MORE FOR THE WALL — Rachael Lee, left, and Donnavon Eaker of Steve’s Meat Market have continued the award-winning tradition of the late Steve Eaker. (Star Eagle photo by Kathy Paulsen)

By KATHY PAULSEN

Staff Writer

They specialize in award-winning smoked and cured meat and sausage products and are darn proud of it. They've won more than 310 state and national awards since 1975.

They’re Steve’s Smokey Acres Meat Market of Ellendale. And their reputation continues to grow.

Owners Rachael Lee and Donnavon Eaker attended the Minnesota Association of Meat Processors convention in Rochester March 18-19 and, as usual, they brought home a cartful of awards.

They included:

• Grand Champion, Ring Bologna

• Grand Champion, Specialty Whole Muscle Item (Apple Cinnamon Bacon)

• Reserve Grand Champion, Specialty Summer Sausage (Blueberry Summer Sausage)

• Reserve Grand Champion for Fresh Pork Sausage Item (Maple Pork Sausage Links)

• Reserve Grand Champion, Non-fermented Summer Sausage (Hickory Summer Sausage)

• Reserve Grand Champion, Cooked and Smoked Pork (Semi-Boneless Ham)

• Champion, Whole Bone In Ham

• Champion, Specialty Snack Sticks (Cranberry Sticks)

• Reserve Champion, Bacon

• Reserve Champion, Cooked Summer Sausage, Regular.

On Thursday, before the convention began, Lee was able to attend a members’ seminar and saw how some new meat products are being prepared. During the convention they also attended several learning seminars about HAACP, and learned about new laws that will be put into place for all meat processors. They were also able to attend special sessions in the Exhibit Hall at the Rochester Civic Center, where they were able to talk to company representatives that supply raw meat products, meat processing machines, equipment, seasonings and casings for the meat industry.

FAMILY TRADITION — Sarah Manthey succeeded her sister, Angie, and Sara Larson during the Waseca County Dairy Association’s Annual Dairy Princess Banquet March 26 at the Purple Goose in Janesville. Pictured is the Manthey family, from left, Chuck, Angie, Justin, Sarah and Kris. (Star Eagle photo by Carol Jolly)

By CAROL JOLLY

Staff Writer

Excitement, melancholy, nervous jitters and memories all melded together for the Waseca County American Dairy Association’s Annual Dairy Princess Banquet, held at the Purple Goose March 26 in Janesville.

Curt Keyes, President of the Waseca County ADA, kicked off the evening welcoming friends and neighbors of dairy producers and products. Brian Sommers gave the invocation, while Doug Leet performed as the master of ceremonies for this commemorative event.

Leet began by recognizing the Waseca County American Dairy Association Board of Directors: President, Curt Keyes; Vice President, Dustin and Courtney Dobberstein; Secretary, Larry and Cindy Clayton; Treasurer, Greg and Sue Harguth; Princess Coordinator, Dale and Judy Hoffman; Directors, Casey and Amy Nelson, Bill Root, and Brian Sommers.

Every year the Waseca County ADA presents special awards. This year was no exception. Dustin Dobberstein presented the Butter Knife Award to Darrin and Dee Millbrett, proprietors of the Yellow Mushroom in Waseca. The Butter Knife Award honors an eating establishment that uses real dairy products.

The Milk Pitcher Award is given to an individual or organization that goes above and beyond in promoting the dairy industry.

Roger Bernard

By JODY WYNNEMER

Staff Writer

Agricultural specialists from about the area listened intently to presentations Tuesday morning at New Richland City Hall, which were geared specifically to them.

The first was from Jeff Vetsch from the Southern Research Outreach Center in Waseca. Vetsch spoke about local soil conditions and what chemicals can be applied depending on the soil chemistry.

“Typically, here in Minnesota, we see zinc deficiencies in corn,” said Vetsch. “Telltale signs are pale yellow strips on the plants and stunted growth. Sulfates may also be needed in certain areas. Much of the country used to receive atmospheric sulfates, which were generated from coal-burning electric plants. Now, the number of coal burning operations has been curtailed.”

