Over the River and Through the Woods

 To grandma's house I go!  I always enjoy my drive down to southern Wisconsin.  Couldn't help myself, but I just had to stop and take photos of the Sandhill Cranes out in the farm fields.

At the time I took this photo, I didn't see the geese hovering down in the grass....those sneaky devils!

 

My route takes me alongside the Pine River in Richland County.

 

Was amazed to see the leaves on the tree really opening up here in southwestern Wisconsin.  The spring flowers are all above ground and blooming....wow.  The Magnolia tree is also blooming.

 

 

Found a patch of Bloodroot growing in my parent's yard behind the garage.  Love this spring wildflower.  Just a short visit to see my parents and celebrate Mother's Day and my father's 85th birthday.

Mango Salsa





Mango Salsa  (Food Network)

After a great sunny and warm day, and a little run for exercise, I came home and made a batch of Mango Salsa.  Oh so yummy.  While I was making the salsa, Bike man was busy making a batch of bread.  Homemade, what can I say!

Ingredients:

1 mango, peeled and diced
1/2 cup peeled, diced cucumber
1 Tblsp. finely chopped jalapeno
1/3 cup diced red onion
1 Tblsp. lime juice
1/3 cup chopped cilantro leaves (dried cilantro works too)
salt & pepper

Directions:
Combine the mango, cucumber, jalapeno, red onion, lime juice and cilantro leavws and mix well.  Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

The Clean Up Began

So the work began today.   Picking up tree limbs and branches from our recent snow storm took all day.  Thank heavens Chris and Trisha decided to come over and help.  Actually, we lucked out as many people down the road  had much more damage than we did. 

The snow finally melted over the last three days, so Trisha and  I spent several hours raking, while the guys moved the yard waste and did other spring yard work during the day.

Of course we had to take a little break to visit the Cottage Winery for a little wine tasting!

We tasted five different wines while taking our time just enjoying the countryside view.  The sixty degree temperature today was so appreciated.  After our freak snow storm dumping a foot a snow......life just has to get back to normal.  Bring on spring.....

Just Moving Through

Bike man pointed out there were some unusual sparrows at our suet feeder.  After getting out the Peterson Field Guide to Birds, we discovered these birds were not sparrows, but the Yellow Rumped (Myrtle) Warbler.

This beautiful warbler, spends his summers in northern Wisconsin and Canada and it's winters in the southern United States.

The warblers were feeding heavily on our suet feeders today, sharing the suet with the Downy Woodpecker.

That's one serious look!

The Downy Woodpecker got his share of feeding time today.  As I was taking these photos, I heard the White-Throated  sparrow singing along with the Loon calls out on the lake.  Can't get much better than that!

I Refused To Believe the Weatherman

I'm POed!

 

Really?  This is May 2nd?

 

Pulling out of our driveway with morning, this is what I saw.  A large tree limb across our county road.  This should have been a clue to me to just stay home.

 

I headed to work anyway, but took  a different route....dumb, dumb, dumb!   Only made it a little ways on River road and then discovered multiple trees and tree limbs down blocking the entire road.  The weight of the snow snapped many, many trees.  Had to carefully turn my vehicle around and just prayed that I wouldn't get stuck.  Geez, what I do for a photo opportunity!

Now Bike man's another story.  He headed out today to the west and north, but ended up getting stuck in a ditch.  Thankfully, someone came along to help push him out....thank you random person!

Ironically, Bike man's last stop of the day was in Cumberland, Wisconsin to pick up a variety of Louie's brats for our upcoming cookout for our volunteer stream monitors.  Yup, in two weeks a cookout.....should I be worried about snow?

A Working Board

Changing of the guard!  After completing my first year on the Board of Director's for the Menomonie Market Food Co-op, we now have two new board members.  Looks like a busy year ahead with our expansion project.  Hoping for a midsummer groundbreaking for our new Co-op store.....very exciting!

Just Perfect

It took about two and a half hours, but Bike man got the buoys put back in the lake today.  Most of the lake ice is gone.....quickly left us yesterday afternoon and last night.  When the ice goes, it goes quickly!

The Son came home this weekend to help with outside chores, so I made my special grilled dinner.  It's so easy.  Using heavy aluminium foil, I add a generous amount of oil olive.  Then I chopped potatoes, colored peppers, jalapenos, mushrooms and onions.  I decided to seasoned with Za'atar.  Za'atar is mixture of thyme, sesame seeds and salt .  Seal the aluminium foil and bake on the grill for 40-50 minutes.  I also marinated pork chops and the Son graciously grilled the chops on the charcoal grill for me.  

Complimented the meal with a coleslaw salad made with grapes and pineapple......dressing was sweet & tangy.  With warmer temps this weekend, cooking outside was a treat!  Despite two Co-op meetings this weekend,  I thoroughly enjoyed a relaxing weekend.  The 70 degree temperatures both yesterday and today were heavenly!

PS.  Was time to change the header!!!!