A Day at Dar's

Years ago, this was one of the ' tools of trade,' to get the hay made. That, in turn, feed the cattle, to make the milk and cheese products we consume, besides the juicy steaks, roasts, and sausages we carve.

Needless to say, as times change, tools change. Our dump rake that aided in making the windrows during haying season, now sits back at the cabin as a decorative feature. I want it home, so I can enjoy it with tons of flowers planted around it, don't you think?
It was a gorgeous, blue sky, breezy, hot Saturday, so some boot-kicking ...
or other persuading, had to be done to get things rolling, no pun intended.
Fancy windrows were made. A farmer the other side of the river cuts our field so it doesn't grow up in weeds and alders.
I love the smell of fresh cut hay and watching as they roll it into those huge, round bales over and over.
On our way to another food plot that needed planting, look who landed by my hand to hitch a ride. He wasn't about to leave without a little persuading. It took a clover flower to convince him there were better places to beeee.
On the way to the plot, I noticed how nice the poplar saplings are coming since this 40 had been clear-cut 10 yrs. ago. It's amazing how quickly a forest regenerates itself.
The garden is coming along fine too, in spite of the torrential downpours we had been having. One end flooded, taking over a week to begin to dry. It is finally showing some promise of produce by fall.
Thick clover plots is what my guys are looking for in their food plots. My apologies if you do not understand, but luring deer to the plots for a safe shot at a manageable one, feeds our families and those of the community. Venison steak is one of the healthiest meats ' on the market.'

Before they get clover as lush and enticing as this, first we must...
plow, disc, pick rock,...
seed the plot, and roll it or drive over the field to press the seed into the soil so the wind and birds don't take it. Then we wait, pray for rain again, and lots of heat.

This field was quite wet already so should come fast with the heat we have been having. I suffered a little heatstroke yesterday, so I'm taking pictures while my brother and dear Willy are finishing up. Look at Bill go with that seeder.
Finally, we got to do this under the shade, rest and relax while eating ice cream cones.
The house smelled wonderful as the beef roast, carrots, celery, onions roasted in their juices in the slow-cooker while we worked. To complete the meal, all I had to do was finish the mashed potatoes and make gravy from the drippings. What a feast. It was topped off with the apple turnovers I had baked in the morning before we headed to the feed store for seed.

It was another very productive Saturday. We feel good, and want to keep this pace up as long as we can. Life is Great!

Stay Active and

BlessYourHearts

Road Trippin' Again

We were so fortunate to have another ' Blue Sky ' day, so my sister Mel, friend Karen and I hit the road to investigate a succulent greenhouse we had heard about that was 42 miles from my house. Mel strapped her hubby's ladyfriend, Slim's Girl, the Garmin guide, to the dashboard, and away we went.After our ride through unknown territory, very desolate roads, we finally arrived at the Big Brook Greenhouse, known on the net as Simply Succulents. WHAT a Wonderful Treat. The Sempervivum, semp, also known as a Hen and Chicks variety above, is called Oddity. And what an oddball it was, so tubular and mysterious-looking.
As you can see, the grounds were outstanding as we were free to stroll about and fill our heads with yet another gardeners dream of doing the same. There were ideas everywhere. I can't wait to get the tractor fired up and turning a section of the yard into a succulent haven. This, of course, I will have to do while Willy is on a hunting trip. He won't like another thing to mow around, but then, no matter, since I'm the one who loves to mow.

