Where my Pickin' Story Began

 

Right here....yes, in the dump.  That is my grandpa Kincaid.  I'm thinking this is the Crandon or could be Rhinelander dump too.  However, I remember Rhinelander's dump had more pine trees. Either way, this type of pickin' was fun.  I would guess this photo was taken in 1970's.  I see a couple of things in this picture I'd pick for sure.  When we would go up to visit my grandparents, it was the BEST when Grandpa would say, "want to take a ride to the dump."  Not everyone was excited as I was.  In fact, I remember it only being my grandpa, my mom and I a few times.  He would always fill a bread bag with old pieces of bread or marshmallows to feed the bears.  Yes, on occasion, a bear or 2 would be rooting around in the garbage for something to eat.  Just look at this picture, behind my grandpa, looks to be a pile of potatoes.  "My" people, on my mom's side, did this, for necessity and extra cash.  Oh, it was fun to see if I could find a treasure; old toy, small piece of furniture to load up in the car and take home.  Mostly, at this age in his life, that is what he was doing too.  Fixing (repurposing) old things to sell. 

I also remember the three of us, going in abandoned cabins, old farm houses and sheds to dig for things.  So much fun!  He, cut pulp or "worked in the woods" his whole life.  He knew the woods like the back of his hand.  He would come across all kinds of rock piles with old stuff and empty old shacks to dig in.   

We lived in Schofield near Wausau, which is a "big" city in comparison to Crandon.  So, we had more opportunity to "pick."  Rummage, estate sales, thrift shops, junk yard, wholesale barns these places were as much a part of my growing up as - church.  My mom would find a dresser for cheap, we would take it up north for grandpa to "fix" and he would sell it.  It gave him something to do and extra cash income too.  He was retired pretty much by the time I came along.  

One sale I particularly remember, was over by the papermill in Rothschild.  It was an estate sale, I was like 8 or 9.  We were in the process of remodeling our house and I was going to get my own bedroom.  I saw this chair in the driveway, cute floral upholstery.  I ran up to it and it said 35.  I quickly sat down on it and asked my mom if we could buy it.  She said "no, that's too much."  So, I yelled out to the person in charge, "is this 35 dollars or 35 cents?"  I have no idea what everyone was thinking, I did hear a few of the regulars laugh at me.  However, I got my answer, "for you, 35 cents."  I can tell you, several people, including my sister Lori, tried to get me to jump off that chair.  I didn't move until it was time to pay and I gave her my 35 cents.  My mom reupholstered it in a crushed, blue velvet and I still have it.  Been in all of my bedrooms for 50 years.  

My grandpa's people were from Scotland.  He said we were Scotch/Irish.  I've seen enough shows about Irish "travelers" to know, we probably were cut from that cloth.  They immigrated to Kentucky and I guess were "hillbillies" from Hazard, KY.  My grandpa's family went where there was work and that was UP of MI and WI lumberjacks.  They traveled with the loggers all over up here living in logging camps.  

So, some of this "picking" is genetic and some learned.  I am a 3rd (probably longer) generation picker.  One time when I was in grade school, after returning from summer break, the teacher asked each student to stand and tell what they did over the summer.  Oh, I was so excited to tell it.  I remember hearing, "we went to Disney" "we went to badlands" "we went camping" all the things "normal" families do.  When it was my turn, I stood up, oh I was so proud..."we went picking in the dump and I feed some bears and I found an old ....." and then I heard the laughing...yes, gasps, ewww and laughing.  I quickly sat down.  Little did I know then, it wasn't cool to pick in the garbage.  Now...now everyone is doing it, making YouTube videos about it....wish little Dicky Bird could have known then how ahead of the times and cool she actually was.

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Farmhouse Friday 2026 Week 1 - Finding Happiness

 What happened this week: 

