Family Time

 Hello,

Just a short post to let you all know I will be out of the office for a few days. I will be spending time with family and working on a few projects. 

I wanted to share with you a few Easter traditions we enjoy. The boys love to hunt for our Resurrection Eggs. After the hunt we sit together open the eggs and share the Easter story.

Last year I used the eggs as table decorations for our extended family Easter gathering. We went around the table opening the eggs and reading the story before dessert. It was a  fun way to bring the Easter story into our large family gathering. 

Wishing you a wonderful week. 

Happy Easter

 

Iced Cinnamon Biscuits

 Iced Cinnamon Biscuits

2 cups all - purpose flour

1/4 cup sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/3 cup shortening

1/2 cup raisins

3/4 cup buttermilk

In a bowl, combine the first six ingredients, cut in the shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in raisins. Add buttermilk, stir just until moistened. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead 4-5 times. Roll to a 1/2 inch thickness; cut with a 2 1/2 inch biscuit cutter.

Bake at 425 degrees for 12 - 17 minutes.

Cool just a bit.

Drizzle on glaze.

Enjoy warm.

Glaze  

1/3 cup confectioners' sugar

1 to 2 teaspoons milk

 

 Iced Cinnamon Biscuits + 2 boys = the photo above!

A Mystery...Part 2

Today, we solve the mystery. The seeds that Kris sent to me are Moon Flowers. She sent some photos of the Moon Flowers. I just love how big the bloom is. Along with the seed pods for us to dry and have fun with, Kris sent along some of her Hollyhock seeds. I just love her seed packs she made up. If you missed Mystery...Part 1 Click Here

 In the mean time, I am dreaming of the garden. Last weekend I made up my garden plans for 2015 and ordered my seeds.

 This is me...I hope to be doing this again real soon!

 We plan to have a Fresh Market again this season. The boys are helping me design and build a new stand. I will be excited to share it with you when we have it finished.

 "Just living is not enough," said the butterfly. "One must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower."  

Hans Christian Anderson

  

"In the spring; at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt."

Margaret Atwood

 

 

 "I meant to do my work today ~ but a brown bird sang in the apple tree. And a butterfly flitted across the field. And all the leaves were calling me."

Richard Le Gallienne

 

Thank you to all for playing along with the mystery. It was fun!

Wishing you a great weekend.

We find every excuse to be out of doors and even the threat of spring housecleaning does not deter us. 

Tasha Tudor

  

It is a Spring Fever Hodgepodge

Hello, it is a Spring Fever Hodgepodge.

Click here to join the fun

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

1. Share a favorite song, book, or movie title containing the word green? 

Anne of Green Gables

 

2. Ralph Waldo Emerson is quoted as saying, 'Shallow men believe in luck. Strong men believe in cause and effect.' Would you agree? Are you a believer in luck?

 

I think it is kind of fun to see what baseball players do for luck.

I do not really believe in luck. Although I have said "Wow, you are lucky!" to a friend who seems to win every raffle in the country.

 

 

3. Spring water, Hot Springs, handspring, spring fling, spring break, spring fever, offspring...which 'spring' word best applies to something in your day, week, or life right now? 

 

 Spring Fever

My boys are ready to get outside and play. 

We have a lot of mud!

The yard is off limits for a few more weeks I hope only days.

 

 4. What's something you do to make yourself look or feel more confident?

Wearing my favorite clothes. I feel comfortable, happy and that just helps me feel confident.

 5.  It's National Celery Month...are you a fan? If so, what's a snack or dish you enjoy that calls for celery?

Yes, I love celery and so does my son, Atticus.

We love Ants on a Log!

 6. What's one thing you wish you'd learned sooner?

How important reading labels on food is. About four years ago I started to really understand all the junk in our food. I am still learning! Reading labels...I definitely wish I would have learned to do that sooner!

 7. Would you like to own a second home? If so where would you want that home to be?

I do not really want a second home. I am very happy at Home Sweet Home.

8.  Insert your own random thought here. 

 Think Spring!

Have a blessed week! 

 

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day

May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
And rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand. 

