Gerald Hickman's Blog, page 5
February 2, 2016
Blue birds - reflections
Bluebirds WLBBook
What do you remember from the first time you saw a bluebird? They are really Blue and often hungry. They may even be kind of friendly to humans.
some might say that the blueist piece of the sky fell to earth and became a charismatic member of the woodland community.
It is common to have bluebirds nesting near human habitation. Houses help create edge to increase food sources for feeding the young during nesting season.
One year when we lived in a rural area with 3 acres of Ponderosa Pine woodlands, one of our nest boxes was used by a pair of Mountain Bluebirds which were uncommon in our area. Part way through the fledging of the young, the male disappeared and the female seemed to be having difficulties feeding the 4 otherwise healthy young.
I went to the nest box daily and offered worms, small bugs and other tidbits to the young who eagerly availed them selves of my offerings. All went well and in a short time the young flew from the nest and thus a successful nesting season was accomplished.
What do you remember from the first time you saw a bluebird? They are really Blue and often hungry. They may even be kind of friendly to humans.
some might say that the blueist piece of the sky fell to earth and became a charismatic member of the woodland community.
It is common to have bluebirds nesting near human habitation. Houses help create edge to increase food sources for feeding the young during nesting season.
One year when we lived in a rural area with 3 acres of Ponderosa Pine woodlands, one of our nest boxes was used by a pair of Mountain Bluebirds which were uncommon in our area. Part way through the fledging of the young, the male disappeared and the female seemed to be having difficulties feeding the 4 otherwise healthy young.
I went to the nest box daily and offered worms, small bugs and other tidbits to the young who eagerly availed them selves of my offerings. All went well and in a short time the young flew from the nest and thus a successful nesting season was accomplished.
January 24, 2016
Press release
Hastings Entertainment
Palouse Mall
2230 W Pullman Rd, Moscow, ID
(208) 882-8912
Author Book Signing Event
April 23rd, 2016 from 1 to 4 pm.
Both of my books will be available at this
Author event. Hastings is easy to find in
Moscow it is in the Palouse Mall on the
west end of town on the road to Pullman, WA.
Palouse Mall
2230 W Pullman Rd, Moscow, ID
(208) 882-8912
Author Book Signing Event
April 23rd, 2016 from 1 to 4 pm.
Both of my books will be available at this
Author event. Hastings is easy to find in
Moscow it is in the Palouse Mall on the
west end of town on the road to Pullman, WA.
January 22, 2016
Winter 2015-16
Wow what a Winter! I know that the weather has been severe in many parts of the country this winter. However, I make bold to give some idea about the current winter in the Pacific Northwest.
What was supposed to be an El Nino year in my area has produced lots of moisture, heavy winds with trees falling on wires and snow. We are supposed to get a mild winter with El Nino but we had an abundance of snow by Christmas and it is still on the ground.
There were power outages for about 250,000 houses after a wind storm that reached 71 mph and with sustained winds in the area of 50 mph. My home was out of power for 18 hours, we were lucky it was not longer.
The cold we experienced over late December and the first half of January may abate now and through February according to the our local meterologists.
Such conditions are good for me, so I can stay inside and write or read my sources for the next book or books. I have about 3 books started at this time.
Back to the local weather. The cold and deep snow encouraged the Elk to forage widely for forage not covered by snow. The animals require more food in such cold temperatures and it is more difficult to dig down through the deep snow to find any green grasses.
That means that the Elk headed for the hay bales and haystacks. Which makes them very unpopular with the ranchers who put up the high quality hay. Elk don't like grass hay and head straight for the dairy quality alfalfa hay.
All in all, this is a very interesting year and winter. Stay warm and read a book.
What was supposed to be an El Nino year in my area has produced lots of moisture, heavy winds with trees falling on wires and snow. We are supposed to get a mild winter with El Nino but we had an abundance of snow by Christmas and it is still on the ground.
There were power outages for about 250,000 houses after a wind storm that reached 71 mph and with sustained winds in the area of 50 mph. My home was out of power for 18 hours, we were lucky it was not longer.
The cold we experienced over late December and the first half of January may abate now and through February according to the our local meterologists.
Such conditions are good for me, so I can stay inside and write or read my sources for the next book or books. I have about 3 books started at this time.
Back to the local weather. The cold and deep snow encouraged the Elk to forage widely for forage not covered by snow. The animals require more food in such cold temperatures and it is more difficult to dig down through the deep snow to find any green grasses.
