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It was almost 150 years ago that our earliest pioneers faced one of the worst years on their prairie farms when swarms of grasshoppers invaded the land devouring everything in sight. It was at the end of July 1874. For the previous two years there had been good wheat crops and 1874 was no exception. The wheat had just been harvested and the corn fields were promising a good crop. A Jewell County settler, Joel Green, who had a farm west of Burr Oak, on July 21 began to notice swarms of grasshoppers arriving in his fields. Two days later, he...
The word adventurous means to take a risk, or try new methods and ideas. Have you ever asked yourself what have you done that you considered being the most adventurous? For some it may be be taking a zip line ride, sky diving or mountain climbing but for others it may not be taking those kind of risky adventures. When I think of my most adventurous times, they may be simple but to me they are just as important as the high risk takers. It may be the times standing in from of a group of people and singing a solo or standing in front of judges...
Here’s wishing you had a Happy July! It’s always been a favorite month of mine but maybe one reason for that is my birthday falls in July, though I must say I don’t look forward tomy birthday as much as I did years ago. Thoughts of July that come to mind are making homemade ice cream for friends, relatives and family who come for a Sunday afternoon visit; watching the fireworks as they are sent up into the air,bursting and flowing everywhere; trips to the swimming pool the fun of running through the yard sprinkler on a hot day; taking the t...
Happy 248th Birthday, America! Lately it seems this “sweet land of liberty” has become more chaotic than patriotic. America is still considered to be the best country in the world and the best place to live and raise a family, but we all need to work to make it remain that way. After all “Freedom Isn’t Free.” Thinking back to when the first American Patriots decided that they didn’t want to live under the rules of England and its king, they began to rebel and stood up for what they believed. Those patriots were few in number and were willin...
The country roads are busy as wheat harvest is underway. Like all harvests, the farmers are anxiously getting to reap their rewards for all their efforts and costs of planting their crops. Though wheat harvest isn't like it used to be, it still is an exciting time. With the larger combines, semi trucks and tractor-pulled grain carts, harvesting moves much faster these days. There isn't as much wheat planted as there used to be. The crops most planted in recent years are corn and soybeans....
Looking back on my teen years during the mid 60s, we did some pretty unusual things but also there were some pretty neat things that were done also. Being a teen in those years was unforgettable and I must admit we were pretty sheltered. With the introduction of Rock and Roll music in the late 50s and early 60s, it was the rage to keep up with the latest in music and dance. Elvis, the Beatles, Dave Clark, Petunia Clark, the Supremes were some of the top singers and teens rushed to purchase their 45s and albums. It seemed like every week there...
Some people have favorite trees. My husband likes the native Cottonwood tree since it reminds him of his childhood, as his family lived by the Solomon River where the Cottonwood trees grew in abundance. He enjoyed hearing the sounds of their rustling leaves. For myself, my favorite tree is the native Catalpa tree. It was about four years ago that my husband and I planted a Catalpa tree in our front yard. It has grown a lot since it was planted. Now it provides shade from the morning sun through the front windows of our house. Some may wonder...
Flowers are growing and blooming more this spring than in years past. My favorite, the peonies, out did themselves and now the irises are showing off. Irises have been in North America since the 1600s. They were brought from Europe by early settlers. These lovely flowers can be found not only in North America and Europe, but also in the Middle East, Northern Africa and Asia. History tells us the ancient Egyptians placed an iris flower on the brow of the Sphinx as a symbol of bravery and wisdom. Where did the name “Iris” originate? Reports say...
Recently a hard decision was made at the Schlaefli farm. With our farm pickup getting age and some mileage on it, we decided to trade it for a newer one. For us, as with most farmers and their families, the farm pickup becomes part of the family and makes it hard to part with it. Thinking back over the years we had our farm pickup, we relied on it so many times. It was dependable and came through for us. Whatever the duty we gave our pickup, it was up for the task. Our pickup wasn’t given a nickname as we had done in the past with our other pic...
It was a wet, showery Monday morning and it was enjoyed. After getting flowers, veggies and grass planted last week, the rains were welcomed. Maybe the old saying “April Showers brings May Flowers” should be changed this year to “May Showers bring May Flowers.” I recalled rains received while a youngster on my folk’s farm. Those rains would often fill the ponds, ditches, draws and creeks. I couldn’t wait until the rains stopped and the sun came out as it meant fun times running down into the home pasture, shedding my shoes and wading into...
Ready or not here comes May! I don’t know where April went, but it’s gone. It’s always a busy month. It’s time to be getting a vegetable garden planted, clean out and start up the water fountain, mow grass and mow again. Then there is my favorite May duty. That’s making trips to my favorite local flower-garden centers to shop for the flowers I hope to get planted in my prepared flower beds. It’s time to be neglectful to my house cleaning duties. It’s time to put on my straw hat and gardening gloves and get to digging in the worked soil....
Last week found my hubby and me on a trip to Kentucky, a state that we had not traveled in before. We saw lots of sites but with both of us being history buffs, we had to tour at least one Civil War battlefield. The one we toured was the biggest Civil War battle that occurred in that state, Perryville Battlefield. A hilly area, it was pictured with the U.S. troops all on one hill. Directly across a small valley was where the Confederate troops were stationed, firing cannons from one hill to the...
