When we lived in Northern Wisconsin winter was a difficult time of the year. There is a time, about the middle of January, when all of the days were below zero.The high temperature for the day was minus 4 and the low was about minus 10. At the same time there is little or no sun for about 10 or 12 days. You were lucky if you were able to get outside at all. On Sunday you want to go to church, because there you can at least, talk to some one who is the same situation. You would get a chance to smile and even laugh a little. That is the remedy for, "Cabin Fever." My wife and I lived that life for 10 years. You needed to be in contact with other people during this bleak time. After this period, the sun would shine again, and every one's spirit was up lifted. Happy days are here again.
For me it was a bit different. I had so many things to do that I had no time for melancholy. Almost every night it would snow, and in the morning, I would bundle up, and start the snow blower. We had a U-shaped driveway that had to be opened up, as well as paths to the garage, to the wood shed, and back to the basement. I had a wood stove in the basement family room there, that I could make cozy warm. I called it my Florida room. Then about noon, I would drive the two miles to get my daily newspaper. I didn't have time for cabin fever.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
Received Two Wish Books
Happy New Year to all my readers. Here are my wishes that the new year will bring great new opportunities and significant improvements to the economy for everyone.
What about wish books? Perhaps you have to be a gardener to get excited about planning for your garden in the spring. I received my first catalog in December which was Growing Tomatoes. That is my favorite. The last year I was in Wisconsin, I gave the food pantry 50 lbs of tomatoes besides the ones we used for our selves and our friends. Just now I received a Burpee Catalog with all sorts of veggies and other interesting plants. Here at my son's home, I have extra room to try other plants as well as tomatoes.
I had great success last year with starting plants from seeds on my wide sunny window sill. It is my prediction that we will be having an early spring because winter started so early, with the really cold weather. So I'm planning to plant outside by May 15th. I also will be planning to protect them with a plastic bottle green house. I make these by taking a 2 liter pop bottle that has the bottom removed. Place these over each plant. Then take a thin branch and put it through the bottle's neck, anchoring it into the ground. Start saving your 2 liter bottles now.
What about wish books? Perhaps you have to be a gardener to get excited about planning for your garden in the spring. I received my first catalog in December which was Growing Tomatoes. That is my favorite. The last year I was in Wisconsin, I gave the food pantry 50 lbs of tomatoes besides the ones we used for our selves and our friends. Just now I received a Burpee Catalog with all sorts of veggies and other interesting plants. Here at my son's home, I have extra room to try other plants as well as tomatoes.
I had great success last year with starting plants from seeds on my wide sunny window sill. It is my prediction that we will be having an early spring because winter started so early, with the really cold weather. So I'm planning to plant outside by May 15th. I also will be planning to protect them with a plastic bottle green house. I make these by taking a 2 liter pop bottle that has the bottom removed. Place these over each plant. Then take a thin branch and put it through the bottle's neck, anchoring it into the ground. Start saving your 2 liter bottles now.
Monday, December 28, 2009
After Christmas 2009
This Christmas was very different, wonderful, and beautiful. It was three days of parties, people, and of course gifts. The most important part was the people that came from all over.
The first party was at my son's home where I live now. Of his six children, five were able to come. The first to come was Emma coming from a college in Wisconsin. Then came Ann from Mexico where she will be a senior in Medical school. Later came Nora who is in college in Chicago who will be graduating in June in Theatrics and Speech with honors. Next came Mark all the way from Alaska where he is a High School teacher. Eventually Paul and his family joined us, however they live about ten miles from us. Now this is Christmas Eve, and we all had a wonderful dinner. Then we gathered around the tree and opened presents.
The next day after Mass, we went to my daughter-in-law's family where a large party was planned. There were about twenty adults and six children were gathered, having drinks, and loads of presents around the tree. Now dinner was served, and again a wonderful meal was to be had. After dinner the presents were distributed by name in an orderly fashion with the youngest first. After the presents were all opened, pies with whipped cream were served. All the food was absolutely delicious.
On Saturday, the day after Christmas, the third party was scheduled in the afternoon in the hotel lobby where my son, Jack, was staying. It was more of a buffet style with some food brought in, and it was all very good.
We were a little delayed because there was a snow storm outside which gave us 10 inches of snow to drive in. Now this was a Broz party with about 30 people there, including children, but I finally noticed this party to be different. These are all my progeny. Not only am I the oldest one here, but I am the last one of my generation with the Broz name. There are four generations here with my great grandchildren actually running around. Some of these great-grands I am meeting for the first time. I felt honored that I am able to see my third generation milling around, and there is another due to arrive about Feb. 22nd.
