The Weather and Hodgepodge

 

Hello Friends,

No snow alert today. How about a humidity alert. Wisconsin is hot and humid. We have nasty storms in the forecast for the next few day.

Enough about the weather, it is time for the hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun! 

 1.  How would you define 'the good life'? 

I am living the good life. I have a beautiful home, garden, family, and friends.

I have my health.  

I have the freedoms that many do not have in our world.

I am thankful.

  2.  What's the most used app on your phone (and are you proud of that)? 

Weather App

I can look at the weather App, not believe what I just read. Open the App again in hopes it changed. I do this often during the winter when the temperature is -25 and the wind chill is -50!! I am in hopes the forecast will change in the matter of seconds I close and open the App.  The next few days we are going to have stormy weather, once again I will be checking often. 

3. 'Every rose has it's thorn', 'everything's coming up roses', 'looking through rose-colored glasses', 'it's no bed of roses' or 'stop and smell the roses'...which rose idiom best relates to something in your life currently. Explain.  

 

 I am going to say 'stop and smell the roses'. My husband and I are taking time each week to do something a bit different as a day date. We are going for one a week. So far we have done well, we have been creative. Some weeks the day date is very simple, with making dinner together. I will post soon on our progress. 

 4. How do you feel about floral flavorings in food or drink (rose, hibiscus, elderflower, lavender)? 

If we are talking tea, I love herbal teas and many have rose, hibiscus, elderflower and lavender in them. 

I have enjoyed different main course meals and desserts with lavender.  

5. Over the course of your life what have you probably spent more time pondering than anything else?  

 Pondering about my boys. Thinking about how they are doing in life now as grown men. And back when they were little, pondering on how well I was parenting them.

 6. Insert your own random thought here. 

They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.

 Carl Buechner

This and That

 

 

Hello Friends,

A little of this and that from me to you. 

Our weekly newspaper has a YesterYear section. I had to chuckle to read the February 22, 1884 entry.

 The first bounty ever paid to a woman in this county by killing a wild animal was paid this week to Mrs. Louisa Demars of Stanfold for dispatching, with a club according to the law, a wildcat that was bent on destruction for Mrs. Demars' chickens.

 I shared this with my friend Judy, who commented... " Don't mess with those chicken lovin' mamas!!!"

Our Wisconsin weather has been going from This to That... above you will see Ernie going for a walk with his friend Charlie and it was 55 degrees in February. I have Spring Fever and set out our lawn furniture and look what happened.

 

My husband enjoys tapping our maple trees and cooking down the sap. The start of our 2024 syrup season, dark sweet syrup. Yum!

 

 

When Dry Spells Become Drought

 

Hello Friends,

The above photo is from a garden we toured. I love the creativity using the cattle water tank to create a fairy garden.

Speaking of creativity, my husband and I got creative in adding some rain collection areas around our garden. We have two totes that the covers are broken. Instead of tossing the totes we set them up under other areas of water run off. We have a rain barrel water collecting system, it works wonderful. But, we need more water. We added the totes to collect water by our greenhouse and another area of our house. We do a happy dance when we receive just a wee bit of rain because every drop counts as we collect the water. In fact we received .03 " of rain the other night. We did not think the gauge would even record it was so little. But that little amount filled the totes and re filled the rain barrels 25%... like I said we will take every drop we can get.

Our county is in a severe drought.  This is the second major dry year we have endured. Sadly, this summer of 2023 is getting really dry and we are starting to notice all the stress on the plants.  With the drought in mind, I decided to write my July article for the Cameron Chronicle about how to survive a drought and starting to think about growing drought tolerant plants.

 

When Dry Spells Become Drought

By Carla TePaske of Cameron WI ~ The Little Garden That Could

Long periods of hot weather, without rainfall, remind us that water is a precious commodity. There are many things that gardeners can do to prepare for periods of drought, such as conserving water, mulching beds and borders, and choosing drought tolerant plants.

We will break down the three things that we can do to prepare for dry spells in the garden. Starting with conserving rain water, install a rain barrel kit. You can find these at Menards, Amazon, Home Depot and local hardware stores. You can also find Do It Yourself Kits online and on You Tube.

Mulching is an easy way to prepare for dry spells. Mulch is a thick layer of material placed over the soil and around the plants. Mulch helps suppress weeds and lock moisture into the soil while acting as a physical barrier to drying winds and direct sun.

