Where We Left Off

 

Where we left off was episode 11 of the 52ish Day Datn' ... 

so here we go with episode 12.

Episode 12

We attended a choral concert at a local church. It was a beautiful evening enjoying local musical talent.

We captured a photo of one of the beautiful stained glass windows as we left the concert.

Episode 13 

Episode 13 started with a walk along the Red Cedar River. It was a beautiful spring afternoon. 

 

 

We returned home from our walk along the river and started in on the kitchen dance.

We worked together making dinner.

We made a Dubliner

&

Fresh Roasted Pepper Tomato Soup 

Not Wisconsin Cheese ... but oh so good!

 

We finished this day date with our favorite ice cream.

His & Hers

I am the Mint Chocolate Chip and he is the Really Reese's.  

 

 Episode #14

On the road we went for this Day Datn' trip.

We headed to Colfax, Wisconsin to explore another section of the Red Cedar River.

Red Cedar Preserve and Recreation Area

 

We enjoyed a two mile hike along the banks of the Red Cedar River. We saw several ducks, geese and swans. We enjoyed the area and we know we will be coming back to do this hike again in all the seasons.

 

 We decided to drive into the community of Colfax before heading for home. We are glad we did. We found more places we want to explore. I have a feeling Colfax will be another episode of 52ish Day Datn'.

To be continued.... 

April Showers Bring May Flowers and it is the Hodgepodge

 

 

It won't be long now, spring is here.

 

It is time for the Hodgepodge. 

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun! 

 

 1. Big week in the US of A...do you do your own taxes? What's something you've found 'taxing' lately? 

We take our taxes in to be done.

Having patience with our USPS, we are not receiving our mail daily. I think our post office might be short staffed.  I have chatted with neighbors who are experiencing the same difficulty. 

Rumor has it that stamps are going up to $1.00 at a post office near you, very soon! 

 2. When it comes to travel are you a last minute packer or a lay it all out a week in advance type? Do you struggle to pack light? Share a packing tip that has worked for you. 

I am a little of both. I will set aside some clothing items I know I will want to wear on the trip early. It is our Wisconsin weather that keeps me from packing light. We can have all four seasons in a day. I need to pack it all, especially if we are going to be doing a lot of outdoor activities. 

I purchased a fantastic bag for all our toiletries. Everything has a home, just as long as we put it back in that same spot. Ha Ha.

 3. April is National Grilled Cheese Month. Hmmm...who knew it got its own month? Do you like a grilled cheese sandwich? What ingredient do you add to take yours to the next level? 

Oh yes, I love grilled cheese. One of my favorite ways to make a grilled cheese the next level is using sourdough bread and a fresh slice of tomato.

 

4. There's a well known quote that says-

'A ship in the harbor is safe, but that's not what ships are built for." John A. Shedd  

Is constant growth necessary or do you think it's more important to prioritize stability and peace in your life? 

  Long time readers here at The River will remember my garden mentor and dear friend Marv. Marv was a Korean War Veteran, lost two wives to cancer and dealt with many memories from the war. 

He was still driving to Texas each winter up to the young age of 90.

His advice to me during our long visits was... "always be learning Carla. Never stop learning, exploring new places and trying new things." 

He begged me to promise I would travel to Newfoundland and Labrador someday, it was his favorite. 

The below photo is from 2019, when our military son was home after training. 

 

 

5. Let's wrap this up with a fun spring this or that-

• daffodils or tulips  ...  daffodils
• lemonade or iced tea ... ice tea
• gardening or hiking ... gardening 
• ladybugs or butterflies ... butterflies
• umbrella or raincoat ... raincoat
• floral patterns or polka dots ... polka dots 
•  
•  6. Insert your own random thought here. 
• I have no idea why my #5 is showing up like it is today on the blog. I best say good bye before this entire post vanishes, yes that has happened to me.  Ha!  

