Leave it to Betty

 To come up with a great idea. 

The weekend forecast is favorable. 

Grab a sweater and a friend and a fish, or a friend who is a fish, or a friendly fish, 

and enjoy some dining al fresco while you still can.

Power Pants

No messing around here. 

These are some serious slacks, Bermuda shorts and short shorts.

Just thought you would enjoy seeing them. Did you?

It's Alive!

These days customers can wander for hours in department stores that are more like ghost towns than the bustling bastions of luxury shopping they once were. We have been tempted to set a stopwatch to see how long it would take before any of the very few remaining staff positioned mostly at checkout centers might ask if we need any help. Our suspicion is that the clock would keep running forever. Remember when sales people were so persistently present that you had to beg just  to browse on your own? It was sometimes annoying, but we actually kind of miss the attention and do occasionally wish for some help.

Well, we are glad to report that in some small pockets of the retail industry service lives on.  Our recent experience with a young salesperson who stuck with us through the entire process of testing mattresses for a guest bedroom, making a selection, and arranging for delivery was quite satisfying. A few weeks later he followed through with a phone call to make sure we were getting a good night's sleep, and then sent a postcard which was not only thoughtful, but brought smiles to our faces.

Be Prepared

Should you come across a lovely ripe fig here is a wonderful thing to do with it.

ROASTED FIG AND GOAT CHEESE SALAD

From ChezM

6 plump black figs

Vinaigrette: 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar and

1/3 cup olive oil, seasoned to taste

6 slices of a firm goat cheese

6 cups arugula or frisee salad greens

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and oil a casserole.

Score the bottoms of the figs and roast them for 10 minutes until they are soft.

Assemble the vinaigrette in a small container and toss half of it

with the greens. Distribute the greens among 6 plates.

Lay a slice of goat cheese on each bed of greens.

Top with a warm fig and drizzle the remaining vinaigrette over the figs before serving.

Serves 6

The Dirty Dancing Cure

Recently, in an effort to clean-up an ongoing problem with poor etiquette at school dances, administrators at Sheboygan North High School took a page straight from Mrs. PiggleWiggle. 

When the homecoming dance started to resemble the sultriest scenes from Dirty Dancing rather than the mostly innocent, carefree choreography of Footloose administrators conferred in the hallway outside the dance and decided that Principal Jason Bull would read a pre-written statement. 

The statement outlined options for the evening that seemed inspired by Mrs. PW whose magical child-raising cures were probably not coincidentally very much like the parenting technique that promotes natural consequences for undesirable behaviors.

"When Bull took the stage, he said a group of students belonging to the original group of offenders began chanting obscenities, which riled up the students.

Bull told students that the dance was canceled in an effort to quell the chants and focus students’ attention.

Minutes later, Bull said students seemed to be in a better frame of mind to listen, at which point, he proceeded with the original message, which detailed that if inappropriate behavior were to continue, the lights would stay on, the chicken dance song would be played for the rest of the night, and/or the dance would be canceled.

After the announcement, some students chose to leave voluntarily, but the majority stayed, according to Bull, and the dance resumed as planned." - Green Bay Press Gazette.com     

Well done Principal Bull, Mrs. Piggle Wiggle would be proud! 

So proud in fact that maybe she would dance a little jig.

Figs in the Wild

Where we live, some things do not grow on trees. The first of these things is money. 

In the midwest we learn very early from our hardworking parents that even though we might think it does, 

"Money doesn't grow on trees". There  are no two ways about it. 

Those go-go boots are not gonna happen for you even though everybody else has them.

Other revelations take much longer for some of us to receive. When your life-long relationship with a fig has been exclusively with its twisted sister the Newton, it is hard to imagine that the raw source of the crunchy, weird, brown filling could be a wonderful and amazing food like the succulent, naturally ripe fig.

It seems like something out of a fairy tale too incredible to be true, but there are parts of the world (some even on our own continent, but in this case beautiful Provence, France) where you can walk up to a tree, pick a plump purple fig, and enjoy it on a splendid sunny day, while standing in an olive farm parking lot.

Hmmm...will they tell us next, that dates grow on trees and anchovies swim in the sea? 

Nectar of Life

Olive oil. 

In particular Castelas olive oil grown in the shadow of Les Baux de Provence.

 Drizzle it on soups, salads, and bread. Make a beautiful vinaigrette. What more does a person need?

 It is available to us without having to buy a plane ticket or suffer jet-lag,

But of course it is more fun to go get it yourself.

Think of Me in Gay Paree

So many choices. What will we see? What will we do? What will we eat?

On ne sait pas!

Postcard from Provence

The land of wine and olives.

À bientôt.

Know Your Polka Kings

Oktoberfest is here and we wouldn't want you to be at a loss for polka facts to add to conversations around the dance floor. Especially if  if there is any debating about who is the true polka king. 

L'il Wally vs. Whoopee John.

Walter "Li'l Wally" Jagiello, "Mały Władziu" (August 1, 1930 – August 17, 2006), was an American (of Polish background) polka musician and songwriter from Chicago, Illinois. A self-taught Chemnitzer concertina and drum player, who sang perfect Polish as well as English in many of his songs. His most famous compositions include "Pukaj Jasiu" "No Beer in Heaven" and "I Wish I Was Single Again". 

His song "Let's Go, Go-Go White Sox", as recorded by Captain Stubby and the Buccaneers underwent a resurgence in 2005.

