The Glad Game

Pollyanna is a very old reference from a book written by Eleanor H. Porter in 1913. Probably most people don't know why we say someone "is being a Pollyanna". Pollyanna was the titular character  of the novel, and according to the story her father taught her to find something to be glad about no matter how dire the situation by playing "The Glad Game". She is so good at the game that she influences her very crabby aunt and even an entire town to see the world in a more positive light.

Another more current book with a humorous take on remaining optimistic is "Could Be Worse" by James Stevenson. Despite the everyday woes of the grandkids, or even the amazing events in his tall tale that starts with being lifted out of bed by an eagle and dropped in the mountains where he meets the abominable snowman, his constant refrain is "could be worse". And it is true, isn't it?

Just last night we read in The #1 Ladies Detective Agency book currently on our nightstand that "Mma Ramotswe always managed to put things into perspective. Everything could always be worse, and so be grateful that things are only as bad as they are."

We are simply calling our attempt to find the silver linings during these very unusual times 

"Bad News/Good News". Here we go.

Bad News: No hair appointments for the foreseeable future.
Good News: We never gave in to coloring so we will have no grey roots growing out. As for the bangs - we still own bobby pins, and a scissors if things get desperate.

Bad News: Teeth cleaning cancelled.
Good News: No scolding for flossing deficiency.

Bad News: Stuck at home.
Good news: We have a cozy, big house with a full pantry in a walk-able neighborhood with congenial neighbors to wave to and greet from a distance.

Bad News: No get togethers with friends and family.
Good news: Lots of technology for virtual visits!

Bad News: Dreary weather and rain.
Good News: It is not snowing and signs of spring, including rain, are all around.

Bad News: Absolutely no reasons to procrastinate on the household to-do lists.
Good News: We are actually getting things done. Taxes, census, cleaning, cooking. Check, check, check, check.

Bad News: We get no visitors.
Good News: Pajama time 24/7!

Bad News: Spring and Summer vacations canceled.
Good News: We won't miss seeing our own garden at the peak of the growing season. We can admire every single moment of the magnificent rhododendron, lilacs, and spring epheremals in bloom.

Bad News: Our president is not doing a very good job of reassuring the nation, and indulges in some harmful magical thinking.
Good News: We do not have to be the ones standing behind him at press conferences trying desperately not to react to what he is saying. (Those people deserve a daytime Emmy for their performances.)

It doesn't matter where you are getting your inspiration to find the Good News in your situation, we only hope that you are finding it somewhere. And, we welcome you to share your Good News or source of hope with us here in the comments. If anyone calls you Pollyanna please take it as a compliment and remember, it could be worse.

Berries with a Chance of Bears

The Up North young people discovered a beautiful blueberry patch. Easily accessible, and bordering a lovely woods with just the right amount of potential for bears to come out and join in the picking. A hint of danger makes one pick faster so a pail was filled in no time at all. Let the baking commence!

 

We heard once that the average number of recipes that people use from a cookbook is three. Seems low, but realistic given that there is only one recipe we consistently use from The Berry Cookbook. T'would be a shame to tear out just that page, so here it is in our digital recipe record for when that cookbook finally winds up in the thrift sale pile. We give you:

Bessie’s Brown Sugar Blueberry Muffins

From The Berry Cookbook - Carol Katz

Makes one dozen

1 ½ c. sifted flour

¼ t. salt

1 T. baking powder

1 egg, well beaten

¾ c. loosely packed light brown sugar

½ c. milk

1 T. melted butter or margarine

1 ½ c. blueberries, well drained after washing and dredged in a little flour

Preheat the oven to 425F. Grease a muffin tin.Sift together the flour, salt, and baking powder. Combine the egg, brown sugar, milk, and butter, then mix into the dry ingredients.  

Stir with a fork until the mixture is moist but still lumpy. Fold in the blueberries.

Fill the greased muffin tins two-thirds full and bake for 15 minutes, or until done.

Please note:

Very little fat is used. 

We have substituted orange juice for the milk with good results. 

If you do not have a blueberry patch nearby, grocery store berries work just fine too.

