M-m-m Fall Y'all!

Now that I have my Sylvester pumpkin in place, it was time to get some fall goodies this weekend.

Several years ago – maybe 10? – our Wild Women's Weekend was down in Amish country, rural Cashton. And we all were introduced to and fell in love with Cashew Crunch!

Thank goodness for Amish vendors at the farmers market and the Nekoosa Giant Pumpkin Fest. I could stock up for our getaway next week! I mean there's so many reasons I am the favorite sister, but this one helps!

Knowing I had to resist the crunch temptation, I made sure I got another fall flavor I could dive into. This carrot cake had to be the best Monday lunch ever!

There's 3 layers and I still have 2 more to go! I'm no quitter. I'll power through!

And then there's my pumpkin-flavored fry pies. Oh mercy. I bought 2 of them and am waiting for a reason to "deserve" them. Maybe getting through a Monday is enough! I'm good with that fall vibe.

Hope you're enjoying the taste of fall, y'all!

Summer Sweets and Treats

Summer is always full of cool treats – and some that are just delicious room temperature ones! Three examples:

1. I forgot to mention that after we all went to an early dinner after the dance recital, we (Ken, RoAnn, and I) were on a mission to find some good "hard" ice cream on the way home. However, there were so many detours just to get back home that we said screw it – let's just get it at the grocery store near Pine City!

Of course, after being in air-conditioning and walking into their very cool house, Ro and I said we needed to light the fire "pit" on the deck before we sat out there and ate the ice cream. Sometimes you have to warm up enough to eat ice cream, ya know? Smile if you understand our logic!

Side note: It was Cedar Crest Blueberry Waffle Cone. So good!

2. Both mornings I was there, I had a slice of delicious Amish Friendship Bread for breakfast. Amish Friendship Bread is like an adult chain letter for people who like to bake! Once you accept that batch of "starter" you cannot leave the cult. You can only break the chain by throwing away whatever starters you can't give away – including your own! So I resisted getting back into that (been there, done that) but did take a half-plus loaf home.

Got home from work today and this is what is left! So I guess hubby does like it. I remember that now. Should've rejoined the damn cult!

3. On my way home from work, I had to hunt and gather ingredients that may or may not be used in a trifle soon. (Hey, gotta get one more in before we're all working from home for 6 weeks!) And that's when I met my sweetest downfall.

Hadn't seen these before nor purchased them. But they fit my "theme." I am a huge HUGE coconut anything and everything fan. But I still felt I should taste test one when I got home. Just to be sure it would blend with the rest of the flavors and all that. I demand quality in my creations! 

Or something.

Anyway, I kid you not, I moaned out loud at first bite. Holy perfectly delicious flavor combination! Good thing Jim is golfing or he'd wonder what the hell was happening in the kitchen!!

I quickly shoved them in the fridge to chill with the other cookies – you have to do that so they cut up nicely (rather than mushy) the next day. But you know that from my previous Trifle Tutorials. I don't know how I can stay away from them! This will be my biggest test of willpower strength in recent days, that's for sure.

I mean I do have another cookie type to cut up as well for the cookie layer, so I might not need to "use" all them. #MeJustifyingANewAddiction. Bwaahaa.

Just... if you love coconut like I do, get yourself some of these!!!

I mean it is a flavor of summer after all... at least tropical islands that are summer year-round! Enjoy the treats of the season!

Voice of God: Take a Day Off Already!

I may have been the voice of God streaming down with lights from the clouds – or just my maximized stress levels – but my mind got the message to take the day off today. Shout out to Mental Health Awareness Month!

Slept in to make up for many sleep-deprived nights this week. That was a good start. Had to be sure I was up and showered in time to go to my one-hour deep tissue massage. Priorities!

Then it was a crap-ton of errands and special shopping...

As in let me check out some area greenhouses for hanging flower baskets! I visited Ella's on the recommendation of a friend.

I guess these "cone" type holders are a trend this year but my hanging baskets aren't very elevated so that didn't speak to me. I had to bypass those.

What did speak to me was that ONE hanging basket could take up the back of my vehicle for the very reasonable price of $36.

