Road Trip

Al had a great idea...to buy a car...rust free...from somewhere in the south west.  If you live up here, the cheapest way to get down there, is to fly to Las Vegas - there are some super deals!  So, we purchased 2 one way tickets 10 months ago.  He researched what he wanted and found a dealership in Las Vegas, NV to work with.  We had no problems and are VERY happy with the car.  

I told him, if we do this...I want to stop in Pawhuska, OK and go to the Pioneer Woman's Mercantile.  We also wanted to see the Grand Canyon on the way.  So, we did it - we are home now - it was a blast.  We have some great memories.  This was truly, probably, a once in a lifetime for us.  

Here are some pictures of our week:

  
These 2 pictures are both from Las Vegas, NV - the top is Red Rock Canyon Park - the other the strip....can you guess which one I liked best?  I now know why they say, "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" - it's too much!   We did go to Gold & Silver Pawn shop, an Elton John concert and ate some amazing food at Guy Fieri and Gordon Ramsey's restaurants.  

The Grand Canyon was amazing!  We really liked the landscape in Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico - so different from the north woods of Wisconsin. 

We ventured off the interstate Hwy 40 on to the old Route 66 for a bit we ran into Winslow, AZ - claim to fame...Eagles song..."Take it Easy" - "standing on a corner in Winslow Arizona..."  

We drove through the panhandle of Texas - miles and miles of cotton fields and windmills...thousands of windmills...we don't really have those up here, too many trees.  Then we were off to Pawhuska, Oklahoma - an experience that I will devote a whole post to.  

America is an amazing country - filled with all kinds of beauty and people - no better way to experience that than drive through 11 states in 7 days.  (We had to "drive around" Kansas City - I just couldn't - even with the promise of BBQ on the other end - my nerves couldn't handle it!)

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Fields of Cotton

While driving through the panhandle of Texas, we noticed the fields and fields of white.  This isn't snow, that's what our fields and fields of white are.  It was cotton - I've never seen a cotton plant or raw cotton before.  So, I convinced Al to take the next exit so I could get a closer look.  It just happened that the truck ahead of us was doing the same and not only that....he was stopping in the field.  So, I jumped out and asked if I could take some pictures of his cotton.  He just nodded and then smiled as I told him we were from Wisconsin and I had never seen this before.  Did you know they bale cotton just like we do our round bales of hay?  I didn't!  He was telling us how they harvest it and that it was a "good" cotton harvest this year.  Texas is one of the top producing states.  Not just the cotton, but the seed and oil come from this very versatile plant.  Here are a few photos.

Did you know it is illegal to grow cotton in some states?  It isn't in Wisconsin - so, now Al and I want to give it a try.  You all know I love fiber...

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Cookie Of The Week 38 - Dicky Bird's Chunky Chocolate Chia

I made this recipe up - due to an "I don't know what I am craving" cookie...chocolate, peanut butter, raisin...I couldn't make up my mind, so I added them all together.  They turned out good - next time I might only put in 1 or 1 1/4 C flour.  I guess it would depend on how moist your coconut is or if you use creamy peanut butter.  

In a bowl combine

1 C old fashioned oats
1 C coconut
1/2 C chia seeds
1 C raisins
1 1/2 C Flour
1/2 C cocoa
1 t baking soda
1 t baking powder
1 t salt
1 t cinnamon

Cream together

1 C shortening I used this: 

1 C chunky peanut butter
1 C sugar
add:  
2 eggs
1 t vanilla

Combine the dry with the creamed mixture

I rolled them into 1 T size balls and baked for 13-14 min at 350.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

October - My Favorite Time of Year

I love October, crisp air, colorful trees, crunchy leaves, pumpkins and of course, the Ringle Harvest Day:  http://ringleharvestday.blogspot.com/

October is a busy month for me.  The Ringle Harvest Day started 21 years ago....21!...here at our farm.  At that first sale, I had a garage full of auction extra goodies.  My sister Lynn and my friend Lisa set up in the driveway and on my porch.  I remember I had this bear skin rug hanging on the porch - oh, how I wish I wouldn't have sold that...anyway...from that small beginning, it has grown into over 100 vendors.  We outgrew my yard and insurance coverage (smile), so we moved it to the "downtown" part of Ringle in 2005.  From that move on to this year we have grown.  I think the estimate for attendance last year was over 5,000.  I don't know, it's a free event and is supported by the whole community.  I do know it was a beautiful day and very busy.  We have had great days even in the snow...this is Wisconsin...it happens.  Pray that it doesn't this year, please.

For my "picker" blogging friends....this is a great place to shop!  We have a wide variety of vendors with a wide variety of stuff.  Come on out to Ringle, we are 12 miles east of Wausau, a bit over an hour west of Green Bay and we are just off Hwy 29.  

The event is always the 2nd Saturday in October - this year, October 14th.  We start at 9, but truthfully, there are shoppers with flashlights and wagons in the dark.  By 9 some of the die hard pickers have taken a load back to their trucks.  I don't even get to see what is there....but, that's O.K. I have my own booth that is usually getting picked ...thanks!

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.