6-18-2015 Mirror Lake

This morning

DH & I tried the Bella Goose Lavender Mocha Latte...

ot was divine!!!

 We spent the morning exploring Mirror Lake...

a lake which is so calm

that not a ripple marks it surface

so it reflects a wooded shoreline with 50' high cliffs.

(or as we called it, 'Pond Scum Lake'!)...

 On the far end, by the Ishnala Supper Club,

the lake was a bit clearer and less 'calm'.

After this morning's hike

we went to the Cheeze Factory for lunch...

a 100% vegan, non-GMO menu...

on purpose!

After we had ordered,

we observed the couple at the table next to us...

they said, "Excuse me, waiter,

we have a question about your burgers."

Waiter, in a heavy German accent, 

"There is not one molecule of flesh!!!"

(It was hilarious, but you had to be there.)

Couple, "Oh."

Then the waiter left

and the couple looked over the rest of the menu

and got up and left...

while we stayed and enjoyed a FABULOUS vegan meal...

It was the #2 best meal of our vacation (Distillery was #1)

and we recommend this place without hesitation!

We thought it was kind of sad that so many Americans

cannot go meatless, even for one meal

and miss out on such delicious meals as this.

We spent the afternoon back at beautiful Devil's Lake...

After dinner

at the Moose Jaw Pizzaria

we headed home to find that a Canadian hokey team

had checked into our hotel.

Great!

6-17-2015 Devil's Lake

Nature never disappoints.

Today DH & I went to hike around and photograph

Devi's Lake State Park...

and after this strenuous hike

we had lunch at the new Driftless Glen Distillery in Baraboo...

this was our  best meal so far!!!

Asian slaw with Ahi Tuna

and a BLT with black bean orzo.

In the afternoon,

DH & I took a tour ride in the Army Ducks

which was a blast!

And capped off the day with a Cajun style catfish dinner

at the Taste of New Orleans

followed by some beignet for dessert...

(reminds me of the funnel cakes at the state fairs

Something you consume once every 10 years or so!)

6-16-2015 Cinnamon Roll

After a rather unremarkable breakfast at the hotel yesterday

(that's a nice way of saying 'yucky!')

DH & I decided to go find some breakfast elsewhere

so we stopped at Denny's Diner

which is supposed to be famous for their cinnamon rolls...

something we have not had in years!

So, we pulled in...

Dry scrambled eggs, cold bacon, burnt toast, 

one cinnamon roll to share,

and undrinkable coffee...

$40.

Won't be coming back here either!

Left the diner

and decided to go find some decent coffee...

Went to Bella Goose,

a local coffee shop...

it was EXCELLENT!!!!!

The coffee was out of this world relish

and they serve made-fresh-daily gluten free scones.

My fave was the raspberry-white chocolate.

DH's fave was the strawberry-rhubarb.

Then and there

we decided to come here for breakfast every day

for the remainder of our vacation!

After we had a decent cup of java on board

we spent the morning at the Tim Bavati Wildlife Park

and were pleasantly surprised by it...

thought it was a bit pricey at first

until we kept walking and walking

and seeing more and more and more exhibits.

It was a wonderful way to spend our morning!

In the afternoon we attended the Rick Wilcox Magic Show

(along with about 100 five-year-olds)

which was delightful and amazing...

which we followed by another round of mini golf

at a different golf course

(DH beat me by 2 strokes again)...

dinner at High Rock Cafe...

...was a "Starbucks steak"

(steak dry-rubbed with Starbucks coffee grounds

and topped with caramel macchiottto sauce)...

which I ordered medium rare

but it arrived well-done

so I left most of it on my plate. :-(

A bit disappointing...

followed by a swim in the hotel pool

while doing some laundry.

6-15-2015 Happy Birthday to Me!

After an awful breakfast at the hotel

(DH & I have THE worst luck with hotels!!!)

DH & I decided to hit some tourist attractions for my Bday.

The first one we went to see was the

upside down White House

where I obtained a secret service badge...

after which we played a fun round of mini-golf...

then we perused an Antique/Craft Mall for treasures

(didn't find any that we just had to have)

and had a double bogey lunch there...

and spent the afternoon on the Wisconsin River

viewing some amazing, breath-taking

 sandstone bluffs and rock formations

on one of the Upper Dell Boat Tours...

followed by dinner at the Moose Jaw Pizzaria...

