Reflections...

"Living the life I've imagined" is the mantra that I tell people who ask me what I've been up to, have printed on my business cards and frankly, do every day of my life now!  I've had the awesome opportunity to share a couple of get-away's with my hubby,

Snowmobiling in the Snowy Mountain range in Wyoming

Couples Tower Isle Resort, Jamaica

Yep, this is the life! (my toes, hubby working the board!)

enjoy special family time,

Celebrating Easter early by hunting for eggs!

One excited little lady!

celebrate our daughter's upcoming wedding (to be held on our farm) with a bridal shower,

A Mrs. soon to be on June 7th!

 and just simply....being me!  I have sorely neglected my responsibility of keeping up with my blogging, but I'm making no excuses or apologizes.  After many years of working away from the farm and my home and owning a business, I realized that I needed some time to reflect on what my "imagined life" has turned into and what it means to me. What I have come to realize, is that I'm somewhat of a "retiree" in the fact that I can do things when I want for the most part.  I'm thrilled beyond words to know that I am available to assist on the farm when needed and have the ability to craft to my heart's content.  It will be my pleasure in the days, weeks, month and hopefully years ahead to share all that warm's my heart in 

"living that life I've imagined".

Have a blessed Easter!

~hugs~ Julie

Where are you?

Do you remember us?  It has been quite awhile since we've shared anything and that is totally my fault.  A big annoyance for me is when someone or someone's have a blog or website and they don't post on a regular basis.  I shouldn't say it's an annoyance really, it's more like..."where are you?" I follow many bloggers from all walks of life and when I don't see a new story for a long time I wonder and sometimes even worry about what has happened.  So now I have turned into one of those that I wonder myself  "where am I" Well, don't worry we are still here and we are working on a new concept of how to keep things fresh and interesting and to make sure that we are telling you about what we find intriguing in our everyday lives and what makes us tick, so to speak.

On this beautiful December morning here in Minnesota, we have received our first measurable snow fall, okay so it's only 1/2 inch but that is a measurement on a ruler - right?

December 2nd, first snow fall here on the farm!

Decorated tree in our living room.  Still need to find or create a pine bough door hanger...

We worked on decorating our home this past weekend.  My husband even helped.  Now that may seem like a "so", but for those of you who know my hubby, well, that's just say,  he's been called Scrooge or the Grinch.  I know that kid in him has that Christmas magic and every once in awhile it comes out and surprises even me!

Tree in the farm office decorated with red tractors (of course), corn lights and special ornaments (don't exactly fit on the tree but who cares, it's the meaning that counts for us!)

On Thanksgiving afternoon, my daughter, granddaughter, hubby and myself went out to the slough to get some evergreen boughs and red willow and birch branches.  The slough?, well it should have been the woods, but my hubby had already trimmed trees in our yard and put them out by the slough near our farm. So back in the pickup they went to be used for decorations.....best part, he never said a word......you know why don't you......daughter and granddaughter were along on the idea!!!  (I've decided that if I want something done that he would think was kinda crazy, I'll just have them ask him! - works everytime! HAHA!)  Holly actually had the thought to use these items for outdoor decorating and I just jumped on her band wagon to make one too.  I saw one at a store that I really wanted, but......make my own.....hmmmm...

Store version for $$$

Our version - FREE?!?

What do you think of our creation - mostly FREE!  Actually the glittering spirals and lights were purchased, BUT last year on clearance, so I'll say FREE anyway!!   Time with family making these....PRICELESS!

I'll end with our loving thoughts of the upcoming holiday season and that you don't become too busy to enjoy this special time of the year!  (off to wrap presents....)

-Hugs - Julie

Our last retreat - bittersweet!

We spend this past weekend with some very wonderful quilting friends at our last official retreat from our recently closed quilt shop, Common Threads.  It was bittersweet as we enjoyed each other's company knowing that this would probably be the last time many of us would be together again.  The retreat has been going on for 18 years.  We appreciate everyone who has attended a Common Threads retreat over those many years.

