FOTO FRIDAY: THE UNEXPECTED

FOTO FRIDAY was not a total surprise as a friend at Jazzercise shared a story about a couple who has a fishing cabin with a very large turkey outside the small town west of Romance on Highway 59 en route to Viroqua.

I really didn't know what to expect but sure enough you can't miss the largest brightest turkey I have ever seen. This turkey stands about 20 ft. tall.

WOW now that's a sculptural conversation piece! Upcycled crushed cans no less.

I'll have to ask whether the couple emptied all those cans themselves while fishing. Wink, wink.

TBT: TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON

TBT: To everything there is a season... a time to plant, a time to sow. When modern equipment can't get in the saturated fields for planting, the Amish have been busy for a while now.

The ridge roads can be curvy and hilly and sometimes one finds themselves at field time stuck behind farm equipment. Yet it may have been a while since most of you were stuck behind a horse drawn cart. I actually enjoyed this slowdown on a busy day.

ROCK ON...

Back to the End of the Rainbow Valley where in comparison we have our own little devastation. Who knew surviving winter would only lead into unusual spring rains where we would wake up daily and just hope the next rainfall would be a normal light rain?

Thunderstorm after thunderstorm pummeled the Coulee area with numerous downpours flooding the creek and  doing a number on our mile gravel driveway. Ruts and potholes galore.

Natureman's tractor regrading alleviated some bad washes but we started losing our road. What I mean by losing our road means its sides were sliding into the ditch in a couple areas. It was time to call in the experts. 

There was a chance they could come before the weekend but another job demanded their attention. So the road crew finally arrived last Tuesday.
In came 4 truckloads full of large rock to reinforce the banks followed by a back hoe and front loader. 

My neighbor had alerted me of their arrival by text as I was in town. Not knowing if the road was passable nor wanting to interrupt progress I opted to stay in town doing errands until I heard otherwise as 7 large truckloads (translates as14 normal trucks worth) of gravel would also need to be unloaded. I did not want to take the chance of meeting a truck head on either.

Tired and needing to change before my class, I finally reached Natureman mid afternoon who told me to come on home as the trucks were away reloading rock.  I took advantage of that window of opportunity to make it in and out before their return.  

Now I can sleep a little easier knowing the next rainfall won't cut us off from civilization. But then again, maybe that wouldn't be such a bad idea, now would it?

WE INTERRUPT THIS PROGRAM...

As if we all don't have enough on our plates, the world gets crazier and as much as I have been trying to avoid political commentary, I just have to interrupt this program we call our daily life as chaos ensues in the Middle  East no thanks to U.S. intervention once again.

Let me assure you that the entire Jewish population was not in favor of the most recent action with the opening of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem. It came as no surprise that there would be backlash from this diplomatic move. It was like throwing a rag doused in kerosene into a smoldering fire. 

photos courtesy of internet

Should we be shocked at innocent lives being lost?  We of all countries should know about unacceptable crowd control tactics yet why hasn't any of the numerous bright citizens in either country figured out a better way to handle uncontrollable protesting mobs? 

internet photo

We should all be outraged when any life is lost.  

Then add to this mess which 2 pastors our country's President, Vice President and Ambassador invited to give prayer at the opening of this controversial embassy?

Pastor Hagee who believes Hitler was God's instrument to return Jews to Israel and Pastor Jeffress who stated Jews are going to Hell.
And which 3 Jews said nothing in protest?  Israel's Prime minister Netanyahu ( whose country now follows Fox News as their main news source) and Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner representing the U.S.  I don't know know about you but I don't want those last 2 representing my country. 

What do they know about history/diplomacy?

Why are unqualified individuals representing our country?

Need we wonder why our world is so crazy...

SURROUND YOURSELF WITH GOOD COOKS

One blessing we have is to be surrounded by many good cooks  and my waistline is definitely reflecting this fact. 

We were treated to a magnificent Mother's Day buffet. My eyes became full just trying to capture the entire buffet line. The cook insisted she didn't want anybody to bring any additions and when you see her menu you'll understand why.

One could have made a meal out of the appetizers which included deviled eggs, cheese dip with olives, cheese platter, homemade pita bread and hummus.

Here's my memory with the help of a couple of photos because every time I looked there was another dish coming out of the oven...

On a banquet table there were crockpots filled with bacon, ham, sausages, spaghetti marinara with chicken, and cheesy potatoes.  Followed by the oven island with an egg bake, 3 cheese green beans, salmon, gluten free potatoes, flank steak, blintz casserole with apples, tzimmes (sweet potatoes and prunes), French toast bake, spinach quiche, brussel sprouts, Scotch eggs, Israeli salad, fruit salad, fluff salad and a pickle and olive plate, granola and yogurt. I'm sure I forgot some things...

Scotch Eggs- egg wrapped in sausage
breaded & fried

I was so satiated by dessert time my eyes almost couldn't take them all in but I remember cinnamon rolls, apricot coffee cake, a yellow coffee cake, a cake and a magnificent 3 ice cream Yodel Bombe.

pièce de résistance: Yodel Bombe

Preceding this exquisite buffet line this week my neighbor after being without an oven for 4 weeks had to work out her baking frustrations once the new oven arrived. We were treated to a breakfast her grandmother used to make called Pannu Kakku  accompanied by Valya ( a fruit compote) which was super yummy.

It disappeared before I could even take a pic. 

I've included these 2 recipe links as you should indulge too/ at least share these with friends who enjoy trying new things.

Finnish Oven Pancake

Berry Sauce

Since there were extra blueberries left over we also received a Blueberry Cake the next day.

Here's my suggestion whether or not you like to be in the kitchen,  just make sure you have at least one buddy who loves to cook!

FOTO FRIDAY: DEDICATED TO NEW MOMS

With Mother's Day being this Sunday this FOTO FRIDAY  is dedicated to all the new Moms out there. My own first born, Lori, became one this year.

One might say Lori has been in training for becoming a Mom for most of her life. She began practicing her mothering over 30 years ago when her baby brother Steven returned from the hospital. I even had to give her my old baby doll to give Steven a break from 2 mothers. When Lori was old enough she started babysitting for others's children and even became a nanny one summer in her 20's. Lori also changed professions into teaching where once again she was nurturing children from kindergarten to high school ages. It should come as no surprise to me that she would be a terrific mother.

My heart is full seeing her with her daughter. The love between these two grows every day.

Happy Mother's Day honey and to all you new Moms! 

TBT: GOT JEWEL'S BACK

TBT:After almost ten tubes of E6000 glue and a lot of hours Jewel is ready to be wired to become a floor lamp. Perhaps you remember my first posting of Jewel's new paint job and the beginning of the bejeweling of Jewel D. Le Mississippi.

Since it's Throw 'Back' Thursday you should get a sneak peak of her finished back.

Well, ta dah here's Jewel's back now.  

Jewelry's ready to be lit up.

Quite a transformation, right?

Thanks to some three dozen folks who donated their unused jewelry to help bedeck her. 

In mid October she will join her old friends from the former Macy's department all decorated in  different mediums in an auction called Light Up a Life to help with the work for Down Syndrome. 

So I need your opinion, what do you think the beginning bid price should be?

Stay tuned : Her shade will be a hat bedazzled with earrings.

take a look at Jewel's first post:Manny Kin becomes Jewel D. Le Mississippi