A Gift from the Heart ♥

A Gift from the Heart

 ♥

 My birthday was back in December. I would like to share a very creative gift I received, from a very creative friend. 40 teas, with 40 quotes in a fun canister.

I love tea. I love quotes.

My friend attached a special quote to each tea.

♥

I thought this would make a fun Mother's Day gift idea. You could attach quotes, prayers or sweet thoughts on to candy bars, K-cups, seed packets, tea, so many fun ideas.

What are some of your favorite Mother's Day's gifts?

 

Cash, Boom, Bang ='s A New Basement Wall

Crash, Boom, Bang

Click here to read about the basement wall falling down 

Thank you to all for the well wishes for our basement wall.

I am happy to report our wall is up and our project should be complete by the end of the week.

We prepared over the weekend to have our crew come on Monday. 
Our friend Lori was hoping we would find buried treasure.
While tearing out some dry wall in the laundry room, my husband found .52 cents up in the beam of the house.  "We are rich!"

Monday, we woke up to SNOW! Because of the weather our crew had to cancel the original plans.

Our laundry room is along the wall that needed to be prepared for demolition! I have been out of a washing machine and a dryer  while waiting for this project to start. Did I ever find out how spoiled I am with my washing machine.

 Thursday we woke to sunshine and warmer temperatures as the day continued.

THINGS ARE GOING TO GET LOUD!

 The wall came out easy for our crew.

 A big scoop! 

They used a dump truck to haul away the old rock foundation and old soil.
No buried treasure was found in the hole.

 A big cement truck coming in. 

 A new footing was poured. Our contractor hoped to use the original footing. It ended up not being in good shape.  Because of that set back, we were not able to lay the brick the same day as opening the house.

 Our crew had a cool way of sliding down the brick to each other.

  

Slide and catch.

Wrapping up the basement for the night.

 All day Friday rain was in the forecast.

It did not rain! It was cool and damp. Thankfully, it did not rain.

Saturday and Sunday we enjoyed a beautiful Spring day.

The wall is drying nicely. 

Monday our crew plans to put on a water proof coat.

The hole will need to be filled up.

Our driveway will need to be touched up.

Wednesday, I should be back in business with my washing machine.

I might just give it a big kiss!

Thank you again, for the well wishes. 

This project was just a wee bit stressful for me.

We had a great crew! We had great weather!

Yippee!

On the Road Friday ~ Enger Park, Duluth, Minnesota

We are on the road today. We are off to Enger Park, Duluth, Minnesota.

We visited Palm Sunday. It was a cool, damp drizzly day. Our stop to the park was an explore for a future trip. The park has amazing gardens. I am so excited to visit in the summer months.

Here we go. Grab your umbrella and off we go.

 Enger Tower

The 80 foot high Enger Park Tower was dedicated in 1939 by Crown Prince Olav and Crown Princess Martha of Norway. The tower provides perhaps the best scenic overview of the city.

 It was amazing to look out over the city of Duluth from up on top of the tower.

 From the top of the 5 story Enger Park Tower you have a bird's eye view of Duluth and its Harbor. One of the reasons why most Duluth visitors include climbing the tower in their things to see and do in Duluth.

 Beauty in every direction.

 Our boys could have played here all day. Kings, knights, battles, it was all pouring out. I love how they imagine.

Because it was not the best of days, we had the tower to ourselves.

The TePaske Castle 

We plan to do some more exploring in Duluth this summer. I am very excited to see the gardens.

 For more information about the park Click here

Enger Tower and its Gardens are a favorite picnic spot for Duluthians and a "must see" stop for Duluth Visitors

Thank you for coming along today.

 

Remodel Hodgepodge

It is time for the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

 Click here to join in the fun

 1. Have you ever had to wear a uniform? If yes, tell us more. Did you love it or hate it?

I loved to wear my Brownie and Girl Scout uniform to our Girl Scout meetings and any events we participated in.

 2. April 22nd is Earth Day. What is one thing you do personally to be a good steward of planet Earth?

 We do a good job about recycling. My friend Lori has an amazing system with recycling. My boys are fascinated with her recycling system and encouraged us to try it also.

 We are doing our part here at our house.

3. Brown rice, quinoa, or couscous...your healthy grain of choice? How often are one of the three on your menu at home?  Given a choice between white rice, brown rice, wild rice, and fried rice which would you go for? 

Rice

Our family loves rice. 

My mom makes several wonderful Wild Rice dishes and soups.

  4. In your opinion, who has the best job ever?

 A Stay At Home Mom

I have been blessed to be able to stay home with my boys. 

No, it is not easy. We have sacrificed things that we could otherwise have or do for me to be able to stay at home.

IT IS ALL WORTH IT!

