Back to Baraboo Wisconsin

We have spent so many family vacations at Devils Lake State Park and I have always wanted to go back just for a day trip to walk and explore with my dear husband. So off we went last week and the park was as spectacular as I remembered. 

I mean really, Autumn in Wisconsin, much less Baraboo, who could ask for more! 

Well may be Paris, Munich, Vienna....

but I only had one day off so Baraboo it was.

We hiked for about 2 hours up to the top of the bluffs and the view

......oh my,,,,

Where we parked

Then we climbed and climbed and climbed some more

Where we stopped for pictures

Where we stopped for more pictures

And another picture

And at the top where we took it all in!

The Accidental Empress

In 2014 I was in Vienna. I know....so amazing! Sometimes my memory takes me back and sometimes a book will. Friend Earlene suggested a book that she thought I might enjoy and thus my journey back to Austria began. We were able to walk through the castle where the Empress (Sisi) lived and see what compromised her daily life. There were reproductions of dresses she wore which are just magnificent. Being a seamstress I can't even imagine the work involved in the making of them. 
Well, my friend was right about the book. It was an incredibly good read. I found myself reading slowly because I didn't want the book to end. I finished it several days ago and I can only hope there will be a sequel to it in the future. 

September 16th

According to a Harvard Study this is the most popular day to be born. 

So happy Birthday to all of your born on September 16th!!!

Maine Coon

Friends of mine have a cat....well actually they have 2....
There is Vree
Sweet, cute but a little skittish
And no wonder. She lives with Tars, a huge Maine Coon.
He is no doubt one of the most beautiful cats I have ever seen seen.
He has the ability to be sweet and purring one moment and the next he is attacking your feet like prey. He can be resting one moment and in a nano second will spring unexpectedly on Vree as she is merely walking by. 

Strangely, he always seems to want to lay on my lap. 

Is he trying to win me over? 

Lull me into thinking he is to be trusted? 

I think not! 

I will keep a wary eye on this one as I tentatively stroke his impossibly soft fur.

The many faces of Tars

First Day back at work

Well it finally happened....I went back to work. 

I actually have to say that the timing was perfect. I was able to enjoy so much time at home getting caught up on things that I didn't have the time to do before. Like visit with dear friends, read alot of books and clean out areas of the house that needed to be done. AND sit and watch the snow fall, the rain bucket down and stay inside warm and dry. 

I didn't have to fight the traffic to be somewhere at a specific time. 

But best of all I was able to be outside on beautiful days.  

For all of that and more I am so grateful.

But it was time to get back to reality and the company and people  I am working for are wonderful. 

Now I know you'll be jealous but I get to wear jeans....every day!

When I came home at the end of the week here is what dear husband had waiting for me.

Down at the Farm

I can hardly wait to get back to my friends farm in Indiana. I want to sit in her front yard and watch the multitude of hummingbirds that are always there

and of course relax and enjoy the company of my two wonderful friends

Chris and Susie.

FYI--She serves ice tea or lemonade!

Scones

Today is the day. I know it's" hot" degrees outside but I'm determined to make scones. 

I have the recipe, cranberries and an orange so here I go. 

I love scones...

I crave scones

But they have to be the right texture and and definitely not smothered in frosting. 

I don't want anything to disguise the scrumptious flavor. 

Maybe a little coarse sugar on top? 

I can hardly wait to get started....fingers crossed this is the perfect recipe for me!

Looks perfect right?!?
I need to tweek the cook time in the future tho.
Thanks to friend Celine for the recipe!

Once in a Blue Moon

On July 31 of this year we were able to view the super moon. It was gigantic!!! and oh so beautiful. Even if you don't have a preoccupation with the moon and how beautiful it ordinarily is this phenom was certainly something to see!

I was out and about and people were pulling over on the side of the road to stop and look!

There was a  full moon twice in the month of July
thus the "once in a blue moon" phrase.

New York

England

Indiana

(compliments of friend Susie)

Moon rising over our local college

Cappadocia Turkey

I tuned into the Rick Steves show today and they were visiting Turkey. 
It was an excellent show (as they always are) and the highlight for me was the hot air balloon rides over the Cappadocia area.... it was breathtaking

Steves covered a lot of the  local history and this episode is online at his site if you're interested it learning more.

https://www.ricksteves.com

Tomato Jungle

It was quite exhilarating to have my first picking of tomatoes this year. I love to see the end of all the work of starting them from seed, re-potting as they get bigger and finally planting them outside.

It all seems a bit late to me but it's probably due to the unusual weather we have had this year.

Hot - Cold

Cold - Hot

That being said take a look at these cuties!

It is hard to believe that I get excited about this because unless they're cooked 

I really don't care for the taste of tomatoes. 

I make myself try them every year but.....still not a big fan of the taste

but they certainly are lovely! 

It's hard to believe that I planted a teeny tiny seed last March 

and now it's a gigantic

plant!

I haven't seen my wind chime in a long time. It's in there somewhere!

Look at these beauties!

The rocks are pretty awesome too.....

Paper Napkins

I was remembering that my mom always used cloth napkins.....bless her heart.....

regardless of what was on the menu. I carried over many traditions from her, like cutting sandwiches at an angle or using Kraft Mayo, but with 5 sons cloth napkins was not one of them! 

I generally don't have a favorite brand of either. My thought process is that in about an hour they will be thrown out and grandson Wes, in an effort to keep clean, goes through a minimum of 3 napkins per meal. No messy face and hands for him!

As a side note....this is the only time he attempts to stay clean.

Marcal Napkins

What a awesome idea!

Voila! No more napkins spilling out of an open bag!

I'm curious why other companies aren't doing this!

Al Fresco Chicken Sausage

Friend Susie introduced me to this and all I can say about it is.....

Oh, Yum! 

It makes me want to go make breakfast!

Yep...that's what I'm going to do!

http://www.alfrescoallnatural.com/

Vintage Quilt

 Another fabulous find by my Kindle DIL. 

Though she sold it already, she admits to feeling sad saying good bye to it so soon. 

 ~~~~ It's even prettier in real life ~~~~

The pink squares are roses--so lovely!

Autograph Books

Tho I have looked at these little books many, many times 

it still makes me smile as I go thru them. 

They belonged to my mom and a time when you remembered people from school

 with words and not selfies or professional class pictures. 

Here is a sampling of what's inside this priceless book.

Enjoy!

Steamed Chocolate Pudding~~AKA Bossie Cow Pudding

We celebrated with family yesterday. 

Father's Day, birthdays, the announcement that that the new grand baby will be a boy, 

early fireworks etc .

What a lovely day.

Of course it's always lovely to be surrounded by people you love.

The birthday request for dessert was a family recipe of mine called Bossie Cow Pudding.

 however it's not for everyone according to my 5 sons. 

Only one of them likes it and I'm not sure what's wrong with the rest of them! 

Tho my smart DIL's and my son's amazing girlfriend love it as much as I do. 

Last night after trying it for the first time Zoe's mom said it was like a chocolate hug! 

Yes it is!

~~~The name~~~

When my dad was very young and his family was having it for dessert he christened it Bossie Cow Pudding. You see, one of the ingredients for the  sauce ( starting to drool ) that is poured over the cake is evaporated milk and since there was a cow on the can of  Pet Milk

 ...ta da ...the name stuck 

I don't make this decadent dessert very often since it's one of those things I could eat ALL day long. 

If you're interested in the recipe let me know. 

I'd be happy to share the "Chocolate Hug" with you!