Always Amazing 9/7/2022

 Good Morning,

It is really a great way to wake up just by smelling the Door County Chocolate Cherry brewing in the kitchen. There is just a faint residual odor of the apples that were dried yesterday as well. Some people like the aroma of flowers and I guess that is ok as well. But as for me, give me the smell of morning coffee.

1 Peter 4:10 As each has received a gift use it to serve on another. 

Those of you who follow my blog, will know that for the last few months we have been nursing my mother in law back to health after she experienced a fall on the stairs as she was headed to church. It has been a long haul and  her leg is looking much better, but not quite fully healed. Different living arrangements had to be made for her well being and safety. She is now residing in an assisted living facility. That change has been a slow process, because in her mind as anyone of us would feel, "There is no place like home". Her new home has not been fully adopted into her mind and heart. But that too is coming along. I Thank everyone for the prayers for her and our family. 

One of the things that has always amazed me about her is the talent she possesses to crochet beautiful items of usefulness or clothing. I am sitting next to one of the quits she made as a gift for me. Mother always liked to enter some of her crafts, which also were  also baked goods or canned goods into the annual Walworth County Fair competitions. I recall one year when she had entered over 130 items for judging and came home with many award ribbons. This year however, our 95 year old patriarch was laid up during what would be her "season of production." She did manage to have five items completed and was able to enter them right at the deadline. I am here to brag on her a little bit. Three out of the five entries placed in the competition and she took home another three ribbons. 

Very soon it will be getting colder in this part of the world and I will once again need to dress warmer  as I go out to hunt. Mother has equipped me with items of blaze orange or camouflage in color to keep my neck, head and feet warm. I was looking at some of them yesterday and thanked the Lord for the one who made them. One year she made a sweater for me to deer hunt in and I wore it a few times. But I always felt guilty wearing it because of all the hard work and the beauty of the needle work. I was afraid it would receive stains from spilled coffee or deer blood if I was blessed to have harvested one. I will make it a goal to show a photo of the sweater this week. Featured today is the quilt that adorns an old rocking chair. It has been known to leave that chair and warm me up during times of illness and very cold days as I sit in the den writing. 

My point for the day is this. If you possess a talent, share it with others. Very soon when that cold wind is tossing my duck decoys around, my neck, head, and hands will be warm. My heart will be warm also with the thought of the hands that made these beautiful items. Take time to warm some hearts.

God bless,

Marty

It Gets Paid Back Someday 9/6/2022

 Good Morning,

A hot cup of Door County Chocolate Cherry Coffee is next to me and it is time to write. 

I have many mistakes in my life that I can learn from and I do believe what goes around comes around. In my past I have been consumed by my vocation and work just seemed to interfere with life, such as family, rest and church. I am not condemning anyone for working hard. I am just letting you know that when you leave the family to entertain themselves because you "just have to work" they do learn how to live without you. Later, when you have time to live life, they learned by watching you to overwork and put life on hold until "a better time". 

2 Corinthians 9/6/2022 The point is this. Whoever sows sparingly, will also reap sparingly. But whoever sows bountifully will reap bountifully. 

Friends I have news for you. No one on their death bed ever said "I wish I would have worked more hours". Yes, do a good job, pay your bills, and work to live, not live to work.  Place this in the back of your mind. "You reap what you sow". It might take some time, but what you have sown will return to you in one form or another. 

Food for thought.

Marty

Headed To The Field. 9/5/2022

 Good Morning,

What a nice day we had yesterday. A small family get together with my wife's side of the family was held in our home and it was very nice. So today as I write and drink some Door County Chocolate Cherry Coffee I will ponder the happenings of yesterday. 

This morning finds me ready to hunt and I will be headed out to meet some good friends and pursue some geese together. It is a fall ritual that I hope I never out grow tired of or get too old to participate. My youngest dog Leo will be going out with me and it will be hard to leave the older one behind. But Leo needs the experience and Gibbs has plenty of that. 

