and still a warmer day on Wednesday.

The weather person outdid herself.  Perhaps even overdid it as the temp rose to the high nineties in the Twin Cities and remained warm.

Now to the point of this tale.  Mother Nature has been hiding spring, keeping it under wraps, afraid to turn it loose for fear it might stick its nose out and have it frozen off.  But for the three days we were gone, old Mother Nature said it was time.  And I might add, about time. 

When we left home the big maple trees in our backyard were only hinting at leaves.  No sign of crabapple blossoms, plum blossoms, cherry blossoms, and only a few dandelions.  But on Thursday night when we returned— Mother Nature had turned it on and let it go and we had spring with all of its glory and grandeur. Trees are leafed, blossoms are everywhere, the grass is green and the birds are signing.

 It may only last a few days before summer sets in, but at least we experienced a taste of what spring in Wisconsin could be like the past few days.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Old Mother Nature is a fickle one.

ANNOUNCEMENT:  Interested in learning how to write your own stories?  Sign up for one of my upcoming one-day workshops that I am teaching at The Clearing in Door County.

Saturday, June 22, 9-4

Saturday, November 3, 9-4

Contact The Clearing for further information and/or to sign up (www.theclearing.org).

(There will be a book signing at The Clearing on each of these Saturdays from 4-6:00 p.m.)

UPCOMING EVENTS:

May 23, Richfield Historical Society, 7:00 p.m. Stories from the land.

June 4, Noon. Milwaukee Rotary Club. War Memorial Building. Limping Through Life.

June 6, 7:00 p.m. Dane County Genealogy. One Room Country Schools.

June 7, 6:30 p.m. Patterson Memorial Library, Wild Rose. Launch of LETTERS FROM HILLSIDE FARM and LIMPING THROUGH LIFE.

June 8, 11:00 -3:00 Book signing, Tri-County Thresheree, Plainfield

June 20, 7:00 p.m. Wisconsin Rapids Public Library.  Limping Through Life

June 22, 9-4. Writing Workshop.  The Clearing, Ellison Bay, WI.

June 25, 8:30-10:00.  Bethel Lutheran Church, Madison.  Homeless Book Club. Limping Through  Life.

June 29-30, Chicago.  American Library Association Convention.  Letters From Hillside Farm.

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

DVD Jerry Apps: A Farm Story List $16.95 The Patterson’s price only $15.00 ($20.00 shipped)
Special Bundle Offer exclusively by the Patterson:
Tamarack River Ghost & Jerry Apps: A Farm Story – List $43.90
The Patterson’s Price Only $35.00 ($43.00 shipped)

Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division St. PO Box 305
Wild Rose, WI 54984

(All items are sold by the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library. They will accept checks or cash, they’re sorry but they don’t have any way to accept credit or debit cards, checks should be made out to the Friends of Patterson Memorial Library.

Problem Squirrel

He came in the dark of the night.  Motive unknown.  To find something to eat?  To satisfy curiosity?  Or just because he was mean?

Last week I planted 25 store-bought strawberry plants in my specially designed, son-in-law-built, raised garden.  As I carefully dug little holes for each plant, and spaced them properly and at just the right depth, my head was filled with images of strawberries, lush red, delicious strawberries.

The next morning I walked out to inspect my little strawberry patch and saw the carnage.  Six strawberry plants dug up and scattered about.  Four strawberry plants missing.  My strawberry patch had been viciously attacked by an unknown critter, but I had a suspect in mind.  I had seen this gray squirrel with a short brown tail sneaking about—but I didn't think Brown Tail had the nerve to attack my new strawberry bed. I had caught him digging up pansy plants, digging up tulip bulbs—and Ruth even caught him red-pawed in broad daylight digging into my tomato plants that I was growing out before transplanting into my garden at the farm.

So Brown Tail became my prime suspect.  I developed a plan.  Off to the hardware stove I went to find some netting—the kind used to keep birds off fruit trees.  I carefully spread the netting over the strawberry plants.  Problem solved.  Brown Tail thwarted.