There is a wide variety of mulches to use. Natural mulches include leaves, bark, and grass clippings. You can also purchase a mulch such as landscaping fabric, carpet squares or rubber mulch made from recycled tires.

Preparing for dry spells in the garden also means having plants that will cope well during the dry spell. One solution is to start planting more drought tolerant plants in our gardens. Drought tolerant plants usually native to dry regions such as the Mediterranean, have evolved to thrive in dry soils with little rainfall. When visiting your local Garden Center ask about drought tolerant plants.

Until next time, happy gardening!

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.

 

Button Up

 

Hello Friends,

Welcome November.. and it is time to button up.

My husband always calls out during that last week of October and the first week of November, "It is time to button up."

 The following can be checked off the list...

Spring bulbs planted  √

Garlic planted √

Garden hoses and water turned off  √

Outdoor pots and planters cleaned and stored  √

Outdoor furniture cleaned and put away √

Greenhouse cleaned  √

A few things that have to get finished up this coming week..

Winterize chicken coop

One last grill and the grill is cleaned and put away

 

We have enjoyed amazing weather these last few weeks of October and the first week of November. I am sharing a Weather Fun Fact..

November 2nd

1933 Eau Claire, Wisconsin reached a high temperature of 75 degrees  

2022 we tied that record, we enjoyed 75 degrees on November 2nd.

And how about the coldest temperature set for November 2nd?

1951 Negative 1 degree

I will take the 75!

Happy Weekend my friends and do you button up?

  

Let's discuss the weather!

 

Let's discuss the weather.

May 29th and May 30th,  I was scrambling to cover plants from a kill frost!

It may not look pretty, but it worked! I used boxes, tarps, blankets and sheets to save my tender annuals. 

 June 4th and June 5th brought 100 degree days!

 

We will have a short peony season.

 

HOT.. Northern Wisconsin plants.

 The irises are all popping out to bloom during this June heat wave.

Our week is full of days in the 90's and lows in the 70's. When I walk outside I do not feel like I am walking into a day in the month of June.

 

How is the weather in your neck of the woods?

 

This & That

 

A little This & That to share with you my friends.

Spring has sprung here. At the start, our weather was unseasonably warm for Northern Wisconsin spring, highs in the 80's. Needless to say my spring bulbs got a wee bit confused. I am so happy the weather decided to spend a little more time in the season of spring before heading off into summer. We are enjoying normal spring temperatures for April this week. The spring flowering plants are happy as well.. ahhh... not so hot!

♥ 

Our friend Marv is doing alright. He is getting more confused, but he still knows who I am when I call. He will not be able to travel. This makes him sad, he loved to take rides. Things are getting more difficult for him. He still has his sense of humor. He shared with me, he has three new girlfriends... who happen to be his daily visits from his home health care nurses.

 ♥

A story from my deliveries for Meals on Wheels. One of my dear participants shared with me this week that her niece was coming over with birdseed. She was so happy. She loves to feed the birds, deer, turkey and squirrel. She told me they are her company, she is never alone when she looks outside at her bird feeder.  She shared with me her husband would gift her for her birthday, a winter supply of sunflowers, cracked corn and suet for her to feed the birds and animals. 

She got a sad look on her face and she said, "he went and got sick on me, May 1st will be the anniversary of his death. Why did he have to go and get sick on me?"

I try to make her feel better. I tell her to remember him as she looks out at the birds and the animals. How much he loved that she enjoyed feeding the birds and animals. He is looking down on you and having your niece continuing to bring you seed, cracked corn and suet.

 ♥

My friend Kris of Big Rig's 'n Lil' Cookies shared the following recipe with us a few years ago. It has become a favorite of our family. We recently had a small gathering and I made Kris's famous Sugar Cookie Bars. All that attended wanted the recipe. I thought I would share it with you and for more great recipes have a peek at Kris's recipe index on her blog.

Click here for Kris's recipe index

Recipe by Kris of Big Rig's 'n Lil' Cookies

 Sugar Cookie Bars

1 cup butter, softened
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda


Frosting
1 cup butter, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/8 tsp salt
4-5 tbsp milk
Food coloring (optional)
sprinkles (optional, but recommend!)


Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line 15 x 10 baking sheet with parchment paper, set aside.  In large mixing bowl, cream butter, cream cheese, sugar and mix well.  Add egg, and continue mixing for about four minutes.  Add vanilla, and mix until well combined.

In small bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and baking soda.  Gradually add dry ingredients to butter mixture. Mix until flour is completely incorporated.

Press dough into prepared pan. Bake for 20 minutes, just until edges are a very light golden.

Cool completely.

While Sugar Cookie Bars are cooling, beat butter in large mixing bowl until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar. Blend in vanilla and salt. Add milk as needed to reach spreading consistency.

Enjoy!

Thawing Out

 

Hello Friends,

We are officially thawing out. Our cold weather started the week of February 8th and continued until February 20th.  Our lowest temperature was NEGATIVE 30 and that was the temperature, not adding the wind. My big worry was that our chickens would struggle during this cold spell. 

They were brave Wisconsin Hens!! They took the challenge of the cold weather and blessed us with eggs each and every day.

 We have five hens, Lolly, Polly, Molly, Dolly and Holly.

If you guessed that big egg was a double yoke, you guessed right.

Quiche has been a favorite meal for my husband and I, we have been on a quiche kick around here.

Bacon and Onion Quiche

1/2 pound of bacon

5 large eggs

1 cup heavy cream

1 medium onion

1/2 teaspoon of ground white pepper

8 ounces of Gruyere Cheese shredded (about 2 cups)  

* NOTE* we will substitute 1/2 cup of Swiss and 1/2 cup of Munster if we do not have Gruyere available

1 unbaked pie crust ~ 9 inch

*NOTE* when making pie, I will make extra crusts to freeze. When we get a taste for quiche, we  can take a pie crust right out of the freezer, let it sit for an hour or two and it is ready.

 

 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Arrange the bacon on a sheet pan, bake, drain, roughly chop and set aside.

Chop your onion.

In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and cream until combined and smooth. Stir in the bacon, onion, white pepper and cheese. Pour the mixture into the pie shell.

Transfer to the oven, bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 35 minutes.

Remove from the oven, let cool for 15 minutes to allow the eggs to set.

Slice and serve warm.

Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. We enjoy left over quiche just as much, it is easy to reheat and the flavors have blended more. Yum! Yum!

 My friend Kathy shared this poem with me.

I officially have spring fever! How about you?

Have a Happy Weekend!

  ♥

Carla

Joy List Monday and March Weather

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

 This does not look like JOY .. well that is me about March weather. I am not a fan of the month of March in Wisconsin. Spring fever has set in, we look outside and see that lovely sunshine. We step outside to a freezing cold wind blowing hard making your eyes water. We have days in the 50's and think, yes, an early spring and then a wet heavy snow dumps making everything messy. Speaking of messy! Early Spring in Wisconsin may as well be called MUD SEASON! We really have FIVE seasons here in Wisconsin, MUD SEASON comes before true Spring.

If I seem a wee bit grumpy during the month of March. It is because March and I do not get along. Did I happen to mention, I HATE MUD!

I am going to pull up my boot straps and charge into the month of March with a Joy List Monday!

Here we go!

 ♥ sunshine

 ♥safe travels to my parents .. spending a lovely day with them

 ♥ cozy evenings sitting by the fireplace with a hot cup of tea, a warm blanket, a kitty on my lap and a good book

 ♥ honey .. I just love honey. Thank You bees!

♥ my new lemon scented candle

 

Old Fashioned Weather Forecasting

 

 

Hello March

 Did March come in like a lion or a lamb? 

 

 When clouds appear like towers, the Earth is refreshed by frequent showers.

Large, white clouds that look like cauliflower or castles in the sky indicate a lot of changing weather going on inside. Harmless clouds look like billowy cotton, not towers. If the clouds start to swell and turn gray, they'll probably turn into thunderstorms.

 Rainbow in the morning gives you fair warning.

A rainbow in the morning indicates a shower is to the west and you will most likely get rain.

 Ring around the moon? Rain real soon.

A ring around the moon usually signals an advancing warm front, which means precipitation. Under those conditions, high, thin clouds get lower and thicker as they pass over the moon. Ice crystals are reflected by the moon's light, causing a halo to appear.

Clear moon, frost soon.

When the night sky is clear, Earth's surface cools rapidly and there is no cloud cover to keep the heat in.  If the night is clear enough to see the moon and the temperature drops enough, frost will form.