• About

I Never Unpack

~ Traveling the country, gathering its lessons, learning its secrets

I Never Unpack

Monthly Archives: December 2016

Path

26 Monday Dec 2016

Posted by slvrhawk2014 in Nature, Weekly Photo Challenge

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Nature, Weekly Photo Challenge

I believe life is made up of choices…choices about the paths we will take as we live our lives each and every day. Some of the paths we choose are spiritual, some are physical, some are emotional, and in the end the paths we take define us. They define who we are, and they help each of us define who we will become.

dscn1638

This path is from a state park near our home, where we often go to take long walks…to clear our heads, find new perspectives, and walk out our worries. And as in real life, we often run into forks in the path. On this day, a day in mid-November, we chose the path on the left, the one we knew was longer, more intense, and would allow us more time to consider the future, and our particular place and responsibility to that future. We were thinking of our children and our grandchildren, and how we can leave them a world in which to thrive, while also being kind, generous, and tolerant. Yes, it was a long walk!

dscn9498

We walked this path at a nearby conservation area one very cold day last winter. As we looked at the footprints and paw prints of those who had come earlier, we were reminded that we are not the only ones to use this path…or indeed, any of the other paths along our life journey.

dscn2028

This is a path I walked with my daughter and granddaughter at a conservation area near Minneapolis. Our granddaughter could hardly wait to find out what we would find behind that bend in our path. As I looked with her youthful eyes, I was reminded to always look forward…to the future, to the surprises, to the magic of the journey.

Paths are an important part of our lives, may we never avoid venturing out onto them.

Weekly Photo Challenge

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Christmas at State Historic Sites, and Holiday Turkey, Act II

04 Sunday Dec 2016

Posted by slvrhawk2014 in Christmas, Food, Illinois, Missouri, Photography, Poultry Dishes, Travel, Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Christmas, Food, Illinois, Missouri, photography, Poultry Dishes, Travel

Christmas in the Parks

My husband and I have been visiting our state parks here in Missouri, and state parks across the country for many years. They provide invigorating hikes, exciting wildlife viewing, and interesting and enlightening nature programs. We have also discovered that they are fun to visit as we travel to enjoy the Christmas season.

To escape the pressures of daily life,  to get away from the news, and to get a head start on our Christmas shopping, we recently traveled to Galena, Illinois. Galena is a small town in northwestern Illinois (you will find yourself only about 15 miles from the Wisconsin border).

The historic Main Street in Galena, with so, so many wonderful stores, full of so, so many wonderful items.
The historic Main Street in Galena, with so, so many wonderful stores, full of so, so many wonderful items.
We stayed in the Hellman House Bed and Breakfast, built in 1895, atop of a hill providing us a beautiful view of the city.
We stayed in the Hellman House Bed and Breakfast, built in 1895, atop of a hill providing us a beautiful view of the city.
For dining, there are so many options, and the Green Tavern on Main Street was one of our choices.
For dining, there are so many options, and the Green Tavern on Main Street was one of our choices.

While enjoying our weekend in Galena, and in an attempt to get me out of the stores, Jim discovered that Galena is also home to the Ulysses S. Grant Home State Historic Site. The home was built in 1860, and presented to the Grant family in 1865 in gratitude for his service in the Civil War. The family lived in the home until Grant was elected President in 1868. After his election, he visited the home infrequently, but maintained it as his voting residency.

On the particular weekend of our visit, it was open for tours…and it was decorated for the Christmas season in the manner in which the Grants would have decorated while they lived in Galena.

The Ulysses S. Grant home in Galena, IL
The Ulysses S. Grant home in Galena, IL
A view of Galena from the front lawn of the Grant home.
A view of Galena from the front lawn of the Grant home.
The Christmas tree in the parlor of the Grant home...
The Christmas tree in the parlor of the Grant home…
and the rest of the parlor.
and the rest of the parlor.
This was Grant's favorite room in the house, his study/library.
This was Grant’s favorite room in the house, his study/library.
Even the kitchen is decorated for Christmas.
Even the kitchen is decorated for Christmas.

This weekend, we again ventured out. This time we were on our way to Hermann, Missouri to visit the Deutschheim State Historic Site. Hermann is the center of Missouri’s wine country, and so we planned on visiting a couple of wineries, too.

Deutschheim State Historic Site was established to preserve the heritage of the German immigrants who moved to east-central Missouri between 1820 and 1860. They became the residents of a new town, Hermann, founded by the German Settlement Society of Philadelphia on 1,000 acres of farmland along the Missouri River. The crop these Germans introduced to the area was grapes, and the product they made was wine. When you visit Deutchheim, you will see some vines that are over one hundred years old, vines that helped establish the wine producing industry which is still expanding across the state. Wine is serious business in Missouri, and I can personally tell you that it is well worth your effort to experience some of our state’s great wines.