Moving or rather PUTTERING forward in 2026.  I decided I NEED to do things that make me happy while I CAN still do them.  Now, truthfully, standing at the counter and cooking had been increasingly hard over past year.  Al, bless his heart, has been writing down my recipes, how I make things and cooking.  Actually, some of his is better than mine.  So, the other day, he was over in my "corner" where I used to stand and prepare food.  I said, "you know, this is still my kitchen."  He said, "I know it is..."  From the moment, the words left my mouth, I was in my mom's kitchen, in her corner, making her food, while she was in her wheelchair at the table.  My mom had a stroke, left side weakness and we took care of her in their home.  Truthfully, I believe she also had IBM, the stroke was part of it.  Anyway, I said to Al, "I wish I would have told my mom - this is still your kitchen."  Her whole life was in her "corner" cooking and baking the most delicious food from the most humble of ingredients for her family.  I wish I would have handed her some potatoes, carrots and let her peel and dice.  In fact, Al did that for me this week.  As I was struggling to hold the carrot with my weak hand and dice with my strong hand he says..."let me just do it."  Now, not in a mean way, but he wanted to help.  I said "No, let me do this...next year you may be spoon feeding me...I want to try to do this as long as I can."  I'm not sharing this for sympathy, rather as a fact of what this horrible disease can do.  Please, don't feel bad for me, rather pray for me.  Also, please don't bring up how much I progressed since the last you saw me - I just want to keep going without being reminded of how bad I look...this would be really helpful to my mental health.  Thanks.  

Al burned the big brush pile.  He may have (wink, wink) added some old furniture that never made it to be repurposed.  They were too far gone after all these years.

My sister-in-law passed on this week.  Her funeral was Thursday in Indiania.  Al and his sister went down to support their brother Bruce.  She was tiny but mighty.  I'm so happy they were just up for a visit after Christmas.  I made a big home raised chicken for them for supper.  Suzie and I had a nice visit.  It was unexpected and a surprise for us all.  She will be missed!

Changed out my scripture chalk board.  New creation for a new year.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Low Fat Sour Dough Discard Muffins

 

I have been working on a sour dough discard "master muffin" recipe.  The recipe is for the muffin, you can add whatever flavorings you would like.  In this picture are lemon blueberry and carrot.   I also did banana.   Here is the basic recipe.   

1/4 C sour dough discard 

1/4 C non fat Greek yogurt - vanilla

1/2 C (sugar - brown, maple, granulated)

1 t vanilla

1 egg 

1 t baking soda

1 t (spice if needed - cinnamon)

1/2 t salt

1 1/2 C flour

1 C (blueberries, banana (2), carrots - etc.)

I did sprinkle tops with sugar before baking.  

Bake 350 for 18-20 min.  Makes a dozen

For the lemon blueberry ones, I added the zest and juice of 2 lemons.  I didn't add any vanilla.  

I put in 1 C flour to batter and the other 1/2 C in blueberries to coat them with the flour so they didn't sink 

The carrot ones

It looks dry, but it works - carrots are moist when baking

I used brown sugar in batter, so topping was brown sugar and cinnamon

Banana ones:

This is something to do if you don't want to toss the discard.  Mix in 1 bowl, by hand, ready in 30 minutes.  You are only limited by your imagination to flavors.  I want to do a maple raisin spice next.  

I also like the bubbles in the muffin, thanks to the sour dough.  

I enjoy making up my own recipes - just don't ask how many muffins the chickens had...ahaha...until I came up with my final recipe.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Puttering in 2026

 

I haven't thought about this word for ages.  This cute little frog came across my FB feed and I had to share it.  PUTTERING is the perfect word for what I plan to do in 2026.  I have always put pressure on myself to do things, things that I want to do, but I bully myself (ahaha) into making me do them.  If anything, 2025 taught me - you better not make plans, rush to the next thing, or bully myself  by making announcements or creating events too far in the future.   I tend to do the latter, as a way to hold myself accountable.  Accountable to who?  I need to slow it down, focus on the next thing not the next, next thing.  So PUTTERING along I will go.  

I've been PUTTERING in the kitchen.  The muffins look good, however, I forgot the baking soda.  Maybe too much PUTTERING (wink, wink).

Had my 12 week appointment with surgeon today.  More xrays on my broken femur and the healing process.  The assistant said it looks good and she pointed out the new bone growth.  I go back in 6 weeks.  I will still be getting physical therapy.  We agreed, that I'm not quite ready to go outpatient therapy yet.  So, I hope to have in home therapy for another month.  She told me I could return to the pool, but I'm afraid I'll fall.  I was told broken femurs take 6 months maybe longer to heal in normal patients.  Due to my IBM (muscle disease) it may take me longer.  So, I will keep PUTTERING away with my therapy.

Did you pick a word or theme for your 2026?

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

Blogging is Back - 2026 Trends Say

 I heard it from a professional content creator a few weeks ago that blogging is back.  Thanks to the same looking posts, AI, fast paced scrolling and lack of personality.  Many want to go back to sharing more than 35 words or a few seconds of time.  I noticed on youtube that several influencers are going toward a slow living trend.  I knew they would burn out - you can't do all that - and still vlog/blog/post about it multiple times a week.   I know many of them have staff that do most of the things for them.  However, you became an influencer because of your originality...not what you've grown in to.  O.k. I'm off my soap box now.  I believe AI free will be the next thing.  I will remain AI free.  My content has always been original - flop or not.  

