Week 26 - Cranberry Drop Cookies

Cookie of the Week - Week 26 - Cranberry Drop Cookies

Cranberry Drop Cookies:

1/2 C shortening
1 C white sugar
3/4 C brown sugar
Cream together

Mix together and add to creamed mixture,
3/4 C milk
2 T orange juice
1 egg

Add, 
3 1/2 C flour (you may need a bit more)
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. soda
Mix well, add

1 C chopped walnuts
2 1/2 C ground fresh cranberries

If dough is too wet, add a bit more flour 

Did you know, Wisconsin is top cranberry producer?  I LOVE cranberries and they are so good for you!

The dough will be a pretty pink, however this picture doesn't show it.  The cookies are soft, biscuit like.  

Bake 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.  I made a simple powdered sugar frosting, added red food color and topped with ground walnuts.  

The plate the cookies are on was made by my friend Sue Janz.  She sold it at her rummage sale - I love it!  

With this week - I'm half way to my goal of 52 cookies for my "52 Weeks of Cookies" cookbook.  It's been on my list for over 3 years...I want to finish as one of my 50 things to do before I'm 50.  So get ready for cookie posts.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Christmas in the Country 2015

I'm joining in the fun again this year at Christmas in the Country 2015.  Fellow bloggers may sign up, answer a few questions about yourself, your likes, hobbies and etc. and link up with the other bloggers who are involved.  This is a fun way to meet new friends and fellow bloggers - let's not forget the surprise of a Christmas package...fun!  You may still join until November 30th.  Here is the link:  http://www.myothermoreexcitingself.com/2015/11/20/2015-christmas-in-the-country-gift-exchange-link-up/

I'm looking forward to receiving my exchange name, so I can get busy creating something special for her.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Linked:  http://www.inlinkz.com/new/view.php?id=583364

Projects This Week

I've been working on a few pieces for the Boutique by the Creek sale this Saturday at the Wittenberg Town Hall.  More of the "knock down" style.  I really love how these are turning out.  One of my followers said "perfectly imperfect piece" - she is right.  

I need to oil and wax the dresser yet.  None of my furniture will be over $100.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Linked to:  http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/2015/11/pj-306-an-upcycled-link-party.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FKCcu+%28Funky+Junk+Interiors%29

It's all a Rave - Vintage Holiday Pop Up Sale

My little "pop up" business has been pretty busy this past year.  This will be the last "pop up" for 2015.  If you haven't attended any of these sales...I want to encourage you to do so.  
The holiday sale will be held at 411 Grand Avenue, Rothschild, WI.  Friday, November 13th from 5-8 p.m. and Saturday, November 14th from 10 a.m to 3 p.m.  We are holding it in conjunction with Jackie's Antique Mall on Brown's holiday open house.  The venue is "kitty corner" her shop with plenty of parking in the back.  Just walk the short distance between the two.

This sale we will have Joi, Paris Apartment; Lisa, Caretaker's Cottage, Ali and Rebecca, Bouvet Barns; Marilyn; Gloria; Jean from Tillie Girl Studio and Jacky from Town Hall Trinkets, LLC.  

We will have a wide variety of items:  painted furniture, repurposed, farm finds, primitives, crocks, bowls, crates, boxes, kitchy and vintage Christmas decor, outdoor decor, sleds, skiis, hand painted and hand lettered signs, jewelry and lots of misc.






























 This is a very small example of what we will have available.  But, I think it gives you enough of an idea.  Here is the bulding...

411 Grand Avnue, Rothschild, WI

I only organically advertise...so if you want tell your friends.  We would appreciate that!

Hope to see some of you at the sale.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Week 25 - Sugar and Spice Cookies

In an earlier post I mentioned I bought out an elderly farm wife's cookbook collection.  I had to dig into a few to find a cookie recipe for this week.  

Sugar and Spice Cookies

1 1/2 C shortening
2 C sugar

cream together, add

2 eggs
1/2 C molasses
4 t. baking soda 
1 t. salt
2 t. cinnamon 
1 1/2 cloves
1 1/2 ginger

mix together 

2 C oatmeal
4 C flour

roll into small balls, dip in sugar and flatten with a fork

Bake at 375 for 12-15 minutes

These are so good.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Linked to:  http://www.oakhillhomestead.com/2015/11/our-simple-homestead-blog-hop-24.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+OakHillHomestead+%28Oak+Hill+Homestead%29

The Blue Cupboard

While thrifting in Milwaukee this past weekend, I found this old step back cupboard.  It was way in the back and marked down.  I could see the potential.