This particular weekend, Deutshheim was celebrating a Weihnachtsfest, or Christmas celebration. We toured one of the homes, decorated for Christmas, and enjoyed traditional cookies that would have been made for the Christmas celebrations of the German immigrants, including lebkuchen, chocolate lebkuchen, springerle, and pfeffernusse. They also had a display of springerle molds and rolling pins, and many of these were for sale in the gift shop. I am German from both sides of my family, and these Christmas traditions so reminded me of watching my grandmothers make springerle and lebkuchen. If I was not in the spirit before visiting Deutschheim, I certainly am in the Christmas spirit now.

Deutshheim State Historic Site in Hermann, MO
Deutshheim State Historic Site in Hermann, MO
It felt like Christmas as soon as we arrived at the door.
It felt like Christmas as soon as we arrived at the door.

One of my favorite scenes in the house was this Christmas tree, hung from the ceiling with wire. This method of putting up the tree not only saved space, it also kept little hands out of mischief.

dscn2228-3

I also enjoyed the “real” Noble fir tree set up in the parlor. It is the type fir that was the inspiration for the “feather” trees so indicative of German Christmas tradition. It was decorated with traditional scherenschnitte ornaments (I am so German, I spelled that correctly on the first try!).

the Noble fir...look particularly at the top of the tree to see how it inspired the feather tree.
the Noble fir…look particularly at the top of the tree to see how it inspired the feather tree.
This display of feather trees is decorated with ornaments indicative of different eras in Hermann's Christmas traditions. The first tree on the left has scherenschnitte ornaments that were cut in the 1940's.
This display of feather trees is decorated with ornaments indicative of different eras in Hermann’s Christmas traditions. The first tree on the left has scherenschnitte ornaments that were cut in the 1940’s.

Other areas in the house were also ready for Christmas…

The kitchen is ready for the work of making the cookies of a German Christmas...
The kitchen is ready for the work of making the cookies of a German Christmas…
with the molds and rolling pins on display.
with the molds and rolling pins on display.

And then it was time for lunch and a visit to a couple of wineries…

We enjoyed lunch at the Vintage restaurant at Stonehill Winery. The restaurant serves authentic German food in portion sizes I remember my Dad enjoying!
We enjoyed lunch at the Vintage restaurant at Stonehill Winery. The restaurant serves authentic German food in portion sizes I remember my Dad enjoying!
Our favorite winery is just outside Hermann, Adam Puchta. We needed to stop here because a certain son-in-law who will be visiting from Minnesota loves their red table wine, Hunter's Red...and so do we!
Our favorite winery is just outside Hermann, Adam Puchta. We needed to stop here because a certain son-in-law who will be visiting from Minnesota loves their red table wine, Hunter’s Red…and so do we!

You can find out more about each of these sites we visited by visiting their websites. Galena has a visitor guide website at http://www.visitgalena.org. You can learn more about Deutschheim at https://mostateparks.com/park/deutschheim-state-historic-site.

I would encourage all of you to check out your own state parks and historic sites this Christmas season. You might be surprised at the magical Christmas events they have to offer. Merry Christmas to all…and to all, good traveling!

dscn2248-2

Turkey with Lemon Garlic Sauce

  • Servings: 4-6
  • Print

This is one of the very best ways I have found to use some of that leftover turkey from the holidays. It is easy to make, does not take much time, and is perfect for those evenings when you are busy, want to get dinner on the table in less than an hour, but still want a special and delicious meal.

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp. butter
  • 3 cloves finely chopped garlic
  • 2 Tbsp. flour
  • 2 1/2 c. turkey broth*
  • 1/4 c. freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
  • 4 slices bacon, crisply fried and crumbled
  • 2 c. turkey, torn into bite-sized pieces
  • 1/2 c. half and half
  • 1/2-1 tsp. dried basil
  • 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes, or to taste

Directions

  1. Melt the butter in a large skillet and add the garlic. Saute over low heat for 3-4 minutes.
  2. Stir in the flour, cooking for 2 minutes.
  3. Whisk in the turkey broth, lemon juice, salt, and pepper, and simmer on medium for 5-7 minutes.
  4. Add the bacon, turkey, dried basil, red pepper flakes, and the half and half. Simmer on medium heat for 10-15 minutes, or until everything is warmed through.
  5. Serve over mashed potatoes or rice, either is great!

*I make my own turkey broth from the bones of the turkey. If you do not have turkey broth, chicken broth will do fine in this recipe.

 

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...
Blogging U.

Archives

  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • May 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • October 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014

Categories

Blog at WordPress.com.

  • Follow Following
    • I Never Unpack
    • Join 226 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • I Never Unpack
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: