Adventure ...

Hello Friends,

If you have been reading The River for some time, you know about Marv. Marv is 87 years old and is a dear family friend.

He also is my gardening mentor. He is full of garden wisdom.

We stopped in to visit him on Thursday and check out his new car.

He asked if we checked out the new big grocery in Eau Claire, Woodman's?

Yes, we had. It is a fun grocery store and has so much variety compared to our little grocery stores.

Marv shared, "After I bought the car, I needed to take a ride. I decided to head to Eau Claire and check out Woodman's!"

Eau Claire is our big city and it takes about 45 minutes to get to from Cameron.

I love it! 87 years young and full of adventure!

I want to be just like Marv at age 87!

 

When we first visited Woodman's we were in the store for two and half hours. It is so much fun!

Marv told us he plans to go back , he did not get through the entire store on his first visit.

 

 ☺

Speaking of adventure .... I am off on my own adventure.

I will be back to blog land soon.

Have a great week!

 ♥

Carla

 

 

On The Road Friday ~ Effigy Mounds National Monument ~ Iowa

Welcome to On The Road Friday, today we are going to take a trip to 

Effigy Mounds, National Monument. 

We visited the Effigy Mounds during Labor Day Weekend. We enjoyed beautiful weather and lovely company as we explored.

 

Here is a little history to get you started for the trip.

The animal-shaped mounds remain the symbol of the Effigy Mounds Culture. Along the Mississippi River in northeast Iowa and across the river in southwest Wisconsin, two major animal mound shapes seem to prevail: the bear and the bird. Near Lakes Michigan and Winnebago, water spirit earthworks—historically called turtle and panther mounds—are more common.

 The Late Woodland Period (1400-750 B.P.) along the Upper Mississippi River and extending east to Lake Michigan is associated with the culture known today as the Effigy Moundbuilders. The construction of effigy mounds was a regional cultural phenomenon. Mounds of earth in the shapes of birds, bear, deer, bison, lynx, turtle, panther or water spirit are the most common images. Like earlier groups, the Effigy Moundbuilders continued to build conical mounds for burial purposes, but their burial sites lacked the trade goods of the preceding Middle Woodland Culture. The Effigy Moundbuilders also built linear or long rectangular mounds that were used for ceremonial purposes that remain a mystery. Some archeologists believe they were built to mark celestial events or seasonal observances. Others speculate they were constructed as territorial markers or as boundaries between groups. 

Click here for more information  

 The hike around the Effigy Mounds is absolutely beautiful. 

We hiked along looking at the mounds and making out the features of the bear and the bird.

This hike was full of history as we hiked along the mounds. The visitor's center is also very well done at the monument.

Wishing you all a peaceful weekend. 

Pumpkin ... Apple ... It is the Hodgepodge

Wisconsin showing off her Autumn beauty.

It is Wednesday and it is time for the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun! 

 1. Thursday (September 22) is the first official day of autumn in this part of the world...how will you welcome the season? I know some of you have been celebrating way too early, but it's official now so permission granted. House Beautiful recently listed ten ways to make your home smell like fall (you can read the list here) What's a scent you love this time of year and how will you add it to your home? 

 Wisconsin is just starting to show off her Autumn beauty. We will soon be heading out on Autumn hikes. Autumn is our favorite time of the year to hike. The beauty of the trees, the fallen leaves and the smell of the cool crisp air.

My favorite scent this time of year is cinnamon. I have a cinnamon candle burning most Autumn evenings.

2. Apple pie or pumpkin pie? Apple cake or pumpkin bread? Warm apple cider or a pumpkin spice latte?

Pumpkin pie

Pumpkin bread

Warm apple cider

 
3. Do you suffer from what is sometimes referred to as an afternoon slump? What helps ward it off before it hits and/or tell us what helps you shake it off once it's here?

I was just talking to my son about this today! He has been struggling with an afternoon slump for the past few weeks. I shared with him what works for me.

A big glass of cold water with a dash of lemon. I drink it all and walk around.

Movement usually helps me or just moving into a different room. 

 Ice coffee or a nice cup of black tea are my other tricks of the trade.

 
4. Ladies-how have your friendships with women inspired you or made you a better person? For the men here today- how have your friendships with men inspired you or made you a better person?

I have several friends in my life that I admire. My friends have been brave, each in her own way. That bravery inspires me.

5. Are you a people pleaser? If you said yes, do you think that's a good or bad thing? If you said no, do you wish you were more of a people pleaser?  

I have been a people pleaser. It can be very hard for me to say "No" ... I do think it can be a bad thing, if you are changing who you are inside to please that person! 

  6. The seasons are a-changin'...share a favorite song relating in some way to change (not necessarily seasonal change, it could be change of any kind).