That means that the Elk headed for the hay bales and haystacks. Which makes them very unpopular with the ranchers who put up the high quality hay. Elk don't like grass hay and head straight for the dairy quality alfalfa hay.
All in all, this is a very interesting year and winter. Stay warm and read a book.
January 18, 2016
Book Sales for Good Times in Old Genesee
I am in my third printing of this new book. I have enjoyed receiving many favorable reviews.
I hope you all will go to my two giveaways on Goodreads and sign up for both of my books:
MEDAL OF HONOR AND GOOD TIMES IN OLD GENESEE.
My next effort is a book on the Early Indian Wars in the Pacific Northwest. Most of these battles are forgotten and it is difficult to find enough historical material to make for an easy to prepare manuscript.
I am uncertain if this newest book will be wildly popular and I may not sell as many copies. However, I plan to outline the unjust practices of the U S Government toward the Indians, the crooked Indian Agents (the tribes knew a good man when they saw him and asked for specific
Government representatives who were just and honest men) and the practices used by the greedy settlers to take lands away from the Tribes given in all the U S Treaties over the years.
The book will cover from 1845 through 1865. The issues covered will range from the Cayuse War in 1848 through the Rogue River War, to the Yakama War of 1855-56, to the Spokane, Palus and Couer d'Alene War of 1858 and thru the Sioux Uprising of 1862 in Minnesota.
Many of the soldiers in these battles became famous in the War Between the States (Civil War) such as Sheridan, Isaac Stevens, McClean and others. The headmen of the Indian Nations became locally famous to the settlers but not so famous as the fighting warriors of the Lakota, Cheyenne and other tribes who contested the U S Army after the Civil War.
I hope you all will go to my two giveaways on Goodreads and sign up for both of my books:
MEDAL OF HONOR AND GOOD TIMES IN OLD GENESEE.
My next effort is a book on the Early Indian Wars in the Pacific Northwest. Most of these battles are forgotten and it is difficult to find enough historical material to make for an easy to prepare manuscript.
I am uncertain if this newest book will be wildly popular and I may not sell as many copies. However, I plan to outline the unjust practices of the U S Government toward the Indians, the crooked Indian Agents (the tribes knew a good man when they saw him and asked for specific
Government representatives who were just and honest men) and the practices used by the greedy settlers to take lands away from the Tribes given in all the U S Treaties over the years.
The book will cover from 1845 through 1865. The issues covered will range from the Cayuse War in 1848 through the Rogue River War, to the Yakama War of 1855-56, to the Spokane, Palus and Couer d'Alene War of 1858 and thru the Sioux Uprising of 1862 in Minnesota.
Many of the soldiers in these battles became famous in the War Between the States (Civil War) such as Sheridan, Isaac Stevens, McClean and others. The headmen of the Indian Nations became locally famous to the settlers but not so famous as the fighting warriors of the Lakota, Cheyenne and other tribes who contested the U S Army after the Civil War.
A Historic Battle in the Pacific Northwest
The building where I attended Junior High is now an apartment complex. Do any of my friends remember a class we took with Mr. Warfield there? I think it was Math but of cuss, I could be wrong. There may be few of my classmates on Goodreads so the rest is for my new friends on Goodreads.
The only thing I can remember about that class was a reference, made by Mr. Warfield. He told us one day about his grandfather. It seems his granddad was a volunteer in the Pacific Northwest War of about 1855.
The upshot of the tale is that his grandfather had killed one of the Indians of the Walla Walla tribe in battle in the Walla 2 Valley. Not only one of the warriors, but the headman or “chief”
known as Peo Peo Mox Mox.
Just today I found a record of the battle and the fact that Private Warfield is documented to have been the soldier who did the deed and hit Peo Peo Mox Mox with his rifle butte used as a club. It was also reported that another soldier shot the headman when he was lying on the ground.
So, there still may be some question about who was more responsible for the dead.
From: A Little War of Destiny by John C. Jackson 1996
The only thing I can remember about that class was a reference, made by Mr. Warfield. He told us one day about his grandfather. It seems his granddad was a volunteer in the Pacific Northwest War of about 1855.
The upshot of the tale is that his grandfather had killed one of the Indians of the Walla Walla tribe in battle in the Walla 2 Valley. Not only one of the warriors, but the headman or “chief”
known as Peo Peo Mox Mox.
