Thanks!

If you are looking for a delightful place to rent a place down in Baraboo region, we’d recommend Prairie Hill Farm. The owners are special people with an eye towards things we cherish. The farmhouse has paths mown around the land, a beckoning swing that called me every late evening, and solitude. We were able to be outdoors from daylight til dark as at home, and roamed freely on the lovely property.

The sweet melodies of the whispering pine trees featured in Aldo Leopold’s books, spoke deeply  in a rich whispy voice to me. Amidst the eager chatter of touring people, I was sunk so lovely and peacefully in the midst of nature’s nest. I could easily see and hear the voices of the past and present all connected.  I know the green fire in the wolves eyes that changed Aldo’s life.

Flow like water and shine like the rising sun,

Sue Roskos

We assembled in Tim and JoJo’s yard and sang Happy Birthday to salute Grandma Melvina Salwey who turned 97 years young on that May 15th day. What better way to honor the woman who with her late husband Willard-is the reason we all cherish trout. She did get to visit her 100 yer old friend Clarwin Klein who promptly told her she best listen to his story-cause he’s older than her!!

Not just wishin’ we were fishin’!!

Sue Roskos

Three elves picked up Uncle Kenny Salwey from his home and loaded up the rehabilitating Kenny in his blue sedan. Kenny was 2 weeks post-op from a hip replacement. We roadtripped with him to a fishing region that was easily accessible for him and for our 3.5 yr old son Hawken.

Uncle Tim Salwey and Aunt JoJo White presented Hawken with his own fish pole. Tim then escorted Hawken to the creek holes as friends and family gathered along the creek banks. The anticipated arrival of Hawken and Kenny prompted a bantering and chatting that is conducive to eloquent fish tales being told.

I retreated to fish 15 minutes and returned to find Hawken with 2 brook trout. The rest of the 10 adults all smelled like skunk after we fished for 2 hours.

Uncle Kenny chuckled all the way back to his place commenting that together we all probably have caught 5,000 fish over the years and today we’ve all been outfished by a little boy. We all basked in the beauty of passing along the tradition of fishing opener to the youngest member of the Salwey family.

Flow like water and shine like the rising sun,

Sue Roskos

Thoughts float to the winter and to Uncle Kenny and Aunt Mary Kay Salwey for they didn’t want to travel here with the road conditions.  What a blessing to have my side of the family assembled and friends to celebrate Christmas and the birth of lil baby Jesus.

Tom, Greg and Hawken-the Pie Guys-made a delightful pecan and  a lemon meringue pie. I made salad, meatballs, chicken, cheesey taters and mint torte. Have you ever had mocha cake??  Thanks to our neighbor Jean Schultz for sharing that with us while they dined here.  Aunt Dorothy made her delightful fruit salad we always request.  Home made John Deere pillow and neck scarf from Alan and Dorothy warmed Hawken’s heart!

Cousin Keith Bollinger,who helps @ Open Houses and Conventions, mentioned he went with Uncle Kenny Salwey last week twice to learn more about trapping.  Keith’s up to 14 muskrats already this year in between college and work. He’s been using Uncle Kenny’s secret bait for muskrats..POTATOES!! Do you use potatoes for baiting traps??? How does that work for you??

Thanks again for the on-going Trap Shack shoppers that have set up appointments and have come to shop for themselves or for holiday gifts to give. We are impressed with the on-going interest from you!

Peace, Joy and Love every day of the year to you!

Sue Roskos

Hoppy Hollydaze,

Sue Roskos

 We’ve had a variety of family like my Ma, Greg, Nephew Jeff Ziegeweid and friend LeAnne along checking traps. Also Adrian Pehler spent time 3 days on trap line and vet route. Mushrats, coon and mink have been harvested and stashed in the Shack. I walked along checking traps while on the vet route a couple days. I saw a trapped muskrat that a hawk apparently decided should be a snack. Tom’s been trying to set for coyotes. The sets have been worked over and Tom suggested a fox has shown interest in the bait. At our Open House this past Sun. we heard of many great hunting and trapping stories. We so appreciate the customers and the sales for the day!  I have to say I was surprised to have a customer say he was from South Dakota and heading back home from hunting this area. 

