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Friday, November 24, 2023

Thanksgiving Leftovers - "Squash Streusel Muffins"

 


Here is a sweet treat to make with leftover squash.  I made the squash for Thanksgiving.  It was a heritage variety we think Lakota squash.  My sister shared some saved seeds she had from a squash she liked.  We planted them.  However, I have planted Lakota squash before, this looks like them.  

When I made my squash, I sweetened it with maple syrup and maple sugar, so I'm starting with a sweeter squash.  When you make this recipe, you may want to add additional syrup or sugar.  

Dicky Bird's Leftover Squash Muffins

I mixed this all in a big bowl, by hand.  Super easy.

1 C cooked or leftover squash

1/4 C milk

1/4 C oil 

1/4 C maple syrup

1 egg

2 t cinnamon

2 t pumpkin pie spice

1/2 t ground ginger

2 t baking powder

1/2 t salt

I mixed this all together, then added the 2 C flour.

Topping:

4 T butter

1 T cinnamon

1/4 C brown sugar

1/4 C flour

Mix with a fork till crumbly.

Spray your muffin tin, add your batter and top with the streusel.  Bake 350 for 30 min.  



I hope you give these a try.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

 

Wednesday, November 8, 2023

Dicky Bird's Spice Apple Jamelly

 What an abundance of apples this year!  

Yesterday I made applesauce.  After a couple batches, I was done with that...ahaha.  So, I got out my Breville juicer and finished up that crate.  (only about 8 more crates to go).  I wanted to try my own twist on apple jam/jelly - jamelly....ahaha.  Stop it Dicky Bird!!!  This may be the BEST recipe I ever made up!  I made a perfect bite - wafer cracker, cheddar cheese, apple slice with a dollop of this jamelly - this will be on my Christmas charcuterie board!  




Here is the recipe if you want to try it.

 Dicky Bird's Spiced Apple Jamelly

7 C apples juiced - juiced apples 

3 T lemon juice

3 T cinnamon

3 t ground cloves

7 C Sugar

Pour juice in a heavy bottom kettle and add lemon juice.  Mix sugar with spices and add to the liquid.  Bring to a boil, cook until you can dip a spoon into the liquid and only have a drop or two slide off when you pull it up.  It took a long time for it to thicken up with out using pectin.  As it was cooking I kept stirring and skimming off the foam.  Just before you turn off the heat add a nub of butter (I don't know why, my mom always did this and I do too).  That is it.  Fill clean jars and hot water bath for 10 min.  Super easy.




(this is the foam from the top - don't toss it, use it on toast)


This was my "test batch" it made 1 quart jar and some for the refrigerator to eat now.  This would be really good with ham, cheese "jamich" (am I the only one who think that is funny) too.  I may even add a spoonful to my oatmeal...oh the possibilities.  


Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Friday, November 3, 2023

Vintage November

 


As we say goodbye to fall with Halloween, we say hello to the holiday season with November.  Seems Thanksgiving decorating is often overlooked.  I like to do at least a little table scape of turkeys and such.  As a reseller, I often hear from the younger shoppers, "well, I just don't know what I would do with that."  I also hear them say, "I want just something little" or "I don't want what everyone else has."  The best one is "my grandma had that."  

Yes, "grandma chic" is in.  Not the whole house, but a small vignette, table scape, accent piece are used to just add a touch of individual style and personality.   You can achieve this without taking up much space.  Think seasonal themed salt & peppers, small knick knacks to tuck here and there.  I would suggest starting out with a small, inexpensive item or two.  Thrift stores, antique shops, barn sales, holiday events are great places to look for these items.  Of course you could go the "e" route too.  If you happen to do that, check out my online estate sale group:  Town Hall Trinkets On Line Estate Sales  I do ship.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Blast from the Past - November is National Native American Heritage Month

November is National Native American Heritage Month

 As most generational "Americans" living in this great old "melting pot," my heritage comes from various backgrounds.  What I am the "most" of is Potawatomi, if one was to divide themselves in fractions.  Which unfortunately is how the U.S. Government regulates tribal people - % of blood quantum.  It is what it is....