Over all, some came a long way to be here with relatives including me. I know that my wife, Dorothy, who is in Heaven, was with me, and enjoying this new generation as much as I was. In my own mind, I felt that I was the star of our group. I thank our Heavenly Father for my wonderful family, and my good health to be here to witness all of this. What a great gift!
I hope all of you had a beautiful Christmas full of love and happiness, and look forward to a New Year full of God's blessings.
The first party was at my son's home where I live now. Of his six children, five were able to come. The first to come was Emma coming from a college in Wisconsin. Then came Ann from Mexico where she will be a senior in Medical school. Later came Nora who is in college in Chicago who will be graduating in June in Theatrics and Speech with honors. Next came Mark all the way from Alaska where he is a High School teacher. Eventually Paul and his family joined us, however they live about ten miles from us. Now this is Christmas Eve, and we all had a wonderful dinner. Then we gathered around the tree and opened presents.
The next day after Mass, we went to my daughter-in-law's family where a large party was planned. There were about twenty adults and six children were gathered, having drinks, and loads of presents around the tree. Now dinner was served, and again a wonderful meal was to be had. After dinner the presents were distributed by name in an orderly fashion with the youngest first. After the presents were all opened, pies with whipped cream were served. All the food was absolutely delicious.
On Saturday, the day after Christmas, the third party was scheduled in the afternoon in the hotel lobby where my son, Jack, was staying. It was more of a buffet style with some food brought in, and it was all very good.
We were a little delayed because there was a snow storm outside which gave us 10 inches of snow to drive in. Now this was a Broz party with about 30 people there, including children, but I finally noticed this party to be different. These are all my progeny. Not only am I the oldest one here, but I am the last one of my generation with the Broz name. There are four generations here with my great grandchildren actually running around. Some of these great-grands I am meeting for the first time. I felt honored that I am able to see my third generation milling around, and there is another due to arrive about Feb. 22nd.
Over all, some came a long way to be here with relatives including me. I know that my wife, Dorothy, who is in Heaven, was with me, and enjoying this new generation as much as I was. In my own mind, I felt that I was the star of our group. I thank our Heavenly Father for my wonderful family, and my good health to be here to witness all of this. What a great gift!
I hope all of you had a beautiful Christmas full of love and happiness, and look forward to a New Year full of God's blessings.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Christmas Story Addition
In my previous Blog, I mentioned about the hectic Christmas Eves we had getting everything ready from scratch, to a completely decorated Christmas tree with all presents wrapped in special paper underneath it.
At this time I was a member of our local Kiwanis Club, and I had a very good friend there named, Frank. When I described the routine we did on Christmas Eve, he said, "I'll come over and help." I answered that it would be great, because I could use all the help I could get. Now Frank was the chief engineer in charge of a division of a very large electronics company. (Nowadays, this company is a global electronics giant.) He said that he would be very happy to do it. Many of the larger toys come in boxes with "some assembly required". He was a great friend and a ton of help, and he was able to come each Christmas Eve for about 5 years until we moved. His engineering skills often were put to the test and ultimately were indispensable!
Ordinarily we would try to get for the kids, the things that they asked Santa for. There was a strong belief in Santa for the smaller children. I also told the older children not to spoil it for the little ones. Now one year my oldest son asked for a gun. I was shocked, and I was not ready for that. I told Dorothy that I didn't want to do that. I told her that when I was young, I never had a two wheel bicycle, and I really wanted one. So perhaps we could surprise him, and we could get a bike for him.
Well Christmas Eve comes, and I am real proud that there is a bright, shinning two wheeler standing by the tree, On Christmas morning all the little ones came down the stairs yelling, " Santa was here, Santa was here." Each one looking for their name on the gift boxes. I turned to my oldest and proudly said, "Look what you got, a two wheel bike." He turned toward me with a sad look on his face said," But I asked for a gun."
He accepted the bike and learned to ride it, as well. However I had a learning experience, that I used the following year. Yes, I got him a BB gun which he really enjoyed. But not only that, he developed a fascination for guns. Later when we were vacationing at the dude ranch, he was able to use the shooting range, and he found a new love. Now he wanted a .22 rifle. There were no problems with the previous gun, so he received one for his birthday. Then much later, I bought myself a BB gun. Chipmunks, fear me!
