Rekindling a Tradition

 

Hello Friends,

I am sharing the article I wrote for the April issue for our little Village newspaper, Cameron Chronicle, "The Little Paper With Personality."

 

Rekindling a Tradition

By Carla TePaske of Cameron WI ~ The Little Garden That Could

It is the April issue of the Cameron Chronicle, my subject this month has to do with the first day of May, the celebration of spring with a May basket.

May baskets are fast, easy and inexpensive to make, and they are a fun kick off for the garden season.

It is unknown when May baskets originated, but they are probably linked to ancient European rituals that marked the first day of May as the awakening of spring. May baskets became popular in the United States during the 19^th century, when people began celebrating May Day by slipping a few early blossoms from a budding garden or field into a container and then quietly leaving it at someone’s door before knocking or ringing the doorbell, and running away. They are meant to be anonymous. May baskets are a gardener’s way to have fun, and put a smile on someone’s face.

Recycled tin cans make an attractive May basket. The cans are able to hold water. Affix a wire handle: punch holes near the top edge, thread wire through, and twist the ends neatly.

Let’s revive the tradition. Get ready, get set, tie some flowers to a doorknob, and run! Until next time happy gardening!

On The Road Friday ~ Arizona

 Hello Friends,

Get ready to hop into your time machine for a blast to the past.

A few weeks ago while writing answers for the Hodgepodge I shared about a favorite Easter break and Easter dress.

Here we go .... into the past on this on the road Friday.

 

My Uncle Paul's mom lived in Tuscon, Arizona. I had the opportunity to travel with my Uncle and Aunt from Wisconsin to Arizona to celebrate Easter with my Uncle Paul's family.

 

My favorite Easter dress. One of my Aunt Sally's hobbies is photography, she had me do several poses wearing my Easter dress.

 

I remember loving the desert. I still do. And I always say if I get tired of Wisconsin winters,  we just might move to Arizona. As for now, Wisconsin will remain Home Sweet Home, even with our crazy weather.

 

Another thing I notice looking back at these photos and answered for a recent Hodgepodge, is my second favorite color is pink. Look at the pink Easter dress and pink shorts. 

I also had my childhood bedroom painted pink.

Thank you for coming along with me on the road Friday and down memory lane.

♥

Carla

Happy #500 of the Hodgepodge

 

Happy #500 of the Hodgepodge! 

This cupcake is for you Joyce.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Here we go! 

Click here to join the fun!

 

 1. Last time you drove/flew 500 miles (ish)? We drove to Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the end of September 2022 to send off our son and the rest of the 157th for their deployment to Africa. Milwaukee is 300 miles from my home town. What's a place you'd like to visit that lies approximately 500 miles from your current location? I would like to visit the International Peace Garden. I am going over 500 miles for this visit, 583 miles.

2. Tell us about a time recently it felt like you were 'racing against the clock'. 

That time is coming right up on me. It will be the garden season. We have a list starting with the clean up from the major winter storms we had. 

 

 3. Have you ever attended any really large sporting events? Nope. What was your impression of the experience?  

The Superbowl, The Kentucky Derby, The World Series, FIFA World Cup, The Indianapolis 500, The Daytona 500, The Olympics, The Masters, Wimbledon, The Boston Marathon, March Madness, Tour de France, Monaco's Grand Prix, The Open (golf), The Ryder Cup, The Stanley Cup Finals..of the events listed which would you most like to attend in person? Or maybe one that's not listed? I enjoy baseball, so I will go with the World Series.

4. Are you an iced tea drinker? Yes! If so, do you drink it year round, or only in the spring and summer months? Only in the spring and summer months. Do you make your own or buy it bottled? We make our own. I usually make Sun-tea. Sweet or unsweet?Unsweetened Flavored? I do use herbal tea blends to make some of my tea or I will add fresh mint. Lemon or no lemon? Yes, to lemon. How about a Long Island Iced Tea? Nope, I have not tried a Long Island Ice Tea.

5. April 20th is Volunteer Recognition Day...do you volunteer in some way?Yes, my husband and both volunteer. We have volunteered for our local library, community and sportsmens club. Tell us about it. My most recent volunteer work was making desserts for the sportsmens winter trap league events. If not, tell us about a volunteer you appreciate. 

