Trigger Foods

Brickle Chip Blondies

Have you ever cooked or baked something that suddenly triggers family memories?  I had one of those moments tonight when I reached for a family favorite cookie/bar recipe book.  I haven't used this cookie book for like fifteen years!  I was contemplating tonight what favorite bar recipe could I make for my neighbors to try and cheer them up.  Laurie and Therese experienced the worse nightmare last night when a skunk sprayed underneath the crawl space of their house.  The stench is so horrible that the gals had to quickly grab some belongings (and their cat) and move to the local hotel.  All day I've been trying to think about how I could help the gals, but there really isn't anything my husband and I could do for them......except, make a sweet treat for them. 

So getting back to my question, do you have a trigger food or recipe?  As soon as I made these bars tonight, memories started flooding back to me of when Becca and Chris were young children.  I sure miss those days.  So, this particular recipe was one of their favorites and I bought the cookie book back in the mid 90's.  I made these bars all the time because they were fast and easy to make.  The pan of bars NEVER lasted long in our house.  And now?  Bike man and I rarely bake cookies, cakes or pies.  Nowadays, all you hear or read about is that sugar is bad for you.  Kind of makes a person depressed ya know!  I enjoyed making the pan of bars and will make them again when I have my next sugar craving.

If you are interested in the recipe, please look in my Turtle Recipes menu.

 

Thankful

Yes, feeling thankful.  After five days in Southwest Wisconsin, I traveled back home to the north woods today.  My parents are doing good, but just waiting now for my dad's next surgery on March 2.  I'll be back to help the folks in 2 1/2 weeks.  It's tough with cancer....appointments, monitoring, surgery, pain and just trying to live a normal life.  I'm thankful my dad isn't going through chemo or radiation because that would totally rob him of a somewhat normal life.  I told my dad that after this surgery to remove more tumors in his bladder, he can then enjoy a wonderful summer, with NO APPOINTMENTS!  For now, we won't think about the fall months.  Just take one month at a time.

When I arrived home today, Bike man pointed out our amaryllis was blooming.  There are still more unopened blossoms just waiting to open. Don't you just love the color?  

And my sweet little Annabelle!  She was so happy to see me, along with the other three felines.  My BIG cat Aiden hasn't left my side since I got home.  He is my 24 pound lap cat!!!  Zero degrees outside, no problem.  Aiden will keep me warm....better than a blanket ya know!

PS.  28 years ago today, Bike man and I welcomed our son Christopher in our lives.  I thought for sure I was having another baby girl, but was totally surprise to give birth to a baby boy!  Love you Chris....we are so proud of you. 

Twister

I had the best day ever!  I was finally able to visit my twin sister (Twister) Lynn yesterday in her home town, Wausau, Wisconsin.  I haven't seen her since last July, so I had a lot of catching up to do with her.  Of course we spent time doing girl talk, shopping and lunch.  My nephew, Tim, also joined us for the day. 

Before our day ended, our last fun stop was at Sweet Lola's bakery.  I decide to buy some gourmet cupcakes for my upcoming snowshoe party on Sunday, and Lynn bought some cupcakes too.  Now these cupcakes are rich, sweet and all buttercream!  You can cut these cupcakes in quarters and still get your sugar fix.  Such a fun bakery to visit.  Thanks Lynn & Tim,

Trees Were Talking

Headed out for a snowshoe walk this afternoon.  Halfway through my walk, I noticed the cloudy skies were opening up from the West.  I just had to stop, turn around and snap a photo, or two.  Those blue skies have been vague during the month of January, so when we do have sunshine and blue skies, you just have to stop and give thanks!

Even the sunshine filtering through the trees was magical this afternoon.  The sunshine didn't last long....maybe an hour or hour and a half and then the clouds filtered back in.  The temperature held steady at around 29 degrees with a brisk south wind blowing.  Just enough breeze to keep my face and neck chilly, so I was very happy I wore my fleece turtle to keep my neck and face warm while snowshoeing.  