Our workroom, all ready and waiting for our retreaters and the fun to begin!

The gals all set up, catching up with each other and quilting away.

The food was incredible!  Chef Jim and his staff treated us like queens!

Fellowship even followed us into our mealtimes, as we visited there too!

It was an awesome weekend.  One we will cherish for all time.  Thanks again everyone - we'll miss you!

On Farming Friday....

Last week I invited myself along to attend Big Iron with my husband.  I'm pretty sure he was thinking - "really, you want to go?"  I had never been and I know it's a big deal, at least it is in North Dakota, as the show is in West Fargo. I listen to KFGO, a pretty good ag radio station  from time to time and they sure made it sound like a big deal, so it was time to check it out.

I must say, my husband was right in saying "really?"  I have to admit that even though I profess to be an "Awesome Farm Girl", the whole adventure to Big Iron was not all that exciting for me.  Now, before you start to analyze my position and give me a hard time, in my defense, I stayed at the show the whole time with my husband.  (Even though, I was thinking seriously about abandoning him and going to the mall!)

 All joking aside, Big Iron is what it is - really large amounts of really big iron equipment.  Frankly, if you are in the farm market and you can't find what you are looking for at Big Iron, you just plain don't need it, because they had EVERYTHING you could imagine for the farm and than some.  There was a craft show in the adjacent Bonanzaville area that I checked out which was more my taste!

Even though I tired of looking at equipment, equipment, equipment, I did find a couple of interesting items that were pretty darn cool.  The 80 foot field cultivator was quite impressive.  The salesman said  "You can get 80 acres done in an hour"  Whoa - that's amazing!  (The price wasn't listed - imagine that!)

If you need to tile, please ask for the pink tile from Prinsco.  Cancer awareness - treatments and cures - have a special place in my heart after losing my Dad to pancreatic cancer 2 1/2 years ago, so I was really touched by their way of sharing hope!

Since I do have a bucket list and Big Iron was on it, I can now cross it off - mission accomplished (forever!)

Still lovin' farming!!
-Julie-

Join our retreat!

In the mail today, I just sent out reminders to our wonderful crafting friends about our annual fall retreat that is held at Lake Geneva Christian Center in Alexandria, MN.  This place is wonderful.  You stay in hotel type rooms, where you don't have to bring bedding or towels.  There are two queen beds and your own bathroom.  (I have nothing against going to camp, sleeping on a bunk with several other people and sharing a bathroom with several other people.  I went to summer camp as a kid, but that's just it....as a kid.  I am now a grown-up and I appreciate a softer bed and my own bathroom).  Major plus of attending this particular camp/center!

We have room if you'd like to join us.  This retreat is open to any and all crafters.  If you quilt, knit, crochet, scrapbook or anything else you'd love to do but never find the time.  (We had one gal come to our retreat one year and all she did was read and loved it!)  We'd be honored with your presence!

The retreat this fall is November 8-10, 2013.  We do have an early bird option of coming on Thursday, the 7th anytime after noon.  There are 5 "wonderful - you'd didn't have to cook" meals that start on Friday evening.  (You are on your own for meals on Thursday and Friday daytime - Alexandria has MANY options for you to choose from).

Our prices are very reasonable for the comforts of home and a great space for your creativity to flow!

Single room (your own self)  is $230 per person
Double room (sharing with one person)  is $200 per person
3 or more in a room - $175 per person
Early bird option (for work space and lodging only) $40 per person

All the above includes great lodging, 5 yummy meals, beautiful scenery to keep your creative juices flowing , 24 hour access to the work space so you can really get your projects accomplished AND we get to pamper you with fun things to say "thanks for coming"

Are you saying "where do I sign up?"  Just contact Julie at rjsatterlie@gctel.net and provide us with your     e-mail address and we will forward more information.  We ask for a $25 non-refundable deposit due upon registering, with the balance to be paid at the time of your arrival at the retreat.  We only accept cash or checks, no credit cards.

Come and have a fun weekend with us!
-Julie-

Everyone needs a "stroll" shopping day!