Nope.  Brown Tail too smart for this old farmer.  In the dark of the night, he crawled under the netting and dug up three more strawberry plants.  Now I have rocks holding down the netting and I am hoping the last few strawberry plants—that must be living in sheer terror, will survive the onslaught of this monster in their midst.

I will keep you posted.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Never underestimate the intelligence of supposedly dumb animals.

ANNOUNCEMENT:  Interested in learning how to write your own stories?  Sign up for one of my upcoming one-day workshops that I am teaching at The Clearing in Door County.

Saturday, June 22, 9-4

Saturday, November 3, 9-4

Contact The Clearing for further information and/or to sign up (www.theclearing.org).

(There will be a book signing at The Clearing on each of these Saturdays from 4-6:00 p.m.)

UPCOMING EVENTS:

May 14, Trempealeau Library, 1:00 p.m. Trempealeau Fourth Graders and 7:00 p.m. for the community. Jerry Apps: A Farm Story. TV Show.

May 15, 7:00 p.m. Magers and Quinn Bookstore, Minneapolis.  Presentation and book signing. Limping Through Life and Letters from Hillside Farm.

May 16, 11-1:30 Chapter Two Bookstore, Hudson, WI.  Limping Through Life and Letters from Hillside Farm.

May 18, Dregne’s Scandanavian Gifts, Westby. 10:30-2:00, Book signing.

May 19, Books and Company, Oconomowoc. 2:00 p.m. Book signing.

May 23, Richfield Historical Society, 7:00 p.m. Stories from the land.

May 24-31, Colorado

June 4, Noon. Milwaukee Rotary Club. War Memorial Building. Limping Through Life.

June 6, 7:00 p.m. Dane County Genealogy. One Room Country Schools.

June 7, 7:00 p.m. Patterson Memorial Library, Wild Rose. Launch of LETTERS FROM HILLSIDE FARM and LIMPING THROUGH LIFE.

June 8, 11:00 -3:00 Book signing, Tri-County Thresheree, Plainfield

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

DVD Jerry Apps: A Farm Story List $16.95 The Patterson’s price only $15.00 ($20.00 shipped)
Special Bundle Offer exclusively by the Patterson:
Tamarack River Ghost & Jerry Apps: A Farm Story – List $43.90
The Patterson’s Price Only $35.00 ($43.00 shipped)

Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division St. PO Box 305
Wild Rose, WI 54984

(All items are sold by the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library. They will accept checks or cash, they’re sorry but they don’t have any way to accept credit or debit cards, checks should be made out to the Friends of Patterson Memorial Library.

Garden Season Begins

It didn't look like it would happen on Friday.  A steady cold rain at the farm, chilling, winter-like.  Temperature in the 40s.  The day I was supposed to start my garden. But water stood here and there and everywhere and there was little hope for gardening.

Brother Don and I put the plow on my tractor anyway. Gardeners like their farmer cousins always have hope.  But on a day like last Friday, when it was snowing across northern Wisconsin, and raining steadily at the farm, even hope was in short supply.

Saturday dawned partly cloudy, with no rain and rising temperatures.  After a book talk at the Plainfield Library, we returned to the cabin to bright sunshine and sixty degrees.  Steve and Natasha were there to help—truth be said, to do most of the work.  Steve plowed and disked the garden, and Natasha pulled the ancient wooden marker across the soft and drying soil, making the little grooves that told us where to plant.

By late Saturday afternoon we had planted ten rows of potatoes and two long rows of onions.  The gardening season at the Apps farm has officially started—about two weeks late compared to most years and a month late compared to last year.  But who wants to compare anything to last year?

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: In the woods in spring, the smells of late fall and spring collide.

STORIES FROM THE LAND:  Look for my twice-monthly column in THE COUNTRY TODAY newspaper.  The next one appears on May 8.

ANNOUNCEMENT:  Interested in learning how to write you own stories?  Sign up for one of my upcoming one-day workshops that I am teaching at The Clearing in Door County.

Saturday, June 22, 9-4

Saturday, November 3, 9-4

Contact The Clearing for further information and/or to sign up (www.theclearing.org).

