Waving Goodbye to February and it is the Hodgepodge

 

Madison, Wisconsin twinkling at night.

 

Hello Friends,

It is Wednesday!

That means it is time for the Hodgepodge.

Click here to join the fun! 

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

 

1. America celebrates turning 250 years old this year. Primary cities set to lead the celebrations on July 4th are Boston, Philadelphia, New York, and Washington D.C. Other significant locations for celebrating will be Charleston SC and the 'historic triangle' which includes Jamestown-Willimasburg-Yorktown Virginia. 

Of the cities listed how many have you seen in person? Of the cities listed which would you most like to visit this year? Any plans to do so? What's one place in America you think everyone should see? If you're not American what's one place in the US you'd like to see? 

 

 I have visited Boston, Philadelphia and New York.

I would like to visit Washington D.C., nope it is not on the 2026 itinerary.

If you have not visited Wisconsin yet, I would highly recommend it.  Wisconsin is home sweet home for me and most of our family. You can experience all four seasons in one day if you hit your visit just right. Ha ha!

I am sharing photos of our state capitol, Madison. 

 

2. Three sounds you love to hear?  

♥ bird song

 ♥ water in nature

 ♥ the cry of a loon on the lake during a summer evening

 

 3. Three sounds you hate to hear? 

▼ loud vehicles 

▼   fighting

 ▼ hail

 

 4. February 24th is/was National Tortilla Chip Day. Are you a fan? With salsa, guacamole, queso, or just plain please? Do you like nachos? With what on top? Is there anything (besides nachos) you make that calls for tortilla chips? 

 I am a superfan!

I love tortilla chips with salsa, guacomole, queso and plain. 

I love nachos. 

We like everything on top.  

 

 Another thing we make that we like to eat tortilla chips with is taco soup.

 

 

5. We March into March with next week's Hodgepodge...what's one thing on your March calendar that makes you smile? 

We have two music events we are going to attend in the month of March.  

 

 6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 The promise of spring! 

 

We Made it to Seven

 

 

Valentine's Day 2026 was Episode 7 of 52ish Day Datn'. 

We headed to our favorite beach, Wisconsin Point along the shores of Lake Superior. Wisconsin's winter has been cold, cold, cold, I know I have mentioned that a few too many times here, but I have to share it again as you look out at Lake Superior you see a frozen shore, you get the idea of what the days and days of negative temperatures can do. This was the first time that we have visited and the water way out on the lake was frozen.

 

 

 If you look close you will see a man walking out on the ice of Lake Superior to go fishing. It was very foggy on our Valentine day visit to Lake Superior, making for some unique photos.

 

 

 

The storms on Lake Superior can become very strong, making for high waves. You can see in this photo how the power of the water pushed this beach sand up on the boardwalk.

 

 

Our pal Ernie came along with us too. He loves visiting the beach.

 

 

After our hike on the beach, we visited Anchor Bar, Superior, Wisconsin.

My husband had wanted to visit for awhile, but it is a busy place. The other times we planned to stop in there was a line outside. This time we were able to get two seats at the bar. They have a simple menu, burgers, all kinds of toppings for your burger and fresh cut fries.

Lake Superior memorabilia to look at throughout the bar.  

Work Like A Captain

Play Like A Pirate

 

 

Our next stop was to find a ski resort for our son's.

The ski resort  is located in Wisconsin, but you have to drive into Minnesota to get on the road that leads you back into Wisconsin to get to the ski resort.  

 

 

 

I wanted to take a peek at the St. Louis River, the river that gives Wisconsin and Minnesota the up north border.

 Time to head back to home sweet home.

It was a fun adventure. 

 

Emeralds, Ruby, Sapphire and it is The Hodgepodge

 

 

My husband and I enjoy visiting historic church buildings. Some are no longer churches but the beauty of all the workmanship in the building is still visible.

 

It is Wednesday and it is time for the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions. 

We answer the questions.

 

1. The Hodgepodge lands on Ash Wednesday, which is the first day of Lent. Do you mark this season in some way? Will you be giving something up or adding something to your life in this Lenten season?  

 

Yes, we do mark this season, we will be starting a study .. Pray 40:The Return.

We add something to our life during the Lenten season. 

"Empty me, fill me, use me." 

 

 

 

 2. Pancakes...are you a fan? Syrup or no syrup? Plain, blueberries, chocolate chips, bananas, or some other add in? Are pancakes on your menu this week? 

 I am a fan of pancakes.

 Oh yes to real Wisconsin maple syrup, that we make from our two maple trees.

 

Maple Syrup days are just in a few weeks. It will be time to tap the trees and get ready for Wisconsin's first crop.

 

I love blueberry pancakes.

No, pancakes are not on the menu for this week.

 

3. Tell us about a time recently when you felt 'spread too thin'.  

It usually happens when the calendar starts to get too full. I have tried to be more disciplined about not allowing this to happen, because it never turns out well for anyone.

