Country Cousin

Mosquitoes...



Hi Folks!

Wow! It’s already half past Summer! Seems like just yesterday we were wondering if it was too early to plant the garden, and now we’re picking green beans, cucumbers, corn and even raspberries. See how time flies when you’re having fun?

FULL MOON, FULL SCHEDULES

The summer sky should be wonderful this weekend, with a full moon scheduled for Monday, July 26.

Weekend events include a free open house at Twin County Airport in Menominee and Hog Wrestling at Caldron Falls Bar west of Crivitz, both on Saturday, July 24, and a Brown Trout trout fishing derby at the Menominee Marina on Saturday and Sunday, July 24 and 25.

Farmer’s Markets are open in many communities, and local produce stands are opening up everywhere. If you didn’t plant your own garden, get out there and enjoy the fruits of someone else’s labor!

Incidentally pig wrestling doesn’t actually involve wrestling pigs in the sense of those so-called “wrestling” matches we’re treated to on TV, and no, the pigs don’t get hurt. They just might get picked up.

NEWPER TALK

Hundreds, even thousands, of friends from the more urban climes to the south come to The Real North at this time of year to enjoy our natural beauties, fresh country air, sandy beaches, unspoiled waters and this year at least, plenty of mosquitoes to go around. Hope the birds and frogs are happy!

Realized some years back that some of our visitors from from other parts of the state and nation don’t really speak our language. They think we here in North Eastern Wisconsin talk funny. And they feel some things just aren’t what we call them. It’s a sort of language barrier.

Having grown up just across the river from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (UP, otherwise known as Yoop), I’ve always known people from way up in Yooper Land speak a slightly different language. We knew it as “Yooper Talk.” One regionally popular UP group (known as Da Yoopers) even made a record about it.

Taking that same idea, you might say we here in what one local politician recently called the orphan corner of the state speak a form of “Newper Talk.” (Translation: North Eastern Wisconsin Person.)

Maybe we need to start a translation dictionary so there’s no danger of miscommunication. Hey, maybe if we did that we could even talk with people from Madison! You think?

For example:

Here in Newperland we say “lodge” when we mean any headquarters of a resort or campground, no matter how small or primitive it may be. “Lodge” can also mean just about anywhere that folks gather for food, drink or fellowship. Am told that’s not true in other areas. One visitor - a professional in the tourist promotion field - not too long ago became somewhat emotional when she discovered “lodge” up here in The Real North did not mean a fine lounge-type area complete with 6-foot stone fireplace and cathedral ceilings attached to a fancy resort or campground.

Another visitor, this one from Arizona, was totally mystified when invited to come along for a “shake of the day” run. She wondered first of all why the gang was going to bars for milkshakes, and secondly, how many milkshakes can you drink? Had no idea it was a dice game.

“You guys,” in Newper country, as in the Yoop, can mean any number of people, of any gender. This differs from its usage in “Guys and Dolls.”

“Slow Deer Crossing” has nothing to do with slow deer. It means you had better go slow because deer most likely will be crossing - right in front of your car. Most of them seem to be slightly suicidal.

“40 MPH Curve” means exactly what it says. Go faster and you’re likely to be in serious trouble.

A sort of snake sign on a road means you’d best go really, really slow. Most of the back roads are somewhat curvy and they don’t bother to post warning signs. When there is a warning sign it means business.

“Highball” to most of us here in Newperland means a shot or two of some kind of intoxicating liquor in a glass with ice cubes and your choice of soda. To folks from outside our area, it is a specific drink with a specific set of ingredients. Some of them actually get upset when the bartender asks what they want in their highball.

Finally, Newpers know the truth of the old maxim, “Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.” We also know, he’ll most likely catch fish too.

There are probably hundreds of colloquialisms we Newpers use that don’t sound at all strange to us, but do to those who hail from down south (That’s Brown County and beyond.) That’s the problem. We need to communicate. We need to learn their language and they need to learn ours. If your out of town guests have mentioned any local language oddities, please pass them along. We’d love to share.

