Category Archives: Susan

The hum isn’t the mower

August 20, 2021Sunnybook Farm, Susan, wildlifesusanmanzke

Mowing Sunnybook Farm’s large lawn is enough work. Too bad buzzing biters make it even more of a challenge today.

Every time I got near a bush or tree, mosquitoes swarmed out around me, making my driving shaky at times, as you can see in this video.

The mosquitoes have multiplied and gone crazy.

I swat. I slap. I wave my hands, but nothing I do perturbs them.

They land on my arms. They land on my legs. They circle my head.

I drive my mower faster, out into the open, into the sunlight. For a time I’ve left them behind. But I have to return to the shade and there the war with those bloodsuckers continues.

Campers would be eaten alive.

Until next time, that’s it from Sunnybook Farm.

So long Olympics, until next time

August 8, 2021Odds and ends, Susansusanmanzke

I don’t have cable tv so all the Olympics I watched was on the local NBC station. That was enough, but I wonder what I missed.

It is over for now. Everyone is going home. Here are a couple of my thoughts as the game’s end.

My home seems quieter than usual now that things have ended.

My wish is that the world continues with the kindness displayed at the games. We can all hope and pray that this spreads around the world.

Until next time, that’s it from Sunnybook Farm.

How should I sign off of this blog?

August 3, 2021Odds and ends, Susansusanmanzke

Here’s my question of the day. How should I sign off when ending a video recording?

I’m looking for something that is ‘me’.

All reasonable ideas will be considered. At least, I will think about them.

Nothing tasteless, please.

Now you have your assignment.

I look forward to reading your suggestions.

Painting

July 28, 2021art, Susansusanmanzke

In between lawn mowing, I took some time to pour a couple of acrylic paintings on tiles.

Some are better than others, but I’m still learning.

Right now I’m considering my next pour and using less paint and more of the thining medium.

So much to learn.

But I’m having fun.

Maybe if I did let the cat out when the paint is fresh, I’d get some interesting paw prints across my creations. Hmmm, something to think about.

More about county fair entry

July 22, 2021Outagamie County Fair, Susansusanmanzke

Friends convinced me to enter the open fair photography competition because they liked my sunset/sunrise photos. Can you guess which photos did not place? The collection of 4 X 6 sunrise/sunset photos. One 8 X 10 did get a fourth place, so all wasn’t bad.

At least the judge wasn’t impressed with images like this one. Still, I can’t complain, not after winning Grand Champion for my photo of Car-E. Also, a Car-E collection got first place in its category. And the judge admitted to having issues with cats, not their photos, just live cats in general.

If it wasn’t for my family, friends, and Facebook friends, I wouldn’t have entered at all.

Thank you all for your encouragement. You got me off my duff and pushed me to enter.

I’m already thinking about next year. Of course, now I know my competition and how good they are. It will be tough going, but there will be no success if I don’t enter.

Susan Manzke

Writer, Speaker, All-Around Good Person