Happy Halloween Hodgepodge

 

Hello Friends, it 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. October 25th is International Artists Day...do you have a favorite artist? If so tell us who and why.

C. M. Russell 

I think he had amazing talent sharing the great American West in his works. He truly captures the history and for me when looking at his works, I can feel the West.

We visited C.M. Russell Museum in Great Falls, Montana. If you travel to Great Falls, Montana, the museum will not disappoint. 

 2. Would you describe yourself as artistic? Elaborate. 

Yes. Many people have commented that the bouquets I create are a work of art. I enjoy designing seasonal flower bouquets and I do think they are a work of art.

 3. What's a skill, task, hobby, or job you've done so often you now have it 'down to a fine art'? 

I think I have designing bouquets 'down to a fine art'. I know what flowers will last in a bouquet for long vase life. I use seed heads, herbs and even vegetables to create fun bouquets.

 4. How often do you dine out? Fast food, fine dining, or somewhere in between? Tell us about a less than stellar restaurant experience you've had recently (or not so recently if that's easier).  

We do not dine out very often.

Usually somewhere in between.

This past July we ate breakfast at one of our old time favorite cafes after we went strawberry picking. Sadly the service was poor and the breakfast was not up to the usual standards.   

 5. Do you celebrate Halloween? To what extent? Are there trick or treaters where you live? 

Yes, we celebrate Halloween. We have our light on for Trick or Treaters on Halloween night. We enjoy seeing what the favorite costumes are for the season. The last Trick or Treat for our boys they dressed up as Star Wars characters. 

We also host an annual Pumpkin Carving Party. We enjoyed our day with family this past Sunday. I will do a post soon showing off all our pumpkins.

6. Insert your own random thought here.   

A few of our past pumpkin creations.

 

157th Returns to Wisconsin

 

Hello Friends, today I am sharing the article I wrote for the October issue of our village newspaper, Cameron Chronicle, the little paper with personality.

Last year I was asked to write about the deployment and I was more than thrilled to write about the 157th's return to Wisconsin soil. 

 

157^th Returns to Wisconsin

By Carla TePaske

A large gathering of family and friends welcomed home the 157^th after a nine month deployment to Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti, Africa.

During the 157^th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade’s deployment, they supported the Horn of Africa in a variety of crisis response exercises, and played an integral part in the evacuation of American personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum, Sudan.

Col. Eric Leckel, 157^th commander, praised the returning Soldiers. “Our team spent countless hours ensuring multiple high-level events were actioned flawlessly, which allowed the AFRICOM leaders to execute key leader engagements to perfection.”

“I am extremely proud of our Soldiers and their actions in Africa,” Leckel continued. “Day after day, I witnessed our troops work with partner organizations to ensure that our time in Africa was a success. Their selfless acts and exceptional service helped shape destinies, promote peace and create a better future for all.”

Thank you for the support. We cannot serve our state and country without your support.

 

 

Sitting at the Bank

 

Hello Friends, today I am going to share a little story that happened to me a few weeks ago. I will set the stage first. My husband is the treasurer for our local Sportsmen's Club. He recently designed the website for the club Check it out! During one of our days of errands he needed to do a deposit for the Club. He went into the bank, I sat outside in the car with the window down enjoying the summer breeze blowing on me. I was busy people watching and enjoying the summer breeze when a man came up to my open car window.

He gave me the above artwork. He shared with me that God gifted him with the talent to draw and he likes to give his artwork away, along with the important message of The Good News. 

I thanked him and he got in his car and off he went. 

My husband came out of the bank, got in the car, and looked down on my lap. 

"Where did you get that?"

I shared the story above with him.. and he said "You just never know what might happen to you when you are sitting waiting at the bank."

We both were touched because this happened shortly after our son returned home from deployment. The American Eagle is a favorite in our family. 

♥

Carla

 

Hello Autumn

 

Hello Friends,

Today I am sharing the article I wrote for the October issue of our village newspaper, Cameron Chronicle.. the little paper with personality.

 

Hello Autumn

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

Autumn is here and it is time to spruce up your entry using different items from the garden to create a perfect welcome to your home.

Squash, pumpkins and even those too big to eat zucchini can make a fun cornucopia at the front door. Bundle some tall grasses and purchase a mum. You just created a welcoming entry.

It is a good idea to clean your tools at the end of the season. Remove any caked on dirt. Scrub off rust with steel wool.

Remember to put your leaves to work. Leaves make a great mulch. They provide weed suppression and plenty of insulation as well as nutrients that will enrich the soil as they degrade.

Until next time, happy gardening!

Advice from a Farmer

 

Dandelion fluff, my dad and Sam.

Advice from a Farmer

Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.

Keep skunks and bankers at a distance.

Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.

A bumblebee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.

Words that soak into your ears are whispered ... not yelled.

Meanness don't jes' happen overnight.

Forgive your enemies; it messes up their heads.

Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.

It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.

You cannot unsay a cruel word.

Every path has a few puddles.

When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.

The best sermons are lived, not preached.

Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway.

Don't judge folks by their relatives.

Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

Live a good, honorable life ... then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.

Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't bothering you none.

Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.

If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.

Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.

The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with watches you from the mirror every mornin. 

Always drink up stream from the herd.

Good judgement comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.

Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in.

If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around. 

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.

♥

Carla

 

Thoughts on a Tuesday

 

Hello Friends,

I have been doing a daily study by Charles Spurgeon called Morning by Morning. The following words spoke to me, I wanted to share them with you.

When "tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope."

We should never know the music of the harp if the strings were left untouched; nor enjoy the juice of the grape if it were not trodden in a wine-press; nor discover the sweet perfume of cinnamon if it were not pressed and beaten; nor feel warmth of fire if the coals were not utter consumed. 

The wisdom of power of the great Workman are discovered by the trials through which His vessels of mercy are permitted to pass. 

Charles Spurgeon

 

Dial M for Murder and it is the Hodgepodge

 

Linus: "On Halloween night, the Great Pumpkin rises from his pumpkin patch and flies through the air with his bag of toys to all the children." 

 

Hello Friends, it 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's something that scares you? 

Storms.. I do not like storms. High wind, lightning, hail, no thank you!

 2. Do you care where the food you eat comes from? To what degree?

Yes!! To a HIGH degree. We garden, so we harvest a lot of our own veg. We pick our own strawberries, blueberries and apples. Thankfully, we are blessed to live in a farm to table area and many people who live here are very supportive in knowing where our food comes from and support the local grower and farmer.

 3. What's something you wish you'd spent more time doing when you were younger?

Spending time with my Grandma Martha. 

4. Let's play autumn this or that....pumpkin spice or apple cider? Apple Cider Corn maze or haunted house? Corn Maze Horror film or Hallmark movie? Hitchcock Movies... they are a favorite for us to watch during the month of October  Blanket or sweatshirt? Sweatshirt  Watch football or watch the World Series? I use to follow baseball.. I will go with the World Series  Foilage-red, yellow or orange?  Red

5. This time last year where were you and what were you doing?  

 We said Good Bye to Sam and the rest of the 157th. We reminisced about his deployment over the weekend. One year ago ... off to serve our country in Africa.

We are so thankful that all are home, back on Wisconsin soil.

 

 6. Insert your own random thought here. 

A few more of my favorite Hitchcock movies..

Dial M for Murder

The Lady Vanishes

Rear Window

Strangers on a Train

The Trouble with Harry ... this one is down right funny!

And don't for get to look for Hitch... we always yell.. "there he is" when we spot him.

 ♥

Carla