In the days before children’s attention was drawn to playing computer games and they had their faces buried in their cell phones, there were some pretty interesting youth games played. Growing up, some of my generation played many physical games that did also require some thinking and planning. During recess at school, games such as dodge ball, softball, Run Sheep Run and Red Rover were often played. At home, my sister and I would compete against each other with games such as Pick Up Sticks, Jacks and Marbles. The Pick Up Sticks were either w...
Rural entertainment has picked up on the Schlaefli farmstead. A few days ago our neighbor turned his cow-calf herd out in the field directly across the road from our house. The cows seem content as there is plenty to eat as they are stationed in a tall green wheat field. Some of the cows have had their calves and some are still in the process of calving. The little calves are bouncing around but never travel far from their mothers. The newborn calves are hard to see when they lay down in the thick wheat. Once in a while the calves play with...
Our calendars are telling us that spring arrived a week ago and Easter is just a few days away, but Tuesday morning as I looked outside, it didn’t look like spring or Easter. Blowing snow arrived late Monday afternoon and in our farm yard, three inches of snow covered the ground. Tuesday the sun was out and the blades of grass and road ways were sparkling showing an ice covering. Yet, there is still hope for a brighter Easter as weather predictions say some of the day temperatures this week may get into the 70s. If this happens, the snow w...
This week I attended a memorial service honoring a fellow club member and friend of my mother’s. As her obituary was read, it was said she was a member of the Young Matron’s Club. Chuckles went up from those in attendance as a remark was made about the club continuing on for years. Why did they never change the name of the club as the members aged? I believe this honored woman was probably the last member of the Young Matron’s Club. My mother was one of the original members of the Young Matron’s Club as I believe the honored one was also on...
It was an unusual 76 degree day Monday and my hubby and I decided to head to the farmstead I grew up on. My cousin had called me earlier in the day and said we needed to come to the home pasture to see the new calves and the first calf heifers when we had the time. I was eager to go. That is one of the things I miss doing since my hubby retired from farming. We used to go out at least once a week to the pastures to check on the cattle. It was extra fun in the fall when the calves would arrive. I enjoyed those cattle and calves checking times....
Currently politics is front and center in many people’s thoughts as this country prepares for the upcoming Presidential election. It seems that over the years, politics and the elections have become more torrid, verbal and targeted. It wasn’t always that way. Growing up in a Republican family, my Granddad and Granny Boyles did not back away from their political views. It seemed my parents followed suit. Granddad and Granny thought highly of President Dwight D. Eisenhower partly because he was a Kansas guy, second was he was a successful general...
Volunteers Wanted! This is a request that seems to be always floating around here and other places. Recently I noted on a social media site volunteers were needed to help with some of the interior construction on the new Jewell County Community Wellness Center. In the local newspaper, a request was made that more volunteers are need to help in the operation of the Ute movie theater, as is the case with a lot of the movie theaters in the area in order to keep the doors open. A recent email gave a shout from the Salina Community Theater that...
John Tucker, Burr Oak, has collected crocks for almost 30 years. His collection now totals 70 and more are expected to be added. John has all of his treasured finds displayed on shelving he constructed in the basement of his and wife Sue's home. As for why he decided to collect this crock-stoneware, he said, "because I became interested in them and like the sight of them." Among his collection are big and little crocks, jugs of all sizes, poultry waterers and even butter churns. The items in his...
I am so fond of the month of February. While officially it’s still not spring, I’m happy with it. My reasoning is simple. There are February dates that are special to me and hold memories of loved ones past and present. I became a mother for the first time on Feb. 4, 1968, when our son was born in the Salina hospital. My husband was on his last semester at Vo-Tech Drafting School at Salina. We were nervous and though we only lived five blocks from the hospital, we practiced several times driving to the hospital. Three sisters-in-law of min...
No mail Monday. No banks open Monday. It was Presidents’ Day! I can remember when President George Washington and President Abraham Lincoln each had their birthdays observed this month. Then they were lumped together to create Presidents’ Day. I guess I’m thankful that Washington and Lincoln still have their birthdays observed in some matter, but their names are not included on most calendars. Recently a media broadcaster went out into the public to ask questions, testing the history knowledge of the younger generation. It did not go well. One...
Happy Valentine’s Day! There are red and pink hearts displayed this time of year. There are those special Valentine’s cards sent and received and welcomed. Beautiful flowers are delivered and gifted to those special Valentines. Then there are the Valentine gifts that can be sentimental or lavish that are treasured. It can be a special time when that important romantic question is often popped. It’s a time when children prepare Valentine boxes and the friendly Valentine cards that sometimes contain candy are delivered secretly. Maybe, inste...
For years parents, grandparents, teachers and day care providers, have been encouraged to read books, stories and poems to children. My mother often read to me and sometimes when my father had time, he too would do so. I loved hearing all those stories but mostly for some reason I was drawn to the nursery rhymes. I don’t even know if those nursery rhymes are read today to children as I suppose some of them and their wordings are considered unacceptable for children’s ears, but for me and those children growing up a few years back, they hol...
Currently our country roads are sloppy, mushy and rutty making it difficult to travel on. All the rain followed by snow, then freezing temperatures and now receiving warmer temperatures have the roads thawing, snow melting and for the next few days will make driving on them difficult. Even with a four-wheel drive vehicle, getting through the roads is questionable. Hopefully with the predicted temperatures getting up into the 50s and maybe even 60s, it will dry out the roads. That’s the way it is living in the country. Usually our native rock r...