I've shared about my heritage in many posts, but this one is a good one:  Great Grandpa and Grandma Ritchie

My dad is the little one, the other two girls are his sisters, my grandma is behind my dad.  My grandma was German.  She worked for Connor Lumber as a bookeeper when she met my grandpa Ritchie.  My dad grew up on the reservation.   



Here he is again.  I love that little smerky face - he did this face his whole life.  He was fortunate NOT to have to go to a boarding school.  An ugly part of history that has now come to a better light is how native children were treated at these "schools."  My great grandpa Ritchie was quoted as saying "none of my grandchildren will go to those schools."  He had some influence and he petitioned the BIA to hire a teacher for the Forest County Potawatomi children.  The Kokomo Reservation School began in 1934 with 20 students (3 were my family).  

I did NOT grow up in traditional ways.  However, we were raised in tradition.  If that makes sense....how we treat one another, our land, how to hunt and gather, garden and fish and respect for all life.  Especially those we took to harvest.  I heard a "hunting story" - it made me sick!  I kept thinking how my dad would not like that!  Even Al said it was so disrespectful to the animal.  Anway....

I struggled with not looking "native" enough, yet being teased for being "native."  Ya....I don't harbor bad feelings or suffer from any trauma...ahahah....

I celebrate my Native American Heritage - rich and full in the knowledge of where I come from - steeped in tradition.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin. 

Thursday, October 26, 2023

Blast from the Past - Easy Flannel Pumpkins






I had to come up with a simple project that the kids could make.  First you start with an old flannel shirt.




Cut off the sleeves - don't throw the rest of the shirt away, you can save that for another project - like the back to a pillow.

Cut the cuff off the sleeve and then cut the sleeve in half.  Turn inside out.  Cut 7 pieces of jute that measure twice as long as the cut part of sleeve.  Put the jute inside the sleeve.  Pinch the end of sleeve around the ends of jute and tie tight with a smaller piece of jute.




























Turn right side out and stuff with fiber fill.





Pinch the top together to cover the fiber fill and tie closed with a small piece of jute.  Then, spread out the 7 long strings around the bottom of the pumpkin and pull them to the top.  Wrap another small piece of jute around the top and tie.  Pull the ends tight to make the sections of the pumpkin.




Take the ends of the 7 pieces of jute and wrap around the longer piece of sleeve.  I wrapped 3 one way and 4 the other so that I could tie it tight.  This makes the stem.  Then cut off the end of the sleeve so that it is even with the end of stem.




That's it.  You can trim the ends of the jute or leave to look like vines.  Really simple and I think really cute!




Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

This and That from Me to You

 Here it is at the end of another month.  I need to catch up with all my blogging friends.  I wanted to share a cute story about my granddaughter, Lauren.  She is now in school, so the little time I have to spend with her is so precious.  She is very insightful for her age.  We were playing at a park and the leaves were so beautiful.  I took some pictures of her and the color was amazing.  I wanted to take some pictures of just the leaves and she says, "grandma that leaf is stuck on the tree"  I looked up and sure enough it was just hanging there.  



Then she says something like this..."hang on little leaf, just because all your friends are falling, doesn't mean you have to."  Are you kidding me, I couldn't have come up with a better one even if I tried.  I love it!  I actually have been thinking about this as my October inspiration!  

It's been a busy month with my setting up the Ringle Harvest Day flea market.  It was a HUGE success and I am thankful that the Lord gave us some nice weather.  We are also doing a partial estate sale this week, that we just basically got started on this week....it'll be a digger sale.  Family visits, family time with grands at the zoo, baking, cleaning out garden, you know all the "things" you all are doing too.



One of my favorites...dipping oil.  My herb sourdough bread.



Bountiful apple harvest.  We still have more to pick and snow is coming Sunday.  

I was interviewed by Canvas Rebel about my being a woman, sole proprietor and entrepreneur.  (I do see some spelling errors...eek).  If you want to know more about me and my services, please click on link to article:  https://canvasrebel.com/meet-jacky-luetschwager/

This is a short post, I wanted to share something before the end of the month.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  


Friday, September 29, 2023

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.  


Monday, September 25, 2023

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.