 Along with dear friends, we took off for Hay Days (an outdoor vehicle sport show). As us girls left our hubbies at the show, we continued onward to check out the shops in Saint Croix Falls, Taylor Falls and Lindstrom. Now it's not that we're not interested in snowmobiling or ATVing, it's just that we were more excited about checking out some fun places that we had heard about and lucky for us, they were in the same area as the show.  Yeah!

The area along the Saint Croix River is very breathtaking with tall cliffs and rocks.  Believe it or not, my brain didn't think about photographing the scenery, I was more fixated on the shopping.  It is rare that I take the time to just "stroll shop" .  You know that kind of shopping where you don't have a list and you can just look, dream, relax and always find something you can't live without.  THIS was a stroll shopping day!

On our stroll, we found a gem and stone shop.  The shop was filled with many handmade jewelry pieces.  In another crafting life, that I led once upon a time, I had the idea to create jewelry pieces much like the ones in this shop.  Of course, that craft was put to the wayside because of who knows what, but it was refreshed again when I found a piece of stone that I could envision as a necklace, so guess what......you're right......getting the tools out again because that stone came home with me.....besides it was on sale for only $10!....how could I resist!

I will post the finished project in.....aaahhmmm.......later (as my granddaughter says ALL THE TIME!)

One of the real missions for the day was to check out Picket Fence Gals in Lindstrom, MN.  Early this summer, my hubby and I spent a weekend in the same area (I'll write about it in a future post) and we came across this shop.  I'm not sure exactly how to describe this place, but antiques are for sale here along with many, I mean MANY other items that have been re-purposed.  They have some very interesting displays and clever ideas for the everyday items (some which I have already - oh no - not crafting again).

I couldn't leave without something and fortunately (for my checkbook) we didn't bring the pickup.  A small ladder caught my attention and was painted orange (one of my favorite colors, especially this time of year) so home with me it went. I'm going to sit it outside and place fall decorations on it.  Yep, you got it, posting that "later" too!

Since we felt a bit guilty (not really) for leaving our hubbies at the show gate and zooming off, we decided to head back to make sure that the checkbooks and/or credit cards weren't smoking.....oh yeah, we didn't bring the pickup...hee-hee!  Not being the greatest follower of GPS equipment (yes, I'm still old school, read a map!) we, meaning I, got us off in the wrong direction, but in my own defense, found the correct road, just in a different direction and low and behold, found another fun shop to tour (so there GPS you didn't know that I wanted to go there, did you?)

Back in the day, before the economy kind of put a halt on fun shopping, many smaller towns around Minnesota had some really neat shops to explore.  Sadly there aren't many of those shops left but a few held on and we were glad.  Carroll Creek  is one of those shops, my kind of primitive decor and gift items.

 9" witches broom - too cute!

$5 for a bunch of sticks, my hubby laughingly stated......I said yes, it was a bargain because sure I could make it but for some reason it never looks like it's suppose to and being the supportive shopper to a local crafter, I bought instead of made!!

I will place this sign in my kitchen window to be reminded of keeping it simple, simple, simple!!

We managed to get ourselves back to the show, find our hubbies, have a late lunch and even bought a new set of winter clothing....for me! (model show this winter).  The set I have now has lasted about 25 years.  So if I average out the price - yikes - that I had to pay to "look the part" it was another bargain for the day since I won't be needing one for another 25 years and I don't think they take assisted living people out to the mountains to ride snowmobiles, however.....that is 25 years from now so.....who knows!

Event goers checking out the latest and greatest in outdoor wear and driving.

ATV and snowmobile racing

Sno Barons snowmobile club purchased a farm just for Hay Days events.

Hubby, Randy and dear friends, Brent and Deb Johnson after a fun day, even in the rain

Enjoying another beautiful day here in west central Minnesota.

-Julie-

The fair is over, summer is over- boo!

