Sue Wilken

Smiling yellow daffodils have done their duty of introducing spring to the area. I picked a few and placed them in a vase on the table, they lasted only a few days and when I went out to replace them, I discovered that they had completed their task and passed the baton to the tantalizing tulips which bring a kaleidoscope of color to our yards and flower beds. My tulips have finally opened into a royal display of reds, yellows and purples. By the time the tulips are done, the hostas will be spreading their leaves like a grand lady dressed for the ball. Next come the lovely lavender lilacs. I used to collect them in large vases and bring the delightfully fragrant blooms indoors, but my Eric is deathly allergic to them, so I must enjoy them from a distance. Well, I exaggerate, but they stay on the bushes outside. I love spring and this year has been spectacular.

Earlier this spring, Eric and I wandered into the Little Chief Outpost gas station on the north end of Pebble Lake Road, looking for something for lunch. I enjoy this business and like to saunter through to see what’s for sale and what’s new. Much to our surprise, they are home to a new café, which not only offers fast food to go, but also a place to sit and relax while eating the best smoked brisket you will ever eat! A shocker for me, we promptly purchased a gift card for our son-in-law’s birthday.

Do you remember when you wanted to make a reservation for something you picked up the telephone and spoke with a real live human being? All that has changed, and for better or worse we often use a computer to buy airline tickets, birthday gifts and to make reservations. What seems like a simple task can quickly get me into deep trouble.

My column comes out every Saturday, which means it should be submitted on or before Thursday. As a consequence, things that occur later in the week are old news by the time I write about them. Oh well, such is life. There was a phenomenon that was especially fascinating last Thursday evening.

Typically, after the dock is in, my clothesline goes up and I start hanging out bedding and laundry that doesn’t require ironing. Why after the dock? Because my umbrella style clothesline cannot return to its place in the spring until the after the equipment for installing the dock has been across the yard. Then the clothesline must go away before the equipment can return to pull the dock out in the fall. In theory, the pole that holds the clothesline could be lifted out for the equipment and then replaced, but let’s get real: I don’t have to use the clothesline, it’s just for the fresh smell of the sheets etc. and not worth making extra work for Mr. Eric. He is such a good sport about taking it in and out as it is. This year, I couldn’t get the umbrella up and he was out of town. Then, in case you don’t remember, we had rain, rain and more rain. Anyway, this afternoon he was home to open the umbrella. Excited, I quickly ran a rag across all the lines and to my amazement, found they weren’t even soiled! So the sheets, a few towels and miscellaneous items are waving in the breeze.

As I sit down to write my story, I am eating a delectable peach cobbler that I made this morning. It’s a little too sweet for my liking, but I‘ll willingly suffer. The house smells suspiciously of smoke. What’s that all about?

“Please Mr. Postman look and see if there’s a letter in your bag for me.” Why’s it been a very long time since I heard from this boyfriend of mine?

The other day I was listening to the radio as Pat Connelly, owner of Dairyland, was being interviewed. I listened with interest as it was like taking a step back in time to hear him talk about his business, which was started in 1955, by Bert Skogmo. Pat’s older brother, Chuck started working for Skogmo when he was a teen and eventually purchased the business. Pat, in turn, started slicing onions for Chuck at 14, and bought the drive-in in 1997. I enjoyed listening to Pat share details of Dairyland, a business that is very dear to my heart. Dairyland has been in the Conley family for many years.

Horses, pigs, cows, sheep, chickens, rabbits … is it a farm? No. northern pike, walleye, garfish, carp and turtles … it’s not a lake either! Mink, fox, raccoons and other assorted wild animals, are you with me? Here we go … cotton candy, caramel corn, mini donuts, chocolate shakes and my favorite, funnel cakes! Now you know, we are at the fair. Remember the smells of the fair? What is your favorite food? Do you go to the exhibits or do you prefer the rides? Do you like the farm animals? What about the sounds? I can almost hear the merry go round now. Then there are the grandstand activities and the 4-H stands, exhibits, and competitions, and the games. The county fair was and still is a world all of its own.

I was thinking the other day about my next story and what I would write about, and then it happened. It was Monday, the day I usually catch-up from the weekend. If the previous days were busy, I have a mess. If they were quiet, I relax and by Monday, I have a mess. Apparently, we are messy people. I like a tidy house where I can look around and not see issues that scream for attention so I can relax with a cup of tea and a good book. On Sunday, I allow myself the pleasure regardless of the condition of the house, with varying degrees of success. But when Monday comes, my to-do list is quite long and it includes laundry.