One week later!

March 24, 2020creativity, Farming, foodsusanmanzke

It wasn’t long ago that I wrote about starting to sprout alfalfa seeds (March 19 blog). I actually had them started a day before posting about this venture.

The first batch is ready to eat and I’m enjoying them. It’s something fresh and green in my diet.

Besides alfalfa sprouts, I’ve also started a mix with clover and another with lentils, peas, mung bean and adzuki bean–whatever that is. These just went into the sprouter yesterday and I already see little shoots starting to pop out today.

Since I’m having so much fun growing these seeds, I went searching for my old sprouter. I remember that two of the plastic levels had broken. Maybe I threw the whole thing out at that time, but maybe I didn’t.

Guess what, I found my original sprouter or at least half of it, and now I’m able to have more seeds going.

The new set up is on the left and the old sprouter is on the right.

I’ve been munching alfalfa sprouts for a couple of days. Finally, I have enough to make a mouthful. If I keep the seeds cycling through the containers, I should have something growing to eat every day.

I bought my packaged seeds online through Amazon, but from the Sprout House (www.sprouthouse.com).

Good and cold

March 23, 2020Family, foodsusanmanzke

Bob and I used to share one banana daily at breakfast. I still like eating a daily banana but only smaller ones.

I am now out of fresh bananas, but not out of bananas.

Some time ago, I peeled a few good bananas, wrapped them tight, put them in a container and froze them. I took one out this morning, sliced my frozen fruit and ate it. The second half will be eaten tomorrow.

One of our daughters laughed when she came across my wrapped bananas in the freezer. “What did you do this for, Mom?”

Now you know. I saved these to eat. (No they are not as good as fresh, but these are what I have.) Anyway, I could also use them to make a smoothy. Now that is yummy.

I have other frozen bananas in the freezer. These went in when they were getting old and still have their skin in place. I planned to use these for banana bread–I might try eating one of these if I get desperate. Maybe I’ll be able to keep the fruit frozen, yet take the skin off with a little warm water–too much defrosting turns them all to mush.

So now I can get by without fresh bought bananas for a while.

It may not be the perfect solution, but it is a solution that will keep me at home for days/weeks of solitude ahead.

Official Absentee Ballot

March 22, 2020creativity, Odds and endssusanmanzke

I usually work the election polls, but I bowed out from these duties and asked for a paper absentee ballot.

I received my paper ballot yesterday and only opened the envelope today. It looked as I expected. I was ready to fill it out and send it back to our township clerk. That’s when I stumbled across a problem.

The envelope has highlighted places for signatures. Yes, I said signatures with an S. I was to sign and have someone sign as a witness to my signature.

I was flummoxed. Who would witness my signature? If Bob was around, we would have witnessed each other. Now I only had the dog. Somehow I don’t think his paw print would suffice.

While I was contemplating this dilemma, I got a phone call from daughter Rebecca. I told her about the situation. Rebecca said to take my sealed ballot to the drive-up window at the bank. The clerk at the window can be my witness–they also have notary public services the same way.

Tomorrow I’ll take a drive to Nicolet Bank in Seymour. They know me there and should be able to be my witness.

Thank you, Rebecca.

Letters going out

March 21, 2020Familysusanmanzke

I don’t feel alone even though I’m the only human living here. I’m reaching out to my family through phone calls and the Internet. Then I thought about sending something to our grandchildren–kids love getting mail.

In a drawer in the kitchen, I found I still had stickers I had gotten over the years from our bank. These went into envelopes today and will get to four families next week. I sent another envelope to Rebecca but she’s not getting stickers. In her envelope is about a teaspoonful of alfalfa seed. Her mailing is a test to see if these actually get to her and will sprout for her. If that works, I may send more later.

I’m expecting letters back next week with drawings and notes from grandchildren–hint, hint.

I have more letters to write to friends. These may turn into phone calls or emails, but I’m still connecting–I do have a few Amish friends who do not get emails or phone calls. I guess I’d better get writing to them–I really don’t know why it is so hard to write a real letter. I haven’t written any since losing Bob.

The photos are a couple of years old, but the letters are new.

Anyway, that’s what I did today. I think that’s a positive start for my letter writing. More will eventually go out, but I think I reached my limit today.

Happy Spring!

March 20, 2020gardening, Sunnybook Farm, Weather, Wisconsinsusanmanzke

It’s still March in Wisconsin, but officially spring is here. It arrived late last night, so this is the first full day of spring.

Other springs haven’t been so cold. Some years spring came too early and messed up the blooming of our apple and pear trees. The blossoms came and then came a frost. That was the year without fruit.

It’s hard to say what weather will come next, but no matter, you can’t do much about the weather.

We can look forward to better days. I’m positive those will come, too.

Patience is what we need.

Flowers from another first day of spring on Sunnybook Farm

Dance, even if in your living room. (Our dog Sunny thinks I’m crazy when I’m dancing around the kitchen, but that’s okay. I got him to move, too. He followed me around from room to room trying to get the treat I offered him, so he was dancing with me even if he didn’t know it.)

Have a good first day of spring.

Susan Manzke

Writer, Speaker, All-Around Good Person

One week later!

Good and cold

Official Absentee Ballot

Letters going out

Happy Spring!