Happy Winter and it is the Hodgepodge

 

 

The past two winters we have not had snow. Winter 2025/2026 is starting out with snow, snow and more snow. We hope to get out and ski soon. The above photos are taken a few years ago, when we had snow, snow and more snow.

Now on to the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

 1. What's one thing on your to-do list that you want to get done, need to get done, or that must get done before the year ends? 

 

My husband does metal design work, he is designing and creating a new coat rack for us. I hope we have it up by this Saturday, because we are having company and we need a place for winter coats, hats and more.  

 

2.  December 17th is National Maple Syrup Day...are you a fan? Do you like maple flavor in other food items such as candy, cookies, donuts, oatmeal, hot toddies, coffee?  

 

We tap our maple trees and cook-down the sap for syrup.  We love maple syrup. Yes, I use it in my baking, in oatmeal, drinks and more. We like to drizzle it on roasted carrots.

 

3. Time magazine names a person of the year every year.  The tradition started back in 1927 with a 'man of the year' but has since changed to recognize not only an individual, but also to consider the impact of a group, movement, or idea that most influenced the year. The selection is not always someone or something good (think Hitler in 1938 and Stalin twice). 

This year they've named The AI Architects as their 'person of the year'. What say you? Is this a good choice, an obvious choice, a logical choice? Who do you think should have been named person of the year? 

 

AI is all the talk this year, I do think it is a good choice. I hope that we can have healthy conversations regrading where and how AI is working in our lives. 

The one thing I worry about, is what is real? I will look at a photo in hopes it is real and not AI generated. Or a song, or a speech or text written. I hope we as humans use common sense in the use of AI.

My friend Alice had a health scare. She had surgery and has had to work hard to get back to feeling good again. She has been very brave and continues to be brave as she navigates what to do next on her health journey.

She is the person of the year for me... a true fighter who has gone through a lot this year.

 

4. What's a city, state, or country you've visited that you never care to visit again? Tell us why.  

 

Sadly, the last time we were downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota things did not go that well. We did not feel comfortable and we where happy to get out of the city.

Our son's did venture downtown this summer for a Twin's baseball game, they did think it was better than our last visit.

 

5. Next Sunday (December 21st) marks the first day of winter (or the opposite if you're living down under). What's one thing you love about this new season?   

 We will get out and go skiing and snowshoeing. 

And the days start to get longer.  

  

 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 

 Comfort and Joy

Enjoy the countdown to Christmas.

 ♥

Carla 

 

Joy List Monday

 

Joy List Monday

♥ a weekly ritual  ♥

a reminder to stop and pay attention to the beauties and graces that make life magical and to set aside time for gratitude each day

♥ a cozy home ... we had a major cold snap here this weekend ... waking up to -15 degrees .. so thankful we have heat and a warm house to call home

 ♥ watching the birds visiting the bird feeder

 ♥ snow, snow, snow, beautiful white snow twinkling in the sunlight

 ♥ a cup of hot chocolate waiting for me as I come in from a cold walk

 ♥ birthday greetings .. my birthday was 12/12 

 

♥ 

Wishing you a beautiful week full of little things that make you smile. 

 

Snow, snow, snow and it is the Hodgepodge

 

It is going to be a white Christmas. 

Snow, snow, snow, we are getting more snow. 

Now before I go shovel, it is time for the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun! 

 

1. Do you struggle with the commercialization of the holiday season? What helps you keep your focus when the season’s busyness and commercialism start to take over?  

 

I do not struggle with commercialization of the holiday season. We have a Christmas account, and that is what we can spend. We are careful to not go over budget. I would not be honest if I said, sometimes that can be difficult.

We do a daily Advent reading, that really helps keep everything in focus.

 

  2. What's one small thing you want to savor before the year ends? 

 

I want to read a few of our Christmas books that we would read aloud to the boys when they were little. I asked my husband if he would mind if we read a couple of our favorites aloud to each other, he said "that would be fun." 

3. December 9th is National Christmas Card Day. Do you still send Christmas cards? If so does yours include a photo or is it a more traditional card, or maybe homemade? How do you feel about the tradition of exchanging cards at the holidays? If Hanukkah is the holiday you celebrate in December do you send cards to mark the occasion?  

Yes, we still send out Christmas cards. We create a Christmas photo card and I write a newsletter sharing a bit of the year with everyone.

