Viroqua, WI

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

Good Morning Viroqua... If you have not heard yet, a movie rental Kiosks has been newly installed in front of the Walgreen's on Main Street.

To me this is very good news; as most of us were sad to see Box Office Video close its doors. They have been in Viroqua for more than 15 years. Once we had 3 rental places in town to choose from. Only last week it looked like the Village Market would be the last place in town to rent a DVD. So after the Thanksgiving day guests left, Trent and I went over to try our luck at renting via vending machine. I must admit it was a snap to do. It only cost us $1.06 including tax, per movie; both due back today. Since Walgreen's is on the block just before my RE/MAX office, it's not going to be a chore returning rentals. Plus some fun things are: you can reserve movies on line, at www.redbox.com, watch a film trailer and finally they pretty much have only new releases. Hey it cannot get any better to me.

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

Thanksgiving is by far my most favorite holiday, it's a time for family gatherings and being thankful... how divine. It's a time for turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie and football.

It is also a meal I always love preparing. My ingredients of celery, onions, and mushrooms are all chopped and all set to be sautéed in a little olive oil, skipping the butter, for the making of a more heart friendly classic stuffing. My turkey has already been placed in the oven; I no longer stuff the bird and prefer to bake the stuffing on the side. Prior to rattling my pots and pans in preparations for today's thanksgiving tradition, I added what I might hope will be another tradition.

I read AR and got into the spirit of being thankful with the help of so many here:

Cheryl Marantino's touching blog: Things I am thankful for this thanksgiving.

Chris Elizabeth Griffith's Funny turkey: Happy Thanksgiving

Ellie McIntire's needing some help: How am I suppost to cook this Turkey?

Marty Remo's making memories: Thanksgiving I have a lot to be thankful for, our little girl

Linda Breeding's happy clients say: A true thanksgiving for first timers

Toula Rosebrock's turkey humor: Turkeys are mooing

Christopher and Stephanie Somers' thanksgiving quote: Happy Thanksgiving a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Joan Whitebook's layaway plan: Thanksgiving: Put your turkey on Layaway

Sean Dreznin's off to a turkey trot: Happy thanksgiving

Kristin Moran's thanks to AR: A little thanksgiving ditty for AR

After reading all these post, I am so in the Thanksgiving Mood, thank you AR. Shortly my family will be arriving and we too will be enjoying this day we planned on spending together. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

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 drove around Viroqua yesterday I could not help but notice that Christmas tree lots are starting to pop up around town. That's not a surprise, since there are now only 28 days remaining before Christmas. Even my teammates and I got into the holiday season spirit. We just got done putting up a few strands of lights on the office outdoor sign, HO, HO, HO... it sure will look nice.

When it comes to picking out a Christmas tree you cannot get more traditional and Eco Friendly than having a Real one. So here is a question; does it seem greener to you to cut down a farm raised tree? Or... do you think owning an artificial tree which can be recycled for several seasons is more environmentally green? The natural trees certainly are readily recycled by many municipalities into wood chip mulch for parks and landscaping. While the artificial ones are great with all the lights already on them and many look so real, a far cry from those silver rotating aluminum ones of the 50's.

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