Winter has mellowed and the call of chores and a daily walk to the backwaters has been lovely. The crunching snow under warm boots is the sweet way of it. Moon has been so watchful and rejoices in the voices that sing nature’s triumphant blare. I am the richest person on Earth.

The vet van is slopped full of mud, gravel and is thawing into the lull of the warm afternoon sunshine. Odors permeate us as I come to a halt @ the neighborhood grocery store. The Pig employees politely place the pork chops and honey mustard in a stiff brown grocery bag and we’re back on the route. Tom stuffs tonite’s meat in our lunch cooler and the world resumes for I have the cherished mustard. Tom has switched to an empty super sized French’s mustard bottle for a lubrication holder to be utilized on the vet route for calvings.

Pheasant resides @ the end of our driveway and is a vibrant male. He’s strutting along the grader ditch consuming sandy grit.

Turkeys are abundant and can be found on the snow covered fields or cutting across the road as I’m heading out to Waumandee.

Canadian Geese formed 3 lazy formations as they honked their return last week.  They circled around Big Bend and headed towards Arcadia. Bluebirds and Robins have also returned and Tom saw them in the weeping willow tree by the Shack.

I’ve delighted in hearing Hawken asking, “Mama’s going to the backwaters. I’m going too!” The scraping of the blue plastic sled on the bare sandy road could be heard for miles. I pulled hard to get past the wet puddles that entice a young puddler. I told him to crawl through the cattle bunk and load up in the sled. He sat down and I pulled him through frozen cow patties and cattle entranced by the activity. “Mama, it’s kinda bumpy in the cowpoop.” I laugh and tell him to hang on and we’re soon on top of the bright reflecting snow with his sled.  “Mama March! ” I’m flying the child across the cornstalk stubble and put all our troubles in a bubble and we blow them away as we march into the month of March.

Where’s your place to sled as you slide into March?

Feel the Spirit in Peace and Love,

Sue Roskos

     The Conference, in its 41st year , includes a wide variety of workshops on topics ranging from soils to gardening to livestock to marketing to health to crops. These are presented by folks that share both their knowledge and their passion. I attended  a seminar on Organic Pork Production put on by James Franzen,who is the Pool Coordinator for Organic Prairie Pork in addition to being a top-notch hog farmer himself. I was impressed by his wealth of knowledge of the entire pork industry. Being that me and my boys think bacon is a food group, Natures Most Perfect Food, this information caused me to ponder the feasibility of adding a few pastured hogs to the Welcome Home Farm menagiere.

      Dan Leiterman of Crystal Creek acclaim presented a very informative session on livestock parasites. I was fascinated to learn about the prevalence of internal parasites in very young calves and the effect they have on the immune system. Organically managing parasite levels involves a multifaceted approach and Dan gave good suggestions on how to implement those plans.

      The Conference hosts many vendors of products and services. It is fun to visit with old friends as well as talk to new people. Everyone has knowledge to share. Spent some time at the Organic Valley booth visiting with Dr. Paul Dettloff and the rest of the personable staff. What a great organization! It was good to see Dr. Richard Holliday again at the Helfter Feeds booth. A stop at the Taurus Services booth revealed that New Zealand bovine grazing genetics with the A2 factor is available in Western WI through Charlie Krueger of Fountain City, WI. As usual the Midwestern Bio-Ag booth was bustling, a reflection of Gary Zimmer’s energetic personality.  Our MBA mentor, Bob Schmidtknecht ,was there to visit with also.

      A special thanks to MOSES for putting together a great learning  and sharing opportunity such as this.

                                                                                                                                      In learning and health                              Doc Tom

I purchased Valentine’s @ Walmart and now it’s time to stuff the cards with candy. There’s a store -made slit in the Valentine and Sweettarts are to be stuffed in the two slits. Little hands peel the wrapper off one package of candy. I am busily stuffing candy in the cards. I look and he’s removed all the candy I put in. So we stuff them again and it’s wonderful to share candy with friends.

Tom and Hawken re-stocked the vet van the next morning. I opened up the drug room door and there was a nice pile of empty Valentine’s again. But-wait-Aww-There’s a white envelope for me!  An early Valentine for me-it says   ”?!  Sue”    Hmm. Looks like a woman’s writing though, and not like Tom’s.  I rip the white envelope open and there’s a big piece of something in it. Wow-see how the universe gives back?   I stop and re-analyze the writing on the envelope. “Esther Sue”- Who would think it’s Easter?? Easter is early this year-not that early. It’s a small plastic milk sample bottle loaded with goat poop.  Now I’m laughing and realize the good Dr. must’ve suggested a client collect a manure specimen to be sent in to the WI Veterinary Diagnostic Lab on a goat named-Esther Sue!  

