Wisconsin Farmer - April Fool's 2009

April Fool's Day, 2009

by Delores Miller

Here it is April Fool's Day, 2009 and a cold rainy day. But at least it is rain, and not a blizzard like they are having in South Dakota with over 12 inches of blowing snow. All our snow is gone, and the tulips and iris are up a few inches, so spring has to be on the way.

The Lion's Club was selling roses, Russ got me a dozen white ones, they are just beautiful.

We were bored one day, and went to a cattle and machinery auction, 30 miles up the pike. The young man died of cancer and his wife, for 2 years kept the farm going with the help of a hired man. 71 head of Holstein Dairy Cows were sold, besides a full line of new machinery. The lunch wagon was there, and the farmers were buying hamburgers and brats at 9 in the morning. Two portable toilets took care of their other needs. 500 farmers were there bidding. The cows brought about $1000. We just stayed long enough to come home with the musky smell of manure that lingered for days.

Saturday night we went to the Appleton Performing Arts Center to hear humorist Garrison Keillor. Tickets were $45 apiece, and we were in the 3rd balcony. He always tells of Minnesota Lutherans. Russ had a hard time hearing him. Garrison wrote the 'Lake Wobegon' books and has a weekly column. Full house, about 3000 people.

Russ put up a new mailbox. The old one was 50 years old and stuck in an old milk can, surrounded by gravel. Needless to say the milk can was rotted. One day we both went and had our eyes tested and got new glasses.

Robin and Keith came one weekend, they went by Marianne and out for Indian food. The next day they went to Milwaukee to see Oliver, Matt and Lisa and Autn Dorothy and went out for Greek food.

All the children will congregate here on the farm for Easter. The Easter bunny, courtesy of Richard Miller's Internet deposited 72 dozen plastic eggs on our doorstep. Russ filled them with candy and quarters and on that Saturday all 11 grandchildren will come and hunt them down in all the buildings. We hope they find them all, so we don't have to cut them up with the lawn mower.

Cousin Jerome Begrow, 69 died of a brain tumor. His Mother, Doris Beyersdorf Begrow was my god mother. We went to his funeral at South Dupont church, nice to see what few relatives we have left.

Oliver came home from the hospital on March 20, after being in the neonatal hospital for 12 weeks. He is doing well, but still has his heart monitors and oxygen. He has a nurse stopping 3 times a week and may need hernia surgery. Matt is on 6 weeks paternity from teaching.

Mabel Schroeder, 104 from our church passed away. She was kind to us when we joined 50 years ago. The day of her funeral, alas was another blizzard so did not go.

St. Patricks day was March 17. I like corned beef and cabbage, Russell cannot stand the smell, so I get me a nice roast and a head of cabbage, carrots, onions and potatoes and had 6 meals. I was sick of it by the end.

Sand Hill Cranes came back early on March 6. Bet they do not like this cold weather. The wild geese are flying north, trying to find some open water.

We go dancing yet once a week, the jam session, the musicians come and go and do their musical numbers. Once a month big lunch. Once a month the regular Clintonville dance. Economic downturn has hit the dances, fewer people are coming and paying their $7. They need at least 120 people to get enough capital to pay those band members at least $100 apiece. Times are tuff all over. Went to the Dupont fireman's dance, had a good band. All the regular dancers like us were dancing, the firemen were sitting in the bar, too frightened to dance. This Saturday night is the young Farmers dance, will go to that too. Most times we sit out the polkas and just do the walzes.

copyright 2009, Russell and Delores Miller