Plymouth Cheese Counter...

Plymouth Cheese Counter - Plymouth, Wisconsin

My therapy session went really well yesterday. I showed Jenna my swollen knee so our appointment was more focused on TLC than PT. I rode the stationary bicycle for five minutes, stretched for two, and then she took measurements of my knee joint straight and bent as far as I was able. I was still over 100º, but she purposely didn't tell me the measurement because she knows I'm a competitor and didn't want me disappointed.

After those things were taken care of, she had me lie down on the table and proceeded to gently work on the muscles below my knee joint. First with mild pressure (which as wonderful), and then by pulling toward her from the back of the knee (even more comfortable). After that, she had me sit and gently used her hands to pull down on my knee creating some mild traction - all to help move the joint, but also relieve some of the swelling. Lastly, I have fifteen minutes of icing and then left feeling so much better. 

Handsome was waiting to take me for our lunch date. We drove from the clinic downtown to a place we'd noticed last week. The Plymouth Cheese Counter. I'd also done a little research online, and we were anxious to check it out.

Map of Cheese Companies in Wisconsin

This map hangs on the wall inside the store, marking every cheese company in Wisconsin, but Plymouth is considered the Cheese Capital of Wisconsin. If you enlarge the image, you can see a yellow "X", which marks the location of Plymouth. Our farmhouse is about eleven miles straight west of there.

Once inside, there are myriad cheese choices from all the local makers, many of whom have factories in or within ten miles of Plymouth. Sargento, Widmer's, Grande, and Sartori to name a few. They also offer local honey, local ice cream, and lots of "cheesy merch".

To the rear left of this image is a food counter where we ordered delicious panini sandwiches, featuring - what else? - cheese, of course. The menu also features macaroni and cheese, and soups. Our meal was delicious, and it was nice to sit down for a meal neither of us had to cook. It was a bit pricey for two sandwiches and a beverage each, but it's a place we'll definitely visit again in the future.

This weekend will be restful, per Jenna's and Handsome's orders. We have nothing planned, so whatever we do will be close to home. I hope you have a nice weekend planned, too. I'll see you later!

Traffic Jam - Wisconsin Style...

Brynwood Needleworks - Geese On Parade

 

While Handsome, the pups, and I were running errands in Plymouth yesterday, traffic came to a complete stop for this. Families of geese - young and older - were crossing the road from a nice open field to a perfect little pond. 

 

Brynwood Needleworks - Heading To The Pond

 

 

I love how all the traffic stopped and waited patiently for them to make their leisurely crossing. They were in absolutely no hurry...geese or people. It was quite sweet. 

This is how we roll in rural Wisconsin, and it's just one more thing I love about where we live. I hope my pictures (taken through our windshield) bring as much of a smile to your face as it did mine.

 

Rainy Day Delights...

Brynwood Needleworks - Downtown Plymouth

 

Handsome and I went to Plymouth (WI) for breakfast yesterday. We had some grocery shopping to do, so we decided to go to our favorite place for an early meal (The Hub) before going to the store. 

As we left the restaurant, it was just beginning to rain. We looked across the street to see a line of pre-schoolers walking hand-in-hand with their teachers down the main street. They were adorable, as their teachers reminded them to keep holding hands, and to hurry along to stay with the rest of the group. They looked like little ducks running to catch up with their classmates.

Brynwood Needleworks - Little Ducks In The Rain

 

This little girl, in her pink dress, sandals, and hat caught my attention, but I couldn't help but smile at how adorable all of them were. Handsome and I smiled all the way to the grocery store. The rain didn't stop these kiddos from having a good morning.

 

Brynwood Needleworks - Soloist For Elvis Medley

 

Handsome's evening concert, scheduled for the bandshell at the park, was moved indoors at the fairgrounds because of the rain. They never get the big crowd indoors that they get outside, but there were still quite a few people who attended to hear all the great music.

There were four soloists, performing music of the 70's and 80's. This young man did an Elvis medley; two young men sang a medley of Simon & Garfunkel; one of them went on to do a Rolling Stones medley; and the last soloist did an astounding rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen). 

 

We were invited to sing along, and you know I did! These songs were all from my high school years, and I know ALL the words to Bohemian Rhapsody. Freddy Mercury was a musical genius (in my not so humble opinion), and many of my classmates were in chorus (as was I). If you got to class early enough, a group of us would start singing this song, and before long, everyone was singing a different part. Joyful memories reprised last night, listening to the soloist kill it for an appreciative crowd.

Have I told you how much I love being back in Wisconsin? Living in rural Wisconsin again is one of the blessings of our lives. My hometown is within 5,000 people of the population it was when I was in grade school. Forty thousand inhabitants is still small town by many standards. 

We still go out on a summer weeknight - even in the rain - to listen to great music, and applaud our own. My husband still opens my car door, and smiles at me across a restaurant breakfast table. We say grace before eating our dinner, and we hold hands when we walk together in town. We delight in the faces of small children, tripping through rain puddles for a Main Street outing. We're grateful for every moment we share together. Rain or shine, I can't imagine a better life than the one we share, and we look forward to whatever tomorrow brings. 

 

I'm going to finish my morning coffee, and then I'm going to get about my day. Thanks for coming to spend a little of your day with me as I reflect on yesterday with you. I wish for you blessings like these, and the gift of joyful memories - even when there's rain.

This Little Piggy...

Little Piglet

This little piggy just moved in! 

You may remember that our farm's former family used to have pigs. I have the little piggy bank that sits on the buffet in the kitchen, and a couple other nods to the previous residents, so you might understand how I was really taken with this image.

I was looking for a Christmas sled to put near the back door, so a few days ago I went shopping in Plymouth. One shop, in particular, carries a lot of farm decor - new and old - and that's where I saw this canvas and fell in love.

Sweet Piggy

 

Doesn't it have the most joyful, blissful expression? I can't avoid smiling whenever I look at it. I left the store after seeing this the first time (to think about it), but coincidentally, I had to go back to town again yesterday for a few ingredients for a recipe I'm canning for Christmas gifts. So, as long as I was there anyway, I went back into the shop. 

 

I decided to bring Piggy home, and today, I hung another reference to Hickory Hill Farm's history on the wall. Now, all I need to do is name him/her. 

 

What do you think? Is this a boy or a girl? Any ideas for a name? I'm open to suggestions. I may even put up another poll after I get some suggestions. I may even have a prize for the winner! Leave name comments here and I'll tell you about the prize on Monday. 

One more important thing...Only TWO more sleeps until Handsome is home for the holidays. Tag and I can't sleep, we're so excited!