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Country Girl's Past: Lauri
HI,
I'm a farm kid at heart...not a product of the "factory farms" popping up all over today, but of the small, family farm where as a kid I grew, picked, and sold many farm commodities. When ready to harvest I remember long days harvesting bushel baskets full of small cucumbers that would be used for pickling; raspberries used in making jams, fresh potatoes, strawberries, cherries, apples, and pears! Some years I helped raised ducks which when butchered and sold provided the money I could use to pay for any Christmas gifts I would buy that year for my family and friends.
I grew up almost a stones throw away from the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge. We had lots of garder snakes slither onto our land from the nearby Horican marsh. I remember one spring day walking to meet the morning school bus, for my hour and a half ride, when the "grass" felt too spongy...as I looked down all I saw was "snake bodies entwined up and around my shoe. My flight off the grass would have put Orville and Wilber Wright's first flight to shame!
During their fall migration, Canadian Geese landed in our corn and alfalfa fields. They dined and feasted, unbothered by the serenade of the DNR gun explosions which were suppose to scare them off our land and save the crop!
Experienced a one room school and I literally did walk uphill to get there and back! Well, at least during part of each walk!
Graduated UW-O a long time ago...remember the long, hot summer with race riots? Met my better half, Bob, while in college. We've spent over 35 years educating the students in this community. I function as a secretary for my husband who is a master educator and recent Kohl Award Recipient.
Kids are gone now. Their junk is still here. Some tell us that is a sign they are coming back someday...threat or promise???
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