I just have to mention that the trees were talking during my hike this afternoon.  Enough squeaking and moaning to make me stop every once in awhile and just listen.  Have you ever been out in the woods on a breezy day and heard the trees talking?  It's beautiful and unusual all at the same time.  If you've never walked through the woods, then you probably don't know what I'm talking about.  In breezy conditions, trees will rub against one another, or tree limbs will sway back and forth creating an unusual moaning or high pitch sound.  I just think of it as the trees are talking or communicating with us.  We just need to be there at the right time to listen.

Ended my day down on the lake with Bike man ice fishing.  Our neighbor came down on the ice and drilled a few holes and chatted with us.  Bike man's oldest son Mike also stopped late in the afternoon for an hour or so.  It's always nice to have company stop by since our winter days seem long and quiet.  Bike man built a nice fire to keep us warm during our ice fishing.  Enjoyed a glass of Merlot around the fire....heck yes, you gotta stay warm on the frozen lake!!!  The sunset tonight was beautiful, as the sky opened up again right at sunset and then followed by more cloudy skies.  Weather man is forecasting rain tonight and mixed precipitation.  This has been the most unusual winter.

Girl's Weekend

It's a mother and daughter weekend, how lucky for me! Becca and I took off last night and drove to southwest Wisconsin to visit my folks for Easter. Wow, everything is blooming here....apple trees, lilacs, berry bushes, grape vines, plum trees, and some wildflowers. It's amazing how 180 miles south can make a big difference.

We took a quick road trip this afternoon to our favorite bargain store for food products. I'm not sure if I've shown this photo before, but this rock formation is called, elephant trunk rock, and it's on our way to the outlet store.

It rained for a short time late today, but then the sky opened up around 7:30 pm tonight for a beautiful pink and orange display. Lots of birds singing and mild temperatures today, just an enjoyable day all around. My mother is slowly regaining her strength and trying to return to a normal life. It's hard now to imagine she was struggling with her heart problems five months ago. Everyday is a new day........

A Surprise Visit

It was one of those last minute things. Our adopted daughter, Anna, decided to come over with her hubby and baby for visit tonight. I haven't seen this little squirt since she was born, like 8 weeks ago! Little Averie is growing.

Anna is doing great for a new mom and I am very proud of her. Boy this brings back so many memories for me.....babies, nursing, diapers, burping etc.

I was just happy to sit and hold little Averie......she's so sweet. Today was her first day wearing big girl clothes! I truly had fun holding a little baby tonight. Thanks Anna and Jeff.

Short Visit

Visited with my mom and dad Saturday night into Sunday.

Was so good to see the folks.

Mom continues to gain strength after her open-heart surgery....it's been 4 months now. Aren't Jack and Shirley a cute couple?

My Dear Friend

My childhood friend Margo and I were able to get together this afternoon while Bike man attended the second day of the stream monitoring symposium. Since we don't travel to the Milwaukee area very often, it was a treat to visit with my girlfriend. When I say childhood friend, I mean since age three! Margo, Lynnie (my twin) & me. Oh my, I have many stories throughout our childhood I could share.....well, probably embarrassing stories, so I will leave that to another day!

Later today we traveled west (150+ miles). Over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house we go! We are here visiting Mom Moo and dad in southwest Wisconsin. Heard the spring peepers tonight, so that means spring for sure.

Fresh Air

After several hours of "girl" shopping yesterday, Trisha and I finally joined the guys on the lake during the afternoon hours. It was a beautiful day to spend outdoors. Plenty of sunshine and very little wind.....perfect.

The guys even caught a Walleye (photo) and a Northern! Today was a different story. Cloudy and very windy, so the air temp felt much colder than it really was. A quick run to this afternoon to stretch my muscles and exercise my lungs, but I actually felt washed out. I'm coming up on 4 weeks now since developing a sinus condition and it has robbed me of energy and spunk. I'm a big believer in natural remedies, so have been faithfully using my nasal cleanser with salt water. I'm hoping to wake up one of these days and feel like a new person!!!!

Visitors

Yippee, visitors this weekend!!! The Son and his girl Trisha are here for a couple days. Enjoyed a dinner out tonight at the local bar and grill. Guess who's also happy the kids are home? Annabelle, Manny, Abbie and Aiden......it's play time!