Roger Bernard was the next speaker. He is the news editor for Pro Farmer magazine out of Cedar Falls, IA. He gave a brief overview of some of the happenings in Washington and their effects on agriculture.

“Capitol Hill is really looking ahead to the 2012 election right now,” said Bernard. “They are dealing with continuing resolutions and the size of government. Jobs and the economy are key factors. The Tea Party had a lot of clout in the primaries, although the GOP doesn’t really have a leading candidate.”

Bernard spoke of the huge budget deficit facing Congress this year.

“They are looking at around $4.3 trillion,” said Bernard. “By 2020, the national debt is projected to be around $20 trillion. 

2011 FARM FAMILY — The Winter family of rural Janesville shown with their award for being selected the 2011 Waseca County Farm Family of the Year. From left: Ray Winter, Lisa Winter, Angie Winter, Ben Netzke, Angela Winter (holding Riley) and Tom Winter. (Star Eagle photo by Jody Wynnemer)

By JODY WYNNEMER

Staff Writer

For years, Waseca County has had the reputation of promoting agriculture and business as a unit, which has richly impacted agriculture throughout the county. In recognition, the Waseca Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Farm and City Luncheon Thursday, March 24, at the American Legion in Waseca. There were about 250 people in attendance. Keeping with tradition, everyone was treated to a locally-grown meal.

Producers Tim Fischer and Tom Klug provided the pork and beef, respectively. Birds Eye donated the vegetables and the Waseca County Dairy Association furnished the milk. 4-H and FFA members served the guests. Local Ag Instructors Mrs. Hoefs (Waseca) and Mr. Sorum (NRHEG) were recognized for teaching students about agriculture.

Casey DeRosier of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture was introduced as the event’s keynote speaker. She is involved with the Minnesota Grown Program at the office in St. Paul.

“We have 900 listings right now in the program,” said DeRosier. “1,100 members are involved and the number keeps growing.

After the Twins lost the playoffs to the New York Yankees, the concern of most fans was the lack of the Twins’ dominating pitching and the hope that general manager Bill Smith would address that issue. During the off-season there was not much of an effort by the front office to remedy that need.

Carl Pavano was re-signed, which gave the team a reliable middle-of-the-rotation starter. A good pitcher, but not one that would give opposing teams nightmares. So the Twins went into and out of spring training with the same starting pitchers they ended the season with: Pavano, Liriano, Blackburn, Duensing and Baker. Only Liriano, of the starting five, has dominating stuff. However, he hasn‚t been able to harness it when most needed.

Those five now compose the staff of the team whose pitchers finished dead last in the playoffs when comparing their statistics with the starting pitchers of the other seven teams. Their opponents’ batting average was .354. They had an ERA of 7.8 and a slugging percentage of .585 against them.

Granted, three games is a small sample. But the small sample came about because of the futility of the Twins’ staff. There is a theory that the poor showing was in part because of the lack of grit within the starting staff. Grit is important, as it was to Mattie Ross in "True Grit."

At the beginning of the third game of the Toronto series, I mistakenly shuddered when I thought Scott Baker was the starting pitcher. Then I found out it was not Baker, it was Nick Blackburn. Why the shudder? It seems to me that Blackburn is more of a competitor. If the team’s success came down to one game, I’d like Blackburn on the mound. He seems to have more "fire in the belly." I think Gardy may think that way for he named Blackburn as one of his starting pitchers early on. That may be the reason that Brian Duensing got the early nod also.

It appears the staff is good enough to carry the team to the Central Division title. It also appears that the Twins will have a competent relief corps before the season ends. Nathan will come on, Matt Capps looks good as does Jose Mijares. As for the rest, Glen Perkins will find his niche, Kevin Slowey will be an asset and the other two relievers will be found, maybe Hughes and Manship, or they may be pitching for Rochester right now. It could well be that a very reliable staff will come into being during the season.