We were driving around in Anna's tiny car, so we had to go back later in the day and pick it up with my van.  It almost didn't fit.  

I thought I would paint it black, distress and wax it.  So, yesterday, I got out my orbital sander and started to prep the piece for painting.  As I started peeling back the layers, the white and cream layers started to show - it was looking cool.  I thought of an old pair of blue jeans...soft, worn in all the right ways.  I really liked it.  I don't like painted pieces that look "too perfect."  I love all the imperfections of this "knock down" style. 

In repurposing, sometimes you have to let the piece just be...this old cupboard was saying..."I want to be left blue."  I'm glad I listened as I really like how it turned out.   This will be for sale at my next pop up..."It's all a Rave - Holiday Pop Up Sale" - November 13 & 14.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Linked to:  http://www.mysalvagedtreasures.com/2015/11/vintage-inspiration-party.html


http://www.patinaparadise.com/2015/11/fridays-furniture-fix-15.html

"Well, That's the Best Age"

I meet the most interesting people for my job.  Most of you know, I am an antique dealer and folk artist.  I have been going pretty strong - full time - this past year.  

About a year ago, an elderly lady called me to come and look at some items she had for sale.  She was referred to me from a very good friend of mine - Kathy Marquardt.  

I made an appointment to go look on a Sunday afternoon.  Justine came with me and we left "the boys" to watch football.  Joyce was trying to sell some items so that she could move into an apartment.  When we drove up to her farm house - I was so excited.  Her brick home is one I have admired for years!  

Justine and I found lots of treasures as she took us on a tour of her 2 story home, pole building and the "old stone building."  We visited for nearly 3 hours.  As we were leaving, Joyce said to us..."Oh, girls this has been the nicest afternoon I've had in years."  

Justine and I talked about this as we drove home.  Something as simple as visiting with a lonely person - how it can uplift their spirits and yours.  Over this past year, Joyce has sent me several little notes with interesting newspaper clippings about Ringle and such - things she thought I might like.  

I went over to her home yesterday, she is still trying to sell her farm house so she can move.  I bought out her cookbook collection - something she had been holding on to, last items to sell kind of a thing.  We boxed up the books and I said, "I need to move my van closer."   As I started out of the room, Joyce says..."don't leave empty handed...take a box with you and save a trip."  Oh how I laughed...I said..."O.K. grandma....you're right!"  She laughed and laughed.  To tell you the truth this 80 something woman - was out working me!   I said, "boy, you are working harder than I am and I'm 49."  She turns to me and says...."well, that is the best age, I loved 49."  I know friends who will turn 50 this year, many are struggling with it.  For her to say "that's the best age" - reminded me to enjoy my last year in the 40's and embrace my 50's.

It just reminded me of my Motivational Monday post - last week about enjoy the stage of life you are in.  http://dickybirdsnest.blogspot.com/2015/10/motivational-monday-enjoy-stage-of-life.html

Joyce was such a testimony to me about that - she was a happy 80 something...happy even in leaving her home of over 50 plus years...she is excited to start a new stage.  She said to me "I just hope I live long enough to enjoy my apartment."  What a trooper!  I love her attitude!



No matter what age you are, the stage of life you are in - take a lesson from Joyce - find your joy in it.  I know I will.

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

Single Serving Pancake Batter

Just because you are only cooking for one...doesn't mean you need to cheat yourself out of a delicious breakfast.  I loved making special breakfasts for my girls.  Now that I eat breakfast alone...I still want to treat myself.  

Here is a simple recipe for a "single" (maybe a bit bigger than "single") serving of pancakes.  

1/2 C flour
1/2 t. baking powder
pinch of salt
1 T. sugar
1/2 C milk
1 egg
2 t. oil
1/2 t vanilla

You can make all different flavors from this simple batter. 

