Category Archives: Columns

Church chicken dinner

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.

Copyright 2021 © by Susan Manzke, all rights reserved.

Gaper’s block

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.

Copyright © 2021 Susan Manzke, all rights reserved

Sweet Sunny dog

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.

Copyright © 2021 Susan Manzke, all rights reserved

Lending to a 9-year-old

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.

Copyright © 2021 Susan Manzke, all rights reserved

Another branch of the family

I found out grandson Caleb was playing in a soccer tournament in my neck of the woods this Sunday. It just so happened I could make one of his three games.

They were outmatched but they kept trying. Can’t do more than that.

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

Copyright © 2021 Susan Manzke, all rights reserved