So, as I move forward into a less mobile world, blogging I hope to keep up with.  I may in time need a device that types for me.  Until then, I will keep moving my fingers the best I can.  

Here is our dog Lady as I am sitting working on this...she thinks the chair is hers.  

So things you may see more of in 2026

Oh, I've tried just about every little "gimmick" to get people to read my blog:  Motivational Monday, Tips on Tuesday, Whatcha Got Wednesday, Thrifscore Thursday and Farmhouse Friday.  What it is you like to read about or see on the blogs you love?  

Remember the "bloghops" - I sure miss those.  I gained many followers from sharing on those hosted by other blogs.  

Any tips or ideas of content you would like to see from me?

Thanks.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Thanks for the Lessons 2025

“Faith often leads us through both joy and sorrow, but God’s love carries us through.”

I could write a post about how bad 2025 was for me.  However, I'm an optimist, "little Miss Sunshine" and "find the silver lining" type of a person.  Anyway, no one likes depressing posts.

So, thanks for the lessons 2025:

January - don't "jump to conclusions" (not ALS but IBM)

February - be "aggressive" when it comes to yourself.  I can when it comes to my family.  So, my family pushed me to not wait for answers - call Mayo.

March - Focus on the day ahead, not too far in the future.

April - I CAN do HARD things!  

May - Rugs are not my friend (I forgot about that in Oct.)  Come to terms with your limitations.

June - Enjoy each day outside during the summer.  I can do what I love even if on a small scale.

July - I can still manage to stay working with help from friends.

August - Asking for help, isn't a sign of weakness.  "Jacky, you have always helped others when they need it, now let them help you."  

September - Enjoyed a family vacation working with my mobility issues - it was still fun!  Don't just sit home - go out and enjoy.  

October - Thankfully (with help) another successful Ringle Harvest Day.  Even in most painful, drug induced, foggy, I still don't remember some days of my hospital stay - Jesus was with me, in my room every day. 

November - Reminder that my community appreciates me.  They made me a permanent sign at the own hall.  I was told "this is not a memorial - but a recognition for all your years of service.  We still expect you to stick around."  (Lord willing)

December - my family (church, 4H, friends, children, grands) builds me up, holds me up and are vital to my health and healing.  

As the year progressed, I just seemed to roll with the punches.  

Al and I did another year of hiding God's word in our hearts.  Studying, reading and praying His word - is about the only thing that helped me through it.  

So, here's to you 2025 - the worst year of my life, but I fooled you and accepted it ALL for my good.   

Blessings from Ringle Wisconsin.   

The In Between Week

 It's the in between week - Christmas and New Year

I honestly don't even know for sure what day it is, but I don't care.    So, what have I (we) been doing?  

Starting to take all of this down and pack away.

This was my Christmas gift from Al.  I somehow scrolled on Pinterest and saw this cover to this book.  I did some research on it and knew I wanted a copy.  This is 1949, 1st Edition, based on real chickens the author owned and to top it off, one of my favorite illustrators.  It's a smaller chapter book a couple hour read.  I LOVE the story to it!  It had me in tears and laughing - message behind it was so special.  

I (we) watched Netflix, Victoria and Empress, however I (we) am taking a break from starting anything new now.  

I (we) want to clean up pantry by using up old before we restock with new.  So we made lasagna and I made 3 freezer meals for later.  When I was in the hospital, Al said it would have been nice to have something I made (smile).  So, I think we will keep doing bigger batch cooking and freezing for ease or convenience later.

We had so much cheese left over from Christmas too.  Is that just a Wisconsin thing?  Well, one can never have too much cheese.  

I did lasagna roll ups for the freezer.  

Al has been using the sauna.  I hope I can get in there sometime soon.  I don't want to risk falling so maybe by February.  I miss it.

I had in home physical therapy today.  Tomorrow I have a reevaluation of my progress.  They will send it over to the surgeon, whom I see on Monday.  

My granddaugter is coming over on Thursday.  She wants to have a "spa" day here.  It is my daughter and son-in-law's 12 th anniversary lunch date and whatever other plans they have.  I'm sure some cards will be played as she is such a little card shark!

I plan to do a New Years Day little LIVE sale for my business.  Not sure what I will sell yet, I'll find something tomorrow.  

Well, that's about it.  Several naps taken as well.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.