I love receiving Christmas cards and letters. I hope the price of stamps does not make the tradition fade away.

 

4. What's your least favorite holiday related task? What's your favorite?  

It is taking all the decorations down and taking down the Christmas tree.  We wait until after New Year to take it all down, it is just so pretty and I love all the twinkle. 

I love to decorate the Christmas tree. 

 

5. Let's do a little holiday this or that? 

shopping or wrapping  .. wrapping
baking or decorating .. decorating
eggnog or wassail .. eggnog
real tree or artificial .. real tree
turkey or ham .. turkey
white lights or colored lights .. colored lights
ugly sweaters or matching pjs .. matching pj's
peppermint or cinnamon .. peppermint
presents Christmas Eve or presents Christmas Day .. Christmas Day 

 

 

 6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 

 

Darkness Falls

Stars Appear

Evening Angels 

Gather Here

 

Line up for Autographs

 

 

Line up for autographs, no pushing, no worries each will get his or her turn. 

Our Ernie is famous. His photo is featured in the December/January issue of Our Wisconsin Magazine, the photo and caption below made it in the magazine. 

 

 

♥

Carla 

November Rewind

 

November Rewind 

 

 ♥ November sunsets

 

 

♥ the last of the garden harvest, kale and other greens

 

 

 

♥ ice forming on the lakes

 

 

♥ pumpkin scones

 

 

 

♥ sunsets on the river

 

and then the end of November is here and we had our first snow of the season

the last of the seed-heads have their winter caps on 

and we are starting to decorate for Christmas 

 

Happy December and it is the Hodgepodge

 

Our Christmas cactus is starting to deck the halls, we have a lot of buds on our cactus this season, that always makes me smile.

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 does it mean to have the 'holiday spirit'? On a scale of 1-10 how is yours this year? (10=off the charts, 1=still looking for it)

I think having the 'holiday spirit' is different for everyone. For me, I get excited for the first day of Advent. This will be year six that my husband and I do a daily Advent reading together. It brings the season all together for me, I am already at a 10!  

 

2. What's your favorite character from a (December) holiday-themed movie, book, or TV special? Tell us why.  

 I do enjoy the movie Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. I laugh every year at Cousin Eddie and many family jokes have come from that movie. 

 

 3. Do you like gingerbread? Are gingerbread houses part of your holiday tradition? 

 I do like gingerbread. 

We have created gingerbread houses in the past, but it is not on our calendar for this season. 

 

4. Much of our vocabulary is determined by where we live or where we grew up. What say you-

sprinkles or jimmies? lightning bugs or fireflies? soda or pop? sneakers, trainers, or tennis shoes? sub, hoagie, grinder, or hero? freeway, highway, or motorway? frosting or icing? sauce or gravy?

 What say me... from Northern Wisconsin...

sprinkles

lightning bugs

soda

tennis shoes

sub

highway

frosting

gravy

 

 5. Share a favorite holiday memory from your childhood. 

 

My sister and I went over to my grandparents to help my grandma decorate for Christmas. Our grandparents lived just over a mile from our family farm. During the winter we could cross country ski our farm fields to get to their house. 

A note to my dear readers, my grandpa had a glass eye. 

My sister and I were busy helping my grandma decorate for Christmas. We took a break for lunch. We were enjoying chicken soup and crackers. My grandpa had a "splash" in his soup. His glass eye had popped out and landed in his soup!

We laughed and laughed and laughed. 

And of course the saying "there is an eye in my soup became our joke."

 

6.  Insert your own random thought here.   

 

Family traditions are the glue of the generations. 

Making Chex Mix is just one of the Christmas traditions we have here at this house.  

My boys have already asked, Mom will you have this and this at Christmas.

 ♥

 

Thanksgiving Memories

 

 

Hello Friends, 

Thanksgiving was a delicious meal with all the love of family around. It also came with Wisconsin weather, making Thanksgiving travel a story all its own. 

We are blessed that we all were able to make Thanksgiving and once again enjoy family time.

 

 

Taking delight in the little things during our Thanksgiving weekend.

 ♥ a lovely table setting created with love

♥ using tablecloths from past years stitched with love

  

 

♥ enjoying recipes passed down though the years

 ♥ my mom's stuffing

 ♥ homemade cranberry sauce

♥ and pumpkin pie with my mom's homemade crust

 

Happy Thanksgiving and it is the Hodgepodge

 

Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

We will be traveling to visit family this Thanksgiving. I have not seen my sister since last Thanksgiving, it will be a blessing to catch up in person.