At this time I was a member of our local Kiwanis Club, and I had a very good friend there named, Frank. When I described the routine we did on Christmas Eve, he said, "I'll come over and help." I answered that it would be great, because I could use all the help I could get. Now Frank was the chief engineer in charge of a division of a very large electronics company. (Nowadays, this company is a global electronics giant.) He said that he would be very happy to do it. Many of the larger toys come in boxes with "some assembly required". He was a great friend and a ton of help, and he was able to come each Christmas Eve for about 5 years until we moved. His engineering skills often were put to the test and ultimately were indispensable!
Ordinarily we would try to get for the kids, the things that they asked Santa for. There was a strong belief in Santa for the smaller children. I also told the older children not to spoil it for the little ones. Now one year my oldest son asked for a gun. I was shocked, and I was not ready for that. I told Dorothy that I didn't want to do that. I told her that when I was young, I never had a two wheel bicycle, and I really wanted one. So perhaps we could surprise him, and we could get a bike for him.
Well Christmas Eve comes, and I am real proud that there is a bright, shinning two wheeler standing by the tree, On Christmas morning all the little ones came down the stairs yelling, " Santa was here, Santa was here." Each one looking for their name on the gift boxes. I turned to my oldest and proudly said, "Look what you got, a two wheel bike." He turned toward me with a sad look on his face said," But I asked for a gun."
He accepted the bike and learned to ride it, as well. However I had a learning experience, that I used the following year. Yes, I got him a BB gun which he really enjoyed. But not only that, he developed a fascination for guns. Later when we were vacationing at the dude ranch, he was able to use the shooting range, and he found a new love. Now he wanted a .22 rifle. There were no problems with the previous gun, so he received one for his birthday. Then much later, I bought myself a BB gun. Chipmunks, fear me!
Friday, December 18, 2009
Christmas in the Early Years
After our marriage, there was several years before we could have a Christmas together and with our children. First I was in the Army, then we were moving. Finally with children, then Christmas had a whole new meaning, and was a lot more fun. Dorothy wanted to have the big surprise on Christmas day. On Christmas eve was when Santa would bring in a beautifully lite tree and all the presents. After the children were all in bed, we started doing everything. All the presents that were hidden had to be wrapped, the tree brought in and decorated with lights, and ornaments, and assemble some of the larger toys.
As our family grew, the job got harder to accomplish, the presents were more numerous, and the assembly work took longer and longer. Eventually, we barely made it to bed, and at most had 2 hours sleep before the kids woke us up!
Was that a big job? It sure was, but it was worth it! The big surprise with eyes and mouths wide open, screeching, "Santa Claus was here."
As our family grew, the job got harder to accomplish, the presents were more numerous, and the assembly work took longer and longer. Eventually, we barely made it to bed, and at most had 2 hours sleep before the kids woke us up!
Was that a big job? It sure was, but it was worth it! The big surprise with eyes and mouths wide open, screeching, "Santa Claus was here."
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
The Last of Animal Stories
At one point we had a parakeet, and Dorothy said that it will learn to speak. We tried saying a phrase repeatedly like," Pretty bird," over and over again. No luck. It must have been a stupid bird.
Then we brought home, a baby alligator about 6 inches long in a plastic basin. Our children tried feeding it raw ground beef, but it didn't eat it. Then maybe a dead fly. It didn't like that either. I don't think that it ate any thing we gave it. Oh by the way, Dorothy named it Oscar. It didn't live very long. However after it died, one of my boys operated on it to get some alligator skin.
Then,of course, every home with children had to have an aquarium with tropical fish. We got about a 10 gallon tank with all the trimmings including an air pump. I believe that my son, Roger, was the main care taker, and then later Rick took over. Now the usual tropical fish like guppies, sword fish, angel fish, and other exotic names. They were doing a good job, because the fish were thriving, and the aquarium looked nice.
We had this aquarium in our rec room which was the lowest level of our home. Because we were on a hill, this room had patio doors leading to our back yard at ground level. Also in this room was a full size pool table. Well young teen-agers playing pool can get to be a little rough. Yes, a pool ball went into the side of the aquarium and broke it. Can you imagine the mess? Earlier I mention the patio doors leading outside, well I am sure the water had a way out. By the time Dorothy and I returned home, everything was cleaned up.
Another time we had two chameleons, and their names were Cham and Leon. Normally they are unable to drink water, but they get their water through their skin. Again Roger worked out a system to get water to them. He took copper wire which has insulation on it. He then pulled the wire out, leaving the insulation as a hollow tube. Now he worked out siphon system to allow water to drip slowly. Then the chameleons could keep their skin moist.