Aunt Dorothy and Uncle Alan Bollinger hosted with their son Keith, a fabulous feast in celebration of Thanksgiving. Keith filled us in that he caught 3 muskrats on his first attempt to trap them. He did enlighten his college friends @ UW Steven’s Point by skinning them in the basement dorm kitchen.   Grandma Melvina Salwey was also @ the dinner. She’s 96 years young and tells us of still dreaming of rolling out pie crusts. I mixed up rollout cookie dough ahead and with the whole family we baked cookies. Melvina was in the middle of the flour flying and the banter surrounding the festivities. Uncle Kenny Salwey put on his usual display of needing to be the one to make a reindeer cookie. That’s his cookie cutter and  he did a fine job..the cookie snapped in half with his strength and he was left holding a baked cookie with frosting ozzing down his fingers.    Cocoa the dog livened the party.  Hawken was smitten with Aunt Mary Kay’s  and Aunt Dorothy’s ideas for play, reading and chasing Cocoa.Then they brought out the sit and spin. Sweet times watching the lad be cheered on to stand up quick and try to walk a straight line after riding the sit and spin! Many deer hunting stories were shared over the Packer Football Game and giggling.    What turkey day traditions surface in your house??

Grab your walking stick and crawl over the rickety metal gate. Watch your step!  Glad you dressed warm for it’s frosty in the wee hours of the morning.  Notice how the beef cattle are still bedded down from a night of slumber? Corn stalks serve as a cozy setting spot for the herd. No mud this morning and daylight is spreading slowly to help us see the way.  The rabbit is here every morning and bounds away. See the  white flick of the doe’s tail?  My hand motion says to stop and I sing the song and she pauses. It’s been a long week for her and the other does listening to all the shooting. I sigh relief as the other two does are still safe.  I explain to you that I get how the harvest serves the purpose of decreasing over population, prevents spread of disease and provides a great time with family and friends. These deer are pets and have listened to the song since I got married to Tom and moved here.  Then I see it and my heart speeds up and I’m thankful for daylight.   Really it’s the first time I’ve seen the buck. I know them all and he’s huge with tines so tall and points past 10..looks like 12. How lucky are we to see this and he’s chasing 2 does. The does see us and stop with the song. I figure he will be a buck in love and never hear me. He swings his head and I swear it’s Freedom..my pet buck from 4 years ago.  This buck comes with the does and I raise my hands and say, “Stay on this land for there’s muzzle loader season going on.”  Off they go and the whir of the corn dryer can be heard way back @ Welcome Home Farm.  Wild rice is frosted and glazed. We hear the muskrat munching intently on weeds. The Red Tailed Hawk glides ahead of us and follows past First Pond.  Sunrise Slough is posing prettily with painted pink mixed with blue hues splashed in the Eastern sky. I stand firmly planted in the present and fling my fingers towards the frozen water and sing. Then  12 ducks fly from afar and circle 3 times. I am excited to see them again. Eagles are perched in the backwater’s trees. Five Eagles in one tree and many more patrolling the Trempealeau River.  Let’s turn around and head back to the farm. It’s time to be one with the Universe and carry the gift of peace inside.   Do you have the warm fuzzies now??

Find the moon,

Sue Roskos

What a blessing to have family and friends. It is fascinating to be the oberver of happenings with a child like curiousity and playfulness that seeps into my writings. I tell my close family that they are my greatest life lessons. I’m thankful for us choosing eachother to propel us on our destined journeys to higher consciousness.  As I type this, Hawken is pretend fishing and sharing with me nuts hand picked out of his granola. He slides his favorite antique blue chair over to my computer desk. He brings his computer over and together we’re working..he’s all over my keyboard and he spots the special feather I have stuck in the empty cartridge of a gun shell from duck hunting with Tom. “Aww, poor  chicken lost it’s feather Mama!”  I’m so blessed to have a son in college age 21 and one that’s just turned 3.  Raw contentment to see the love and feel the growth we live in during our daily existence and persistence.

I host an intense passion for living in the country on a farm. Plodding through plowed fields is  perfect for this country gal. Mucking through the mud of this morning’s backwater’s stroll is meeting the day with mercy and love.  It’s mentionable moments of relief when I spot our four favorite deer as I wash the morning’s dishes with little hands reaching to spray the soap suds off. I open the door and we all 3 view the herd and tell them to stick close to home.  Eagles and hawks swoop to meet my wonderment and reassure me as I lull myself towards home in the dawning hours.  Pure gratitude grips me when I see a round bale tightly rolled and stacked neatly next to it’s friends. All covered and tarped provides immense satisfaction in a job done up well. No more ducktaped slap happy tarps flapping wildly in the winter winds.  Our cattle gently arise and move towards the feed bunk .  So splendid to build up a cattle herd and watch the youngstock grow.