Incidentally, everyone who has dwelt in TIMESland for a decade or more is probably a Newper, but not all Newpers live in TIMESland.

MOSQUITO CONTROL

The recent rains are filling swamps and hatching swarms of blood thirsty mosquitoes. We’ve been spoiled for a few years, but the time has come to put some of the old fashioned mosquito control practices into use again and trot out some new ones. Of course, you can buy sprays for your back yard, but there are some natural remedies available too.

Some are:

Keep grass cut short around the house. Empty all sources of standing water and turn containers upside down. Change birdbaths, wading pools and pet’s water bowl twice a week. Keep eave troughs clean and well-draining.

Try to open doors and windows only on the windy side of the house. Mosquitoes and many other bugs don’t like wind, so they tend to hang around more in sheltered areas.

When using the barbecue, throw a few sage or rosemary sprigs on the coals.

Grandpa’s old remedy was to build a smudge - create a bed of hot coals, preferably in a bucket, then intermittently throw on forksful of very green and damp grass or weeds to make it smoke.

For an effective natural bug repellent, mix one part garlic juice with 5 parts water in a small spray bottle. Shake well before using. Sprayed lightly on exposed body parts the repellent effect is said to last up to 5 - 6 hours. Actually, the garlic smell might repel people too, but if everyone wears the same perfume, who cares? Spray some on the window screens to deter those little bitty mean ones from coming on in right through the screen. Strips of cloth can be dipped in the garlic mixture and hung in patio and picnic table areas as a localized deterrent.

For a better smelling personal protection, if you don’t like to use bug spray, try putting a Bounce dryer sheet in the waistband of your clothes, which is said to ward off mosquitoes. Rubbing the sheet over your garments and hair first increases the effect.

One friend swears lemon scent deters mosquitoes. She mixes equal parts of lemon dish soap, lemon ammonia and lemon juice and sprays her yard with the concoction every two weeks or so. Says she’s not bothered with mosquitoes.

Citronella plants and citronella candles also produce scents that mosquitoes dislike.

For a longer term solution, buy some bat houses or get directions and build your own. Don’t really like bats, but like mosquitoes less, and bats do help keep the population down.

Another long-term solution is to plant borders of lemongrass around your yard, or at least set pots of it in strategic locations.

Do whatever it takes to attract purple martens, which are voracious consumers of mosquitoes. It may be too late for this year, but consider some marten houses not so they’re ready and waiting next spring.

COOKIN’ TIME

Harvests are already coming in, and the recent monsoons are making life easier for gardeners. No need to water. That’s taken care of.

CUCUMBER SAUCE

This is superb over salmon loaf or salmon patties or any baked or poached fish, and with a little garlic added it’s a natural with thinly sliced firm garlicky meat loaf or roast beef on a pseudo-Gyro sandwich. Good on a real Gyro too.

3 large cucumbers, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch pieces

1 tsp. dried dill weed

1 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. pepper

2 tablespoon. lemon juice

1/2 cup sour cream

Whirr in food process cucumber pieces in food processor until they’re somewhat finely chopped, or put through a food grinder with the fine plate. Sprinkle on salt and let sit for perhaps half an hour. Place cucumbers in a plastic colander and drain off excess juice. Put the ground cukes into a bowl and stir in the dill weed, salt, pepper, and lemon juice; mix well. Fold in sour cream. Taste to see if it needs more salt. Chill thoroughly before serving.

FIRE ‘N’ ICE FRUIT SALAD

Sounds strange, but it’s wonderful and totally refreshing. Proportions given are enough to fill a watermelon shell. Did print this a few years ago, but it’s so good I simply had to pass it along again. Tasted it first at a party given by friend Tony from Chicago at his cottage near Crivitz. Tony and his family also shared some great Polish recipes. He’s promised to teach me to make Dill Pickle Soup, but hasn’t done it yet!

7 mangoes

2 fresh pineapples

1 cantaloupe

1 watermelon

1 honey dew melon

2 cups blueberries, if available

Tajin Fruit Seasoning, or substitute, to taste

Tajin Fruit Seasoning can be purchased at Mexican markets or possibly in the foreign aisle of the supermarket. If you cannot find any, try making your own. It’s a mixture of dehydrated lime, ground chili peppers, salt, chili powder and cayenne pepper.

