Halloween Decorations 2020

 

 

Happy Halloween Friends,

I decorated our home for Halloween on Saturday. 

My mom has gifted me several of my Halloween decorations. She loves ceramics, my sister  and I are the lucky ones to receive her beautiful accomplishments as gifts.

 

 

I love the smile on this Halloween Cat!

 

 

 A Happy Jack o Lantern.

 

It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown.  

A family favorite and a must watch every season.

 

My mom gifted me the above pumpkin scarecrow many years ago. She went to Madison with my sister to World Dairy Expo. I helped my dad on the farm while they were on the trip. She gifted me "Bob" and he is a favorite of mine.

 

 I like to use nature in my decorating. 

 Trick or Treat to you!

And speaking of  Trick or Treat? Has your community decided on if Trick or Treat will be held this season? I have not heard regarding our little village of Cameron. I do know surrounding communities have decided to cancel Trick or Treat.

 

Wisconsin Master Gardener Volunteering during COVID 19

 

This week would be the week the North Country Master Gardener Volunteer's would be hosting the Twilight Garden Tour. With COVID 19 the tour has been cancelled.

Ah, but us Master Gardener's got creative on how we can still reach out to those that like to learn about gardening. 

 

 

Many of us have filmed videos at our homes or at the research gardens.

Above is a photo of me doing a video on Tips and Tricks with making bouquets using flowers in your flower garden. My husband helped me create the video.

We had all kinds of stops and starts.  We had wind, a lawn mower, a helicopter fly over and our resident wren got in the video too. And even though I was at home doing this in front of my husband, I was nervous. I also had to keep the video at about 5 to 6 minutes, so I did not want to get carried away talking about flowers.. that I can do very easily. Ha ha!

The summer of 2018 and 2019 I held bouquet making classes, with people attending, it was fun and I think it was easier, because people interact with you.

 

I do think I would do better filming my second time around after seeing how I did this first time. Do you have any tips when filming, please share with me.

Click here to learn and watch more from the North Country Master Gardeners

Here is a bouquet from me to you!

♥

It is a 5 Years Ago Hodgepodge!

 

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. Five years ago this month hubs and I relocated from New Jersey to the Palmetto State. What were you doing five years ago this month?

 We visited The Paine Paine Art Center and Gardens 

to see the Downton Dressing exhibit.

 

2. What was the last 9-5 job you worked? Tell us about it.
 

 I worked in Accounts Payable at Marquip located in Phillips, Wisconsin.

I enjoyed my job and my co workers. I enjoyed dressing up for work Monday - Thursday and on Friday, was casual Friday.

3. Plead the fifth, high five, take five, it's five o'clock somewhere, or the big 5-0...which number five phrase relates to your life in some way currently? Tell us how.

Take Five

 

We have been busy moving our boys to the apartment they are renting together. We have been busy setting up house. They are happily moved in and we are taking five!

4. During this season of spending so much time at home, what distractions get in the way of being your most productive? Or have you been extra productive since this whole thing started?

I have been extra productive, with the help that my husband was home for two months April and May when our state shut down non essential business. We tackled projects that had been on the to do list. My husband is back to work and I am continuing to work on projects. I am harvesting and preserving more from our garden this season.

5. Give us a list here of your top five anything.
 

 

1.  Friends and Family

My dear friend Marv, who is 92, and is a Korean War Veteran, stopped in to see our National Guard son when he returned from his 4 month mission in Milwaukee with COVID19 testing.

2. Our Garden

August brings harvest. Eating fresh veggies everyday from the garden. Yum.

3. Butterflies

We have monarch butterflies visiting the garden daily.

4. Baseball

I am still listening to the Milwaukee Brewers on the radio. Having that brings just a wee bit of normal to this 2020 summer.

5. Low humidity and highs in the 70's

We are enjoying a great weather week.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Spotted during a day trip.

Zombie Crossing! 

