Think Happy Thoughts ~ It is the Medley

It is Wednesday my friends and that means it is time for Wednesday Medley.

 Terri asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join in the fun! 

NATIONAL CROISSANT DAY

In the United States, National Croissant Day is observed each year on January 30th. Croissants are a buttery, crescent-shaped rolls that are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.  

The key to a perfect croissant is laminating the dough. Laminating the dough is a process by which butter is folded into the mixture creating multiple thin layers of butter and dough. The result is a mouth-watering flaky crust and airy body.

Legend surrounds this pastry, as is often the case with a popular, worldly treat. What is known, is that crescent-shaped breads have been found around the world for ages. One of these was the Kipferl which originated in Austria as far back as the 13th century. This nonlaminated bread is more like a roll.

Credit for the croissant we know today is given to an Austrian military officer, August Zang. In 1939 he opened a Viennese bakery in Paris introducing France to Viennese baking techniques.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Stop by the bakery for a fresh, warm croissant or try making your own using this recipe: Croissants recipe.

1.  Well, I do love croissants when they are fresh, but day-old croissants need to be turned into a donut.  I happen to really like the croissants that have a donut-like glaze on them!  Sugar overload but so good.  So... do you like croissants? I do! What is your favorite way to eat them? With Chicken Salad or Egg Salad.

 2.  Speaking of food... How do you handle stress?

I like to clean. I usually start to vacuum. 

3.  Out of the negative emotions of greed, anger, jealousy, and hate, which one would you say affects you the most?

Jealousy 

4.  Out of the positive emotions of compassion, positivity, enthusiasm, and initiative, which one is your biggest strength?

Positivity

5.  What do you get every time you go grocery shopping, other than the staples such as bread, milk, butter, flour, sugar...

Crackers, cheese and olives!

And Ginger Ale!

When you run out of room in the refrigerator during the holiday's in Wisconsin.

  6.  Please tell us something random about your week so far.

 Wisconsin is just a wee bit Refreshing this week. As I write up this post we are at -20 and -30 windchill. With this cold the Sea Caves at the Apostle Islands may be open. Click on the link to read about our adventures in 2014 when we hiked out to the Sea Caves.

 

That is me and my boys in 2014 sitting in a frozen sea cave.

 

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

♥ cozy pj's and kitty cuddles

♥ happy birthday pecan pie for my husband

♥ a warm house during this cold spell the Midwest is enduring

♥ forcing bulbs.. winter gardening and flowers too

♥ a cup of warm tea and a new read

~ TJ's ~ and more!

 I know many of you shop at Trader Joe's.

For me it is a special treat when I get to stop into TJ's. 

We do not have a TJ's close by, so it is a drive to visit TJ's but always worth it.

My blog friend Heather at Our Life In A Click does some fantastic reviews on TJ's products. It helps me out, because I know some of the items I am looking for.

Thank You, Heather!

 Before Christmas we stopped at TJ's. 

We also got to stop in after taking Sam to the MSP airport in early January.

We loved the Winter Wassail.

I use the Mascarpone for some very special cupcakes I make.

Highlander Grogg Filled Cupcake Recipe

 Yum!  Honey Graham Crackers! Thumbs Up!

 

 Atticus loves this water.

  

Some more favorites from TJ's.

What are some of your favorites?

Wisconsin Shout Out

 Carmex is a Wisconsin company. They created a new lip butter using Wisconsin Cranberries!

Let me know if you find it at your local market.

We do not have it in our neck of Wisconsin. My cousin Kris lives in the Southern part of Wisconsin. She was the first of our family to find SuperCran Carmex.

 

 My sister and brother in law own and operate a Wisconsin Cranberry Farm.

Click below to read about harvest.

On the Road Friday ~ Cranberry Harvest 

~ Book Reveiw ~ Christmas in the Movies

 I recently found this new book at our library. 

Christmas in the Movies

30 Classics to Celebrate The Season

It is full of fun facts about 30 movies that make the authors list and why they make it on his Christmas in the Movies list.

 Some of the movies that make the list may surprise you.. and you may find some that you have never even heard of. I did!

 Here is the list. Have you watched them all? Do you have a favorite?

Are you surprised by some that made the list?

Many of my favorites made the list. 

White Christmas

Holiday Inn

It's A Wonderful Life

The Shop Around the Corner .. is the inspiration for You've Got Mail

I could go on .. 

What about a movie that did not make the list? 

I have got one I think the author missed..

It Happened on Fifth Avenue

If you have not watched it, watch it! Even if the Christmas season is over, this movie will do you good. 

Happy Movie Night

and 

Book Reading!