 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Our little Village is glowing in blue lights each evening as we honor Police Officers Emily and Hunter and begin to heal from the horrific events of Saturday April 8th.

 

Honoring Emily and Hunter 

 

 

 

 

This and That

 Hello Friends,

A little of this and that to catch up with you today.

The No Fooling April Fools Day Blizzard!

14 inches of snow with plenty of wind to create drifts.

 

I created our Easter table settings. 

I planted microgreens in washed out egg's. They were a hit. We snacked on our table settings as well as looking spring time pretty.

 

Another great harvest of maple syrup. My friend Lori calls it, liquid gold.

 

 

The first bloom. 

A reminder of the promise of spring, new life and not to give up having faith.

 

On the road between the houses of friends grass does not grow.

♥

Carla

2023 TePaske Easter Cake

 

 

Hello Friends,

Here it is, the 2023 Easter Cake. 

I see now, that we did not turn the cake to get all the chicks smiling at you too. Oh dear. You can see the one smiling chick.

 

 

White Texas Sheet Cake

1 cup of butter

1 cup of water

2 cups of all purpose flour

2 cups of sugar

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 cup of sour cream

1 teaspoon almond extract

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

In large saucepan, bring butter and water to a boil. Remove from the heat and stir in flour, sugar, eggs, sour cream, almond extract, salt and baking soda until smooth. Pour into greased 15" x 10" baking pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 to 22 minutes or until cake is golden brow and tests done. Cool for 20 minutes. Spread frosting over cake.

Frosting 

1/2 cup of butter

1/4 cup of milk

4 1/2 cups of powdered sugar

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

In a sauce pan, combine butter and milk, bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add sugar and almond extract, mix well. 

 Enjoy!

Courage, Dear Heart

 

Hello Friends, this was not the post I planned for Easter Monday. I was going to share the 2023 TePaske Easter cake. Sadly, a terrible event happened in our Village, Saturday afternoon. 

I was on my walk, when all of a sudden sirens and emergency vehicles where coming into the Village at a fast pace. As I turned the corner to the high school an EMT helicopter began to land in an area across the way. 

Parked in the high school parking lot where additional squad cars and a tow truck.

In my mind, I thought, goodness this is a terrible auto accident.

When I arrived home, my friend Judy informed me that two police officers had been killed.

As the news broke, this was a routine traffic stop and the officers were shot to death.

My heart is broken.

I do not have any words, only sadness. 

I ask for prayer for the families of the fallen officers and our community.

♥

Carla

 

“But no one except Lucy knew that as it circled the mast it had whispered to her, "Courage, dear heart," and the voice, she felt sure, was Aslan's, and with the voice a delicious smell breathed in her face.”

C.S. Lewis

Happy Easter and it is the Hodgepodge!

 

Happy Easter Friends,  today is Wednesday and that means it is time for the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun! 

 1.What would you say is the most difficult task when it comes to spring cleaning? Cleaning our ceiling fans. Have you completed that task this year? I did the two I can reach on Monday.  Any plans to get it done? I have to call in the tall guy 'aka' my husband to help me with the others.

2. Your favorite pastel color? Pink Favorite thing you own in a pastel shade? Pink is my second favorite color. I have several mementos from my childhood that are pink. My grandma Vida would usually gift me something in the color pink, she knew it was a favorite color of mine.

 3. Do you like ham? Yes, I do like ham. Do you fix ham year round or is it mostly just a 'holiday food'? We bake a large ham during holidays. We enjoy small ham year round. Baked ham-ham and eggs-ham and cheese sandwich-scalloped potatoes and ham-Hawaiian pizza....what's your pleasure? Ham and Swiss cheese with mayo, mustard on a croissant, oh yes, lightly toasted. 

4. Do you celebrate Easter? Yes What did Easter look like when you were a kid? We would celebrate with family. My parents took a lot of time and effort in creating Easter Basket hunts for us kids. It was always great fun. What are your plans for Easter this year? We will be traveling to visit my parents. My sister and her husband will meet us. 

 

 
5. Something that makes you feel hopeful amidst all the chaos and confusion this world brings? I am enrolled in a The Bible in a Year study. I am always excited to get to it each day, because it really is helping me remember that TRUTH has been revealed to us.

 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Family faces are magic mirrors. Looking at people who belong to us, we see the past, present and future. 

Gail Lumet Buckley