About The River

Monday, June 15, 2026

Episode #24

 

 Hello Friends, I last shared episode #14 with you on our day dates, I am rather behind. Today I am jumping to episode #24. I plan to stay current and go back to share our past day dates. I will tell you, life is full and I will take that as a blessing. My goal is not to fall behind again. 

Friday, June 12 we took a trip to Interstate State Park, St. Croix, Wisconsin. 

Looking across the river is Minnesota, "Hello Minnesota". 

Click here for more about Interstate State Park 

 We decided to hike Silverbrook Trail. We have visited Interstate many times when our kids where growing up, but we never hiked this trial.

Below is some information about the remains of the mansion that once was. 

You are able to see much of the foundation, the old mine and the natural spring. 



 

The weather was beautiful. We had high humidity earlier in the week creating some nasty storms. Friday was a perfect Wisconsin summer day. We did see some storm damage on our hike.




Team Day Date

 

 

We set off to find the hidden waterfall.

 

 

I love the sound of water, we could hear the falls before we could see it.

Later in the evening we did have a thunderstorm, you can see the clouds forming in the below photo. 

 

We enjoyed a fun dinner at the Drive In before heading home.

 

Wednesday, June 10, 2026

The Weather and Hodgepodge

 

Hello Friends,

No snow alert today. How about a humidity alert. Wisconsin is hot and humid. We have nasty storms in the forecast for the next few day.

Enough about the weather, it is time for the hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun! 

 1.  How would you define 'the good life'? 

I am living the good life. I have a beautiful home, garden, family, and friends.

I have my health.  

I have the freedoms that many do not have in our world.

I am thankful.

  2.  What's the most used app on your phone (and are you proud of that)? 

Weather App

I can look at the weather App, not believe what I just read. Open the App again in hopes it changed. I do this often during the winter when the temperature is -25 and the wind chill is -50!! I am in hopes the forecast will change in the matter of seconds I close and open the App.  The next few days we are going to have stormy weather, once again I will be checking often. 

3. 'Every rose has it's thorn', 'everything's coming up roses', 'looking through rose-colored glasses', 'it's no bed of roses' or 'stop and smell the roses'...which rose idiom best relates to something in your life currently. Explain.  


 

 I am going to say 'stop and smell the roses'. My husband and I are taking time each week to do something a bit different as a day date. We are going for one a week. So far we have done well, we have been creative. Some weeks the day date is very simple, with making dinner together. I will post soon on our progress. 

 4. How do you feel about floral flavorings in food or drink (rose, hibiscus, elderflower, lavender)? 

If we are talking tea, I love herbal teas and many have rose, hibiscus, elderflower and lavender in them. 

I have enjoyed different main course meals and desserts with lavender.  

5. Over the course of your life what have you probably spent more time pondering than anything else?  

 Pondering about my boys. Thinking about how they are doing in life now as grown men. And back when they were little, pondering on how well I was parenting them.

 6. Insert your own random thought here. 

They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.

 Carl Buechner

Monday, June 8, 2026

This and That

 

Our lupines bloomed so well this season.

 

Happy June my friends,

The year is flying by for me. I am struggling to keep up with all the adventures I want to share with you here on the blog. Yes, we are still doing our 52 day dates, but I have not been able to keep up posting. One day I will dump it all on you. 

We went thrifting for one of our day dates. We had a great day and found a treasure. I will get around to sharing soon. 

In the meantime, let us go for a stroll in the garden. Meet our new kitty, pick out your favorite bouquet to take home and take a peek at a special gift.

 

 

Our son Sam needed help with one of his kitties, Benny. We adopted Benny. He is adjusting well to his new home.

 

 

We celebrated our wedding anniversary on May 31st. Our friend J made us this lovely pillow. Each rectangle is a piece of history. The cloth is from the 1930's.

(a rich history dating back to the 1930s when flour companies began printing colorful designs and sewing patterns on cotton bags to help struggling families make their own clothing during the Great Depression)


 

Flowers and more flowers. Photos of a few bouquets I have made.

 Our peony have done so well this season.

 

 

Decorating for the big birthday party. I created a red, white and blue theme of planters on the front deck. I will share more as they grow and fill in.

 

 

I also created a bed with red, white, blue flowers and plants that is at the front of our property that you can see from the street. Happy Birthday America!

 

 

Taking a peek at one more bouquet. Iris, peony and bees balm are used in this bouquet.

Do you have a favorite? 

 

Carla