September Thoughts

 It's hard to believe that it is the 2nd of September already. Time has flown by in spite of all the restrictions that are in place to try to keep us all safe. We have made a few trips to a couple of neighboring cities to buy groceries that aren't available in Neillsville and to visit Menards or Fleet Farm once in a while.

We are waiting to have our house shingled. We have done it ourselves before but have decided that perhaps we are a tad to old to be climbing around on the roof tearing off shingles and putting down new ones. It would take us a long time and the professionals will do it in a day and a half at the most and it will be all done, good as new which of course it will be.

Jim's project for the summer was to keep our numerous Baltimore Orioles fed. He is in charge of dispensing the grape jelly and thus far he has emptied 102 jars. That's more than 200 pounds of grape jelly that we have gone through this summer since the orioles arrived in May. The sparrows also like the jelly as well as a few of the other birds but it's been mostly the orioles that have consumed it. The last few days it has slowed way down and there are only around 10 orioles left and I'm sure they will soon be gone too. Time for them to head south. Our weather has been typical Wisconsin summer weather. Some days hot and humid and for a lot of the summer very dry. We have been very lucky as we have not had any really severe weather unlike some of the other areas of the country including Iowa. They sustained a really terrible storm and it will be a long time before things are completely cleaned up. The farmer's corn crops were hit very hard with an unbelievable amount of dollar loss to the entire state. Many Magnolia residents and former residents over the years have lived, or do now live in Iowa and we feel for them.

I have a feeling that this winter in the Rio Grande Valley will be much different from previous years with a lot fewer Winter Texans. I have heard and read, that for the most part, the Canadians will have to stay home. From what I understand, and I certainly could be wrong, the problem for them would be getting health insurance to cover them while out of the country. Way back in February or March when this all started I thought it would all be gone by now, but it certainly isn't and I imagine it won't be until there is a reliable vaccine or at least a reliable drug to fight Covid 19. Who would have ever thought it. In some ways it reminds me of the time when polio was a problem. I remember sitting on the curb on one side of the street that we lived on and my best friend who lived across the street sat on the curb on her side of the street and we would yell across the street at each other, just two little girls trying to have fun without being able to play together.

We do plan to head south this winter and hope to see some of you here and there.

Be careful, wear your masks and stay safe.