I am satisfied with Blackburn and Pavano getting starts in a possible playoff. Blackburn may well become a clutch performer this year. Pavano is playoff adequate, but there is still the need for a dominating starter. I would be happy with Blackburn starting one game with Pavano the other, with Duensing relieving him if necessary. Liriano may be very effective as a reliever during a short series, but there is a big question as to his starting given his past history.

Perhaps the success of the Twins in the playoffs rests on the shoulders of Smith being able to rent a star pitcher during the stretch drive.

The playoff teams will be the Twins in the Central Division, Boston Red Sox in the East and Texas in the West. It could be that neither the Twins nor anybody else will have to face the Yankees. The wild card may possibly go to them or could very easily be the White Sox, Tigers or Toronto. The Red Sox will meet the wild card and then the Twins for the pennant. If the Twins can get the pitcher they need, the World Series is a strong possibility... if not, no way.

I don't know what to call this column this week. Strangers in the night (and day); oh, deer, or what some animals (deer) won't do to get in the news.

Living on the south end of Geneva, and not that far from Geneva Lake, has its pluses. It isn't everyone who can have deer come up to your picture window to critique your news when you are typing it. These inquisitive creatures are just nosey enough that they give us a thrill to see their little noses right up to the glass, checking us out. They visit our bird feeders, and a little salt block we put outside for them, before they leisurely move along, probably to visit the neighbor’s where I have seen well over a dozen of these beautiful four-legged creatures, even in the daytime. It has been a hard winter for the wildlife, birds and animals alike. And I guess I can say this winter has been a little hard on the two legged animals too, meaning you and I.

As for the deer, what is it that still gives us a thrill? Looking into their soft brown eyes, their agility, and their shapely figure and the fact they are graceful, wild and free. You are right. I am not one for venison, on or off the hoof ,but I have no problem with those who do value their meat as healthy food. Venison is better for people than beef. I believe that to harvest deer for practical purposes is not a cruelty for animals.

Do you remember the Disney movie about Bambi? I truly believe it was one of the most colorful movies developed for children and most adults to enjoy. It is being released again and I hope all children will be able to see it. I also hope that it is part of many people’s video libraries as it is so much better than some of the shows that children are subjected to today.

Back to the snowy days of winter. All those snowy days have been making it hard for wildlife this year as so much of their regular food source was covered with snow, which made it difficult for bird and beast and the like to reach down into the snow far enough to find something to eat. Perhaps we can find a little corner of land that can be planned with life-saving grains and grasses, especially in areas that aren't that great for money making products.

There is much to be said about the individual who respects wildlife. They are the ones who have empathy for all mankind as well.

Not everyone speaks badly of the snow. One young man recently said, "Let it come." I thought he was talking about a snowmobile. He went on to say, "I haul snow and it gives me a living." Admittedly, the fingers are getting itchy to plant some seeds or some flowers. I don't think it is quite time to start them yet, unless one has a greenhouse or a green thumb at starting things inside. Although I do remember more than one winter when I looked out to see my yellow pansies blossoming in the snow. Like getting a pot of gold, always yellow ones, maybe they are just stronger.

If I could have a wish come true it would be to see the oak sanctuary, west of Ellendale, grow oodles and oodles of new little oak trees that could grow up to be big oak trees someday. It would really be fantastic for our children and our children’s children to be able to enjoy them as much as we did the original little forest.

I would wager we might see a lot of free-grown oak and walnut trees this year because the squirrels maybe had a hard time finding the places they hid their stock pile of nuts last fall. Unless the new little trees are up against a building or something, I will let them grow. Oak trees don't grow all that slow and they are pretty even if they are young. Sadly, there is a very pretty one growing right by the corner by my parent’s garage. They can't stand to cut it down. They know it’s too deep to dig out and as well know it can't stay there.

Our days keep ticking away. Easter is a little bit slower in arriving this year and won't get here until the 24th of April. I hope everyone will have a great spring!

