Fabulous Field Guides of Birds, Rocks, Minerals, Cactus, and the Sky

Lena and Ole have added many Adventure Publications field guides, especially for Arizona.
Some of the guides include “Arizona’s Rocks & Minerals”, “Birds of Arizona” (by Stan Tekiela), “Cactus of Arizona” — all $14.95 each. Fish of Arizona is $13.95 Another great book is “Amazing Hummingbirds” — a 9″ x 7.5″ 144 page guide for $14.95 with extraordinary photographs and fascinating text that makes this a must-have book for wildlife lover and nature enthusiast — also makes a great gift.
Why buy these field guides — the full-page photos are incomparable — bird books include insets of winter plumage and are organized by color that makes it easily accessible to the beginners.

We also have a beautiful book “Night Sky: A Field Guide to the Constellations” with a unique little battery light to light up your page as you are out viewing the sky. Another fun gift is a a set of the Night Sky Playing Cards — play all of your favorite card games while studying the constellations. The cards are high quality and $5.95/pack. Both are great gifts for astronomy buffs.

More unique playing cards in stock include “Rocks and Minerals” and “Birds of the Midwest”. All of these books are available at only $2.00/book shipping. No additional cost for cards if you add a set of playing cards to your order. Call 414-745-4362 to order today.

Across The Fence, by Howard Sherpe, available at Lena & Ole’s Gifts

  Across the Fence by Howard Sherpe is now available for purchase from Lena. The book is $14.95.  Howard writes "Across the Fence" as a weekly column in the "Woodville Leader" and many other newspapers around the midwest.  He writes about his experiences growing up on a dairy and tobacco farm near Westby, Wisconsin, the sights, sounds, and smells of nature, everyday life — past, present, and future. It will make a great gift for someone who grew up in a small town or on the farm or just appreciates vivid writing.  We also have his second book Across the Fence and Down Country Roads with more of his great stories.  If you are looking for a perfect gift for that hard-to-buy for dad or grandpa who was raised in the country, in a small town, or on a farm — this is the perfect gift.  We also have Howard's third book:  Across the Fence and Back to the Country.  These last two books are only $16.00 and can be ordered by calling Lena at 414-745-4362.

Howard is the creator of the Lena & Ole figures seen at Lena & Ole's Gifts in Woodville.  Lena and Ole (renamed from their original names Julia & Oscar Hanson) were the grandparents of Julie Backus (owner of Lena & Ole's Gifts) and of Howard.   

We also have Howard’s newest book #4, with a special picture of my great-grandfather’s shed on the front — call today to order!

Lena and Ole Joke Books

If you need some more jokes about Lena and Ole (notice Lena always likes to list herself first), we've got lots of the  Red Stangland Ole and Lena Joke books (#1 – #7).  Now Ole says those are a bargain — still only $2.50 each plus shipping  — $1.00 each.  "Cheap, says Ole”, call 414-745-4362 or e-mail us.

Joke of the Week: The Swede & the Norwegians

A Swede enters the Wildwood Bar in Woodville where he stopped for the night.  He grabs a barstool and orders a drink.  After sitting there for a while, he yells to the bartender, "Hey, you wanna hear a Norwegian joke? 

The Bar immediately falls absolutely quiet.  In a very deep, husky voice, the woman him says, "before you tell that koke, sir, I think it is only fair — given that you are new here — you should know five things:

1.  The bartender is a Norwegian.

2.  The bouncer is a Norwegian.

3.  I'm Norwegian and a professional weightlifter.

4.  The woman sitting next to me is Norwegian with a black belt in karate.

5.  The man to your right is a Norwegian and a prorfessional wrestler.

Now think about it seriously, Mister.  Do you still wanna tell that joke?  The Swede thinks about it for a second, shakes his head, and declares:  "Nah, not if I'm gonna have to explain it five times."

Thanks to my cousin, Howard, for this great joke!

“Ole and Lena — A Stud and a Hot Dish”

Well, you know how Lena always carefully checks her jokes before she shares them every week on her store flyer — "well, she says, ders dis new book dat is pretty good"  — it's called Ole & Lena — A Stud and a Hot Dish" — – probably da best gift for dat hard-to-buy for Scandinavian guy!!"  Just got in a new supply — only $6.95 plus shipping.  Call 715-698-4111 to order a big supply for Christmas (never too early to start shopping!!).

So here goes… sample joke:  "Ole and Sven were driving in a camper that was 13 feet high when they stopped at an underpass (Lena's always warning Ole about those underpasses on the way to Arizona every January).  Well Ole and Sven saw a sign that read, "low bridge.  No vehicles over 12 feet".  "Vat do you tink, Sven?" asked Ole.  "Vell, dere's no cops around, " Sven answered.  " I say ve hit da gas pedal and go for it". 

Now they have a great new book “Lena is from Minot and Ole is from Uranus — a hilarious flip-flop book!

Another Lena & Ole Joke

Ole and Lena had dated for many years, and Lena was beginning to think that Ole would never ask her to marry him.  One evening, as they studied the menu at the new Chinese restaurant in Baldwin, Ole asked "Lena, vould yew prefer your rice fried or boiled?"  Jumping at the chance, Lena quickly repllied, I vould like my rice trown, Ole!! And da sonner da better!"  from Charlene Power's Leapin Lena available at Lena & Ole's Gifts.

Lena and Ole Joke of the Week

Lena and Ole and Little Ole were invited to the Swenson's for Christmas.  Stuffed roast turkey was on the menu.  After dinner, Lena asked Little Ole how he liked the dinner.  Little Ole replied:  vell, da turkey was purty good, but I vasn't too crasy about da stuff da turkey ate."

             Adapted from Red Stangland's Ole & Lena Joke Book III  available at Lena and Ole's Gifts in Woodville, Wisconsin.

Pocket Farcal is a Game that you will want to try soon!

A game that is new to many but actually has been around for a long time is Pocket Farcal.  For those of you that still remember (ha!) when we actually put film in cameras from little round canisters (before digital) and for those of us who still have a camera that uses film, you will find this new game to be an interesting addition to your family entertainment.  The Pocket Farcal game is actually 6 dice in a little canaster that are used to roll for points.  As long as you can keep scoring points (according to the game's simple rules), you will keep rolling.  However, if you don't score points, it's a FARCAL.  I think kids (of all ages) love this simple game because FARCAL sounds like something your mother said you shouldn't say. 

Lena and Ole's carries Farcal in 3 versions — one with yellow dice called "Cheesehead" Farcal (of course since we are in Wisconsin and Ole is a die hard Packer Fan), Wisconsin Farcal — also yellow for our great cheese, and Uffda Farcal — blue dice (I have no clue as to why the dice are blue).  The game is great because it fits in your pocket, your purse, and travels well on a plane or in the car.  It's available at for only $5.95 with an optional score pad for $2.49.  Call me at 414-745-4362 and I'll send you both for $9.50 including shipping.  It can be played by your family from age 5 to 105 and together — no age gets bored or frustrated because it's too difficult.