Enjoy!

Fenceline Fiddlehead Forage

Beautiful, tightly wound fiddleheads arising from their ostrich fern base.

Pick only one or two from each so the plants don't suffer. Make sure they are ostrich ferns!

Blanch in boiling water for a few minutes.

Saute in butter. Yum!

The Good News About Bad Weather

 It is attractive to stay in one's nice warm sewing area vs. being tempted into more post-Christmas sale shopping when the temps are as they are today. 

It is -17F at present with the day's high predicted to be -6F. 

Baby, it's cold outside. 

And that is conducive to the time honored cabin fever tradition of sewing. No more putting off finishing projects when the alternative activities involve five layers of clothing and risking life and limb with frost bite or idiot drivers on slippery roads.

And being well stocked from a recent, sad, going out of business sale of a favorite fabric store there is no reason to venture out for additional stash building.

So finally we have:

A new ironing board cover.

Six new tea towels of MoMo for Moda Japanese cotton/linen.

Six new pillowcases to use up Julie Paschkis fabric. 

A log carrier.

 

And a good start on 68 little houses for a queen size

Suburbs quilt which may be called

Duluth. 

Smokey Sez

Remember. Only you can prevent wildfires.

He's got a hip new look and a cool website. Smokeybear.com

Yesterday fire danger was "very high" today it is raining and snowing up North.  

Tomorrow? Who knows? Keep an eye on DNR signs for moment to moment status.

Camping and campfire season is almost here. Let's be careful out there.

Vintage Viscol for a Waterproof Winter

Get ready.

Triple action will be needed....

to get us through the rest of winter and...

April showers.

Pumps, Brogues, Sorrels, wellies, tennies, Birkies, Mary Janes, spectators, mules.

Protect them all with Viscol.

2016 Redux

Blog - short for web log. Now a verb. "I am going to blog about day to day life and neighborhood happenings."

We're not in this for fame or fortune. Just to keep a record of things we see and do and like, but so far not the things that drive us crazy. We have tried harder than you may know to avoid "the rant" and keep this a positive place; a place of magical thinking you might even say. One day we may unleash some feelings about a few things (do not get us started on TV actors "drinking" and handling supposed hot, full cups of coffee), but that day is not today.

This month we are going back to 2016 to post some things seen (that are not sheep although we cannot promise there won't be any more sheep) with more, but probably less narrative. 

Let's start with....

Ed's Feed Service. We walked past this building in Bloomer, Wisconsin and were quite taken with it's ghostly grayness rising out of the gray day. So we took a phone photo that doesn't really do justice to its rural skyscraper architecture and history of being a place instrumental in helping Chippewa County farmers feed a lot of people and animals for a very long time.

A man named Travis Dewitz has taken some beautiful photos of this building, inside and out, front and back.

There is a story that involves the railroad tracks that run alongside Ed's Feed Service that is legend in a certain family, and probably all of the watering holes in Bloomer that may or may not have happened on exactly the piece of track that runs through the adjacent intersection, but is worth telling anyhow.

A man, let's call him Stan, drove up to the tracks just as a train was coming. As he stopped to wait for the train to pass he heard his father's voice from the past saying that it is not a good idea to put your car in Park while waiting for a train even if it looks to be a long one. Just at that moment a braking school bus coming up behind Stan's car slid on some ice and bumped it right onto the tracks as the train was bearing down. Because he had heeded his father's voice the car was still in Drive and he was able to take his foot off the brake, accelerate and clear the tracks just in the nick of time. The poor bus driver had to wait until the entire train had moved through the intersection before he could see what had happened to Stan. He was safe and sound on the other side. Whew! Small town tragedy averted.

Thank goodness for the voices in our heads. Most of them anyway.

Add this one to your collection if it is not already there and listen to it often.

 "Let's be careful out there."

And have a very good new year.

Squash Justice

We had just three little Delicata squash on the vine in our community garden plot.

At the going rate of 68 cents per pound we thought we would at least break even on our investment in the two squash plants we had purchased at the clearance price of 79 cents each.

But then there were only two.

Squash thievery! 

