Category Archives: Columns

Old lawnmower

August 15, 2021Columnssusanmanzke

My son-in-law David, Rachel’s husband, worked hard on this old mower of Bob’s. He bought a new engine for it, installed it, and then fiddled with all the wires and controls, trying to get it going.

For a time, it looked like a lost cause, but David wasn’t giving up. Eventually, he got the engine going and then he had to get it rolling. Bob had stuck it on a pallet with the front wheels off the wood. The machine had to back up, but it refused over and over. That’s when I found a booklet about the mower. It gave David the information he needed to get both wheels turning together.

That filthy machine has been moved from the farm and hopefully, it will do a lot of mowing around their cabin.

It would be a three-hour drive to the cabin.

I’m sure Bob would approve and be happy our youngest married a determined man.

Until next time, that’s it from Sunnybook Farm.

New book available

August 10, 2021Columnssusanmanzke

A NEW ADDITION 1982-1983e: is for sale at Sissy’s, Amazon, and Kindle.

I only bought a few books for my family so I don’t have many to sell. When I run out I’ll purchase a few more. Speaking engagements were nonexistent last year and haven’t picked up yet in 2021. Because of this, there’s no need to have many books on hand.

Notice the shelf below A NEW ADDITION. More of my books are there.

I will bring one to the library later this week so eventually, you can check it out.

Some of these columns in this book were included in my first book collection. Many were not. — If you get the kindle edition the photos in the book will be in color (if you use a color reader or computer).

Until next time, that’s it from Sunnybook Farm.

One dollar bet

August 4, 2021Columns, Odds and endssusanmanzke

Winning the lottery would have helped with our farm debt. I was sure I had the numbers.

As usual, Bob had his doubts. Listen to this column from June 1990 to hear the results.

I rarely purchase any lottery tickets. When the prize was half a billion, I did buy one. Not even one of my numbers was called.

Dangling big prizes in front of people has everyone standing in long lines ready to put down money better spent on bread and milk, or at least a candy bar.

A Bob story

July 26, 2021Bob, Columnssusanmanzke

Today I’m reading a column from 1990 about Bob.

My husband was a soft-spoken guy except when it came to stubborn machinery. Then he would let the sharp words fly, but only if he was alone.

Of course, Bob forgot that sometimes others could hear his colorful words.

The kids laugh after hearing him working in our basement alone. Their dad’s words didn’t stop at the basement ceiling but floated into our living room where everyone could hear him. Bob never realized this, until he heard the kids laughing.

If Bob was really having a bad time with machinery, I’d head out and help. My hands would fit where his didn’t. Many days we were both covered with grease and oil. On a few rare occasions, I found solutions for him, that was because I didn’t know what I was doing and found interesting ways to address problems.

I sure miss him.

Gross roadside attractions

July 16, 2021Columns, Family, funsusanmanzke

What catches your attention while driving Wisconsin country roads? This column from 1990 tells what our children saw and commented on.

Some may giggle at their reactions. Others may gag.

Time has passed and all have grown up, but roadside attractions like these continue to bring comments from my family, and now I include grandchildren, too.

Susan Manzke

Writer, Speaker, All-Around Good Person