Happy Thanksgiving and Table Decorations

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving.

I wanted to share the table decorations I came up with for this year. Each year I design and create our place settings. 

I wanted to use all nature this year. 

My husband cut out birch for me.

I used calligraphy ink and pen to write the names on the birch.

I used hot glue to add a few twigs and a feather.

 

My husband sanded the birch disks for me, so they were very easy to do calligraphy on. I am sure it would be a bit harder to do on a rough wood.

Celebrate the happiness that friends are always giving, make every day a holiday and just celebrate the living.

Amanda Bradley

Click here to see my post for last years table decorations.

I will be taking the next few days off.

Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends.

I am thankful for all of my readers and friends.

Blogging is a special time and I have met so many wonderful people.

God Bless You.

♥ 

Carla

 

 

Gobble - Gobble

Happy Thanksgiving

A fun paper craft to do this week with your kids, grandchildren and your friends.

Gobble ~ Gobble

Gather:
Egg Carton
Card Stock
Construction Paper
Feathers
Glue
Scissors

Using the card stock as your bottom paper, cut a body shape of a turkey out and glue on card stock. Cut two of the egg carton out and shape into eyes. Cut out small pieces of paper to highlight the inside of your eyes.
Cut out of construction paper all the other parts of the turkey. The feathers, the feet, the waddle and the beak. 
Glue and create your turkey as you like.
 

 

I created this idea to do with our Sunday School class this week. We teach 2nd and 3rd grade. They loved it.

Another idea, is to add some thankful thoughts to your feathers.

Gobble ~ Gobble

You would not want to eat me.  I am too cute.

Happy Thanksgiving!

On The Road Friday ~ Blue Hills, Wisconsin

We are on the road today. We are off for our first ski trip of the 2014 - 2015 ski season!

I know many of you do not like Winter. No worries, grab a cup of tea and enjoy this ski inside.

Off we go.

 My ski buddy!

We all have orange hats on because it is hunting season here in Wisconsin.

This is the first time we have ever had enough snow to ski in November. I keep a ski journal, so it was exciting to write a 2014 November entry.

 The ski trail was getting a lot of use!

We skied in the Blue Hills, in Rusk County. They have a beautiful trail system and it is well maintained. They have a log cabin warming house for all to stop in and warm up. 

 November sunshine! I will take it! I have read that November is Wisconsin's cloudiest month.

 My favorite Winter shoes!

It is good to be out. Working those muscles.

 My skiing hubby!

"We skied in November!"

We enjoyed a great day of snow, sun and skiing.

And so did you.  

Enjoy your weekend.

 ♥

Carla

 

 

Autumn Craft

An easy Autumn craft to do over the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Gather:

Card stock

Crayons,  makers or colored pencils

Puzzle pieces

Glue

 

Draw a tree and fill in the area of the tree with the puzzle pieces to look like an Autumn tree.

This is a great way to use a puzzle that is missing a few pieces.

 

Have Fun!

Hunting in Wisconsin

Hunting in Wisconsin is a very important part of Wisconsin life. Many young men and women start at a young age learning from parents and grandparents.

My dad was a great hunter. He enjoyed many different types of hunting. 

He would have my sister and I tag along many a time.

For me the time in the woods was what was special. And time with my dad.

 Bird hunting is a favorite of my husband. 

He is sharing his enjoyment of bird hunting and the woods with our boys.

 My Grandpa's Deer Hunting Back Tags.

 Enjoying the woods and nature.

Trying out duck hunting with Uncle Josh.

 Hunter's Education

Hunter's Education is a great program. It is not just for hunting. It is also to help feel comfortable with firearms and ethical hunting.

Wisconsin Deer Season is just around the corner. It is a busy time for the State and many families.

Do you have hunters in your family?

Do you have a favorite hunting memory?

 

On The Road Friday ~ Wisconsin State Fair ~ Original Cream Puffs

We are on the road today, to the Wisconsin State Fair.

We are actually right in line to buy the famous Wisconsin Cream Puff!

Look at all the Cream Puffs!

 

 It is fun to see how Team Cream Puff works. They do a great job keeping the line moving and making up the most wonderful dessert!

 Filling the insides up with cream! Yummy!

 Some fun facts about Wisconsin State Fair Cream Puffs

The iconic Original Cream Puff, sold at the Fair since 1924, is the most popular food item among Fairgoers – an average of 350,000 are consumed each year, and more than 400,000 were enjoyed in 2014! The delicious cream-filled pastries can be enjoyed individually or in three- or six-packs. The Wisconsin Bakers Association operates the Cream Puff Bakery in the Original Cream Puff Pavilion, two additional conveniently located vending locations in the Fair Park.