 

And now it is time for the Hodgepodge. 

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun! 

 1. Do you feel like you have a 'full plate' at the moment? In what way? 

 

I am feeling good about my commitments I have for the month of December. 

 

2. How did you learn to cook? If you have children did you teach or encourage them to cook? Do you like to follow a recipe or is your cooking style more 'let's wing it'.    

 

 I learned from my mom. Yes, both of our son's enjoyed learning how to cook. Our son Atticus enjoys baking. I do follow a recipe.

 

 3. Last time you bit off more than you could chew? Elaborate. 

 

This usually happens to me while gardening. I will start a project that I think will only take me about an hour. Instead half of the day has gone by and I am still in the thick of it.

 

  4. When did you last say 'the more the merrier' and mean it? 

 

When our son's have others with them for a visit and they did not tell us ahead of time. I am so happy to spend time with them and meet their friends and co workers. 

 

 5. Write an acrostic using the word T-H-A-N-K-S.  

 

Time with family.

Heading back to the family farm.

Apple pie with ice cream.

Nonstop belly laughing at the Thanksgiving table.

  Kitchen clean up, everyone chips in.

Sharing memories from the past.

 

 6. Insert your own random thought here.  

Happy Thanksgiving 

 

Over the river and through the wood,

    To grandfather's house we go;

         The horse knows the way

         To carry the sleigh

    Through the white and drifted snow.

Over the river and through the wood--

    Oh, how the wind does blow!

         It stings the toes

         And bites the nose,

    As over the ground we go.

Over the river and through the wood,

    To have first-rate play.

         Hear the bells ring,

         "Ting-a-ling-ding!"

    Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day!

Over the river and through the wood,

    And straight through the barn-yard gate.

         We seem to go

         Extremely slow--

    It is so hard to wait!

Over the river and through the wood--

    Now grandmother's cap I spy!

         Hurrah for the fun!

         Is the pudding done?

    Hurrah for the pumpkin-pie!

Lydia Maria Child

Over the River and Through the Wood

 

 

Over the river and through the wood,
to Grandfather’s house away!
We would not stop for doll or top,
for ‘tis Thanksgiving Day.

 

Heading home for Thanksgiving. I grew up in Phillips, Wisconsin. I moved away 28 years ago. My parents live 15 miles west of Phillips on our family farm. We visit often. 

A friend of mine recently traveled through my hometown and sent me this photo with the following text. "Carla, this is where you grew up? It is so beautiful!"

And it is. Lakes, rivers, county forest land and more.  

I live where I do now because of my husbands career. I never would have thought to move here, but I am glad I did. I did not think that when my husband said we were moving to Cameron, Wisconsin. I did not want to move away from my hometown. It was hard for me to leave family, friends and what I knew and loved.

 We grew as a couple when we arrived here in Cameron. We had no family close by, no friends and no clue of the community.   We learned. We learned, sometimes very slowly about the new community we live in.  We made friends, who are now treasures. My husband excelled in his career. We raised a family and they have now flew the coop to a new city to learn on their own. We gave back and continue to do so in our community we call home for now. 

 

How about you? Do you live in the community you were born and raised? 

Do you have a desire to move back to your hometown or state?

 

On the Road Friday ~ Confluence of the Chippewa and Red Cedar River

 

 

Hello Friends, it is Friday and it is time to hit the road. Today we are going to visit the shores of the Chippewa River and Red Cedar River. 

 

The Chippewa and Red Cedar rivers meet south of Menomonie,  near the Dunnville State Wildlife Area in Dunn County, Wisconsin. 

The confluence is a significant natural and recreational area, where the Red Cedar River flows into the Chippewa River. It is accessible via the Chippewa River State Trail and Red Cedar State Trail. 

 

 

Do you spy Ernie? He is looking back at the boys. Both Sam and Atticus joined us on this adventure. It was a fun day of rock picking, looking for clams and enjoying the river.

 

 

 We continue to find little trinkets left behind on our hikes.

 

 

 Here is a shrine to Busch Light. 

You never know what you might find or see when you get out and about in Wisconsin.