Just today I found a record of the battle and the fact that Private Warfield is documented to have been the soldier who did the deed and hit Peo Peo Mox Mox with his rifle butte used as a club. It was also reported that another soldier shot the headman when he was lying on the ground.
So, there still may be some question about who was more responsible for the dead.
From: A Little War of Destiny by John C. Jackson 1996
October 28, 2015
Good Times in Old Genesee
The book is now back from the printer and ready to read. It is described as "a short history of and reflections on Genesee, Idaho". The book is about my hometown and how it grew and I grew with it.
The natural history of the Genesee Valley is a large part of this book. Wildlife and Ranching are two of the main subjects as well as the 2 families that settled here and how I am related to both my families and my hometown.
This is an area of the Palouse Hills and the rich soils of that province. Ranching and farming are covered in some detail so that we will not lose the history and details of these ways of life. The Nez Perce nation and its relationship to the Genesee Valley is covered.
Harvesting hay and grain crops on the Ranches is discussed in some detail. Thanks you for reading my blog and May God Bless.
The natural history of the Genesee Valley is a large part of this book. Wildlife and Ranching are two of the main subjects as well as the 2 families that settled here and how I am related to both my families and my hometown.
This is an area of the Palouse Hills and the rich soils of that province. Ranching and farming are covered in some detail so that we will not lose the history and details of these ways of life. The Nez Perce nation and its relationship to the Genesee Valley is covered.
Harvesting hay and grain crops on the Ranches is discussed in some detail. Thanks you for reading my blog and May God Bless.
May 8, 2015
family history
Both sides of my family were pioneers to our home town. One family arrived in 1881 and the other in 1889. the first branch came by wagon train and the second by Northern Pacific Railway. I am always looking for black sheep in the family tree or skeletons in the closet and I think I have found one.
Most of my ancestors were ranchers/farmers, business men and carpenters or livestock growers. But great uncle Matt ran a brewery in town and if that is the worst relative I can find I guess we were not too bad and have reason to keep our heads up high. I am still looking for more relatives who have a questionable background. I will let you know what I find.
Most of my ancestors were ranchers/farmers, business men and carpenters or livestock growers. But great uncle Matt ran a brewery in town and if that is the worst relative I can find I guess we were not too bad and have reason to keep our heads up high. I am still looking for more relatives who have a questionable background. I will let you know what I find.
May 4, 2015
Genesee, Idaho my boyhood town
Genesee is a small town in the Palouse Hills of Washington and Idaho. My Grandfather came west to the end of the northern RR and landed in Genesee.
It was a transportation hub at this time and Grandpa said it was lively.
He worked on the river ferry for a couple years after he arrived at Genesee and then moved back to town to run a livery stable. It was one of two livery stables along with two banks, general merchandise stores, a saloon, a brothel, supply stores for farmers and ranchers and 2 or 3 churches. Later Grandpa bought the ranch and farmed it until his retirement, when my Dad took over. This is the ranch/farm where I grew up.
The good deep thick Palouse Hills soil was the reason the area was so good for farming and the yield for grains, hay and potatoes was excellent.
Grain harvest in late summer was a very busy time around Genesee with lots of transient laborers coming to help with the threshing, sacking and hauling of harvest to town for storage or shipment. In those days it took a lot of help to handle the teams of horses that did the hauling and harvesting. Each farm had lots of feedlots for the livestock who did the chores, these crops were used to grow the feed for the work animals.
Some people say that harvest time was the busiest time of the year for the saloon and brothel in town.
It was a transportation hub at this time and Grandpa said it was lively.
He worked on the river ferry for a couple years after he arrived at Genesee and then moved back to town to run a livery stable. It was one of two livery stables along with two banks, general merchandise stores, a saloon, a brothel, supply stores for farmers and ranchers and 2 or 3 churches. Later Grandpa bought the ranch and farmed it until his retirement, when my Dad took over. This is the ranch/farm where I grew up.
The good deep thick Palouse Hills soil was the reason the area was so good for farming and the yield for grains, hay and potatoes was excellent.
Grain harvest in late summer was a very busy time around Genesee with lots of transient laborers coming to help with the threshing, sacking and hauling of harvest to town for storage or shipment. In those days it took a lot of help to handle the teams of horses that did the hauling and harvesting. Each farm had lots of feedlots for the livestock who did the chores, these crops were used to grow the feed for the work animals.
