Category Archives: Odds and ends

Grandpa’s truck

September 17, 2019Bob, Family, Farming, Odds and endssusanmanzke

A while back I saw our son, Russ, taking his son to look at Grandpa Bob’s old farm truck.

I couldn’t figure out what they were doing. It wasn’t until later that I found out that Russ was giving Harrison an education.

Russ was showing the hand crank in the truck door that worked the window.

It was something Grandpa had that none of their cars had. The crank was very interesting to Harrison.

I wonder what else we have around that would be considered ancient. I think that in the attic there’s a dial telephone that was attached to the wall by a cord. How in the world did we call on that phone without buttons?

Bria Bella & Co. Fashion show

September 14, 2019Family, Odds and ends, Wisconsinsusanmanzke

Our daughter Rebecca and I took a ride today to Stevens Point for a fashion show at Bria Bella, our daughter-in-law Tara’s boutique.

The show was delayed from the original July date when a terrible storm hit, and damaged the area. Today we had lovely weather. Not a storm in sight.

Before the show, I got to visit with grandson, Ethan. He was taking some time away from his freshman studies at UWSP and helping out on this special day at the shop.

The finale of the fashion show–Tara is center stage

Watching the guest models show off clothes from Bria Bella was a lot of fun. I’m so happy to be able to have made the trip to Point. Thanks Rebecca for driving.

FYI: Bob stayed home today deciding he wasn’t up to too much walking, or hanging out in a woman’s fashion boutique. It really was a ladies day out for Rebecca and me.

One sign of fall

September 6, 2019food, Odds and endssusanmanzke

Fall might not arrive until September 23, but you can’t tell it by our Wisconsin weather. Today it is cloudy, gloomy, and cool.

One sign fall has arrived is that I’m ready to start baking again. Today I made chocolate chip cookies.

I thought making cookies would be better than using my chocolate to make fudge. That seemed like a healthier option. (That’s a joke.)

I used the recipe off the Hershey chips package today

Some of these went into the freezer for future nibbling.

I almost forgot to set the timer for the last batch, but for once I didn’t burn it.

Bob doing some fixing

September 2, 2019Bob, creativity, Odds and ends, Sunnybook Farmsusanmanzke

The Manzkes brought up two wooden picnic tables from Illinois some 40 years ago. They had them for years in Illinois and we still use them in Wisconsin.

The thing is that they aren’t exactly as they were many years ago. Wood doesn’t last forever and when Bob finds some wood rotting he replaces it.

Last week Bob thought these picnic tables had finally come to the end of their lives. He was ready to make a bonfire out of them, but I talked him out of that drastic measure.

Bob searched out some wood scraps and patched the heavier table back together.

Never fear, after his patching, the picnic table is usable again–maybe for many more years to come.

BAM! right in the kisser

August 30, 2019nature, Odds and ends, photographysusanmanzke

Going for a drive down our lane is very interesting some days.

Because of the tall corn growing on our farm, we don’t get a great view of the landscape, but we still enjoy our rides…well usually.

Today, a flying grasshopper flew right at me and hit me in the face. Actually, it hit me in my glasses. I was so happy I was wearing my glasses as I’m not sure if that grasshopper could have damaged me.

Also, Bob and I don’t talk much as we drive. Some bugs, like this grasshopper, could end up in one of our mouths. (Once I swallowed a Junebug! Yuck!)

I wanted to write this blog about getting hit by a grasshopper but had a hard time getting one to stand still long enough to take its picture.

I finally got this photo of two on the ground. I know it’s out of focus, but those bugs are fast. They don’t sit long enough to say ‘cheese’.

Bob and Sunny were on the grasshopper search with me, hunting slower ones that I could capture with my camera.

Just a word of warning, when driving out in the country, wear safety glasses or a helmet and keep your mouth shut.

Better safe than sorry.

Susan Manzke

Writer, Speaker, All-Around Good Person