Originally starting out at the age of 8 singing with the Eddie Zima Orchestra performing up and down "Polish Broadway" in Chicago, Wally soon struck out on his own and formed his own band "The Happy Harmony Boys". He was a pioneer in the concept of the independent record label, starting his own Jay-Jay Records in 1951 after a brief career recording stint on Columbia Records, at the age of twenty. He was renowned for his drumbeat and slower and more danceable tempo, which became a mainstay of "Chicago Style" Polish polka sound. His arrangements of many popular Polish folk tunes, and many originals as well, are those used today by polka bands all over the United States. His nickname was derived from his short stature (5 foot 6 as an adult), especially during his youth, when he would stand on a picnic table to sing.

The highlight of Jagiello's career was performing for Pope John Paul II in 1984, who requested Wally to continue playing after his initial song, "God Bless Our Polish Pope". The pontiff blessed him after his performance, telling him "God will reward you for all your hard work."
He also appeared several times playing his concertina on The Lawrence Welk Show. He was one of the first two inductees into the International Polka Association's Hall of Fame in 1969. All total, he has collected 17 gold and 4 platinum records. In his later years, he retired to Miami Beach, Florida, but continued to perform and record and please audiences nationwide. Li'l Wally died in 2006 in Florida at the age of 76. - From Wikipedia

John Anthony Wilfahrt, (May 11, 1893 – June 15, 1961), the eldest son of John Wilfahrt and Barbara Portner, was a professional polka musician who recorded with Decca Records. He went by the moniker "Whoopee John." Wilfahrt was born in New Ulm, Minnesota and got his start playing the accordion at local gatherings and concerts in and around his community. In the 1920s Whoopee John and his band relocated to Saint Paul, Minnesota where they became regulars at live shows and on the radio. 

Wilfahrt first began recording commercially in the 1920s and would sign with the newly-formed U.S. division of Decca Records in 1934 as the label's second act. (The first act signed to the label being Bing Crosby.) Wilfahrt and his band enjoyed popularity through the 1940s and 50s on the polka circuit.
Over the course of his professional career Wilfahrt would record nearly 1,000 songs, some of the most popular being “Mariechen Waltz” and “Clarinet Polka.” -  From Wikipedia

After you listen to the Chug-a-lug polka and enjoy the accompanying vintage images there should be no doubt in your mind about who deserves to wear the crown. Long live Whoopee John.

Chug A Lug (Chug A Lug Drink It Down) by Polka_holic7839

Fall Flashes

(of Genius)  Bachman's 2012 Fall Ideas House is open through October 7.

Outside the Ideas House. Burlap wrapped and lined tires as planters.

 Amazing, colorful borders of mums, kale, and marigolds, millet, and more.

 Maybe we'll try this on the East side of the garage. Why not? 

The neighbors already pretty much think we are crazy.

Burlap wreaths with wheat flair become giant wall flowers with honeysuckle vine stems.

The porch entry beer theme includes a German beerstube table, bottle lighting, 

stools made out of kegs, and bottlecap embellishments throughout.

In the doggy suite the upside down table-bed has felt pads placed on the 

up-in-the-air feet just as dog paw pads would look. A fun detail that made one ideas house visitor 

imagine the designer laying in bed at night with a notepad jotting down ideas 

when brainstorming kept her from her sleep.

The door onto the roof terrace led to this doggy play land complete with 

bone-shaped pool, shuffleboard, and topiary.  

Just don't throw the tennis ball over the hedge while playing fetch. Rouch! Bad news for Bowser.

 Dog dish placemat as framed art.

Teatime for pampered, prizewinning  pooches under a dog biscuit chandelier.

Mirrored dog dishes.

Nicely accessorized bathroom radiator cover .

Sweet, bird-themed nursery.

Office with desk fashioned from solid wood doors and fabric.

A bit of decor available to purchase or, perhaps for a clever crafter to imitate.

 Salvaged crates as wall unit, shelving and message board.

 The conveyor belt coffee table looked cool, but you better keep a hold of your wine. 

Especially after the first glass.

Another nicely appointed radiator cover. This one is in the sunroom.

Dining room built-in buffet ready for a harvest meal.

  Bright bathroom embellishments and a sneaky peek at the coat closet across the hall.

Vintage fixture and bulb with re-purposed strainer cover.

Kitchen shelves featuring Now Designs' "Posy" print dishes and linens. Over-the-sink curtains were cleverly and simply made from dish towels with grommets for hanging on teacup hooks.

 One of many lush container plantings around the porch and walkway. 

Orange pansies are a surprise in a Fall flower combo.

The garage decked out for a creepy and festive party 

with a fireplace drawn on one of the tarpaper lined walls.

Scary swag for the guests, and Halloween decals on the wine glasses.

Little lanterns serve as place card holders.

Centerpiece, complete with bones, contained in a galvanized trough.

The Clubhouse. We're thinking this is a "no boyz allowed" 

or enter at your own risk of pink blindness, situation.

Artists welcome here.

 Hanging sofa made from tires as seen through the beaded ribbon door curtain.

Outside the shed/clubhouse. Ninebark shrubs anchor the marvelous mixed  border.

Little Devil perhaps?

A last look and a parting thought - If Bachman's  lawn is suffering this year, 

as it appears to be and as are most, 

we have no reason to be ashamed of our own grey gardens.

And a word from your University Extension Master Gardener Volunteer - 

Keep watering those thirsty plants until the ground freezes.