As I mowed the lawn yesterday, perched atop the seat of a John Deere mower, I pondered the lawn mowing days of old. As I recall, on the farm I grew up on, only the area in front of the house got mowed. That faced the old gravel road that graced the country sides in those days. Ma had a flower garden as long as the yard, and it was down near the road. I would estimate it was about 4 feet wide, and she grew things like asters and bachelor buttons.

Shawano County’s Brunch on the Farm, being held this Sunday at Nohr’s Cornerstone Dairy in Marion, is owned and operated by Terry and Dianne Nohr and family. I have a vested interest in this particular Brunch on the Farm as Terry and Dianne are my dear brother and sister-in-law, and they work and nurture the farm I grew up on. If you’re at the brunch and happen to see me, stop and say hello and introduce yourself! I’d love to meet you.

Keeping the Wescott Lake Drive Cemetery a place of beauty has been and continues to be a focus of the Lake Drive Cemetery Association. “I think it is a beautiful spot,” President Mike Schuler said. Improvements to the grounds are also a priority. A watering system is being installed with sprinklers for the whole cemetery, which has seven undeveloped acres and 15 to 20 acres for burials.

Rose Cary and her daughter, Sarah, do volunteer work together. Rose Cary was born in Antigo and was raised on a big dairy farm. She graduated from Holy Family Academy in Manitowoc. She was an assistant cook at Bellin Hospital in Green Bay before marrying Charles. They were married for 28 years before his death in 1998. They have 11 children and 30 grandchildren. Sarah, 18, the youngest, will be a senior at Bonduel High School.

Charles “Chas” Buettner was honored June 2 by members of Divine Savior Lutheran Church of Shawano for his 65 years in the music ministry as a church organist. Buettner thanked God for the people — family and friends — who have supported him over the years with their prayers and helpful comments. “We do what we can, with the Lord’s help, and serve him in whatever way we can,” he said. Buettner, the youngest of 14 children, loved music.

Believe it or not, the calendar is about to turn to July, with the Fourth of July right around the corner. Where did June go? I have been wondering why May seemed to drag by for me, but June has flown past so fast that it is hard to believe. Sure, there is different work with the yard needing attention, and there has already been a family reunion. The weather has been wet, sometimes cool and wet, and other times humid and wet.

Jim Barshaw has been on the board of Habitat for Humanity and is in charge of completing the current home on Lafayette Street in Shawano. Barshaw was born in Neenah and graduated from Menasha High School. He worked in the printing business for a short time before he volunteered for the draft.

The past and the present came together when the Rev. Rick Buhrke was installed at Zion Lutheran Church in Zachow where there hasn‘t been a sole pastor for over 90 years. Buhrke and his family can now promote the ministry, Family Crossfires, which endeavors to prevent and heal family breakdowns. “God brought us all together for a reason,” said Rhonda Buhrke, the pastor’s wife and director of Family Crossfires.

Bonduel has been and always will be home for Julie Bonnin. Now the newest doctor at the Aurora Care Center in Bonduel hopes to make home a little more comfortable for the people who watched her grow up.