Al Batt recently said it best when he used this quote from Bradley Miller, "Teaching a child not to step on a caterpillar is as valuable to the child as it is to the caterpillar."

Some of our Star Eagle readers have commented that they like to read about the local happenings and family events such as family and school reunions, birthday and anniversary celebrations, and birth and wedding announcements.

In order to read about these important things we need our faithful readers to pass along the information to us, so we can then pass along the news to you.  If you have news to share, please contact me.

Also, if our NRHEG Star Eagle readers would like to share birthdays and anniversaries of your family and friends, or you know of some that should be deleted, or names have changed, please contact me via e-mail, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; by postal mail, P.O. Box 192, Geneva, MN 56035 or telephone, 507-256-4405. 

Birthdays and anniversaries this week:

• Thursday, April 7th: Bev Farr, Jayne Villarreal, Janice Jensen Skovera, Ron Christensen, Lou Hanson-Vu, Katie Lembke, Michael & Kari Ingvaldson, Gary & Sonya Peterson

• Friday, April 8th: Sarah Collins, Ivy Obermoller, Dick Tracy, Nick Vreeman, Tim Stollard, Mark Hemingway, Sherri Carlson, Karen O'Byrne, Bob Donovan, David Pitcock, Alice Grosland, Dale & Vivian Dulas, Paul & Karissa Dolan

• Saturday, April 9th: Becky Larson, Justin Tufte, June Lageson, Abby Paige Christopherson, Raianna Thomas, Jim Kaplan, Kiersten Knudson, Mike Nechanicky, Larry Sarver, Clarice McGrath, Tiffany Chrz

• Sunday, April 10th: Kimberly Luhring, Sara Bergerson, Sarah Skroch, Sophia Rose Christensen, Luke David Olson, Daniel Gould, Liz Reichl, Harold Pitcock, Arlen & Coleen Brekke, Lawrence & Dorothy Sprankle

• Monday, April 11th: Barb Marcus, Ruth Benson, Lori Dobberstein, Jacob Alan Reynolds, Dan Nelson, Darrin Thostenson, Theresa Bartsch, James Thompson, Jack & Barbara Wright

• Tuesday, April 12th: Tiegen Kay Richards, her 5th; Rory Ann Bickler, Guy Cromwell, Charise Oland, Cheryl Thompson, Deb Wilking, Allen & Betty Brandt, Roger & Reta Draayer

• Wednesday, April 13th: Victor Mrotz, Jamie Johnson, Andrea Casteron Malo, Ava Raye Chapman, her 3rd; David Clausen, Margie Nesdahl, Pat O'Conner, Jason Sullivan, Roxie Ritz Simmons, Megan Benson, Charlotte Miller, Curtis Klecker, Shannon & Jason Peterson, their 8th

• Thursday, April 14th: Anna Elizabeth Bailey, Tina Hagen, Jason Vogt, Rachel Oswald, Marcia Hemingway Jensen, David Jensen, Ron Huber, Butch & Gail Ottesen

• Friday, April 15th: Mason Robert Klemmensen, his 4th; Terry Jensen, Barry Troe, James Benson, Sarah Christine George, Cayla Conroy

It is your special day. Take a break and celebrate!

Surprise somebody. Call someone. Send a card and make their day. Little things mean a lot.

The season opener for game fish is a little over a month away, but fishing for crappies and perch should be good as soon as the lakes are free of ice. Look to shallow bays and lagoons for spawning crappies. Although I haven’t fished them for a few years, the lagoons on Lake Tetonka in Waterville were usually pretty good for early spring crappies.

Now is the time of year when I begin to feel that urge to jump in the truck and head to Cabela’s in search of some fishing tackle. It’s not that I like to spend my money out of town. Cabelas is just a place to find the largest assortment of much needed and very necessary fishing lures and tackle. If you venture to Owatonna, it is always worthwhile to visit Mills Fleet Farm and check out their large assortment of tackle; the prices are usually pretty reasonable.