(There will be a book signing at The Clearing on each of these Saturdays from 4-6:00 p.m.)

UPCOMING EVENTS:

May 8, 6:30 p.m., Wisconsin Historical Society Museum (Downtown Madison) Breweries of Wisconsin.  Dinner, need reservations.

May 9, Reedsburg Library, 7:00 p.m. Garden Wisdom.

May 14, Trempealeau Library, 1:00 p.m. Trempealeau Fourth Graders and 7:00 p.m. Jerry Apps: A Farm Story.

May 15, 7:00 p.m. Magers and Quinn Bookstore, Minneapolis.  Presentation and book signing.

May 16, 11-1:30 Chapter Two Bookstore, Hudson, WI,

May 18, Dregne’s Scandanavian Gifts, Westby. 10:30-2:00, Book signing.

May 19, Books and Company, Oconomowoc. 2:00 p.m. Book signing.

May 23, Richfield Historical Society, 7:00 p.m. Stories from the land.

May 24-31, Colorado

June 4, Noon. Milwaukee Rotary Club. War Memorial Building. Limping Through Life.

June 6, 7:00 p.m. Dane County Genealogy.

June 7, 7:00 p.m. Patterson Memorial Library, Wild Rose. Launch of LETTERS FROM HILLSIDE FARM and LIMPING THROUGH LIFE.

June 8, 11:00 -3:00 Book signing, Tri-County Thresheree, Plainfield

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

DVD Jerry Apps: A Farm Story List $16.95 The Patterson’s price only $15.00 ($20.00 shipped)
Special Bundle Offer exclusively by the Patterson:
Tamarack River Ghost & Jerry Apps: A Farm Story – List $43.90
The Patterson’s Price Only $35.00 ($43.00 shipped)

Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division St. PO Box 305
Wild Rose, WI 54984

(All items are sold by the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library. They will accept checks or cash, they’re sorry but they don’t have any way to accept credit or debit cards, checks should be made out to the Friends of Patterson Memorial Library.

Goose Talk

I heard the familiar sound when I stepped outside the cabin for my morning walk.  And then I saw the source, a pair of Canada geese winging over, just above the tree tops, and calling loudly on this quiet, early morning.

I immediately wondered if these were the geese that had nested at my pond for the past several years, so I trudged off through my pine plantation, avoiding the several piles of squishy snow that remained in places shaded from the sun.

As I approached the pond, still mostly ice-covered, but with a few feet of open water on the north end, I stopped, watched and listened.  I could see nothing until I caught some movement in the matted and dead grass around the pond—it was a goose, and then I saw the second one and they were walking toward the little open spot of water.

Once in the water they began talking to each other—a very different sound compared to the loud honking when they were flying over.  I imaged the conversation between the pair went something like this:

            “Look at all this ice, Mable.  It’s cold out there.”

            “For heaven’s sake, Fred, don’t you remember that you’re wearing a goose down vest?”

            “Well, I’m still cold.”

            “You’ll warm up when we start building a nest.”

            “Time for all of that again?”

            “Yup, family comes first you know.”

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: If you listen carefully, you’ll discover that Canada geese have a lot to say.

STORIES FROM THE LAND:  Look for my twice-monthly column in THE COUNTRY TODAY newspaper.  The first one appeared on April 24.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

April 30, 5:00 p.m. “Live at Five” TV show.  CBS, Channel 3, Madison.

April 30, Barnes and Noble, West Madison, 7:00 p.m. Launch of Limping Through Life and Letters From Hillside Farm.

May 1, WRJN Radio, Interview 3:35 p.m.

May 4, Plainfield Library, 10:00 a.m. Ames County Novels.

May 8, 6:30 p.m., Wisconsin Historical Society Museum (Downtown Madison) Breweries of Wisconsin.  Dinner, need reservations.

May 9, Reedsburg Library, 7:00 p.m. Garden Wisdom.

May 14, Trempealeau Library, 1:00 p.m. Trempealeau Fourth Graders and 7:00 p.m. Jerry Apps: A Farm Story.