Some people say that harvest time was the busiest time of the year for the saloon and brothel in town.
April 22, 2015
Sioux Uprising in Minnesota in 1862
My wife's relations moved west from Minnesota and thus we have gone back to visit on several trips. One topic that comes up every time was the impact of the Sioux Uprising in 1862 on the pioneer ancestors of our family. On my wife's family side one whole family, the Mays', were attacked and all but two children were killed out right. The youngest daughter was struck in the head with a hand ax and left for dead. But she was a tough toddler and lived with a permanent scar on her forehead for the rest of her life. We have one of her trucks as a keepsake. Her brother was not killed but hide in some brush, neighbors found the kids and raised them with their family.
On me side, one of my ancestors was working on the Indian Reservation to build a hay barn and do other jobs for the Indian agent at the time of the outbreak. His name was Anton Manderfeld and they had a camp near the lake where they were working. A friendly neighbor Indian warned them the day before the initial attack of angry tribal members who were out looking for trouble. But next day they were not prepared with the arrival of hostile tribesmen who proceeded to shoot as they approached the camp. Anton's cousin was killed as he left the tent and the cook and hired man died just as quickly. Anton dove into the cattails and hid out until the attackers moved on after looting the supplies. The Sioux were on the prowl because for one thing the U S Government had not kept the promise to feed and cloth the tribe after they accepted and agreed to live on the reservation and become like white men.
Anton hid in the swamps and traveling at night he made it over several anxious days to Fort Ridgeley, MN. He then joined the Minnesota Mounted Volunteers and spent the rest of the Civil War as a volunteer keeping the peace on the Minnesota Frontier. He lived a long life and farmed a homestead near New Ulm. I got the opportunity to visit the homestead last trip to MN, it is still in the Manderfeld family.
On me side, one of my ancestors was working on the Indian Reservation to build a hay barn and do other jobs for the Indian agent at the time of the outbreak. His name was Anton Manderfeld and they had a camp near the lake where they were working. A friendly neighbor Indian warned them the day before the initial attack of angry tribal members who were out looking for trouble. But next day they were not prepared with the arrival of hostile tribesmen who proceeded to shoot as they approached the camp. Anton's cousin was killed as he left the tent and the cook and hired man died just as quickly. Anton dove into the cattails and hid out until the attackers moved on after looting the supplies. The Sioux were on the prowl because for one thing the U S Government had not kept the promise to feed and cloth the tribe after they accepted and agreed to live on the reservation and become like white men.
Anton hid in the swamps and traveling at night he made it over several anxious days to Fort Ridgeley, MN. He then joined the Minnesota Mounted Volunteers and spent the rest of the Civil War as a volunteer keeping the peace on the Minnesota Frontier. He lived a long life and farmed a homestead near New Ulm. I got the opportunity to visit the homestead last trip to MN, it is still in the Manderfeld family.
March 5, 2015
Selling my book
I have been selling my self-published efforts now since 2010. The new printing of Medal of Honor came out in Feb. 2015 and I am actively working on the advertisement and marketing of my recent book. In the past I sold several hundred copies at yard sales, events such as Archery Shoots, meetings with larger groups of organizations and individual sales on eBay and Amazon.com.
My current attempts to increase recognition of the book involve using all aspects of Goodreads and its reading members. I am offering 2 copies of Medal of Honor as an offering to the readers of Goodreads and I have joined the Goodreads Author's Club and have my own Author's Dashboard. I am enjoying all these efforts and learning every day about my fellow readers and I hope they like the color cover design (my original printing has a solid color cover. My granddaughter Tea Joe did the cover design and graphic work. Her Dad helped to proofread the manuscript, so this book is a family project. The best part of the published book is that I can now get on with writing another book for my new friends. May God Bless us all.
My current attempts to increase recognition of the book involve using all aspects of Goodreads and its reading members. I am offering 2 copies of Medal of Honor as an offering to the readers of Goodreads and I have joined the Goodreads Author's Club and have my own Author's Dashboard. I am enjoying all these efforts and learning every day about my fellow readers and I hope they like the color cover design (my original printing has a solid color cover. My granddaughter Tea Joe did the cover design and graphic work. Her Dad helped to proofread the manuscript, so this book is a family project. The best part of the published book is that I can now get on with writing another book for my new friends. May God Bless us all.