Although I have enough fishing tackle, (according to the wife) I always seem inclined to think it is not enough. Lately, I’ve tried to limit my purchases to the necessities such as jigs and plastic bodies. Inevitably, I am destined to spend some time in the lure section of a sporting goods store, as a lot of those lures are designed to catch the biggest of fish (me) that can’t resist them. I always end up being lured to the section where the muskie lures lay in wait for an unsuspecting fisherman. 

I can usually recall seeing most of those lures on sports channels being used by various muskie experts who are cranking fish in left and right. The more honest hosts will actually tell you how long it takes them to boat two or three fish.

I have watched a lot of those fishing shows over the years and I can sometimes feel their excitement when one of those guys ties into a fish. I don’t remember which particular show it was, but I recall two seemingly average guys fishing in Wisconsin who had caught three muskies in two days and also had numerous follows. They called this trip a success and, to be honest, if you are fishing for the toothed one and get one on your line, then you can consider it a successful trip. These fish are often called the “fish of 10,000 casts” and believe me, it does take a lot of time and patience to be a successful muskie fisherman.

I do not consider myself a muskie fisherman because I just don’t spend enough time doing it. I like to fish for them, but usually only have a limited window of opportunity to do so. It’s pretty hard to fish muskies when you have grandkids in the boat and feel the need to be catching fish on a more consistent basis. I’ve had my best luck when fishing with one or two other folks in the boat.

I don’t mind fishing alone, and from time to time, I’ve been fortunate enough to have some decent muskies on. I’ve even boated a couple while fishing alone. Although I like fishing with others, there is always something peaceful about fishing alone. My favorite time to be on the water is early morning when the sun has just started thinking about making an appearance in the eastern sky and everything seems to be starting fresh.

The one thing early morning fishing gives me is that feeling of anticipation, kind of like that of a little kid. There’s a certain feeling of mystery and suspense that early morning fishing gives me. It seems like you can catch almost any type of fish at that time of day. I’ve caught walleyes in places where I usually catch bass or pike.

I’ve caught some dandy smallmouth in my favorite walleye haunts. There is a certain feeling of serenity I thoroughly enjoy being on the water early with a light haze hovering over the water and the sound of fish jumping around you. If you’ve ever been there, you know what I’m talking about. To me, it’s just what fishing is all about, just enjoying nature and the outdoors.

The Minnesota DNR has decided to postpone indefinitely the stocking of muskies in Lake Tetonka in the Waterville area pending the resolution of local issues. The DNR will collect additional information on recreation use and user attitudes in the Lake Tetonka area and expand its public outreach efforts before reconsidering stocking muskie in Tetonka.

— — —

Once again our legislators are trying to play politics with the Lessard SAMS Bill that we voted on and passed in 2008. A bill has been introduced that would do away with the 12 member citizens council and replace them with an all legislative (can you say politics) panel. I voted for that bill with the understanding that there would be a panel made up of citizens who would sift through applications and make recommendations to the legislature. This bill which is Bill no. HF1073, was introduced by Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL, So. St. Paul). It also seems that once again the politicians are trying to use these funds to subsidize funding already in place, instead of using it to enhance like it was intended. They are also determined to only acquire land, if land that is already owned by the DNR is sold off. Make sense? Doesn’t it defeat the purpose of the bill we voted for in the first place? I guess there will always be politicians trying to figure out a way to use our money for things other than what it was intended. If this concerns you, you can do what I did and contact your legislator to voice your opinion and find out how he or she stands on Bill No: HF 1073.

Until next time; think spring, camping and fishing and enjoy the great Minnesota outdoors!

Remember our brothers and sisters who are proudly serving our country so that we can keep enjoying the freedoms we have today.

Echoes from the Loafers’ Club Meeting

“It’s not easy being the smartest man in the room.”

“Ha! I’ll bet you could tell everything you know in five minutes.”

“Maybe so, but I could add all you know and the telling wouldn’t take any longer.”

