This and That

 

Hello Friends,

A bit of this and that today to catch up a bit from the month of August.

Fresh salads for dinner have been what is on the menu a many a night. It is great to go out and pick your meal in the backyard, lettuce, cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes.

 

Finding white sweet corn at the farmers market. We usually only find the bi color sweet corn. Another favorite is all yellow sweet corn. 

Do you have a favorite sweet corn? 

 

Speaking of sweet corn.. how do you like to eat yours? Butter and salt?

 

Dark was setting in early this particular evening. I decided to light the candles for dinner. I started to smell something burning. My candles were just close enough to burn the flowers in the bouquet I made. OPE!

 

We met our boys for fish fry at a place along the Chippewa River. We had to wait for our table, we enjoyed the setting sun and river as we waited.

 

 

Wisconsin Cotton Year Two

 

 My friend L gifted me cotton seed last year. I wrote a post about it 2025 Cotton in case you want to read the birth of Wisconsin cotton. 

Well that cotton grew, but did not form its pods until late in the year. I brought the plant inside for the winter. Two cotton bolls were harvested. 

The plant wintered well, so this spring I potted on the plant into a larger pot.

Thanks to our hot and humid summer. I am going to have a bumper crop of Wisconsin cotton this year. 

 

Cotton flowers... as the flower matured it changed color.

 

 

Cotton pods are forming. 

 

 

More cotton pods.

 

 

Before the pod, came the flower. The flower started out yellow/white. 

 

 

 

Year two of the cotton plant.

 

The below photos are from the start of the cotton plant in 2025. 

 

 

 

A Morning Glory Hodgepodge

 

It never fails, the last week of August the morning glories will start to bloom.

 

Happy September Friends and now it is time for the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun! 

 

 1. What's something you wanted to do this summer that you never got around to doing? 

 

My husband and I wanted to go on a canoe trip on the Red Cedar River.  We have our route planned out for the day trip, including the place we plan to eat after.

 It will have to wait until next year.

 

 

 2. Were you the student who sat in the front row or hid in the back of the class? If you could go back and take one high school class again just for fun, which would it be? 

 

We had assigned seats in my school district growing up. I never had a choice. Although I did get moved a few times after the teacher found out they had placed me by a friend and we would not stop talking. Hee Hee!

I loved Biology, sign me up. 

 

 3. What characteristics do you think are essential in a good teacher (this can be applied to anyone who teaches, not just classroom teachers)? 

 

A teacher who can understand that we are not all cut from the same cookie cutter.

Boys will be boys. As a mom to boys, boys learn differently than girls. And that is the same with girls. If a teacher can TRULY understand that.. High Fives!

 

  4.  September 2nd is National Grits Day. Have you ever eaten grits? Are you a fan? If so how do you like yours? Would people describe you as 'having grit'? 

  

I have not eaten grits. But I just clipped a recipe out calling for them. The question is will I make the recipe. 

 

 5. What's something you're never too old or too young to enjoy? 

 

Lake Superior

 

This past weekend we were with several people who had never visited Lake Superior. They were in awe. She is mighty and beautiful.

 

 

 

  6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 

Happy Morning Glory Day to You! 

 

In a Homemade Happy Life

 

Stuffed Squash

Hello Friends,

Not sure I want to heat up the kitchen, we currently are at 90 degrees as I write this on the last day of August. I am ready for a cold north wind and the comfort foods that autumn brings.  

Taco Soup

 

Nachos

 

I open the door to the oven - warmed kitchen and smell my childhood ... a happy homemade happy life!

 

Wishing you a beautiful September. 

Can you believe I just wrote September? 

 

 

 

 

Late Summer Greetings and the Hodgepodge

 

The garden is full of late summer color.

 Peppers and tomato are ripening.

 

 And now for the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun! 

 1. How do you feel about the transition from lazy summer days to a busier fall routine?

 

 It is the opposite for me. My summer is far from lazy because of my work in the garden and my flowers. Once the evenings start to creep in earlier and the north wind starts to bring cold autumn air my cozy time will start.

 

 2. Your favorite cookie? 

 

Chocolate chip!! 

 

 3. What's something you've learned from a culture different than your own? 

 

2006 I went on a missions trip to Ukraine.  I learned many things while I was there. I worked at an orphanage. One of the things that stood out to me was the pride, the pride these street kids had for Ukraine. We had a big party on our last evening at the orphanage. We did face painting. They all wanted the Ukraine flag painted on them. I ran out of blue and yellow face paint.

What I learned from a culture different than my own, pride for Ukraine starts at a very young age and runs deep. 

