By Mary Ann Sparks
Tuesday, Nov 6 2007, 03:47 PM
From the Waupaca Front Last weekend I went up to Waupaca again with my girlfriend. (Don’t insinuate anything into the word “girlfriend”, we are both very heterosexual.) She needed to close up her home up there for the winter. Just the usual things, set the phone alarm, put the hose away, bring in the ATV, lawn mower and boat motor batteries so they don’t freeze. She’s lucky to have good neighbors up there who keep an eye on her property during the winter. On the way up there my girlfriend asked me if I minded if we made a few stops before we got to her place. Since I’m always open to an adventure I agreed. Our first stop was at the Star Dairy in Weyauwega. This is a great local dairy. The milk somehow tastes fresher, the butter is creamier and their cheese is outstanding. I’ve tried their homemade brats and Italians too and they are great. The second stop was for “farm fresh eggs”. She pulled into the driveway and there was a small log house which almost looked like an outhouse or a hut for kids to wait for the school bus. Inside was a small refrigerator with eggs and a box to pay for them. All transactions on the honor system. Somehow I don’t see that flying down here in the city. Then we stopped at a vegetable stand that had pumpkins, squash and Indian corn. The honor system was employed here too. That just amazes me. What is different about the people up north that they can be trusted to comply with an honor system? Methinks, down here, someone surely would rip off the money box or steal all the merchandise. Our last stop was at a lovely craft store just outside Waupaca and perused their stock. I bought a votive candle infused with bergamot oil. I was also amazed at how green everything still was up there. Most of the summer birds have gone south, although the jays and cardinals were still in full force. The squirrels have been busy too. At the bottom step of the deck there were a gazillion shells from the nuts they harvested. Those pesky Japanese beetles that pass themselves off as ladybugs were everywhere too. How they get into the house is beyond me. Probably come in on our clothes. On Sunday evening the neighbors came for dinner. We enjoyed the meal (stuffed pork chops, squash and homemade apple crisp). Afterwards, Chrissy had us both laughing and squealing with her story of the mice jumping out at her and landing on her shoulder while she was cleaning out a box of pots in her potting shed. Her husband, Lee, then told us of the mice nests that he “disposed” of in his workshop. And, I thought I had it bad when my cat catches a mouse on the odd occasion. The weekend went all to fast as usual. Since I live on a busy street, the quiet up there is truly appreciated. I’m a night owl normally and up there I was in bed by 11 pm and I slept all night too. Must be something in the northern air! On the way home we stopped again at the Star Dairy for our stock to bring home and in Lomira we found Suzie’s Home Cooking. A very friendly diner that advertises home cooking which we found out was true. I’m looking forward to stopping there again, maybe for breakfast on the way up to Waupaca in the springtime to open the house up for the summertime.
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