When You Live In the North

When you live in the North, you have to make the best of it.  No sense in complaining, especially when the cold weather and snow begins in November!  Just get outside enjoy and play.

My husband and I live on a lake in Northwest Wisconsin, but we don't actually own acreage with our home.  I feel so lucky to have a wonderful friend that does own wooded acreage, with managed trails.  Caryn and I frequently snowshoe during the winter months and hike, bird-watch and look for mushrooms during the spring/summer.  Both Caryn and I find solitude in the woods, especially in the winter months.

I spotted this birch tree several years ago with it's shelf fungi.  I always make a point to break our snowshoe trail next to this particular tree because it just fascinates me.

After another 4 inches of new snow today, the clouds parted and the sun appeared.  An absolute perfect day to be out in the woods.

Caryn took this photo of me yesterday while out snowshoeing.  I explained to her that every time I pass by this leaning Mullein plant, I stop to smell it....or basically just touch it with my nose.  Why?  No particular reason, other than I just like to connect with nature, plants and birds.  Just call me goofy.    

Our snowshoe route takes us down to the mouth of the Hay River that flows into Tainter Lake.  Won't be long now and the Trumpeter Swans will return, along with the Sandhill Cranes, Canadian geese and lots of ducks. 

Time stands still when I'm out in the woods.  My head and mind stays clear and now I get a chance to say "hello" to my dad when I'm out hiking.  Dad loved his woodland walks when I was a young girl.  I'm already missing my dad.

Fly Away Daddy

John D. Curnow May 1928-2018

As my daddy was letting go, separating from this earthly life, I whispered in his ear.....daddy, it's ok, just fly away.  I told him to fly away as the Rose Breasted Grosbeak (his favorite bird) and please be the first spring bird to visit my bird feeder in the spring.  I know my daddy heard me.  He heard every word I whispered in his ear days before he passed.  As I witnessed the opening of his eyes, the slight facial moments and eyebrow movements, I know my dad heard everything I whispered to him for six straight days.  I continued to tell him how much I loved him and reminded him that Jesus forgave him for all his sins....all he needed to do was trust in the Lord and join Jesus as he passed into his new eternity.  Dad finally let go on January 11th at 12:38 am.  Mixed emotions overwhelmed me.  Should I cry or rejoice in his passing?  My twin sister Lynn, who was with me at the time of dad's passing, felt relieved, joyous and sadness all in one.  Death is strange ya know?  As of today, I'm still feeling happy that dad passed over to his new eternal life.  Now, I need to help my grieving mother......my commitment to my parents lives on.

Note:  My dad was diagnosed with bladder cancer 8 yrs ago.  His cancer metastasized two years ago and became aggressive.  Dad was strong (stubborn) and held on for two years.  I will never regret retiring early from my job in order to take care of my parents.  I'd also like to thank my sisters, Debbie and Lynnie for sharing in dad's care with visits and lots of loving!   

Asking for prayers for my mother.

Practicing Hygee

My big Maine Coon cat, Aiden, and I are practicing "hygee" this winter.  Hygee, pronounced hoo...ga, is the Danish art of embracing the cold winter months with warm fuzzy clothing, lit candles, warm drinks, comfort foods, a good movie or great reading materials!  With lots of frigid temperatures this week, it's easy to enjoy the comforts of home.

Just remember, hygee is an attitude to accept our long cold winters and enjoy the shorter daylight with the coziness of home and family life.  Hygee teaches you to slow down your lifestyle during the winter months and appreciate a warm cup of coffee or tea with a little sweet treat, while enjoying time with your loved ones.  In my case, it's usually three cats snuggled on the couch with me during the day or night.  It's funny, but there's no opportunity for me to experience coldness during the winter months because we have four cats living in our home.  Morning, afternoon or night....I always have a cat nearby to keep me warm.

For me, hygee means saying good bye to a busy summer and fall and saying hello to a quieter time of year.  When I think back to years ago, I would always tell my friends that I was looking forward to the winter months when all my gardening and canning/freezing foods was complete.  Now I realize, deep down inside my soul, I wanted to naturally experience hygee as a way to enjoy the winter months.  I also think the Danes are very smart and know how to enjoy the little treasures of life.

