The Bad Hair Cut

A little story about my hair, my dad and ice cream.

I have naturally curly hair.

You have to be careful how you cut naturally curly hair. 

I was in 8th grade.

My dad drove me to my hair appointment.

8th grade was a hard time for me. I was going through all the changes that come your way as a girl. I had surgery on both of my feet. I had naturally curly hair and I wanted straight hair.

My dad took me to my hair appointment.

He stayed in the truck, I went in. 

Bev was the cosmetologist that was ready to cut my hair. I do not think we had one person do our hair, my mom would just take the appointment with whoever was available.

Bev gave me a nice hair cut, until she got to my bangs. She cut my bangs, not realizing she needed to leave some hair for the natural curl. 

I paid for the appointment.

I quickly went to the truck. 

The tears started to flow. Down they came as I desperately pulled on my bangs, trying to make them grow back, or pull hair from my head.

My dad really had no idea what to do.

He said, "You do not like your hair cut?"

"No." I cried.

"Let's go for Ice Cream." my dad said.

He drove to the A&W. He went in and let me stay in the truck. As I pondered how to glue hair back on to my hair. He came back with two Twist Cones. He smiled! I smiled!  

It was a special time for me. Just me and my dad. In his own tender way, he told me he understood about the hair cut.

  

April 2017 .... a life changer and it is the Hodgepodge

It is Wednesday!

It is time for the Hodgepodge!

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun! 

 1. April showers bring May flowers or so the saying goes. Has your April been filled with showers? Yes, weather wise, Wisconsin has seen its share of showers this April. Do you carry an umbrella, wear a slicker, or make a run for it? I have a fun blue rain coat.  

 Besides rain, what else has filled your April? 

 Our oldest son, enjoyed a Happy 17th Birthday!

 

 My dad had a heart attack on April 11th. 

If you follow The River you know my parents are  Wisconsin Dairy Farmers. My parents had a plan if anything should happen to my dad. My mom had to sell the herd the afternoon of my dad's heart attack. A life changer in many ways. 

I am happy to report my dad is recovering. He will be starting his Cardio Rehab today.

He is taking his time heading down to visit the barn. We all told him  that is alright. When he is ready to face that empty barn, we will all be at his side.

  The cows were my dad's favorite part of farming. 

 2. What's something you could you give a 30-minute presentation on at a moment's notice and with zero preparation?

Gardening Tips

3. Share with us a favorite food memory from childhood.

My mom made and still does make the best No Bake Cookies!

Yummy!

 4. What's a song you thought you knew the lyrics to, but later discovered you were wrong?

Home on the Range

my version goes like this

Oh give me a home where the buffalo roam,
Where the deer and the antelope play,
Where someone is heard and there is not a discouraging word,
And the skies are not cloudy all day. 

the correct lyrics 

 
Oh give me a home where the buffalo roam,
Where the deer and the antelope play,
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,
And the skies are not cloudy all day.   

 5. According to one travel website, the most overrated tourist attractions in America are-
Niagara Falls (NY), Hollywood Walk of Fame (California), Times Square (NYC), Epcot (FL), Seattle Space Needle (WA), and Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market (Boston). How many of these have you seen in person? I have visited Times Square (NYC)  and Quincy Market (Boston) Did you feel like a tourist? I did feel like a tourist, but I was one! Did you care? No, I did not care that I was a tourist. I  enjoyed visiting both Times Square and Quincy Market. Tell us about a place (not on the list) you've visited that might be considered a tourist trap, but you love it anyway.

Duluth, Minnesota

 6. Your signature clothing item?

I like my blue jeans.

 7. What's an experience you've had you think everyone should experience at least once? Why?

 During my stay at the hospital with my dad and family, we were blessed by so many strangers. Some had family in ICU and they too were waiting news on their loved ones.

Why do I say, I think everyone should be blessed by a stranger? Because this world is not as BIG AND UGLY as the Media makes it out. 

8. Insert your own random thought here. 

I wish I would have thought of these jeans.

Golly, my garden jeans are worth $$$$!!!

 

Jeans made to look like you Work Hard so you don’t have to

article by

Mike Rowe

Click here to read the article. 

 

Funny on Tuesday

Funny on Tuesday

and

An update on my dad. 

Good! News!

My dad met with his surgeon yesterday. My mom sent me a text saying the following,

" Awesome Dr. appointment. ALL GREAT. "

 Thank You to all of you for your prayers and love during the past week. Your comments and checking in with me via e mail or texting has made this all a bit easier.

I have appreciated the stories you have shared about loved ones.

As we all walk life together, helping each other with our experiences.

