About The River

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Honk! Honk! It is the Wednesday Medley! Beep! Beep!

My husband hates this sweet ornament. I rescued her from going in the trash several years ago when a coworker brought in a bunch of decorations she was tossing. I can not wait to get her out and put her on the tree for all to see. Hee Hee!



It is Wednesday! 
It is time for the Wednesday Medley.
Terri asks the questions.
We answer the questions.



1.  On November 28th, 1995, President Bill Clinton ended the 55 MPH nationwide speed limit that began in 1974 as an energy saving measure during the Mid-East oil embargo.  If you are old enough to remember this (I sure am) did it make you happy?  Do you have a heavy foot when driving or does 55 MPH sound good to you?
 
Most of the major highways here in Wisconsin have bumped up the speed limit to 70 MPH! At first I thought they were crazy for doing so because we have lots of whitetail deer in Wisconsin.
Now, I do go 70 MPH or faster .. shh ..  on rural roads I will take it easy because of the photo below. 
In my neck of the woods in Wisconsin, road crews do not pick up dead deer. The photo below was taken in Tennessee during last weeks road trip.
 


Road Kill Pick Up in Tennessee 



2.  You are home alone on a rainy/snowy Sunday afternoon.  What Christmas movie will you watch?
 
 
White Christmas
 
 3.  What is something you have tried that you will never try again?


You do not want to be Bean Boozled!
My boys played this on me!
 
 
4.  Today is National French Toast Day!!  Will you have some?  Do you like French Toast?

I love French Toast! My husband makes the best French Toast. I may ask him to make me some Saturday Morning.
 
 
5.  The Christmas Tree in Rockefeller Center will be lighted today, as will the one at the White House in Washington, D.C.  Do you have your tree up and is it lighted?  Have you ever been in New York City or Washington, D.C. to see the trees all lit up during the holidays?

We plan to put our tree up Thursday evening. We will just put the lights on our tree. Our son who is in the military will be coming home for Christmas. He asked that we save the decorating of the tree to do with him.
 
I have not visited the trees in New York City or Washington D.C.
I did visit Chicago all decorated for Christmas. Wow, what a lovely sight.
 
 
6.  Tell us something random about this week of yours.
 

 
Last Sunday we helped our son move from Fort Jackson, South Carolina to Fort Gordon, Georgia for his start of classes.
 
Notice that green grass, we did because our grass is white this time of year in Wisconsin. Georgia was lovely. We did some exploring and I will share about that in a future post.
 
  
A little update on the greenhouse. I planted some greens, they are popping up. My greenhouse is not heated, the sun does the trick. I will share more about my greens growing in December.

Monday, November 26, 2018

Joy List Monday

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
 



He is in that group of soldiers.

♥ An amazing trip to Fort Jackson, South Carolina to see our Sam!


 ♥ We rang our cow bell and waved American flags .. cheering all the trainees on after 10 weeks of Basic Training.

We enjoyed watching other families reunite with there loved ones. The best one was a brother and sister hid in the trunk of a car. I do not think the soldier thought they were going to make the trip to Fort Jackson. When the mom said to put his bags in the trunk, he got a BIG surprise. It was so fun watching others reunite as we waited for Sam. The soldiers were let out by Platoon, in 30 minuet waves. Sam was able to call ahead and let us know where to meet him. We met at the main PX.


 ♥ Fort Jackson, South Carolina .. Family Day 11/14/18 
We had the day to spend with Sam. 9 am to 8 pm .. we could not go off Base. Fort Jackson has several fun areas to explore. We went to a park, a museum and a library. We also went shopping at the PX. 


 ♥ Moving Day .. 11/15/18 Sam graduated. I will have a post up soon sharing graduation. He packed up his items from his barracks and off to Fort Gordon, Georgia. We were able to drive him to Fort Gordon, Georgia. 
We were blessed that Sam was granted a weekend pass, so we had more time together in Georgia after he checked in at Fort Gordon. 

♥ Thankful for safe travels, extra time with Sam and all the beauty of each state we traveled.

 ♥ The kindness of strangers. Again, we were far from home. Our Midwest accent gave that away in Augusta, Georgia.  The kindness of our fellow citizens. When watching or listening to the news you sometimes wonder.. but after traveling through 5 different states and meeting many people along the way.. at gas stations for fill ups .. restaurants.. grocery stores and more.. I am so blessed by the kindness of  our fellow citizens.



 

Monday, November 12, 2018

Happy Thanksgiving



Happy Thanksgiving to all my dear family and friends.

May the spirit of Thanksgiving enter your home and heart,
filling you with many blessings.

 ♥ 
Carla

 
 Let us have faith that right makes might;
and in that faith let us, too the end, dare to do our duty as we understand.
President Lincoln

 
 Be Back Soon!

