Oatmeal Banana Pancake - Light Healthy Breakfast

I did get this idea from Justine...she inspires me to eat more healthy.  She has made these before.  

I took 1/4 c oats and put them in our Magic Bullet and turned it into oat flour.  I added 1/2 banana and a splash of low fat milk.  That is it, the batter will be thick.

Spray your skillet and pour on the batter.  When you flip it, put your egg on the other side.  

While this is cooking, make up your smoothie.  I love going out to my freezer in the middle of this polar vortex Winter and using those items we put away in the Summer - today it was Wisconsin strawberries.

I put in the other 1/2 banana, frozen strawberries and milk in the Magic Bullet - blend it up.  Really good - no sweetener needed.  

Add some Wisconsin maple syrup - delicious breakfast!  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin. 

Linked to:

http://mymaplehillfarm.blogspot.com/2014/02/maple-hill-hop-19.html

http://timewarpwife.com/?p=2270

http://www.sugarbeecrafts.com/2014/02/take-look-tuesday_24.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SugarBee-CraftEdition+%28Sugar+Bee+-+Craft+Edition%29

Motivation Monday - Thank a Mentor

Good Samaritan Apostolic Church 

This picture was taken yesterday at church.  It was my brother Frank's birthday, these are the children in our Sunday school.  

I haven't posted much about this, but...I'm a Sunday school teacher.  Beginning in January, we divided the kids into 2 classes.  I am working with the older group.  I never taught Sunday school before.  I've been to plenty of Sunday school classes, which leads to my post today.  

As I prepare for each Sunday, I can't help but think of the teachers I had over the years.  Growing up in my church, we call all of the adults "brother and sister _____"  as we all are brothers and sisters in the Lord.  So, my mentors, those teachers that I think of are:  Sister Short, Sister Jacks and Brother and Sister Oelke.  Thank you for your act of service to the ministry that lead me in my walk with the Lord.   I may never had thought of thanking you for that.  Now that I am teaching and realize the preparation that goes into trying to think of something to inspire my class, I can appreciate what you did.  I pray that I can be a fraction of the example you all have shown me.  

Followers, if you know someone who has made a difference in your life - thank them and let them know you appreciate them.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

Cheesy Corn & Potato Soup

Cheesy Corn & Potato Soup:

diced potatoes 
diced onions
minced garlic
2 C sweet corn (my freezer corn)

Put 1 tbs. butter in pan, melt with salt and pepper.  Add the above - stir around.  

Add to kettle and cook till boils: 

2 C chicken broth
1 C milk

In another pan, make a rue.  Add equal parts butter (fat) to flour.  I put in 2 Tbs. butter, salt and pepper, once melted add flour and wisk together.  Add 2 C milk - 1 C at a time - till thickened; add 2 C cheddar cheese. 

Put this cheesy base into the soup.  Cook till potatoes are tender.  

Did you know that Wisconsin farmers grow great potatoes and sweet corn - we do.  In addition to leading the nation in cheese production, this soup reflects my neck of the woods.   

Super easy and delicious!

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

Ice Caves - Apostle Islands - Cornucopia, WI

Have you heard of the ice caves?  On the shoreline of Lake Superior, near the tiny town of Cornucopia, Wisconsin, link here:  http://cornucopiawisconsin.net/ is where we and thousands of others saw these neat caves.  This is the only positive to the polar vortex that we have endured here in Wisconsin.  It was a beautiful day - almost 40 - the sun was shining - just perfect!  

It was quite the hike - we walked over 7 miles.  Just from where we had to park the truck to the shore was over 1 mile.  When I said thousands, I wasn't kidding...

As we walked in this line out to the caves, I thought of the March of the Penguin movie, that is what we all looked like.  

The caves were about 1.5 miles out.  The shoreline goes for miles.  Al and I kept saying, we will stop at the next point...but, it was so pretty and interesting, that we just kept going.  The farther you walked the less amount of people followed.  We kept going because we drove 4 hours to get up there and wanted to make sure we saw all that we could see.  We actually were on the ice for over 4 hours...it was nice walking out, but man...it was hard to walk all the way back!  I hate to admit, but the driving force for my making it back to the truck was that I knew we had some chocolate chip cookies Anna made waiting for us...I know, I'm like one of those Pavlov dogs!  