May 15, 7:00 p.m. Magers and Quinn Bookstore, Minneapolis.  Presentation and book signing.

May 16, 11-1:30 Chapter Two Bookstore, Hudson, WI,

May 18, Dregne’s Scandanavian Gifts, Westby. 10:30-2:00, Book signing.

May 19, Books and Company, Oconomowoc. 2:00 p.m. Book signing.

May 23, Richfield Historical Society, 7:00 p.m. Stories from the land.

May 24-31, Colorado

June 4, Noon. Milwaukee Rotary Club. War Memorial Building. Limping Through Life.

June 6, 7:00 p.m. Dane County Genealogy.

June 7, 7:00 p.m. Patterson Memorial Library, Wild Rose. Launch of LETTERS FROM HILLSIDE FARM and LIMPING THROUGH LIFE.

June 8, 11:00 -3:00 Book signing, Tri-County Thresheree, Plainfield.

ANNOUNCEMENT:  Interested in learning how to write you own stories?  Sign up for one of my upcoming one-day workshops that I am teaching at The Clearing in Door County.

Saturday, June 22, 9-4

Saturday, November 3, 9-4

Contact The Clearing for further information and/or to sign up (www.theclearing.org).

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

DVD Jerry Apps: A Farm Story List $16.95 The Patterson’s price only $15.00 ($20.00 shipped)
Special Bundle Offer exclusively by the Patterson:
Tamarack River Ghost & Jerry Apps: A Farm Story – List $43.90
The Patterson’s Price Only $35.00 ($43.00 shipped)

Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division St. PO Box 305
Wild Rose, WI 54984

(All items are sold by the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library. They will accept checks or cash, they’re sorry but they don’t have any way to accept credit or debit cards, checks should be made out to the Friends of Patterson Memorial Library.

Earth Day

Monday, April 22 is Earth Day.  When I published my first book in 1970 (The Land Still Lives, Wisconsin House), I asked Gaylord Nelson, U. S. senator, former Wisconsin governor and the founder of Earth Day to write an introduction to the book.  Senator Nelson wrote:

Today the crisis of the environment is the biggest challenge facing mankind.  To meet it will call for reshaping our values, to put quality on a par with quantity as a goal of American life.  It will require sweeping changes in our institutions, national standards for the goods we produce, a humanizing of our technology, and close attention to the problem of our expanding population.

            Most of all, it will require that the people assert their right to a decent environment and that they evolve an ecological ethic of understanding and respect for the bonds between man and his planet.

            What Senator Nelson said in 1970 is as important today, even more important than then.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Spring has just got to be hiding somewhere.  But where?

  

STORIES FROM THE LAND:  Look for my twice-monthly column in THE COUNTRY TODAY newspaper.  First one will appear on April 24.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

April 23, Larry Meiller Show, Wisconsin Public Radio, 11-11:45 a.m.

April 25, Walworth Big Foot Historical Society, 6:00 p.m. Horse Drawn Days

April 30, Barnes and Noble, West Madison, 7:00 p.m. Launch of Limping Through

        Life and Letters From Hillside Farm.

May 4, Plainfield Library, 10:00 a.m. Ames County Novels.

May 8, 6:30, Wisconsin Historical Society Museum (Downtown Madison)    Breweries of Wisconsin.  Dinner, need reservations.

May 9, Reedsburg Library, 7:00 p.m. Garden Wisdom

May 14, Trempealeau Library, 1:00 p.m. Trempealeau Fourth Graders and 7:00 p.m. Jerry Apps: A Farm Story.

May 15, Magers and Quinn Bookstore, Minneapolis.  Presentation and booksigning.

May 18, Dregni’s, Westby. 10-2:00, Book signing.

May 19, Books and Company, Oconomowoc. 2:00 p.m. Book signing

May 23, Richfield Historical Society, 7:00 p.m. Stories from the land

May 24-31, Colorado

June 6, 7:00 p.m. Dane County Genealogy

June 7, 7:00 p.m. Patterson Memorial Library, Wild Rose. Launch of LETTERS FROM HILLSIDE FARM and LIMPING THROUGH LIFE.