We were greeted by Voodoo, the gal with the Voodoo sedum hair. She is just the most charming, don't you think?
Another greeter was Mr. Turtle with a back full of sedums. He had a whole family of youngins' roaming about the grounds and on the tables in the greenhouses. What a whimsical sight.
Pooch and his pals were scattering everywhere, cats, dogs, lizards glaring at us with their sparkling eyes.
Even the rooftops were alive.
The pottery jar was loaded with just one years growth of semps and sedums. Fabulous!
This one is in my future. They did not have any available and the name of this beauty escapes me. I love the flattened, daisy-like bloom with such a vivid color. There were too many succulents to show you all. My pocketbook is going to go blank if I were to get them all. They had over 100 varieties, and are still growing. The succulents are the specialty of this greenhouse in Cable, WI. and what a special treat to be able to visit.
The area we were in was obviously a tourist area with interests for all, like these chainsaw carvings. This drive-by shot is all I got as we were dehydrating and needed sustenance., so on we went.
Mel guided us to the Green Lantern, so named by it's glowing check-out light.
If you are ever in Glidden, WI. you Must take a detour off the main highway a block and a half to the east, and visit this charming eatery/bar/ice cream shop/R&R/antique Restaurant called The Green Lantern. It had the best food and such HUGE servings. I ordered a basket and I thought she had misunderstood me and brought me a dinner plate. Bill had his supper, thanks to their lumberjack servings, because there was no way I could eat 3 huge fillets of fish in one sitting. The meals also came with a variety of chips and homemade salsa that was out of this world. We all went away ready for a nap., so full of good eats.
The butler insisted we have a mint for the road. He was so courteous.
It was a wonderful afternoon. The weather had cooled and was perfect for roaming around outside. The company was hilarious. I would do it all over again, well, except for one thing. Don't ask!

Have a safe weekend, and keep your eye on the road. Watch out for the blue bubble and mind your speed.

BlessYourHearts

Missing Home Sweet Home

What a difficult day. Right about where the small black spot just under the larger one, in the north central part of this Wisconsin-shaped rock, is where we live.

At the moment this is being written, my heart is a long way from there. Yesterday morning I watched my son leave for a far away place from his home stomping grounds. He is about to embark on quite the adventure half way across the world.
Andy hopped a ride to China. He will be doing some technical computer programming and trouble-shooting computers the size of my daughters house pictured in my last post. We are so proud of him. He was a total wreck when he left. He has never flown before now and for his first flight to be an 18 hour one out of Chicago, direct, he was pretty nervous. If he is anything like his mother, he is going to love flying but hate the length of time being cooped up in one place. He is a long legged fella of 6'6", so I hope he stretches a few times.

Just got a call from his girlfriend, He is on solid ground again, Loved flying, and is looking forward to his next couple of weeks. I'm waiting for his call on Skype, a wonderful invention! Amen!

I was so jittery for him yesterday that I spent the day full of distractions. My girlfriend from the east coast Virginia, is home so we spent the morning strolling through some shops and having lunch together. We took a walk around the yard and checked on some of my wind-torn, rain-beaten flowers such as...

this golden Asian Lily...

the Red Beebalm,
another Asiatic Lily bud that will open to be Maroon...
a group of pink Phlox and what Mel and I call Bluebells...does anyone know the real name of these purple spiked beauties?
Monkshood, so named for the hood the blooms wear sheltering their flowers...these were from my Great Grandmothers garden way up north,
A couple of repeat blooming Knock-Out pink Roses playing peek-a-boo in the Ribbon Grass,
Giant Delphiniums , the last standing one. The rest of this bed is lying on the ground due to the heavy rains we had a couple nights ago...
Another storm lay overhead, so after supper, around 8 p.m. last night, Bill decides he wants help reseeding a food plot for the fall deer hunt, so we beat it down the road to the nearest strip of prepared land.
It takes 14 lbs. to seed an acre, so 7 1/4 lbs. is measured out for this field, as it is just over 1/2 an acre in size. The green spreader will be filled half full about 4-5 times to walk the field.
Bill drags the plowed field one more time to loosen the soil to receive the seed while...
I walk and spread the seed with the seeder...
Bill then drives over and over again with the 4-wheeler to pack the seed into the ground...
And then it rained...

So it went the past couple of days...

Have a great day and thank God for Everything

We are blessed

Road Trippin'

We heard about this place that we had to visit. My daughter's family just bought some acreage with an old white farmhouse. So, over the Chippewa River, under the Blue Cornell Bridge, through the fields and woods, we go.We pull up Darcie's driveway to be greeted by a doe and her two fawns grazing in the field.
The farmhouse was homesteaded in 1886, and since has been restored somewhat, and has now become a new home for my daughter and her family. Her hubby is happy with his 'huge' garage, the boys have 8 acres to stretch their growing legs, and Darcie has room for her horses to roam, her mind to wander again.
The family dog, Bandit, even has his own handicap ramp for his arthritic legs for less painful access. He sure is getting around s l o w., these days. Poor ol' pooch. That's him lying in front of the house, close to his ramp.
The yard has so many mature trees, black oak as big around as a merry-go-round, and some sumac, maples, pine and pin oaks too.
It was a great way to spend a couple of days, wandering around the grounds, identifying plants for her, she is not a gardener, and having a corn roast.

