Christmastime!
It's been a busy season....
Air-guitar ....Mannheim Steamroller style!
Pinterest finds...Santa Hats!
Baking Day (s)!
An amazing homemade gift from friends!
"Do You Hear What I Hear?"
Children"s program at church, Christmas Eve.
(Proud mama!)
Birthday cake for Jesus!
Notice the hand trying to save her
appetite for dinner?
After an hour search for a tree, everyone gets a little "sappy"...hee hee.
Until finally, a tree chooses us!
The tree farm (Summer's of Middleton) has the neatest Christmas Store. A place to warm up, hot cider and cider doughnuts.
I always have to get a new ornament...so many to choose from.
I would love to tell you who this gift is for...but she hasn't gotten it yet...
When the truck is out of commission,
the Honda has to step up to the plate.
She did just fine...good girl!
Ta-Da!
I'm holding some of my favorite chocolates, Baci. Each one wrapped in a love note, written in three languages. (Of course, Italian is my favorite)
A Christmas tradition,
Clasen's Bakery in Middleton. This is one of their gingerbread creations at the chocolate tasting.
Making gifts...
Trying jewelry making...
...cranking up the sewing machine again.
Sometimes learning how to make things can be a wee bit TOO convenient.
Peppermint Mocha Latte
Decorating the church...
Merry Christmas, Bucky! On to the Rose Bowl!
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Saying good-bye to autumn...
Like many of you, this is my favorite time of year and I enjoy looking over the photos I've taken to enjoy the season all over again. Sometimes, I think we're so busy that we forget to enjoy the seasons, or anything, for that matter. When it feels like you don't do anything but work, or laundry, or drive - that's the time to pull out pictures. It'll remind you that it's worth it to slow down just a bit and enjoy the life you have.
Frost has settled in and the last leaves are falling...it's time to relish the beautiful season one more time.
How many pumpkin spice lattes have I had this fall?
I'll never tell.
I will tell you that I learned to make it at home.
Very dangerous!
I took up a new hobby and the bow and arrow gods took pity on me and gave me a once in a lifetime gift....
"Robin Hood"!
Ahh, it does my heart proud to see my kids getting along so well and helping around the house...
All good things must come to an end, I guess.
Clasens Bakery! A must-visit for delicious panini bread, tortes, cupcakes, all things bakery!
So many trips out to Lapaceks this year! Caramel apples, crafts, cider doughnuts!
Lived in Wisconsin more than 20 years and this year we took our first trip to Circus World Museum.
We'll be going back in the summer!
I also won't tell you how many trips I made to the Sassy Cow Creamery this year.
But as important as it is to go in summer, it is equally as important to go in fall when they bring out the pumpkin spice ice cream!
It is because of this panini that I purchased a panini maker. They don't cost much and are well worth it!!!!!
The panini? Well, it comes from one of my favorite little eateries..."Sofra" in Middleton, WI.
Another wonderful discovery this fall...
Pecan Pumpkin Butter!
Get yours at the National Mustard Museum, Middleton, WI!
So, mom and I cheated on our first loves, the pumpkin spice latte.
We indulged in a salted mocha caramel!
Okay, I'll say it....OMGoodnesss!
Hubby goes for a flying lesson. Yep, he's at the wheel!
Guess who got their braces off!
Guess who got to have a caramel apple after 2 years.
Guess who got to have a milky way and tootsie roll after 2 years.
Guess who is really, really, really happy today!
Finally got the bikes down and took a few rides to take in all the colors!
My favorite Italian eatery, Villa Dolce! What do I recommend?
Hmmm, the panini, the stromboli, the gelato, the affogato....
Try it all...it's alllllll good!
Finally got to see my brother and his wife after 2 years. My first trip to Nebraska!
What a beautiful drive!
Mike, Frank...where were you???
American Pickers home base, Iowa!
A couple of pictures passing through Iowa...
I discovered ground cherries. On Wednesday, I'd pick some up at the farmer's market and then go for a walk. Yes, I would eat them all.
These are so good! All those wasted years!
Made it to Old World Wisconsin!
So long autumn....it was great seeing you again. Come back soon!
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Pizza Night in Arena...and what a wonderful night it was.
