Living a Country Year: Wit and Wisdom from the Good Old Days

by Jerry Apps

In his bestselling Every Farm Tells a Story, Jerry Apps brought color and detail to the dreams so many of us have of simple rural life. Here, in his signature style, he spins warm-hearted tales about growing up on a Midwestern dairy farm in the 1940s--stories that make his country year our own.

Wearing his hard-earned wisdom lightly, Apps tells a tale for each month of the year in the heart of the country, and adds aphorisms and the occasional recipe for good measure. We skate with him on a frozen pond on a moonlit night. We watch him drive the hired mans Model T touring car at the age of 10, recover from polio by driving a tractor during disking season, and learn to ride bareback on a pony named Ginger.

Whether shooting off firecrackers on the Fourth of July or suffering through "potato vacation" or overcoming stage fright at the annual Christmas program, Apps is a delightful companion, teaching us a gentle lesson as he learns. By turns witty and profound, his book reaffirms our nations rural heritage.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Jerold W. Apps, born and raised on a Wisconsin farm, is Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the author of more than 30 books, many of them on rural history and country life. His nonfiction books include: Living a Country Year, Every Farm Tells a Story, When Chores Were Done, Humor from the Country, Country Ways and Country Days, One-Room Schools, Cheese, Breweries of Wisconsin, Ringlingville USA (History of Ringling Brothers circus), Old Farm: A History, Barns of Wisconsin, Horse Drawn Days: A Century of Farming With Horses, and Campfires and Loon Calls. His children's books include: Stormy, Eat Rutabagas, Tents, Tigers and the Ringling Brothers, and Casper Jaggi: Master Swiss Cheese Maker. He has an audio book, The Back Porch and Other Stories. Jerry has published four novels, The Travels of Increase Joseph, In a Pickle: A Family Farm Story, Blue Shadows Farm and Cranberry Red. Jerry is a former publications editor for UW-Extension, an acquisitions editor for the McGraw-Hill Book Company, and editor of a national professional journal.

Jerry has won awards for his writing from the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Library Association (the 2007 Notable Authors Award), American Library Association, Foreword Magazine, Midwest Independent Publishers Association, Robert E. Gard Foundation, The Wisconsin Council for Writers (the 2007 Major Achievement Award), Upper Midwest Booksellers, and Barnes and Noble Bookstores, among others. In 2010 he received the Distinguished Service Award from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Check www.jerryapps.com for more information.

Reviews

[Jessaka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peak Experiences

The other morning our cat brought in a finch and it was flying around in our bedroom when we woke up. After we cleared the bedroom I went back in to help the poor thing get outside. Closing the door behind me so that our cat could not get back in, I opened up our French doors to the porch. I went over to the window where the bird was fluttering. I thought that this would disturb her enough so that she would fly out the French doors, but she continued to flutter in the same spot of the window. I walked over, cupped my hands around her body, and then walked out onto the porch. I opened my hands and in a few moments the little bird flew away. Then I found that our cat had been in the room with me all of this time just sitting and watching. I only hope that he can learn by observing.

Wii do not live in the country now, but I thought of how this incident with the bird was so much like this book. I called these experiences, peak experiences after the book that Abraham maslow had written. His peak experiences I am sure or far different, but it's the little ones that make people really happy. And this book made me happy.

When jerry apps was growing up his father took him to a pond on his farm that had

frozen over and todd him and his two brothers how to ice skate. It would be years before they learn to skate as well as their father, but he never forgot that day.

I thought it was interesting how they kept the house warmer in winter in Wisconsin back in the 40s. They wrapped tar paper around the base of the house and then added Straw. Some people added cow manure, and when it decomposed it grew warm and heated the house. But when it warmed up outside the maneuver began to thaw and then the house begin to smell. No wonder mini people decided against manure. This would not be a peak experience.

[Norkett · Rating 4 out of 5]

We enjoyed the bits of wisdom, quotes and stories from growing up on a farm in a small northern Wisconsin town. We may even try one or two of the recipes that were sprinkled throughout. It's based near where we lived for many years, so it brought back memories for us and we learned a thing or two about farming.

[Pamela Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Timeless wisdom, a relaxing read.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read, a nice taste of small town Wisconsin farm life. Just a great relaxing read.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A warm, cozy read from a classic Wisconsin author that reminded me to slow down and appreciate each and every season. I could see myself coming back to this book at the beginning of each month to read the corresponding monthly section.

[Marsha Valance · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful week-by-week memoir of growing up in the rural Midwest before, during & after WWII. Fond du Lac Public Library 2009 Community Read. Awards from the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Library Association (the 2007 Notable Authors Award), American Library Association, Foreword Magazine, Midwest Independent Publishers Association, Robert E. Gard Foundation, The Wisconsin Council for Writers (the 2007 Major Achievement Award), & the Upper Midwest Booksellers. Includes tested recipes.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable short read. As I grew up on a farm, I related to many of Mr. App's stories, even though I am a generation younger than him. Makes me want to write down some of my memories of the farm.

[Khanh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't believe I didn't Discover this Wisconsin author before. This book contains short stories about his life in rural Wisconsin, some suggested activities such as journaling, and recipes shared from his family. A short but delightful read.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A poignant take on small-town life in the good old days.

[Christy Devinaspre · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute memoir of a boys life on the farm and how the days went by and were managed. Some great life insights at the end of each chapter but very basic in the writing skill.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life in an earlier time. Nice to remember.

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it,reminding me of the days I owned my own farm.