On our way, I couldn't help but grab the camera, as this church in Bloomer sat in the middle of a corn field. Now , That's a Country Church!
For you guys out there, thought you'd like to take a peek at Bill's new dream machine. Soon!, Bill, Soon!
Gotta run...someone's at the door

BlessYourHearts

Early Americana

Here is wishing each and every true blooded American, a happy 4th of July weekend. This says it all...our flag we so love, wrapped in God's promising rainbow. I have taken many flag photos but this one taken across my field,

3 summers ago, remains my favorite. It speaks volumes to me.

I have not been around home much this past week. I have been helping our neighbors organize, clean and move things around a bit, so they could more easily sell some of Ted's many items of the past. His Dad was quite the collector, as you will see by the tons of things in this storage building.

This open seat Army saddle had a bird's nest in it way up in the rafters. Can you imagine riding a saddle with no seat? It reminds me of riding the bony back of an old mare at the farm, Old Babe, was her name. You might just as well ride bareback.
Betty and I washed the eons of dust and dirt from what we could, so treasures at least could be recognized. Most of the smaller items went for a song...like these hand pumps.
The carriages, sleighs, cutters, wagons, buggies, were cleaned and waxed until they began to tell stories of old.

I went online to find reasonable unrestored prices for them to tag their items.

This old stagecoach was made by a local fella many years ago, for Ted's Dad. Old Ted used to drive his horses pulling several of these horsedrawn modes of transportation in many a 4th of July, Flambeau Rama and Pioneer Days Parades in our local towns, Park Falls and Butternut. The Ol' Fella Loved to show off his horses.
Wouldn't you just love a ride in this buggy. I remember this one from high school years when a fringe was dressed around the front of the canapy and it was used in the play, "Oklahoma." It is not a surrey but it passed for one that year.
The red wagon is an authentic supply wagon that was used to carry supplies to and from the hardware store before automobiles were used. Behind the seat, is a stand for an umbrella 'just in case of rain.', Ol' Ted used to tell me. The front is reversible, he'd say, for either one horse or two, depending on how heavy the load was expected to be or how badly the roads were broken up. On the back of the supply wagon, are two steps. This was the easiest of all of the wagons, buggies, etc, to enter, other than the cutter (sleigh).
The two seated buggy was the family car back then, having room enough for the folks and all the children, or, I wonder if there was such a thing as 'double-dating? I suppose it was more likely, an elderly escort was required, or a driver?

I couldn't help but wonder what these wagons had to say as I was sitting in the seats or shining its wheels.
Here's another buggy, but a single seat. The seats were made of wire springs, tightly covered with straw, then leather. The seat of this one was missing and replaced with a fancy carpet remnant, certainly not of its era. Notice the round step behind the wheel. All of the wagons and buggies have them. They are tricky to use unless you are spry as a junebug.
I haven't had time to research this yet, but it sure interests me. The advertisement for the hardware store has a 3 digit number. I am wondering if it is from the crank telephone days...does anyone know?
No matter, it sure looked cool shading this buckboard. Get this, and I cringed, Ted sold it for $10. I sure wish I had known he was going to sell it separate from the buggy. Oh, well, I have pictures.
The wagon wheel full of oil lanterns is being left in tact. Phew...one saved.
One quarter of this wall was filled with horse hames. They are the sections that lay over the horses leather collar, that the reins thread through. The collars keep the reins from rubbing and irritating the neck of your faithful leader, your horse.
Another section was filled with gardening tools, logging tools and barn and yard equipment. Bill bought the wide close-toothed fork for rock-picking. Quite useful and he says it works like a charm. The huge loppers on the far right are for dehorning a cow or bull. Anyone need one? It weighs a ton and can cut 3 feet away so you don't get horned in the process. It works quick and with centrifical force of 3oo lbs. Ouch! NOT a toy.
You cannot have a community without a hearse. This one also was made for Ol' Ted for his museum that he opened for School Children Tours. He loved to tell stories of old to the kids. He was quite the educator. It was so much fun for my grandson to hear some of the same stories from Ol' Ted's son, Teddy. He hung on every word.
The far end of the building is full of eveners that were attached to the front of the horsedrawn carriages, buggies, wagons, cutters, etc., to assist in keeping the team of horses or a single horse pulling the wagons even, thus the name 'evener.'
So, hop on, like I had the privilege of doing over and over this past week. Take a step back in time and imagine what life must have been like in the ' horse and buggy ' days. Imagine life without paved roads or headlights. Eat a little dust on your ride, and you will truly realize how fortunate we are today.
Bless America and Thank God for Your Independence.