Off to Basic Training Graduation for Sam.
Thank you all for the prayers and well wishes during the last 10 weeks. 

Friday, November 9, 2018

Thank You to our Veterans'


America's White Table
 
 If you have time watch the below video.

 

Thank you, Hero's!

A little - known tradition to the outside civilian world, "the white table" originated during the time of the Vietnam War as a symbol for and remembrance to service members held prisoner of war or missing in action. Solitary and solemn, it is the table where no one will ever sit.

Thank you to all men and women in uniform who dedicated their lives to freedom's cause.

 ♥
Carla

Wednesday, November 7, 2018

It is Wednedsay .. time for Wednesday Medley and it is all about WHAT?



It is Wednesday and that means it is time for the Wednesday Medley.



 Terri asks the questions
We answer the questions.







What is your claim to fame?


 Creating Garden Bouquets

 What is something you like to do the old-fashioned way?

Cook .. I do not use boxed mixes, frozen meals or other. 

 I like to cook the old fashioned way. 

 What did you think you would grow out of but haven’t?

Collecting rocks, sea glass and drift wood.

 What is the dumbest thing you’ve done that actually turned out pretty well?

I volunteered myself for something. Later I wondered why on earth did I do that? It ended up turning out pretty well, I was happy I had volunteered.


If you had to change your name, what would you change it to?

I would not change my first name. I would change my last. Not because I am not happy with my last name. Sadly, my maiden name will not be carried on. Only girls left in the small family that it already is and we all got married and took our husbands name. 
My maiden name will be done after my father, his two brothers and unmarried sister.


What is something random you can tell us about this week?

 
 I found this quote..

To err is human, but when the eraser wears out ahead of the pencil, you're overdoing it.
J. Jenkins

  

 Have a lovely day!


Monday, November 5, 2018

TBB ASKS ~ November



1. Have you ever kept a Gratitude Journal?

Yes, I did it once for myself. 
&
When the boys were in Middle School we all participated in writing in a Gratitude Journal for one month of the year.

2. Hosting Thanksgiving at your house?

We will be enjoying Thanksgiving just the three of us this year. We will just be arriving home Wednesday before Thanksgiving from our road trip to Fort Jackson / Fort Gordon. 
It will be the first time I have missed Thanksgiving at the farm. It is also the first Thanksgiving with out our oldest son who will graduate from Fort Jackson on November 15th and we will be taking him to report to duty at Fort Gordon on November 19th. 

~ Giddy for Christmas because Sam will be able to come home for a leave from Fort Gordon and we all can go to the farm together to visit my parents. ~
3. Favorite Food from the Thanksgiving Meal?

My mom makes the best stuffing!

4. What one thing in Nature are you most grateful for?

 
 Trees!

5. Pumpkin Pie: Yes or No?

Yes!
6. Traditional Cookbook:

Yes! Betty Crocker 

7. Oven Baked or Deep-Fried Turkey?

 Oven Baked
8. Thanksgiving Leftovers: Yes or No?

Yes!
Turkey sandwich with cranberries and cold stuffing!!

9. What is one household product you are most grateful for?

Bleach

10. Are you most grateful for home cooked meals or restaurant meals?

Home cooked and eaten with the company of  family and friends!
 
 

Thursday, November 1, 2018

Operation Christmas Child 2018

 It is that time of year.
Operation Christmas Child 2018

Participating in Operation Christmas Child has been a tradition for our family. The boys have enjoyed shopping and filling the shoebox.
This year we made up a box from Sam.

 What to pack and not to pack.
This list is so helpful to have when heading out to the store to shop. 
Items not allowed:
toothpaste
candy
liquid soap
lip gloss
nail polish
chocolate 
and more ... it is important to read over the list so you do not accidentally include something you should not. In years past we have always sent toothpaste and candy. Customs rules have changed.

 Boys age 10 to 14 are the age group that most people DO NOT shop for. 
We did shopping for this age group.
And what do you get a boy age 10 to 14? Great ideas are the following:
Tool Kits .. we bought a screwdriver, screws, nuts, nails and bolts.
Fishing lures
Soccer balls (deflated with a pump)

Hygiene items:
bar soap
washcloth
toothbrush
comb
tissue
first aid kit


 School supplies:
Notebooks
Pencils
Pens
Eraser


 Pack it all snug in the box.
You can include a letter and photo of yourself too.
One year we received a letter back from the child who received our box. 

  
One of the most exciting items the kids receive are the toothbrushes. We take toothbrushes for granted, we learned many have to share with family members or do not have one at all.


 All ready for delivery .. blessings on the boxes, volunteers that take on the project, delivery and to the child who receives the box.


Merry Christmas