“I am my own muse, the subject I know best” – Frida Kahlo We were fortunate enough to spend an entire month in Mexico this year.  My travels to Mexico span over 30 years, and I absolutely love the climate, the people, the culture and of course… the food!  Mexican food, or at least the flavors and ingredients, are one of the anchors of my culinary style and tastes.  Mexico is … [Read more...]

I had a pile of old calendars in my office. They stretched over several decades. I just could not destroy them since they documented so many little details I preferred to not forget. Some have great photos from which I might get some use. But the dates and the events we have participated in bring back special memories.  So in an effort to “spring clean” the office, I decided … [Read more...]

I have an inquisitive 6-year-old who thinks the best way to get my attention is to repeatedly ask me the exact same question without even pausing for a breath. Even if I heard him the first time, there is literally not a moment of silence to respond to his question before he’s asking it again, and again, and again, and again. It’s frustratingly ridiculous in the moment when … [Read more...]

By Angela Denstad Time and again I notice in so many aspects of life that there are those who jump headfirst into the deep end, and those who cautiously tiptoe in from the shore. So, too, are differences of temperament on display as winter comes to a close. There’s no denying, of course, that the days have grown longer, the birds have returned, and school children have long … [Read more...]

Recently, I found myself navigating the aisles of my local grocery store, on a quest for chicken thighs to prepare for dinner – an ingredient I hadn’t purchased in quite some time, perhaps months. To my sheer astonishment and dismay, I was taken aback by the steep price for a mere four chicken thighs. This shocking experience triggered a deeper conversation between my husband … [Read more...]

As I write this, I find myself skating across a thin layer of frozen mud, propelled by 3,500 gallons of manure. No, this is not an attempt at extreme sports; it’s just another day on the farm. Don’t try this at home, friends, but yes, I often write in the field, while driving a tractor and hauling manure. It’s one of the quirky perks of farm life – where multitasking is a … [Read more...]

Until a couple of weeks ago I was a virgin. Bread baker that is. My need to be creative and open minded about recipe following always seemed to be a non-starter when it comes to baking.  I was always told that you can’t mess with baking recipes. You need to follow directions precisely. You can’t just change things willy nilly. “It’s the truth, trust me!”  Well, that is just … [Read more...]

Howdy, folks!  It is good to be with you one more time.   To review, my name is Jack.  I am a German Shepherd.  I was invited to live in southern Wisconsin, and I adopted a boy.  He comes with a mom and a dad, so they are mine, too.  I grew up there, and I am the king. I am three years old.  Folks remark at how handsome I am.  I have silver-sable coloring.  But that is not my … [Read more...]

Long before the current AI craze, farmers were knee-deep in “AI” every single day – but this was a whole different kind of artificial intelligence. It wasn’t the kind of thing that could run algorithms to predict the stock market, or write you a Shakespearean sonnet on demand. Nope, this was the real deal: Artificial Insemination. And I’ll tell you what, if they’re giving out … [Read more...]