Category Archives: Odds and ends

Under the canopy

July 23, 2019crafts, creativity, fun, Odds and ends, worksusanmanzke

It’s Tuesday, so once again we were at the Seymour Farmer’s Market.

The weather was predicted to have pop-up showers today, but lucky for us none popped here. We had a nice day with a lovely breeze.

There could have been more shoppers at the market, but maybe they were saving themselves for the county fair which started tonight with a tractor pull. Bob entertained himself by watching all the trailers with tractors on them, driving to the fair. Most were IH.

From our booth/canopy we could see the people to our west who were selling handmade teddybears and a bunch of other crocheted items.

East of us was a couple selling vegetables.

See the blue cooler on the table to the left above the yellow bucket. A little boy was selling lemonade at the end of his mother’s table. Bob and I bought a cup from him for fifty cents each.

All in all, it was another nice Tuesday.

nodding off

July 22, 2019Odds and endssusanmanzke

I haven’t had time for reading lately. Today I finally cracked open Book 5 of Harry Potter again.

The trouble was I kept nodding off as I tried to read.

When each new Harry Potter book came out, I took a book vacation and read it–I’m a slow reader so it took me a while. Now, since I know the stories so well, and I’m kind of tired, my eyes close too easily.

I ended up finishing a couple more chapters today before giving in and taking a nap. Maybe I’ll try another chapter tomorrow….there’s a long way to go to the end of the series.

Fun and fright

July 20, 2019Family, Odds and ends, worksusanmanzke

Last night a wicked thunderstorm came through our area. There was a tornado somewhere west of us, but the worst part was the straight-line winds. That knocked out our power for us for about three hours.

Still, we decided to take a planned outing and head up to Door County today. The branch pick-up would wait until tomorrow.

Rebecca and Andy took us for a ride to Egg Harbor where Russ and his family were having a weekend away.

First stop was Wood Orchard Market. I loaded up on Cherry Butter. When we run out of that good stuff we go through withdrawal.

Second stop was at Lautenbach’s Orchard Country Winery & Market.

We visited by the pool at the Landmark Resort where Russ and family were staying. Planned to eat alfresco but storms sent us inside. Not as much fun eating inside, but our day was a great outing.

When we arrived home we found that the second wave of storms knocked down a lot more branches. Kind of happy we weren’t home to see this bad storm hit. Tomorrow is cleanup time.

Lucky for us, none of the large limbs were on the house.

Will go outside now to start on the small pieces but will have to think more about the big stuff. Can’t just pop those big branches in the cart.

Getting and giving change

July 17, 2019Odds and endssusanmanzke

I’ve been taught that it is not polite to accept change and count it in front of the person who handed it to you. This works most of the time. I find people are mostly honest.

When I handed someone money for an item yesterday, I expected fifty cents in change. These were the coins I got. One is a quarter. One is not.

I didn’t notice the difference until I got home and one felt lighter. That’s when I saw that the one on the left was not a quarter. It even has a hole in the top where someone once had it on a chain or something.

Maybe it was an honest mistake. Maybe they just got it in change themselves. I’m just happy that it was only a quarter. It’s not much of a loss.

I will not pass this coin on to someone else. It will stay here.

From now on, I’ll check my change when finalizing a sale…but probably not. I prefer to think of people as honest.

A time to work

July 15, 2019Bob, Odds and ends, worksusanmanzke

Bob started tearing down the back entrance shelter to our back door without telling me what he was doing this morning–I was at my computer working on my next column. Eventually, I figured out he needed an extra pair of hands.

Working together is something we continue to do. These days, Bob can’t bend low, but I can. He can’t tip his head back to see high spots, but I can. I’m also able to pick up things he drops before he goes for his grabber.

This entrance had been built 40 years ago and had deteriorated. Bob’s plan was to take down some of the rotten parts and replace them with new treated lumber and that is what we did.

Bob used the back of his truck as his workbench.

I came in handy when we attached the wood at ground level.

Bob could easily reach what he needed at the tailgate level.

It got too hot to work so we didn’t finish completely, but at least we could close the gate again when we left this project today.

When we went into our cool house Bob smiled and said, “It’s good to know that we can do something for ourselves again.” (He hates to ask for help, even from me.)

Susan Manzke

Writer, Speaker, All-Around Good Person