To make the salad, cut the fruits into bite-size pieces and sprinkle on the seasonings, layer by layer as you put the fruit into the serving container. (This is marvelous party fare if you hollow out a watermelon and use it as a container for the spiced fruit salad.) Chill at least half an hour and serve proudly.

WATERMELON PICKLES

Watermelons are a real bargain right now. Enjoy the melons now, then get double duty by turning the rind into winter treats. Make some of these pretty pickles and put them away. They’ll be table brighteners when Thanksgiving and Christmas come around.

2 pounds watermelon rind

1/4 cup pickling salt

4 cups water

2 cups sugar

1 cup white vinegar

1 tablespoon broken stick cinnamon

1-1/2 teaspoons whole cloves

1/2 lemon, thinly sliced

5 maraschino cherries halved

Trim the dark green and pink parts from watermelon rind. Cut rind in 1-inch cubes; measure 7 cups. Soak rind overnight in a solution of pickling salt and water. (If it takes more to cover, use same proportion salt to water.) Drain; rinse watermelon rind. Cover rind with cold water. Cook just till tender.

Meanwhile, in a 6 to 8 quart kettle or Dutch oven combine sugar, white vinegar, stick cinnamon, whole cloves, and 1 cup water. Simmer mixture 10 minutes; strain. Add drained watermelon rind, lemon slices, and maraschino cherries. Simmer the mixture until the watermelon rind is clear. Fill hot pint jars with rind and syrup mixture, leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Adjust lids. Process in boiling water bath (pints) 5 minutes.

HERBED GREEN BEANS

3 pounds green beans

1-1/2 cups chopped onion

1 cup chopped celery

1 clove garlic, minced

1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed

1/4 teaspoon dried basil, crushed

Wash and drain green beans. Trim ends and cut in 1-inch pieces; measure 12 cups. In 4 to 6 quart kettle or Dutch oven simmer beans in boiling water to cover for 5 minutes; drain. Combine green beans, onion, celery, garlic, rosemary, and basil. Pack mixture into hot jars, leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Cover with boiling water, leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Add 1/14 teaspoon salt per pint. Adjust lids. Process in pressure canner at 10 pounds pressure (pints) 20 minutes. Makes 6 pints

Before serving: Boil at least 10 minutes before tasting or using; drain. Add 1 tablespoon butter or margarine to each pint, if desired.

CHERRY PEACH JAM

1 pound tart red cherries

1-1/4 pounds peaches

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 1-3/4 ounce package powdered fruit pectin

4 cups sugar

Sort, wash, and remove the steams from red cherries. Pit and coarsely chop the cherries; measure 1-1/2 cups. Peel, pit, and coarsely chop the peaches; measure 2 cups. In 8 to 10 quart kettle or Dutch oven combine the chopped fruit and lemon juice. Add the powered fruit pectin to the mixture; mix well.

Bring mixture to full rolling boil. Stir in sugar. Bring again to full rolling boil, stirring constantly. Boil hard, uncovered, 1 minute. Remove from heat; quickly skim off foam with metal spoon. Pour at once into hot sterilized jars; seal. Makes 5 half-pints.

GOLDEN FRUIT SALAD

This luscious dressing turns fruit salad into a delectable dessert. Try it now, while so many varieties of fresh fruits are on the market at reasonable prices. Bananas, strawberries, blueberries, apples, peaches and grapes go wonderfully with this.

2 eggs

1/4 cup sugar

1 tablespoon flour

4 tablespoons lemon juice

1 cup pineapple juice

1 cup whipped cream

Beat the eggs together with the sugar, flour and lemon juice. Add the pineapple juice. Cook the mixture until it thickens, stirring constantly. Cool. Just before serving, fold in the whipped cream.

Thought for the week: “Use what talent you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best.” Henry Van Dyke .

COUNTRY COUSIN

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