Saving Grace Salvage Co.

 A week or two ago, I was asked by a friend to be on the look out for a shabby chic birdcage stand.  She had seen a picture in a magazine with a clever use for such a thing.  I knew there was one in downtown Princeton, but they rent out for weddings and it wasn't for sale. 

So this morning we headed out through all the Princeton Flea Market traffic to Berlin Wisconsin.  Princeton's flea market was especially busy today and that was wonderful to see. http://cabincountess.blogspot.com/2013/04/wisconsins-largest-outdoor-flea-market.html

Berlin has it own treasure.  It is called Saving Grace Salvage Co.  If you want something or need something to complete a project, it is probably there.  It is loaded with a large variety of items.  You will find things you didn't even realize you wanted.  The saying that comes to mind is One Person's Trash is another Person's Treasure.

The ivy covered building used to be an old mill.  Now it is filled with three stories of stuff.  For those familiar with Berlin Wisconsin, it is near the Fox River on Ceresco Street.  It is about two blocks South of the main street.

As you enter the building, it is hard to know which way to go first.   If you go up the steps, you will find a large room full of sewing items and textiles, old printer blocks, pieces of woodwork and even a little crib from back in the day when we didn't worry about safety regulations.  To tell you the truth, I can't remember where everything is but you can be assured that you won't be able to see even a portion of what is there on your first trip.

The main floor has two sections.  The main portion is set up in interesting sections with similar items.  There is a kitchen area, a vintage clothing section, an office area and many more.  The shopkeepers of Saving Grace are very talented in showcasing their items.  As I was looking around I noticed someone was purchasing pieces of colored glass.  I asked him if he worked in stained glass and he said yes he did.  He said that he also repairs broken stained glass windows.  Where else could he find the kind of glass he needs?

Vintage clothing

A white section, maybe called Shabby Chic

A bookcase with old books.

Old maps

In the basement there are old doors, bed parts and windows.  I think the other levels also have these items.  All kinds of building materials are down there.  I'm sure I didn't see even a fraction of it.  There was an old flour bin or something that I didn't recognize but someone will love it.

Outside there are even more goodies.  Someone made a barbed wire tree.

Barbed wire tree

This is the top of an old windmill.

These next items were my favorite.  An old wicker chair planted full of hens and chicks and other plants.  This past spring we threw an old broken wicker settee out to the trash.  Who knew?

Old trike, laundry tubs and notice a wheel planted with more hens and chicks.

I don't own this shop or have any monetary interest in it, I just liked it.  Saving Grace Salvage Company is only open from May until October.  It is only open from 10-4 on Friday and Saturday.  So if you want to take a nice weekend trip to the Princeton/Berlin area, there is a lot to see.  Princeton Wisconsin has at least seven antique stores and the flea market, and then less than twenty miles away in Berlin, Wisconsin you can visit at their new location.

www.facebook.com/pages/Berlin-WI/Saving-Grace-Salvage-Company/394401399166

Simple Remedy for Static Cling

This is going to be a quick little post.  A couple days ago I was watching The Chew on television or on TV as my grandson says.  I asked him to get me something over by the television, and he told me they didn't have a television.  I pointed to it and said "what is that?".  He said it was a TV not a television.  OK, I guess they don't say television anymore.  Sorry, I got side tracked.

So as I was watching The Chew on ABC,  Clinton Kelly had a segment on laundry tips.  He showed how to fold a fitted sheet.  He showed how to hang a sweater on a hanger without getting bunny ears on the shoulders.  He also said that you should turn your clothes inside out, add salt to keep dark colors from fading and vinegar as a fabric softener.  All these things I had heard before and details can probably be seen on their website, but the thing that caught my attention was a trick to eliminate static cling in the dryer.

Surprise, it is aluminum foil rolled into a ball.  You can use it over and over again.  He said you can put aluminum foil into a 500 degree oven so it is perfectly safe in a clothes dryer.  I tried it and I had no static cling at all.  I admit it is a very hot and humid day so the static cling would not be the same as in the dead of winter, but it worked.  I will continue using it and I will report if it continues to work or if the weather outside determines if it works.  It would be nice to know if anyone tries it. 

All Amish Products Are Not Created Equal

In several posts, I have mentioned that we live in Amish country.  There are several Amish families who live nearby, especially in the communities of Markesan, Kingston and Dalton, Wisconsin.

They have greenhouses.  http://cabincountess.blogspot.com/2013/05/amish-greenhouses.html 

They have bakeries, general stores and cabinet making shops.  There is also a Cheese Factory which has pretty good cheese at very reasonable prices.  It's called the Salemville Cheesehouse, and whenever we have visited the store, there are people there from all over the state and probably beyond. 
 

  
Very often we will see Amish men repairing roofs or building sheds.  They are very hard workers.  They get a ride to and from the job site because they aren't allowed to drive motored vehicles.   Sunday is their day of rest.  None of the businesses are open, and they all gather for church.

