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 

Happy Winter and it is the Hodgepodge

 

 

The past two winters we have not had snow. Winter 2025/2026 is starting out with snow, snow and more snow. We hope to get out and ski soon. The above photos are taken a few years ago, when we had snow, snow and more snow.

Now on to the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

 1. What's one thing on your to-do list that you want to get done, need to get done, or that must get done before the year ends? 

 

My husband does metal design work, he is designing and creating a new coat rack for us. I hope we have it up by this Saturday, because we are having company and we need a place for winter coats, hats and more.  

 

2.  December 17th is National Maple Syrup Day...are you a fan? Do you like maple flavor in other food items such as candy, cookies, donuts, oatmeal, hot toddies, coffee?  

 

We tap our maple trees and cook-down the sap for syrup.  We love maple syrup. Yes, I use it in my baking, in oatmeal, drinks and more. We like to drizzle it on roasted carrots.

 

3. Time magazine names a person of the year every year.  The tradition started back in 1927 with a 'man of the year' but has since changed to recognize not only an individual, but also to consider the impact of a group, movement, or idea that most influenced the year. The selection is not always someone or something good (think Hitler in 1938 and Stalin twice). 

This year they've named The AI Architects as their 'person of the year'. What say you? Is this a good choice, an obvious choice, a logical choice? Who do you think should have been named person of the year? 

 

AI is all the talk this year, I do think it is a good choice. I hope that we can have healthy conversations regrading where and how AI is working in our lives. 

The one thing I worry about, is what is real? I will look at a photo in hopes it is real and not AI generated. Or a song, or a speech or text written. I hope we as humans use common sense in the use of AI.

My friend Alice had a health scare. She had surgery and has had to work hard to get back to feeling good again. She has been very brave and continues to be brave as she navigates what to do next on her health journey.

She is the person of the year for me... a true fighter who has gone through a lot this year.

 

4. What's a city, state, or country you've visited that you never care to visit again? Tell us why.  

 

Sadly, the last time we were downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota things did not go that well. We did not feel comfortable and we where happy to get out of the city.

Our son's did venture downtown this summer for a Twin's baseball game, they did think it was better than our last visit.

 

5. Next Sunday (December 21st) marks the first day of winter (or the opposite if you're living down under). What's one thing you love about this new season?   

 We will get out and go skiing and snowshoeing. 

And the days start to get longer.  

  

 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 

 Comfort and Joy

Enjoy the countdown to Christmas.

 ♥

Carla 

 

This and That

 

 

It snowed! Our first big snow fall since 2023... yep that is right. We did not receive enough snow to ski or snowshoe the winter of 2023/2024! The snowblower received a work out and so did my fella. I am happy we received snow, we need it for ground moisture come spring. And we will be able to go skiing!

 

 

I am starting a few plants using the simple method of snipping a plant and placing it in a jar of water.

 

 

Look at all the roots!!

"There ain't no rules around here" said Thomas Edison. "we are trying to accomplish something." 

 

 

Friends became grandpa and grandma... I found this fun gift wrap for the gifts I wrapped up for them to welcome baby.

 

The ski trails are open. My friend K hit the cross country trails on Sunday night with her boys. We plan to go on Friday. A Valentine's Day Date! 

 ♥

Carla

 

This and That

 Hello Friends,

A little of this and that to catch up with you today.

The No Fooling April Fools Day Blizzard!

14 inches of snow with plenty of wind to create drifts.

 

I created our Easter table settings. 

I planted microgreens in washed out egg's. They were a hit. We snacked on our table settings as well as looking spring time pretty.

 

Another great harvest of maple syrup. My friend Lori calls it, liquid gold.

 

 

The first bloom. 

A reminder of the promise of spring, new life and not to give up having faith.

 

On the road between the houses of friends grass does not grow.

♥

Carla

Hello February and it is the Hodgepodge!

 

Do you spy a heart?

Hello Friends,

The above suet cake started out as square. The birds ate the suet cake into a shape of a heart.

Happy February to you all and now lets get started with the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

Click here to join the fun! 

We answer the questions.

 1. Tell us anything you want about your January. 

 We have enjoyed getting out in the snow. We have explored the winter wonderland we are having this season by skiing and snowshoeing.

 

2. Lake Superior State University posts a list each year of words they think should be banished from the Queen's English for misuse, overuse, and/or general uselessness. The 2023 list includes GOAT, inflection point, quiet quitting, gaslighting, moving forward, amazing, Does that make sense?, irregardless, absolutely, and it is what it is.

