Birds, cats, a Deere, and a bath full of brats.

Somehow, since buying this house, a curious transformation has taken place. Tara and I have turned into “birders.” I realized this a few days ago when I glanced over at the dining room buffet and spotted our cameras. We no longer stash them away in camera bags hidden in the back of the closet; instead, they’re always within reach, batteries all charged up, zoom lenses attached, ready to capture feathered fowl frolicking at the feeders on our deck. I even downloaded the Merlin Bird ID app to help me identify them for cryin’ out loud!

In retrospect, I shouldn’t be too surprised that I’ve become a birder. My mom’s a birder, too. Plus, there’s my whole flamingo obsession. And…and!…I picked up Popeye’s fried chicken for dinner the other night. I never met a thigh or breast I didn’t take an immediate shining to, so I guess you could say birding is in my blood.

I certainly picked the right time and place to develop an interest in birds.

I also find myself on the hunt for cool bird feeders, like this Weber grill I spotted at Ace Hardware. It’s unique and the color complements the exterior of our house, so I had to buy it.

You know who else is into birds? These two.

Laverne and Shirley love to park themselves in front of the slider and watch the birds attack the feeders with gusto. Finches, cardinals, woodpeckers, stellar jays: there are usually half a dozen at any given time, and this excites the cats to no end. Hey, I guess that makes them birders, too!

They are settling in quite nicely, by the way. Today was a work from home day for me, and I had a visit from a very sweet coworker this morning.

This made it somewhat difficult to get work done, but Fridays are mostly spent wrapping up projects anyway. Shirley did leave before my virtual marketing meeting (though I doubt anyone would have minded had she stayed).

In addition to becoming a birder, I am also now apparently a…farmer?!

OK, so it’s a lawn tractor. Not like I’ll be milking cows anytime soon. But if you had told me even a year ago I’d one day own a John Deere, I wouldn’t have believed you for a second. And I had no intention of buying a riding mower (even though I always dreamed of owning one); I naively believed I’d be able to manage the 0.8 acres with a regular push mower…right up until the snow melted and the grass started greening up.

“Hmm,” I muttered to Tara one day a few weeks ago. “That’s an awful lot of grass to cut.”
“Yup,” she replied.

That was the entirety of the conversation that led to my John Deere purchase. Honestly, it’s not like we had much of a choice. Pretty much everybody in our neighborhood owns a riding mower. I suppose we could have hired a lawn service, but I did some research and learned that would probably cost upwards of $1,000 a year. The John Deere will pay for itself in 2.5 years and should last five times that long. Nothing complicated about basic math.

I immersed myself in research, learning about previously foreign topics such as hydrostatic transmissions and turning radiuses and deck sizes in relation to horsepower and acreage to figure out which lawn tractor to buy. I was torn between the John Deere and a Cub Cadet that had basically the same specs and cost the same amount. In the end, it boiled down to availability. Lowe’s can get me the John Deere next Thursday, while the Cub Cadet wouldn’t have been available from Home Depot for a few weeks. J.D. it is, and really, I was leaning that way anyway. There’s nothing more iconic American heartland than a John Deere, AND OMG AM I REALLY WRITING A WHOLE PARAGRAPH ABOUT LAWN TRACTORS??

Very random side note: I once had aspirations of performing standup comedy and came up with one perfect joke. I broke up with my tractor the other day. I did it the old fashioned way, too: by writing a John Deere letter.

Now you know why I’m not a standup comedian. Oh, also the fact that speaking in front of audiences terrifies the ever loving bejesus out of me.

Let’s see, what else is new? Well, the weather has finally turned springlike, and looks to stay that way for at least the next 10 days. I’m writing this blog post from the deck, wearing shorts and a t-shirt, the temperature a damn near perfect 74º. We’re grilling brats this evening because we have totally embraced this whole Wisconsin thing.

By the way, I discovered how to cook brats like a true Sconnie. It’s called a beer bath, and it is amazing. Pour two cans of beer into a disposable aluminum pan, add two tablespoons of butter and a sliced onion, and place on the grill next to your brats* while they’re cooking. When they’re heated through, dunk them in the bath and let ’em rest in there for a few minutes. Place them on a bun and eat them plain; if you must top them with something, only brown mustard or sauerkraut are acceptable. So, so good!