I substituted the zest and juice of 1 orange to batter and only added 1/4 C milk and no vanilla.  (I wish I would have added craisins or chopped fresh cranberries - next time)

You could use chocolate milk, 1/4 t. coco powder and add chocolate chips.

You could add 1 T. peanut butter or 1 T. Nutella.

You could add 1/4 t. of spices:  nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger each and 2 T. molasses for gingerbread pancakes.

Of course, this simple batter would be great if you added any type of berry, raisins, currents, chips....be creative.

I've also used 1/4 C flour and 1/4 C oatmeal too...oatmeal pancakes are delicious!  Use the same ideas to flavor the same way.  

This only takes minutes and is a healthier than drive thru...treat yourself to homemade.

What other varieties can you think of...I would love to know.

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Linked to:  http://timewarpwife.com/titus-2sday-link-up-party-43/


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Motivational Monday - Just Smile

Just smile...

Did you know that it is a scientific fact that smiling reduces stress that our body and mind feel.  You can compare it to getting a good night's sleep.  Smiling helps generate more positive emotions within you.  On average, children smile 400 times a day - while the average adult only 20.  Even happy people only smile 40-50 times a day.  Our brains can even detect "fake" smiles.  You know the forced turned lips - what the Grinch calls a smile.  When I see people doing this...I feel so sorry for them.  Where is their JOY?

I went to Milwaukee to visit Anna this past weekend.  Smiling is easy for me - I genuinely am a happy person.  However, I decided to do a little test on those that crossed my path.  I smiled....I smiled at everyone.   

My little test/study reflects...if you smile at someone....they will smile back.  Everyone I smiled at...smiled back.  I saw grumpy people...but, made a point of their seeing me...so I could smile at them.  A few of these people, at first, gave me a puzzled look...but, gave in and smiled.  I even added a few "good mornings" "how is your day going?" "boy, this is a fun estate sale"  "did you find anything good?"  Complete strangers...who in turn, smiled and answered.  Now, how hard was that?!?  

We stopped at this estate sale.  It was raining and the driveway was downhill and wet.  An older grumpy looking gentleman, walking with a cane, carrying a bag full of items looked like he was going to fall.  Others were in the driveway, coming and going from this sale, too busy to see him.  I walked up to the gentleman and said "where is your car?"  He looked at me like I was crazy..."why?"  "Let me help you, I will carry your bag."  (smiling).  He said "oh, thank you."  As I put his bag in his van, I saw other bags full of old clocks.  I turned to him and said "are you the clock man?"  He smiled back and said "I sure am."    

Inside the sale, there was a strange looking guy talking with the check out lady..."Ann?, Sandy?, Lucy?, Francis?" --- he was trying to guess her name.  I am just OCD enough to join in.  I started throwing out my guesses.  The guy looked at me and smiled and started laughing, as we both took turns guessing.  One of the other workers yelled "Pam, come get this box."  I shouted out "Pam!"  To which she nodded...the guy said "how did you know?"  I said "you weren't listening...someone just called to her, I heard her name."  

When we were checking out, the lady said to me, "are you with that guy?"  I said "No, I don't know who he is.  I just wanted to play the game too."  She looked at me kind of funny...and I smiled....she smiled too!   She even gave me a deal on my pile of items.  


If there is one thing I know, smiling makes one happy.  A smile costs nothing - it is something we can give to others - and, in turn, it will make you happy as well.  

Now, get out there and smile!  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

Linked to:  http://strangersandpilgrimsonearth.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-art-of-home-making-mondays-please.html

Nightfall with Edgar Allan Poe - Old World Wisconsin

Anna treated me to a dinner theatre - Nightfall with Edgar Allan Poe this past Friday evening, October 30.  The venue was Old World Wisconsin, a living history museum, in Eagle, Wisconsin.  http://oldworldwisconsin.wisconsinhistory.org/About/History.aspx

It is the world's largest museum dedicated to the history of rural life.  Really a cool place to visit, especially when they  host events like this.  

The meal was held in the old round barn - the decorations were super nice!

The food was amazing!  After the meal, we had a lamp light walk over to the theatre at Farmer's Hall guided by some spooky characters.  The acting - over the top - excellent.  It was really fun!  Thanks Anna.

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.