Irish Blessing

 

A Mystery...Part 1

The world of blogging has so many rewards. I think the extra special part of blogging for me is meeting so many wonderful people. I have met two blog friends in the 3-D world. A true treat to meet the people you share and learn so much from reading the special posts they create.

 I hope to meet this next blogger this summer.

Kris from Big Rigs 'n Lil' Cookies 

She lives in Wisconsin. She lives in Southwest Wisconsin. She likes to garden. She sent me a surprise package this past Autumn. And inside was a mystery!

She also sent me some of her very own Hollyhock seeds.

I am so excited to plant the seeds this Spring.

And now on to the mystery.

 She sent seed pods that were green and had pointers on them. We had to dry them.

This was the fun part. Each day the boys would go and peek at the seed pods. One day the seed pods exploded! It was so fun.

 The green pod was soft.

The little seeds are peeking out.

So do you know what this mystery plant is?

The big reveal will be posted soon. A Mystery ... Part 2.

Thoughts on Saturday

Shoot for the moon.

Even if you miss you'll land among the stars.

Les Brown

 

A Spring Time Craft ~ A Bird Nest

What do you need?

newspaper, glue, water,  a bowl for glue and water (a work bowl), a cereal bowl for molding the nest, cling wrap and shredded paper.
Lay newspaper down around your work area. Lay a flat sheet of cling wrap on the newspaper. This way the craft will not stick to the paper. Put cling wrap around the bottom of cereal bowl and set upside down on the flat cling wrap.

Make a mixture 1/2 water and 1/2 glue in your work bowl
start to put the shredded paper into the work bowl, coat the paper with the glue mixture - set the paper on - around the bowl. DO NOT PRESS

Once you have placed the shredded paper on the bowl, let it sit to dry for 3 days. After 3 days slowly peel the cling wrap from the bowl and nest.

Decorate the inside of the nest with grass, eggs and candy.

What fun preparations are you doing for Easter?

This is a Spring Forward Hodgepodge

Spring Greetings

It is time for the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun 

1. What's the first image that comes to mind when you hear the word 'spring'? Which phrase best describes the season of spring where you live right now (today)-sprung! almost there, or still waiting? 

I love daffodils. When I think Spring, I think of daffodils.

I want to believe Spring is here. It feels like it and we are loving it, 70 degrees today in the sun.

  2. Bed, couch, stapler, garage door, computer mouse, recliner, flashlight, door knob...which household item containing springs most needs replacing in your home? Speaking of springs...did you ever own a Slinky?

My vacuum cleaner...the spring that is suppose to spring the cord back up, is broken. 

Yes, I had a Slinky. And my boys have a Slinky. Our cats think the Slinky is fun.

3. March is Women's History Month. Share a favorite quote by a woman.

She said, "I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles."

Audrey Hepburn

  4. What's a question that looms large in your mind right now?

When will the contractor be able to start our basement project.

 

  5. Are you a sugar freak? By that I mean how much do you love sugar? With all the bad press sugar gets these days, have you made any efforts to reduce the amount of sugar you consume? 

 I do love sweets. 

I am guilty of having a S'more with my morning coffee when we go camping. 

I like my sweets in the morning.

Yes, for several years now, we have cut back on sugar in our home.

My boys will pick an Apple over a candy bar...most of the time. ☺

6. Would you rather have less work to do or more work you enjoy doing?

More work I enjoy doing. 

I  have some work I want to do, but not the time to do it, because I am busy with work I have to do that is not always fun.

 7. Ever been to Texas? Of the top ten Texas tourist attractions which would you most like to see-The Alamo, The San Antonio River Walk, The State Capital, Dallas World Aquarium, Padre Island National Seashore, Houston Space Center, Schlitterbahn Waterpark in New Braunfels, Six Flags Fiesta Texas,  Moody Gardens, or Galveston Island?

Yes, we have been to Texas. I have family that lives in Texas. We visited The Alamo, The San Antonio River Walk  and  The State Capital.

Fun! I recommend visiting The Alamo.

