Hodgepodging The Riverfront

Daughter, picking wildflowers along the riverfront
If she had been selling seashells by the seashore, I could have had a better caption.

Join Joyce and the Gang
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 She writes the questions;

we write the answers.

Plug them into your own blog post

and join in!

1. Security or freedom? Can you have both? Explain.

When it comes to the USA, 'security or freedom' is like the song that never ends. But I would say that I'd rather live with more freedom than less, even if there's less security in doing so.

2. If you could visit any historical American site what would it be? Why?

The Mississippi River. Because it's huge and awesome. And not far away.

 A barge along the Mississippi River

 Ducks at Wabasha, MN
I took this a few years ago in October.
We were at that very spot yesterday, but no ducks.
We'll have to return in October. 

3. Free as a bird, free reign, be free of, free enterprise, free trip, walk away scot free, free for all...which 'free' phrase can best be applied to your life in recent days or weeks? Explain.

Not really applicable to this question, but I'll go with 'free trip,' because I spent last week with my daughter's family. Great to be with her, to be entertained by the antics of the grandkids, take walks along the Wisconsin River, and viewing the same 20 minutes of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone over and over...

 Think it would help to hold my phone the other direction?

River walk companions, always fun!

4. Something in your frig that's red? Gouda cheese (wrapper). Something in your house that's white?  My kitchen sink and my library shelves. Something in your view that's blue? Pencil box.

5. July 27th is National New Jersey Day. Have you ever visited The Garden State? If so where did you go? I went to the edge of the river to pick the wild blackberries that no one else seemed to want. Are there diners where you live?  I think there's one in Rice Lake, but I don't go there. Actually, I rarely go to even a restaurant.  Have you tried Taylor Pork Roll? I have no idea what it is. Do you like to play Monopoly? Yes, if I could find someone who likes to play it. Salt water taffy-yay or nay? Nay. How do you feel about shopping at the mall?  I hate shopping, period. Springsteen, Sinatra, or Bon Jovi-you have to pick one. I'll risk security for freedom here and say 'none of the above,' but if there's a gun to my head, I'll say Bing Crosby. :-) If there's no gun, you'll find me listening to John Rutter.

Raise your hand if you know why these add-on questions are appropriate on National NJ Day. These all originated in New Jersey - or on the Boardwalk??

 Aww. I came across this when looking for the library shelves photo.

This was a year and a half ago. Sleepy kitties!
They definitely didn't originate in New Jersey.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

 I'm forcing myself to let go of some of my books.

This is my effort to downsize, at least for this rainy day.

(photo online) 
But now I'm distracted with blog writing, a good stalling tactic.

***

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Have a great Wednesday!

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Wildflowers On Fifth Avenue

 Mullein
Anti-inflammatory? Anti-viral?

Isn't it amazing the things that God has put on this earth not only for us to enjoy, but even to use as remedies to common ailments. (Should we be surprised?!) I'll let you do the Google research if you want. There's a lot of information out there on mullein, besides the fact that it grows all around here. Commonly known as 'velvet leaf.'

All of the photos in this post are from another walk along Fifth Avenue. I love this time of year!

Left: Stickseed and a wood violet
Middle: Mullein
Right: Trefoil - not only is the flower pretty, but the leaves
were copied on the sleeves of generals' uniforms from the Civil War. Trust me.

Seven years ago when Bridger came to the door covered in
Stickseed and Virginia Creeper. He was so scared.

Ferns and trilliums are everywhere!
And barbed wire, known in the South as bob wahr. ;-)
This is especially for Sandra.
By the way, be sure to see her Memorial Day header!

From left: Ferns, Lichen, Wild Geranium

Creeping Bellflower
I looked it up to make sure it was one word, and I found,
'creeping bellflower eradication.' What??!

Bottom left: Neighbor Bill's Barn
from Fifth Avenue
More Wood Violets

Have a wonderful week, everyone!

I'm linking this post to Maggie's Mosaic Monday.

***

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You will also still find handcrafted, vegan soap there!

Buy any 5 or more soaps, Get another FREE
 

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Natural Vegan Soap


...and more! Check out all my handcrafted soaps at
 
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and at


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Join me on Instagram: @cranberrymorning

Wildflowers

April showers

Bring May flowers

Or, as in this case, May showers bring May flowers. We're a few weeks behind this year, but it was a delight when Kevin brought this little bouquet of wildflowers in from the windbreak north of the house. Wood violets and springing beauties always cheer me!


'This is the day that the LORD has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!'
-Psalm 118:24

Thanks to Jean from Delightful Repast for the idea of the white fabric background. Check out her blog. Jean always serves a delightful repast!

Author, Second Chance - A Tale of Two Puppies

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Stickseed Loves Bridger

What you see above is my dog Bridger with a lovely lei of Virginia creeper and stickseed wrapped snugly around his neck, firmly embedded in that long, fine hair of his.  When I went to the back door, I found my frantic 'puppy', prancing and begging to get into the house, because he was scared and the house is his safe place.  The two of them, Stickseed and Bridger, were inseparable for several miserable hours.

The main Stickseed necklace with a little dog hair attached. 

This part was on the surface, easier to remove.

This stuff is terrible. It is worse than  burdock because it's so much smaller and there are many more of them in any square inch of hair! And, just like burdock, they have to be lifted out one by one, after the hair that one little 1/8" seed is clinging to has been painstakingly pulled apart to release it.

Stickseed, each seed about 1/3 inch from the next 

I got out my wildflower book, hoping that I could find a picture of the Stickseed (Hackelia) flower that is found in Wisconsin. I'd like to make sure to kill it next spring when it flowers, before it goes to seed! It's either that or teach my dog not to chase bunnies. And that's not likely.

The bad news?   I've yet to discover what Wisconsin stickseed flowers look like, for there seem to be many varieties. 

The good news?  I've got all the long, cold winter ahead to try to find the answer...

...or maybe that was bad news.

Wildflower Walk

Today I thought I'd share with you a few of the wildflowers near our house.

 Culver's Roots (I think)

Horsemint

Horsemint and Happy Bee

Daisies

Brown-eyed Susan

Campion (in honor of Albert)

 and Poison Ivy (just so you know to stay away from it)

Have a Great Thursday!