 

 

People travel from far and wide for all the Amish products, so naturally when we saw Amish watermelon and Amish corn at the grocery store, we stopped to look.   Then we noticed that the seedless watermelon was $1.99 and the Amish seeded watermelon was $3.99.  We bought the seedless.  We looked at the corn.  It was 6 for $1.50 which is about the going rate.  Tonight I cooked it as I always do, in the microwave.  I really like it in the microwave because it is mostly steamed and not boiled.  Well, it was terrible.  I cooked it again for a while, and it was still tough.  The moral to this story is that just because it says Amish doesn't make it good.  I think it was field corn or old corn, and next time we will be more careful.

Note:  I just went into the kitchen.  There in the compost jar were two totally eaten cobs of corn.  I guess some people in my family have more refined taste buds than others, or HE was very very hungry.

Quiet Days of Late Summer 2013

It's still pretty quiet around here.  There is still not very much to blog about.  We need rain so bad again.  In the past two days we have had six heavy thunderstorms pass just to the north of us.  The plants and flowers are dying off.  We have very little grass.  Most of it never came back after last years drought.  I see a lot of farmers are putting in irrigation systems.  I think it is controversial because a lot of irrigation lowers the water table, but I guess I don't blame the people whose livelihood depends on getting their crops to market.

As I was sitting today watching TV, I recorded these videos from my phone.

Our Traditional August Outing

Late in August, just before school starts, my daughter comes over to our house to go canoeing with her kids.  It's tradition.  We get the canoe out and connect the trailer to the car or truck.  This year we took the car.  We found life jackets for everyone.  We have to get new ones before next year.  The boys are growing so much, they will need an adult size before too long.  Princeton has a boat launch in a city park less than a mile from our house.  When we drove into the park, there was a couple fishing nearby.  They had just caught a walleye.  That surprised me.  I thought all anyone caught in the Fox River were Catfish.

They unloaded the canoe and put it into the water.  Notice I said "they" because it's kind of heavy so I took pictures instead.  No one noticed that I didn't help.

Poor Sam was stuck with the orange floatation device because we didn't have a vest to fit him and Jack was poured into his little vest.  The boys have had swimming lessons and are pretty comfortable in the water, but by the looks of that water, I wouldn't want to fall in it or eat the walleye I saw that couple catch.

They are off.  Sam in front, Jack on the floor, Sarah and Mike.

After they left, I drove the car with the empty trailer to the next boat launch down the road.  After I got there, I just sat by myself and relaxed.  It was so beautiful and peaceful.   I took pictures of the minnows swimming near the shore.  I took pictures of the foliage and some frogs.

If you look carefully, there are little minnows swimming around.

Wild grapes and green acorns in the Oak tree.  I could see the green casings on the ground.  Something, probably squirrels, are eating them before they are ripe.

Then there are lots and lots of frogs jumping all around.  These frogs blend in with the grass and can't be seen until they jump.






Pretty soon I could hear voices.  I could hear them a long time before I could see them.  They were chattering about what they were seeing.  I couldn't hear what they were saying, but I could hear the excitement in their voices.

 

Taking a little break before the final push.  Can you see Jack peeking around Sam?

 

 Sam finally spotted me, he was afraid they paddled past the landing point. 

The little trip is over.  Time to pack up the canoe and head home.  The boys couldn't wait to tell me about the Bald Eagle they saw.  It was sitting on a branch a short distance from them.  Then when it took off it was huge.  Jack said it's wing span was wider than Papa is tall.  Mike and I are going to make the trip again soon.  I hope I can get some photos of that eagle.  I was so jealous.

Fun Times and More Good Memories

Where Has Summer Gone?

Fall mums starting to bloom.

Hydrangea beginning to bloom.

Where has the summer gone?  The Fall flowers are beginning to bloom, and I can't believe school is starting soon.   My middle grandchild Sam reminded me that he hadn't spent the night for a long time or gotten his birthday present from us.  We wanted to remedy that situation, so Monday afternoon we went to Berlin and picked up Sam.  As a typical nine year old boy, he packed a brown grocery bag, grabbed his pillow and was out the door.  We didn't realize until bedtime that he hadn't packed clean underwear or a toothbrush, but he had three stuffed animals and a bunch of legos.  Priorities are important at that age.  He is a really good eater so it doesn't matter what I make him to eat.  He says I am the best cook of anyone and whatever it is he says "this is the best (blank) ever".  I actually made the Baked Chimichangas that my husband had shared on facebook several times.  I think he shared the recipe again as a reminder to me that he would like to try them.  Of course, I modify every recipe but they were pretty good.  I think you could put diced tomatoes, ripe olives, onion or anything else in the mixture and it would be wonderful.  They are baked and not fried as most chimichangas are, so they aren't as high in calories.