 8.  Insert your own random thought here.

I just love this quote and I had to share it again. Yes, I already had a shoe full of slush, but whistled while I continued my walk with my dog, Molly.

 

Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush.

Doug Larson

 

A Tropical Heat Wave in Wisconsin

It is the talk of Wisconsin. It is March 9th and we hit 50 degrees. 

Yes, it is true, us folks in Wisconsin can get excited about 50 degree weather in early March. 

Messy, messy, messy.

Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush.
 Doug Larson

Think Spring
Mud, Mess, Slush will soon turn into...

This!

How is the weather at your house?

Think Spring for us in Wisconsin.

  ♥

Carla

On the Road Friday ~ Totogatic Ski Trail, Washburn County Forest, Wisconsin

Hello, it is Friday. 

Time to take a trip. Today we are heading out for a ski on the Totogatic Ski Trail.

This trail is easy to find, it is just off of HWY 53 a few miles North of Minong, Wisconsin.

Hiking is allowed Spring, Summer and Autumn. A beautiful groomed ski trail is ready for use after the first significant snow fall. 

Let us go ski!

A beautiful ski trail in a full grown forest.

Adirondack Shelter, a perfect place to rest and have a snack.

The ski trail continues in a marsh area. Tamarack, wild cranberries and cattails were in abundance along this part of the trail.

A Winter bouquet just for you.

Looking up at the beautiful Winter sky.

 On the way out. We skied the 9.8 km loop. We had two hills that gave us some trouble. They were very sharp turns and trees very close to you. Happy to report all made it back to the truck with all bones in place. We plan to ski this loop again this weekend. It may be our last ski of the 2014/2015 ski season. Wisconsin is to start to warm up!

Have a great weekend.

And thank you for skiing along with me.

Carla

 

In Like a Lion Hodgepodge

 

Hello,

It is that time, it is time for the Hodgepodge.

 

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

 

Click here  to join the fun.

 

 

1. 'In like a lion, out like a lamb'...does the first part of this saying describing March weather ring true  where you live? 

 

My boys and I always play this weather game. We decided waking up to -20 degrees was lion weather. We all have Spring Fever at our house.

 

 2. March 4th is National Grammar Day. What common grammatical error bothers you the most? 

 

Their, There, They're

 

3. William Arthur Ward says- 'The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.' Which one are you? 

 

 

I am the realist. I will adjust the sails.

 

 4. What's something you need to 'march forth and conquer' this month?

 

In my Hodgepodge from last week I shared our basement project. Our basement wall on the East side of the house is bowing in and bowing out. We have our contractor lined up and just waiting for good weather to start. And I will need to 'march forth and conquer' with the help of my husband and boys, cleaning the basement.

 

 5. An ongoing debate around here...do you dust first, then vacuum or vacuum first, then dust? Of the two routine household chores, which do you dislike the least? How's that for wording? 

 

Vacuum

 

 6. According to thrilllist.com, the ten most photographed sites in the U.S.A. are- Cinderella's Castle in Orlando, Southernmost House in Key West Florida, The Space Needle in Seattle, The Site of the Boston Massacre in Boston, The Bellagio Lake/fountains in Las Vegas, The Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC, Coit Tower in San Fransisco, The Art Institute of Chicago, Niagara Falls, and snagging the number one spot-The Guggenheim Museum in New York City. 

 

 How many on this list have you photographed? Which on the list would you most like to visit and photograph?

 

I have only had the opportunity to photograph, The Site of the Boston Massacre in Boston.

 The Old State House.

It is hard to pick one. I would like to visit so many. I will pick  Niagara Falls, that would be a great family trip.

 

 

7. Fifty years ago Monday (March 2, 1965) The Sound of Music premiered at the Rivoli Theatre in NYC. Have you seen the film? Do you own a copy? On a scale of 1-10 how much do you love it (or not)? Ten=best movie ever. If you're a fan, what's your favorite scene or song from the movie? 

I am a fan of The Sound of Music. Yes, we do own a copy. I give it a 10! 

 

 

 My favorite song!

 

 8. Insert your own random thought here.

 

A few more photos of Boston

 

 My boys...oh my they have grown.

Have a great week!