It is the last week of May and it is the Hodgepodge!

 

Hello Friends, it is Wednesday! That means is it time for the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun! 

 1. We're approaching Memorial Day Weekend in the US of A...will you mark this in some way? If so tell us how. According to a list found here some things you might do in honor of Memorial Day would be-shop in a Veteran owned business, learn to play a patriotic song, watch the Memorial Day concert, take a virtual tour of the White House, write a letter to a soldier or a soldier's family, fly a flag, attend a Memorial Day parade, donate flowers for a soldier's grave, put together a care package for a soldier, and take a moment of silence at 3 PM (the National Moment of Remembrance)....of the ideas mentioned are there any you will try? 

We will attend the Rice Lake Memorial Day Ceremony. We will have our flag flying proudly, as we say THANK YOU, to our military.

 

Our Sam... Thank you Sam!!

 

 2. What's something recently that made you 'come to attention'? 

A young man on a bicycle zipped right in front of me while I was driving our car. Thank goodness, I was just accelerating.

 3. In what area of your life do you need to 'soldier on'? 

Not to let current events worry me.

 4. As a long weekend approaches and summer draws near, what's a favorite food from your childhood you think about adding to the menu? 

Watermelon.. the watermelon I grew up with, had seeds. I loved to spit the seeds out during a picnic. And maybe have a seed spitting fight with my sister. 

 5. Your favorite patriotic movie? 

The Longest Day

 6. Insert your own random thought here. 

~ May 31st is our Anniversary ~

This photo is from one of our many anniversary adventures. Shortly after taking this photo, I happen to have one leg fall into a deep hole created by some animal. Thank goodness I did not break my leg... and all the while, me falling one leg in a hole, my husband laughing and me laughing as he pulls me out of the hole.. it is a blessing to spend my days with my best friend.

My Love! 

Growing Potatoes in Pots!

 

 

I am trying something new this garden season. I am growing potatoes in pots.

I am using some bushel baskets that I placed along the edge of the main garden.

I have some smaller pots of potatoes on the deck. I am creating a kitchen garden on our deck. I am planting all my herbs in pots. I am planting a variety of cucumber that does well in a pot, peppers and tomatoes too. 

This is the first year I am trying this.. stayed tuned. 

 

 

A few tips for Potato Container Gardening:

The best potatoes to use for container gardening are those that mature early.

There is a wide range of potato garden methods and mediums. Most potatoes are grown in garden soil but any well drained medium is appropriate. Even perlite can be used to grow potatoes in a pot. 

Heavy burlap bags make ideal containers because they breath and drain. Whatever type of container you choose, make sure there is room to build up the soil as the spuds grow. This encourages the formation of even more tubers in layers.

Full sun conditions ( six to eight hours of light) is best for growing potatoes in containers. You may choose to grow potatoes on the deck in order to have quick access to the smallest new potatoes.

Cut the seed potatoes into 2 inch chunks that have several eyes on them. Small potatoes can be planted as they are. Plant the chunks 5 to 7 inches apart and cover them with 3 inches of moist soil. Cover container potatoes with more soil after they grow 7 inches and continue to cover the small plants until you reach the top of the bag. Container potatoes should be kept well watered but not soggy.

 

Blessed!

 I was blessed this 2021 Mother's Day. 

Jeremy and I host Mother's Day each and every year. For the past 23 years we have grilled a turkey and enjoyed a wonderful feast with my parents and my boys. 

This year was extra special. All were able to make it, the weather was amazing and I think after 2020 each and every celebration we are having this 2021 is just extra special.

My parents helped us chip limbs from a dead tree we had to have professionally cut down in our yard.

The past two years, our son Sam has been deployed. It was very special to have him attend the party this year and he brought Catie.

And now for a few snap shots of how I was spoiled.

 ♥

♥ The roses are from Catie  ♥

 

♥ My dad and mom helping us chip limbs. ♥

 

♥ This amazing hanging basket from Atticus. ♥

 

♥ Fudge from Sam. ♥

 

♥ Michel Design Works from my parents. ♥

 

♥ From my sister. ♥

 

♥ Soap from Sam. ♥

 

♥ From Sam. ♥

 

♥ From Sam.. a Lake Superior necklace .. my favorite place in the world. The blue is  sea glass from the shores of  Lake Superior. ♥
 

Congratulations to our Samuel!!!

 

Congratulations to our Samuel!!!

An interesting last year of school.. you took on the challenges and you did it! Yay!

"Wisdom is a fountain of life to one who has it" Proverbs 16:22

 

I am a wee bit sad that CVTC will not be having an in house ceremony. I am proud of Samuel, he worked hard. He had zoom classes, online assignments and more.  It was a different last year of classes. He pushed on and he did it!

Reach High!!!

 What else did attending CVTC bring into Sam's life?  Catie! 

 Catie, Sam and Atticus.. celebrating 2021 Mother's Day. I was spoiled and blessed on Mother's Day.. I will share more soon.

♥

Carla 

 

 

 

Do you see Hearts?

  Do you see hearts? I started to capture heart photos several years ago. I also like to find heart rocks and other heart shaped items in nature.

Heart shaped rocks are a favorite to find.

 

A heart shaped moth and pink too.

A heart shaped potato!

 

My son Sam found the above heart shaped rock for me. It has a special place in my garden.

 

Wisconsin's First Crop

 Wisconsin's First Crop 

Can you guess what it is?

Maple Syrup

My husband has always wanted to tap our two maple trees in our backyard. 2021 was the year to do it and it was a fun adventure.

At the end of February we tapped our two maple trees.

Jeremy did all the work with the production of the syrup. I took photos and was the taste tester.

A few changes will be made for the 2022 season. Jeremy will be building a different style of a cook area using cinder blocks. He will also use three pans for the cook down.

 

I love a dark syrup.

A recipe for a true treat..

Two scoops of vanilla ice cream, toss a handful of pecans on top of the ice cream and drizzle or in my case dump maple syrup on top. 

 We found fun maple syrup jugs at our local farm store. We gifted our family "Two Tree's Syrup" made by Jeremy for Easter.

There are many fun recipes using maple syrup. Here is one I found and I can give it high fives!! I just had a bowl for lunch.