The Grain Bin Bakery & Market

Once again I am featuring a unique place in Dunn County, WI for local bloggers to check out. Early Saturday morning, Ted and I hopped in the car to head over to "The Grain Bin" just north of Wheeler, Wisconsin (off of HWY 25 on Cty Rd FF), watch for the sign along the highway. The Grain Bin is a bakery and dry foods market. The selection of bulk dry foods is awesome! For a place that is kinda out in the countryside, it was sure booming with customers this morning. Customers where coming in to buy freshly baked cinnamon rolls, scones and muffins. They also feature a nice arrangement of freshly baked breads. Ted and I especially like the multigrain bread. After going through the isles of dried foods, we ended up buying a full box of stuff. I have to laugh because one of my male library patrons told me a couple days ago that he ended up coming home with a box as well. Once you see the selection of items they sell, I bet you'll do the same thing too! Hey Beeka girl, we found something especially for you. You'll never guess what it is, hee, hee! Oh, and I found something for you too Chris....it's something that you've liked ever since you were a wee little one. Here's a hint, it has sprinkles on them!!!!!!!!

Lastly, we drove by your house Krissy. Long, long time ago Ted and I picked up rocks that were piled up somewhere near your house along the roadside. The rocks in our gardens are from the farm fields near you...how about that? We also stopped by Doc Phillips house to give them some of our goodies from The Grain Bin. We've never stopped by the Phillips before so Doc kindly gave us a tour around his land. By the way, Doc is our dentist and his wife Tami owns and runs the fitness club in Colfax where I just signed up a membership. Ted knew the couple that build Doc's house years ago and it's a very interesting house design....a custom built house for sure. We loved it.

Well, now it's back to work for the rest of the day. I will try to take some more pics of our bedroom as Ted gets some of the plywood up on the walls. Yes, the subfloor is now done, but the steps going down into the bedroom have to be rebuilt. Hopefully the carpet will be installed a week or two from now. After that we can start moving our some furniture back into the bedroom. Progress is moving along!!!!!

The Grain Bin & Market

Hours of Operation:

Monday-Friday 7 am - 6 pm

Saturady - Sunday 8 am -5 pm

White Sand or Snow?

So if you think this is snow or sand, you are mistaken! Last March Ted, Chris, Becca and I drove down to Alamogordo, New Mexico for spring break. Ted's brother and wife were living in Alamogordo at the time so we decided to combine a spring break trip with a family visit too. While in Alamogordo, we visited this amazing place called "White Sands National Monument," the largest gypsum dunes in the world (275 sq miles). This is where you will find the natural mineral phenomon called white gypsum (salt). Gypsum continuely forms and blows around. You can see the gypsum dunes for miles and miles because it look like a big white desert in the far distance. It's so beautiful that I can't even explain it, you just have go and visit someday. We spent several hours out in the dunes just walking around and taking pictures. Even though it was March, the mixture of sunshine and gypsum made the afternoon quite warm. It felt so good after going through our winter season. I hope we can return to White Sands one day. If you want to read more go to: http://www.nps.gov/whsa/

Madame Lanita

You know, we have some really talented people in my local area. The fun part of my job is to find great talent and hire them to perform for the children. Several years ago I invited Madame Lanita to come to my library and perform for the little children. Well, I liked her performance so much that I invited her back again. You see, Lanita is a gypsy woman who likes to tell lots of stories. Lanita never leaves home without all her scarves, jewelry, suitcases, bottles, chairs, tables etc, etc.


I couldn't resist taking a picture of this little sweet girl...her name is Meadow. Her grandma , who use to be a 1st grade teacher (Mrs. K) brought Meadow to the library to see the gypsy woman. I think the jewelry weighed more than Meadow!!!

Madame Lanita told two scary stories....kind of our theme for the upcoming Halloween season! Besides her stories, the older girls had fun dressing up and learning a gypsy song & dance. Half the fun is just putting on Lanita's jewelry!

We had a fun time with all the kids, but gosh was I tired after that. My energy level isn't what it use to be around children. It's not even ten o'clock and I'm ready for bed. Must be a sign that I"m getting older...geez!

Grandma Winnie Update

Ted's sister Winnie Lou sent out an email yesterday to give us an update on grandma Winnie. Grandma is still in the hospital and no sign of leaving yet because she is still bleeding rectally. They have given her two more units of blood. She is also still struggling to express her pain so that might be something related to her demenita/Alzheimer's. When grandma lays still in bed, she doesn't complain about pain, but when the nurses get her up and try to put her in the wheelchair, she feels pain and is very weak. She still has the chest tube in for the draining of the liver problem...that right there is painful for her! Poor woman.

Sometime this week the doctor will be doing another colonoscopy to try to find the source of the bleeding. Ted's sister expressed worry to how much more can her mom take. Grandma hasn't been able to eat anything because of preparing for the colonoscopy, so this factor is making her weak as well.

Winnie Lou called grandma's family doctor and he recommended a geriatric consult to assist with her dementia and the inablility to express her pain level. That's the latest update for now.

I will be posting later on tonight with pictures of Madame Lanita, a gypsy storyteller! Woo hoo! Question for all of you; are you sick and tired of the political adds yet? I feel nauseas every time I see or hear one!!!!!!!!!!

What Could Be Better Than Coffee & Bakery?