June 8, 11:00 -3:00 Book signing, Tri-County Thresheree, Plainfield

ANNOUNCEMENT:  Interested in learning how to write you own stories?  Sign up for one of my upcoming one-day workshops that I am teaching at The Clearing in Door County.

Saturday, June 22, 9-4

Saturday, November 3, 9-4

Contact The Clearing for further information and/or to sign up (www.theclearing.org).

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

DVD Jerry Apps: A Farm Story List $16.95 The Patterson’s price only $15.00 ($20.00 shipped)
Special Bundle Offer exclusively by the Patterson:
Tamarack River Ghost & Jerry Apps: A Farm Story – List $43.90
The Patterson’s Price Only $35.00 ($43.00 shipped)

Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division St. PO Box 305
Wild Rose, WI 54984

(All items are sold by the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library. They will accept checks or cash, they’re sorry but they don’t have any way to accept credit or debit cards, checks should be made out to the Friends of Patterson Memorial Library.

One-Hundred Miles

You wouldn't think 100 miles would make so much difference.  But while spring struggles to find itself this year, that distance defines a reluctant spring (southern Wisconsin) and a winter not willing to quit (the rest of the state).

            As I drove north to my farm last Friday, I left behind a cloudy, but no-snow environment to one that gradually turned into full-blown winter when I arrived in Waushara County.  From south of Wautoma on north, the trees hung heavy with ice, many with cracked-off branches.  I spotted few small areas that were snow free.  The lakes were frozen solid—I tried to check my pond, but I couldn't  unless I would strap on snowshoes, which I wasn't quite up to doing.

            To add to the disappointment, shortly after I arrived, it began snowing and by Saturday morning a new inch of that sparkly stuff we gush about when we see it in November covered my truck, and the small patch of bare ground in front of the cabin door.  And it was cold, in the twenties.

            As I watched out the cabin window, four deer, approached the cabin, indeed walked within a few feet of the west side of the building.  I watched them, heads down, searching for anything worth eating and not finding much.  And a bit later, when I was driving, I saw a small flock of wild turkeys sneaking into the brush after crossing the road.  Searching for something to eat and mostly finding winter, lingering, and not willing to quit.

WEBSITE: Check it out.  My website, www.jerryapps.com is updated, thanks to my nephew, Matt Apps who knows how to do these things.

ANNOUNCEMENT:  For 22 years I taught a week-long writing course at The Clearing in Door County.  This year, rather than a week-long workshop, I will be doing two, one-day workshops.  The dates are Saturday, June 22, 9-4, and Saturday, November 2, 9-4.  Contact The Clearing for further information and/or to sign up (www.theclearing.org).

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Okay winter.  You've had your turn.  Time to give it up.

UPCOMING EVENTS (Partial List):

April 16, Frederic Library, 2:00 p.m. Rural Wit and Wisdom

April 18, Monroe Arts Center, 2-4 p.m. Writing Workshop and evening panel presentation.

April 19, Waupun Library, 6:30 p.m. Stories from the Land

April 23, Larry Meiller Show, Wisconsin Public Radio, 11-11:45 a.m.

April 25, Walworth Big Foot Historical Society, 6:00 p.m. Horse Drawn Days

April 30, Barnes and Noble, West Madison, 7:00 p.m. Launch of Limping Through Life and Letters From Hillside Farm.

May 1, Downtown Rotary, Madison.  Noon

May 4, Plainfield Library, 10:00 a.m. Ames County Novels.

May 8, 6:30, Wisconsin Historical Society Museum (Downtown Madison) Breweries of Wisconsin.  Dinner, need reservations.

May 9, Reedsburg Library, 7:00 p.m. Garden Wisdom

May 14, Trempealeau Library, 1:00 p.m. Trempealeau Fourth Graders and 7:00 p.m. Jerry Apps: A Farm Story.

May 15, Magers and Quinn Bookstore, Minneapolis.  Presentation and booksigning.

May 18, Dregni’s, Westby. 10-2:00, Book signing.