Circle of Life

Lion King  

7. What do you wish would never change?  

Daylight Savings Time

I HATE the time change. I will begin to complain about it in the weeks before it arrives. 

Just leave the time alone.

And yes, I could do without all the updates in technology. 

  

 8.  Insert your own random thought here. 

We watched Mr. Smith Goes To Washington ... produced back in 1939 ... oh my, sadly Washington has not changed ... I think it has gotten worse.

 My boys loved the Boy Rangers in the movie. 

Watch it this weekend, I know it will make you smile. Even if it is about Washington.

  

Roasted Eggplant Boats ~ Joy List Monday

Roasted Eggplant Boats

Recipe from  River Cottage

 Eggplant has become one of our favorites.

If you do not like eggplant or had a bad first time with eggplant, try this trick.

My husband learned that sprinkling salt on your eggplant and letting it sit for 15 to 20 minutes helps get any bitter juice out of the eggplant.

You can see this in the above photo, the bitter juice coming out.

After the 15 to 20 minutes, wash off the eggplant in cold water. Pat dry and continue with your recipe.

On to the recipe....

Preheat your oven to 375° 

Cut the eggplant half lengthwise.

Using a small, sharp knife, make a series of deep slashes diagonally across the flesh, going about two - thirds of the way into the flesh, but not right through to the skin. You want to end up with 6 to 10 slashes....depending on the size of your eggplant.

 Mix garlic and parsley with olive oil.

 My favorite part, I give my eggplant a garlic, parsley, olive oil bath.

 The eggplant are ready for the pan.

In a roasting pan, place the eggplant halves, flesh side up!

Roast for 50 minuets, or until deep golden brown and completely tender.

Let the eggplant set for 5 minuets and ENJOY!

Joy List Monday

a weekly ritual

a reminder to stop and pay attention to the little beauties and graces that make life magical and to set aside time for gratitude each day

  ♥ old movies ~ Mr. Smith Goes to Washington with James Stewart

 ♥ eating Orchard  popcorn ~ a new pink popcorn we found at an apple orchard

it is delicious with a dash of  salt 

♥ continuing to harvest vegetables and flowers from the garden

 ♥ enjoying the full moon with Jeremy 

♥ a surprise visit from my parents on Friday

 

On The Road Friday ~ Cookies for on The Road Friday's

It is Friday! I am happy to report that I will have some fun On The Road Friday posts coming up. We explored some fun new places over Labor Day Weekend.

I have some photos to upload and organize and I will be in business.

Today, I will share the perfect road trip cookie. This cookie is easy to store in an ice cream pail bucket, does not require a cooler and is the perfect snack or dessert for an On The Road Picnic.

The recipe is shared by Susan Branch.

Artist Susan Branch

 

 Enjoy!

Have a great weekend!

 

It is a ♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫ Hodgepodge

Hello, it is Wednesday and it is time for the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun! 

 1. What's changed in your life, home, or community since your last birthday?

 Homes for sale ... two of our neighbors have moved in the last four months. 

2. September is Classical Music Month. Do you like/listen to classical music? If so what's a favorite piece and/or who is a favorite composer? 

Yes, I love classical music. Yes, I listen daily to classical music.

My favorite piece .... The Four Seasons (Vivaldi)

My favorite composer .... John Williams.

3. Besides The Bible, what's a book that has positively changed your life, relationships, career, or perspective? How so? 

Beyond Boundaries

Dr. John Townsend

How do you know you’re ready to trust again … and what does it take to be ready? Painful relationships violate our trust, causing us to close our hearts. But to experience the freedom and love God designed us for, we eventually have to take another risk. In this breakthrough book, bestselling author Dr. John Townsend takes you beyond the pain of the past to discover how to re-enter a life of intimate relationships. Whether you’re trying to restore a current relationship or begin a new one, Townsend gives practical tools for establishing trust and finding the intimacy you long for. Beyond Boundaries will help you reinstate closeness with someone who broke your trust; discern when true change has occurred; reestablish appropriate connections in strained relationships; create a safe environment that helps you trust; and restore former relationships to a healthy dynamic. You can move past relational pain to trust again. Beyond Boundaries will show you how.

 

4. I read (here) these ten hobbies will make you smarter...play a musical instrument, read voraciously, meditate regularly, work out your brain (puzzles, sudoku, board games, etc), exercise often, learn a new language, write your feelings down (blog, journal, just write), travel to new places, cook different kinds of meals, participate in sports actively

Are any on this list your current hobbies? Which hobby on the list would you be most inclined to try? 

My current hobbies .... work puzzles, exercise often, blogging, cooking different meals.

I have been trying to learn a new language, I had to jump off the learning German bus during the garden season. Hope to hop back on in November.