My second answer would be doing what you love. The best job is the one you love. My dad gave my sister and me the same advice over and over. Do something you love. So going to work does not feel like going to work.

 5. What's a situation in your life currently requiring patience? 

Our basement project.

The good old Wisconsin weather is making this a challenge.

We are all ready to go. Our house is braced. We have everything moved for our contractor.

We woke up to SNOW!

6.  Do you live your life around days of the week? Explain.

 

"Every morning there were the dishes to wipe. Mary wiped more of them than Laura because she was bigger, but Laura always wiped carefully her own little cup and plate. By the time the dishes were all wiped and set away, the trundle bed was aired. Then standing one on each side of the bed, Laura and Mary straightened the covers, tucked them in well at the foot and the sides, plumped up the pillows and put them in place. Then Ma pushed the trundle bed into it's place under the big bed. After this was done, Ma began the work that belonged to that day. Each day had it's own proper work. Ma used to say:

Wash on Monday,
Iron on Tuesday,
Mend on Wednesday,
Churn on Thursday,
Clean on Friday,
Bake on Saturday,
Rest on Sunday."     ~ Little House in the Big Woods p. 28 - 29.

 

Every day is not necessarily the same. We have different activities going each season.

We have a routine for most of our school days.

 I do have a routine for exercise during the week. I try to be consistent with my blogging. My extra housework is when I have time or I see that something has to get done.

 

7. In a nod to the A to Z challenge happening around town this month, what 'R word' best describes your April? 

 

Remodel

With our basement project going on. We will be remodeling our laundry room in the basement. Adding some shelving and organizing.

 

 8. Insert your own random thought here.

 

 

 

Treasure

Our treasure from our trip to Wisconsin Point, Lake Superior.

Sea Glass

Rocks and a special ♥ rock

As a mom of two boys, rocks have always been a special treasure.

When my boys were little, their pants pockets were always full of rocks. 

I would always miss a few and find a rock in the washing machine.

Oh, is this your buried treasure? The light of your heart.

Virginia Woolf

 

Another lucky ♥ shaped rock find. My son Sam found this rock a few years ago on a hike.

This week we will be starting our basement project. 

Click here to read about our basement 

Thank you for your prayers.

♥

Carla

On the Road Friday ~ Wisconsin Point in the Spring

Hello Friends, today it is Friday. Off we go on a trip.

We are going to explore Wisconsin Point.

 Wisconsin Point is a peninsula off the shore of Superior, Wisconsin. It is one of our favorite places to go to explore the shores of Lake Superior.

 We visited Wisconsin Point the last weekend of March 2015. We enjoyed beautiful  Spring weather.

 The Wisconsin Point Lighthouse was built in 1913 and is located on the end of the peninsula. It is owned and maintained by the city of Superior.

 Treasure in the sand.

Carla the Explorer!

 My boys out looking for sea glass, rocks, drift wood and any other fun find.

 "Woof", look at me, I am standing on Lake Superior.

We found several pieces of sea glass, a heart shaped rock and fun drift wood.

It is a Barbeque Chicken Hodgepodge

Hi, Welcome to the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun.

1. Speaking of April 15th...what's the most 'taxing' thing you've done recently?

We switched internet providers. The 'taxing' part of this process was we had an e mail address with this internet provider. And I needed to change my e mail address on many, many things.

2. When did you last take a taxi somewhere and where was that somewhere?

Chicago

Union Station Chicago to our Hotel 

3. What's something you can do today that you couldn't do a year ago?

I can speak some German. I have been using RosettaStone to learn German. 

  4. How often is chicken (in some form or fashion) on your menu at home? Which of the following would you most like to see on your table tonight...a chicken salad sandwich, your mom's fried chicken, a Chick-fil-A meal, Cracker Barrel's chicken n' dumplings, a roast chicken dinner with all the trimmings, or 'hold the chicken, I'm a vegetarian'...?

We have chicken at least two times a week or more. We love chicken. My husband makes the best Barbeque Chicken. I do enjoy visiting Cracker Barrel. We have to drive over three hours to get to a Cracker Barrel, so it is a fun time! I love the Cracker Barrel store.

I would love chicken n' dumplings.

 5. What was your favorite television program when you were a kid? What characters do you remember the most?

I did not have T.V. while growing up. 

I was older when we got our first T.V.

I remember watching The Rocky and Bullwinkle show.

 6. What was the last piece of 'art' you made?

I designed a fun Easter card for all of our family members.

I included my boys poems.

The end of Winter is near.

The Winter will soon pass into memory.

We will soon see the birds.

The wildlife will be active.

The Robin will soon return.

Sam TePaske

Spring Has Come

Spring is here, mud and all

No more cold Winter

Birds are back, signing their songs

Soon we will be outside!