We were very upset. More upset, some thought, than the situation warranted.

With our new, amazing, community garden "wildlife enclosure" (which is actually a "produce enclosure") it was unlikely the usual suspects, the Duncan Creek whitetail herd, were the culprits.

The generous soul in the household supposed someone hungry was benefiting from the free food.

The suspicious soul in the household who has observed youths pass through the garden on the way to the skate-park, basketball court, and swimming in the creek, felt that the oblong squash's resemblance to a football, and an overwhelming temptation to spiral one into the crick for a teenage version of Pooh Sticks was the likely motive.

In any case, the generous soul, when assigned to cut down the massive clump of comfrey growing next to our home compost bin found, hiding under the tangle of leaves, this beautiful little bonus, volunteer Sweet Dumpling sprouted from last year's discarded squash guts.

In telling this tale to another generous, wise, if only politely interested soul rooted in this household, he proclaimed it "Squash Justice". Hear, hear!

And so, whether a full belly from eaten squash, or the thrill of the toss of same was the mystery history of the Delicata, we wish the "borrower" well and hope it is the first in a series of pay it forward events.

Cucurbit Karma, if you will.

Peace, man.

Jelly Angels

Vintage Kerr jelly jars feature an angel above a crown image.

There are squat jars with the angel on the inside.

And slender jars with the angel embossed on the outside bottom.

We cannot find a really good explanation of why this image was used, 

but we like it very much anyway.

Maybe we like it even more because it is inexplicable.

Don't we all need angels watching over us in our domestic endeavors?

It is the most likely reason for our high success rate of jelly and jam setting despite our disregard for following directions to a T.

If only light bulbs came with a guardian to protect us every time we stand on a wobbly chair to change them.

Highway Beautification

We went to a donut sale at a local church and came home with brooms.

The men's group was selling them and although it was not the main focus of the day's fundraiser they did a fine job with their sales pitch (that they were made in U.S.A. and that NAFTA has been hard on the broom industry was mentioned more than once), closed the deal,  and then ran to their broom closet to get the items we had chosen. The silver tongued deacon doing the selling even managed to convince us it would be sensible to go for the buy three, get a whisk broom free deal. And since we couldn't even remember the last time we saw a whisk broom for sale we succumbed to nostalgia and the deal of the day.

We were really after some big old brooms for use in garage, sidewalk and drive way, but fell for the Kitchenette on first sight. Who would not love a broom that boasts a sweeping distance of 97 miles?

So when you see us keeping America's Highways clean by sweeping our way to St. Paul one day move over and give us a little non-startling honk if you love a litter-free landscape.

Monster Mystery Sheep

Sheep Week bonus post.

Could this have been left by a sheep? Run away! Run away!

Mind the Sheep

Don't mess with 'em. Don't mess with their babies.

Don't allow your dog to be a thug.

Since You Didn't Ask

It is time to formalize the unasked for advice we give to travelers whenever not asked for it. 

Yes, it's NDL's Top Ten Travel Take-a-Long Items.

1. Tape. 

Not just any tape. 3M Transpore. If you think there is even the slightest chance of a shoe or sandal giving you a hard time immediately put a piece of this miracle product on the suspicious spot. Really, preventative taping is the key to avoiding blisters and rubs from footwear you may not have worn in awhile (it's been six months since your Sorrel clad Northern foot saw a certain sandal) or that you may not have properly broken in in advance of a trip. We all know we should not be packing new shoes, but we all do it. Once. Keep a roll in your bag. You will be using it and doling it out to all your grateful tour mates. Hero time!

2. Ziploc bags. All sizes. 

Good for undies clean or dirty and especially nice to keep the two separate. If you suck the air out of them (recommended for clean laundry bags only) they act like the expensive vacuum packing bags you can buy on fancy travel gear sites. Additionally: they can hold different currencies as you move from one to another; small purchases are safer in them; they are really good for keeping your travel guides and leisure reading books from becoming tattered in your backpack; if you are hiking rural trails where there are no facilities they can be your mode of packing in and out the bit of toilet tissue you will be very glad to have in your pocket when you are behind that gorse bush; and of course they are perfect for snacks!