 

4. Food critic, film critic, book critic, art critic...which hat would you most like to wear? Tell us why.

 

Food critic ... I love to try new recipes.

Recipes using new to me herbs, spices and more. 

YUM!  

 

 5. What's a small, random thing from your childhood that you still remember clearly? 

 

Our grandpa and grandma had a candy jar right by the door. We could take as much candy as we wanted. 

 

  6. Insert your own random thought here.  

 

She was found on the street. She was full of lice, dirty and hungry.

We poured out as much love as we could in the time we worked at the orphanage the summer of 2006. 

Every now and then I wonder how these children are doing today.  

 

 

Some Inspiration

 

 

Several of my blog buddies and friends are going through some difficult times right now. I had my own hiccup a few weeks ago and my friend L sent me the following poem for inspiration.

I am sharing it with you all today.

 ♥

 

"It is said that before entering the sea a river trembles with fear.

  She looks back at the path she has traveled from the peaks of the mountains, the long winding road crossing forests and villages.

 And in front of her, she sees an ocean so vast, that to enter there seems nothing more than to disappear forever. 

But there is no other way. The river can not go back.

Nobody can go back. To go back is impossible in existence.

The river needs to take the risk of entering the ocean because only then will fear disappear, because that's where the river will know it's not about disappearing into the ocean, but of becoming the ocean."

"Fear" 

by Kahil Gibran

 

 

Ice Cream and the Hodgepodge

 

Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream

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. August 19th is National Aviation Day...do you like to fly? Last time you were on an airplane? The date is chosen in honor of the history and development of aviation, and celebrated on the birthday of Orville Wright. Have you ever been to the Kitty Hawk area of North Carolina? The city of Dayton in Ohio (their birthplace)

No, I do not like to fly.

My last flight was long, long ago in 2011. 

No, I have not visited Kitty Hawk, North Carolina or Dayton, Ohio.

 2. In what area of your life do you tend to 'wing it'? Is this an area you should be winging?  

Fishing!! I really do not know what I am doing when I go fishing. I do have fun with my son Atticus when I go with him. We usually have some sort of added adventure of me getting my line tangled in a tree.

Yay, I am alright that I am winging it, I am having fun and that is what is important.

The photos below are from a fishing adventure with Atticus a few years ago. 

  

 

 

3. A favorite book, song, or movie that relates to flight in some way?   

Top Gun

" I feel the need, the need for speed."  

 

4. Soft serve, gelato, sherbet, frozen yogurt, or good old fashioned ice cream...what's your pleasure? Your favorite flavor? How often do you indulge?  

 I love my homemade ice cream.

My second favorite is Culver's ice cream.

Mint Chocolate Chip is my favorite.

We sometimes can go on an ice cream high, we have it often. Then all of a sudden we do not have it all that much. That usually happens during the cold Wisconsin winter.

 

 5. I never get tired of______________________. 

Flowers!! 

 

 6. Insert your own random thought here. 

We just returned from our summer bash on the farm. We had a great time visiting with family, eating good food, campfires at night, star gazing and laughs!!

Lots of belly laughs.

Yes, I went fishing with my son Atticus. An adventure it was indeed as I proceeded to get my line tangled in a tree, slid down the river bank and landed in the water.  And to top it off, I did catch a fish!!!  High Fives to Mom. 

Atticus caught more fish than I did. But you probably already guessed that. 

♥ 

 

Farmer Market

 

 

We stopped by our local farmer market to pick up some goodness we do not grow or we are still waiting to ripen for harvest. 

 

 

Ground cherries, do you like them? In the photo they are the things you see that have what look like paper on them. You pop them out of the paper husk and you eat a sweet surprise. 

 

 

We do not grow sweet corn. This year we needed to freeze corn. We have a farm just down the road from our village that has sweet corn for sale. And it is delicious.

Do you have a favorite goody you like to get at the farmer market?

 

 

Dreaming of Sailing and it is the Hodgepodge

 

Hello Friends!! 

It is Wednesday, that means it is time for the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun! 

 

 1. I saw a meme on Instagram that went like this-'The movie Dirty Dancing came out in 1987 and was set in 1963, so if remade in 2026 it would be set in 2002. Now I need a little lie down in a dark room for a while." 

Time is crazy isn't it? So...what were you up to in the year 2002? 

 

 I was a busy mom, with a two year old and a new born baby.

 

 2. "Me? I'm scared of everything..." What's something that scares you that you'd like to try anyway? 

 

I would like to learn how to sail. 

Never fear Carla you can do it ....

