Growing my own

March 19, 2020Farming, food, funsusanmanzke

Years ago, I sprouted seeds in my kitchen. With all that is going on, I decided to get started sprouting again.

I could have sprouted some seeds in a jar. I found simple directions on Google:

How to Grow Sprouts in a Jar

Place one to two tablespoons of seeds in your jar, and cover with approximately two inches of warm water. …
Drain the water, using a fine sieve or cheesecloth.
Rinse the seeds by adding water to the jar, swishing the seeds around, and draining.
Repeat twice a day, every day until your sprouts are the desired size.

I’d suggest you start with one teaspoon of seed for alfalfa seed. Here’s a link to growing alfalfa:
https://www.wikihow.com/Grow-Alfalfa-Sprouts

I didn’t start growing my alfalfa seeds in a jar. Like any kid, I wanted a ‘toy’ to play with and bought a sprouter online. Kitchen Crop VKP1200 Deluxe Kitchen Seed Sprouter, | 6″ Diameter Trays, 1 Oz Alfalfa Included

That ounce of alfalfa that’s included will take me a long way, but I also ordered some seed mixes.

Water drains from the top, through the sprouting levels and is caught in the lower green level. I’m to put the water through this straining system two to three times a day.

It’s like having another pet, though it is not a Chia Pet. It will grow edible sprouts. I’m not so sure about eating Chia sprouts. At least those packaged as a pet are not recommended to eat, but the ones that are sold as edible chia seeds are.

You’ll have to wait a few days to see how my project is growing.

Today I feel like a farmer again. Bob would be proud.

Five jobs I’ve had

March 18, 2020worksusanmanzke

I saw a post on Facebook, suggesting people list five jobs they have had. I think they said five so we wouldn’t have a list an arms-length long. I just started thinking about my list of jobs and definitely had more than five.

Of course, I’m a writer and a speaker. That leads me to being a fur trader….

at least as a speaker telling about Wisconsin’s past.

I’ve also been a mechanic…

under Bob’s tutelage.

Right out of high school I worked in a grocery store lugging boxes and stocking shelves. After that, I was a bookkeeper/clerk at Frankfort Grain in Lumber in Frankfort, Illinois and then came the time I was a receptionist for a Dr. Polito DDS. (All Illinois jobs)

While in Wisconsin I worked as a secretary for the religious education department at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. I also was an activity assistant at a nursing home and an elementary school teacher’s assistant.

Somewhere along the way in the 90s, I had a short-lived job working for Budget Rental at the airport. (Too high pressure for me.)

The longest-lasting job (besides writing) was farming. I was Bob’s partner and right-hand-woman, especially when he needed someone to hold something or reach into a small place to turn a wrench.

I drove tractor, pulling implements: baler, cultivator, disk.

I was always on call when Bob got stuck and needed a pull.

During haying season

I even moved bales (in the 1990s).

This is beginning to sound long enough to be a column. I just may expand this job thing in the future. Stay tuned.

The challenge

March 17, 2020animals, Chickens, foodsusanmanzke

I am challenging myself to write something on my blog every day. I’ve been trying to do this for some time now, but now, with the new changes in the world, it has become even more difficult. I won’t be getting out as much now.

I have food in the pantry, the refrigerator, and in the freezer. I even make my own bread–I got in the habit of making bread because Bob only liked my bread and not any store-bought varieties. Now I’m hooked on my own baking, too.

On a news report, I heard some of the food that people need to replenish often. They talked about needing bread, eggs, and milk.

Besides making bread, my hens help solve the egg problem for me. I usually get two to three a day. When I feed the girls I gather eggs and thank them for their efforts.

Bob made the nest boxes we have out of five-gallon buckets. The girls seem to like one more than the other two we have. I always find all their eggs in one nest. They must take turns.

I usually can’t eat all they give me, but with the chickens around, I won’t go hungry.

Now I wonder what I can do about milk. Hmmm.

Othello, the cat

March 16, 2020animals, petssusanmanzke

I was studying Shakespeare’s Othello when two cats came to live at our house. Rebecca named the runt Peter Michael Manzke (Pete outgrew being the runt). I named the other Othello.

Though Pete has crossed the rainbow bridge, Othello is still with us at the age of 16. He’s a scroungy old cat, needing a good brushing.

Pete hates to be brushed. I do a little of him at a time, usually quitting when he starts biting.

Last year this time, while Bob was struggling with his cancer, Othello wasn’t well. I couldn’t bring myself to put him down. I’m so glad I didn’t. He is fine, and good company, sleeping with me.

Othello, without the scroungy half of him showing

Today, I share my home confinement with my pets, so I am not completely alone.

Othello is a beggar, always wanting treats, he gets them, too. I better not run out of his treats. I don’t know what he would do to me if he didn’t get a few every day.

So that’s my blog for today. It’s extra quiet here. I think that’s because I should stay to myself. The crazy thing is that I was finally getting out of the house after losing Bob.

Oh well, this too shall pass….though it will take a while. Good thing my freezer is well stocked.

I hope everyone is comfortable and safe, too.

Don’t jump the gun

March 15, 2020Weather, Wisconsinsusanmanzke

Spring is on the way, though I felt chilled after walking with Sunny today.

When we got back from our walk, I noticed that two snow shovels still hung on the fence, ready for the next snow.

I thought about stashing those shovels away, and then I thought better of it. Every time I’ve been too optimistic about spring’s arrival, we’ve had setbacks, sending us back to winter. Remember last spring? Not inches, but feet of snow. No, I don’t want to repeat that.

Those two shovels will remain where they are until I’m sure snow is not on the horizon, which could be June.

I recommend to friends to not tempt fate. Do not put away shovels, or salt. Keep heavy jackets and boots at the ready. They aren’t hurting anything hanging close by. Wait for the all-clear before replacing winter gear with summer stuff.

Don’t become the person who brought on a late winter/early spring snowstorm by jumping the gun.

Take this as a warning.

Susan Manzke

Writer, Speaker, All-Around Good Person

Growing my own

Five jobs I’ve had

The challenge

Othello, the cat

Don’t jump the gun