Fits perfectly in the front deck galvanized tin. Now I'll have to figure out the rest of my color scheme for the front facing part of the deck another day! Isn't that crazy amazing? I realize quite a few people I know were hopping around at Amish greenhouses today, too. So I'll have to check things out Sunday or Monday.

Another buy... and keep this under your hats so we don't offend Mr. Deck Chair...

I'm NOT exactly replacing Mr. Deck Chair. He just has new friends... who happen to have places built in for phones and water bottles.

Also, I thought these would match well with our new siding from last summer. Close but not quite the same. However, I'm glad I snapped the photo because holy crap, our deck needs attention this $ummer! Gah.

I did get some steps in after "work hours" but then remembered one of our favorite book club books was being featured on Netflix only starting today – in a remarkable movie starring Sally Field. So good!! Don't be intimidated that this is about an octopus that talks to a human. That's not what's happening. He may have thoughts, but humans can't hear those.

In the end, he just realizes (just like in the book), "Humans. For the most part, you are dull and blundering. But occasionally, you can be remarkably bright creatures." 

Great Kleenix-filled way to wrap up that Godsend of a day off!

Off The Griddy

Much like this Amish buggy I recently saw on my road trip to Minnesota, I was blissfully off the grid today. 

My exhaustion caught up with me and I was in bed until 9:25 a.m.! No way I was getting to 9:30 church on time. So I stayed home. And pretty much stayed put all day. I had one quick run to Wal-Mart to get a printer cartridge, but otherwise was in my office typing up address labels for funeral thank-yous and editing hoops pictures from yesterday.

I relaxed and watched a little Hallmark, too. There's nothing else on for us purple people. We have our W for the week and are off the Griddy for today, too!

As we wrap up Gratitude month, may we all find a reason to do a little dance this week!

STD (Super Technology Dependent)

Technology is great. Until it isn't. Ever have one of those days where you wish you were living the simple life and didn't have to rely on technology?

Yeah, me neither. I mean, it does save a lot time and effort for certain tasks. When it works.

Today, the geek squad gods were against me. Had so many issues with my laptop for work. I've been lucky so far, considering I'm 173 days into this and have had decent connectivity. That's one of those fancy words we tech-dependent folks use.

After what seemed like an extra long day of work – highlighted with impatience and hair pulling – I felt like I needed to hitch up the buggy and take a ride.

Thankfully, I didn't have to go to that extreme, but it would be nice if tomorrow could trot by without complications.  So if you geek gods are listening, I'm thanking you in advance for a productive day with minimal cursing and crashes.

Giddy up!

Wild and Wacky

Not that you would doubt that our Wild Women's Weekends are truly wild, but I'll share some wild and wacky photos to confirm it. Just a few weird snapshots and then I'll move on to real life one of these days...

OK, nothing tops the Sasquatch sign. Just found it hilarious when you read the fine print at the bottom that he is "prone to beer" and that the warned was posted by the "Wisconsin Department of Unnatural Resources."

Sign hanging at the apple orchard store we visited because, well, they were selling apple wine!

Did you ever see the Disney or Pixar movie Monsters, Inc.? That's what came to mind as soon as I saw this chair and door hanging on the outside of a building. If you are ever in Shell Lake, Wis., stop by the Potter's Shed and see the eclectic collection of items on display. And bring your camera. Oh, and wallet. Even though I just browsed.

Cool parrot crafted from a crescent wrench and other rusty items from the tool box. Polly wanna cracker or WD-40/

Where is the restroom? Oh just follow the signs. And make that "honeywagon," not restroom.

I love the "unattended children" signs. And they are serious. Although it looks like a lot of "junk" at the Potter's Shed, it's pricey junk. And old.

Venus Fly Traps already freak me out. Sharp, metallic teeth seal the deal. 

Blue Ribbon beauty in the Northwoods! Nothing says Wisconsin like a boat, a lake and PBR!

Didn't see Sasquatch, but we think we saw his hairy offspring. Walka! Yes, I killed it. And yes, I may have screwed up the whole ecosystem of the Northwoods. Just couldn't risk it getting into the cabin! (You're welcome, sisters!)

Me pondering how wild I should get on Wild Women's Weekend. Right. The answer is heck no, I did not get a tattoo.

