Grab Your Hammer and it is the Hodgepodge

 

Hello Friends, we have been busy cooking down maple sap into maple syrup. 

We enjoy a maple sundae after each cook-down.  

A scoop of vanilla custard.

Some cashews sprinkled on top of the custard.

 Warm maple syrup swirled on top of the cashews and custard. 

Enjoy! 

 

And now to the Hodgepodge. 

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

 

 1. No foolin'! April is here. What's one fun thing on your April calendar? 

We will be celebrating our oldest son's birthday, Sam will be turning 25!!

He sent me the photo below that he took with night vision during a recent training session he had with the Wisconsin National Guard. You can see the ridge, trees, grass, and look at the stars. Sam loves how the nigh vision highlights the stars.

 

 2. It's often said, 'A fool and his money are soon parted'...what's the last thing you wasted money on? 

Hair products, at my age I should know to just stick with what I already have, that works great most days. If I have a bad hair day, off I go, and buy a new hair product, that usually does not help the bad hair day. Ha!

 3.  April 2nd is National DIY day. Are you a do-it yourself kind of person or maybe you're married to one? If so, what's the last thing you DIY-ed. If you're not a DIY-er what's the most recent job you had to hire someone to complete?

My husband and I are tag - team DIY-ers.

Our largest project was gutting our kitchen and doing a complete re-do! We ripped out the tile floor, or more like had to smash the tile floor out. My husband started to say, "I am not 25 anymore, heck I am not 45 anymore." It was a job. In the end after the sore muscles heal, you smile and can be very proud of what you did.

Memories of the floor. Under the tile was the original hardwood.

 

 I will share our current DIY.. in the random.

 

 

 4. Do you eat lamb? If so do you have a favorite dish that calls for lamb? 

 

We do not eat lamb.

 

 5. Do you fit a stereotype in some way? Explain. 

 

I do not think so? I might need some help with this one? Ha Ha!

 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Our latest DIY.. a hot box. At least that is what I am trying to create here. My plan is this.. I do not have a heated greenhouse. During the day the greenhouse can get up to 90 degrees or warmer. My new little seedlings are so happy. And my greenhouse will soon be full of seedlings. My problem comes at night, when our Wisconsin spring temperatures can dip way down at night, and I cannot leave my plants out overnight. I have to haul them all inside, creating a jungle inside our house. My thought was to make a hot box, using my chicken coop shavings, putting them in a box lined with greenhouse plastic and putting water into the shavings. During the day the sun will heat the shavings and in the evening the box will release the heat slowly, keeping the greenhouse somewhat warmer than the true outside air temperature.

Now will my idea work?

 

 

 

  

 

Creamy Ravioli Soup

 

Creamy Ravioli Soup

2 tablespoons of olive oil

1 tablespoon of butter

1 small yellow onion diced

1 carrot large, sliced into coins

1 pound of Italian sausage

4 cloves of garlic, minced

1 teaspoon of basil

1 teaspoon of oregano

1 can (28 ounces) of crushed tomatoes 

4 cups of chicken broth

1 package of ravioli

6 cups of baby spinach

2 cups of heavy cream

1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese

 

Heat olive oil and butter in a large stock pot or Dutch oven. Add onions and carrots, cook for 3 minutes. Stir in the ground meat and cook until browned.

Add garlic, basil and oregano; cook for 2 minutes. Add the crushed tomatoes and chicken broth, bring to a boil. Stir in the ravioli and cook for about 6 minutes or until the ravioli is just tender. Stir in the chopped spinach and cook for 2 minutes or until the spinach is wilted. Slowly stir in the heavy cream. 

Return the soup to a simmer and stir in the Parmesan cheese. 

Add salt and pepper to your taste.  

Enjoy!!

 

 

 

Hello Spring and it is the Hodgepodge

 

Spring Skies

 

Hello Spring in Wisconsin, we have snow one day and it melts the next. All in good time we will soon see leaves on the trees and green grass. 

Now it is time for the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun. 

 1. Spring has officially sprung (in the northern hemisphere anyway)...did she roll in more like a lion or more like a lamb in your neck of the woods? What needs more of your attention in terms of a good spring clean this year-your house or your garden/yard? 

What needs more of your attention in terms of a good spring clean this year ... the yard. Yesterday we had some big limbs cut from our neighbors tree that over hangs into our yard. We decided to clean up the mess after to help with the cost of the project. Our amazing tree surgeon... climbing and cutting. You will see a photo of him below.

Time to roll up the sleeves and clean up all the limbs, branches and more.

As far as how did spring come in to Wisconsin? I am going to say like a lion. We have had very strong cold winds. We have had gusts up to 40 mph several days this month. 

 

 

 2. What's put a spring in your step lately? 

Sunshine... I just love that spring sunshine.

 

 

 3. When you were a kid, what was the best snack to find in your lunchbox? If you didn't do the lunchbox thing, tell us what was your favorite after school snack. 

I loved finding my mom's no bake chocolate cookies. They still are a favorite treat of mine that my mom makes and she seems to be the only one that can make them so delicious.

  4. In what area of your life are you planting seeds ? 

 

I am starting seeds. I also have had the great privilege to help a young lady start seeds.

My friend A's daughter in law is starting to get interested in gardening.  She has asked if I can help her get started, to teach her some tricks that I have learned along the way in my many years of gardening. I am so excited about it, I love to pass on my love for gardening. I am planting seeds ... of the love for gardening and seed starting.

 

 

5. Why do you live where you do? Would you consider living somewhere else? Why or why not?  

 My husband landed his first job here in Cameron, Wisconsin, we were just married and moved from my hometown to Cameron.  We did not know anyone when we first moved here. It was not an easy transition for me... but I met wonderful people, who became dear friends. And now Cameron feels like home.

My husband and I do talk about moving when he retires. When we have this discussion, we do plan to stay living in Wisconsin. 

 6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 

My first bouquet of 2025. Using the branches with buds from the tree limbs that were cut yesterday, I created this springtime bouquet.  

Happy Spring!!