Spooner Advocate Column- October 11, 2012

Good morning folks. As the weather has been getting colder I thought we could talk about some things to do to get ready for colder weather, this is just easy things to do to get started, especially since we have flakes forcasted for this week again. Get a bucket by the door that has sand in it, you can use it on the slippery steps, it is also animal friendly. Or you can always use a sand mixture with the snow melt pellets mixed in - just remember those pellets are hard on animals feet, maybe plants around the steps. Put a shovel in the inside of your house or at least on the porch- we forgot this last year and well... it was alot of fun walking through snow to the barn to get one! Have you cut back the plants that should be cut back in the fall? Did you leave some of the plants, grasses, bushes that have gone to seed or that are overgrown for the birds to eat and take shelter in when it is really cold? Please think of the animals that might come through your yard this fall or winter, try to make it as animal friendly as you can. If the cold weather coming early means a cold winter for the humans just think what it means for the animals that live out ther all the time. Do you have a tip or a recipe to share? I would love to hear it.

The Springbrook VFW Post 10568 will be having Les Millard over at the VFW Canteen hosting Karaoke from 5:30-9 pm on October 13.This is a change in the date so please note that so you go on the right date. The Canteen will also be hosting a meat raffle on October 13th  from 3-5:30. If you have any questions feel free to give them a call at 715-766-2128, they open at 3pm on the weekdays and noon on weekends. As always everyone is invited to come to the community potluck every Wednesday 5-6 pm, please bring a dish to share.The Springbrook VFW Post 10568 is having a Gun raffle. Raffle tickets are $1 donation it 6 for $5. There are 5 top prizes, 3 of which are guns, the fourth and fifth prize are $100 cash. The Gun raffle prizes will be awarded November 21,2012 so you still have time to get your raffle tickets. You may buy tickets for the raffle while you are up at the Canteen listening to Les! They are also collected unopened, new toys for the Marine Corps “Toys for Tots” program.

Sherrine called to let me know that the  Namekogan Congregational  Harvest dinner is Tuesday October 9th from 5-7, the column had already gone to press last week.  I am hoping that the meal is a success, I will try to get over there to eat some great food.

Please remember that the deadline for information making it into the column is Sunday night or early (by 9am) Monday morning. The sooner you tell me the longer I can put it in the paper. So if there are events that you know of that are planned already please let me know, that way we can get them out there to the public.

I hope everyone had a wonderful time at Stone Lake Cranberry Festival. I am sure that it was alot of fun, I heard some positive feedback so people must have had a good time.I know that I would have liked to go but I worked all weekend. I still need to get over there and buy some cranberries from someone! I would love too freeze a bunch and be able to dry some as well.

 Mark your calendar- the 1st annual Octoberfest is coming to Shell Lake October 13- 5pm- 11 pm. Sounds like they are going to have brat sliders, sauerkraut, pretzels. All you can eat Bavarian Waffles. Live polka band with dancing, of course beer and other refreshments. For more information email info@shelllakeartscenter.org or go to their website www.shelllakeartscenter.org.

Thimbles Quilt shop in Trego will be starting their demos again now that it is fall. Every Saturday they will demo something new to make, they usually have  treats and a how- to sheet that you can take home so that when you get around to making the project you can remember how. If you have any questions give the store a call- 715-635-6040.

That is all that I have this time for you. Please let me know if you have any info that you would like shared with the community. This column is posted on my blog every Thursday as well and is read by folks that do come to our area, so please let me know what is going on out there. Have a awesome week!

 

Spooner Advocate Column- August 2, 2012

Hello there neighbors!

Did you get to the Washburn County Fair? Did you have fun? Congrats to all the exhibitors and people that had animals to share with everyone! You guys are all winners just for taking the time to learn something new and to share that with people you don't even know. Just think you may have inspired someone to garden, sew, or paint. That is an awesome thing if you think of it! Have you started working on things for next year? How about trying something new to you? Go on get out of your comfort zone and try something new.... I double dog dare you. =)

Remember to get your entries in for the Sawyer County Fair- August 16-19,2012-Hayward, WI. All registrations need to be in by August 3rd- that is THIS friday!! Got questions, need registration paperwork? Go to the website www.sawyercountyfair.org Please remember to support your local county fair, take your family and please go to the animal  auction. These people work hard at get the exhibits together as well as showing some great animals!  Also a big thank you to all the sponsors and volunteers- you are all awesome!

Remember to go on over to the Springbrook VFW on Friday August 3rd. They are having Karoake with Les Mallard from 7 til at least 9, maybe 10. Go alittle early and have a cool drink and something to eat. Coming up on Aug 17th Stacey Hughes- Not All Jazz will be at the VFW to sing for all of you. Remember by going to these events the VFW is able to support our community through donations to places like the Washburn County Food Shelf. Please go and show support for all the great work that the Springbrook VFW has been able to do.

During my busy schedule I was able to go see the Piecemakers Quilt Show on Friday night. I met some lovely ladies that belong to the Piecemakers Quilt Guild. They were super sympathetic as I was having one of those days with work, a farm and a 15 year old daughter.... need I say more? So I was SO HAPPY that there was a quilt show as that is pretty cheap therapy! I got to see some of my favorite ladies Kathleen from Heartlight Quilt Shop in Ladysmith as well as Sandy from Bolts of Fun in Thorp! I have to say it was a great quilt show, lots of beautiful projects! I was very inspired by these beautiful hankie quilts a lady did in remembrance of a loved one.  I have some hankies from my grandma that I want to put into something, there is only acouple so this gave me an idea on how to maybe do a smaller project with them. Although I do want to do a butterfly quilt and that I will need alot of fancy old time hankies for..... Does anyone have any that they would like to share with me? Piecemakers meets at the wonderful library in Hayward on the second Monday at 10:15 until 8 at night. That means the 13th will be the next meeting, how about coming to meet with some other quilters? If you have something to share please bring it or if you are having a problem with a project I am sure you can get some help from these knowledgeable woman.  To become a member of the Piecemakers Quilt Guild all it takes is $15! If you need any questions answered please drop them an e-mail at haywardpiecemakers@hotmail.com. I hope to meet some new friends at the next Guild meeting! Thanks to all the volunteers that donated time, items to sell! Thanks to wall the vendors for coming up to supply our fabric habit! Thanks to all the quilters- you are all so talented!!

If you have events, news , announcements etc to share please drop me an e-mail twogirlsandagarden@hotmail.com
Have a wonderful week!