May 19, Books and Company, Oconomowoc. 2:00 p.m. Book signing

May 22, Women’s Group, Madison, Noon.  (More info to come)

May 23, Richfield Historical Society, 7:00 p.m. Stories from the land

May 24-31, Colorado

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

DVD Jerry Apps: A Farm Story List $16.95 The Patterson’s price only $15.00 ($20.00 shipped)
Special Bundle Offer exclusively by the Patterson:
Tamarack River Ghost & Jerry Apps: A Farm Story – List $43.90
The Patterson’s Price Only $35.00 ($43.00 shipped)

Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division St. PO Box 305
Wild Rose, WI 54984

(All items are sold by the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library. They will accept checks or cash, they’re sorry but they don’t have any way to accept credit or debit cards, checks should be made out to the Friends of Patterson Memorial Library.

Thoughts of Spring

As some of you know, periodically I do an “over the phone” live radio show with Public Radio Station, KBRW in Barrow, Alaska.  For those of you complaining about the cold and the reluctance of spring to show its face this year, here is what was going on in Barrow Alaska last week.  While I was waiting to go on the air, I listened to the Barrow weather report.  For last Thursday it went something like this: High today, ten to twelve below zero, low tonight, minus twenty-five.  It sure puts complaining about a plus 40 degrees in perspective.

            Here is a little of what I shared with the Barrow audience about spring:

In spring we shake loose the shackles of winter and make big plans and think big thoughts.  We celebrate what has passed and look forward to the future with joy and hope.  In no other season is there such anticipation.  Spring is melting snow and mud.  Mud in the road.  Mud in the fields.  Mud tracked into the kitchen. Spring is maple syrup and flooding streams, green grass and frisky calves, open windows and cows on pasture.

            Different from summer and winter when we speak of mid-seasons, we do not speak of mid-spring, because there is no such thing.  Spring comes in fits and starts, one day warm and sunny, the next day cold and even snowy.  And then spring abruptly disappears and we have summer.  One thing that is different in spring—the amount of light each day increases as spring days pass.  A glorious contrast to the dark and gloomy days of winter.

ANNOUNCEMENT:  For 22 years I taught a week-long writing course at The Clearing in Door County.  This year, rather than a week-long workshop, I will be doing two, one-day workshops.  The dates are Saturday, June 22, 9-4, and Saturday, November 2, 9-4.  Contact The Clearing for further information and/or to sign up (www.theclearing.org).

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Patience, patience.  Spring is out there, waiting its turn.

UPCOMING EVENTS (Partial List):

April 8, Poynette Library, 6:30 p.m. Garden Wisdom

April 16, Frederic Library, 2:00 p.m. Garden Wisdom, Rural Wit and Wisdom

April 18, Monroe Arts Center, 2-4 p.m. Writing Workshop and evening panel presentation.

April 19, Waupun Library, 6:30 p.m. Stories from the Land

April 23, Larry Meiller Show, Wisconsin Public Radio, 11-11:45.

April 25, Walworth Big Foot Historical Society, 6:00 p.m. Horse Drawn Days

April 30, Barnes and Noble, West Madison, 7:00 p.m. Launch of Limping Through Life and Letters From Hillside Farm.

May 1, Downtown Rotary, Madison.  Noon

May 4, Plainfield Library, 10:00 a.m. Ames County Novels.

May 8, 6:30, Wisconsin Historical Society Museum (Downtown Madison) 

Breweries of Wisconsin.  Dinner, need reservations.

May 9, Reedsburg Library, 7:00 p.m. Garden Wisdom

May 14, Trempealeau Library, 7:00 p.m. Jerry Apps: A Farm Story.

May 15, Magers and Quinn Bookstore, Minneapolis.  Presentation and booksigning.

May 18, Dregni’s, Westby. 10-2:00, Book signing.