♥

Carla

 

 

The Heart of the Matter

 The Heart of the Matter

It all began on Tuesday, April, 11th. 

When I received that phone call. 

My sister telling me our dad had a heart attack.

He is awaiting surgery.

How fast can you come?

My dad was in a hospital over two hours away from me. When you wish you could fly like an eagle. You have to drive, and I had to drive in road construction. 

You get to the hospital.

And you see for the first time, your dad, broken.

 

My dad, who is strong. The one who chased the bats out of my room. 

My dad, the one who took me out for ice cream after I received a bad hair cut in 8th grade. 

My dad, who taught me how to drive.

My dad, who walked me down the aisle.

All of a sudden, I have to be strong for him.

Our roles are switched.

 

And my mom, who is also trying to keep it all together. Who drove my dad to the first hospital, not knowing he was having a heart attack, she drove in a snow storm.

My mom, watching my dad go off in an ambulance.

My mom, who needs to drive back to the farm, in a Spring snow storm.

My mom who needs to make decisions about the farm. 

My dad had open heart surgery on Wednesday, April 12th.

My dad who is the strong one, who helps everyone else, and does not ask for help from others.

He now is broken.

He continued to say to me, "The doctors, the nurses, they all are so nice. This is not the world we see on the news. The news that is all full of hate. The news that puts America v.s. America or the World. 

This is LOVE. This is what we are really all about."

 My dad who after surgery can not make it to the bathroom. 

My dad who cries out in pain. Who moans out as the body makes adjustments.

My dad who says "I am sorry" to the staff in ICU.

I remind my dad, it is alright. They understand if you cry out in pain, they are here to help you. 

This is LOVE.

Wonderful people loving and caring for my dad.

Up and down we went through the weekend.

 

 

I am happy to report, Tuesday, April 18th my dad was on his way to spend a few days at my sisters.

My sister is only 30 miles from the hospital.

 My dad's first thing he did when he was discharged from the hospital.

Was say out loud "I can put on underwear."

He put on underwear, his T-shirt and his baseball cap.

His first night out of the hospital went well.

We are praying for recovery to continue to go smooth. 

The doctors say, that if all goes well, July 4th will be the "You DID IT"!

My dad is already planning his party.

Thank You for the love, the support and prayers.

 

As  many of you remember, I have a tradition to make my boys an Easter Cake.

I arrived home late Friday night and we planned to head back to the hospital Easter Sunday.

On Saturday I did some catching up and made my Easter Bunny Butt Cupcakes.

I did take a few to the hospital. 

My dad got a chuckle.

Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_love.html

Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/mother_teresa.html

Let us always meet each other with a smile, 

for the smile is the beginning of love.

Mother Teresa

  

Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_love.html

 

Hello April

April sees the birds return, 

scatters showers on leaf and fern

Tasha Tudor

Around The Year 

Wishing you all a lovely Easter week.

I will be taking a short blog break.

Hoping all of you enjoy time with family and friends.

Happy Spring!

Be Back Soon!

  ♥ 

 Carla

On the Road Friday with the Birthday Boy to Como Park Zoo and Conservatory

Welcome to, On the Road Friday, if you have been following along the last few Friday's, I have shared our trip to Como Park Zoo and Conservatory.

My husband and I made a photo scavenger hunt for our boys to complete during our visit. The boys enjoyed the challenge. I enjoyed looking at what the boys captured with the ideas we gave them on the scavenger hunt.

Today, we head to Como in the eyes of our oldest son, Sam, 

who also happens to have a birthday today. 

Here we go to Como with Sam.

 Fish 

 Something Blue

Sam loves pools and fountains. 

When he was a young fella he would try to reach in and pick up the coins in the pools or fountains. One time while we were at a park, he came up to me with a bunch of coins. He was so excited, "Look Mom, I found all this money!"

He was soaking wet, as he fished it out of the fountain.

 I like how this water is sitting in this flower.

 Looking Up

I like how Sam captured the path.

Thank you for coming along with me and the birthday boy to Como.

This finishes our visit to Como Zoo and Conservatory.

Have a great weekend.

 

Some Bunny Loves You

 I do not think making Bunny Cakes are my specialty. I will say, my boys get a good laugh about the bunny cakes I have made in the past. I started this silly tradition of mine two years ago. 

The first photo is my very first attempt of making a bunny cake.

My 2016 Bunny Cake is the photo below.

The boys have already been asking if I plan to make a 2017 Bunny Cake, in between laughs. 

I smile and announce "Well, of course, I am."

I am thinking of making cupcakes and placing small chocolate bunnies on top.

Before, I decide not to try another true Bunny Cake, I thought I would ask my blog friends if they have any ideas or tips that have worked for them.