*They’ve gotta be uncooked brats. Preferably Klement’s, though you can’t go wrong with Usinger’s or Johnsonville, either. All proudly made right here in Wisconsin.

I swear, between the birding, the John Deere, and the brat bath, I don’t recognize myself anymore.

69 thoughts on “Birds, cats, a Deere, and a bath full of brats.”

  1. One day you’re clubbing, the next day you’re identifying cedar waxwings! I’ve always liked wildlife, but it’s hard to come by when you live in cities. And colorful birds are rare out here, which is why I love it when the hooded oriole comes back from Mexico every year. I have yet to get a really nice camera like MarTar, but I suppose that’s next. No feeders here, though–plenty of bugs in the compost pile (that should be next for you!) and lots of nectar from the orange and lemon blossoms. The big draw in my yard is the fountain because it’s so dry.

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    1. We just received our geo bins for composting a few days ago. Tara will be setting those up this weekend!

      I suppose if we do go clubbing, we’ll be checking out bands like Counting Crows, huh?

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      1. There’s a big “Beach Life” concert going on now and I saw the lineup and was like, “Wow! They got The Black Keys and Gwen Stefani and Travie McCoy and the Black Crowes!” And that seemed amazing to me until I realized that no one in that group has had any recent hits, LOL.

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  3. Only have had the Johnsonville brats when I visited Sheboygan for a gymnastics meet. Love birds and would become a birder if I had more of them around. My cat too seems very interested. 😉

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  4. OMG I love the Weber feeder! I don’t know where an Ace hardware is around here though- not that I have room for another feeder anywhere but it is adorable. How about you have Tara video your first mowing session and post it for us. Do you think you can steer with your knees so you can hold a brat in one hand and a beer in the other while mowing? There’s a challenge to work up to 😉

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  7. Birding is it’s own reward. It happens naturally, usually on the back deck or the front porch. Once you’re hooked, it’s a lifetime deal. I’m speaking, obviously, from experience, Deere, John.

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      1. Feeders can make a mess. They will also attract squirrels, chipmunks, and other small rodents. Oh, and cats, too. But I find having a couple is better than watching TV.

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  8. Cats are natural bird watchers, but on behalf of camera obsessed birders everywhere… welcome to the club. Love the Weber feeder. When your monthly bird seed bill exceeds your car payment you will receive your official membership card. Huzzah!
    Congrats on the Deere purchase, though I had to chuckle you needed a tractor for less than an acre. That’s what I push mow every week while my husband uses his big beast. As for lawn services, back in 2017 when the husband was in the hospital, it cost me $325 for one mowing. Let me tell you… that added up quickly.
    But when the overalls and straw hat purchases are made and worn? Be sure to post pics.
    😉

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    2. Holy crap! $325 for ONE mowing?? The lawn tractor would pay for itself in two months at that rate! As for the bird seed, you’re right: we’re going to have to set a budget. We have cats to feed now, too! Luckily, the Ace Hardware in town sells seed in bulk. It’s definitely cheaper buying it that way.

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      1. Mom has multiple bird feeders. The birds complain when the feeder gets empty, loudly, and she runs to the Bulk Barn to get more. Also, they are opinionated. The Woodpecker family insists on peanuts. 😀

        Welcome to the world of bird drama. Enjoy the ride!

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      2. Just wait. Before long you’ll be buying the good stuff with nuts and fruit… not to mention suet, mealworms, and sunflower nuggets. Then there’s the nectar for hummingbirds and orioles. And don’t forget the bird baths…
        It’s a slippery slope to addiction.
        🤣

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      3. We buy suet by the case, ha. And have two hummingbird feeders. Guess we’ve been birders for a while now. I suggested bird baths, but Tara reminded me that we’ve got three ponds now.

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  9. Awesome! It’s like cat tv, and I totally get the john deere joke and purchase. We grill brats but I’m going to try the bath way, sounds good. What a summertime food! And it’s got to be summertime soon! Enjoy your blog, love the pictures of laverne and shirley!

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  10. My dad had a John Deere just like that. I happened to damage a pin oak tree with that baby, years before I acquired a driving license.

