Holiday Preparations

  Just stopping in to wish you a happy holiday season and share a bit of our holiday preparations here in the driftless.We did some work on our old cabin floor before Thanksgiving. We wanted to bring out the beauty of the old wood and still have a rustic feel .We applied dark stain and finished with polyurethane . It's a great look and very easy to keep clean.

The Northeast Iowa Artists' Studio Tour

 
Hello again from the driftless !
We had a wonderful Sunday! The Northeast Iowa Artists' Studio Tour is a self-guided driving tour and includes more than 50 artisans who demonstrate, describe and sell their art directly to guests inside their private art studios . Coffee,  engaging conversation and a beautiful day!....Nothing better!
We met 5 artists:

   )

This hat is at the top of my wishlist :)

You may visit Gene and Sandy, but please call .
Nordlys Studio 2148 Horn Hollow Road Decorah, IA 52101 (563) 419-4927 Send email

Marquette, nestled in the bluffs of the Mississippi River in northeast Iowa.What a cute town ! Antique shops, a winery and the Lady Luck River Boat Casino(busy little place)

Woodworking by Paul Bauhs

See Paul's awesome work on FB Paul Bauhs Woodworking

What awesome art ....Very happy to have made this trip to Iowa, Thank you all !



Free e-book on Basic Candle Making

Hello all,

Wanted to stop in and share another free e-book, (This one is on candle making) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005M19SE6?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creativeASIN=B005M19SE6&linkCode=xm2&tag=httpwwwfa0ce5-21  You can download Kindle for PC FREE KINDLE APP I'll be sharing books from time to time, as they pertain to homesteading (These books are free for a limted time) I love reading free e-books and will share any and all that are relevant.,,,Enjoy

 

The Bed Frame Project

 Happy Fall Everyone!

   It really is possible to make a lot of what you need and want for daily living. Reliance on one's own capabilities can feel great, and it's always a learning experience. It also means you can design things suitable to your our needs and repurpose some  building materials along the way . That's how "The Bed Frame Project" started. Just out of necessity (We needed to replace the old frame which was way too small) With that being said, thought I'd share a few photos from this project.

Scott was awarded hot cinnamon rolls, for a  job well done ! ;)

Hummingbird First-Aid

 Hello all,
   Hope you've had a wonderful summer with family and friends.We enjoyed time with loved ones. Summer is a great time to share favorite places, ice cream and smiles :) We also spend a bit of our summer days tending to our little guest (the hummingbirds)so it was sad to find a sick hummingbird today. Now,we don't know a lot about "Hummingbird First- Aid" so I needed to read up on it . This is what I found ...

 The first(4) four to (24) twenty-four hours are critical to an injured hummingbird.
 
Always keep in mind that there are very stiff laws in North America about holding a hummingbird in captivity.

 If you have a lot of hummingbirds around, eventually you will need a hummingbird first aid kit.

That being said,if you find a sick hummingbird,check and see if the hummingbird is still alive. This is  difficult since a hummingbird can enter a sort of hibernation state call torpor . It may take as long as twenty to thirty minutes of watching (and keeping warm) to know for sure. Just be sure to keep the bird warm.

 You can make a First-Aid Kit and here's what you will need:

1. The phone number of the closest local wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian .

2. A small box with crumpled tissue paper inside and a lid with holes on top.   Remember the size of a hummingbird and choose a box that is not too big, or too small

 3. An eye dropper or syringe to give the hummingbird a little nectar.

Here is our hummingbird food recipe:
1 part cane sugar/4 parts water.Measure and add sugar, at the rate of 1/4 cup of sugar to 1 cup of water.Let cool and store excess in refrigerator until ready to use.

 We warmed her for about 20 mins and she recovered .                            

Jewelry Studio Renovations

Hello all,
As summer comes to an end,we are busy with renovations to our cabin ,workshop and my jewelry studio. Here are photos of my jewelry studio and custom work ,with many more renovations to come.

My bench was lifted to a higher position for better access and my hot table was cut smaller...next thing is to add is little more lighting. Here is a custom ring that I just sent out today.

 

  Now for a late dinner, I think we have a big storm rolling in tonight....Good night from the driftless.

The Pantry Project

Hello again from the driftless!
  The end of Summer is full of frantic activity for us, as the warmer days slip away and we try to get all the projects done, that call for good weather. One of the things we finished recently is our pantry. Our 6 shelves of nook space along two walls have been reduced to two deep made-to-fit slide-out shelves and as you can see, we've begun to stock the pantry for winter. Just wanted to share a few photos.

 

 

 

Free e-zine

 Hello all,
GIVEAWAY: free e-zine
 Backwoods Home is giving away Issue #94 on Kindle for FREE until 11:59 p.m. (Pacific Time Zone).

