Longing For Spring

Sax-Zim Bog

One of my favorite places to visit for winter birding is the area called Sax-Zim Bog about 30 miles or so northwest of Duluth, MN. From where I live, it is about a 2-hour trip. The 10th anniversary of my first official trip to the bog is coming up in November, so this is my … Continue reading Sax-Zim Bog →

Fleischkuekle

I lived in North Dakota for a year when my daughter was little, and when I came to Wisconsin, I brought with me a couple recipes for foods that are quite popular there, mainly from the influence of German-Russian immigrant farmers from the Black Sea region of Southern Russia who who settled in North Dakota … Continue reading Fleischkuekle →

World’s Best Cookies

Several years ago (2008) I experimented with a batch of cookies that combined the Toll House chocolate chip cookie recipe with the Quaker Oats oatmeal raisin cookie recipe but added a few other ingredients. The results were amazing. These cookies have been requested for many events I've cooked for, and I recently made a batch … Continue reading World’s Best Cookies →

Snowshoeing Folly

After a very busy couple of weeks with no time to get out with my new snowshoes, I finally found an hour today to get out with the dogs for a quick hike. The last hike I took was one I blogged about a few weeks ago, and it went pretty well. I had figured … Continue reading Snowshoeing Folly →

Winter sunset

I took the time to drive home slowly this evening after work through Crex Meadows as the sun was setting. The sunset was gorgeous, and I enjoyed watching the watercolor sky change as I drove along. I only had my iPhone, which takes great photos in good light, but not so great photos in the … Continue reading Winter sunset →

Wild Geese ~ Mary Oliver

You do not have to be good.You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert repenting. You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves. Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine. Meanwhile the world goes on. Meanwhile … Continue reading Wild Geese ~ Mary Oliver →

Seven-grain Sourdough Bread

One of the best ways to enjoy bread while maintaining a healthy diet is to make whole wheat seven grain bread. I made a batch this week that turned out amazingly well. First, the starter I used has been brewing in my fridge for several months, but is actually five years old. I obtained it … Continue reading Seven-grain Sourdough Bread →

Wild Rice and Venison Meatloaf with Tomato Jam

I was digging though some files today and came across this recipe that I made a couple years ago for the annual Wild Game Feed at Crex Meadows. This won the Best Dish prize that year (2016), and my name is on the plaque that hangs in the break room of the visitor center at … Continue reading Wild Rice and Venison Meatloaf with Tomato Jam →

Highway 70 Landing

I had to drive over into MN this afternoon and decided to stop at the Sandrock Cliffs hiking trail on my way to do a little snowshoeing. I had to adjust the bindings some after my first adventure with my new snowshoes the other day, and I think I have it figured out now. I … Continue reading Highway 70 Landing →