(this is actually the first good meal we've had in the Dells

and we plan to return again!)

where the pizza was FABULOUS!!!!

and my birthday ice cream was free!!!

6-14-2015 Starting Vacation!

This morning, DH & I began our week-long vacation

with a delicious savory breakfast crepe 

here at home in the QC...

then we drove to our destination

and had a so-so late lunch at the UNO Chicago Grill...

then we walked around the downtown area,

doing a bit of window shopping

and enjoying the beautiful flower boxes 

lining the streets and shops...

then we had sub-par/bogey dinner with a Caribbean flair at Marley's...

(won't be going back to either UNO or Marley's)

and finally went to our hotel

and enjoyed the pool for the evening

(and every evening there after!)...

6-13-2015 Storage Space

DD showing off the storage shelves

that she just assembled in her home.

It made me think about 'stuff'

and why we hold on to it.

Most things I hold on to 

are for sentimental reasons, not value.

She is just beginning 

her lifetime accumulation of 'stuff'

while I, on the other hand, 

need to start getting rid of it

so she won't have to one day!

She will never know the stories behind the items

or why they were sentimental to me

and of what they reminded me.

I need to look at my 'stuff' with the detachment

of sentiment, and start pitching and donating.

6-12-2015 Laundry

DH & I can tell

that our 20+ year old washer and dryer

are on their last legs

so today we went shopping

for a new washer and dryer...

went to Sears, all the big box stores,

and the main appliance store in town.

Wow, has washer and dryer technology changed

in the last 20+ years!

Lots of bells and whistles now that I don't care for.

Just give me hot/cold, normal/delicate, off/on.

6-11-2015 Bunnies

We have a bunny nest

right smack dab in the middle of our front yard!

The GDs love looking for the babies when they come over!

My DH, bless his tender heart

mows around the nest instead of over it...

and has put fencing around our vegetable garden

so the bunnies have to look elsewhere

for their food.

6-10-2015 Awesome Clouds!

Had some of these bad boys roll in today...

they were breathtaking!

And the front of Baby Dumpling's pinafore/dress is done.

6-9-2015 New Pergola

New pergola over DD's back deck

to keep the acorns, sticks, and sun off deck users.

Nice!

6-8-2015 My Girls

6-7-2015 Baby Dumpling Progress

Ears and arms are done!

6-6-2015 Iowa City Arts Fair

Today DH & I drove to Iowa City

to attend the Iowa City Arts Fair.

The first thing we saw

was this rather creepy Geisha

who was standing statue still

until someone would put money in her box.

Then she would suddenly reach out

and hand a folded paper crane

to the contributor.

I found one jewelry designer,

Kathrin Schmidt,

whose aesthetic I absolutely loved

and I actually purchased a ring from her...

a first for me!

(Usually all I will buy at the art fairs

is a stoneware mug.)

6-5-2015 Baby Dumpling Progress

This is my progress so far

on my Gypsycream Baby Dumpling.

(See June 1, 2015 post.)

I wonder what (s)he will turn out like...

they are similar to the fairies I knit...

they reveal themselves as they are being created.

I love the nappy and belly button details.

6-4-2015 Rainbow Lunch and Rhubarb Bread

The rhubarb in our garden is growing like crazy!

I've made lots of pies

and now I'm switching to Rhubarb Bread:

Oma's Rhubarb Bread Recipe

Mix ingredients in order given:

1+1/2 c. packed brown sugar

2/3 c. cooking oil

1 egg

1 tsp. salt

1 c. sour milk

(to make sour milk,

I put 1 TBS. vinegar in my measuring cup

and then fill it to the top with milk)

1 tsp. vanilla

2+1/2 c. unsifted AP flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1+1/2 c. diced rhubarb

1/2 c. nuts (I used pecans)

Grease and flour 2 bread pans

and divide dough into the 2 pans.

TOP the dough with

a drizzle of 1/4 c. melted butter

and

1/4 c. sugar mixed with 1+1/2 tsp. cinnamon.

Bake at 350*F for 40-45 min.

until toothpick inserted in the center

comes out clean.

6-3-2015 Zoo Day

 Sidewalk Chalk on Papa's shirt...