Traditions

How is it possible that this is the last day of August?! This has been a good "season" ... I think of summer as the time between Memorial and Labor Days ... not too short but of course I wish it would go on forever, especially the milder weather we had a few weeks ago. Back to school is just a couple of days away ... Chunky in 8th grade (last at his K-8 Catholic school) and Sassy a college sophomore ... and the season wouldn't be complete without the annual tradition of the Great Minnesota Get-Together. It's something you either love or hate and we love it. I didn't take many photos it was 90°+, but got a few of our favorite roosters from the Sheep & Poultry barn, the championship Hen & Tom turkeys as well as a food item I'd never tried before - Bayou Bob's Alligator (tasted like chicken).

Bring on the next great tradition ... Halloween!

Berry Good

We all know I love sweets, but somehow cobbler has never been on my hit list. While I lived in the south - Texas is the south, right? - for a few years, I never picked up a hankering for cooking southern food. Not sure if cobbler is a southern thing or not, but that's what I've associated it with. All that has recently changed - first this cake and now this cobbler. Oh my griddles, it's amazing! I ripped the recipe out of a People magazine I bought for a read on my recent trip to Sconny and have made it three, four times already. I use any kind of berry on hand that's looking a little overripe. My extra special twist is to add a few sliced almonds in the berry mix. Next time I make it - now? - I'm going to use almond meal instead of flour. I bet it will rock my world.

Sconny

I've been working on a post about my recent rejuvenating trip to sunny northeast Wisconsin to see my BFF and family. Then I had a great night out with one of my girlfriends this week (Milwaukee born and raised) and dished with another favorite girlfriend who I missed while she was on vacation last week (Appleton born and Indiana raised) and realized all three of these great ladies are from Wisconsin! There's a fourth girlfriend in Hudson I need to connect with who will put it over the top (though she wasn't born a Sconny just lives there now, that's a technicality we'll overlook). There may be others I'm forgetting - shout out if you're reading this and are a Sconny girl!

My trip to WI was wonderful ... I loved spending time with my BFF and her family. And the little dogs too. I didn't have to do anything ... get up at a certain time, make meals (though I happily volunteered to make pancakes one morning), divvy up pills. Nothing. And I got to sleep through the ENTIRE night for three nights in a row. Sheer heaven! sigh

I was honored they took time to take me on my first trip to Door County. Love it! We ate and visited an art fair in Egg Harbor, stopped at a general store near Fish Creek, then shopped and ate ice cream in Sister Bay. If I had to pick a favorite place I'd say Pipka's - they had this amazing almond cake I will be making soon as well as beautiful French inspired scents, jewelry and doodads. Everyone at home got t's and I bought myself a pair of stylish Crocs sandals on sale. These shoes are so comfortable it might be illegal. They will forever be known as my Door County sandals.