 

Winter in the Greenhouse

This past Autumn we put up a small greenhouse. This was a dream come true for me. 

In the Spring we will complete the greenhouse by putting in shelving and doing landscaping.

Our greenhouse does not have heat in it at this time. I may run a small milk house heater in it this Spring. At this time I am just using the sun as my heat for the greenhouse.

The Northlands Winter Greenhouse Manual 

Authors: Carol Ford

Chuck Waibel

This book is fantastic for cold climates. It gives several ideas of how to use your greenhouse all year long without spending a lot of money.

Another fantastic resource.

Taking a peek inside. I have my greens planted and covered with straw.

 

A little plant popping up to say "Hi!"

 

 Another peek of green.

Today it was 10 degrees outside and it was 31 in the greenhouse when the sun started to shine in. The power of the sun is amazing. As the sun continues to become stronger my plants will continue to grow. Carol Ford and Chuck Waibel shared the Winter Mini Season in their book, The Northlands Winter Greenhouse Manual.

Winter Mini Season

Diminishing ~ late September to Mid November

You should plant .. arugula and mustard's

Solstice ~ late November to Early January

You should plant .. tatsoi and mizuna

Expansion ~ Mid January to Late March

You should plant .. mixed leaf lettuce

This is an experiment for me, I really have no idea what will happen. It is worth trying. It also helps with the winter blues. This way I am still puttering around in the garden and going in the greenhouse to peek at the plants is just something fun to do.

I have a feeling I might just be having a fresh garden salad by the end of February.

 

Let's Play Barbie.. it is the Wednesday Meldley

Photo from last Winter.. we still do not have any snow here in Northwest Wisconsin!

We have a cross country ski event we participate in every February. We have not yet been out to ski this season. We may have to take a road trip to find snow. We need to get in shape!

 

It is Wednesday! Time to join Terri for the Wednesday Medley.

She asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

 Wednesday, January 16th, is National Do Nothing Day!! National Nothing Day was proposed in 1972 by columnist Harold Pullman Coffin. This day has been observed annually since 1973. Of course, the way to celebrate it is to do nothing! 

1.  To commemorate Do Nothing Day in SOME way, tell us something about your life (or the life of someone close to you) in 1973!! 

My parents were newly married and in December 1974 they will have a baby girl. They will name her Carla.

 

 

2.  Now that we are thinking back, please tell us what your favorite past time was as a child.

My sister and I loved to play barbies.

 

3.  What is the best way to cheer you up on a bad day? 

Take me for a long walk.. get me outside in the garden.. anything outside will usually do the trick. A good joke helps as well.

 

 

4.  How old were you when you first started dating? Do you remember your first date?

 I was 18.

I do remember my first date. 

 

 5.  Today is also National Fig Newton day.  Do you like figs/Fig Newtons?

I do! 

I like both!

 

 6.  Tell us something random about your week.

I deliver Meals on Wheels part time. 2019 will be my three year anniversary of delivering meals. One of my deliveries is to a sweet lady, who had a birthday Sunday, she turned 94! She still lives alone, cares for herself and continues to challenge herself to learn new things. I absolutely love her laugh. I try to make her laugh each time I deliver to her, not just to make her smile, but so I can hear her laugh.

 

 

 

Code Mama

I titled this post Code Mama, code mama is what I had to make up between me and my boys during holiday break, more for me, because I did not want to smother them.

First, take a peek at what I received for Christmas from Sam. This is a charm necklace. You put the birthstone colors and charms that you want inside.

I love it!

December 21st was the day Sam arrived back home. I was so excited for my little boy to be home. I also knew that I might be over powering as "mom". 

I had this tight feeling in my throat, I did not want to smother my son. Yet, I wanted to be mom. I was in such a strange position. I really am not able to write exactly how I felt. All I can say, is my son is an American Soldier, he is very grown up, he is very strong, full of muscles and has experienced many things and encountered many different types of people.  It was one of those mama moments, all of a sudden I needed help.

I have two friends who have grown boys that I reached out and messaged.

Mary and Bonita, both of my friends who have recently watched boys become men. 

Both gave me great advice. I did talk to Sam and Atticus about how I was feeling and that I did not want to smother. And when we are out and about, they can give me the Code Mama.. when I just might be too much mama.

Below are the messages I had with Mary and Bonita. 

I have been blessed with fantastic friends, blog buddies and family to help me along this journey. As Bonita shared  motherhood does not end, it changes. I pray for our relationship to continue to grow as my boys grow into grown men.

 Sam received several gifts for Christmas to set up house when he returns home and heads to college in the Autumn of 2019. I helped him pack his items in a tote. He hugged me and asked me if I will help decorate. 