 

 ▲ learn how to read the wind

 ▲ steer the boat

 ▲ setting the sails

▲ basic navigation

 ▲ how to tie knots

 

 

 

3. Watermelon-yay or nay? Which melon is your favorite-watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew. Of the watermelon food/beverages listed which would you say yes to...

watermelon salsa~watermelon feta salad~watermelon sorbet~

a watermelon Jolly Rancher~a watermelon margarita 

 Yay for watermelon.

Cantaloupe is my favorite.

Watermelon salsa.

 4. August 12th is National Middle Child Day. Are you a middle child? If not, where do you fall in the birth order in your family of origin? Do you think this has influenced your personality? Elaborate. 

I am not a middle child.

I am the oldest.

Yes, I think so, according to the Birth Order Theory, the first born may have a deep sense of responsibility. And I definitely have a deep sense of responsibility. 

  5. Would you rather talk to everyone at a crowded party for a short time, or have a significant conversation with two people? Explain. 

I would enjoy a significant conversation with two people. 

I am not really into small talk. I like to learn about people, so I would want to spend time doing just that by having a significant conversation.

  6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Happy Late Summer!! 

 

Ode to August

 

 

Hello Friends,

Our days have been full of sunshine and no rain. It is getting very dry here and that is expected for August in our neck of the woods. The cicada's are signing and the butterflies are dancing during the day. And in the evening the crickets sing and the lighting bugs dance.

 During our walk last week we came upon a walking stick. We have not seen one in years. It was fun to stop and watch it walk.

 

 

Hello Mr. Walking Stick 

 

We are in full bloom.

 

Our grapes are turning purple. It soon will be harvest time.

 

 

Looking up at more grapes.

 

 

I have started to collect seeds.

The seeds below are of the pink poppy. 

 

 

The pink poppy.

 

We are still eating strawberries. My netting idea is working. You cannot see the netting very well in the photo, but I have netting on stakes, held down with the pots. This is keeping birds, chipmunk and squirrel out from stealing our strawberries.

 

 

We are still dealing with these guys. Thankfully they do not eat the vegetables or fruit.

Wishing you a fun filled August. We have a busy month ahead enjoying the warm summer days and cool summer nights. 

 ♥

Carla 

Hello August and it is the Hodgepodge

 

August Sunset

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 on your August calendar you're looking forward to? Or dreading if that's easier to answer. 

 We will be having our big family summer party in August. Our family will meet up at the family farm. We will have good eats, time on the water, time on the trails, time playing games and time together.

2. August 5th is National Oyster Day...do you partake? How do you feel about pearls?  

 No, I will not be taking in National Oyster Day.

As far as pearls, oh yes, I do like pearls. My parents gifted me a lovely pearl necklace and earrings a few years ago.

 3. Tell us about a time when you felt like 'the world was your oyster'. 

I feel that way when I plan the garden for the new season. I can play! I can pick out new plants to me, old favorites, switch things or keep them the same.

  

4. Trip Advisor lists seven islands in the US that require no passport (for US citizens). If you're answering today from outside the US you'll still need to produce yours. An-y-way, have you been to any of the seven? Let's pretend you get an all expense paid trip to one this month...which one do you choose and why? 

Catalina Island California~Martha's Vineyard Massachusetts~Mackinac Island Michigan~Key West Florida~South Padre Island Texas~or Kauai Hawaii

I have not been to any on the list.

I will choose Mackinac Island Michigan. I had a friend visit and enjoyed it. Her trip sounded very romantic. 

  

5. Sylvia Plath is credited with the following- 

"August rain: the best of the summer gone, and the new fall not yet born. The odd uneven time."

Agree or disagree? In other words, how do you feel about this month? 

I agree. We can feel Autumn in the air here in Wisconsin by mid August for sure. As far as how I feel about August, I LOVE this month. It is my second favorite month of the year. 

  6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Another August Sunset 

 

 

On The Road ~ Brunet State Park

 

 

Episode #31 of our Day Date's was to Brunet State Park. We enjoyed a beautiful bottle up summers day. Brunet State Park is one of our favorites. 

Ernie enjoyed the hike too. 

 

 

We enjoyed low humidity, a gentle summer breeze and no bugs. Making a great day to hike in the woods. We saw three fawns and their momma. An Osprey caught a fish along the river and we witnessed it!

 

 

I could never in a hundred summers get tired of this.

 

 

I seek quiet joys. 

John Clare 

 

 

We enjoyed our day out. On the way home we stopped in at a farmers market. We picked up some fresh blueberries, a gift for a friend and a big tomato.