Have a Sparkling, Explosive 4th of July Everyone and Stay Safe.

"Hunker-Down Results"

No pictures today, just an update. I have been making gradual changes, not only for myself, but for Bill and anyone else who seats at my table.

We have now, after 10 years, totally eliminated table salts from our diets. We have switched to herbs, most often, basil, oregano, Italian spices, coarse black pepper, cayenne, paprika, garlic granules, and some onion powder. The only thing we salt are our morning egg, on occasion, and when we cook potatoes or noodles and then the salt of choice is Sea Salt which is made of evaporated sea water. Noodles we seldom have., too high in carbs. And tho we love potatoes, the one of choice has become the Red Pontiac which are the lowest in carbs compared to the occasional treat of a Yukon Gold. Hey, we can't give up everything at once.

We now eat red meat no more than twice a week, mainly concentrating on chicken, turkey, salmon and cod. When we are lucky, my brother or the boys will come home with fresh caught catfish or trout., very healthy eating so long as it is not submerged in too much oil.

We always have eaten plenty of fresh, frozen or garden canned veggies and fruits. We have increased those also, being more attentive to the ones with the natural sugars in them like, carrots, beets, sugar snap peas, onion, yes, onions, oranges, etc. and moderate amts. of the high carb ones like potatoes, winter squash. Oh, don't get me wrong, we still eat them but EVERYTHING in Moderation has been the trial for both of us. It's tough. Just try to remember to put 1/3 meat or fish on your plate, and 2/3 veggies, and you will not believe the difference in your numbers.

As for snacks, we used to hoard the chips and frozen treats...not anymore. We still sneak them rarely, I might add, but have now been eating more of the healthy snacks like almonds and pecans. They have the complex carbs rather than the empty ones. Shucks, it just makes ya feel better. Low fat pretzels just don't do it but like I said earlier, we can't give up everything at once.

Bill used to be a 12-pak man, but since his heart attack, he has quit drinking any alcohol of any kind. I used to be a Diet Pepsi or Diet Coke fanatic. I have not had one for the past 4 months, knock on wood. My choice is now water, water with Propel, a flavored water addative that is chucked full of vitamins and nutrients but NO ASPERTAME, a sugar substitute, weight addative that is found in the Crystal Lite that we USED TO drink by the gallons. It is also a big NO NO for you diabetics out there. We still have a cup of coffee or two in the morning, but no more at night. Bill isn't crazy about it, but tea is soothing to me, especially if I forget to eat when I take my handful of vitamins, minerals, and prescription meds in the morning. One will soon be eliminated under my doctors supervision.

Why am I bothering you with all these healthy, new way of living We have been doing for the past several years, and more so, this past year?...well, because

IT HAS WORKED for us.

Yesterday was my 6 month check-up, follow-up on my BP and Triglycerides.

My BP went from out of control, highs a year ago, to 120/72.

My triglycerides went from 488 a year ago to 220. Still a bit high but doc said to keep on doing what I'm doing. I was just tickled and couldn't help but to pat myself on my back for the life change that I am already getting accustomed to.

Changing our eating, drinking, habits has helped tremendously.

We still load our plates a bit too much but even that is improving.

Eating out is still the hardest for me, but that's when I will let myself have a treat.

I found it's not the end of the world,

It's a life change, but a good one.

What a great Birthday Present to hear all the good numbers.

Make some changes, GRADUALLY, if you're feeling a bit 'punky', and you will be amazed how great you will feel. Who knows, maybe I've added another dozen years to my life.

Life is So Good, thanks to God guiding us toward better choices.

Oh, I also lost 9 lbs. in the past 6 months., not much but a little at a time is easier to maintain., so they tell me. I'm pleased as An Ant On A Log! That would be a healthy snack of a celery stick with peanut butter and raisins. LOL I can't stop smiling.

BlessYourHealthyJourney