About Vernon County, WI

First thing every morning I always stop at the post office to pick up my mail. What a nice surprise... today inside by mailbox was a little package. Upon closer look I notice it was from my AR Friend, Sally Hanson.

I am thinking... what can this be? Once I arrived at my desk; I opened it right up. What a delightful, simple little gift you have sent me! A little house shaped cookie cutter and a lovely holiday letter. It is ever so nice that you choose to share such a sweet treat of an idea with me... Now Don't Cha' Think! I will tell you this, at my very next open house, instead of going to the bakery and buying cookies, there will be some home-baked little house shaped cookies that I will serving to all my guests. I'll be thinking of you and using your little gift, so thoughtfully sent to me. Thanks you Sally for your Holiday Cheer and a very Merry Christmas to you!

Are you searching for homes to buy in Viroqua or Vernon County Wisconsin

call Mary Strang therteam.com RE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-637-3599

Along with cold weather, there is no surer sign that the holidays are here... than holiday parties. We have already had the neighborhood party, which was a progressive party going from house to house. This week there will be several others to attend.

So far, my favorite is the ladies golf party. Lucky for all of us golfing ladies, the clubhouse is a great place to host a party! The annual event consists of a potluck dish to pass and a gift to give. It has been hosted at member's homes, but the clubhouse is nicer with the mess being left for the staff of the clubhouse to clean up.

After all it is the holidays...the format of the party goes like this; numbered slips of paper are placed in a basket totaling the exact number of those in attendance. Then the basket is passed around, each lady pulling out a number for the gift choosing order. Then one by one in order, you can take a gift, open it and show it around. The next number can then choose a new gift or take one that has already been opened. Yep... just steal it away from someone else. The event is always hilarious, with certain gifts being stolen multiple times, this year it was limited to 3 times only, per person to nab someone else's gift. You never know what gift you will be going home with, that is the fun!

Are you searching for homes to buy in Viroqua or Vernon County Wisconsin

call Mary Strang therteam.com RE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-637-3599

As I was driving over to an Amish Farm in the Hillsboro, WI area on Monday, I was really surprise to see a herd of white cows. It was the first time I have ever seen any and was not sure what the breed was.

Being curious about what they were, I asked the local Amish man what he knew. He explained that they were called British White's. Typically they have all white bodies with black noses and black tipped ears.

After reading a little about them, they apparently are a very docile cattle and anicent breed. These cows were looking very interested in me too. I guess they might be wondering what I was doing taking their picture or maybe more likely if I had some food for them. Knowing this is a docile type cow is always a good thing. Since frequently when showing rural properties, they have cattle on them. Yep, that is something you city Realtors don't have to deal with. However, I do always like to know where they are and if any are bulls. My favorite question to ask the landowner is: "Are there any Elmer's out there?" You see the Black Angus Cattle, which are more typical here, are definitely not docile. You do want to know if any are on the land.

Now that I have had a look at these cows, I think I now recall also seeing this breed in Americana folk-art paintings. Must be a more popular breed of cattle in the eastern states, anyone know if that is so?

Are you searching for homes to buy in Viroqua or Vernon County Wisconsin

call Mary Strang therteam.com RE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-637-3599

Since the first Earth day was held on March 21, 1970 you would think saving the earth would be mainstream by now... except it's not. Back then green was just a color, not a way of life. Eco-friendly, recycling and organic were advanced concepts to just a few. Pretty much if you liked granola, brown rice, driving a VW bug and not feeling bad about not having any money you were hip or hippie. Now with the tighter economy, being a little poorer and greener might at last make mainstream or a comeback for some. Here are a couple of 70's tips for making gift giving more groovy green.

1. Use the comic pages of the newspaper to wrap up those gifts. Remembering always to recycle them after opened. Old Street maps work nicely too. Or if you are like me, you had carefully opened the gifts you received last year so you could reuse that paper this year.
2. If you feel driven to use traditional wrapping paper. Always buy any gift-wrapping paper after Christmas: it goes on sale at 70% off or more!
3. Decorate the package with left over bows, or even better, find items in your yard like dried flowers or a sprig of pine. You can also make decorative stamps using bright colored paints and left over art supplies. With Christmas cards from last year, recycle them as the gift tags by cutting the card with pinking shears around the edges.

I do recall the first time way back then... when all my gifts were given wrapped in ordinary newsprint, I was so pleased at that time but I didn't know I was also green.

Are you searching for homes to buy in Viroqua or Vernon County Wisconsin

call Mary Strang therteam.com RE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-637-3599

While out showing country land today, the group I was with, and I came across evidence of beaver activity on this small tree on the West Branch of the Kickapoo River. (Nearby Avalanche)

The West Branch is a popular Trout stream. We also watched a few anglers, enjoying the day flyfishing along the same banks. The weather was wonderful, sunny, and warm. A beautiful day to stroll along a ountry stream.

The beaver had not yet finished off this small tree; it had fresh beaver gnawing marks. The photo of the beaver in the water below, was not taken in this area.

Beavers eat bark and leaves from the trees that they cut down. Favorite trees of beavers are aspens but they will also eat birch, alder, and willow trees that grow along a stream. This was a young box alder. They usually prefer trees between 2-6 inches in diameter. I read online, that a busy beaver can chew through a 5 inch willow tree in 3 minutes!

Are you searching for homes to buy in Viroqua or Vernon County Wisconsin

call Mary Strang therteam.com RE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-637-3599