Joint Task Force 64

He is back! Our Wisconsin National Guard son is back from a 4 month deployment to help with the COVID-19 Response. He earned the pins I shared in the photo above and a special patch for his uniform. I want to THANK all of you for the special prayers for him and our family during this time.

This was the suit he started with.

But they started to get hot wearing these. As the months of testing continued, they switched to wearing scrubs, masks and a face shield.

We celebrated with a tasty meal of BBQ chicken, homemade Mac -n- Cheese, fresh veggies from the garden and homemade cupcakes. I will share the recipe soon.

Thank you again for all the support!

Ring, Ring ... Sam just called, "Hey Mom, I am activity duty to help with the elections, I will be gone August 9 - August 12."

And off he goes...

♥

Funny on Monday

Happy Monday

Thank you to all for praying for Sam and his teammates.

I am happy to report Sam tested negative for the virus.

All other 7 teammates are doing well and on the way to recovery.

Thank you again.

Funny on Monday

I recently did a post about my dear friend Marv, who is 92.

Click below to read..

A tribute to Marv

On Friday I visited with Marv.

He told me, there is a positive about wearing these darn masks Carla.

He shared that over the weekend he had lost the crown on his front tooth.

He went to the dentist on Monday, the dentist said it will take a few days before the tooth could be repaired, up to five days.

Marv said it was a blessing to wear that darn mask around, because no one  had to see his toothless smile.

♥

Six months into 2020

The calendar is just about to flip.. we will be six months into 2020.

2020 .. the year that many of us have been saying

"Hey 2020, please stop, I want to get off! I would rather walk!"

Even with all that is swirling around us, life still goes on. 2020 graduates are making plans for the future. 2020 babies are being born. What a story their parents will be sharing with them. Marriage proposals.. thank goodness for happy!!

Families with loved ones in nursing homes, assisted living and hospitals, navigating all the changes regarding visiting.

Having to go for a cancer check up alone as your loved one waits for you in the car.

And so much more!

It seems like the year 2020 is a year you have to be BRAVE and a year that you take RISKS.

Many of you that read The River know that our National Guard son is conducting COVID19 testing in Milwaukee. Why? For the exact reason he sighed up to become a Wisconsin National Guardsmen.

He wants to HELP people.

Milwaukee has been one of the many cities that have demonstrated frustration with violence, burning and looting.

Sadly, Sam's team was leaving the city for the evening after a long day of testing and the crowds were forming, closing off the streets, starting fires, screaming and throwing things.

Sam shared with me the video he took as his team slowly got out of the city. With the video I can hear his team mates in the van saying "What on earth is going on? I hope we can get out of here!"

They got out. Thank goodness!

Steadily moving forward without always naming the challenges they overcome.

Sam and his team continue to help with the COVID19 testing and will be deployed to Milwaukee until July 31st.

Our 2020 graduation son is busy planning his future. Thinking about college. How will classes be held this school season? Do I want to do online classes? Or do I want to have the opportunity to be in a hands on classroom?

Should I wait and start classes in the Spring semester?

Paving the way.. tiptoe post their comfort zones and say yes when they could have said no.

Do you dare dream in 2020?

FEAR

SADNESS
ANGER

so much emotion

I recently read a poem I would like to share here at The River.

The world needs risk takers.

The truth seekers and status quo resisters.

Who ask the questions they really want to know.

Who confidently purse what is right even when it isn't popular.

No facades. No half-truths.

No compromises.

The life lovers and slow-song-in -the kitchen dancers.

Who smile at every stranger and wear their hearts on their sleeves.

Who uphold authenticity time and again.

No distance. No armor. No walls.

The course changers and path makers.

Who risk it all to follow their hearts and lead others to new places.

Who steadily move forward without always naming the challenges they overcome.

No compass. No safety net. No way to know where the road will go.

The world needs risk takers.

Like you and me.

Who pave the way for others to follow.

Or who tiptoe past their comfort zones to say yes when they could have said no.

Every day, in big and small ways, we all wake up and push toward the unknown. Never rising out of new waters the same as we were before.