Which of these words/phrases do you use regularly? Amazing, I often describe things I find beautiful as amazing.  Which of these words would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why? GOAT, I think this is a weird way to describe a person.  Is there a word/phrase not on the list you'd like to add? Fact Checker

 3. February 2nd is Groundhog Day. What's something that feels repeated in your life right now?

 

Shoveling snow, we are in a true snow globe. This has been the best snow season of our 25 years of living in Barron County, Wisconsin.

4. What's a food you love that's named after a place?

French Beans

5. What's the best season of the year to visit your city or your part of the country? Tell us why.   

 

 Wisconsin likes to show off in Autumn.

 

 

 6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 

 

  I have to be fair to my great state of Wisconsin. Come visit anytime, you will find beauty! And the best cheese in America.

♥

Carla

 

On The Road Friday ~ Snowshoeing at Crex Meadows

 Hello Friends,

It is Friday and it is time to hit the road. Today I am taking you to Crex Meadows Wildlife Area, Grantsburg, Wisconsin.

Saturday January 7th the sun was shining and we headed off to Crex Meadows.

 

We enjoyed the sun, snow and beauty of it all together.

 

 

We had a long stretch of cloudy days. When the sun comes out and makes diamonds on the snow you cannot help but smile.  

 

 

I was going along when I noticed something on the side of the trail. Everything is white and full of sparkle, then I see a patch of something dark.

Oh goodness! I have a feeling the trail groomer and this little fella had a collision.

 

 

 

RIP 

Little Mouse of Crex Meadows

 

 

Into the Winter Wonderland we go snowshoeing.

 

 

 My blog friend Sheri asked what our snowshoes looked like and how we use them. The above photos are of my husband on his way into the Winter Wonderland.

 

 

 Another Snowshoe Kiss

In case you missed our New Year's Kiss click here to find it. 

♥ 

Thank you for coming along with me today.

Carla

 

 

On The Road Friday ~ First Day Snowshoe

 

 

Hello Friends, today we are taking a road trip. On New Year's Day my husband and I went on a snowshoe. We visited Interstate Park located in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin. The trail we decided to do for the day took us along the St. Croix River.

Trails we took along the river..

Quarry Trail and Point Trail.

 

 

A sweet little bird nest.

 

 

A New Year's kiss! 

 

Thank you for coming along with me today on our First Day Snowshoe.

♥ 

Carla

 

Happy New Year ~ Hello 2023

 Hello Friends,

Happy New Year and Hello 2023!

Before we jump into 2023 I am planning to do a few Rewind to December posts. I will be starting with the snow, wind, more snow and more wind.

Our neck of the woods was dumped on with a wet heavy snow. It was beautiful, but caused a lot of trouble. Friends and neighbors were out of electricity, some for several days. High Fives to all the brave linemen from our state and all the other states that came to help. ROPE - which stands for "Restoration Of Power in an Emergency." 

We lost four large branches on our big pine and lots of other branches down. The lights flickered on and off. Thankfully our power was not disrupted, just five miles from our home it was a different story. As we plowed and cleaned up snow, neighbors helping neighbors, I had to smile because this is what kindness is all about, and honestly there is a great deal more kindness out and about then what the media likes to share with us.

Sit back, relax and get ready for photos of ... SNOW!

 

Snow storm #1.

Our hens are in a Winter Wonderland

 

Making paths to the hens and the snow keeps falling.

 

 

A wet heavy snow that broke several  tree branches causing power outages and other damage. 

The snow started on December 14th - December 18th. Then the cold set in freezing the snow on the trees like frosting.

It is beautiful, the snow just started to melt off the trees on December 29th. It was a true white Christmas for two weeks.

 

Our friends had traveled for a Christmas party  and we were taking care of their cat, Bud. During our evening stop to peek in at Bud, we were greeted with this lovely scene out our friends french doors.

 

Then the winds picked up and the negative temperatures where here to stay. This photo is from our friends who have a long driveway along two farm fields. The drifting started and they could not drive out of the driveway on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. 

 

After the storm everything had "hats" or "muffin  tops."

Below are a few more photos of the beauty after the storm.

 

The above photo is after the snow storm before the winds arrived.

Below is a photo of the same birdhouse, look at the design in the "muffin top" from the strong winds.

The warmup is here, we reached over 40 degrees yesterday and will be in the mid 30's for the rest of the week. My friend Deb sent me the following funny...

Look at this weather being all springy and cute like it didn't just try to kill us last week.