One of our hidden gems...

I live in a very small town, on the edge of a small town. I kid you not. But the town we are bordering has a gem in it's center, and I feel the need to shout it from the mountains! 

I was born and raised in Marshfield, living in Nebraska for my college years, and then returning to Central WI as an adult. I have lived in a small town about 15 miles away for the last 20+ years, and for much of my adult life, I have worked in Marshfield as well, putting me there at least 5 days a week. One of the gems in Marshfield is the Wildwood Park and Zoo, a free attraction that I think many people take for granted.

Growing up, the park was a very special place for my mom and I, so going there always brings back good memories for me. 

Aside from a beautiful park full of shelters, playgrounds, and ponds, there is a zoo with so much to offer. One of the newest additions is the Kodiak Bear exhibit, one of only a few in the country.

I have watched the zoo change and improve for so many years, and yesterday I had an afternoon to myself, so I took the chance to check it out. And I was so happy to see even MORE change. Better exhibits, educational tools, new landscaping...so many beautiful things. A beautiful bird exhibit, wild cats, wolves, elk, buffalo, deer, and mountain sheep. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. 

One of my favorite things is the fun new walk INTO the zoo, filled with tracks! It's these little touches that really make the zoo special and fun for families. 

HOW CUTE IS THIS? 

So here is my plug. If ever you find yourself in Central Wisconsin, please, please find time to add Wildwood Park and Zoo in Marshfield to your agenda. You won't be disappointed. 

https://www.facebook.com/wildwoodzoo

My message to you.......... fill your soul!

I have known for awhile what I was really missing.

What parts of me were hurting. What was making my soul ache.

So I made a list. Life is too short to be hurting, or regretting.

crafting

writing/blogging

travel

visiting family and friends

home reno

creating recipes

read

gardening

So this is my list. These are things that fill my cup, that make me feel whole, and happy. These are the things I need to fill my life with. And I am doing them. And loving every moment.

I read a book this week! A wonderful book called The Wednesday Letters.

I am in the process of redoing our bathroom - new paint, new lights, and a new mirror. Not a major change, but a facelift. And I painted our brick wall, creating this fun coffee nook!

This spring I reclaimed one of my gardens - making my herb garden a beautiful signature in the yard. I combined my love for old things, and my love for my gardening... and it turned out so cute!

My husband and I spent a lot of time this spring bumming around Wisconsin, and are heading to South Carolina in a few weeks - a bucket destination for me.

And I am writing.... I am WRITING! I have written a recipe this week, and several blog posts. I have been journaling for the last couple of months.

I forgot how I love to write...

So this is my message to you. Don't put it off. Whatever "it" is. As Nike so proudly put it, JUST DO IT. Life is short. Opportunities are fleeting. So slow down. Do what you love. Do what fills your soul. And don't worry about what anyone else thinks. It's ok to say no to doing things you don't want to do, and it's ok to be selfish and spend time doing what you want.

FILL YOUR SOUL

Did you miss me?

Oh my goodness.
It has been... TWO YEARS.
I have missed this, more than I can express. Writing is a part of me. A part I have been ignoring for so long... but no more.

I AM BACK!

So grab your cup of coffee, and let me catch you up. It's been a crazy three years.

Spring 2014 - a family trip to New Orleans for Mardi Gras, ended with us getting stranded in South Haven, Mississippi, with car troubles. Little did any of us know that God was giving us a little "break" as a family before our lives would turn upside down (a few times!)

Upon returning from our trip, my elderly father took a turn for the worst, and we lost him in March of that year. He was 88 years young, and passed away very peacefully after several years of excellent care at a VA hospital near us.

In April, my husband and I decided to take a leap, follow a dream, and open a café in our small town. For over two years, I worked 70 hour weeks, pouring my love, my passion, my heart and soul, blood, sweat, and tears into cooking for thousands of people. And it was a heck of a ride! Definitely not all up, and definitely not all down. It was the hardest thing I ever tried and I am so glad I did it. Not many people can say they were able to try their dream. And I did. I learned so much, met so many amazing people... but as they say, all good things have to come to an end.

