It’s Foodie Friday and we’ve been canning homemade grape juice. We use my mother’s recipe, hence every jar conjures up childhood memories of sweet, purple purity (unlike the artificial, high-fructose infiltrations we have today). I’ll share the recipe below, it’s super easy peasy. Anyway, we did 53 quarts and that means we can enjoy our little vineyard at least once a week for the next […]
where I work
Slowing Down for Quality
We live in a somewhat busy airway. We’re centrally located between Madison and Milwaukee airports so jet trails frequently criss-cross our upper skies. We’re 90 minutes south of Oshkosh, which means in July fleets of propellers drone past on their way to the EAA AirVenture. If that’s not enough, we’re also a couple miles from a hot air balloonist who regularly offers scenic tours to air-loving adventurists. I shot […]
Our Vanishing Wisconsin Barns
Not like I’ve ever mentioned it before, but my work gets me out of the office in so many interesting ways. Like this past weekend when my husband and I roamed the countryside in search of the perfect “weathered, red barn” to illustrate an author’s article (more in the upcoming Fermentation Fest event guide). In the meantime, here are some of the glorious […]
Willa Cultivates Musings of Spring
We come and go, but the land is always here. And the people who love it and understand it are the people who own it—for a little while. — Willa Cather, O Pioneers! Lately I’ve been on a Willa Cather kick. I just finished reading O Pioneers! and yesterday as we tilled our garden, this quote came to mind. Oh, […]
40 Meaningless Things to Give Up for Lent
Wednesday begins the season of Lent, those penitential 40 days leading to Easter when we’re reminded of what Jesus sacrificed for us. Often we attempt to do something in return, like self-denials of chocolate and wine. But really, how do these even compare? As The Plain Dealer columnist Regina Brett says, “Lent doesn’t have to be 40 days of flogging. Why not give […]