Happy Labor Day to all!  If you are laboring today, enjoy knowing that you have a job.  If you have the day off from your job, enjoy the day off knowing that you have a job.  Whoops - guess I kinda got into that job thing.

From a few posts back, I refer to our holidays as working days, this one being no exception, however we had a pleasant surprise as we worked on spray/farm records in the office.  I thought I heard a helicopter go over the house, but than I heard another one?  What's going on?  We went outside, checked the sky and the helicopter was landing in our yard?!?!?  It was our good friend, Kurt Myron out for a solo flight.  It looked really cool, but not on our bucket list.  To ride in one - yes, to drive one - no way!  Thanks Kurt for "stopping" by!

Now this is the way you visit your friends!

The last day of the state fair is today, which sadly means, summer is over and we say boo-hoo!  However, we wanted to share one more "taste" of the fair with you about our favorites.  I had to try "Hotdish on a Stick" - ta tor tots and meatballs on a stick dipped in a hotdish sauce ( most common sauce created with cream of chicken, cream of mushroom soup, milk and/or cream) and than of course deep fried.  Amazingly yummy?!

"Hotdish on a Stick" (doesn't everything look good deep fried?)

Yes, it does say Ole and Len's Hotdish on a Stick - crazy Norwegians!!

 Cheese curds are always on our radar, price the same as many years ago, BUT the portion MUCH smaller - so had to eat two!

Cheese curds are still quite yummy, but do you see the size - tiny!!!!!!!

  Walleye on a stick by locals Paul and Shellee Hansen  are a must and Andrew Zimmern of Bizarre Foods visited them too!  Sweet! Maybe they'll be celebrities on TV as well.....hmmmm!

Now serving smelt and catfish along with their signature walleye.

Paul and Shellee are the cutest couple - they've been serving Walleye on a Stick for 23 years
(Gotta dig Shellee's eyewear - she's calls them her fry glasses - she's chief fry master!)

 One newbie we tried, sweet corn ice cream.  I thought it was delicious.  Randy wasn't keen on the sweet corn chunks in ice cream ( you must know that his favorite ice cream is vanilla or white as our granddaughter calls it - so that explains his appetite on ice cream products).  There were several more items such as pronto pups, beer, mini doughnuts, beer, Sweet Martha's cookies, beer - you get the idea.  In our defense, the temps were in the upper 90's - and we took the bus, so we had fun!

I say- What?!?!

Dear hubby trying the ice cream in the very appropriate T-shirt for the day!

  See the little bits of sweet corn.  A praline nut, graham cracker mixture is sprinkled on top.

 Speaking of chocolate chip cookies - did you know that Sweet Martha makes 12 million - yes I said million - cookies in 12 days! (just to make sure my accounting head is on right for working today), that's 1 million a day!  Yikes!  I'm thrilled when I get a couple dozen made for the cookie jar.

A cup of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies......yummmmmmmm!

The sign should read "Where 1 million cookies are made everyday!"

  I don't have her famous recipe but I do have one of my own that I will say is pretty darn good and it's my recipe this week.  It was a harvest favorite and continues to be the one cookie recipe that gets made again and again.  We change out the chocolate chips for peanut butter chips or M & M's and even the toffee chips are excellent.  Have fun making, what should we call them....oh I know.....Cool Juls cookies - what do you think?  Too much?

Have an awesome day however you are spending it!

- Julie ( I mean Cool Juls) -

Cool Juls Cookies
(Click here for a printable version)

1 c. butter shortening
1/2 c. butter, softened
1 1/3 c. white sugar
1 c. packed brown sugar
4 eggs
4 tsp. vanilla
4 1/2 c. flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2 c. milk chocolate chips or peanut butter chips or M & M's (I prefer the mini ones) or a mixture?!?

In mixing bowl cream shortening, butter and sugars until light and fluffy.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each.  Add vanilla.  Combine the dry ingredients and add to the creamed mixture beating well.  Stir in chips. Using a cookie scoop (I like the medium size) place scooped cookies on lightly greased baking sheets at 350 degrees for 14 minutes.  Let cool on baking sheets for 3-4 minutes and transfer to cooling trays.  Let cool completely before placing in cookie jar. Note:  I like the cookies to be light in color, slightly underbaked, as they continue to bake on the sheets after taken out of the oven.