May 19, Books and Company, Oconomowoc. 2:00 p.m. Book signing

May 22, Women’s Group, Madison, Noon.  (More info to come)

May 23, Richfield Historical Society, 7:00 p.m. Stories from the land

May 24-31, Colorado

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

DVD Jerry Apps: A Farm Story List $16.95 The Patterson’s price only $15.00 ($20.00 shipped)
Special Bundle Offer exclusively by the Patterson:
Tamarack River Ghost & Jerry Apps: A Farm Story – List $43.90
The Patterson’s Price Only $35.00 ($43.00 shipped)

Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division St. PO Box 305
Wild Rose, WI 54984

(All items are sold by the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library. They will accept checks or cash, they’re sorry but they don’t have any way to accept credit or debit cards, checks should be made out to the Friends of Patterson Memorial Library.

This and That

We’re back from a delightful two weeks in Florida, where we stayed at a condo in Indian Shores.  Our place was right on the beach—with the sound of the surf ever present.  It was a great place to write, which I did each morning.  Also fun to walk on the beach, collect seashells and do the kinds of things one can’t do when far from the sea.

            We Wisconsinites are not alone in expecting, but not experiencing much in the way of spring.  We saw almost nothing spring-like until we reached southern Georgia and northern Florida.  And, can you believe it; the first couple of days that we were there frost warnings were posted for Florida’s northern counties.

            On our way home, a day after a spring snowstorm swept out of the Rockies, across Kansas, into Missouri and then across Illinois, Indiana and on East, we drove on some of the worst snow-packed highways I've seen in years.  Word was that snowplows had been put away for the season.  Five hours of driving to cover 150 miles—top speed twenty-thirty miles per hour.

ANNOUNCEMENT:  For 22 years I taught a week-long writing course at The Clearing in Door County.  This year, rather than a week-long workshop, I will be doing two, one-day workshops.  The dates are Saturday, June 22, 9-4, and Saturday, November 2, 9-4.  Contact The Clearing for further information and/or to sign up (www.theclearing.org).

LETTERS FROM HILLSIDE FARM:  My new book for young readers (Fulcrum Press) comes out in April.  A “Booklist” (American Library Association) reviewer said, “Apps adroitly weaves factual information about the difficulties of life during the Depression with the fictional story of George to create a snapshot of a different time for today’s youth . . . .”  Now if I only knew what “adroitly” meant.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Always good to be home, even though the ground is still snow covered and gardening seems a good distance into the future.

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

DVD Jerry Apps: A Farm Story List $16.95 The Patterson’s price only $15.00 ($20.00 shipped)
Special Bundle Offer exclusively by the Patterson:
Tamarack River Ghost & Jerry Apps: A Farm Story – List $43.90
The Patterson’s Price Only $35.00 ($43.00 shipped)

Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division St. PO Box 305
Wild Rose, WI 54984

(All items are sold by the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library. They will accept checks or cash, they’re sorry but they don’t have any way to accept credit or debit cards, checks should be made out to the Friends of Patterson Memorial Library.

UPCOMING EVENTS (Partial List):

April 6, Shorewood, WI library. 10:30 a.m. (Shorewood Village Center, 3920 N. Murray) Garden Wisdom and more.

April 8, Poynette Library, 6:30 p.m. Garden Wisdom

April 16, Frederic Library, 2:00 p.m. Garden Wisdom, Rural Wit and Wisdom

April 18, Monroe Arts Center, 2-4 p.m. Writing Workshop

April 19, Waupun Library, 6:30 p.m. Stories from the Land

April 25, Walworth Big Foot Historical Society, 6:00 p.m. Horse Drawn Days

April 30, Barnes and Noble, West Madison, 7:00 p.m. Launch of Limping Through Life and Letters From Hillside Farm.

May 1, Downtown Rotary, Madison.  Noon

May 4, Plainfield Library, 10:00 a.m. Ames County Novels.

May 8, 6:30, Wisconsin Historical Society Museum (Downtown Madison) Breweries of Wisconsin.  Dinner, need reservations.

May 9, Reedsburg Library, 7:00 p.m. Garden Wisdom

May 14, Trempealeau Library, 7:00 p.m. Jerry Apps: A Farm Story.

May 18, Dregni’s, Westby. 10-2:00, Book signing.