Author unknown to me

Happy Summer it is the Hodgepodge

Happy Summer Solstice

Hello it is Wednesday and that means it is time for the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join in the fun!

1. Saturday marks the first official day of summer! Whoohoo! Your favorite thing about the season?

Garden goodness, warm nights watching firefly dance in the lawn, bon fires, looking at the stars with my boys and yelling " I see Sputnik!"

2. Love it!, labor of love, not for love or money, no love lost, love handles, love does, love-hate relationship, misery loves company, tough love, love will find a way...pick one and tell us how it applies to your life right now.

LOVE DOES

LOVE DOES

I am so proud of both of my boys.

Sam.. our National Guard Son who is currently doing COVID19 testing in Milwaukee.

Why?

Because he loves his state, loves the USA and wants the best for everyone.

Atticus.. our 2020 Graduate.. who had one crazy end to his high school years.

He has big dreams. He is currently working and tries to make the world a better place each day.

He has a terrific smile.

Just last week, he did not see me in the store he works, I saw him, helping a women with a big bag of garden soil. With his face mask on she could tell he was smiling with the twinkle in his eye.

She thanked him many times for helping her.

My heart was so proud.

LOVE DOES!!

3. What's one thing currently causing you to seethe? One thing currently making you smile?

Seethe

Squirrels .. they are making me seethe. They are rooting up my raised beds.

I think they must be hot. It has been very warm for our neck of the woods. These crazy squirrel roll in my garden and root up my plants.

I was seething big time when I found my gladiolus all scattered about.

Smile

My sweet-peas are starting to bloom.

Have you ever smelled a sweet-pea?

Oh my, they are my favorite.

4. Of the following to-dos found on a summer checklist (here) which three would definitely make your personal list of summer want-to-dos?

roast marshmallows over a fire, go berry or peach picking, dangle your feet off the end of a dock, sit on a porch swing, watch the sunset from a beach, nap in a hammock, go barefoot in the grass, collect seashells, play tennis, go fishing, build a sandcastle, catch fireflies, eat a soft serve ice cream cone, make a pitcher of Sangria, swim in a lake, stargaze, ride a bike, paddle a canoe or kayak, make a summer road trip, throw a frisbee

paddle a canoe

go berry picking

dangle your feet off the end of a dock

Do you make an actual list?

My husband and I go canoeing regularly, it is one of our favorite summer past times.

I enjoy going berry picking. I have fantastic memories berry picking with my grandpa.

If I am able to visit my Aunt Sharon this summer, I will be able to dangle my feet off the end of a dock.

5. Thursday is National Splurge Day. What might you splurge on in order to celebrate?

We are doing some landscaping.. so I will splurge on landscaping supplies.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

This message was given to our 2020 Graduate..

May you always stand strong for what you believe in.

Choose to be around those who encourage your growth.

Reach out to others.

Seek the light.

Soak in the goodness of life.

The Story of Bird

The Story of Bird

Earlier this spring I walked down the driveway to get the mail. I saw two little birds walking down the driveway ahead of me.

Two little mourning dove. I was so surprised to see them. It was Mid-March, I had not seen young mourning dove so early in the season before.

The next day, only one mourning dove baby greeted me.

Each day I would look for our new little friend.

We decided to name him or her Bird.

I fed bird sunflower seeds and millet.

Bird would roost on our deck and I would see Bird each morning in the sunshine.

I continued to feed Bird sunflower seeds and millet.

Bird never would fly away from me.

Bird would watch as I put little piles of seed around.

Bird just happily pecked along as we sat and talked.

Bird was becoming a special friend to us. A happy sight during the COVID19 shut down.

Our friendship with Bird started when the early days of COVID19 began. Everyday brought some new change or cancellation.

Shut downs, shortages, lay off from work,  more cases of COVID19, masks, gloves, ordering more items on line, more cancellations and trying to get use to the way things were going.

We all would wake up in the morning and ask "How is Bird today?"

