Man, we could not have asked for better weather last week. While friends and family in the PNW were suffering through a heatwave, we had highs in the 70s and a copious amount of rain. I actually wore a hoodie a couple of mornings, but even though Dunkin’ is already selling pumpkin spice lattes, summer ain’t over yet.

The National Weather Service has this to say:

It will be H-O-T, hot. This period will be a `Blazing Inferno` with surface temperatures across the CWA reach(ing) the low to upper 90s, perhaps even seeing some temps in the triple digits Wednesday and/or Thursday. Heat indices will likely be in the triple digits with potential for heat indices reaching over 105 degrees.

Geez Louise. I didn’t think the NWS was one for hyperbole. They’re blaming the heat and humidity on a “death ridge” (how ominous!) All I know is, the corn must be sweating profusely.

But we love it anyway. Enough to attend the Sun Prairie Sweet Corn Festival yesterday.

My favorite part? The dangling salt shakers.

Oh, Wisconsin. How I heart you.

Friday was less corny but still a blast. Tara’s new employer gives all employees a PTO day for their birthday. Because hers landed on day three, when she was in the midst of orientation and training, they let her choose a day in August instead. She picked Friday because we’d originally planned that camping trip, but since we cancelled, we decided to head into Madison instead.

After visiting the UW Arboretum, we stopped by The Old Fashioned for their Friday fish fry.

Still our favorite cheese curds around.

There was also the usual stop at Trader Joe’s and new vinyl at Strictly Discs, but the real highlight was our stop at Schuster’s Farm in Deerfield for their Blooms on the Farm event. Picture acres and acres of zinnias and sunflowers, live music, tacos and cocktails, wagon rides, and goats. Not a bad lineup, huh?

Oh, right. Human foosball, too. There were all kinds of puzzles and games and activities for kids. Being a big kid, I might have climbed halfway up a rope play structure and kicked my legs back and forth to catch air on a giant swing, though there is no photographic evidence of either endeavor.

It was actually a great time. We arrived just as the sun was setting, so the good light didn’t last long, but it was totally worth the stop regardless. Next time, we’ll arrive early.

They also have a Haunted Forest opening in September, so next time might be right around the corner.


46 responses to “Death ridges, dangling salt, and zinnias for miles.”

  1. Blazing inferno is not my favorite type of weather forecast . Damn, that’s brutal. But I’m totally down with goats and cocktails. Your photo of the old truck in the zinnias is stunning. Whatever town that is should feature it on their brochure. But drinking an old fashioned at a place called the Old Fashioned? Thats the very definition of perfect…
    👍

    Liked by 2 people

    1. That was actually the first place I ever tried a classic brandy Old Fashioned, when we visited last summer. We hadn’t been back for their fish fry since, which almost feels like a crime. I’d be a regular if it were a little closer.

      Liked by 1 person

  2. That’s so cool about the dangling salt shakers. 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Necessity is the mother of invention!

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Was it just plain corn, or were there interesting edible variations? I was also expecting a corn maze, but maybe that will come at Halloween. Those zinnias are gorgeous.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Just corn. Butter and salt. But it was really good corn, as you would expect!

      I think Schuster’s does have a corn maze in the fall.

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Love the salt shakers and the fabulous forecast

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Or not-so-fabulous, as the case may be!

      Liked by 1 person

  5. I love every bit of this post…but must admit the tractor with zinnias? A fabulous photo…closely followed by the swinging saltshakers. It’s a Wisconsin thing, it is, it is. Quirky, eh? Stay cool this week — we’ve received a similar forecast…’blistering in the burbs’ said the morning meteorologist. 😎😎😎

    Liked by 1 person

    1. At least our local meteorologists aren’t afraid of injecting a little personality into their forecasts, huh? Hope you stay cool, too!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Right-o! Personality in the delivery makes weather more fun! 😉

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Maybe they’re just trying to distract us from the fact that it’s hot as balls now.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. That it is! Whew! Not like last week! Steamy! 😜

        Liked by 1 person

  6. Fun Times!
    Glad Tara’s birthday day-off celebration was a hit.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Ironically, it would have been great weather for camping. The heat and humidity didn’t hit until today, and we’d already be home by now. Oh, well…we still had fun!

      Like

  7. The rusted truck amongst the flowers is a very cool shot

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks! The dramatic sky helps.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Which is funny because i didn’t even notice the sky

        Liked by 1 person

  8. You’re having the kind of summer I really miss. I’m so glad to hear all about it! And I chuckle every single time you say, “Geez Louise.” Kindred expletive users, we are.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. You’re having a pretty awesome summer yourself!