 

 4. What's your favorite jewel or gemstone? In terms of your wardrobe would we find more gem tones, pastels, black and white, or primary colors? 

Emeralds are my favorite, my wedding ring is an emerald with two diamonds.

My wardrobe is a lot of blue, blue and more blue. I love the color blue.

 

5. What responsibility do you think is hardest about being in charge?  

 

I am going to go with financial. I am going to use my husband as the example here. He is the treasurer for our local sportsman's club. There is a lot to it. Taxes, gaming license (they have raffles) liquor license, insurance, bills and more bills. 

When the club has its pancake breakfast in the summer, more responsibility for the treasure with all the raffle ticket money, prizes and more.

 

 6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 

 The Lent challenge our family is taking is going through the novel The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky. 

I am looking forward to this Lenten season. 

 

  

 

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

 ♥ winter thaw ~ we had beautiful temperatures this past week

 ♥ time out on the trails with Ernie ~ after weeks of extreme cold weather it feels great to get back outside

 ♥ sunshine and more sunshine

 ♥ creating a new snack ~ rice cake with peanut butter, sliced banana, sprinkle some cinnamon and sugar on top

 

 Episode #6 of 52sih

Our winter weather has been cold, cold, cold, making getting out for a good hike difficult. We enjoyed the start of a winter thaw with an evening hike. 

 

 

Rockman's Woods Ski & Snowshoe Trail

We are blessed to have this lighted trail close to us. It makes for fun evening walks on warm winter nights. 

 

 

A kiss as the sun starts to say goodnight.

 

 

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

 ♥

Carla 

Happy Valentine's Day Hodgepodge

 

A beautiful rose I spied during a garden tour we took last summer.

 

 

Happy Valentine's Day 

It is time for the Hodgepodge!

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun! 

 

 1. What's something recent that had you 'tickled pink'? 

 Our son's are planning to join us in our Lent study. We are doing an online study, so this works out to do with our son's. They do not live close by, and we can all do it at our own time, but we will be able to leave a note on what we thought or learned from that day's study.

 

 2. A bed of roses, everything's coming up roses, every rose has it's thorn, stop and smell the roses, rose-colored glasses, a rose among thorns...which rosy expression might currently be applied to your life in some way? 

Stop and smell the roses ... my husband and I had a VERY busy 2025. In 2025 I wanted to try to do something 'fun'  ~ ' a date'  once a month. But we had some big changes happen in May and we did not make our goal of doing something each month. 

So my big idea for 2026... lets try to do a date once a week. I am calling it 52ish dates.

So far we are off to a good start. 

 

 3. What makes you feel loved and appreciated? 

Taking time to do something together. I would rather spend time with my loved ones than receive physical gifts.

  4. A box of chocolates or a bouquet of fresh flowers-what's your pleasure? Any special plans for Valentine's Day? 

Flowers from my garden.

 

 Flowers, flowers, flowers! 

Valentine's Day plans, we are going to go for a drive to Lake Superior, hitting the beach.

 Ha Ha! 

We will walk the beach along Wisconsin Point in our winter jackets, but I find Lake Superior amazing all year long. We plan to go for dinner. 

 5. Share a favorite quote, scripture, or song lyric relating to love. 

The love in your heart wasn't put there to stay, love isn't love, till it's given away.

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

I love to find hearts in nature.

I am sharing some of the hearts I have found over the years.

Let me know if you have a favorite. 

 ♥

 ♥ potato harvested from the garden.

 

  

January Rewind & Episodes 4 - 5

January Rewind 

I am going to share a few highlights from January and Episodes 4 - 5 from our 52ish weeks.

Birthday Pie

My husband celebrated a birthday in January. I made him a pecan pie, without using corn syrup.  This recipe is a little more time consuming than using corn syrup, but it is so good. The secret ingredient is bourbon. 

 

 January has been brisk, but we have been brave and got out and about a few times for walks along the river.

 

I have been receiving cribbage lessons from my husband. So far I have not won a game. Hmmm.. should I start to wonder about my instructor? 

Ha! 

Texas Grapefruit in season at the market. I like to sprinkle powder sugar on my grapefruit.

 

Episode # 4 of 52ish weeks

We hiked along the Red Cedar river. It was snowing lightly during our hike. 

As we walked all of a sudden this mouse came out from under a tree, he came right up to us. We had Ernie with us too, so I was in shock how this fella actually posed for a photo. Our dog Ernie was in shock as well, he did not even bark.  

What are you people doing out in this weather?

 

Episode #5

We had different plans for our day datn' but the weather did not want to cooperate.

 Plan B it was with movie night.

My husband makes the best popcorn. 

 

Episode# 3 North Country Cheese Store

 

Hello Friends, it is time for 52 Weeks ~ Episode #3.

We went for a drive to visit one of our favorite cheese stores, North Country Cheese.

 

We stocked up on cheese. And we picked up some flavored cheese curds too, tomato basil cheese curds.

♥