 ♥

Carla  

Squashed In and It is the Hodgepodge

We like squash. 

 

 

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. Let's do our gratitude question first this week...what's the best thing about your home, and have you taken time to enjoy it lately? 

I love our kitchen, we did a make over of our kitchen in 2022. We put in a gas range. I love, love cooking on gas. Yes, I enjoy it daily.

I also love our south facing windows, especially in the winter months. I sit in the afternoon sun and soak it in.

 

2. Do you like squash? Of the varieties listed, which one's your favorite and how do you like it prepared? Is squash of some sort on your Thanksgiving menu?? 

acorn, butternut, delicata, spaghetti, zucchini, crookneck (yellow squash), patty pan

We love squash. The above photo is a summer squash called Eight Ball, we make a stuffed squash with this variety. I also love using butternut squash to make a squash soup.

My mom hosts Thanksgiving, in years past she has had squash on the menu.

  3. Last time you were 'squashed in' somewhere, or felt squashed? 

We were traveling with family and we had three in the backseat, I was one of the three. Yep, I felt squashed. 

4. Have you ever played squash? What about other 'racquet sports' such as racquetball, tennis, pickleball, badminton, table tennis (ping pong)? Are these sports something you enjoy?  

I have not played squash. 

I have played tennis, pickleball, and badminton.

  Badminton is my favorite to play. 

 5. Something in today's society or culture that feels like a 'racket' to you? If you don't like that one, tell us about a place you've been recently where there was a lot of 'racket'.

I can be a Charlie Brown when it comes to how I see Christmas in our society.

 It all can get to be a little too much. 

 Lucy : Look, Charlie, let's face it. We all know that Christmas is a big commercial racket. It's run by a big eastern syndicate, you know.  

 

 

Charlie Brown: Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?

Linus : Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about.

Linus: Lights, please.

Linus: "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not:"

Linus: "for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'" 

Linus: That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

 

6.  Insert your own random thought here. 

 

Are you getting excited? 

 

 

 

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

 

 

♥ thrifting 

 

 

♥ a big project completed with the help from our son's

we live in "an this old house"  fresh "updated" insulation was needed in the attic 

 

 

 

♥ a visit from Jack Frost

 

 

♥ a kiss of frost on the kale makes it sweeter, we enjoyed a delicious kale salad for dinner

 

 

♥ the last of the leaves fell, we now have bare trees

"As October ends, most of the branches are bare. We see more sky."

Gladys Taber  

 

 

♥ trying new recipes 

 

 

Wishing you a beautiful week full of little things that make you smile.

♥

Carla

 

On the Road Friday ~ Ice Age Trail ~ Bear Lake Segment

 

 

Hello Friends, it is time to hit the road. We are heading to the Ice Age Trail, Bear Lake Segment.

 

 

We are fortunate to live close to many segments of the Ice Age Trail, we have many favorite hikes within the segments. The Bear Lake Segment is one we had not hiked before. We will go back and do more hiking of it in December if it does not snow. 

 

 

We will get started on the hike and see what we might find. 

 

 

We found an apartment complex here I think. Mr and Mrs. Spider live in the top apartment and Mr. and Mrs. Mouse live in the bottom. 

 

 

This area was a bog. I wanted to get a closer photo of the plants growing in the bog, but it was wet, I started to feel I was sinking in, so stepped out of the bog. 

 

We have been finding fun little things during our hikes. You might remember the little dinosaurs we found a few weeks ago. Today we spotted a big ol dragonfly. 

Thank you for coming along with me, for on the road Friday.  

 ♥

Carla

  

Snow Treasure ~ Marie McSwigan

 

Book Review

  Snow Treasure 

Based on actual events, this thrilling story of children's bravery in the face of a powerful enemy has been continuously in print since its first publication in 1942. 

During the German occupation of Norway, the children of the small town of Riswyk set out to save the community's gold from the Nazis who have seized control of the area. Using their sleds, the children smuggle thousands of pounds of gold bullion down a mountain to a waiting ship bound for the United States. In doing so they must pass by the Nazi guards. Day after day the children make their dangerous journey, avoiding detection until one final, daring confrontation with the Nazis.  

 

I enjoyed this book. I do not know as much history about how the war raged across the Scandinavian countries. Reading about how using the skill of cross country skiing to outsmart the enemy and the use of snow was very interesting.