They’re back!

wildlife, Wisconsin

I saw them from my kitchen window and reached for my camera.

Two, and then three, were on the ground right across the street from the house. At first, I thought I was seeing turkeys coming close to the house.

I was wrong. These are not turkeys, well not exactly.

This is a Turkey Vulture!

These birds return to this area the way swallows return to Capistrano, well almost, pretty close to the same date every year.

With a huge wingspan, these birds are fun to watch as they ride the thermal winds, looking for carrion to eat.

But don’t be afraid, though they aren’t the prettiest bird in the neighborhood, they won’t hurt you or your pet. They prefer roadkill.

Copyright © 2020 by Susan Manzke, all rights reserved

Finally in the mail

Family, Friends, Memories, Odds and ends

I write every day on my blog, but writing individual letters seems like a lot of work for me. I’ve found a solution.

After digging through a box, I found a bunch of postcards Bob and I had gathered over the years. The oldest is from our honeymoon in 1973 when we stopped at the Arch on our way home.

Anyway, I used these cards the other day to write short notes to people–the space limits what I can write and if the cards are small enough, they only cost 35 cents to send.

Anyway, now a few people will find a little greeting in their mail that isn’t a bill, an advertisement, or political.

Postcards were first purchased as a

I hope they enjoy my efforts.

I even sent some to grandchildren. Of course, they like to get mail, too.

This is nothing earthshaking, but it is an idea of how to use those vacation postcards that never got mailed. Postcard souvenirs will now brighten up someone else’s day. 

If your vacation souvenirs are postcards like mine, maybe it’s time to send them winging on to a mailbox. You’ll brighten someone’s day, I guarantee.

Copyright © 2020 by Susan Manzke, all rights reserved

A favorite photo

Family, Memories, photography

Years ago, I was a member of a photography club. To learn, we were often given assignments. At the next meeting, we brought back developed photos to be critiqued.

I have no idea what they told me about my photos, but I do know the ones I liked. The one I’m sharing here is one I continue to love.

This photo was taken at the Black Creek Depot. The building was empty and I asked Russell to look inside. This is one of the snaps I took with my 35mm camera that day.

Little Rachel was trying to catch up with her brother, stumbling and almost falling–wanting to be like the older siblings often got her in trouble. She fell once while everyone was wrestling and broke her collar bone. Good thing nothing bad happened to her this day.

It was a fun day to practice my photography and to enjoy time with our two youngest. I think this was fall 1984.

Copyright © 2020 by Susan Manzke, all rights reserved

Things are sprouting

food, gardening

I’m not shopping. Rebecca brings me my essentials.

There’s no fresh lettuce in my fridge but I do have a substitute. That would be alfalfa sprouts.

I’m growing these myself. I thought I had my trays spaced so I’d have a fresh one every third day. To my chagrin, I had four trays ready at about the same time, so I have plenty to eat.

Yesterday I had a yearning for a taco salad wrap. I took turkey, avocado, tomato, taco sauce, and tons of sprouts to make my lunch. The taco sauce made it extra special.

Good thing Rebecca left an avocado and tomato for me on her last grocery delivery.

Susan with one batch of alfalfa sprouts.

When the sprouts are grown, I keep them fresh in containers in the refrigerator.

Alfalfa sprouts are my favorite, not radish sprouts, they are too tangy for me at this time. Maybe I’ll try that mix of seeds again later.

So now you see how my garden grows, even with freezing temperatures and snow in Wisconsin.

Copyright © 2020 by Susan Manzke, all rights reserved

Keeping family close

Family, Odds and ends

These days it isn’t easy to keep family close as we are all living at a virus-induced distance.

My family and I keep in touch by phone, instant message, and video conferences. The kids check-in to make sure I’m well and safe, sheltering at home–I am. I haven’t been away from the farm for weeks. Rebecca brought essential groceries to my back door, only to visit from a distance on our last nice day.

Even when not connecting with family members, I connect with them every time I go to the refrigerator. That’s where I have a photo gallery.

There are other odds and ends attached to the front of the refrigerator: pressed flower art from Carol, an unfinished family tree, a printout of Bob and my name that will end up with thousands of others on Mars, and a Pickles cartoon. Mostly, I look at the photos.

I’m connected to my family when I get breakfast, lunch, and dinner…and a snack. They are there smiling back, even if the photos are a little old and they are much more grown-up now.

They are there for me to see and admire, even when we are living at a distance.

Yep, I’m proud of my whole family. It would be better if we could get together and hug and laugh, but that day will come. Right now I’ll just admire all the Manzke offspring as I head for milk for my coffee.

Copyright © 2020 by Susan Manzke, all rights reserved