On the Trail

 

 

Hello Friends,

We recently hiked at Interstate State Park, St. Croix, Wisconsin.

I took a few photos of the other sights we saw.

 

 

STAY GREEN

 

 

SUNBEAM

 

 

MUST BALL OUT!

 

And bones in a tree.

 

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.... 

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 

On the Road Friday ~ Ice Age Trail ~ Bear Lake Segment

 

 

Hello Friends, it is time to hit the road. We are heading to the Ice Age Trail, Bear Lake Segment.

 

 

We are fortunate to live close to many segments of the Ice Age Trail, we have many favorite hikes within the segments. The Bear Lake Segment is one we had not hiked before. We will go back and do more hiking of it in December if it does not snow. 

 

 

We will get started on the hike and see what we might find. 

 

 

We found an apartment complex here I think. Mr and Mrs. Spider live in the top apartment and Mr. and Mrs. Mouse live in the bottom. 

 

 

This area was a bog. I wanted to get a closer photo of the plants growing in the bog, but it was wet, I started to feel I was sinking in, so stepped out of the bog. 

 

We have been finding fun little things during our hikes. You might remember the little dinosaurs we found a few weeks ago. Today we spotted a big ol dragonfly. 

Thank you for coming along with me, for on the road Friday.  

 ♥

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

 ♥ 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 

On the Road Friday ~ First Day Hike ~ Straight Lake State Park ~ Wisconsin

 

 

Hello Friends, we are heading off today to Straight Lake State Park, located in Polk, County, Wisconsin. On January 1st we hiked close to 4 miles on the trails. It was a beautiful way to start the year and it is a family tradition to take a first day hike. 

 

 

The sights where fantastic. And you will notice we have no snow. We had snow, but then a warm spell came with rain and it all melted.

 

We had our sidekick the little copper dog Ernie with us. He is trying his best to give me a big lick in this photo.

 

Pristine natural beauty is found at Straight Lake in northwest Wisconsin. This 2000 acre park offers walk to campsites, carry-in boat launches, a shelter and picnic area. 

 

 

Two undeveloped, wild lakes and two state natural areas are found within the park boundaries.

 

A premier section of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail meanders through the park highlighting many glacial features.

 

 

Through the years, Straight Lake has been sold as a bock of property, pretty much as it is today. Past owners include Dewitt Wallace, the founder of Reader's Digest magazine. In 2005, the property was sold to the State of Wisconsin and became Straight Lake State Park and Wildlife Area.

 

Here we have a little critters hideaway and it looks to be they like to eat acorns.

 

Happy First Day Hike! 

♥ 

Carla

 

 

A December Hike

 

 

On one of our December hikes we walked along our favorite bridge and we noticed several more locks added to the bridge. The day was very grey, with a little bit of snow on the ground. I thought it made the locks looks extra special.

 

Typically the sweethearts' names or initials, and perhaps the date, are inscribed on the padlock, and its key is thrown away (often into a nearby river) to symbolize unbreakable love.

 

 

The tradition may have originated in Hungary after World War I, when a woman fixed padlocks on the bridges where she and her lover used to meet. It became popular in other parts of the world, including Paris, in the 2000s.

 

A wreath was placed on the bridge too.

On the Road Friday ~ Rib Mountain State Park

 

Hello Friends, We are on the road today and we are going back to a warm day in November. I have a few road trip posts that I will be catching up on this month and probably in January too. 

Today we are headed to Rib Mountain State Park, Wisconsin.

Click here for more information about Rib Mountain State Park 

We were visiting family in the Wausau, Wisconsin area. It was a beautiful November day. We decided to stop and explore before we headed on our way home.

Hi, little chipmunk!

 

All of the trails are marked well.

 

 

Me and Ernie the Copper Dog!

If you are visiting Wisconsin, I would highly recommend a stop at Rib Mountain.

The Mountain also has Granite Peak Ski and Snowboard Area, it is a favorite of our boys to visit.

Click here to visit Granite Peak Ski Area