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

 

♥ buds on the trees

 ♥ morning bird song

 ♥ early spring flowers

  ♥ chocolate ice cream

♥ cozy socks

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

  ♥

Carla 

 

Roll out the Barrel and it is the Hodgepodge

 

Hello Friends,

It is Wednesday and that means it is time for the Hodgepodge! 

  April 7th is National Beer Day

We have a question about beer in the Hodgepodge today. I am sharing photos above of a past Mother's Day with our boys at Leinenkugel's.

Alright, roll on with the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun! 

 

 1. Egg on your face, putting all your eggs in one basket, a good egg, walk on eggshells, nest egg, or a tough egg to crack...which eggy idiom currently applies to your life in some way? Explain

I am going to go with "a good egg" ... my PT guy encouraged me to try an eight week exercise program to help me gain some strength that I have lost. It is called Slow Burn. I was a good egg and signed up for the class. 

2. April 7th is National Beer Day...are you a beer drinker? If so do you have a favorite? Beer battered fish, beer bread, beer can chicken, beer brats...which one sounds good to you? Have you made any of these?  

I do enjoy a beer every once in awhile. My husband enjoys Leinenkugel's.  I will say the Leinenkugel's Juicy Peach is very refreshing on a hot summer's day.

I like beer battered fish, beer can chicken and beer brats. 

My husband will grill me a beer can chicken every year. 

Grill season will start this week in our neck of the woods, I cannot wait.

 

 3. Do you have siblings? What's the best thing about being your sibling? If you don't have siblings, what would you say are the pros and cons of being an only child? 

 

 I have a younger sister. It is great to have family you can count on when in time of need.

 

 4. How do you feel about floral scents in products? Do you have a favorite?

I like lavender. I have a lavender lotion that I love to use in the evening when getting ready for bed.

  5. What's one thing in your home that begins with the letter G that you would say is a keeper, something you'll hold on to? Tell us why. 

Our grill ... can you tell I am getting excited for grilling season. We do not grill year around. When the grill comes back out on the deck, it is like opening day of baseball around here. 

My husband does all the grilling. He uses a charcoal grill. He is a master with charcoal. It has been fun to watch how he has taught our son's to use a charcoal grill.

 6. Insert your own random thought here. 

2026 Easter Cake

Chocolate cake with chocolate frosting.

A little bird nest in the middle with robin eggs.  

Happy Easter! 

 

 

  

Cook Down Day

 

Hello Friends,

We have finished up our collecting and cooking down of the maple sap into syrup. I thought I would show you in photos the process. Do remember this is a fun hobby for my husband, there are more professional / high tech ways of doing this. He enjoys collecting the sap from our two trees for fun and does it the old fashioned way.

 It is a fun way to welcome in spring.

He will tap the tree, as you see in the above photo.

The sap is collected in the bags. 

 

 Once we have enough sap for cooking down, my husband starts the process outside. You slowly cook down the sap until it starts to sugar up and makes syrup.

 

 

My husband brings in the sap and finishes it off in the house. He can watch it close with a candy thermometer. 

I help him put it in jars and we give it a quick hot water bath to seal the lids of the jars. 

The finished product, fresh Wisconsin maple syrup from our backyard. 

We celebrate with a fresh maple syrup sundae. 

 

Happy Easter Week and it is the Hodgepodge

 

A little craft project. Using Mod Podge creating fun Easter eggs out of old sheet music. Using the old sheet music, colored paper and silk flowers to create butterflies to add to a spring basket.

 

Happy Easter Week my friends and it is the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun! 

 

 1. March is rolling on out of here. Sum up your March in ten words or less. 

March weather added excitement to an already full calendar.  

 2. Are you afraid of heights? When was the last time you found yourself dealing with a height, and did it make you nervous?

I am not.

Below is a photo of Sears Tower ~ Chicago, Illinois ~ my sister and I had a fun adventure in the city and we had great fun exploring Sears Tower.  

  3. What's a word you struggle to spell on a regular basis, and sometimes need to double check before writing it down? Use the word in a sentence that tells us something about your April calendar.

