Category Archives: Weather

Another farmer prayer

October 28, 2020Columns, Farming, Weathersusanmanzke

Prayers on farms never seem to end. I’ve written about praying before and probably will again.

This one is from October 1983.

Weather wishes don’t change much. We farmers would love a perfect weather year, but that’s hard to come by. Still, we keep praying for one.

As I’ve said before, more prayers are sent heavenward from the seat of a tractor, combine, or in a barn than in a church. We pray where the action is, or isn’t. There’s no time to stop work and run to a church. A silent prayer anywhere gets to God just the same.

Falling leaves

October 11, 2020animals, Weather, Wisconsinsusanmanzke

I looked out the window and saw a blizzard of leaves falling to the ground from the basswood tree.

Of course, when I brought out my camera, the leaves only trickled down.

In this short video you can hear the southerly wind blowing and cats circling my feet begging for food.

After taking this short video, I waited to see if another blizzard of leaves would flow. It didn’t so I went inside to start putting together food for all my critters–cats don’t talk with their mouths full.

Sunrise

September 15, 2020Weathersusanmanzke

For many weeks, I’ve been taking sunset photos from my front porch.

Here’s one from September 10th.

I’m sad when clouds take away this view. The last few evenings, I’ve missed out on sunset photos.

The best I could get was one on Sunday, September 13th.

While out with my dog Sunny this morning I noticed the sunrise.

I grabbed this shot when I walked back into the yard.

Both of the last photos were orange because of the smoke drifting all the way to Wisconsin from California.

The wildfires are horrendous out west. Pray for the people, the wildlife, and the western states.

Weather from a distance

August 10, 2020Weathersusanmanzke

Thunderstorm warnings were out for our area.

The sky above was clear.

In the distance to the north I saw this cloud.

When you are underneath such a cloud, you can not see it build above your head.

The sky darkened here. I could no longer see the building clouds.

Thunder rumbled.

A sprinkle came.

And went.

A nice shower would have been appreciated, but I’m happy the big storm didn’t materialize here.

I heard from family farther south that they did have winds blow through. Russ has one tree down. Friend, Joyce, has patio furniture blown about.

I hope all have survived the winds and weather.

Tomorrow should be a nice day.

Taking measure

May 20, 2020Family, Memories, Weathersusanmanzke

How much rain did you get?

It all depends on where you live and how you measure.

We have a rain gauge on Sunny’s pen. This day we had 3/4s of an inch.

Bob used to talk about his grandfather. In days gone by, they compared the amount of rain measured at their homes. No matter the storm, Grandpa always had more rain, even when he lived next door.

How could this be?

It was the way Bob’s grandfather measured. His rain gauge wasn’t like the Manzkes’.

This was Grandpa’s rain gauge…

…his wheelbarrow.

Of course, he always had more rain.

This method brought a measurement of 2 inches, not 3/4 inch. The day that I took these photos, the guages were about twenty feet apart.

Grandpa never saw the need for a calibrated rain gauge. He liked his wheelbarrow method, which he used all his life.

So, how do you measure the rain coming into your yard? Rain gauge? Wheelbarrow? Teacup?

Susan Manzke

Writer, Speaker, All-Around Good Person