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 

 

 

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 

 

Trick or Treat and it is the Hodgepodge

 

Happy Wednesday 

It is time for the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun! 

 

 1. Are you a risk taker? To what degree? 

I am not. I hold the cards steady in the game of life. 

But in a game of cards, I can get risky, it usually pays off. 

2. What's your favorite candy? Would you say you have a sweet tooth?   

Right now, I am enjoying Dark Reese's Thins ... thank you to my mom for gifting me some in a Trick or Treat bag she made up for me and my husband.

I do have a sweet tooth. 

  3. Somewhere you've been recently that had you feeling 'like a kid in a candy store'? 

I was at a local plant nursery. Hold me back, or all the plants will be coming home with me.

4. What do you think is the most effective way to make a positive change in the world?

I just had this conversation with our village clerk. She is dealing with a lot of negativity in our village. Sadly, community is no longer a strong point in our little village, it once was, but it has changed after COVID and it is SLOW to come back. 

As I shared with our village clerk, friendly communication is the key to starting to make a change, in my opinion.

 5. Do you like surprises? 

I do. 

If they are good surprises.  

  6. Insert your own random thought here.  

Goodbye October .. thank you for the amazing weather for us here in Northwest Wisconsin. 

 

 

Boo to You and it is the Hodgepodge

 

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 do you like most about your family? 

When the going gets tough, we will rally to help one another. Some of our family is spread across the miles, my one uncle and aunt living in Texas. This past year my Texas aunt had hip surgery. The Wisconsin families rallied to send care packages and made phone calls to check in with her. 

  

2. What's something nice that's happened to you recently? 

 

We were given a bunch of apples,  organic, fresh from the apple orchard. I made apple butter and apple sauce with some of the apples. Other are in our cold storage for fresh eating and making other apple treats.

 

  

3. Do you like the color orange? Besides a pumpkin and an actual orange, what's something orange you love?

 

I do like the color orange. Our son Atticus who is sporting that bright orange colored stocking cap below, he would wear bright orange stocking caps all winter long during his growing up years. This started when he was just a little guy, he would pick out an orange stocking cap as his new hat for winter.  

He is holding a bluegill he caught ice fishing in the below photo. 

I love all my photos of him sporting his orange stocking hat! 

 

Below he is older and yep, still sporting an orange stocking cap.

We are on the shores of Lake Superior in the below photo. 

 

4.  What's something you have now you couldn't have imagined having five years ago? How does that make you feel? What's possible now because of it? 

 My husband and I worked very hard to become debt free. We are going on year number three, and it feels so good. What is possible? We feel that if any changes in our life were to happen we have the freedom to make decisions that we may not have been able to do if tied in debt.

 

 

5. Let's wrap this one up with an October this or that...
pumpkin bread or apple cider donut ~ apple cider donut
cozy sweater or cozy hoodie ~ cozy sweater
apple picking or pumpkin picking ~ pumpkin picking
scary movie or Hallmark movie ~ Hitchcock movie
hay ride or corn maze ~ hay ride
twinkle lights or candles ~ candles
autumn hike or autumn bonfire ~ autumn hike
 
 
 
 
 6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 

 

It will be two years that we adopted Ernie. He is our first rescue dog. Golly what a journey we have had with him. I would not trade it, it has been a fantastic lesson for us. Watching a scared dog who lived over six months on the streets of El Paso, Texas, with gentle care and training turn into a true best buddy.

 

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

 ♥ flowers are still blooming here in Northwest Wisconsin

 ♥ beautiful October weather

 ♥ October sunlight dancing on the autumn colored leaves

 

 ♥ apples gifted from friends

 ♥ making apple butter and apple sauce

 

 

 ♥ warm apple butter spread on an english muffin

 

 

 ♥ autumn hikes 

and

 ♥ finding dinosaurs on that hike

 

 

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

 ♥

Carla 

Painting the Hodgepodge

 

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. Do you make an effort to see/hear live music? Last time you went somewhere for the live music?  

I do like live music. We went to a fun show in early September featuring a local band.

 It was a toe tapping good time.  

 

2.According to HGTV the colors of the year for 2026 are mostly decided. Top paint companies declare a color of the year, and decorators will incorporate that into their new year home and room designs. Here's what's on tap in terms of paint trends for 2026 (check out the link here to see photos)

• Sherwin Williams-universal khaki (inspired by heavy canvas and outdoor gear)
• Behr-hidden gem (a confident shade of teal)
• Valspar-warm eucylyptus (a warm sliver tinted green)
• Dutch Boy-melodious ivory (a honey tinted beige)
• Glidden-warm mahogany (a classic brick red)
• Krylon-matte coffee bean
• Clark and Kensington -Hazelnut Crunch (warm reddish-brown)
• Graham and Brown-Divine Damson (cherry red with a subtle violet undertone)
• Dunn and Edwards-midnight garden (the green that works everywhere) 

First question-did you know there were so many different paint manufacturers? Which color on the list most appeals to you in terms of your own decorating style? Do you have plans to do any painting in your home in the coming year, and if so might you choose a color from this list? 

Now, forget painting walls, which color name appeals to you most? 

