Farmhouse Friday - September 29, 2023

 Well here it is, another Friday.  Whew, that week went by fast!

It's looking like fall around here!  Colors, brisk air, foggy mornings and nights.  I have been elbows deep in food and standing in my kitchen most of the week.  From home raised, ham on Monday to onion, garlic sourdough bread baking as I type this....food prep defines my week.  

I didn't can as much as I normally do, but did finish up the tomatoes from the garden.  

After I cut the meat off the ham bone, I had to cook it down for soup!  I made a Nesco full.  Why is it, when I make soup it turns into a Nesco full...ahaha.  Anyway, I froze individual little containers for my lunches later.  I mean, come on, nothing warms you like a good ol bowl of soup.  

On the way home from my visit with Anna last week, I stopped in this little town that has an awesome thrift shop.  And, no, I am not going to tell you where it is...so don't ask...ahahah.  I have found the best stuff at this one.  I can't give away all my secrets.  I found these books.  They should be easy, entertaining reads for the upcoming dark, cold evenings.  I stated the first one and I like it so far.  

Working on my October "work" calendar.  I have some plans for the holiday season.  "Jingle all the Way" rural shop hop.  Some of us up here north of....pick a line...any line...we are too far from everything and other shop hops.  So, we are going to do our own.  We are planning for December 9.  More details in the works. 

I'm crossing "this" off my bucket list.  I've always wanted a Subaru Forester.  We have been looking for a used one, but they are almost as much as a new one.  So, we did new!  As in ordered it, came on the ship, took 6 weeks, no frills or extras (you don't need a guarantee, it's a Subaru!) and then, hid it in the garage until I could drive with 2 hands (remember I had a cast on).  It's almost too smart for me, because they come with features I've not had on any vehicle before.  This will more than likely be the last "new" car for me.  

Speaking of vehicles, we had a cool thing happen to us this week.  Let me give you the back story.  Al's family is from Ringle.  His dad's childhood farm sits about 3 miles from here.  When he was a teenager, he bought this old Model T from a gentleman who had a house just down the road from our farm, like 1/2 mile.  He drove this back and forth to high school in Birnamwood and at time college in Stevens Point.  After college he entered the Navy, was a pilot, few jets, served on aircraft carriers, became an officer and ending his career at the Navel Academy in Maryland.  That whole time, this old Model T was in storage, in a shed, on his childhood farm.  Al's cousin, Colleen told me that when they were little, any time they even looked like they were going to walk over and look in that shed, Granny would yell "you kids stay out of that shed and don't you touch Uncle Eddy's truck!"  As time went on, my in laws moved back to the area and this old truck was stored in their garage.  I only remember seeing it 1 or 2 times in 1986/7 when Al and I were dating.  Ed gave this to his brother Gerhard in 1987.  He took it back to his home near Cross Plains.  Now, this past summer we had a Luetschwager family reunion (1st time in decades).  I happen to mention the Model T and "if you ever decide to sell it, let Al know."  Well, Uncle Gerhard gave it to Al.  We drove down and picked it up.  

Uncle Gerhard, his son Mark and Al.  

Here is Al's dad, Ed in the Model T

Here is Ed's brothers, mom, dad and little sister.  Gerhard is boy 2, Ed is 3 in line.  They were very close brothers and Gerhard has many memories with this Model T as well.  Thanks Uncle Gerhard for taking such good care of this old treasure!  Such a special gift to Al! 

As well pulled into Ringle, old Model T on the trailer, we both said out loud, almost at same time, well....here you are....back to your beginnings!  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Dicky Bird's Sourdough Discard - Spiced Apple Muffin

 

Sourdough discard dilemma?  I came up with this one this morning.  It is low sugar, you could always add more or put a crunchy top on them.  I mixed in 1 large bowl, by hand.

2 C all purpose flour

1/2 C brown sugar

1 t. baking powder

1 t. cinnamon

1/2 t. allspice

1/2 t. ginger

1/2 t. nutmeg

1/2 t. salt

stir together well then add

1 C sourdough discard

2 beaten eggs

1/2 C oil

1/2 C milk

1 t. vanilla

stir together well with dry ingredients.  I diced up (next time I may grate) apples (3 of them).

Put in greased muffin tins, bake 350 for 30-35 minutes.

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Farmhouse Friday - September 16-22, 2023

 Good Morning!  It's Friday - Farmhouse Friday

I've not posted many of these all summer....

So this week, I won tickets to Mother Earth New's Fair, in West Bend, WI.  I entered a giveaway with Wild One Homestead.  She has a you tube channel that I enjoy watching.  The link to that is in the blue link above.  

I was able to do the meet and greet with Dr. Pol.  We bought his book and he signed it.  

Thanks again Michelle!  I couldn't believe I actually ran into her waiting for food from the 4H booth.  

I finally got around to digging out my garlic.  It was a skimpy year...too dry.  I did buy 2 new varieties to plant this year.  On advice from an 102 year old client...."always plant garlic on Halloween."  So, I now do that in memory of her.  

I've been on a sourdough baking kick.  When I've been on track and tracking for any diet I've ever been on, I limit my breads.  I'm not going to do that anymore!  I am 57 and I enjoy bread, so I am going to eat the bread I like.  I will miss these tomatoes and fresh lunches like this one.  

We picked up a trailer load of smalls that we will be selling for an estate over the next couple of months.  We will do the in person, live sale, at the end of October.  We took all of this, because the sale will be outside and the garage is already full.  We will have 3 tents and a storage container too.  

The BEST part of this week, was the couple of days I spent down my my daughter, Anna.  I was able to play with Ezra!  He liked my walking stick, so we found him one.  

We had craft time!  Anna has sheep.  He liked the google eyes the best.  