Atticus TePaske

 7. What frustrates you most about the Internet?

Advertisements

8.  Insert your own random thought here. 

California strawberries have been on sale at our local grocery. Yummy, a true taste of what is to come...SUMMER! 

  

 

Crash, Boom, Bang

 We were sitting down reading. Enjoying a cozy afternoon under a blanket.

We heard a loud, CRASH, BOOM, BANG!

Down went our East side of the basement wall.

We have everything ready to go, just waiting on the weather. But our basement had different ideas.

CRASH, BOOM, BANG

The part with the yellow insulation is an old coal chute. We live in a 100 year old house. We call it our "This Old House". Our home is full of old time character. It is also full of some old time troubles.  The East side of the basement is one of them.

We have been waiting for Spring to Spring so our contractor can get started. I guess our basement decided not to wait!

The funny thing, our boys had made up a little slogan each time they walked past our basement wall.

"Hold Until Relieved!"

 

The good news. Our weather is looking good for the next week. We are praying for the ground to  thaw and dry.  I will keep you posted!

Have a Crash, Boom, Bang of a week!

On the Road Friday ~ Flambeau River ~ Cornsheller Rapids ~ Wisconsin

We are on the road today. Grab your hiking boots, walking stick and off we go!

During the Easter weekend, we traveled back to visit my parents. I grew up in Price County, Wisconsin. My parents own and work a diary farm.  The boys enjoy helping with chores, seeing the new calves and chicks. It is always a special time.

I like sharing some of the woods that I grew up exploring with my boys. And that is what I am going to do with you today. We are heading to a special spot on the Flambeau River.

 Cornsheller Rapids on the Flambeau River 

 The river starts to get wide and calms down after the rapids.

This is where the adventure really starts, we had to cross a beaver dam. Yes, if you look close, you see our Boston Terrier, Molly, she never misses an adventure with her boys.

A funny thing happened during this adventure, I do not think it will happen to you. My youngest son got his boot stuck in the mud. He just loves to jump in puddles. Ha, this puddle got him. 

 

 Spring thaw brings fast water on the river.

 Beautiful cold water.

 I love visiting the river during the Spring thaw. It is full of power and beauty.

Have a wonderful weekend.

 ♥

Carla

 

Roll Out the Barrel ~ Hodgepodge

Welcome to the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer.

Click Here To Join The Fun 

1. Besides left over Easter goodies, what's something currently kept in a basket at your house?

I love baskets. So I have books in baskets. I have hats and mittens in baskets. I have a knitting project in a basket....I could go on and on. 

2. 'The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.' ~Michelangelo Buonarroti 

So which one are you...the one who aims too high, or the one who aims too low? Have you ever seen The Sistine Chapel? Did you know Michelangelo's surname prior to answering this question? 

 I aim high. I always want to do my best or better. At times it has gotten me in a situation that I know I took on too much for myself. I keep on and try to reach the goal.

I have not seen The Sistine Chapel.

Yes, I did know Michelangelo's surname prior to answering this question.

3. April 7th is National Beer Day. Hmmm...wonder how that's celebrated? Do you like beer? Have a favorite? If you're not a beer drinker do you have any recipes you enjoy cooking that call for beer?

Ha! My son's birthday is April 7th! I will have to let him know that it is National Beer Day!

I live in a beer drinking state...Wisconsin!

And we have a special song to celebrate!

 Since the 1970s, it (usually the Frankie Yankovic version) has been played during the seventh inning stretch at Milwaukee Brewers baseball games, as well as becoming one of the state of Wisconsin's unofficial state songs as it is also played at numerous University of Wisconsin sporting events, as well as Green Bay Packers home games, and Milwaukee Panthers basketball games, including after every home win.

I do not drink beer. I do have a favorite beer,  Leinenkugel. I like the story of how it got started. My husband shared with me about the Indian Princess on the Leinenkugel logo. 

I like to soak brats and hot dogs in beer before grilling.

I also enjoy using beer to grill chicken.

4. When did you last travel somewhere new? Tell us where? How'd it go?

For my birthday, my sister treated me to a weekend to Chicago, Illinois. It was the first time to Chicago for me and my sister. We enjoyed a great adventure.

Up on top of Willis Tower

5. The value of _________________________is greatly overrated.

The value of STUFF is greatly overrated.

 

 6. What's a pet peeve of yours when it comes to restaurant dining?

Only 1 napkin. I am a napkin person and usually need 2 or 3.

 7. It's Poetry Month...share a favorite poem, either the title, a few lines you find meaningful, or the whole kit and caboodle.

Robert Frost is one of my favorites.

The Road Not Taken

By 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.

 

 

 

 8. Insert your own random thought here. 

Wood Tick season is upon us in Wisconsin.

I hate Wood Ticks!!