I finished the lab work and was still chuckling to myself. I then listened to the vet calls on the answering machine. A client explaining that his wife mis-understood Tom’s instructions and to just discard the manure sample from the goat.  I just know that goat is doing much better!

What great Valentine gifts have you received?

Laughter and Love,

Sue Roskos

Lovely lacey snowflakes slumber silently as I swoon over the sights and sounds. The sights are brushing the cold away and the silence is a reminder of where our  journeys began. All of us-you and I standing together in spirit, simply waiting for form to bring us into body when our appointed times are chosen. 

More laughter as we jokingly prepare for this trip. The trek to the Promised Land. A land flowing with fisher and coon-not milk and honey anymore.  I shove handwarmers in my boots and mittens.  “What do we take to eat Tom?  I have car camp packed.” “We won’t be gone that long Sue.”  He loads his trap pack basket and pulls his camoflouge hat over his ears.  “If we had the plastic sled Tom, you could pull me.” ” I thought of that-but the woods.” 

 I walk lightly over the crusty snow’s surface. Tom sinks in slightly  as we plod up the hill past the small dam.   No conversation for we’re conversing with nature.   Tom makes a comment about breaking a trail for me. I ignore him and am fixated on the next step. Too busy navigating the blackberry bushes as they tear @ my green winter wear.  There’s a path with imprints already in the snow.   Besides..I don’t follow well and prefer to be out front-unless I’m trout fishing. 

We climb and weave our way to the top of the bluff.  Time for Tom to whack @ the Belisle #160 bodygrip trap.  Tom had used Greg’s Great Coon Bait and Porter’s All Season Call Lure-a thick skunk based lure.  The trap is all frozen in and he kicks @ the square bucket with the notches in the side, to loosen it from the snow and ice.  I’m struck with how little sign of life exists in this January woods. No sign of deer tracks. No sign of a fisher.  Tom explains to me this is perfect fisher territory. they travel a wide range. They like to sleep in brush piles or hollow logs.  They hunt around conifer pine trees. They’ll eat skunk. That’s why we have skunk essence extracted-but un-used.  Fisher  are in the weasel family. Fisher have a silky brown fur and reach a maximum of 12 pounds.  Wonderful words of wisdom as I smile encouragingly at the empty trap.  Tom did catch several coon in these sets.   Fisher season soon closes, so Tom pulled all those traps.   We need suggestions from you please for catching a fisher!!

Up on top of the world we are! All of a sudden it hits me. Invariably it happens this far away.  I  feel hunger pains strike in the pit of my gut.  Onward for the lunch bucket is far away.  We followed down the logging road to get back to the bottom of the hill this time.  Beautiful sunlight swallows the Wisconsin weather and spits  it out like a wad of Copenhagen chew.    

  I was caught in the bait of the lil farmstead with the weary barn andthe deer plot of saggy corn. Woodpeckers tapped and pattered in the standing corn fields.  I sought the singing spot that felt right.  I erupted with the ancient song as Tom snappped the traps.  Silence.  Black squirrels raced up inside the woods. 

Tom steered the van up the road. We tasted the fresh lefse our friend Peggy Soppa shared with us this morning. We agreed it was the tastiest lefse we’ve ever had. Thanks Peggy for sharing lefse with us and most of Waumandee!!

On top of the dugway, we did another Polish fire drill. I sped off and Tom softly said, “Look-over where you sang the song soars an eagle.”

How do you like  your lefse?

Sue Roskos

  Our car camp was loaded with luggage and some toys and clothes to share with relatives.  Road tripping wouldn’t be complete without a goofy story. The entire trip, a horse and cow could be heard neighing and mooing in the back seat of the van. Seems hitting all the bumps on the road set off the barnyard animals to vocalize their presence.  Niece Marcia and Nephew Al Stellphlug  graciously allowed us in their home even while our barnyard was being un-ruley.  They have been the driving force for us to branch out into the computer world and we would suggest them when you are ready for assistance in setting up a website and doing a newsletter!