May 19, Books and Company, Oconomowoc. 2:00 p.m. Book signing

May 22, Women’s Group, Noon.  (More info to come)

May 23, Richfield Historical Society, 7:00 p.m. Stories from the land

May 24-30, Colorado (Tentative)

Announcements

I heard the first cardinal call this morning just as the sun was coming up and everything was so, so, quiet.  Can spring be far away?

            Learned this past week that the hour-long documentary produced by Wisconsin Public TV called JERRY APPS: A FARM STORY has been sold to National Public TV for showing across the country.  The interest in farm stories seems to be on the rise.  Remember Paul Harvey and the Super Bowl commercial about the importance of farmers.  It was deemed one of the best if not the best commercial of all that were broadcast during the game.

            I have two new books coming out in April, one for young adults that is titled LETTERS FROM HILLSIDE FARM (Fulcrum Press).  It is about farm life during the Depression Years. The other, LIMPING THROUGH LIFE (Wisconsin Historical Society Press), is about the time I had polio and how it changed my life.  You can check both books out on Amazon.com.  They will soon be in your bookstores.

            For the past several weeks, I’ve been working with Wisconsin Public TV on a second hour-long documentary that will be titled something like WINTER ON THE FARM WITH JERRY APPS.  If all goes well, it will be aired in December of this year.   The documentary is based on my upcoming book from the Wisconsin Historical Society Press called, THE QUIET SEASON.

            Finally, I’m giving all my loyal blog readers a rest for the month of March, while I am off to a writing retreat.  I plan to return just before Easter and resume writing these few paragraphs each week.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: How marvelous the first Cardinal call in late winter.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

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

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

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

March 6- 27: Writing Retreat, Florida.

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

DVD Jerry Apps: A Farm Story List $16.95 The Patterson’s price only $15.00 ($20.00 shipped)
Special Bundle Offer exclusively by the Patterson:
Tamarack River Ghost & Jerry Apps: A Farm Story – List $43.90
The Patterson’s Price Only $35.00 ($43.00 shipped)

Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division St. PO Box 305
Wild Rose, WI 54984

(All items are sold by the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library. They will accept checks or cash, they’re sorry but they don’t have any way to accept credit or debit cards, checks should be made out to the Friends of Patterson Memorial Library.)

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Bald Eagle

The road near my farm was slippery and snow covered so I was driving slowly—keeping an eye out for traffic and planning what I would do if I might meet someone.  Up ahead, where there was a bare spot in the road. I spotted something big and white—a white jacket someone had lost?

When I came within a few feet of the “something big and white” it moved, and then it leaped into the air on giant wings.  Had there been someone with me I’m sure they would have seen my mouth drop open, for I had just spotted a bald eagle feasting on a road kill deer.  Its big white tail was spread, its white head looking my way with a “get along with you so I can get back to lunch.”

I recall so well those dreadful days in the late 1950s and 60s, when the bald eagle population as well as other raptor populations were in rapid decline.   And then, Rachel Carson’s memorable book, SILENT SPRING sprung the news that the culprit was DDT.

Laws were enacted—much to the dismay of some as DDT did a great job killing mosquitoes and flies.  There was a substantial group of deniers who wouldn't accept the science proving what DDT was doing to this wild bird population.

But science eventually won out and the bald eagle population has been on the increase ever since—to the point that I have seen them soaring over my pond on a warm summer day—and I can spot them cleaning up road kill on our country roads.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS:  What a marvelous thing to see a bald eagle in the wild—and up close.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

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

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

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

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

March 6- 27: Writing Retreat, Florida.

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

DVD Jerry Apps: A Farm Story List $16.95 The Patterson’s price only $15.00 ($20.00 shipped)
Special Bundle Offer exclusively by the Patterson:
Tamarack River Ghost & Jerry Apps: A Farm Story – List $43.90
The Patterson’s Price Only $35.00 ($43.00 shipped)

Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division St. PO Box 305
Wild Rose, WI 54984

(All items are sold by the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library. They will accept checks or cash, they’re sorry but they don’t have any way to accept credit or debit cards, checks should be made out to the Friends of Patterson Memorial Library.)

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