Category Archives: Columns

Bob seeks farming options

May 20, 2021Bob, Columns, Farmingsusanmanzke

In May 1988, I found Bob doing a lot of farm figuring in the middle of the night.

Bob’s work-life concerned farming 24/7. This night he was trying to make plans for spring. Everything looked good on paper, but…

Thinking about farming happened at night and during the day. Until planting was complete, Bob’s life centered on farming.

I did drive a tractor and worked up the ground before Bob planted. But it wouldn’t take much imagination to figure out that I handled a lot of our family activities.

Low-cost family fun

May 18, 2021Columns, Family, funsusanmanzke

This column from May 1988 tells how the Manzkes had fun with bubbles–big bubbles and little bubbles.

If you want to make a big bubble take an old T-shirt, cut a circle from around the lower half of shirt about an inch wide. Tie two dowels to material with 1/3 of the material between dowels and the rest hanging down. Dip material into soap mixture, pick up and slowly pull dowels apart. This should give you a big bubble.

Bubble recipe: 6 to 1 — 6 cups of water to 1 cup of Dove dish soap. I never added corn syrup or glycerin. Do not mix vigorously because you’ll foam the mixture which isn’t good for making bubbles.

A farming oops for Susan

May 14, 2021Columns, Farming, Susansusanmanzke

When it came to farming, there was a sharp learning curve getting me up-to-speed every spring. Each year I had to relearn which leaver to pull or push to get my field cultivator in and out of the ground.

Sometimes there were accidents. This one wasn’t my fault. Listen as I read from May 1990 to hear what happened.

I figure I’m lucky to be here. I could have been a statistic that day. Of course, after Bob’s pep talk I debated about getting back up in the driver’s seat. I did, but with trepidation.

There are all kinds of farm stories. This is just one.

FYI: Remember when you are driving country roads to have patience for those slow-moving farm machines. Farmers are just trying to get safely to their next field.

A sweet gift from an 8-year-old

May 13, 2021Columns, Family, fun, Memoriessusanmanzke

Some days a mother gets a sweet surprise. This 1988 column talks about the little gifts my children gave to me. Little Russell became the feature child when he was eight.

Listen and hear what my boy gave to me making an ordinary day Mother’s Day.

I would have forgotten about Russell’s gift if I hadn’t written it down. Remember to make a note of things that you feel great. It can be anything.

Surprises like this one are a keepsake.

Susan takes a stand for mourning doves

May 12, 2021animals, Columns, wildlife, Wisconsinsusanmanzke

In 1989 Wisconsin put their peace dove, the mourning dove, on the list of animals to hunt. I objected and wrote about my feelings.

Everyone did not agree with me. Some even wrote letters to the editor. Wow! Here’s what I wrote about the idea of hunting one of my favorite birds.

Mourning doves are fun to watch and listen to, but there’s only a bit of meat on their bones, so don’t shoot and eat them.

A small group of hunters is allowed to hunt on Sunnybook Farm. Most seek deer, some turkeys, and ducks, but no one is allowed to shoot a mourning dove. That’s the rule.

You may object to my stand on hunting these mournful little birds and that’s your right. But this is my farm and YOU SHALL NOT HUNT MOURNING DOVES HERE!

Susan Manzke

Writer, Speaker, All-Around Good Person