An Idea for April Fool's Morning

Do not forget about April Fools!

An easy idea, Worms in your Oatmeal, trust me it will be the perfect little trick.

Have a great weekend!

 

 

Millions of Painted Lady Butterflies in California

Wisconsin Butterfly in my 2018 garden.

While listening to my favorite radio station KUSC 

out of Southern California, I heard about the Millions of Painted Lady Butterflies in California.

Substantial rainfall in the deserts near the Mexican border, where the North American painted ladies lay their eggs, is the reason for the unusually large swarms. The rain caused plants to thrive, giving the painted lady caterpillars plenty of food to fuel their transformation, said Arthur M. Shapiro, a professor of evolution and ecology at the University of California, Davis.

Source ~ The New York Times ~ click here to read more 

An unusually wet winter in Southern California has given way to a super bloom of wildflowers and an explosion of Painted Lady butterflies.

The black and orange insects usually keep a low profile as they make their annual migration from the deserts of western Mexico to their breeding grounds in the Pacific Northwest. But this year, they're hard to miss. Scientists say that extra plant growth has allowed their population to boom into the millions.

 

Source ~ WBUR ~ Click here to read more 

September of 2017 Wisconsin was blessed with a similar event.  Our mild spring weather allowed for an early northward migration. In 2017 Painted Ladies were spotted in Iowa as early as March 10th, which is earlier than normal. With such an early arrival, the butterflies were able to have two generations instead of just one. 

For us Wisconsinites, the abundance of butterflies would not be visible to us, because they typically migrate at an elevation several thousand feet in the air to take advantage of favorable wind currents. Using the wind they can travel up to 100 miles a day, and reach speeds of nearly 30 miles per hour. September of 2017, Wisconsin had strong southern weather flow that brought the Painted Ladies down. It is not efficient for a tiny butterfly to try and fly against the wind, so they took a break and were busy refueling on Autumn flowers such as goldenrod, asters, zinnia and sunflowers. It truly was a magical September for Wisconsin and I am sure that is how California folks are feeling this Spring!

 

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

Me, last year at the Twin's vs the Brewer's at Target Field. I am calling my boys "Where are you?"  LOL .. what did we do before cell phones?

 ♥ Baseball.. opening day is Thursday!

♥ Tweet, Tweet the Robin are back to Northern Wisconsin!

♥ Seeds that I saved and started last week are popping up. Garden season has begun!

♥ A phone conversation with a friend I have not seen in awhile.. we were suppose to meet last week, but unfortunately life issues got in the way.. THANKFUL for the time we did visit over the phone.

 ♥ Friends .. my in person friends, to my blog friends.. it has been a strange few weeks. I am thankful for the support and love that you have given me.

 ♥ And one more shout out for "Play Ball!"  I am a huge Milwaukee Brewer fan and can not wait to turn the game on the radio Thursday afternoon!

 

The Annual Easter Cake

 It has become a tradition of mine to make the boys an Easter Cake. It usually makes them laugh hysterically as to what mom "tried to create" this year. It is all in good fun and I would not have it any other way!

 This year one of my boys will not be home for Easter. He will get to see the famous 2019 cake via a photo sent by text message. I do love technology to keep up with family and friends.

Bunny Butts .. I made cupcakes in 2017.

 

 2018 Easter Cake

The Peep Chick's nest.

I do know who's recipe I am going to make

Big Rigs and Lil Cookies .. white cake and frosting!

Click on the above link to check out Kris's recipe. I have been lucky enough to eat some of Kris's treats!! Yummy! My boys have enjoyed each one of her new recipes I have tried.

If you have any decorating the cake ideas, please pass them on to me.

Hello Spring

The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another.

The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month.

Henry Van Dyke (1852-1933)

This is 100 % true living in Wisconsin. 

 ♥

In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.

Margaret Atwood 

  

 

Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis

Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis

What on earth? Yep, I know it? What on earth is Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis.

Someone very dear to me was diagnosed with  L.V. on Monday.

More testing will be done in six weeks.. the good news is at this time the team of doctors have ruled it to be non - serious. Thank goodness!

If any of my blog pals have any helpful tips I would like to be able to pass them on.

At this time, pain and the ugliness of the rash is what is most difficult to deal with.

Prayers for the six week tests to be clear and healthy.

Thank You!

 ♥

Carla

 

 

2019 Winter

Hello my Friends,

I promised snow photos and today is the day! We have lived in Cameron, Wisconsin for 22 years. This is the first winter we can remember with so much snow in just a few short weeks. It has been a memory maker and add in the -35 degree and  -51 degree windchill day that our Governor declared a State of Emergency.  Yep, the winter of 2019 will be one for the books.

 Making a path to the greenhouse.

 After each snow storm I would clean the roof of the greenhouse. 

Making the piles of snow along side of it.

 On one side of our driveway.. a big snow pile.

 On the other side of our driveway.. another big pile.

 Cleaning off the snow up on the roof.

 We have to be careful of ice dams forming. My husband used a roof rake to pull the snow down.

Snowshoes come in handy to stay on top of the pile while working with the roof rake.