Miracle  

Oh this word gives me trouble. 

We will be celebrating our first son's birthday in April. It was a true miracle and blessing when he arrived in this big world. It was a difficult time getting him to come on out into the world, a difficult labor indeed. Ha!

Fast forward today, he is a leader to several other young men and women. 

He sends me photos of his deployments and trainings. 

In this one he simply said, "Hi Mom"

 

 Happy April Birthday Sam!

 

 4. Love 'em or hate 'em, with Easter comes the sweet treat known as Peeps. So... do you love 'em or hate 'em? Speaking of peeps, what's your favorite way to have chicken? 

No, I am not a  fan. 

I have used them for decorating my Easter cakes.

I love grilled chicken breasts. My husband makes up his secret sauce, he soaks the breasts in the sauce overnight before grilling. 

 

5. This week's Hodgepodge lands on the first day of April, which happens to be National Poetry Month. Do you like poetry?  Share a favorite line or two from one of your favorite poems. What makes this one a favorite?  

  I do like poetry.

In Flanders Fields ~ John McCrae

 

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

    Loved and were loved, and now we lie,

        In Flanders fields.

 

It is a powerful poem. 

It is a favorite because my dad memorized this poem in grade school. My dad did not like school and I have many stories about his shenanigans as a school boy.  He did work hard to memorize In Flanders Fields as a young boy, even though he did not like school, that makes it even more special to me.

 

 6. Insert your own random thought here.  

 

Please join me in praying for our troops.

 ♥

 

 

This and That

 Hello Friends,

A little bit of this and that coming up in photos ....

 

We received a surprise package from a family member who lives far away. Look at all the fun stamps on that package.

 

Cake!

We had family over for dinner. I made a 'celebrating late' birthday cake for my husband for our dessert. 

 

Quiche... oh I do enjoy quiche.

 

 

Thinking spring and starting seeds. 

 

 

We got caught in a pop up snow squall.

 

 

It is sap time!

 

 

 We will cook down the sap into delicious maple syrup.

 

 

And someone would like a belly rub!

 ♥

Carla
 

Hello Spring and it is the Hodgepodge

 

Spring in Wisconsin!

 

Hello Spring 

and

  it is the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun! 

 1. It's officially spring in the northern hemisphere. Does it feel like spring in your part of the world? If you're in the southern hemisphere it's officially autumn where you live. Does the weather say autumn? Which do you prefer-spring or autumn? Why? 

 It is feeling like spring in Wisconsin. The snow is melting. The ground is thawing. The robins, red winged blackbird and sandhill cranes have arrived for the spring/summer season. Maple syrup is being made. Buds are popping on the trees.

I prefer spring. The warm sun on my face and new growth makes my heart sing. 
 

2. What's your favorite thing about spring?  

 Spring is when you feel like whistling, even with a shoe full of slush.
— Doug Larson

I love getting back out into the garden.

  3. Spring into action, spring in your step, spring to life, spring to one's feet...which spring idiom currently applies to your life in some way? Explain.  

Spring in my step ... I am starting seeds and planning our 2026 garden.

4. Which spring food from this list is your favorite? What's a dish you like that includes your favorite spring ingredient? 

asparagus, strawberries, salad greens like mesclun, artichokes, spinach, eggs, peas, spring onions

 I love asparagus.

I am looking forward to making Asparagus Tart. 

 

  5. What's one task on your spring cleaning list? Do you actually have a list? 

Cleaning the yard and gardens. After all our winter storms we have tree branches, pine cones, twigs and more to clean up. I will start to clean my garden beds. We will clean the deck and set up the outdoor furniture. 

Yes, we have a checklist of the chores that need doing.

 6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Some of our outdoor furniture is cleaned and set up. And I brought out a few of my potted plants I winter over in the garage. They are happy to feel the sun.

 

  

We Left Off at Seven

 

 

Hello Friends,

For those of you following along with me on our 52 day datn', I left you at  Episode #7.

Now to continue... 