I’m grateful for the ladies that help watch Hawken. Grateful to precious Patzie and  his understanding wife Delaine for his time spent on Welcome Home Farm repairing fences, harvesting and just plain giving ‘er! Thankful to Marcia and Al Stellphlug   for prompting us to land in webworld and for putting out our newletters. 

Excited to be hosting another Trap Shack Showroom Open House on Sun.  Nov. 29th from 11 AM-2 PM. We appreciate the steady flow of customers the last months @ The Shack!  Jimmy Ellis, Keith Bollinger, Larry Jungwirth and Greg Roskos have been of great assistance the last year also.

What a blessing to combine both our love of animals and medicine stirred up into vet world.  I  see a story in every person and situation. I am the mirror to allow you to see the talents you possess. What a blessing to be shared on Buffalo and Trempealeau County Farms. I am in awe of the time and work that it takes to do a good job farming. I’ve lived the  dairy farming life  in various roles, from the day I was born. It is an incredible builder of character and definition. I hope we can continue to build a bridge from every form of farming.  Thanks to all the clients that call and share our days.

I’m thankful for the Pie Guy! Tom has been the biggest blessing in my life. His path to enlightenment has been lit with firecrackers. I’m thankful you’ve quantum leaped with me.  Thanks for sharing lusty love of life and lutefisk darling!!It’s all about working from the end vision and the knowing of what will be. Tonite in the original Shack-I sat and thanked our Creator for the ability to live here. Special to share the love of nature and animals. So homey with lapcat Sammy purring and the two harvested coon looking fat on the floor. I stepped onto the porch of the Shack and paused to listen to the rain pattering prettily on the aged tin. Thanks Tommy Harvester for all you are! 

 What are you grateful for on this Thanksgiving Day?

Feel the Spirit in Love and Peace every day,

Sue Roskos

Tom, Hawken and I savor family time and check traps on our creek. The guys head down to the creek on the Gator. I see a stick clutched in Hawken’s  hands. Sammy cat has pawed a ride and she’s lavished with zestful petting from Hawken.  She still walks with a bit of a head tilt since the middle ear infection. Sammy quickly moves towards the safety of the Shack. A bunch of cats sense the lad is there and are coming for a good squeeze session.  I notice the white dove that is flying over head and watch as it lands on the barn roof. It’s provided extra excitement here for the last 3 weeks since we started seeing it.  We also have been seeing brown pigeons with white on their wing tips for our viewing pleasure.   Tom’s lumbered his way into the creek with his waders on.  Hawken and I walk the cattle trail on top.  “Wow! Look @ ‘dat POOP!” I assumed it was just usual cattle manure.  It was a small, 2 inch long dropping that Tom identified as  from a fox.  More applause erupts as we do the  Hawken found fox poop dance. Not something to be done on a full belly, I might add.  Trapper Tom raves and rejoices that we can bring a plastic baggie and plop the dropping in it tomorrow! He uses it for coyote sets.   The great hawk has settled onto the Grandpa Tree. It’s a special tree below the original Shack that a hawk perched in years ago and continues to call home. It provided comfort to me when my Grandpa Willard Salwey was in declining health. That hawk would come and sit in the Tree while I raked first crop hay and it was my reminder of all the connections to my wise Grandpa.  I had received a call to gather @ his hospital bedside with family. I savored an alone moment with him.  “I’ll see you in heaven Sue!” I drove home with Tom and went to make hay. Driving up Sauer Mill Road there was the hawk waiting in the Tree.  Gramps honored Tom and passed away on Tom’s birthday. A deep reminder of the thread that’s woven throughout the universe.   I always salute the hawk that rests and watches over the farm while sitting in the Grandpa Tree and thank it for it’s presence.  It didn’t matter that there were no mushies in the 4 traps we checked. It was just a joy to delight in the light of the day and each other.   

Be fearless and walk into the day,

Sue Roskos

Stop and notice the squirrel and his nut,

Doc Tom, Susie Q and Hawkey Roskos