I've been spending time waltzing around Colfax taking pictures of community landmarks and businesses to feature on my new website. My idea is to give a little taste of Colfax to viewers who have never set foot in our village. One of the places I want to feature is my favorite java spot...Cafe 44. I picked this place today because of all the color in this small Internet cafe. I figured some of these colorful photos will jazz up the community page.

Here's the room with all the computers that the public can use, and yes, they are wireless too, so it not unusual to see people in there sipping coffee and working on their laptops.

Besides freshly ground coffee, Italian sodas, and flavored Steamers, there's lots of bakery and beautifully decorated cakes. I love to go in and peek in the cooler case to see what new cakes Lela has made for the week.


Do you know how hard it is to walk into this place for coffee and see the bakery in the display case? Hey remember, I'm a full blooded CURNOW and bakery is in our blood. My willpower is getting better however, but I still look in the case everyday to see what is featured or see what is new. My favorites are Lela's big cookies. Sometimes one of the girls at the library will split a scone or muffin with me...that helps with the guilt trip!!!! Oops, now I'm giving away my secret. Sorry Kris & Kellie!


So what would be your favorite sweet treat?
* Scones
* Muffins
* Apple Fritters
* Fried Donuts
* Snails
* Turnovers
* Cream Filled Bismarks ??????????????

New Wheels

Ted finally decided it was time to get new wheels! The old Dodge Caravan has seen it's days. The van had 204,000 miles, which is pretty darn good for a vehicle. Ted found a really good deal on a 2007 Ford Escape, so after seeing this car on the dealer lot for almost six months, he decided it was time to buy. At least now when Ted has to drive down to Milwaukee for his mom's medical stuff, I won't have to worry that his old van isn't going to make it home!



I had a treat to take to work today....apple leather! We made a big batch of applesauce over the weekend and then we put it in the dehydrator. It honestly tastes as good as the stuff you buy in the store. I am hoping to find a recipe for a mixed berry leather. I promise to share some with you Beeka girl (and Chris too).

It was a long day today, had to work late because of board meeting. I missed a beautiful day today. Lots of sunshine, but I was stuck indoors. The air is getting crisper and I hear there may be a chance for snow flurries by Friday. Yee ha! Not too much longer till ice fishing season.

Have you bought your halloween candy yet?

93 Years and Still Going Strong!

Can you believe our Municipal building is 93 years old? The Colfax Public Library is on the left (the white shades in the window) and on the main floor of the building. The Clerk's office is located on the main floor as well, but in the back of the building so you cannot see their office windows. The Colfax Police Department is located on the right side of our building...the white door. On the second level is an auditorium with a theater stage and the original seating! There is a small balcony, but structurally, it does not meet code. The wiring on the second floor does not meet fire codes also, nor does it meet ADA regulations. Our poor old building is in need of money to remodel, but unfortunately the Village Board voted years ago not to sink any money into this building...how sad. We are located in the downtown section of town on Main Street. I think I will use this picture for our new web page....what do you think? Or should I skip the idea and just use fun pictures that are bright and colorful? Do I preserve the vintage old look or go for an updated web page look? Let me know what you think my blogger friends & family.

Update on "LC" (A.K.A. Library of Congress) the kitten. LC is doing just fine at Joan's farm. He, yes we discovered he is a boy kitten, is fitting right in with the other young cats. LC has even begun sleeping in the shed with all the other cats. Way to go LC!

I Found Charlie Brown & His Buddy Snoopy

Season's Harvest Greenhouse.... Menomonie, WI

After driving by the new Season's Harvest Greenhouse for months now, I finally stopped by to take a quick visit. This greenhouse opened this past spring and is quickly expanding it's operation. I had the chance to talk with Josh Bermann, owner of the greenhouse, and he told me that they will be adding another couple greenhouses, plus adding a storefront which will face state highway 25. Josh took me for a quick tour through the new greenhouse that was just put up recently. Here's the bummer part. While I was walking around taking pictures, my photo card message flashed saying my card was full...darn! What I wasn't able to show you was the full view of the greenhouse operation and the petty zoo east of the metal shed. Kids and parents were everywhere! It kinda made me wish Becca and Chris were little again so I could take them to the pumpkin patch and watch how excited they would get. This place also had a little make-believe train that the kids could ride in, but it was actually assembled wagons being pulled by a small tractor or riding lawnmower...how cute is that? Then there was the young guy driving the bigger tractor pulling the hay wagon. The tractor drove around the greenhouses while the parents and kids got a slow ride. For some reason the guy on the tractor kept beeping the horn....maybe he was excited to be driving the tractor!!!!! It looked like everyone was having fun and that's what counts. I really liked the the pumpkin display inside the metal building. I wanted to take a picture of the awesome witch with her broom, but wouldn't you know, that's where my photo card showed filled. I will try to return next weekend to take more pics and post them. I was just thinking I have to hurry because Halloween is not far off and pretty soon there will be snow on those pumpkins!

For the local bloggers reading my blog, the greenhouse will close November 1st, so be sure to stop by soon. One more thing...Josh told me that in February 2009, he will open the greenhouse so the public can come and walk through and get a look at the new plants that are growing. You can't buy anything, but at least you can smell the dirt and feel the warm humidity. I'm excited because by February, we all are usually ready to smell the earth and think about spring planting and planning. Hey Krissy & Kellie, I don't think even "Clinkers" opens up for the public in February...what a cool idea hey?