Then we brought home, a baby alligator about 6 inches long in a plastic basin. Our children tried feeding it raw ground beef, but it didn't eat it. Then maybe a dead fly. It didn't like that either. I don't think that it ate any thing we gave it. Oh by the way, Dorothy named it Oscar. It didn't live very long. However after it died, one of my boys operated on it to get some alligator skin.
Then,of course, every home with children had to have an aquarium with tropical fish. We got about a 10 gallon tank with all the trimmings including an air pump. I believe that my son, Roger, was the main care taker, and then later Rick took over. Now the usual tropical fish like guppies, sword fish, angel fish, and other exotic names. They were doing a good job, because the fish were thriving, and the aquarium looked nice.
We had this aquarium in our rec room which was the lowest level of our home. Because we were on a hill, this room had patio doors leading to our back yard at ground level. Also in this room was a full size pool table. Well young teen-agers playing pool can get to be a little rough. Yes, a pool ball went into the side of the aquarium and broke it. Can you imagine the mess? Earlier I mention the patio doors leading outside, well I am sure the water had a way out. By the time Dorothy and I returned home, everything was cleaned up.
Another time we had two chameleons, and their names were Cham and Leon. Normally they are unable to drink water, but they get their water through their skin. Again Roger worked out a system to get water to them. He took copper wire which has insulation on it. He then pulled the wire out, leaving the insulation as a hollow tube. Now he worked out siphon system to allow water to drip slowly. Then the chameleons could keep their skin moist.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Another Fishing Story
Again we are in Florida and another charter fishing boat trip off the coast at West Palm Beach. This time we are at our condo in Fort Lauderdale with my youngest son, Jack, and we were invited by his friend, Alex, to come up to West Palm Beach.West Palm Beach is just a short drive North from us. He said he would arrange a fishing trip with a friend of his. So the three of us, my wife Dorothy, Jack who is on his college break, and I drove up and met them. Dorothy stayed on shore with Alex's wife, but the three of us got on board this private fishing boat with a skipper and his mate.
It was a beautiful sunny day with a slight chop, that means small waves, and we went out a short distance for about 10 or 15 minutes. We could still see the shore line and the swimmers on the beach. The boat slowed down, and the skipper began to put out the fishing lines. It wasn't too long before we caught a fish. To my surprise, it was a barracuda with a mouth full of teeth, very vicious looking.
We stayed in the same area, and we each one of us caught fish, but they were all the same kind, barracuda. In my limited knowledge of fish, I was certainly impressed that these are man-eating fish. I looked around, and, sure enough there was the shore with the swimmers... hmmm
A few minutes later, Jack was pulling in a fish, and while reeling it in, he announced that he had lost it. The skipper said to bring his line in anyway. In comes only 1/2 of a fish, the front half still hooked onto the line, and now dripping blood all over the boat. Evidently another barracuda sensed this one struggling and bit the tail end clean off the fish for its lunch.
Shortly after that we returned to our harbor with our catch of the day. Like the other fishing trip before, I asked the skipper to have one of the fishes mounted. When it arrived at our home, we hung it in our rec room where our pool table was. Now the barracuda, with its mouth wide open was the parking place for the 8-ball. I would like to explain that the teeth of the barracuda do not only have a sharp point on top, but the sides of each tooth are sharp as a razor.
It was a beautiful sunny day with a slight chop, that means small waves, and we went out a short distance for about 10 or 15 minutes. We could still see the shore line and the swimmers on the beach. The boat slowed down, and the skipper began to put out the fishing lines. It wasn't too long before we caught a fish. To my surprise, it was a barracuda with a mouth full of teeth, very vicious looking.
We stayed in the same area, and we each one of us caught fish, but they were all the same kind, barracuda. In my limited knowledge of fish, I was certainly impressed that these are man-eating fish. I looked around, and, sure enough there was the shore with the swimmers... hmmm
A few minutes later, Jack was pulling in a fish, and while reeling it in, he announced that he had lost it. The skipper said to bring his line in anyway. In comes only 1/2 of a fish, the front half still hooked onto the line, and now dripping blood all over the boat. Evidently another barracuda sensed this one struggling and bit the tail end clean off the fish for its lunch.
Shortly after that we returned to our harbor with our catch of the day. Like the other fishing trip before, I asked the skipper to have one of the fishes mounted. When it arrived at our home, we hung it in our rec room where our pool table was. Now the barracuda, with its mouth wide open was the parking place for the 8-ball. I would like to explain that the teeth of the barracuda do not only have a sharp point on top, but the sides of each tooth are sharp as a razor.
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