In the end, we were struggling. We live in a small town (800 people), and there were so many challenges, from getting staff, to making ends meet. I had reached a dark place, working even more hours, trying to keep the place running, when our world stopped one Saturday in April, 2016...

I will never forget that day. I was hosting a private dinner party at the café, by myself. I had just served dessert, and was cleaning in the back kitchen, when my husband walked in. I knew something was wrong.

I remember I was holding some crinkled up tin foil. (Isn't it weird what you remember?) He told me they had found his brother dead, in his apartment. At only 53... I remember dropping the tin foil, breaking down, and then realizing what we had in front of us. We had to tell my in-laws. I was able to ask one of the guests at the dinner to finish up for me (God always provides people when in need!), and we began the horrific process that included telling everyone, traveling to Kansas City to clean out his apartment, and laying him to rest.

And that was only the beginning.

My mother-in-law, who had been fighting cancer for over a year, took a turn for the worse. By the beginning of August, I was trying everything I could to keep the café open, take care of my in-laws, and somehow still be a husband and wife. One night, sitting on the couch, I broke down. And all my husband said was "I think it's time."

We both knew. Family has always been the most important thing in my life, and for 2 years I had put them on the back burner. But with my mother-in-law failing, we knew that it was time to close the café and take our lives back. Once we made the decision to close, everything went so fast. We planned on closing August 31st, not knowing how quickly my mother-in-law would deteriorate. Amidst her final week, moving her to hospice care, and her passing, I had to close the dream I was ending, literally burying my mother-in-law one day and closing the doors the next.

That fall, my husband and I took several trips - something that had also been missing for two years. We were able to see a friend's daughter married in Colorado, and see dear friends in New Orleans. Loss wasn't over though, as I would lose my Godmother later that fall, and then one of my best friends (damn cancer!) in January of this year.

Of course I still feel loss on so many sides, but I will say we made the right decision. Life is too short, and our family could not be happier. I didn't realize how much my time at the café affected everyone. So many times after closing, I would catch my husband saying "I am so glad to have you back".

I was Blessed to be able to do my dream. And Blessed to know when it's time to let it go. For the last year, I have had so much time to be with family, take care of my father-in-law, and to just breathe.

I have always been one to try to have work/life balance. I will admit that I lost then during the café. But it is back. I am working on a new full time job, one that I would like to take me through the next fifteen years, to my retirement. One where I will be able to fill a niche, and make a difference. I am loving taking care of my family, and my home.

So I am back. Just a little glitch. But I am back, and I am fierce as ever.

Time for another cup of coffee!

In a funk

I have been in a crazy negative funk lately. And it's SO not my style. I'm getting overwhelmed - too much to do, too little time, too little help. I'm sure that I'll get back on top, but right now I am just not myself.

I know some people are picking up on it. Especially those close to me. But what I honestly need right now is a bit of down time. I need to be left alone for awhile. So I can get my junk in order - get stuff DONE.

I need to focus. To write a to-do list. To delegate what can be delegated.

My only problem is I hate asking for help. Especially of my family - who should be helping without being asked. (sigh). .I know this is not a new problem. It exists in every family. Still sucks.

So enough whining. I am off to finish a to-do list and try to get focused for tomorrow. I got the house back in order this afternoon, and I am very happy about that. Tomorrow it's café work. LOTS of café work. Cuz there is lots to do.

Out of BALANCE!

I will be the first to admit that my life is horribly out of balance right now...

There are multiple days a week that I am putting in 14+ hours at the café.

But it is my dream.
I am living my dream.

And while it is a lot of work, I am loving (almost) every minute of it. I get to cook for people, make them happy. I have a ridiculous circle of loyal customers - that I love dearly - and look forward to seeing every day. I am literally living my dream. Not many people can say that.

I am ridiculously Blessed.

