Let Freedom Ring

 

 

Happy Birthday, USA!

♪♫♪ From The Mountains, To The Prairies, To The Oceans, White With Foam ♪♫♪

God Bless America

 

Eternal Vigilance Is The Price of Liberty.

Thomas U.P. Charlton

 

  And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea. 

 ♥

Carla 

Episode #24

 

 Hello Friends, I last shared episode #14 with you on our day dates, I am rather behind. Today I am jumping to episode #24. I plan to stay current and go back to share our past day dates. I will tell you, life is full and I will take that as a blessing. My goal is not to fall behind again. 

Friday, June 12 we took a trip to Interstate State Park, St. Croix, Wisconsin. 

Looking across the river is Minnesota, "Hello Minnesota". 

Click here for more about Interstate State Park 

 We decided to hike Silverbrook Trail. We have visited Interstate many times when our kids where growing up, but we never hiked this trial.

Below is some information about the remains of the mansion that once was. 

You are able to see much of the foundation, the old mine and the natural spring. 

 

The weather was beautiful. We had high humidity earlier in the week creating some nasty storms. Friday was a perfect Wisconsin summer day. We did see some storm damage on our hike.

Team Day Date

 

 

We set off to find the hidden waterfall.

 

 

I love the sound of water, we could hear the falls before we could see it.

Later in the evening we did have a thunderstorm, you can see the clouds forming in the below photo. 

 

We enjoyed a fun dinner at the Drive In before heading home.

 

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 March and it is the Hodgepodge

 

I spy green.

 

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.  As the saying goes, 'March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.' Did your March come in roaring or like some other animal? Every month carries with it certain feelings, which is why some people love and anticipate December and others dread it. How do you feel about the month of March? 

If you ask my husband he will say our March came in like a lamb. We woke to 6 degrees, no wind and sun. I on the other hand decided it came in like a lion, because it was 6 degrees. My hopes is for 55 and sunshine March 31st.  

March is the start of mud season here in Wisconsin. It is dirty. The dogs paws need cleaning and belly too. Our shoes get full of mud. We get full of mud. It is just a messy old time until the mud is gone.

It also can be winter and spring all in the same day, which can start to drive one a wee bit crazy when you have spring fever. 

 2. Where in your life are you a lion? Where are you a lamb? 

I will roar like a lion to protect my family.

I am a lamb to creatures that have been abandoned.

The below photo is of Ernie, our rescue dog. He was a mess when we adopted him.

Slowly, with patience and love he started to feel safe.  

 

Patience, love and daily training Ernie has become a gentleman. 

 

 

 3. The Hodgepodge lands on National Pound Cake day.

Do you like pound cake? Yes, I do like pound cake.  

 If so do you have a favorite flavor? I like vanilla and lemon pound cake. Let's play this or that-

• pound cake or layer cake? layer cake
• pound cake or cheesecake? pound cake
• pound cake or angel food cake? angle food cake
• pound cake or brownie? brownie
• pound cake or pie? pie 

  4. What makes you feel childlike wonder right now? 

 

Starting seeds.. the joy of watching a little seed sprout and as the season goes on it grows and grows and grows. 

 

 5. What's one thing you need to add to your wardrobe to get ready for spring? If you're in the southern hemisphere, then answer for fall? 

 

Some new sneakers, tennis shoes, trainers, walking shoes ... hee hee, not sure what you might call them, but you get the idea, new shoes. 

 

  6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I found some jelly beans made with natural juice. 

Me oh My... they are good!

I am happy I purchased two bags.  

 

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. 

 

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 

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.

 

 

 ♥ a warm home ... we woke to NEGATIVE 31 degrees on Saturday morning

 ♥ people who care ... we had a frozen car battery ... having those around us who are willing to help

 ♥ warm clothing ... thermals, jackets, hats, mittens, scarves

♥ the cozy feeling of the fireplace warming the room 

 ♥ getting cozy with good reads and a hot drink

 ♥ pets to snuggle you on cold winter days

 

 

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

♥ 

Carla

 

52 Weeks

 2025 I declared to my husband that I wanted to do something fun/different once a month. Explore a new trail, state park, lake, river, town or city. We started out strong January, February, March and April. When May arrived so did some major changes for me and those changes continued to come at me month after month. With all the changes and major decisions needed, the plan for a once a month outing was tossed right out with the bath water.

October of 2025, Joyce of the Hodgepodge posted Day Datin' . After reading the post I thought, 2026 we are going to try to do this. One date, once a week, doing something fun together. It does not have to be something major, it can be simple.

I plan to document them here on the blog, just as Joyce is doing. She is my inspiration for  Day Datin'. And by the way, when I mentioned it to my husband, he was all in. He knew my disappointment that we did not get very far with our once a month outing last year, so why not make it even more challenging and do 52. (Just Kidding) 

 

We got Episode #1 in the bank, this adventure took place the evening of December 31st 2025.

 

We headed out to tour the Christmas Light Display at Prairie Farm Park, in Prairie Farm, Wisconsin.

 

 

 

The path along the Hay River.

 

 

Not only were the Christmas lights on display, the moon was just about full this evening as well.

 

 

We tap our maple trees to cook down sap to maple syrup. We loved this little sugar shack display. There had been a big storm two nights before, so the little Christmas tree on the shack has fallen over.

 

Here we are with the copper dog. He will probably be with for most of our adventures.

I have two more day dates on the calendar.

Stay tuned as we count down to 52ish dates.  

 ♥

Carla 

First Day Hike 2026

 

 

Happy New Year

2026 

It is a tradition for several years now that we go on a first day hike.

 The two of us and the little copper dog.  

 

 

It was cold. It was 10 degrees. 

We were dressed warm and planned to go on a hike close to home. 

We went to our local snowshoe and cross country ski trail system, Rockman's Woods.

We hiked a two mile loop.

 

 

We had received a beautiful snow the day before, the snow was still on the trees making for a winter wonderland.

 

 

I love the pop of red from the snowshoe sign marking the path.

 

 

My husband made us this delicious breakfast before we headed out on our first day hike.

 ♥

Carla