Exciting to see a big beaver lodge in Rieck’s Park with a  feedbed.  Turn the car and head North on Hwy 35. Neigh, Neigh!!  Another bump and we erupt in giddy laughter for we’re road trippin’! Then I’m sucked in the sights and in the morning light-the Christmas lights and light snow falling appear magical.  I am drawn to staring @ the rocky topped bluffs. We see a few Hawks and Eagles thermaling in the winds. I notice a boat For  Sale and neat stacks of firewood.  A deflated Santa Claus balloon is melted like Frosty the Snowman did in the greenhouse.  How do you keep those blow up decorations inflated?? They seem to spend a lot of time feebly flopping in the slicing holiday breeze. The train rolls below us as we follow the snowplow ’til Nelson.  Have you ever indulged in ice cream or cheese curds @ the Nelson Cheese Factory?  It’s a delightful stop year round and they also have a deli, wine tasting area and a large seating area.  Beth’s Cafe was OPEN, but we had our sights on exploring new places. Nelson bottoms and backwaters had alot of muskrat sign. Anyone trap that area??  On the wide channel of the Mississippi River we spotted ducks and white seagulls. Tom mentioned to watch for the Golden Eagle on the bluffs now. The Nelson bluffs have goat prairie where there’s few trees towards the top of the bluff.  I’m immersed in the holly daze and the sight of a terra cotta pot plastered with pine boughs and red ribbon.My Christmas spirit is soaring!! Then the chicken toy starts crowing in the backseat and we’re howling with laughter.  I glance right in Nelson and spot Bob and Linda Baures Wine and Liquor Store. We take a left turn and  head south on Highway 25.  Three miles ’til Wabasha and we’re searching for the huge feed beds that the muskrats have in that region. Tom reminds me people can trap here with permits and during the appropriate season.

Crossing the stately Wabasha Bridge, I fix my eyes on Slippery’s Restaurant. We slip into the Grumpy Old Men Movie routine and thoughts of ice fishing and calling someone a shmuck  swirl through my mind.  Over the Wabasha Pond there were flocks of seagulls flying around in large circles. They weren’t swooping to catch bugs. Any idea what they were doing this time of year?? It was murky brown water and the edge of the pond had ice formed on it. In amidst the gulls were mallard ducks floating on the pond under the Weeping Willow Tree that was whispering winter in it’s swaying branches.   

Onward and along  Hwy 61 North,  filtered sun slung some light on the Mississippi River.   Red Wing, MN beckoned us for breakfast. I spotted Smokey Row Cafe and Jenny Lind Bakery @ 1926 Old West Main St.   Perfect for morning romance or it was very kid friendly if they’re along.  Purple walls and white wainscoating welcomed us to flop on the red sofas next to a Christmas tree and wait for our quiche and fruit plate. Trendy spot to get sweet treats and set a spell with kids or just the two of you!! Have you eaten there??

The ACRES USA annual conference was held this year in St Paul, MN @ the Crown Plaza Hotel.  The conference is a delightful blend of speakers presenting on topics regarding finding profit through bio-diversity in agriculture. I  attended an Eating What You Grow Workshop with featured speaker Mary-Howell Martins. Mary and her husband Klaas farm 1,300 acres organically in New York. They have an organic feed mill and she demonstrated her skills in grinding flour to make their daily bread. She had a fabulous powerpoint demonstrating grinding a variety of grains that they utilize in their daily cooking. Her focus was also on  superior nutritional quality found in the foods she prepares from their farm.  Her homemade recipes are featured on www.lakevieworganicgrain.com. I was very impressed with her ability to snag the audience and it was an energetic and inspiring presentation.

Tom and I slipped to the Kindness Cafe down in the basement @ 350St. Peter St.-inside the LOWRY. Cheerful and bold color and a soft kind attitude swallowed us up as we dined on Cobb Salads. Rave reviews,  reasonable prices and well worth the walk to find the friendly atmosphered  Kindness Cafe! Have you heard of this place and their mission?? 

Dirt-the movie was playing @ the ACRES Conference. We both loved it and were very moved with watching it.  It’s purpose was to raise awareness of our practices in agriculture, mining practices and development and how it affects dirt.  To learn more about ACRES or to order books, check out www.acresusa.com   

The conference has a  trade show and it was a great way to connect with some of OUR  proclaimed agriculture celebrities like Doc Paul Dettloff who works tirelessly with companies like Organic Valley and Lancaster Ag. It also was an awe inspiring experience to settle into chatting with Becky who works with Midwest Bio-Ag and Gary Zimmer himself! Now remember the Road Trip with Patzie, Tim and us  to Gary Zimmer story from last Fall?? Patzie will be so excited to hear we actually had Gary’s undivided attention! Gary is a speaker that is beyond explaining! The enthusiasm, excitement and passions are non-stop. Have you seen him speak??  Thanks for the chat Becky and Gary!!  Want to see what Midwest Bio-AG is about then check out www.midwesternbioag.com 

