A View of the Valley

by Linda Schwanke I’m happy to report that our yard is filled with pollinators. This weekend, hot though it was, we saw more bees, wasps and butterflies than we could count, all making their way from flower to flower, bed to bed, busy, busy, busy. I kept cool by dipping my feet in the kiddie pool – no mean feat given that it was filled boats, balls, a slide and a kiddo who should win an award for biggest splashes.  It’s easy to forget, in the hustle and bustle of adult life, how much wonder the world is filled with. In a moment of calm, granddaughter Mildred and I watched a wasp take a break from dive bombing us to take a drink from the pool. Mildred is kind of terrified of bugs, not sure why, so I tried to make a positive lesson for her. Roughly two seconds after it was done drinking she ran screaming off into the yard but that’s how toddlers are. We saw a flight of airplanes flying overhead Sunday afternoon flying in formation. Papa Jim said there were very old and it was pretty neat. But it’s hot.  Sauk County Public Health and Emergency Management sent me a press release about what to do in the hot weather that is in the forecast. It’s not the first time this year that they sent out the information nor will it probably be the last because it isn’t even August yet. The weather has been so weird of late that we could get heat advisories in October – but I sincerely hope not. The release has a website recommendation for people to look up information on “heat-related health concerns.” I’ve shared the information before so I’m not going to repeat it but do take steps necessary to keep from getting sick in the heat. Is there anything we can do if we’re sick of the heat? I don’t know but I’m working on it.  Our garden is certainly not unhappy about this weather. The squash and cucumbers are fighting for dominance over the peppers, onions, beans, eggplants and everything else in their path. Daughter Gwen put all the tomatoes in pots this year so they’re safe from marauders. And she didn’t plant zucchini because we get plenty of it from from friends trying to unload their extras.  We’ve been researching pickle recipes on the internet because, well, we can and searching recipes is a great way to kill a whole lot of time. I got thinking that maybe I was killing too much time that way and remembered that I have a refrigerator pickle recipe that Aunt Katie gave me years ago. Katie Schwanke owned the building that Convivio is in. She had a sewing shop, Sew n Sew, for years and years. She and Uncle Clint lived upstairs and while she was busy at her sewing and as one of the first women Spring Green trustees, he was gardening. The recipe came with a huge pail of cucumbers, peppers and onions. Uncle Clint, like our zucchini pushing friends, always grew more than they needed and always shared.  Here’s the recipe from Aunt Katie. It took less time to find that I thought it would and the search was a nice trip down memory lane. Digging through the files of recipes, I came across recipes in my mom, grandma’s and so many friends handwriting. Next time I’m looking for recipes, I will make those files the first place I look because I know that if someone took the time to write a recipe down for me, it’s got to be good. Refrigerator Dills Fill ice cream pails with medium pickles (quartered). Add garlic (it doesn’t say how much), 1 teaspoon mustard seed, six heads dill. Boil: 1 ½ quarts water, 1 pint white vinegar, ½ cup canning salt, ¼ teaspoon alum. Pour on pickles. Let stand uncovered for three days. Then refrigerate. Pretty simple. I have been known to add sliced onion and peppers, too.  Take care, stay cool and stay in touch. My number is 574-3159. Email me at homenewseditor@newspubinc.com or write to me at the Home News, P.O. Box 39, Spring Green WI 53588.  Visit our website at homenewsrv.com Get in touch with Gwen for sports or features at homenewssports@newspubinc.com. If you need a display ad, Dave Pronold can be reached at homenewssales@newspubinc.com or by calling him on his cell at 588-4777. Display ads, or ads that are in boxes, are due by 1 p.m. on Wednesdays. The classified ad deadline is noon Thursdays the week prior to publication for both the Buyer’s Guide and Home News. Classified rates are $13 for the first 10 words, then 30¢ per word for each additional word. Call (608) 767-3655 or email classifieds@newspubinc.com  Legal notices are due by 2 p.m. on Fridays, email them to legals@newspubinc.com Call the NewsPub central office at (608) 767-3655 for subscriptions and all other information Monday through Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon, although afternoon hours can vary. Closed Fridays.