3. Immodium and Calmoseptine Ointment

This dynamic duo delivers a one-two punch to what ails you where the sun don't shine. New and different diets tend to do interesting things to the digestive tract. Internal and external problems can be "inconvenient". 'Nuff said. Also, consider above uses for Ziploc bags in your packing for a day trip on one of "those days". 

3a. Did you know they sell individual packs of prunes that make yummy snacks? Just sayin', in case the opposite condition occurs.

4. Headlamp

You might feel silly packing one of these on your trip to Paris until you find yourself trying to read in bed by the light of a horrible overhead light fixture or when you can't even find the switch for that sad light fixture. Can be used in hand as a flashlight for rural or poorly lit urban paths. Is less disturbing to a roommate if insomnia hits or your bedtimes and wake times aren't perfectly synced.

5. Adapters

Be prepared so that you may use the devices you have carefully packed. Know your country and your adapter needs for it. That's all. 

Well maybe there's a bit more. Most lodgings these days provide hairdryers,but if they don't the available outlets will probably fry yours. You have been warned. Consider sporting a natural look coif for the duration.

6. Bags 

Within bags, within bags. You don't want to be carrying lots of stuff, but you should be ready in case you need to. Collapsible shopping bag, inside day pack or shoulder bag, inside regulation backpack or large tote. One of the main uses for the bigger bag is to carry clothing layers shed as the day goes on. Smaller bags are good for the things you need minute to minute. Maps, umbrella, snacks, water.

6b. Folding, zipped tote that can be used as carry-on on the trip home. We often carry-on only outbound to make sure our stuff gets there with us and to keep from over packing, but on the way home.... check those bags and have another to serve as carry on for anything you may have acquired along the way.

6c. Same goes for purses. All the important stuff close to you, not in a big, easy to set down and be picked up by the wrong person bag. Crossbody is great. Keep it in front of you and keep a hand on it. We switch to a smaller wallet than we use at home. One that can accommodate more coins and fewer credit cards. 

7. Washcloth 

If you use one take one. Most countries will not provide them with the bathroom linens. Buy a pack at the dollar store and leave them like breadcrumbs across the continent. Or see #2. 

8. Umbrella

If you are climate control sensitive as is NDL you will appreciate being able to pop an umbrella up and down as squalls alternate with sunshine rather than be confined in a stifling rain jacket all day long. Especially if that day is of the warm and humid variety. Of course if torrential rains are expected, by all means do keep yourself dry as possible, but consider a collapsible umbrella even if you resent the space it takes up in your luggage (it may just be your insurance that you never see a drop of rain the entire time you are away from home). And go for a fun one. Polka dots, flowers, Impressionist paintings will add some color to a rainy day. If you have a desire to fit-in bear in mind that you are more likely to see locals using umbrellas (even as they are turning inside out in the driving rain) than wearing rain coats made for gale force Nor'easters. Unless you are touring on a whaling boat.

8b. Is not an option. NOTHING says TOURIST more than the plastic rain poncho from the historic site gift shop, so please, do not hold that as plan B. 

9. Layers

Sadly, a person who is trying to travel with a carry-on bag only cannot take the wide variety of outerwear options they are accustomed to having for adapting to every five degree weather or precipitation change. This is not too much of a challenge if you are visiting one zone smack in the middle of a season. However, if you are crossing climates or spanning weather transition times it gets trickier. These are times to rough it. You may need to purchase a temporary layer, or layer with what you have in a way that you usually wouldn't. Yes, you may look like you are trying to leave the country with all the clothes you possess on your person if you are wearing your sequined, floral cardigan as long underwear with a windbreaker and a rain jacket over it, but if the alternative is being chilled to the bone and miserable so what? More, thinner layers are better than toting around one bulky layer you may never use.

10. Fill in the Blank

What do you use everyday that you would have to find immediately, and probably not easily if you forgot it?

For us it is Chapstick. We pack them in every pocket. And a migraine kit.

For you it might be dental floss, your favorite chewing gum, contact lens solution, or ???