Special Treat

She lives a quiet life now and doesn't have a care in the world. Well actually, in her world every day seems like the same day over and over again. My mother-in-law lives with memory loss now, but she's still the same woman I remember from years ago.

I thought my mother-in-law deserved chocolates for Valentine's Day, so Bike man and I stopped by the specialty chocolate shop last weekend. You know, everyone deserves chocolate no matter how young or old you are.

We just happen to visit with my mother-in-law over the weekend, so I presented her with this lovely box of chocolates. " They're too pretty to eat " she says! After hesitation to pick her first candy to eat, I finally picked one for her to try. She only ate half, but I know she was pleased. My mother-in-law won't remember where the chocolates came from, but that's ok, we still love her just the same.

Happy Valentine's Day Grandma Winne.

Birthday Wishes

Can you guess my recent baking project? In my family, I'm known as the cheesecake lady.....hint, hint.

Yup, this was my Sunday night project. I baked another Heath Bar cheesecake, just like the one I baked for Becca's birthday back in November. Well this time, I baked one for the Son. Happy 24th Birthday Chris!!!!! Bike man just happened to be in Minneapolis today for a VA appointment, so he hand-delivered the cheesecake to our son. I wish I could have been there, but my job rules my life, so no such luck.

Speaking of birthday's, I remember my baby experiences very well. After Chris's birth, I remember the nurses bringing all these Valentines into my room. It seems that the elementary children at the local school made Valentine cards for the hospital patients. Since there were only two of us gals in the maternity wing, we were given tons of Valentine cards from the local school kids. How cool is that? I have very fond memories of Becca's birth too. There's nothing comparable to giving birth. As a mom, I will always cherish the moment.....the moment where I went from being a young lady in my mid 20's to an instant mommie!

Hope you enjoyed your birthday Son!

A Price Tag

Does life come with a price? I guess I'll answer my own question by saying yes, life does come with a price and sometimes it's beyond our control. After speaking to my parents today by phone, my dad started reading my mother's hospital bill from her recent open-heart surgery. My dad calculated the cost of her surgery and it has now surpassed a half a million dollars. After a tearful moment with my mom, I reinforced to her that yes, she was well worth the half a million dollars to repair her heart valves!!!! Thank heavens for Medicare and their secondary insurance.

Just imagine medical costs fifty years from now. Will anyone be able to afford medical care or surgery? It's a pretty scary picture when many of us are facing wages that haven't increased for several years, or worse yet, people losing their jobs. The hot topic in my profession is that we haven't seen the worst of budget cuts yet. Wait until 2013 & 2014!

Thank heavens for chocolate. Chocolate makes me forget my insecurities!!!!!

Road Trip

Zipped our way east to St. Paul today to visit the Son and his sweetheart Trisha. Jumped back in the car and then we all headed on to Minneapolis to pick up our daughter Becca. I love family day! Spent the afternoon visiting REI, Chipolte Mexican Grill (we were hungry), Cook's on Crocus Hill and then ended with a quick swoop into Penzey's Spices.

I couldn't cook without Penzey's spices and herb mixes.....I use the herbs and spices almost everyday. The three small jars you see in the photo are heading to southwest Wisconsin in a couple weeks. My mom is now on a low-sodium diet due to her heart surgery, so I want her to try the newest favorites of mine. The cinnamon on the left is for one of my co-workers who was looking for a high quality and strong cinnamon.

Oh yah, Bike man bought me some pink Pedro's tire levers today. Guess who needs a lesson on changing a flat bicycle tire?

Winter Postponed

I'm so appreciative of this unseasonably warm weather here in the Midwest. My mental outlook is much happier and brighter without all the snow and subzero temperatures. Really proves to me how harsh weather can affect my overall mental health. I'm sure the snow will return and the below zero weather will be knocking at our door, but for now.....I'm smiling!

Did an awesome 3-mile run this afternoon and actually felt good. Getting back into running has been hard for me, especially since I'm not a spring chicken anymore!!! Thought about taking my mountain bike down to the lake, but the warm weather has made the snow on the lake squeeshy....makes riding much harder on the lake.