Driving by the Bruces

I have two wonderful neighbors — both named Bruce — who live across the road from each other. Whenever I pass their driveways, thoughts occur to me, such as: after all these years, we still don’t know who let the dogs out.

Things I’ve learned

1. To leave a phone message after the beep.

2. To do the hard stuff first.

3. Not to take a fence down until I know why it was put up.

Mystery tour

I’ve worked with bus tours for many years — as a leader and as someone who talks to the travelers. A mystery tour is a common endeavor for bus tours. The participants get on the bus and have no clue as to where they are going. I’ve toiled on a number of those tours. I’d have each passenger write his or her name on a slip of paper along with a guess as to the tour’s destination. Then I’d pass a hat around in which each passenger would put in $2 along with the slip of paper. The winning guess won the pot of money. I stopped doing that after the bus driver won the pot five times in a row.

Before there were such things as MapQuest or a GPS, my wife and I went on mystery tours. I’d jump behind the wheel of the car, assuming the role of the pilot. I’d toss my wife the map, making her the navigator even though she hadn’t volunteered for the job.

“We’re making good time,” I’d say, my hands firmly in place at 10 and 2 on the steering wheel.

“That’s good,” my bride would respond. “Because we just missed our turn.”

That’s when the tour became a mystery. It was all good. We saw parts of the world we would never have seen had we taken the right turn.

 Losing an elder

I was at a funeral of one of the elders of my family. Aunt Ruth had a good run. She didn’t quite make it to her 100th birthday. I thought of her generation and how wise they were. When I was a boy, I thought that when I became an adult, I would acquire that wisdom. Then I discovered that the best I could do was to fake it. I’m all too aware of how little I know. I make decisions based on a method not unlike those described by the writer David Brooks. Brooks recommends flipping a coin and observing my reaction to the coin flip. I shouldn’t go by the flip. I should base my decision on my reaction. I just hope that I get more things right than wrong. I’m losing my familial elders. As I stood at the cemetery, I recalled that the Greeks said that we suffer our way to wisdom. Maybe wisdom comes with tears.

Tornado tales

Alice Jensen of Albert Lea told me that when the tornado hit her brother’s (Elwood Tukua) home last June, many things were lost. Kind children from New Richland found an odd visitor in their yard. It was the wedding certificate belonging to Alice and Elwood’s parents, Oscar and Norma. It was in perfect condition. The wedding took place on June 1, 1929 and Oscar and Norma celebrated 60 years of marriage. The finders returned the wedding certificate and it will be celebrating its 82nd birthday in June. The certificate was strong, like the marriage.

Words on the wind

There is a large wind farm not far from me. Many turbines are spinning. At night, red lights on the wind turbines blink in an eerie manner. Michael Cotter of Albert Lea asked me how I liked living near a red light district.

From the family files

“How old are you now?” I asked in the same dumb voice that I use on a three-year-old granddaughter. Only I wasn’t talking to my granddaughter. I was talking to my 102-year-old Aunt Edith.

She smiled and said, “I’m 200 years old.”

Nature notes

In a study conducted by Dr. Bruce Manny, research fishery biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, the average Canada goose produces 5.49 ounces of wet droppings per day.

The coyote looks like a large, gray fox to some. Coyotes are found in every state but Hawaii. Coyotes show varied colors because of the species’ ability to adapt coloration to habitat. 

Meeting adjourned

If you can’t be king, be kind.

The scurs did well in the near term and not so well in the longer term last week. Can they make amends with their latest prognostications? Starting Wednesday, partly cloudy with highs around 55 and lows near 35. Thursday, cloudy with a good chance of rain. Highs of 45 and lows of 35. Mostly cloudy on Friday with a chance of rain developing by evening. Highs of 50 – 55 and lows of 35 – 40. Cloudy on Saturday with an increasing chance of showers. Highs of 50 – 55 and lows of 35 – 40. Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers once again for Sunday. Cooler with highs of 45 – 50 and lows near 40. Mostly cloudy for Monday with a chance of thunderstorms. Highs of 45 – 50 and lows near 30. Cool with a wintery mix for Tuesday. Highs 40 – 45 and lows around 40. The normal high for April 10th is 55 and the normal low is 32. We will experience 13 hours of daylight on the 6th, the first time since early last September. The scurs will be hoping the forecast April showers will not produce snowmen.

