Joyful Christmas!

Taking a Christmas Break

(A photo from our ice storm Sunday.)

 

 

Things are so busy here at The Sticks that I am going to take a Christmas break from blogging.  When I'm back in January I'll have new recipes to share, project updates, more stories from The Pilgrimage to MN and WI, updates on Little Bird & Little Hoss... and much more.

 

I wish for blessings of this season of Jesus' birth for you and yours.

 

Merry Christmas and a joyful New Year!!!

Photo Album: From the road trip

There are always good photos taken along the trip that don’t make it into a blog.  The ‘Pilgrimage’ trip is no different.  So here are some of the ones I’d like to share –

 

 

Corn shocks in an Amish farmer’s field.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful autumn fields.

 

 

Ponds… thawed…

 

 

and frozen.

 

 

 

 

More autumn.

 

 

OK…not a great shot but he was fun to see!

 

 

First snow geese I’ve ever seen.

 

 

Snow geese flying in a V.

 

 

 

A friend’s barn cats.

 

 

 

Lovely horses.

 

 

 

Faded flowers

 

 

 

And a faded home.

Favorites: Roadside Produce Stands

One of my favorite roadside stops during traveling is at a local produce/fruit stand.  Not only do you get to sample different fresh local produce, it gives you a chance to visit with people from the area. 

 

 

This stand is on the large side…but it was still a fun stop.

 

 

There were so many apple varieties available to purchase!

 

 

Most were packed in bags with each variety in a different section of the large tables.  There were also small baskets with each variety for you to taste.

 

 

Want more than a little bag?  There were bushel boxes for sale too.

 

 

 

I always look for a variety I’ve never had.  This year it was “Ambrosia”.  I got several bags and sent one to Missouri for the babies.  They are very good and do hold up to baking nicely.

 

 

Besides produce, this stand had a bakery.  Their apple cider donuts were fantastic, as were the turnovers.

 

 

There were also many handmade items for sale, such as this quilt.

 

 

Outside were pumpkins and gourds.

 

 

In a separate area caramel candied apples were being dipped. 

 

 

Himself sneaked back in and snagged one of those caramel apples! 

 

Yep…it was a good stop!!

Bogarting the Kindle

When I bought my new Kindle, I knew there would be all sorts of uses for it that I had no idea of.

 

 

But I never ever thought it would be bogarted by Little Bird and Himself!

 

 

They sure had a good time with it.

 

 

Hmmmmm… what were they up to?

 

 

Ahh-ha!  Little Bird got her uncle into a game of ‘Dress the Mermaid’!

 

 

Not bad, Little Bird…not bad at all!

 

(There are quite a few free games like this available on Kindle that both of the kids enjoy.)

Thanksgiving Prayer

Fruit of the Vine

I love going to ‘pick your own’ gardens.  I’ve picked apples, peaches, berries of all sorts and while in Wisconsin I had the chance to go to a pick your own grape vineyard!  We went to Oakwood Fruit Farm in Richland Center, Wisconsin.  http://www.oakwoodfruitfarm.com/

 

 

Look at all these Concord grapes!

 

 

Just beautiful! 

 

 

A perfect illustration of ‘bearing good fruit’.

 

 

We didn’t pick a lot since we didn’t have any place to store them.  But the few we did get were delicious. 

 

I wish I could get such close to home.  I’d love to try making my own grape jelly!

Lake Walk

One of the little pleasures of living here at The Sticks are our walks down to the lake.  At the edge of our property is an abandoned railroad line…the rails and ties pulled out a long time ago.  It makes it an easy stroll thru the woods.

 

All along the way are flowers, interesting plants, and an occasional ‘critter’.

 

 

Tiny asters.  I love that shade of purpley blue.

 

 

Not sure what this is but aren’t the textures great?

 

 

 

Here’s a mystery plant.  Anyone know what it is?

 

 

Love these seeds on this tree. 

 

 

A moss covered turtle at the lake.

 

 

This water strider spider finally held still long enough for me to get a photo.

 

 

The beaver have been busy putting a dam across this little creek. 

 

Every time we take our walk there is some new we see, even after five years.  Can’t wait until we have the chance to walk down there with Little Bird and Little Hoss!  They’ll love it!