Out for a bike ride with my sisters...

OK, maybe not. We may have been in the middle of nowhere, but we weren't roughing it THIS much! I saw this on the way home Sunday. I often see Amish men on bicycles along the 4-lane Highway 29. This was the first I saw the ladies out for a Sunday stroll.

What did I do before having a camera on my phone? Grab. Click. Capture. And yes, I kept my eyes on the road. That's why I got 2 pictures out of 8 to work!

Thanks for letting me share part of our weekend. We did plenty of bonding, talking, laughing, crying, and game playing. But most of what happens at Sister Weekend stays at Sister Weekend...

Spread Blame, Not Germs

I'm still not sure who to blame.... the Amish, my sisters, a redneck or Fonzie for standing me up in the cold wind at Inspiration Point. Regardless, someone out there gave me a gift to last all week.

Achoo!

By intermission of the Willie and Merle concert, I needed to get a bottle of water because my throat was scratchy. By noon Monday, I felt like I'd been hit by a bus, or perhaps an Amish buggy. Went home and was in bed shortly after 8 p.m.

After of fun night of sleeping with tissues stuffed up my nose, I took some meds for cold and for allergies. The problem is that you take these "only 1 dose per 24 hours" things and then you are helpless the rest of the day!

Gotten a little better each day but am not totally in the clear. Have not heard word one from any sister claiming to be sick this week. Either they don't want to take the blame or I am just lucky.

So I am pampering myself with yummy shots of Emergen-C, cherry Sucrets, hot tea and, well Pumpkin Spice Eggnog. Hey, I saw it by the milk and just HAD to try it. If I feel better tomorrow, we'll know I'm onto something deliciously magical.


If not, I'll continue to be good about covering my coughs, washing my hands often and not kissing any guys in black leather jackets.

Check Your Surroundings

Our criteria for choosing a site for sister weekend is pretty minimal. First, pick a weekend we all have available (a challenge with 7 schedules!). We do enjoy the fall colors and mild temperatures so we shoot for September or October. This year was the latest in the year we've gathered.

Second, try to find a general location within driving distance for 6 of the 7 sisters (unless we're actually going to Texas to Rayna's), and then a specific location within that location that will house 7 people. It could be a touristy town or one we've never heard of before. I have never heard of Lanesboro, Minnesota, despite its reputation as the Bed and Breakfast Capital of Minnesota. Most of us hadn't, so it was a great excuse to check out our surroundings.

Lanesboro is sort of nestled among the hilly terrain and bluffs along the Root River. Rainy day on Friday but a view from "up town" still shows the dam / waterfall in the distance.

 

Close-up of waterfall.

Lots of neat old building downtown that have been converted into shops, inns or restaurants.

 

Would love to live on Coffee Street, wouldn't you?

 

As part of our Amish tour on Friday we swung by the oldest church in Fillmore County.

I was reminded of the church and school from Little House on the Prairie.

In fact, it is so old, the American flag hanging on the wall only has 44 stars. Now that's neat to see.

During our Amish tour, we realized we were only a few miles from Iowa. When one of my sisters said she'd never been there, we all said, "Let's go!" So Saturday featured shopping in downtown Lanesboro, followed by a trip south to Iowa. I have no idea what the passersby were thinking when they saw us determined to get a group picture!

But I wish one of them would have stopped to volunteer to take one so we didn't have to use a selfie-turned-group photo!

Then, as long as we were IN Iowa, we figured we'd continue down the road a few miles to Decorah... just because.

Decorah is home to Luther College and a Norwegian-American museum!

They had a Norwegian sweater display going on. So cool!

Little knit sweaters on every post!

A church downtown with a neat clock tower on top. Reminded me of Back to the Future movie.

Pretty scenery on the drive back to Lanesboro at dusk.

Almost a full moon... not that you can tell anyway when us 7 girls get together!

Capturing a moment with Raylene. Don't see my twin -- or any of my siblings -- often enough!

 

One last stop before leaving town. I'd probably still be waiting at Inspiration Point for The Fonz, but I had to get back home and find my thrill on Blueberry Hill, er Blue Jay Drive.

 

Aaaay!