Tom and I attended Jerry Brunetti’s lecture. He spoke about the digestive system and he feels that all health starts in the stomach.   He referred to the gut as a second brain. He spoke of food affecting the way a person feels. He also explained the gut is the primary neurological organ and carries more nerves than elsewhere in the body.  Jerry’s website is www.agri-dynamics.com

I then went to see Gearld Fry speak on Food as Medicine and producing medicinal beef.  His website is www.bovineengineering.com .   He spoke of grass fed beef as having high Omega 3 fatty acids. Recommended having a high quality bull to improve cattle herd. His desire is to have cattle that have 4% butterfat. The sire passes along digestive capabilities.  He feels the quality of the animal is a maternal trait along with the conformation of the animal.

Were you @ the ACRES Conference and if so what did you think about it?

Thanks!

Sue Roskos

I glance downward and am reminded of the season. I have my poofy pink hat, knee high green insulated boots, blue insulated coveralls,  mis-matched camoflouge gloves and bold orange XL orange Winchester zipper upper coat on. I haven’t bothered trimming the price tag for the past two years. So it’s a new coat that cost $8 @  Walmart. Nice big pockets to stash 2 pens, notepad and my pink Cabela’s mini flashlight. I turn to head towards home and the mushie is munching fervently on the weeds along the banks of Sunrise Slough.  I search the waters again and there in the splendid Slough are two beavers effortlessly gliding towards my song. I welcome them and they choose to check me out and swim back towards their lodge. It’s time for me to head towards my lodge and I leave   feeling light hearted and lucky!

Doc Tom and I storm the vet route. I roar into a farm that has a cow that’s off feed. The bossie is three weeks fresh (had a calf 3 weeks ago).  Loud sounds of heavy equipment catches my attention. There in the yard are bulldozers and dump trucks. I am captivated by watching them construct a road behind the milkhouse. I am peeking out the window craning for a better view of the crushed gravel being slid off the big trucks. The John Deere Bulldozer rushes to move the rock before the next truck un-loads more gravel.  Then I remember to head into the barn and the cow is easy to be found! Just waiting for us and there’s a detailed note stating how long since she’s calved and what her symptoms are. This saves us so much time to have the cow caught and a note written!  Bossie lunges @ us, though she’s tied to a stanchion.  I am not much for waiting for what Tom says. I am too focused on the dog Shadow and the bulldozer equipment. “She has ketosis-do you want Dextrose and Azium?”  Tom nods  and I’m back @ the van with the big black lab dog just drinking in the affection I lavish on him. This is the dog we stop to visit with Hawken when we drive by to go to Yaeger Valley.  Shadow follows me back to the cow and Tom puts the halter on bossie. She loses her footing fighting the Doctor’s attempts to get the rope halter over her left ear. I’m behind the cow and waiting for my chance to shove her ahead.  Shadow is really just wanting to be pet.  With the cow being ketotic (low blood sugar which occurs  around 2 to 4 weeks after calving), she’s convinced she should be loose. I’m singing to the dog and re-assuring Tom my, “Oww yeah, you can do it, you are so strong.” That dog is growing more frisky and Tom is able to contain the cow. Finally! Now I can say, “Tell me when your are ready. I’ll use my big forearms and watch out..here the cow comes!” She flies ahead and the good Doc fastens the rope and I shimmy my way through the stanchion to hold halter. I flash Tom a big grin and ask, “Am I helping Tommy??”  I have to ask the next question..”That heavy equipment do anything for you Tom?” “Nope..not like for you Sue.”  Hmm..I am puzzled how he doesn’t want to drive a big Johne Deere Bulldozer. I surrender to the knowing why I check out DVD’s for the lad like-”I dig DIRT!” or “I want to be a Heavy Equipment Operator!”  So many things to do in a day. The dog is gushing and pushing his fat face in places where it shouldn’t be.  I give the dog several hard head pats. I holler, “Bye Bye Billy Goats!” A chorus of goat pleads is again heard. I retrieve messages off the phone and tell Tom there’s time to take a nap for him. What a great way to spend a half an hour with a dog or two, a cow, my man and a bulldozer pushing earth. 

Pet a puppy,

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

Road Trip!

Sue Roskos

Tom and Sue

Ride your horse-gallop alongside-feel the movement-let’s turn the tide!

Sue Roskos