It's that time again!  I can NOT believe I've been setting up this event for 27 years.  For the most part...I hate to even say...but, it's just me - doing it.  From collecting vendor fees, answering 100's of questions, marking booths, ordering toilets, dumpsters, making "nicey/nice" with residents, placing all ads, putting signs up to cleaning it all up after....Al helps with that part...it's really a lot of work.   I do this as a volunteer.  I had some issues early on this year with wording I did in a post.  The word may have been a bit harsh.  Sometimes, the responsibility of ALL THIS makes me harsh.  It really wasn't directed at an individual, but someone read it as such.  I did apologize, but it has bothered me since.  So much so that, I was even thinking on not doing this event anymore.  However, I attended a town meeting and not to say anything, but this event - the one I started on our farm - now affects the fundraising of several other organizations.  That's great!  I guess, I'll put to rest the "words exchanged" and focus on the "good exchanged."  Now, there is no "I" in this, the Lord is the ONE who helps me.  But, if you see Jacky a little crabby, cut me some slack please.  

Blessing from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

1970 Something - KISS

 It was 1970 something.  My friend's brother, Brian, was a KISS fanatic.  I grew up in a home with "that's devil music" - I'm not sayin' it ain't - however, one song changed it for me.  

I was a chubby little thing, riding my bike over to my friend's house.  As I pedaled closer, I could hear it...the loud music...coming from the open, upstairs, corner, bedroom window.  Brian had KISS and other "devil music" blaring all summer.  My friend and her siblings were locked out - we couldn't get into the house for any reason.  What can I say, we are Generation X....these things were normal to us.  

 As I got closer, I heard it...."Beth, I know you're lonely, but I can't come home right now" I dropped my bike on the grass below that window.  I yelled up there, "hey, who is that?  Turn it up"  I was hooked - that song - created my love of rock ballads!  It was at that, that Brian now thought that this chubby "kid sister's" friend was cool....ahahah....

Now, fast forward to 2023....doesn't time sometimes feel like it goes that fast.  Anyway, I saw that KISS was coming to the Crandon Brush Run.  I was sure that our tribe, that supports many events in that area was going to be somehow involved.  So, I called the elder department...."are you going to be giving KISS tickets away?   If so, I want one!"  He wasn't sure at that time, but yes, eventually we did get KISS tickets.  I was given 2 VIP area tickets for FREE as a tribal elder.  

Our area was so nice!  We were very close to stage.  

That is the VIP balcony.  I didn't try to climb the steps.  I wanted to stand by the gate anyway.  

It was a big deal up here in the Wisconsin north woods.  Thousands of people, the lines were miles long.  Thank goodness my brother-in-law, Duane, found the VIP short line.  We didn't wait in a line at all.  I have other cousins who live in Crandon, who are not tribal members.  They saw Paul and Gene getting ice cream at the local shop - called Yeti.  They were out and about in the public.  Our casino in Carter partnered with them and their "Rock & Brews" restaurant - arrangements were made for ground opening, concert and brush run weekend - Crandon and surrounding areas packed.  

I was waiting to hear Beth, then we could start walking back to the van.  Al ran ahead, as I am slow.  We heard the last 2 songs was we left.  Al got out of the field we parked in, drove out and waited on the side of the side road..not main road..it was a long walk for me.   I almost stopped and asked a police officer to drive me to my van...but, I walked on.  I was so happy to see the hazard lights.  Al called me and said, "keep walking, you're almost here.  You did it!"  Yes, it was that bad!  By the time I got there, everyone was getting out of the field and I was glad Al ran ahead.

Anyway, thanks for the tickets.  #FCP

Blessings from Ringle, WI.  

Farmhouse Friday - I'm catching up

 Good Morning!  

I was just checking my blog posts and see that I never finished this post from May....Ughh!  I guess I will share this now....

This was our booth at the Tansy Hill Farm barn bazaar.  Here is our booth Town Hall Trinkets, LLC  Lisa's business is Caretaker's Cottage - we share a booth.  

In June I had surgery on my hand.  I was unable to bend my thumb for over 2 years - it was a slow progression till I couldn't bend it.  No excuse for not getting in sooner.  The surgeon said, "why didn't you come in sooner?!"  I said, "I come from a long line of people who just deal with S**t life gives them."  

After the MRI and seeing no reason why it didn't bend, he told me that in 40 years, he only sees things like my thumb once a decade.  "I'm excited to open it up and see what's wrong" is the last thing I remember before I fell asleep.  I had a dead muscle that stopped my tendon from working.  So, he took the tendon out of my ring finger and re-routed it to my thumb.  

I'm not going to lie, it wasn't fun!  I was so limited in what I could do with a splint all summer.  You may not know, but I have super long hair and Al became really good at braiding.  I couldn't do so many things that he really helped me with.  

Here is my hand before - in surgery waiting room and after

My thumb was always hyperextended like that.

(That is a lot of pictures, but this is my virtual diary)

I had to wear that splint for almost 7 weeks.  We still did an estate sale....I had to, it was going to be too much money for us to pass on....(I was supposed to take a break).  As you can imagine, it did get dirty....

Physical therapy was good.  I had one day that the therapist said something that I will use on myself daily till I die.  It made me upset at first, but she was right!  I even did our ladies Bible study on the quote.  "You're reverting back to your old ways."  That motivated me to keep with it, if for no other reason, but to prove her wrong.  When I had my last visit with the surgeon, he said "I'm so pleased with this!  You are the most successful 'odd fix' I've done.  Only one other lady had dead muscles like you and she doesn't have near the movement you do."  So, thanks Sandy for pushing me....I graduated out of physical therapy.  I have NEVER graduated out of physical therapy.  I've either run out of covered services or quit.  If you were to see me walk, you'd see that....I'm pretty gimpy.  

Thanks for following along.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.