About 30 minutes outside Waunakee is a quaint white building with a bright red roof. If it didn't have the "PIZZA" sign out front, you'd suspect it was just someone's residence. I had heard about this place, Arena's best kept secret, from my neighbor. Apparently, the secret is out.
On Tuesdays, during the spring/summer months, this little spice shop fires up their beautifully rustic pizza oven to satisfy the cravings of any pizza aficionado. This isn't just any ordinary pizza - this is pizza that could potentially change your outlook on life.
Out on highway 14, "The Shoppe - Herbs, Spices and more," opens it's doors for pizza lovers everywhere. Bring your friends and sit amidst good people, music, a great view, and amazing food.
Bob, one of the owners, is the keeper of the corkscrew and the one of the nicest fellas you'll ever meet.
As you enter, you are immediately welcomed by the aroma of that pizza oven working hard. Smoke is billowing from its chimney summoning everyone in the area, like church bells on a Sunday...your pizza is waiting, where are you?
After Bob found us the perfect drink, I said hello to the pizza masters. They were having way too much fun!
If only I could have scavenged around for their pizza dough recipe!
Perhaps they will share with me????
(hint, hint)
To ensure you get to eat around the time you'd like to, you need to make a "reservation". This is a reservation of space, not for you, but for your pizza in the oven.
I had called early morning and reserved two pizzas; a gorgonzola, walnut, pear, with caramelized onions and a feta, spinach, tomato.
There are just no words good enough to describe this little work of art. The crust, is absolutely perfect. It's crispy, chewy, light - amazing. The ingredient combos are bliss!
I know, I know...you want one right now, don't you?
No, I will not stop eating my pizza for you to take my picture.
Two pizzas later and this is all that is left between 2 people.
(...and I didn't even suffer pizza hangover)
What better way to round out a nice Italian meal?
They also have a variety of cheesecakes. YUM!
After a wonderful meal, it was time to enjoy the rest of The Shoppe. It smelled not only of pizza, but of aromatic spices.
The Shoppe is a neat, eclectic mix of colors and interesting detail. The art on the wall is available for purchase, spices lined the shelves, other kitchen tools filled racks.
If you didn't want to sit outside, you could find a cozy spot inside.
But tonight the weather was perfect and everyone
enjoyed it.
Something fun and interesting at every turn!
Thanks to Bob and everyone out at The Shoppe, for a perfect evening. Their last night for you to get your pizza is Tuesday, October 16th. Hope to see you there!
You can find them here...
7352 US Hwy 14, Arena. Call ahead to reserve your pizza oven space! (608)753-9000
You can also find them on Facebook!
the ride home...
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A Fall Field Trip!
This year I vowed to visit Lapacek's Apple Orchard - it belongs to a family that visits our local farmer's market. Now I've been going to this market for years buying apples, cider, and of course, caramel apples! They have the most delicious caramel apples. If there is a science behind the perfectly constructed caramel apple - they are the Edison of it. The caramel is not too sticky, the nuts a perfect chop - not too big, not too small. The apple - a little tart, a little sweet. I can only pray that there is a caramel apple vender in Heaven!
Last weekend we finally made it. With the smell of fall in the air, I was so excited to take a drive to the country and explore the orchard. The sky was that blue that is reserved just for fall and a nice breeze blew through. It was so fun, and so much more than I expected it to be.
As soon as you arrive you're surrounded by beauty. Rows and rows of apple trees, raspberries you can pick yourself, animals, herbs, and a store that seems to have a little of everything.
All kids would get one free deliciously crunchy, juicy, sweet apple.
There are two large play areas for the kids.
Big tractor tires in the sand...
...and a playground.
The goat apparently loves vegetables - like squishy rotten tomatoes....
and peppers.
A sunflower maze, how neat is that?!
Color was everywhere!
We had such a good time. No, I didn't take a picture of my yummy caramel apple - it was gone before I thought about a picture. Believe me, you don't want to see me with caramel, nuts, and sticky apple juice all over my face! Seriously, there is no lady-like way to eat one.
I wish I had taken a picture of the store, but when we walked in, I was a bit taken in by all the quilts, veggies, and the different varieties of beautiful apples. The store smelled like apple pie - SO GOOD!
Hmmmm, I do believe it's time to make an apple crisp...
awww! Thank you so much for all the kind words. I'm so happy that your visit was just like we hope everyone's visit to the orchard is!
ReplyDeleteThank you!