I challenge you to enjoy hygee this winter.

PS, I give you approval to enjoy wearing your PJs until 10 am!!! 

Time To Bake in the New Year

Swedish Cardamom Rolls (Swedish Bullar)

So what do you do on a cold 8 degrees below zero day?  Stay indoors, drink lots of hot tea and immerse yourself in BAKING! One of my favorite things to bake is a buttery cardamom & cinnamon roll. 

One year ago, my friend Caryn, treated me to one of her freshly baked cardamom rolls.  I was hooked on these buttery beauties!  Caryn, who's ancestors were Swedish, has always love to bake and cook favorite foods from Sweden.  After sharing the recipe with me, I believe I made these rolls like three or four times last winter.  I also decided to make a batch last year only using cinnamon since some of my family members are a little shy to the taste of cardamom.  Yes, I do think you have to acquire a taste for cardamom!

Just be aware if you make this recipe, that it's very buttery and rich dough.  This is not your typical cinnamon roll dough.  So, after making a batch yesterday, I edited the recipe.  I redo or edit recipes often, something I just learned from my mother and grandmother.  So now, I've decided it's better to cut your dough strips in 1/2-inch to get a smaller roll.  Of course, you can still cut your strips by 1 inch, but you will just get a much larger buttery roll!!!

If you want to learn the proper technique to shaping/twisting the dough, go to: http://www.fixfeastflair.com/home/2015/2/9/swedish-cardamom-rolls-kardemummabullar-recipe

To find this recipe, click on Turtle Recipes in the top menu.  Give this recipe a try if you love to bake and can devote 3-4 hrs at home.  Stay warm friends and Happy New Year.

Invasive Garlic Mustard

For several years now, I've been involved in pulling invasive garlic mustard in our county....it has become a real problem.  So finally, it dawned on me that maybe there was a good use for this invasive plant!  This garlic mustard pesto is delicious.  Please remember to dispose of any leftover garlic mustard plants/leaves in your garbage.

Garlic Mustard Pesto

8 cups packed garlic mustard leaves

3-4 cloves garlic, chopped

2/3 cups pine nuts, walnuts nuts, almonds or pecans

1 cup extra virgin olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Pick the garlic leaves off the stems and wash if needed, pat dry with paper towels.  Pack 8 cups  of garlic mustard leaves into a blender.  Pour ½ cup olive oil in the blender and pulse continuously, scraping down the leaves.  When leaves start to break down, add remaining olive oil, chopped garlic, nuts and parmesan cheese, continue to pulse in the blender until smooth.  Add salt and pepper to taste.

Divide pesto and place in two 4 oz freezer containers.  Drizzle additional oil olive over top of pesto to help retain the beautiful green color.  Pesto can be stored in the freezer, or use within a couple weeks.

Bike Man's Favorite Recipe

I promised my hubby that I would post his favorite cornbread recipe.  So, please checkout my Turtle Recipes for the actual recipe.  Since we had a rainy and cloudy day today, Bike man felt inspired to bake cornbread and regular homemade bread.  The house smells heavenly....really!  Can't decide if I want to toast a slice of the cornbread for breakfast tomorrow or the homemade bread.  Geez, maybe I'll do both!!!

Do You Remember Maida Heatter?

Maybe I'm dating myself here, but do my readers remember Maida Heatter?  Cookbook author?  I've had this recipe for 30 years and it's my husband's favorite.  I use to use raisins years ago, but now my hubby requests craisins!!!  To find the recipe, please look in my Turtle Recipe menu.

I've been on a baking binge lately, baking for friends, family and non-profit agency meetings.  I like to keep myself busy, so baking is my refuge.....it keeps me feeling happy and satisfied.  Somehow, my life is mimicking my mother's.  My mom used to bake for the love of giving to others.  I'll be traveling to my parents home soon and taking lots of home-baked goods to them, just like they used to bring to me in my younger years.  The life cycle continues.......