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  11. Hi, Mark! I can’t believe I’m only now following your blog since we have so many blogging friends in common and I’ve enjoyed your comments on others’ posts. I loved learning about Laverne and Shirley and your new birding hobby. Your photos are fab…and for the record, I think your “John Deere” quip was stand-up worthy. Enjoy the warmer, delightful weather…we’ve earned it, I say! 😎

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  12. I’m still laughing about never meeting a thigh or a breast you didn’t like. And the way you went full circle – from the Weber bird feeder to grilling brats. Brilliant!

    Your post oozes with delight! I love it! Hope you all have a great weekend! ❤

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    1. I was wondering if anyone was going to comment on the whole breast/thigh thing, lol. While I’d love to take credit for intentionally coming full circle from the Weber feeder to grilling brats, it was completely unintentional. But I probably shouldn’t admit that.

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  13. That joke about John Deere was funny. In fact, I think I could hear my dad’s laughter from the Wisconsin border, where he lives. He also owns that exact model of riding mower.

    I had to screenshot your brat instructions because, as much as we Illinoisans dislike admitting that Wisconsin residents are better at anything, dammit if you don’t have the upper hand on brats.

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  14. Your transformation reminds me of Jeremy Clarkson’s farming adventures, though instead of a mower he got… sheep as in 🐑 ! Not saying it turned out exactly as expected, but it was a creative adventure 😁

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  15. We buy Johnsonville brats, don’t have a tractor lawn mower, have a Weber grill but rarely use it. I’m not sure we’re doing suburbia as well as you are. Love the bird feeder

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  16. You’ve always dreamed of owning a riding lawnmower because, as a male, you are genetically built with that kind of yearning. You know the D in DNA? In men it stands for Deere.

    And speaking of the paragraph on riding lawnmowers, I just recommended your blog to my blog buddy Stewart Danker (Your Friendly Malaysian Writer), so you’d better cut that out right now or I’ll look bad, sheesh!

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  17. Cool that you have cardinals. We never had ’em in Minnesota back in the day, but I’ve seen ’em in Michigan. I’ll look forward to your future posts about keeping the squirrels out of the bird feeders…

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    1. The cardinals have hands-down been our faves, as they’re still a novelty to us. Although honestly, we see so many now, it’s a little hard to work up the same level of giddiness we had when we first moved here.

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  18. Himself is absolute desperate for a small orange Kubota. We’re really going to have to move before he has *any* excuse to get one though 😉 I’ll pass on your tips about the brats. He *loves* ’em, me not so much. But I do love the Weber bird feeder – that is soooo cool!

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  19. HA! Were you the one who poked fun at me enjoying the birds? No? Maybe it wasn’t you, but I think almost everyone gets to that point; birds are cool! You have some lovely ones there!

    Congrats on your new ride. 😉

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  20. That Weber grill feeder is adorable! My newest bird feeder looks like an old metal milk jug. Kenn used a push mower until we moved here. Owning four acres, at least two of which need to be mowed (the rest are wooded) led to the purchase of his first lawn tractor. Our local Sears was closing at the time so we got a great deal on a Craftsman brand mower. Welcome to country life!

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  21. So funny: once again, we’re twins! Big birding household (so to speak) here, plus my husband’s family are all career John Deere people. *And* the day I’m reading this, I happen to be in Wisconsin and served brats to a bunch of people at the campsite. My husband did the cooking: he boiled them in beer then grilled them. Whatever, they were good! The area I’m falling behind you in is birding photography, which I find super difficult (at least without a feeder). Carry on Wisconsoning!

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    1. Woot! Happy Wisconsining to you!

      A lot of people have mentioned cooking brats in that order: beer first, then the grill. But with this method, they moisten up at the end. Try it next time…I swear you’ll turn into a convert!

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      1. I’m no expert here at all, but if you put them on the grill raw, don’t they take so long to cook all the way through that they burn on the outside? And then soaking in beer at the end seems like it would make them wet enough to make the bun soggy.

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      3. Mmmm. I’m not sure I want to be an adult about this, though. 😉

        BTW, texting with Wynne about the possibility of flying up to Seattle for a grunge tour in July. We’re seeing if we can make it work…

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