Category Archives: Columns

Testing audio

November 1, 2021Columnssusanmanzke

I went over my laptop audio, but found no problems.

I then recorded this with and without a microphone. Can you hear any difference?

I didn’t find any difference with the microphone. Did you?

I sure don’t want to lose my listeners because of a poor recording.

Here’s my 50-word story from yesterday, in case you couldn’t hear it. Now you can read it.

Strange neighbor

By Susan Manzke

He sat in the front yard. Hat cocked over his right eye, a beer bottle in hand.

Street a few feet beyond.

Children walked on the far side, cringing.

Adults smiled but did not speak to him.

A few days after Halloween he disappeared, not to rise until next October.

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

Church chicken dinner

October 27, 2021Columnssusanmanzke

This column from 1987 is about working behind the scenes at the church chicken dinner. My job was cleaning up chicken parts.

There are no chicken dinners at my church anymore, but maybe someday there will be.

Maybe if the dinners return, I’ll take a different job, like breaking up bread for the mounds of dressing.

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

Gaper’s block

October 6, 2021Bob, Columns, Farmingsusanmanzke

When farmers gaze at farm fields being combined they create a gaper’s block. Bob was very good at this viewing as I wrote back in 1986.

I was happy to drive Bob through the countryside so he could see what was going on other farms. It was much safer having me drive and watch the road than having him trying to drive and watch the fields.

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

Sweet Sunny dog

October 5, 2021Columnssusanmanzke

I’ve taken many videos of my cat, Car-E, but very few of my dog Sunny. Today I tried to change that.

It was almost impossible to coax him close to my laptop so we could both be in the same video. He wouldn’t come for a regular dog treat. Finally he came for a cracker.

Sunny is showing his age. This morning he went for a twenty-minute walk, but there are days he sits down at the beginning of our walk. Those days I have to take him back to the house and take my walk alone.

Still, he is good company and hope he continues to be my companion for a long time.

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

Lending to a 9-year-old

September 29, 2021Columns, Family, funsusanmanzke

This 1986 column features Becky (Rebecca).

It brought a smile to me today as I remembered this family story. I’m so glad I saved it in my column.

You don’t have to have a weekly column to save family stories. Just pick up a pen and write your memories down. Later they will bring you joy … of course, others will not always bring joy, but family stories will brighten your day.

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