Spooner Advocate Column- November 8, 2012

 

Good morning folks. Well the weather is sure getting cooler, however the days we have had sun it has just been beautiful! I have heard that various areas in Northern MN and other WI areas have had snow. All I can really say is I am glad it has been them and not us. I do like snow but as I get older I find myself dreading scraping the car off, plowing the driveway. I know that there are alot of you out there that think snow can't come soon enough, I hope it holds out alittle while longer.

Are the deer as crazy in your area as they are in mine? Wow, they are moving around alot. When I come home from class on Weds. nights it is like they all call each other and say "Hey Raine is on her way home- lets go jump out at her". The great day that I came across a bunch of deer in the ditch was a great day. They thought they should run, so then I would stop, think that they are going to go across the road. Oh no!! They decide to stop too. So then they go back to eating and looking at me. So I thought well I will go..... Oh no they thought we have to go with her, so they start running along side the car- like I am part of the herd! It was quite the experience!

I hope that everyone exercises their right to vote this Tuesday. It is very important that we don't take the right to vote for granted. Alot of people fought for those rights and they would say do your American duty and go place your vote.

Remember this week is the workshop at UW-Barron Co. in Rice Lake on Thursday, Nov. 8 from 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM designed to help you identify which grants or other financial options might be right for you. This workshop is designed to give farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs’ information, tools, and hands-on training to strengthen grant and loan applications. It will help you create a competitive application and get the financial resources you need to fuel your business. You will walk through an actual proposal and work together to develop key components of a strong proposal. The registration is $15 to cover lunch. Please give Otto a call at the Spooner Ag Station at 715-635-3506

The Beginning Farmer Course starts THIS WEEK, 14 regular class sessions will be starting Nov. 8, 2012 at the LCO College in Hayward. Classes run from 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM on Thursdays. The entire course can also be taken on line. The cost of the entire course will be $240 or $15 per session. Please register by Nov. 5th if you plan to attend the entire course. To register or obtain further information, contact Otto Wiegand or Kevin Schoessow atUWEX Spooner at 715-635-3506

Weekly yard tips- these came from the Arboretum in MN.

1. Keep mowing your lawn as long as the grass is growing. Meadow voles and field mice will damage turf and nearby trees and shrubs if they have long grass for food and cover.
2. Spread clean straw, marsh hay or oak leaves over tender perennials, newly planted bulbs and strawberries before temperatures drop into the teens but after the soil surface has frozen.

What to Plant- these also are from the Arboretum in MN.

1. Many garden centers and florists will have Amaryllis bulbs for sale and often they are already planted in a pot and all you need to do is add water. Amaryllis are long lived plants that can be grown as blooming house plants during the winter and as foliage plant outdoors during the summer with a 8 week rest period in your basement during the fall.
2. Force tulip bulbs by planting them so they are barely covered with the “noses” poking out in shallow pots. Water well, cover with plastic and move to your refrigerator or an unheated, insulated garage that stays cool but does not drop below 35 degrees F. After about 12 weeks the pots may be moved into a cool area indoors and flowers will appear in 2 -3 weeks.

Have you ever been to the Arboretum? We have gone a handful of times- it really is a beautiful place and just a wonderful place to go. They have some wonderful things that they plan for the holiday seasons coming up, why not take a day trip or meet up with some friends and go check it ouot. They also do various classes- they are well worth the trip over to see them. If you would like to check them out on line their address is www.arboretum.umn.edu - go to the Making Spirits bright page and see what all is going on. I have to say I would love to go to the Christmas Tea, would also like to have a membership again.

Medicare open enrollment starts Oct 15 and goes through December 7th, 2012. If you need help in deciding how to pick a plan or stay on a plan you can go on the Medicare Plan Finder at www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan. If you want a person to actually help you out collecting information to make an educated decision you can go to the Wisconsin Aging and Disability Resource Center. They can be found at www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/ltcare/adrc/customer/adrccontactlist.pdf .