Baked Chicken Chimichangas

8 oz. pkg. cream cheese
8 oz. pepperjack cheese, shredded (I used Mexican blend cheese)
1 1/2 Tbsp. taco seasoning
1 lb. cooked chicken, shredded (I used browned ground beef)
8 flour tortillas (Don't use the extra large ones or you will have too much tortilla to fold and they will be dry).  I tried all sizes and I liked the small to medium size best.
cooking spray
shredded cheddar cheese
green onions, for garnish
sour cream
salsa

Stir together cream cheese, pepperjack cheese and taco seasoning.
Fold in chicken.
Divide among flour tortillas.
Tuck in sides, and roll up each tortilla.
Lay seam side down in a sprayed 9x13" baking dish.
Spray tops of the tortillas with cooking spray.
Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.
Turn the chimichangas over, and bake an additional 15 minutes.
Serve with cheddar cheese, green onions, sour cream, and salsa.


After supper, Sam enjoyed relaxing away from his brother and sister.  He talked to great grandpa and played Minecraft with Papa.  I allowed him to stay up a little too late, but eventually we all went to sleep.  In the morning after breakfast, we arranged for Dylan (second grandchild)  to go with us to Oshkosh. Sam got to choose where to have lunch and where to get a birthday gift.  He chose Buffalo Wild Wings as his favorite place to eat.  Both the boys had eight boneless wings and a drink.

After having two daughters,  I'm not used to being out with young boys.  They talk in a language I don't understand and get amused at the strangest things.  When we finally finished our meals, large drinks and a bathroom break, we were off to the next stop.  I had not heard of this place...

House of Heroes

Super heros are not something I know anything about.  Who knew there was a store full of comic books and stuff related to this.  I did recognize Sheldon and Raj from the Big Bang Theory which is one of my favorite shows.

We found a place to sit down and waited and waited and waited.  Some things were a little frightening, but we didn't interfere.

There was such a big decision to make.  Sam had to decide what he wanted to buy for under $40 and Dylan had to decide if he wanted anything from this store.  Dylan will be twelve on Sunday the 25th, so I might as well get his gift today as well.

More than an hour later and another trip to the bathroom for them, a decision was made.  Sam ended up with two hardcover books and Dylan a small Ironman paperback.  Dylan wanted to go to Target next because there was something there that he would rather have.  We all went in and after hemming and hawing, we finally got a Xbox point card and a Skylander Giant.  Thank goodness I didn't try to buy these gifts on my own because I would have missed the mark entirely.  At this age, no more surprise gifts, we want them to get what they want.

We returned the boys home and went home ourselves.  It was a very nice day for all of us.  Then to top it off, there was a beautiful full moon.  I hope the boys remember this day, because we sure will.

Forming a Lifetime Friendship

For any of you who know my daughter Heather and how she spent last week entertaining the French Fries (as she calls them), you will already know what this blog will be about.

In April of 2012, my grandson Dylan was in fifth grade and ten years old.  His elementary school had an exchange program called French Adventure.  In this program several young French kids came to visit and were paired up with families for a couple weeks.  They went to school and spent all the rest of their time with the family.  Dylan was paired up with a boy named Leo.  They became great friends from the beginning.  Leo fit into my daughters family as if he had known them for all of his life.

Leo and Dylan the first day they met.

After Leo went home, he would call regularly and email.  Through him, they also became friends with the rest of his family.  Then in August of 2012, Dylan, my daughter and son in law traveled to France to spend time with Leo and his family.  They had a wonderful time and plans were made for them to visit Wisconsin this year.  Everything was set for Leo, his sister Margaux and their parents to visit in August.  Then during the winter, Leo's dad got a new job and wasn't able to get time off.  So Leo and his sister traveled alone to Chicago on August 11th, and Heather and Bret picked them up.  They were very tired on the way home to Berlin Wisconsin because there is a seven hour time difference.  They recovered quickly and the next week the kids were shown what life is like in small town Wisconsin.  They come from a large city, so this was a new experience for Margaux.  Leo had experienced some of it the year before.  They went to the Dells for a couple days, went tubing on the Wolf River, got a couple airplane rides from our son in law, went shopping and generally had a fun time.  They mostly ate bacon cheeseburgers and were very put out that we would call our fried potato sticks...French fries.  They were not their idea of real French fries.  They like American candy though.  They brought back the Original Cow Pies that are made in Baraboo, WI for their dad.

They were sad to go home so soon, but Sunday Heather and Dylan took them back to Chicago for the trip home.  Plans are already in the works for another visit next summer.

Dylan, Ewan, Heather, Leo and Margaux

Getting an airplane ride from Bret.

Enjoying the water park.

Driving the go-carts.

Climbing the rock wall.

Riding a four wheeler

Getting ready to go tubing on the Wolf River.

Kids playing in the water is universal.

A Wonderful Memory for Everyone.