 

But it is a lot of work. :)

And I've completely thrown my life balance out of whack, and am just now trying to make a few lists of what needs to be done to get that balance back in check. You know the saying....the first step is admitting you have a problem. ;)

In my out-of-balance existence I do miss some very important parts of my life.

• I miss reading. BC (before the café) I read multiple books a month.... and I miss taking time to read.
•  
• I miss writing, blogging.
•  
• I missed working in my gardens. (Hopefully they will forgive me come spring!)
•  
• I missed crafting/scrapbooking.
•  
• I miss my yarn

It appears that I've given up the creative side of my brain (aside from the cooking creativity I get to do now), and I think it's time I start giving it some priority. My brain needs to rest. 

So there you have it. I here vow to work harder at working less and doing a few of these things that I love so dearly.

All while living that dream. Cuz that rocks.

Such a long time~

Oh my goodness it's been a long time~ so sorry!

On May 1st, we opened the gathering place, our cafe and coffee shop, and it's doing very well. We have been SO busy! Crazy fun, lots of work, but I absolutely love being there. I love the customers. I love the cooking. I just love it. It truly is a dream come true.

The first two weeks were chaos. I was at the store 16 hours a day. I was constantly trying to catch up. But we've gotten better, I'm more prepared, and we're starting to even out. I open the cafe almost every morning at 5:30, but many days like today - I can come home around 7 for a few hours, to relax, do housework, paperwork, etc.

This morning we are burying my dad.... He died months ago, and the funeral was 2 months ago, but we were unable to bury him due to rain. So today is the day. Final closure. Weird. At 44 I have no parents. But in all honesty, with dad's dimentia, I lost both when mom died 8 years ago. He was never the same. But today it's final. And it's hard to think of.

So when I got home from the cafe this morning, I took a walk through my (albeit weedy) gardens, enjoying the flowers I've received from friends, those I got from my mom, and those we've planted in their honor. With a good cup of coffee, the birds chirping...it was a beautiful way to start the day (over!).

I've not deserted you all. I will get back to blogging. I am sad that I've not blogged these last six weeks, as it's been a crazy ride. A ride I've only just begun. Thanks for hanging with me. :)

the beginning of a new journey...

Less than one month ago, we began a new journey, putting an offer in on the local cafe. That offer was accepted, and thus began the process that lead up to today.

The last three weeks have been full of meetings, setting up accounts, trying recipes, buying furniture, working with contractors, writing menus, and trying to remember to breathe. I have never done anything like this, and have gone through so many levels of emotion. Excited, scared, anxious, and hopeful, all at the same time.

Owning a cafe/coffee shop has been a dream of mine for most of my adult life... My husband and I have talked about many times. But the time wasn't right. Until now.

So today we get the keys! In less than 2 hours I will have the keys to my next journey.

I am an emotional mixed puddle of emotions. So much to do, but so much to look forward to.

And I have to give credit to the crazy amount of support we are receiving in this adventure. I cannot believe the outreaching of best wishes and support, from family, friends, and neighbors. Everywhere we go, we are met by people who are shaking our hands, and telling us they are looking forward to the new cafe.

We have a list of people coming to help as we freshen the place up, re-doing stools, painting, renovating. We have a dozen people due a the cafe at 3 today, all willing to give their time and support.

So as I sit here, taking in this last quiet moment before we load the truck and car with our supplies to head down, I am thinking of so many things - of my mom and dad, guiding me from above, cheering me on - of the amazing community we live in that has gathered around us to help us on this journey - of the current owner and staff, so incredibly helpful - of all of the unbelievable friends that have helped us with furniture, labor, and support - and lastly, of my amazing family, as without them, I would be nothing.

So here we go! Time for a new, amazing, crazy adventure - in this journey I call my life. On May 1st, I will open the doors of the gathering place, a true dream come true. Hope you all are ready for a crazy ride!

I hope you can come join us for a cup of coffee and meal sometime!