News from Springbrook VFW Post 10568 - 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. They are also collected unopened, new toys for the Marine Corps “Toys for Tots” program. 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.

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 fabulous week!

Spooner Advocate Column- October 18, 2012

Good morning folks.  I hope this finds you all doing well and enjoying the weather, its been sad to see all the leaves leaving the trees- I did love the colors! We added some animals to the farm this week, so of course that meant working outside, in the rain. If I have the weekend off, you know the weather is going to be all over the map. The new geese and the pigs are settling in on the farm pretty well. If you don't know we live on a farm and quite a number of our animals came to use through having to be re-homed due to various reasons. We are always so blessed when people call or e-mail and think too rehome their farm animals with us. We have also taken in birds and reptiles in the past! My daughter was quite surprised when she opened the door and our geese population had increased from 4 to 16! If you ever need help rehoming animals due to death, drought, or any other reasons feel to contact me, we can put our heads together and figure out a solution.

My tips for getting ready for the winter this week are. Pick up the dishes, pots, chairs or anything else you use to decorate your yard and put them up. If water gets in things it can expand and break that item, your items will also last longer if you put them inside for the winter. Don't have a garage or shed? Then put the pots on top of the stacked chairs and then put a tarp around the chairs with a bungy cord. Do you need to cover your septic area? It is easier to do that now than when the forecaster is talking snow. Try on all those winter clothes that we all have not seen for months. Do you have a jacket that fits? Hats and scarves for all the people that live in your house? Do you have mittens, an extra pair? Do they match? Look now BEFORE you need them.
 

Congratulations to the Spooner Rails football team who won over the Hayward Hurricanes last friday night. It was pretty crustal that the Rails win as it was their Homecoming game but also now they get to go to the playoffs!! Way to go Rails! You guys rock!

Medicare open enrollment starts Oct 15 and goes through December 7th, 2012. If you need help in deciding how to pick a plan or stay on a plan you can go on the Medicare Plan Finder at www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan. If you want a person to actually help you out collecting information to make an educated decision you can go to the Wisconsin Aging and Disability Resource Center. They can be found at www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/ltcare/adrc/customer/adrccontactlist.pdf .

News from Springbrook VFW Post 10568 - 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. They are also collected unopened, new toys for the Marine Corps “Toys for Tots” program. 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.

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.

Here is a recipe that I am going to share with you, I love to have a good, thick, tasty soup when the weather gets cold. I found this recipe on www.allrecipes.com . They really have a ton of great recipes and they are even rated so you know if folks have made them and have liked the recipe or not. Please don't let the serving size on this one scare you, you can always freeze it or how about sharing some with the neighbor next door? There are alot of elderly out there that would love a great big bowl of Potato Cheese Soup, do something nice for someone you may not know now but who may become a good friend!

Creamy Slow Cooker Potato Cheese Soup- makes 18 servings

        1/4 cup butter  

        1/2 white onion, chopped

        1/4 cup all-purpose flour

        2 cups water

        2 large carrots, diced

        4 stalks celery, diced

        1 tablespoon dried, minced garlic

        salt and pepper to taste

        1 cup milk

        2 tablespoons chicken soup base

        1 cup warm water

        5 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cubed

        1 bay leaf

        1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

        6 slices crisp cooked bacon, crumbled

Directions

1. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook onion in butter until translucent. Stir in flour until smooth, then gradually stir in 2 cups water, carrots, celery, garlic, salt, and pepper. Heat through, then stir in milk. Dissolve chicken base in 1 cup warm water, and pour into vegetable mixture.
2. Place potatoes in slow cooker, and pour heated vegetable mixture into potatoes. Place bay leaf in pot.
3. Cover, and cook 5 hours on High, or 8 hours on Low.
4. Remove bay leaf. Puree about 4 cups of the soup in a blender or food processor, and then stir pureed soup into contents of slow cooker. Stir in cheese and bacon until cheese is melted

 

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. You can reach me at 612-619-7700 or drop me an e-mail at twogirlsandagarden@msn.com 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 fabulous week!