This recipe makes a bunch of cookies, several dozen, depending on the cookie scoop size of your choice.

 My Tip:  I like fresh cookies and not ones that have sat in a container for days or baked up and in the freezer for weeks or months.  When I whip up a batch, I will bake one cookie sheet worth and freeze the rest into scooped balls before baking.  Some people get nervous about this because the eggs have not been cooked.  I have had no issues in the 30 plus years I've been making these cookies because I freeze them right away.  When I need to replenish the cookie jar, I just take out as many cookies as I want to bake, thaw in the refrigerator till softened and than bake them.  How wonderful to have fresh baked cookies, just like Sweet Martha's at the fair!

The Great Minnesota Get Together Part Two

On Farming Friday, we're taking you back to the Minnesota State Fair.  Two of our favorite things at the fair are the Miracle of Birth Center and Little Farm Hands.  What great ways to tell the world about where food comes from.  Of course, all the new baby animals in the birthing center are "oh, so cute" but are raised to become a meal on our tables.  The Little Farm Hands not only is a great place for kids to hang out (or adults for that matter) but teaches how food is grown and than sold with information along the trail.  It was quite exciting for us farming folks to know that the fair still has some major agriculture backing now that machinery hill is pretty much lawnmowers and garden equipment.  (can you imagine how many more acres it would take to have the quad tractors and combines on display? - the major implement choices would have to take turns from year to year).  Enjoy the photos from our favorites.....

Baby farm animals are born here everyday during the state fair. 

Baby calf  4 hours old!

Baby sheep about 8 hours old!
(How would you like to watch your babies be born in front of large crowds??)

This is just the neatest and coolest idea ever!!!  Way to support farming MN State Fair!!

Kids can wear an apron if they'd like to start their "mock" farming adventure.

Display boards were all around the "mock" farm to share information about the different aspects of farming.

Volunteers sitting in a grain bin (cute!) filling bags of corn to feed the animals.

Information about tractors inside the tractor shed.

This is one of the cutest ideas I've ever seen!!

Where are the red tractors?  Well, John Deere is a major sponsor of Little Barn Hands - come on Case!!

Doesn't it look real?  The kids had to "feed" the chickens and pick an egg.

Vegetable Garden sponsored by Butter Kernel vegetables.  The kids picked "mock" vegetables - there were real vegetables growing in the garden however - it was pretty neat!

Love these "did you know?" facts.

Even though is was a "fake" sheep, the kids could touch the wool.

More really good information display boards- I didn't know that Ottertail County (which is just north of us)
is #4 in the state for dairy production. (which by the way is where our son-in-law milks cows - Yeah!)

The kids had to feed the cow and than they could milk her.

This cow was at our local county fair this year and it stills milks water....."silly cow" as our granddaughter would say!

Don't you love the "trees"?

These boards were the best - especially the one on the right of the farmer's share of the money.
(If you are a pig farmer, you already know that from a $4.83 pound of bacon, you are making $.89,
the barley producer only makes $.06 on a $6.59 six pack of beer !
A family walking next to us made a comment "gee, farmers really don't make that much do they"
yep- that's the "real" story!

The kids gathered eggs, wool, vegetables, milk, and apples placed them in their baskets and "sold" them at the store where they received play money.

The kids took their play money and used it to purchase a cup of ice cream.

Main sponsors of the Little Farm Hands - way to go MN Corn Growers - woo-hoo!

There were more interactive things to do inside the barn from planting a field, to coloring pages of farming and more!

Local "real" farm families were showcased for their hard work and dedication to their life's passion!

An aerial view of the "farm" from the chair lift we took a ride on!

Wouldn't it be neat to do something like this at our county fair?
 How about it Douglas County Corn and Soybean Growers?

Hope you enjoyed "our favorites" - Julie -