Hodgepodge and Driftless

West of Westby

in the Driftless area of Wisconsin

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Thanks to Joyce for another round of Wednesday Hodgepodge!

1. Are you currently operating at 100% capacity? If not, what % are you? What's keeping you there?

I'd say probably 93%. What's mostly responsible for keeping the other 7% away is snow and cold. But we're getting some nice, sunny days right now (although still lots of snow), and springier weather should arrive soon. That should take me up to about 96%. I think it takes July, August, and September to get me to 100%. They're the best months of the year! (although I love May).

Why I love the month of May

This and the GREEN alfalfa field.

2.  Have you done your taxes? Planned/booked a summer holiday? Thought about or started your 'spring cleaning'? Besides what's listed here, tell us one task that needs doing before spring rolls around.

I'm trying to think if I've done anything at all. Planning a trip is really fun, but I've not done that this winter. Really, the DEAD of winter brings out the bear in me - as in hibernation. Ah well, I guess that might also explains the cranky attitude.  I tend a fire. I sleep. I read. That takes up most of January, February, and March. One task that needs doing is going through books. I hate doing that because I hate parting with any books, so I end up procrastinating.  (I even procrastinate procrastinating!) Even writing that sentence made me realize that I've already talked myself out of the job. This is the problem with actually having enough room for things - there's little incentive to get rid of them.

3. What's a favorite food from your part of the country?

I don't think I have a favorite food from northern Wisconsin. I'd say a fish fry, typical of Wisconsin, especially Friday nights, but we don't really do that and I don't eat fried much of anything these days, not that I don't love it. Okay, how about cranberries. I think that Wisconsin might be the #1 state in the production of cranberries, and I am a huge fan of Craisins. We buy them by the big bagful at Sam's Club because we use them on salads and in stirfrys.

We add a few dried cayenne peppers

and a sprinkle of Italian seasoning to our

jars of olives and let it steep a week.

Delicious!

Do you see the Craisins?

This is a soup bowl full of vegetables, a little diced chicken,

Craisins, and a lot of olives.

4. This isn't a leap year, but let's run with it anyway...look before you leap, a leap of faith, grow by leaps and bounds, leap to conclusions, leap at the opportunity...which phrase might best be applied to your life currently (or recently)? Explain.

I don't believe in a 'leap' of faith, nothing up here is growing by leaps and bounds (except for Tommy and Smokey), I tend not to leap to conclusions but research far too long on anything, and I'm more cautious than to leap at an opportunity. Soooo, 'look before you leap' would be the most fitting this time of year. There's lots of snow and ice, and it would be a good idea to pay attention to where you're placing your feet so you don't slip and break your neck.

Tommy & Smokey

Growing by leaps and bounds

5. As the month draws to a close list five fun and/or fabulous things (large or small) you noticed or experienced in February.

Personally, I am so ready to leave February behind, but as to the question:

1. I noticed that our daughter had a birthday (yesterday).

2. I enjoyed spending a few days in Madison and meandering back home through the pretty countryside (giving me another batch of barns to share).

3. Even more, I enjoyed spending a few days in Westby, staying in the fantastic Logan Mill Lodge, wandering about the Amish countryside, visiting with friends, including the church of the ancestors, Coon Prairie Lutheran Church (last Sunday's post).

Both are out of commission.
West of Westby

4. I experienced a definite change in my attitude (for the better) that occurred with a day of slightly warmer temps and bright blue skies. So I could get a WALK.  I know. The weather enjoys manipulating me.

5. I experienced a longing to re-visit York Minster or Durham Cathedral or Canterbury Cathedral, but that's simply an ongoing state of mind, so nothing unique to February, I guess. Listening to John Rutter probably doesn't help.

Red. Especially appreciated when the landscape is mostly white.

Westby, WI

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Feed Mill Elevator

Westby, WI

For our couple of overnights in Westby last weekend, we stayed at the Logan Mill Lodge.

Our little home away from home was Condo Unit 2, a 1500 sq. ft. unit that has everything, including "an original 1910 vintage wooden freight elevator that was used to haul bags of feed and seed during the years this building was a feed mill." (Shown above) I'm so glad that Ruth didn't rip out the old feed elevator when converting the old feed mill to a lodge. 

A really great family vacation would be to stay at Logan Mill Lodge and use it as a base from which to explore the beautiful countryside of the Kickapoo River Valley and Amish farming territory - on scooters! In the summertime, of course.

***

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