Episode #8

 I had a time consuming recipe I wanted to try. I thought this would be a fun day date. My husband and I both enjoy cooking.

Copycat Panda Express Orange Chicken

We worked together to make our dinner. We listened to a favorite podcast while we cooked and cleaned up the kitchen.

We have a small kitchen so there was a lot of us doing the kitchen dance as well. 

 

 

That brings us to Episode #9

One of our friends helped with this event last year. We wanted to give support and attend.  It was a cold and windy night. When we opened the church doors a few of the decorations blew right on over. 

 

 Our Lady of the Lourdes

Station of the Cross ~ led by children

The children did an amazing job.  

 

 

Episode #10

 We decided to cook a new recipe together.

Garlic and Ginger Shrimp 

 

 We enjoyed cooking and cleaning up the kitchen together, and did a lot more kitchen dancing.

 Episode #11

 We enjoyed an evening of Lenten word and song.

We have friends and family who have loved ones currently in active duty in the war zone. This evening of prayer gave a feeling of love and peace.

After the program we received the following Lenten treat.

 

 I will leave you at Episode #11 ... to be continued.

Top of the Morning to You and it is the Hodgepodge

 

Sweet Peas

Sweet pea seeds are soaking to be started early in the windowsill.  

We are still thinking spring here in Wisconsin. 

It is time for the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions. 

Click here to join the fun! 

 

1. St. Patrick's Day lands on March 17th. Do you believe in luck? Are there things you do thinking they'll  bring good luck or  things you avoid because they're considered bad luck? 

 I will say "we were lucky" as I watch my husband maneuver our car before the car next to us just about side swipes us. 

I think it is fun to read about lore of luck and playing along.

Horseshoes, rabbits feet, finding a penny, knocking on wood ... I have played along with all of these.

 2. Forest-lime-sage-mint-olive-emerald...what's your favorite shade of green? 

 Spring Green 

I love when the trees start to leaf out, the spring wildflowers are popping up along with the fresh green in the woods. 

3. In Ireland the meal on this day is often a hearty beef or lamb stew served with colcannon (mashed potato mixed with cabbage and leeks). In the US corned beef and cabbage is the more typical St. Patty's Day meal. Will you/did you mark the day with one of these dishes? Baked-fried-roasted-mashed...what's your favorite way to eat a potato?

We made our St. Patrick's Day meal on Sunday. A blizzard was roaring outside. Inside we had our corned beef, cabbage, mashed potatoes and carrots. 

I am a big fan of potatoes.  If I could only take one way of having a potato with me I would pick mashed potatoes. 

 4. What color of the rainbow best represents your personality/mood today? Tell us why.

 Yellow: Happiness, sunlight, and positivity.

I continue to do my best to spread happiness. If that is with a smile, a card in the mail, or a fresh bouquet. 

I love sunshine! I am known to shout and dance when it comes out after many dark days.

I try to stay positive, even though so much is spinning around me.

 

5. Which 'lucky' quote resonates with you. Elaborate. 

 'Luck is not something you can mention in the presence of self-made men.' E.B. White 

'Diligence is the mother of good luck." Benjamin Franklin 

'Luck is where opportunity meets preparation.' Seneca 

'Shallow men believe in luck. Strong men believe in cause and effect.' 

Ralph Waldo Emerson 

 

I am going to pick the following.. 

 

 'Diligence is the mother of good luck' Benjamin Franklin

 

   When someone works with focus, care, and consistency, good results often follow. Diligent people prepare well, learn from mistakes, and do not give up easily. Because of this, they are ready when opportunities appear. What looks like 'luck' to others is often the reward of steady effort. This quote teaches an important life lesson: instead of waiting for luck, we should build it through dedication and discipline. By being diligent in our studies, work, or goals, we increase our chances of success and create our own good fortune.

I do not give up easily. I feel I have learned from my mistakes. As I continue to try, eventually a reward is there.

 

  6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I am starting to think about our 2026 Easter Cake, I am sharing a few photos from past Easter cakes.