The weather was on everyone’s mind last week. With the ground freezing in the mornings, spring was approaching ever so slowly. With Saturday’s warmth, one could sense the pace picking up as temperatures made it into the 50s. Just seeing the number of tractors pulling farm implements by the ranch was an indication that people were starting to get anxious. We were fortunate that March precipitation was relatively light. At the ranch we officially measured 1.16” which isn’t all that much. So far in April, as of this writing, we’ve only accumulated another .2” so the drier trend is continuing. The only problem has been that until Sunday, we hadn’t hit 60 degrees. Cloudy weather has been a hallmark of the spring thus far, further slowing drying. Last year at this time small grain was seeded and field conditions had allowed for fertilizer applications. The ice was off St. Olaf Lake the end of March and is not off as of April 4th. Many snow banks remaining in the fencelines and in the groves as well. Not to worry however. Given some breezy, sunny, warm days and the spring could turn on a dime. The only problem is getting it to cooperate.

The weekend made me antsy, that’s for sure. I got tired of waiting for the snow banks on top of the electric fence in a couple spots to melt so I dug it out with the scoop shovel. Afterwards it was time to check the fence to see how winter had ravaged it once again. About this time Ruby decided to disobey a key command in her operating system so, as we went strolling along fixing the fence, she was in learning mode. By the time we finished we came to an understanding. Charging the fence once confident that all the wires are back on the insulators and the wires are up off the ground is a little like the scene when Clark Griswold plugs in the Christmas lights: it usually doesn’t work the first time you plug it in.

Oddly enough, it did work this time, so the next step was to let the ewes with lambs out for the first time this spring. Removing the wire holding the overhead door down caused quite a din as they were convinced they were going to be fed. When the door opened up it was mass pandemonium as about 90 head surged out into the afternoon sunshine. Soon the lambs began to run and the ewes kicked up their heels as well. It was definitely a moment we had been anticipating for far too long. Of course with 70-degree temperatures Sunday, all the snow melted, making me think I should’ve shoveled that fence out back in January.

There have been some positive signs that spring is edging closer. Last Thursday evening while coming in from chores there were over 50 swans in various small groups of a dozen to 20 or so flying in formation to the northwest. A meadowlark was heard Saturday morning after getting the hay unloaded. As we made our way around the fence on Saturday afternoon, one could make out the slow, faint croaking of one western chorus frog down near the pond. Over half the pond surface was still occupied by ice so that must’ve been one chilly little frog. Two days later, however, and all the ice was gone, so the first warm night, the sound from the pond should be deafening. The juncos are everywhere. It seems there’s one in or under just about every brush pile, automobile, grill or any other place they could possibly hide. Some of those brush piles need to see a match before much longer, but will wait until the juncos are done with them first. Male robins are fighting for territory. Watched a couple of them tangling in the yard while grilling one evening. Obviously hadn’t heard the “plenty of fish in the sea” line yet.

At the Mall for Men, the little fat buddies were the beneficiaries of a colossal error. When Mrs. Cheviot got a birthday cake to share last week, the bakery where she purchased it misunderstood her order. The little fat buddies wound up eating the better part of a whole sheet cake. It was amusing watching a group of a dozen grown men sitting around a table peering at the cake like a flock of vultures. Sure, it was torture and took a couple days, but somehow they managed to struggle through it. Quite a feat considering one of the best eating little fat buddies was away on business in Atlanta. Luckily, it was pretty good cake and the only complaint was there was no ice cream to go with it. Oh well, sometimes we must sacrifice.

See you next week…real good then.