Back in time

My original column collection, made into a book, was a selection from the first four years of my column. My late friend, Colleen Sutherland, helped me choose from my scrapbook. She affixed stars to the one she liked–the more stars the more she liked the column.

Today, I’m going through the complete first two years to make it into a book on its own. I’ll be adding a few extras and some photos–we never put photos in the early years of my column, which is too bad. Now I have to search for some that are appropriate to go into my book collections.

These first columns were in the Farmer’s Friend out of Denmark, WI. It wasn’t until 1982 that the Wisconsin State Farmer added my column to their newspaper, the Seymour Times-Press came later.

At this same time, I was also a local reporter for the Green Bay Press-Gazette and the Compass.

Setting up another book is slow going, but at least I’m moving forward. It’s something to keep me busy.

Copyright © 2020 by Susan Manzke, all rights reserved

Daily visitors

The birdfeeders Bob made years ago are right outside our kitchen window. Having feathered visitors is a blessing in winter. I hope the seeds I put out are also a blessing for the birds.

nuthatch
closeup
chickadee
bluejay

It’s a good thing our barn cats are so well fed. They don’t bother the birds at all.

Copyright © 2020 by Susan Manzke, all rights reserved

The gift of a laugh

I felt a chill this afternoon. Before going onto the front porch to feed the barn cats, I grabbed one of Bob’s heavy shirts.

After feeding all those moochers, I got a laugh. I had missed a snap on the shirt and the front was cockeyed.

Bob had done this often. Many times during our life together I was telling him to fix his shirt.

Today, when I did the same thing, I couldn’t help but laugh and thank my husband for all those years of fixing his buttoning/snapping.

Copyright © 2020 by Susan Manzke, all rights reserved

Writing?

As we are past Bob’s memorial celebration, I now have to think of other things, like writing.

I have multiple collections of column books started. I guess now is the time to finish one or two.

The trouble is I have to type in all my columns and then find a few photos to go inside. Both seem to be chores but have to be done if I want to save our stories for our family.

Cover of my second collection

Since my old laptop is past its prime, I’m having trouble searching through its depths for the book manuscripts I had started.

It’s not easy updating to a different computer, learning about it, and trying to match up to the old files, too. Ugh! Technology is great when I can get it to work for me.

Copyright © 2020 by Susan Manzke, all rights reserved

Watching it snow

It is snowing again.

I’m worried about family traveling to Seymour this weekend. The snow keeps coming, making roads iffy.

When I go outside I find the gently falling flakes beautiful. I just wish the snow wouldn’t coat the roads and make them slippery. The land welcomes the blanket of white, not the roads or drivers.

Our flowering crab tree in all its winter glory.

I just want everyone to be safe. Driving or walking, take it easy.

Copyright © 2020 by Susan Manzke, all rights reserved