Should you have the chance to go, I would suggest wearing layers, bringing a walking stick (I used cross-country ski poles), taking a snack and water.  Oh ya....use the porta potty before you get on the ice - there is no where to go out there.  When we left, there was an ambulance coming down the road.  I did see some stupid kids climbing way up...stupid people hanging on the ice...and really old people trying to walk all that way...I don't know which of those it was...but, be careful and use your head.  

Here are just a few of the pictures, we took A LOT!!!  I am planning to enter a few at the county fair.  One of my southern followers asked if it was cold - no, I was actually sweating.  Now, it is Wisconsin - but, 40 degrees in the sun brings out the t-shirts and shorts here...literally...by the time we got to the caves, many people had their coats off.  

These boys were small enough to fit through this hole...I wasn't...so I took their picture.  

However, I did fit in these....the view from the inside was amazing...

I tried to get different shots - showing other perspectives...

I really wanted to take my picture like this one...

but, Al was too nervous he said "all I can think of is one of those scenes out of a Final Destination movie."  When we heard the sirens of the ambulance the first thing he said was.."I hope that wasn't someone squished under an ice chunk..."  I never think of safety, must be his military police science background...

Now we have plans to go back in the summer with our canoe.  It would be neat to see these caves that way too.

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

Linked to:  http://www.tillysnest.com/2014/02/down-home-blog-hopnumber-76-diy-make.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TillysNest+%28Tilly%27s+Nest%29

http://www.oakhillhomestead.com/2014/02/homeacre-hop-58.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:

Town Hall Trinkets, LLC - Antique Booth

This past weekend I was a vendor in an antique show organized by AR Promotions.  This was in the D.C. Everest - Greenheck Field House.  We had a great show.  I offered free tickets on my face book page - link here:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Town-Hall-Trinkets-LLC/729693193716630

I left the information for the tickets at the main door - I heard from one of the ladies..."Jacky, this sure cost you a lot of extra money..."  I quickly replied..."advertising doesn't cost - it pays...it pays to advertise."  Between the 7 free tickets and my instagram pictures - I'm up almost $200.  Advertising and promoting - pays!  

Thanks to all my great customers, family and friends who came out and supported my little business.  Here are a few pictures of my booth.

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

4-H Family Heritage Day

I am one of the superintendents in Dept. 18 - Cultural Arts.  After the fair, we had an organizational meeting to brainstorm on some ideas that would create opportunities for those 4-hers in our department.  Normally, we do a hands on craft day in January or February.  This year,  we wanted to do something to celebrate our heritage in Marathon County, Wisconsin.  It just so happens to coincide with the 100th anniversary of 4-H in Wisconsin.  There will be many celebrations this year throughout our state.  

We set up a passport for the visitors to have stamped at each station as they participated in the morning's activities.  We had other community activities that competed with our event, however, we still consider this a success.  I really feel that if you didn't come - you missed out on an awesome experience.  

Marathon County Library came in and hosted a story corner, where the kids were treated to a puppet reading to them.  They also had a nice craft area.

Marathon County Historical Society has an exhibit called "Our Stories"  this features the history of who and when settled here in Marathon County.  Here is the link:  http://www.marathoncountyhistory.com/

They also had a nice craft area where the kids could make family trees.  Videos were taken of those that wanted to be interviewed with their favorite story about Marathon County.

We were so happy that the American Indian Resource center came in and did an awesome presentation.  Dillion narrated the history of drumming and dancing.  Teaching the audience some really neat facts I didn't even know.  They offered the opportunity to dance - of course I did.  

Here is the link to the center:  http://indiancenterwausau.org/

Thanks to all who helped make this a fun morning!  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

Linked to:  http://www.theprairiehomestead.com/2014/02/homestead-barn-hop-146.html