During my husbands time off from work during the shut down gave him time to do some projects.

He built me another raised bed.

I filled the bed with soil that we made in our compost pile.

I was so excited at how well our compost pile did and the fantastic dirt I had to fill the raised bed.

As I worked, Bird watched. I went past with wheelbarrows full of dirt, shovel and rake.

He sat in the sun, watching me and would peck at his sunflower seeds.

Bird was a little bird in March. It is June now and Bird is getting to be a big Bird. I am happy to report that Bird still comes to roost on the deck in the mornings and enjoys our birdbath.

It is the little joys in life.

♥

Goodbye Little Apartment

Good Bye Little Apartment

Our National Guard son Sam rented a little apartment in Eau Claire for his first year of school at Chippewa Valley Technical College. The lease expired at the end of May. He decided with being deployed to Milwaukee with COVID19 testing and not knowing how school would be looking for the 2020/2021 school year, he would move back home.

Or should I say, we would move him back home. He is currently deployed.

Our conversation went like this..

"Mom, I have decided it best to move home for now, hopefully in August I will find a place to rent."

"So, Mom, the thing is, you will have to move me, with out me."

All was going well, until we got one piece of furniture stuck in the door.

I text message Sam "We need the National Guard, we are stuck."

He messaged back "Ha! Thank you so much for moving me Mom!"

Thank goodness we had Atticus to help us.

We had nice weather and things went smooth.. after getting unstuck. We had to take the door off.

Saying Goodby to the little apartment.

I spoke to Sam's landlord on the phone the day after we finalized the move and cleaned.

We spoke for some time, it is funny how these times bring people together in ways we never would have.

 

Sam sent me this photo, busy with COVID19 testing in Milwaukee. He learned this week his orders have been extended to the end of the June, with possibility of extending into July.

Spring Garden Tour

Hello Friends, last week I spent several days in the garden. I still have a few plants and my gladiolus to plant and I will have everything in the ground. Then the love and care will begin. And the weeding and more weeding and more weeding.

We have already had the strangest weather.

Hot and humid for late May. Even as a seasoned gardener I learned a valuable lesson on Saturday.

With the high humidity and our temperatures reaching the high 80's, I was so busy in the garden that I did not take time to rest and drink enough water. By 8:30 Saturday night I was in bed with a terrible headache. Lesson learned! I hope to remind you all as well, not to make the same mistake as I did. Drink your water and take time to rest.

Let us go for a spring garden tour.

I will show you in more detail the garden as it gets growing. I made a collage to share the spring garden. My dad and mom made me my high garden stakes, I love having them to mark rows, especially in the early garden season.  My red, white and blue area on our front deck. And a peek at the greenhouse.

I have a red geranium planted in the pot on top of the milk can. It should be all red, white and blue in the next few weeks. The petunias are wave petunias, they should fill out lovely.

Inside the greenhouse. I just love my greenhouse. The lettuce you see, I planted December 2019. It started to grow in March. What a treat to have fresh lettuce growing when we still have snow on the ground. With COVID19, it was even more of a treat to head out to the greenhouse for lettuce to top off an egg salad sandwich.

I also have cabbage growing in the greenhouse, it is doing very well.

On to the wee little water feature of mine, the whiskey barrel. Well, those three fish that survived all of last summer and have been wintering in the house, they sort have become pets. We like seeing them in the fishbowl in the bathroom. It has added fun to the bathroom and conversation. (Pre-COVID19 .. when we had guests over and they would say "Hey, you have fish in your bathroom."

I have been wondering what to put in the water feature. Because the fish are now indoor pets.

This past Sunday I found some snails.

My friend Judy of Cranberry Morning

gave me the idea in a past blog post she did about her pond.

At this time I have five snails in my wee little water feature.. aka.. the whiskey barrel.

One last look at the greenhouse, oh I just love my little greenhouse.

We will take another garden tour real soon, the peony are starting to bud

and the garden will be full of pinks.