I had no idea there were so many paint manufactures.

We just finished painting two rooms and we have one room to go, which we are going to finish next week. We are using Benjamin Moore Paint, which is a favorite brand for us. The color that is close to what we are currently painting would be, Dutch Boy - melodious ivory.

Hmmm.. I will go with midnight garden (the green that works everywhere), I would say that name appeals to me. 

 

3. What's something in your life you have to do-watch-or participate in that's about as exciting as 'watching paint dry'?  

I will say.. painting. I hate to paint. My husband enjoys it and is so good at it. I give a helping hand and I try not to say how much I do not like to paint... but he knows it is not my favorite job. 

 4 . Tuesday, October 14th is/was National Dessert day...did you/will you celebrate? Tell us how? What's your absolute favorite dessert. Yes, just one. I know!! 

We do not eat dessert each day. It is more of a special occasion or once a week. My favorite dessert is pie. I like several kinds of pie, lemon meringue is a favorite. 

 5. Perhaps today is the day I will __________________________________. 

Finish going through a few closets. I am so close to getting done with my downsizing project I started in June.

 

 6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 

 

 Our annual pumpkin carving party is just around the corner.  I am starting to come up with fun ideas. How about you? Do you like to carve pumpkins?

 

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 

 ♥ making the bed up with flannel sheets ... the cozy season is here

♥ exploring a new area of Wisconsin

 ♥ blueberry pancakes for breakfast

 ♥ windy nights ... falling asleep listening to the wind chimes

♥ the full moon

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

 ♥

Carla 

  

 

Apples to Apples and it is the Hodgepodge

 

We went apple picking on Saturday with our son Atticus, take a look at this beauty!

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. 'The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.' How does this saying ring true in your own family, either the one you grew up in or the one you made?  

 

I would have to say our youngest is like me in many ways. He is funny. If things get to serious, he will crack a joke. I am the same way. We like to lighten the mood. He also does not let too much worry him, he figures something out. I am the same way, it is figureoutable.  

 2. Something you're nuts about these days? How about something that's driving you nuts? 

 

I am nuts about..  

Jackson's Avocado Oil Sweet Potato Chips, I am nuts about them, do not leave me alone with a bag. 

What is driving me nuts? 

I was stuck not knowing  a baseball players name, I knew his nickname, Thor, but I could not think of his name. I did not want to look it up. Ha Ha. I am trying to use the old grey cells. I did not have to look him up, my husband gave me the answer, Noah Syndergaard.

 

 3. What does abundance mean to you? 

 

For me abundance means an overflowing amount of something special to you. For me, I have an overflowing amount of people who love me, I am blessed, so very blessed. 

 

 4. Caramel apple-caramel cake-caramel corn-caramel sundae-caramel macchiatto...what's your caramel treat of choice?  

 

 Caramel Sundae

 

 5. What's a childhood memory that always comes to mind as the leaves start to fall? 

 

Trick or Treat on Halloween night. 

My mom would drive my sister and me around our country neighborhood. We would get the best trick or treats, because it was just me, my sister and our three cousins that went trick or treating. Our neighbors loved seeing us kids. We would get bags of candy from Kenny Brown and Ed K. Irene W would make us fresh popcorn balls.  The Newton's gave us cans of soda. Trick or Treating out in the country will always be a fun memory for me, and my mom had fun too, stopping to see all the neighbors. 

 

6. Insert. your own random thought here.  

 

  Catch a leaf in mid air, make a wish, kiss it and toss it into the wind. 

 ♥

Carla 

Joy List Monday

 

Joy List Monday 

♥ a weekly reminder  ♥

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

♥ spending time with our kids this past weekend

♥ warm autumn days with lots of sunshine

 ♥ apple picking 

 ♥ making apple butter and  apple sauce

 ♥ watching the moonlight dance through the autumn leaves that are still hanging on the trees

♥ 

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

♥ 

Carla 

 

 

Hello October and it is the Hodgepodge

 

Autumn bonfires are a favorite.

 

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 your favorite fall scent? Would we find this in or around your home right now? 

I love the smell of cinnamon. I am baking an apple crisp with lots of cinnamon, yes today you will find that smell in my house. 

2. October is Country Music Month...are you a fan of country music? Do you have a favorite country artist? Ever been to Nashville? In terms of lifestyle are you more country mouse or city mouse? 

I enjoy the "old country music", Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Loretta Lynn are a few on my old country playlist.

I like Johnny Cash, he is a favorite because of the memories I have from my grandpa singing along to Johnny Cash songs. 

We drove through Nashville, we did not stop. We were heading home from visiting our military son at Fort Gordon, Georgia.

I am a country mouse.

 

3. How about 'country cooking'? (loosely defined as rich flavors, familiar foods, large portions, often fried, and often associated with the southern region of the US of A)? 

chicken and dumplings-fried chicken-shrimp and grits-biscuits and gravy-mac and cheese-fried green tomatoes-cornbread-collard or turnip greens-deviled eggs-'barbecue'-gumbo-banana pudding 

Which of the foods listed is your favorite? Any on the list you haven't tried or would say a firm no thank you to if offered?

 

 My favorite would be chicken and dumplings.

