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Gardens can produce food for migrating birds

Published by kjpasson on Tue, 10/01/2024 - 9:40am

Growing food sources for wild birds is a great way to help these winged wonders during their peak fall migration season, already underway for many species.

Robins and bluebirds are flocking up, roaming the countryside and backyard gardens looking for fruiting trees and shrubs.

Many varieties of warblers, vireos and thrushes are migrating through, even as we speak. Fall migration is underway.

Three-pack is good intro to cozy sleuth

Published by kjpasson on Tue, 10/01/2024 - 9:37am

This week I selected a three-book set from BookBub. The cozy mysteries by Michele Pariza Wacek feature inadvertent sleuth Charlotte “Charlie” Kingsley and are set in the small town of Redemption, Wisconsin. “The Murder Before Christmas,” “Ice Cold Murder” and “Murder Next Door” gave me a bit of Charlie’s backstory.

Farm Life From a Farm Wife

Published by kjpasson on Tue, 10/01/2024 - 9:32am

Being around animals my whole life, and especially dairy animals, I’ve come to discover they definitely communicate over and above our human awareness.

For example, a mama cow has a definitive moo when she calls for her calf, a different moo when she perceives harm toward her little one, another moo is a feed-me-now-or-I’ll-die-right-here. Unfamiliar territory fuels yet a different kind of stressful moo. Also, when their udder is full — you know it; an urgent moo. They need to get milked.

Hundreds of sandhill cranes staging at marsh

Published by kjpasson on Thu, 09/26/2024 - 1:20pm

Fall is a great time to enjoy watching those magnificent sandhill cranes. This is the time when they flock together in large numbers. One of the places you can easily see them is at the Oconto Marsh, one of their staging areas; they stop here and similar places around Wisconsin to rest and replenish energy reserves before starting or continuing their migration south. You can find the Oconto Marsh one mile northeast of Oconto.

Every hunter needs huntress — even if she stays home

Published by kjpasson on Tue, 09/24/2024 - 6:28am

As I grow old (I’m not sure about the wise part), I do more reflection on the important things in life, particularly my family and friends.

I hit the big 65 milestone on Sept. 3 and another epic one on Sept. 19: 26 years of marriage. To the same person. Call me crazy, but I still haven’t upgraded like Tom Cruise (How could he leave Nicole Kidman?) or half of the pretentious Hollywood geezers “dating” women a third their age.

Motherly love can be kinematic kinship

Published by kjpasson on Tue, 09/24/2024 - 6:24am

Having finished the story of my great-great grandmother Anna Maria Holzschuh, I am turning the page to write about one of her hundreds of descendants, my daughter, Jina. By the time you read this, she will be in the last week of her birthday month.

Ellis conjures a complicated fantasy

Published by kjpasson on Tue, 09/24/2024 - 6:15am

This week I chose “A Conjuring of Ravens” by Azalea Ellis. It is subtitled “A Practical Guide to Sorcery” and is best described as a tome rather than a book.

The only backstory is an archaeological expedition recovers an ancient book of spells and an amulet. The artifacts are taken to a special university in Gilbratha. Before the professors can begin an examination, the book and an amulet are stolen.

College News

Published by kjpasson on Fri, 09/20/2024 - 9:57am

UW-Whitewater

A pair of area women attending UW-Whitewater have been named resident assistants (RA) for the 2024-25 academic year.

They are Lily Hakes, from Suring, who is studying biology, and Hannah Marien, from Shawano, who is studying criminology.

RAs are part-time student staff members who live in the residence halls with students, serve as a resource and positive role model, and help build a sense of community by hosting floor events.

Modern arrow rest makes tuning recurve bow easier

Published by kjpasson on Tue, 09/17/2024 - 9:07am

As my traditional bow collection grew, I’ve had a difficult time using one particular bow and sticking with it. As a longtime hunter and shooter, it’s always been my seasoned opinion that to improve accuracy and success, it’s easier to buy new or different equipment, rather than practice frequently.

I still have the same Bear Grizzly I started bowhunting with in 1974, and if I had shot that bow even 10 arrows a day, four days a week, Chuck Adams would be angry that I was hogging all the trophy animals.

September the time to give gardens a lift

Published by kjpasson on Tue, 09/17/2024 - 8:58am

So much to do and see and enjoy in the September garden. Extending the gardening season to last beyond Labor Day has been the goal of more and more gardeners. With garden centers fully stocked with colorful annuals, perennials, shrubs, grasses and more, it’s a great time to give your garden a September update.