So my goal for today is to enjoy myself, and time with my friends. I will look at this day as a blessing from God and see his handiwork within nature. It's hard to go out and see the things I have seen from the goose blind and not know that there is a God who is greater than all of His creation, The geese honking in the distance is a great reminder as to how great God is. And then to be able to gather with some guys that I have known for a long time is always more than a blessing. 

You see, for me this trip is more than a jaunt into a field and shooting some geese. It is quality time spent in prayer and time spent with my hunting family. 

That coffee in the blind is sure going to taste good. 

Marty

Late Night Song Dedications 9/4/2022

 Good Morning,

This is my kind of morning for sure. It' s nice and cool outside and that makes the Door County Inn Keepers Blend Coffee taste even better. It is warmth for the body and for me it is a comfort that soothes my soul. 

I am just old enough to recall the AM radio  being our biggest source of music. I owned a small transistor radio and would often be listening to it through an ear phone, late at night when I should have been sleeping. 

Romans 12"15 Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep. 

Back in the day the late night disc jockeys would give out the phone number that you could call and actually talk with them. They would listen to you for a few seconds and let you pour out your heartaches and then they would either play the song you requested or you could request a song for someone else. Many a person who wanted to express their love for someone did it on these radio shows. Back then the Vietnam war  was in full motion and girls would pledge their undying love over the radio for their soldier. It was probably one in a million chance that the person who was the recipient of the dedication would actually be listening at the same time  and hear the love message. 

Other requests were made many times for the caller because that song would help them through a break up experience  that was tearing them up on the inside. I did sneak to the phone one night and call a radio station in Chicago and request a song for a girl I had a crush on. I wanted the world to know that I had feelings for this sweetheart.  It kind of backfired, because back then they did not give out toll free telephone numbers and long distance calls were not free. I remember my dad looking through the itemized phone bill and saying "Who in the heck is calling Chicago"? I kept my calls from that time forward to only the local stations. 

Now if you are reading this today and you can recall those radio request times and speaking to a disc jockey who seemed to care about your heartaches or your love life, then you are pretty old just like me. 

My point I am driving home for today is this. It is so easy to communicate now days. Email, phone calls, ZOOM video meetings, score boards at the ball game, social media,  and many other ways including snail mail. I see many announcements and proclamations of love on Face Book and I think it is a great thing to do so. 

So why would anyone not know how you are doing, or you wonder how someone else is doing?  Communicate to those you love and care about, but I still believe the best way to express your love if at all possible is to do it in person . There is nothing sweeter than saying to your spouse while driving somewhere with the radio playing, " Every time I hear this song I think of you". You can make your own song dedications and if by chance you are hurting within your heart, let someone know and hopefully that one person will respond and say "I know. How can I help"? 

Friends be that disc jockey your friends or family can call 24/7 to share their heartache or needs. Be willing to pray with them.  Share a Bible verse or two or with them or share a song that soothes the heart and soul. Join God's radio station. WLFY With Love For You. 

Marty

Words Cannot Always Express How We Feel 9/3/2022

 Good Morning,

Wow! The sound of the Door County Inn Keepers Blend Coffee brewing in the kitchen woke me up this morning and the aroma has my nose on high alert. I am ready to write. 

Numbers 6:24 -26 The Lord bless you and keep you. 25.Thr Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you. 26. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. 

Have you ever had to say goodbye to someone and just before you speak your eyes start to leak and it becomes hard to swallow. You know that feeling and it is the feeling of sadness. You look the other person in the eye and they are experiencing the same trauma of the heart and words just don't seem to fit the occasion. 

I used to get angry with myself for not being able to say something brilliant or meaningful. I avoided saying goodbye to people and just got busy with leaving. As I ponder life today I am convinced that those tough goodbyes  should not be avoided and no one really expects any brilliance during a time of a hurt in the heart. Make the goodbyes count and make plans for a return if possible. Pass on a hug or a squeeze of the hand. Remember this, your loved one or dear friend is feeling the same way, But don't avoid it that promise of "we will see you soon or again" means a lot to both parties. Try to etch the next visit into the calendar as soon as possible. Once it hits the calendar it is more likely to happen. 