I have not tried fried green tomatoes or barbecue gumbo.

 

 4. What's something that always has a positive impact on your mood? 

 

I know I sound like a broken record, because I talk about my garden so often. But if I am having a bad day, taking a walk out in the garden will lift my mood. There is always a surprise of beauty as I walk along, even in the winter.

 

  

5. As we say so long to September share a noun, a verb, and an adjective that tells us something about how that month looked for you. 

 

Challenging 

♥ we made some difficult decisions in September

 ♥ current events took a toll on the heartstrings ... they still are

 

 6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 

Sense of beauty is the gift of God, for which those who have received it in good measure, can never be thankful enough.

Gertrude Jekyll 

 

Happy Autumn and it is the Hodgepodge

 

A toadstool found in the woods during a wet walk last week.

 

Happy Autumn and it is the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun! 

 1. Fall officially rolls into the Northern Hemisphere on Monday (9/22)...what's your favorite thing about fall? 

We live in Northern Wisconsin and me oh my, Wisconsin knows how to show off in Autumn. The leaf color, sunlight dancing in the leaves as they fall and the crisp fresh air make it all a delight for me. Autumn is my husband's favorite season.

 2. What's one thing on your real or proverbial autumn bucket list? 

 

We will take a drive and have a picnic enjoying the change of the season and soaking up all the autumn beauty of reds, yellows, oranges, purples and more as the trees change.

 

 3. Apples, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, butternut squash and cranberries are some of the top fall foods. Which one is your favorite and how do you like it prepared? Any on the list you don't eat? Which one have you had most recently? 

 

 

I am still making tarts. 

If you click the link below you will find my tart recipe. 

This week I made an apple tart. 

I enjoy all of the fall foods listed above.

Recipe ~ Tarts

 

 4. 'Fall is proof that change is beautiful' is a popular sentiment. Would you agree or no? Elaborate. 

 

It all depends on what the change is ... Ha Ha! Some change is easier for me than others. Having a dear friend move away, that was not so beautiful. 

Do a remodel "change" in our home to make it more cozy, that is fine and dandy.

 

5. Is there a spot near you where people go to see the leaves change color? Will you try to leaf peep somewhere this fall? Lonely Planet lists the following ten places as the best for leaf peeping...of those listed which would you most like to visit? 

Stowe, Vermont~Shenandoah National Park, Virginia~Columbia River Gorge, Oregon~Zion National Park, Utah~Tennessee/North Carolina border~West Virgina~Northwestern Wyoming~Wisconsin Northwoods~Northern Nevada~Ozark Highlands Scenic Byway, Arkansas

 

Wisconsin Northwoods ... that is where I call home sweet home. If you do plan to come this way, Wisconsin will not disappoint you. And let me know, I will put the kettle on.

 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 

The calendar might say the first day of Autumn, but our weather is still full summer. Our winters are loooooonnnngggg here in Wisconsin, so we will take each summer day we can. I am still eating fresh cucumbers, green beans, zucchini and enjoying fresh flowers. 

 

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 

♥ warm November days

♥ a picnic in the November sun

♥ soaking in the last of Autumn

 

♥ beef barely soup

♥ omelets for breakfast 

♥ hot raspberry tea

♥ birds at the bird feeder

♥ a letter in the mail from family we have not seen in awhile

♥ white chip/cranberry cookies

 

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

♥ 

Carla

I am Nuts about Jeremy and it is time for the Hodgepodge

 

I am NUTS for this  fella!

 

Hello Friends, it is Wednesday, it is time for the Hodgepodge. 

Joyce asks the questions.

 We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun! 

 

1. How did you meet your significant other? If you don't have a significant other, tell us how you met your best friend. 

 I met my husband working at the Supper Club his parents owned and operated. I was a dishwasher/waitress. He was a bartender/waiter/cook.

2. It's Department Store Day (October 16)...do you still shop in department stores? If not do you miss that kind of shopping experience? Do you have a favorite department store? Any fun memories of department store shopping when you were a child?

 

I use to shop at Department Stores. I do not do it much now. I did enjoy it.

One of my fun memories of shopping at a department store, was with my sister and aunt Sharon. We pretended to have foreign accents as we tried on clothing.  We laughed and laughed and laughed.

 3. Something you're currently nuts about?

 Going for walks with Ernie. I love this time of year with the colored leaves, crisp air and bright blue sky. I am also nuts about pumpkins. We live close to a pumpkin farm stand. All shapes, sizes and colors of pumpkins, gourds and squash. We purchased pumpkins for our pumpkin carving party, gourds for decorating and squash for eating. I already made squash soup, yum!

 

4. What's your favorite nut and is there a favorite recipe where this nut is used? 

My favorite nut is a cashew. I do not have a favorite recipe using cashews. 

 5. On Wednesday we officially reach the '70 days until Christmas' mark. Have you purchased any gifts? If you don't celebrate Christmas then how about Hanukkah presents? 

I have not purchased any gifts. 

I do have a list of what I plan to purchase or make for family and friends for Christmas.

6. Insert your own random thought here.   

A little bit of my autumn decorating... 

 

Happy Autumn Days!!