Even in a divisive world that will become even more so between now and the November election, there’s always room for a little kindness. After writing about the recent death of our beloved Labrador...

Our topsy-turvy spring weather so far this year has not inspired ambitions of gardening, but the show must go on. At least that’s what my wife Sherry told me recently when she decided it was time...

I was having a conversation recently with a crop farmer who remarked that she was enjoying the calm before the storm. It was early April and in just a few days she and her husband would be busy with...

Moving back to the country 16 years ago brought me back to many tasks and chores I experienced as a farm kid, but it also gave us the chance to try some new activities. One of them was raising pigs...

Even when the icy grip of winter keeps holding on, there are signs of spring around us. One sure sign for me was when my animal waterer that froze at the end of January finally thawed. It’s a relief...

I said goodbye to winter on a bright and crisp morning with the sounds of geese flying overhead. Life seems to be a series of busy moments linked together by the relentless onslaught of time. It’s...

Ralph Lauren needn’t be concerned, but it appears my predilection for old clothes is a fashion trend shared by others. My recent column about wearing clothes until they fall apart found favor with...

There are marvels all over the world, but sometimes one need only look out your back door to find new ones. In my case, it is literally outside my back door where a section of rain gutter was dislodged...

History and geology sometimes come together to tell fascinating stories, such as the rocky outcrop just outside of Galesville known as Decorah Peak. Standing 1,161 feet above sea level, Decorah Peak...

I pulled some old clothes from the closet the other day because I had some chores to do. Chore clothes have always been old clothes to me. Once I’ve put a T-shirt, shirt or a pair of pants through...

The small general stores that served our rural communities have all nearly vanished, but they certainly have left behind vivid memories. A few weeks ago, I wrote about the general stores located in...

If below-zero temperatures had a sound, it would be this: the clang of an iron maul striking the frozen apron of a manure spreader. Our recent cold snap — we dipped close to 30 below zero in my neck...