 The Flower Shack .. Closed for the Season .. but will soon have Spring blooms. It won't be long now. The forecast has 50 degrees for next week. And my cousin did not see, but she heard the unmistakable song of the Robin in Southern Wisconsin on Tuesday. The Robin are on their way back, Spring will soon be here to Northwest Wisconsin.

The March wind roars

Like a lion in the sky, And makes us shiver 

As he passes by.

When winds are soft,

And the days are warm and clear,

Just like a gentle lamb,

Then Spring is here.

Anonymous

 

Keep Your Sweet Spirit

My Garden!

Hello my Friends,

At first I was not going to share this.. then I was going to go into full detail.. then I went back to I am not going to share this.. back and forth.

Blogging friends have been there for me, during sending off our first born to Basic training, to saying prayers during my dad's heart attack and so much more. I knew I needed to send out what is bothering me to all of you and the prayer I received from a dear friend.

Thursday, March 7th, I helped with my son's Warrbird Sporting Clay's team banquet. I have done this for the past three years, this being my fourth.

Each year I register those attending and I cashier as the silent auction is closed.

This year three men got into an argument behind me at the cash bar. I have no idea if they were drunk, if they hated each other or both.  My helper and I looked at each other .. we had no idea what to do. The bartender just let it go on. We continued to cash out the silent auction. 

It got worse.. they began to talk in such an awful way and moved closer to the table. 

Then one of them shouted over our cashier table to another table. 

Others just ignored what they shouted.

I had my chance to leave the cashier table when I was asked to help audit the evenings earnings.

You may be wondering "why did someone not do something?"

All I can answer is, I have no idea. 

For me I was busy cashiering and the men began to bash women so badly, that I was fearful if I did turn around and say something.

 For others, I am not sure if they had any idea how to handle the situation.

After the night was over, I cried. I shared everything with my husband. He was across the banquet hall helping with a raffle. He noticed it was very loud over in my area, but could not make out what was going on. I asked him if I am too sensitive? Should I be bothered by this? He said "Yes, NO ONE should have to hear what the three men were saying. All of it was wrong!"

I was shocked at how awful people can act at a banquet for young people. I was shocked at the language, the hate and sadly it turned towards hate of women. 

This is probably why my co worker of the event and I just kept our head low and finished cashiering the people in the line. I got out as soon as I had the opportunity.

The reason I am posting this story is I was so upset. I was saddened that society can be so awful. And why do this at a benefit for a youth program.

Yes, I know it is an ugly world out there. 

I do try to find the good in it daily. Thankfully it is not that hard in my little spot in the world. I have special friends, a wonderful blog community, special people I deliver Meals on Wheels, a great family and I could go on. 

I shared this story with my dear friend Monday. I was still so upset. She said something very special to me "Carla, do not let this destroy your sweet spirit. Keep your sensitivity, keep your sweetness of life, do not let that be taken away from you."

But courage, child: 
we are all between the paws
 of the true Aslan.
~ C.S. Lewis
The Last Battle

 

It's a funny old world we live in these days, I too encourage you to keep your sweet spirit.

 ♥

Carla

 

 

On the Road Friday ~ Northwest Wisconsin Barrens

At our North Country Master Gardner meeting on February 28th. We had a guest speaker, Mark Nupren of the Friends of Namekagon Barrens.

Stretching from just south of Lake Superior in Bayfield County

 to northern Polk County.

The sandy soils that define the region, along with the numerous lakes and rivers are all remnants of past glaciers. European explorers often described the region as "barrens" or "brush prairie" created by fires that for centuries burned over much of this land creating an open landscape. While appearing to be barren due to the scarcity of older forests, the grassy and brushy landscape contained a rich diversity of plants and animals.

 One of the birds that makes it home in the barrens is the sharp-tail grouse.

I have never seen one in the wild, only photos or video.

The  sharp-tail grouse have a very fun mating dance. I am not sure if I would be able to stay quiet during it. I laugh watching both of the video below.

There is nothing like the sharp-tailed grouse mating season!  

You can witness it yourself in one of our viewing blinds.

 You are able to sign up to sit in a blind to watch this amazing act of nature.

Click here for more information.

I am putting the Northwest Wisconsin Barrens on our list of adventures for 2019. The Barrens are not that far away from where we live, so maybe we will adventure in Spring, Summer and Autumn.

Wildflowers bloom during spring and summer.

Autumn colors show off during September into November.

The Barrens are also home to many butterflies, including the endangered Karner blue butterfly. 

To be continued..  once all the snow melts.

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

  Happy March

 ♥ from Penelope ♥

 ♥ Sunshine.. beautiful sunshine

we woke to -21 degrees this morning

when many are thinking Spring it is hard to do when that cold air takes your breath away

oh never fear, that sunshine comes out and feels so good even if it is -21 degrees

 ♥ Placing my seed order and designing the 2019 garden

 ♥ Girl Scout Cookies from Samantha my favorite Girl Scout

 ♥ Reading a fun book and taking time to read aloud the funny parts to my husband

 ♥ Watching a movie with my youngest son Atticus and having fun with the script later in the week

 Don't you love good movie lines.

Have a Great Week my friends.

♥ 

Carla