Special Note: talked to my mom this afternoon and she is getting stronger and stronger each week. It will be exactly one month tomorrow that mom had open-heart surgery. I am simply amazed at her progress for an 81-year old woman. She has a fighting spirit and a zest for life....well after all, she is a Marine's daughter!

My Favorite

The Girls

I've been slowly going through photographs that I took last year. I especially like this photo of "the girls." I think the smiles tell it all......soul sisters for life!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas To All Our Blogger Friends

We wished my mom moo well and said our good-byes this afternoon. I'm really hoping mom only has one more week in the nursing home and then she can return home.

Headed for home on an unbelievably warm and snow-free December day. Was wonderful to have our daughter along with us for our Christmas trip.

Looking forward to leaving 2011 behind and embracing 2012........

Furlough

So I told her we were coming to Southwest Wisconsin to check on her progress since her open-heart surgery. Hey mom I said, you can come home from the nursing home for a short visit......"I can" she said!!!! We're calling it her furlough.

So we picked her up this morning around 11 am and then returned her around 7 pm tonight. I truly have to say this was the best Christmas eve for my family. To me, this was what Christmas is all about.

Becca made a delicious soup for lunch and then we made a special Christmas dinner tonight.....comfort food for my mama who has lost a lot of weigh! I made sure we stopped at the Viroqua Food Co-op to stock up on good fresh food for our meal preparations.

Yes, it was hard returning her to the nursing home tonight, but I assured her we will see her tomorrow before we take off for home. She badly wants to come home, so I told her to work especially hard next week during her therapy. She looked amazing today, and to think she had heart surgery two weeks ago. Her incision is healing beautifully, but is still dealing with edema in the legs. Recovery is rough, but she's a trooper (it's that polish blood I swear)!

No need for Christmas presents this year, just the basics for a happy holiday season.

Wishing all my blogger friends a very Merry Christmas.

Nordic

She said it's her Nordic jacket

Some people are just talented, it's in their blood. This former part-time employee of mine still comes to visit me at work, and recently she wanted to show me her latest creation. Besides making really cool denim skirts, Sam is now making sweater jackets. It takes her about two days to put together an adult size jacket like this one in the photo above. The coolest part is, all her sweaters she uses for making a jacket are bought at thrift shops. I believe she said it takes six sweaters to piece together a full length jacket. And to think she doesn't even use a pattern! People like her just amaze me.

Mom moo update: Hey, she called me at work today! Didn't recognize her voice, but she called me.....now that's the mama I remember!!! Physical therapy is still slow going, but they have her working hard to regain her strength. There's still other physical problems she's dealing with, but we are hoping that every day will get better and soon mom can come back home.

Lake Ice

(Look Jackie, lake ice!)

After being home for a couple days now, I was anxious to get back to some sort of exercise routine. Headed out for a run this afternoon since the roads are in perfect shape. It's hard to believe that it's December 17th and we have no snow here in Northwest Wisconsin......that's just weird! Heard the weatherman say yesterday it look likely that we will not have a white Christmas either. Wow

The cold nights have created enough lake ice to support ice fisherman and their four-wheelers. Not sure how much ice is out there, but I'm guessing it's around 6-8 inches of good solid ice. The lake has been freezing for a good three weeks (or more), so the ice is in good shape. I'm still really cautious, so I never venture out on the ice until after Christmas or after New Years when there is at least 12 inches of ice.

Bike man is excited about the lake ice condition and is already planning to put the studded tires on our bikes, especially if we don't receive any snow storms. The lake will be perfect for biking, not to mention a lot of FUN!

Mom moo update: it will be much harder for me to get updates on her medical conditions now that she is in the nursing home. I am mostly relying on my dad for updates, but plan to call my dad's cell phone daily and hope that he is there in the nursing home when I call. Mom doesn't have a phone in her room, so I think I'm having "mom" separation and just wish I didn't live so far away. And to think all those years she worried about me.......life is funny isn't it?