Food for thought.

Marty

Hutspot To Eat 9/2/2022

 Good Morning,

Friday came in like a lamb today and I can tell you this for sure. I wish I was hunting instead of working today. I would love to be in the field today and sipping on a hot cup of Door County Maple Coffee.

I am thinking about having a get together pot luck style. The attendees would agree before hand to reach into a hat and pull out a note with the name of a country on it. Then they would make a dish native to that country. 

While doing some research on what some different countries eat, I looked up some food from the Netherlands, Basically Dutch cuisine. One particular dish stood out as something I would like. I would bet anything that it would really hit the spot on a cold day,

 Hutspot is a dish made from mashed potatoes, carrots and onions that is one of the staples of traditional Dutch cuisine.

I think this could be fun and also serve to broaden our horizons and add diversity to our meals. Each person would share copies of the recipe they use.

Why am I writing about this today? One reason is this. I can. My second reason is to give folks and idea for a simple, yet good time. I believe friends should gather together and possibly invite some people that you don't know very well. A new neighbor is a friend you just haven't made yet. My goal today is to encourage you all to reach out and extend a hand of friendship to someone today and be nice!

Everyone likes to be included and at times we hold the key to their inclusion. Think about it and reach out to the new family on the block, You can bet that I will make this dish in my cast iron Dutch oven,

Have a great day, 

Hutspot Recipe 

Ingredients

• 2 lb potatoes  peeled and cut into large pieces
• 1½ lb carrots cut into large chunks.  Any color will do.
• 1 lb white onions thinly sliced. Maybe Vidalia Onions?
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter. Right from Wisconsin.
• ½ cup milk hot. Whole milk
• 1 bay leaf
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg freshly grated
• Salt
• Pepper freshly ground

Instructions

• Place the potatoes, carrots, bay leaf and onions in a Dutch oven and cover with water to level. Season with salt and mix.
• Bring to a boil and cook, covered, over medium heat for 25 minutes.
• Drain, remove the bay leaf and add all the rest into a large bowl.
• Using a potato masher, coarsely mash all of the mixture.
• Add the butter, milk, nutmeg and pepper. Mix.
• Adjust the seasoning if necessary and serve.
• You can serve Hutspot with a sausage such as a ring bologna. 

Good Ideas And Practices Were Shared 9/1/2022

 Good Morning,

I just sat down to write and next to me is one hot cup of Door County Jamaican Me Crazy Coffee, Our two Springer Spaniels are on the floor at my feet with full bellies  and one is snoring. It is time to write. 

Isaiah 6:8 Then I heard the Lord saying, "whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said. "Here am I send me."

Last night I attended a short meeting at our church for those who lead small group ministries /studies. It was pretty well attended and  I believe the goal of the meeting was met. We were encouraged by one of our pastors who has the small groups on his platter of ministries. He gave us a pep talk, and thanks. In addition he shared some thoughts on what leaders of the groups should do. It was great advice and can be used to enhance our time with the members of the mall groups. I took it all in and was quite pleased and content to have been there. 

Toward the end of the meeting the attendees shared ideas and knowledge with each other for a good fifteen minutes. There were within this group many personality styles and some shared knowledge, some shared goals, and others asked for some solutions to minor issues. I walked away last night smiling because I had picked up one idea I will try in my group and consider trying two more, but one at a time. I felt everyone was heard and made to feel real comfortable sharing thoughts. I drove home in awe of God. Once again He has assembled a great team of people who love Him and want to serve Him. 

I look forward to this year of service within our church and I will wait see how God works through all of those small groups. 

My point of the day is this. Can your church count on you to fill the gap and serve within the body? Can you be considered to be one who cares about others? If you are on the sidelines and attend a group, can you be counted on to faithfully assist? This world is busy and we all have lots on our plates. A good group has a few workers filling roles to take the pressure off of the leader. 

A heart beats best, when it beats for others. 

Marty