Can you believe it, 400,000 were enjoyed in 2014! I ate one! But could have eaten many more.

 

 Your cream puff is packed in this fun box.

Guess what?

Drive-Thru / Pick-Up

Want to order Cream Puffs for pick-up during the Fair? During the State Fair, August 6 – 16, stop by the Cream Puff drive-thru location, which is open each morning from 6 – 8 a.m. Cream Puff drive-thru orders must be placed 24 hours in advance by calling the Cream Puff hotline

Yes, Wisconsin knows how to do it! Pick up your Cream Puff at the Cream Puff drive-thru. All you have to do is call the Cream Puff hotline!

 

A member of Team Cream Puff taking a break and yes, eating a Cream Puff.

The cool cow is welcoming you to the Dairy Building and the Cream Puffs are waiting for you.

 You will have to wait until August of 2015! Go ahead and put it on your 2015 calendar to visit the Wisconsin State Fair. You just might see me in the Cream Puff line.

Home of the Brave

Thank You to all the HEROES helping to keep our world safe.

Grandpa Sam ~ WW2

And this be our motto:

"In God is our trust!"

And the star - spangled banner in triumph doth wave,

O'er the land of the free,

and the home of the brave!

 Francis Scott Key

My grandpa is the fella standing on the truck.

The Road Not Taken

The Road Not Taken

Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

 

On The Road Friday ~ Cranberry Harvest in Wisconsin

 Cranberry Harvest in Wisconsin

Our trip today will take us to Copper River Cranberry Marsh, Merrill, Wisconsin.

Wisconsin is the number one producer of cranberries in the United States.

Contrary to popular belief, cranberries do not grow under water or in standing water. Water is used to harvest cranberries. The beds are flooded to harvest the berries. The berries are gently removed from the vine.

 A beautiful day for harvest.

Click the link below for  more detail on how cranberries are harvested. We captured the start and finish of harvesting a bed of cranberries in 2013.

Cranberry Harvest 2013

 

 Each year I get a bunch of cranberries.  In years past I have made a cranberry sauce, froze cranberries and juiced my berries.

This year I wanted to try drying cranberries. 

I was so happy with how they turned out.

Here is the recipe if you would like to give it a try.

Drying Cranberries

Wash and remove stems. Dip into boiling water until skins crack.

Lay on to your dehydrator tray.

Dry at 130 to 140 degrees.

Dry 10 to 18 hours or to how you like the berry.

 

 

I was a bit concerned, my boys would not like the dried cranberries. They do not have a sweetener. I did not need to worry, they liked them. 

Add them to your baked breads and muffins. Toss them on top of your oatmeal, yogurt, and ice cream. 

Thank you for joining me today as we visited a Wisconsin Cranberry Marsh!

Here are a few fun facts you can share with others.

Cranberries are native to North America. The 5 major states cranberries are grown in are:

Wisconsin, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, and Washington.

The cranberry was officially named Wisconsin's state fruit on April 5, 2004.

The first cranberry marshes in the state date back to the 1830's, even before Wisconsin was a state.

Cranberries score among the highest of all fruits in antioxidants. Diets including fruits and vegetables with high antioxidant values, like cranberries, may help support memory function and coordination.

Something Old, Something Treasured

 My Grandma passed away this January.

In October I was able to spend the weekend with my sister and go through a box my Mom made up for us of things my Grandma had saved that we made.

My Grandpa and I were very close. He was my very best friend growing up. 

We named our first born son, Samuel, after him. 

I was thankful he was a part of my boys lives as long as he was, my Grandpa passed away in 2005. Sam was five years old when he passed and Atticus was three.

My sister and I had a fun day together. We of course laughed at our fun art work and sayings we came up with as little girls.

The best part was when I shared this with my boys. "Mom, did you really make this?" 

Happy Wednesday!

The Big Pumpkin

The Big Pumpkin

  

We have a special farmers market in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Klinger Farm Market, a perfect place to visit anytime of the year. We stopped a couple weeks ago to pick up some fresh produce and take a look at this 972 pound pumpkin!

Click here for more information regarding Klinger Farm Market 

I wonder how many pumpkin seeds are in this big pumpkin?

Do you have a special farm market you like to visit?