Family Weekend

With a three-day holiday weekend, the kids (Becca, Chris & Trisha) and I took the opportunity to visit my  parents in Southwest Wisconsin.  Enjoyed a special visit today from my cousin Richard and his wife Laura of Madison.  We had such a great time talking and catching up on our families.

Dad and Richard enjoyed some man-time while reminiscing over family photographs and many stories.   

Of course it wouldn't be a visit without cooking and eating.  Imagine four cooks in one kitchen!  Well this time, we elected Becca to plan our family evening dinner.....and look what she whipped up.  Thanks to the help of Trisha, Grandma Shirley and myself, we all had one hand in the preparations of Becca's chicken pot pies.

There is nothing better than homemade chicken pot pie.  We cheated and used all-ready made one crust pie shells and then a layer of puff pastry on top.  Add a side salad and it's a complete meal.  Food always tastes better with family around the table!  Just a short trip and then we'll be headed back home tomorrow in the afternoon and the kids will head back to the Twin Cities.

I Promise

See those teeth marks?  That represents the kind of week I've been having.  Too much work and no play.  Even Bike man has been putting in extra hours this week and he's retired!!!  I promise to come back in a couple days......

And Then the Sun Came Out

With a late spring, everything is behind schedule here in Northwest Wisconsin.  Despite that the calendar says May 18th, Bike man finally scheduled his training session for his citizen stream monitors.  Just a simple re-training and a nice get-together with everyone.

As a thank you to all the stream monitors for their hard work, we always throw an outdoor cookout.  Louie's grilled brats and Lisa's onion burgers are always on the menu, along with polenta lasagna, quinoa salad, baked beans, guacamole, and humus dip.  Thank heavens the weather cleared up and stopped raining, just in  time when our guests arrived.  Busy day.....and now I'm pooped!

Busy Week

Time has been limited this week, but I still have managed to enjoy the ending of each day.  Beautiful sunset tonight.

Two Celebrations

The girls.....Shirley, Lisa and Lynn

 

We had two celebrations tonight.  My dad turns 85 in a couple days, and tomorrow is Mother's Day!

 

So nice to spend time with my twin sister Lynn, her son Tim and her hubby Pat.  A night out for pizza with the family was a truly a joy.  Back home tomorrow....these weekends go way to fast!

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.