The Schairer farm shop in Birnamwood was built for equipment but became a place of worship May 11. St. John’s Lutheran Church held its second annual Church on the Farm service on Mother’s Day. The Rick Lettau Family Band came out of retirement to provide the polka music. It had everyone tapping their feet and singing along.

I think most people, even from a young age, are aware of the risks of drinking alcohol in excess or on a regular basis, including impaired judgement, liver failure, drunk driving, addiction, etc.

I cringe as I set my alarm for 4 a.m. I am not a morning person, but on the rare occasion when the benefit far outweighs the unwelcome blare of my alarm clock, I make the sacrifice. In this case, there was no doubt that it would.

Scientists discovered ways to extract stem cells from early mouse tissues nearly 40 years ago.

It’s mid-March, the time of year when those winds from the balmy south send many of the migrating songbirds our way, soon to show up in our backyards and surrounding landscapes. One of our favorite woodpeckers to watch for is the Northern flicker. We usually just catch sight of it as it seemingly makes a mad dash through our backyard. Its low, undulating flight pattern is a key giveaway for this species.

“Yoo-hoo, anyone home?” I sing as I gently tap tap on the side of an Eastern bluebird nest box. I want to make my presence known before opening the door so any adults on the inside get a chance to fly out. They don’t mind me as long as I am gentle and move quickly. I’m getting ahead of myself; let me back up a little. The Eastern bluebird is a cavity nester, meaning they use natural cavities, like old woodpecker holes in dead trees, for nesting.