The Rhinelander Daily News - Online news and information for the Rhinelander, Wisconsin region

Pat Pfeiffer
Correspondent

(Hiles News) - The leaves are pretty much all down, except for the oak. They are richly colored in maroons and reddish browns. Some of them will hang on most of the winter. But other than those, the trees are bare. Colder evenings hint at the much colder season to follow. This time of the year is sometimes a bit hard to take. It seems so desolately bare. The bones of the landscape are showing, and when winter snow throws a blanket over it all, it will somehow seem to be right, a fitting cover for nature’s nakedness.

Hunting activity is picking up now, because it is easier to see birds and deer without the cover of leaves. The deer are becoming more active now, too, and because of this they can be a hazard on the highways. Be on the lookout for them as you drive the roads.

A Very Stylish Evening

The Hiles Red Hatters joined the group from Crandon for a style show and dinner last week. The style show followed dinner at Mallards on Metonga. The latest fashions for this fall were displayed by four models who were attractive members of the audience’s own age group, proving that style is ageless. Each of the lovely outfits was accessorized with appropriate footwear and jewelry. Attendees were each given a valuable coupon to use at She’s All That, sponsor of the style show. As usual, the food served was delectable.

Remember the Cans

Although the Hiles Service Club is still waiting for the “can man” to come and pick up the aluminum cans at the collection site before winter and snow arrive, there is still room for more cans in the bin. Please bag up soda and beer cans, only, and drop them off at the bin down in the hollow by the town garage. Remember that the profits from this year’s can collection are going to the Playground Committee for their project of improving the children’s playground.

Be sure not to put any other garbage or recyclables in the bags. The ladies have to go through and sort out the contents of the bags, while the “can man” is waiting, and if other rubbish is in the bags it can be a very disagreeable job. In fact, it can be awful!

Recipes Wanted

I would like to remind you again that the Playground Committee is putting together a cookbook to be sold to raise money for the playground project. The recipes are either for food that kids like or food that kids can prepare. If you have fun tips for cooking for or with kids, or things kids can do to help out around home, or things like party ideas, decorating for holidays and so forth, they could be included in the book. Please send or give these items to Margaret McCarthy at 649-3227 or e-mail her at sunshine@newnorth.net.

Calendar/Almanac

This is National Caramel Month, and as I seem to remember, this is the time of the year that as kids we always made caramel apples.

This week is National Character Counts Week (Hmm... count all the ‘characters’ you know!), National Food Bank Week and National Forest Products Week, and National School Bus Safety Week.

Oct. 24 — United Nations Day

Oct. 25 — Make a Difference Day

Oct. 27 — Cranky Coworkers Day

Oct. 28 — National Chocolates Day: Umhmm — another day to celebrate yummy chocolate!

Oct. 31—Halloween — Get ready to welcome Trick-or-treaters.

Nov. 4 — Election Day; I know we are constantly reminded, but don’t neglect to vote! It’s a hard won right good people have died for!

Caramel Delight

Caramel apples are so easy today, just slice up an apple, tart varieties like Granny Smith are especially good, and dip into an already prepared caramel dipping sauce. There is even a low-fat variety available in the stores. But here are a couple of caramel treats you can make at home, this being Caramel Month, and also Popcorn Poppin’ Month.

Caramel Nut Bars

Makes: 36 bars Ready In: 30-60 minutes

1 cup quick-cooking oats

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup butter, melted

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 package (14 ounce size) caramels

1/3 cup milk

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions: In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients until crumbly; sprinkle 1 cup into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking pan (do not press).

Bake at 350F for 10 minutes. In a small heavy saucepan, cook and stir caramels and milk until caramels are melted.

Pour over crust. Top with chocolate chips and nuts. Sprinkle with remaining oat mixture. Bake at 350F for 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Refrigerate until set.

Microwave Caramel Corn

3 to 4 quarts of POPPED corn

1 cup brown sugar, packed

1/4 cup white corn syrup

1 stick (4 oz.) margarine or butter

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Put the popped corn in a large brown paper bag. Combine the rest of the ingredients except soda in a one to two quart microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high, and bring to a boil. Boil for two minutes. Carefully remove from microwave and stir in soda. Pour the syrup over the corn in the bag. Close the bag by rolling it down a couple times and shake hard. Microwave on high for one minute. Remove and shake vigorously. Microwave another one minute. Remove and shake again. Microwave another minute. Shake when you remove it from the microwave and pour it on a large cookie sheet to cool.

NOTE: Don't leave a brown grocery bag in the microwave unattended. Sometimes they have small metallic particles in them, and can catch on fire. Watch it all the time.

This keeps well in an air tight container, if you have any left over, but you probably won't!

Thoughts for the End of a Season

"So great has been the endurance, so incredible the achievement, that, as long as the sun keeps a set course in heaven, it would be foolish to despair of the human race." Ernest L. Woodward

"So much of our time is preparation, so much is routine, and so much retrospect, that the path of each man's genius contracts itself to a very few hours." Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Strong lives are motivated by dynamic purposes." Kenneth Hildebrand

"Success demands singleness of purpose." Vincent Lombardi

"Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome." Booker T. Washington

If you have news to share, contact me at 649-3568 or e-mail me at pj04@newnorth.net.

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