But remember, unless you are going to the wilds of Borneo it is likely you will be able to replace an essential item  you may have left behind.

Pack light! Go! Have fun! 

Hippity Hoppity

How does the Easter Bunny family relax after their early morning deliveries are made? 

By bringing left over goodies to a favorite neighbor in his trendy tiny house.

A sweet image for your enjoyment from the Graphics Fairy.

Hope it is not too late to give you our annual reminder to count the Easter eggs before you hide them. Especially if your hunt is indoors. If you don't, in a few weeks you may be hunting for the source of a very unpleasant odor.

March

Is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. If you don't believe NDL when she says it is very important perhaps you will take it to heart when you hear it from Fight Colorectal Cancer or from the CDC.

And if you still don't believe that screening is imperative (especially if you are related to someone who has a history that indicates you take action) maybe you will believe an old hippy who knows what he is talking (singing) about. 

Please, don't die from embarrassment or for any other lame reason. 

Love Hurts

To mitigate the damage be careful where you step in matters of the heart 

(and on the winter landscape), but by all means go for it!

Happy Valentine's Day!

NDL's BMI

Due to a series of alternating fortunate and unfortunate events, it was discovered that NDL has been operating for the last two decades under a serious misconception.

It was a shock to learn that the height we thought we were had changed by minus two inches since 1995. We have always felt that our problem was being too short for our weight and had come to grips with that. Yes, when the inseam that matches the waist size of your off-the-rack pants is dragging a few inches on the ground you can pretend that cuffing is in style whether it is or not, and there is always the chunky sole to help out, but finding out that the extra pant length was due the loss of two inches of spine was a bit of a shock. 

Just after the realization that that is why we can barely see over the steering wheel anymore without pulling up to our full dwarfish height, or reach the top kitchen shelf without standing on tiptoes and using a wooden spoon to fish down the object we need came the Most Horrible Thought of All - different height equals different BMI category! Egads! We had just managed to settle into the "normal" range. This terrible setback meant we would now need to deal with the same amount of bulk on an shorter skeleton.

After months of being in denial we finally looked to see just how bad it was. Bad! But then our rationalization defense kicked in and we posed the question - 

"Do we need to use our new height for these calculations even if it is not at all our fault that we shrunk?".

We are nothing if not expert at finding the answer we want to hear. So, after sifting through many internet answers that didn't suit us we found the link we were looking for and a new hero.

To paraphrase our hero, Dr. Hirsch - It's not our fault we got shorter. The fat mass hasn't changed (although there may be a bit more of a spare tire effect on a shorter torso) and fat  makes estrogen which helps prevent bone loss so maybe we won't get quite as short as we would if we were dangerously thin. He did refer to us as "the poor soul" so we know he feels our pain. He even said we should try to keep our fat. Whoo hoo!

Sadly, we also found in our internet search that Dr. Jules Hirsch died this summer. You can read about his life here. His colleagues said that he had a deep sympathy for patients who struggled with the lifelong effort of maintaining a healthy weight. Thank you Dr. Hirsch.

Gotta go re-hem some slacks and eat a celery stick now.

Image from The Graphics Fairy.

Blow Out the Candles

And then douse them. And then douse them again. And maybe one more time.

Fire danger is high today.... on Smokey's birthday cake. 71 years old. Last year he had a big do.

We were there. There was cake.

And we are 100% sure that Smokey's only wish when he blew out the candles was that we all remember....

Only YOU can prevent wildfires.

Grab the kids and have some fun learning how at Smokey's Outpost.

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner...

At a garbage can near you?

Apparently we have not one, but two ursine visitors.

This is the youngster setting out for his nightly alley buffet dinner.

Why mess around with old dry cookies in a suspicious looking metal tin when you can have your pick of giant Tupperware containers full of nice kitchen waste? 

As another famously brilliant member of his family used to say....

"I'm smarter than the average bear!"

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

At some point cabin fever feels more like being crushed by a cabin cave-in.

We've had a little setback to Spring's arrival, but it is finally in sight.

And we're probably going to make it there without anybody getting hurt.

But it will be a close call.