5. What sports traditions does your family have? 

Cross Country Skiing ... Winter is coming .... this ones for Judy of Cranberry Morning.

Trap Shooting

 6. In a few words, weigh in on the current football/National Anthem brouhaha. Keep it family friendly please.

 SAD

 7. Where do you have loads of patience, and where do you most lack patience?

I have patience with my gardens.

I am lacking patience when my computer is slooooowwwww.

 
8. Insert your own random thought here. 

We made our first Apple Crisp of the Autumn season Sunday. Yummy!

Do you have a twist to the traditional Apple Crisp recipe?

 

Sweet Potato, Feta and Kale Muffins ~ Joy List Monday

Sweet Potato, Feta, Kale Muffins

2 whole sweet potatoes peeled and cubed

1 Tbsp. olive oil

2 whole eggs

1/3 cup melted butter

1/2 cup milk or substitute almond or soy

1 1/2 cups all - purpose flour

2 Tbsp. brown sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

1/8 tsp. fine sea salt

1/8 tsp. black pepper

1 1/2 cup of fresh chopped kale

3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese

Lightly coat sweet potatoes with olive oil and bake in 400 ° oven for 20 minutes or until tender.

Let potatoes cool completely before handling again (roughly 20 minutes)

Coat muffin tin with olive oil or cooking spray

In a large bowl, mix eggs, butter and milk.

Add flour, brow sugar, baking powder, salt and pepper until dry ingredients are moistened.

Stir in potatoes, kale and cheese.

Divide batter into muffin cups, about 3/4 full.

Bake muffins in 400° oven for 18 to 22 minutes.

Enjoy

Our family fell in love with the sweet taste to this packed with goodness muffin.

Joy List Monday

~ a weekly ritual ~

a reminder to stop and pay attention to the little beauties and graces that make life magical and to set aside time for gratitude each day.

♥  thankful for all of those who keep American safe .... thankful I can head out of my house and not feel afraid ... remembering all of those men and women who keep us safe everyday

 ♥ the taste of the first apple crisp of the autumn season

♥ snail mail .... received a fun card, letter and recipe in the mail from my cousin ... always fun to receive mail

♥ British literature ... excited how my boys are excited to read Beowulf

♥ soaking in the last of summer flowers, beautiful, bright zinnias

 

The Red Bandanna

As we remember today ....

 

The Red Bandanna

Book by Tom Rinaldi

 

 One Sunday morning before church, when Welles Crowther was a young boy, his father gave him a red handkerchief for his back pocket. Welles kept it with him that day, and just about every day to come; it became a fixture and his signature.

A standout athlete growing up in Upper Nyack, NY, Welles was also a volunteer at the local fire department, along with his father. He cherished the necessity and the camaraderie, the meaning of the role. Fresh from college, he took a Wall Street job on the 104th floor of the South Tower of the World Trade Center, but the dream of becoming a firefighter with the FDNY remained.

When the Twin Towers fell, Welles’s parents had no idea what happened to him. In the unbearable days that followed, they came to accept that he would never come home. But the mystery of his final hours persisted. Eight months after the attacks, however, Welles’s mother read a news account from several survivors, badly hurt on the 78th floor of the South Tower, who said they and others had been led to safety by a stranger, carrying a woman on his back, down nearly twenty flights of stairs.  After leading them down, the young man turned around.  “I’m going back up,” was all he said.

The survivors didn’t know his name, but despite the smoke and panic, one of them remembered a single detail clearly: the man was wearing a red bandanna.

Tom Rinaldi’s The Red Bandanna is about a fearless choice, about a crucible of terror and the indomitable spirit to answer it. Examining one decision in the gravest situation, it celebrates the difference one life can make.

 

 

 

Welcome Basket

Hi Everyone,

It has been awhile for us to welcome a new neighbor. It was extra special for me to welcome this new neighbor. She is the young lady I posted about in May. My sweet friend, who married in May, is now my new neighbor.

We made up a basket full of fresh veggies from the garden.

Tucked underneath is a fun kitchen towel and card.

 

I forgot to take a photo before walking over for delivery. My husband did his best to show what we have inside the basket.

Flowers too!!

I still remember way back 15 years ago when we moved in our home, our neighbor baked us a fresh apple pie to introduce us to the neighborhood.

Do you have any fun stories of being welcomed in to the neighborhood or how you welcomed a new neighbor?

I am looking forward to your fun ideas!

Enjoy your weekend!

Funny on Tuesday

Traveling in Wisconsin

 

 

"A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men"

Anonymous 

Around the Year

In August swallows southward fly,

summer's waning, fall is nigh

September brings the County Fair, falling leaves, crisp autumn air.

Tasha Tudor

Enjoy the Labor Day Weekend!