♥ 

 Carla

TBB Asks .. Keep Me Entertained

Books you have read multiple times: 
To Kill A Mockingbird
 I think everyone should read To Kill A Mockingbird.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Favorite book/author of all time: 
Favorite book: To Kill A Mockingbird .. we have a son named Atticus.
Favorite author: Susan Branch

Favorite TV show to binge:
The Crown

Favorite new-ish TV show:
Grantchester
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/shows/grantchester/ 

Favorite movie of all time:

 You've Got Mail

Movie you are looking forward to watching:

 Avengers:Endgame .. I am a mom to boys.. what can I say, they get me into this stuff. 

First concert you attended:

U2 

Ultimate concert (even if it can't happen):
Ed Sheeran 


Favorite musical artist/band:
U2 


How do you listen? 

i Heart Radio 
I still have CD's

 

Game Time ~ It is the Wednesday Medley

 It is Wednesday!

That means it is time for the Wednesday Medley. 

Click here to join the fun!

Terri asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

1.  It may be a little shocking, but National Static Electricity Day is January 9!!  Do you often get shocked often when you touch metal? 

Thankful to say, no I do not have to much trouble with Static Electricity. I do have trouble with lighting. September 2017 lighting hit my bird feeder. It continued to travel from the bird feeder to the side of the house.

Thankfully, we only had a small amount of damage.

I will take Static Electricity Day instead of National Lighting Day. Ha!

 

2.  There are actually two "National" days worthy of mention! It is also National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day.  Our men and women working in many areas of law enforcement put their lives on the line for us daily.  Do you know someone working in law enforcement who you can thank today?

 Thank You, John H, for your service!

Wisconsin State Trooper

Thank you to John's father who also was a Wisconsin State Trooper, his sister and our dear friend Mike K.

3.  At our house right now it is all about football.  Joe's Philadelphia Eagles barely won their game on Sunday to move forward in the playoffs and another chance to play in the Super Bowl this year.  Do you have a favorite team in the playoffs or does football make you yawn?  Is there a Super Bowl party in your future, no matter the teams playing?

No Football fans in this house. 

Baseball is our sport.

Go Brewers!

4.  Speaking of parties, there is always lots of food at parties I attend.  Tell us a weird food combination that you really enjoy (or have enjoyed).  It doesn't have to be party food.

I like having pickles with my spaghetti. Am I weird? 

5.  Since we are on games and parties, what game have you spent the most hours playing?

We have been playing Yahtzee. I got two Yahtzee the last time we played!

Yay!

6.  Tell us something random about your week so far.

 We have NO SNOW! It is January 9th and we have NO SNOW!
Our family are Cross Country Ski people. Winter with NO SNOW.. GOODNESS!

I guess I will join Max and sleep until Spring.
Ha!
Happy Wednesday Friends!

I'll Be Home For Christmas

Happy New Year

We had a lovely Christmas and New Year celebration. 

I hope you all did as well and the New Year is starting off well.

Our Christmas present was having our son Sam come home for the holidays. He is stationed at Fort Gordon, Georgia and is completing his training with the United States Army.

Here is a fun little story about how our holiday started.

Sam asked that we not decorate the tree before he arrived home. We put on the lights, a few candy canes and the lucky nut.

One of our favorite authors, Holly Hobbie who wrote the Toot and Puddle books wrote one of our all time Christmas favorites, I'll Be Home for Christmas.

 In the story, Toot is visiting Scotland to celebrate his Great-Great Aunt Peg's birthday, she is 100 years old. She gives him her lucky nut.

When the boys were little we got our own lucky nut from a dear friend of ours who has now passed, named Mike. We put the nut on our tree every year. 

In the story Toot is delayed in his travels by an ice storm in Edinburgh and he continues to have bad weather as he reaches Boston. 

He has his lucky nut and makes it home in time for Christmas.

We put our lucky nut on the tree for Sam to make it home for Christmas.

 The day Sam was to fly in to Minneapolis, was perfect. No snow, ice or sleet was stopping him from getting home for Christmas.

 Here is the welcoming committee at the airport.

 Grandma and Grandpa are all excited!

Look who is home!

 

 

A very excited family to have Sam home for the holiday.

 

 

Sam was excited to spend time with family and friends.

 

 

Two special friends of Sam's made him some very special Christmas cookies.

 

 

Sam is now back at Fort Gordon. He will back to class Monday, January 7th. We will be back into our normal routine as well. It was a special two weeks. I think it will be one of the most memorable holiday's we have enjoyed. It was full of family, friends, games, laughter, good food, ice fishing, movies and lots of HUGS! Let me just say, receiving that Good Morning Hug from my boy, it was awesome.

 

 ♥

Carla