Backwoods Home Magazine #94 - July/Aug 2005

www.amazon.com

Back issue no. 94 contains: Tsunamis and “the experts”; Starting over again without a man; Self-reliance for women; Self-reliance is a mindset; A

Driftless Cafe

Hello all ,
   Summer is usually the time we get out and enjoy some local places and events (Fall starts our winter preparations)...So recently, we found a hip little offbeat place called the Driftless Cafe. Great atmosphere and revolving specials (using locally grown food)located  in Viroqua . Live Music on many nights...And the best pizza in Driftless Wisconsin ! I really enjoyed this place !

The Driftless Cafe is located at 118 W Court St, Viroqua, WI 54665

Closed on Monday  

Art On The Green

Hello all,
 Had a really great time at an art event in La Crosse ,WI on UW campus this weekend....Here are a few photos from Art On The Green....All items are handmade by driftless area artisans...Enjoy

The next big art event will be the     Driftless Area Art Festival
Celebrating the Visual, Performing, and Culinary Arts of the Driftless Area
2013 Event Saturday, September 14 10:00-5:00 Sunday, September 15 10:00-4:00 Beauford T. Anderson Park, Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin

My Nerdy Day Trip To The Dry Grocer ( but , I love it !)

    Hello again from the driftless!
 
 We went on a day trip to a little town called Coon Valley, and stopped by a dry grocer, which offers a wide array of pastas, sauces, cereals, chips, sweets and everything in between. They carry many bulk products for cooking and baking, that are all natural and organic. I just love Valley Market and stop in anytime we are in Coon Valley.

 

Candy,nuts,meats, cheese, mixes, any kind of flour, spices, rice and grains

One of the very best things about this market is the spice section.This photo doesn't show half of what they have to offer. 

Thanks for tripping along with me! Valley Market is located at 701 Central Avenue,Coon Valley ,WI

New Hummingbird Totes

  Hello all,
 The weather is mild here in the driftless today and here at Down The Wooded Road , we've opened a little gift shop full of beautifully restored ,vintage art print tote bags and other gifts, as well as our new Driftless 100% cotton canvas green tote at Crazy Creek Designs gift shop.These totes are just beautiful !

New Hummingbird Tote at my Crazy Creek Designs shop!

Free E-Book

Happy weekend all !
I have another free e-book to share and this one is for Nook!....Enjoy
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gardening-just-makes-cents-food-inflation-i-plantain/1111301326?ean=9781105737305 You can also get FREE Nook for PC Enjoy and happy reading!

How To Pick And Wash Wild Blackberries or Raspberries

Hello all,
  One of the very best things about Summertime in the driftless, is gathering  wild blackberries and raspberries.  Both typically peak during June in the South, and in July in the North.We pick 'em right about now, so I thought I'd share a few things to know when picking these yummy little gifts from the good earth.

 Select plump, firm, fully blackberries. Unripe berries will not ripen once picked and aren't very tasty.

There are two types of blackberries to know about: thorny and thornless. Most wild bushes do have thorns, so wear tough clothing (like denim) when going out to pick (People say the thorny varieties are a bit sweeter)

  Don't overfill your containers or try to pack the berries down. You don't want all that goodness to be smashed out 'em!

Look in between the stems to grab for hidden berries ready for harvest. Bend down and look up into the plant and you'll see berries that you would have otherwise missed.

Even in the best condition blackberries will only keep for a week in your refrigerator, so for the best flavor and texture, use them as soon as possible . I've never found bugs in my berries but, if you see small bugs or tiny worms, soaking for an hour or more in salt water (1 cup of salt to the gallon), may help draw them out.
 Otherwise just rinse them with cold water and enjoy!

                                                                                                  Try this recipe

Country Style Coffee Cake

I wanted to share this inexpensive and flavorful recipe.
You will need:

3/4 cup brown sugar
 2 teaspoons cinnamon
 6 tablespoons butter, softened
 1-1/2 cups quick-cooking oatmeal
 2 eggs
 1 cup milk
 1 cup sugar
 1/4 cup vegetable oil
 2 teaspoons vanilla
 2 cups flour
 2 teaspoons baking powder
 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
 1/4 teaspoon salt

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease 13x9" pan and set aside.
In medium bowl, combine brown sugar, cinnamon and butter and mix together until blended. Stir in oatmeal until crumbly. Set aside while preparing batter.

 

 

Crack eggs into large bowl and beat with a fork until combined. Add milk and mix well with a wire whisk or eggbeater. Add sugar, oil, and vanilla and mix until blended.

Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg. Add to egg mixture and mix with a spoon for 20-30 strokes just until combined and all dry ingredients are moistened. Batter will be lumpy. Pour batter into prepared 13x9" pan.

 

Sprinkle oatmeal mixture evenly over batter. Bake at 375 degrees for 25-35 minutes until puffed and golden brown, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Serve Quick Coffee Cake with coffee or ice cream .

 I enjoyed having you in my kitchen. Hope you enjoy this very yummy coffee cake .     I added raisins ..but you can add nuts too.