      Like

      1. Tell that to all the mold that has grown inside the trailer. We will be more than ready to leave when it’s time. It has been wild though!

        Liked by 1 person

  9. I love the endless supply of fun you get to experience!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Our fun cup definitely runneth over.

      Liked by 1 person

  10. That’s an extremely scenic farm! The heat is mostly gone but now we’re dealing with smoke. Ugh, if it’s not one thing, it’s another.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I have a friend who lives in Spokane, and she shared that they have the worst air quality in the world today. Ugh. Hope those fires get under control soon.

      Like

  11. This must be the best title ever: “Death ridges, dangling salt and zinnias for miles.” Intriguing, part scary and very colorful. I love it. And this as a transition, “Friday was less corny but still a blast. ” So good.

    Tara’s new employer sounds good. What a great idea to give PTO for one’s birthday! Hope you guys weather your heat wave with style and good cheer as you usually do! ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Wynne! We’ll do our best. Immediately after hitting publish on this post, I hopped on the John Deere. It had been a couple of weeks, and with all our recent rain, the grass was in dire need of mowing. Was it hot as blazes? Yes. Was the humidity awful? Without a doubt. But there won’t be much relief this week, so I’m glad to have gotten it done when I did.

      Liked by 1 person

  12. I’ve heard of dangling participles, but not dangling salt shakers. I imagine corn tastes much better sprinkled with salt than it would sprinkled with participles. It looks like you made good use of a free Friday!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Everyone knows participles go best on a nice ribeye!

      Liked by 1 person

  13. That’s some Midwest fun! We have fields of sunflowers, but I’ve never seen a field of zinnias. Epic photo with the old pickup truck!

    I’m probably in the minority of being grossed out by the salt shakers. I picture people with greasy hands all over them.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. The secret is not to think about all the buttery, greasy hands that have touched the salt shaker before you. Either that, or bring your own! But being a guy who embraces the five-second rule in all its glory, these things just don’t skeeve me out.

      Like

  14. Yeah, I checked the weather this morning and it said it’s going to be 100 here tomorrow!!! It sucks, but the husband will be back at his first day of the school year (hahaha) and I will take the opportunity to sequester myself in my air-conditioned bubble and begin blogging about our trip. (My laughing is justified, by the way. He ribs me mercilessly every spring when he finishes a week before I do.)
    I remember seeing a funny meme a couple years ago (maybe on Rivergirl’s blog??) that said something like, “Put away your pumpkin spice lattes. I’m still drinking my margarita!”
    I’m so jealous of Tara’s birthday PTO! No public school district is offering a perk like that! 😦
    The field of zinnias is gorgeous. I tried to grow some from seed once but it was a fail.
    Some people (not me) would consider the hanging salt shakers an art installation. On Wisconsin!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. The hanging salt shakers are a perfect blend of form and function. And, I daresay, add a certain je ne sais quoi to the fairground ambience.

      Three words: pumpkin spice margarita. Not sure such a thing would work, but I wouldn’t turn down a free sample.

      I’m less concerned about actual triple digits than triple-digit head indices. That humidity is like a slap in the face!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Pumpkin spice margarita? Sounds like something Rivergirl should try (pretty sure it would get a thumbs down). Still, not a bad idea. Someone somewhere would like it. It could be your million dollar idea.

        Liked by 1 person

  15. It’s too early for pumpkin spice anything at this point. Can’t we at least wait until after Labor Day? Geez. Love the salt shakers and the floral photos!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I agree, but I also can’t help but chuckle. Clearly Dunkin’ wanted to get a jump on their biggest competitor!

      Liked by 1 person

  16. The dangling salt shakers are wonderful. I love zinnias and have never seen this many in one place. I’m smiling with joy.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Same here! I’ve seen vast fields of tulips and sunflowers before, but never zinnias. Pretty cool.

      Like

  17. Are you writing a tourism blog for Wisconsin? If so, it’s working! This looks like a blast! Happy belated birthday to Tara!

    Like

  18. Love that shot of the truck in the Zinnia field. Human Foosball?

    Like

  19. […] swear, between Goat Fest and the Sweet Corn Festival, you might say we’ve been on the festival circuit lately, and since this one was right at […]

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  20. Looks fun. Wondering what they do with the zinnias?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. You can pay to pick them and bring them home with you. Lots of people were doing that. As for the rest of them? Who knows!

      Like

  21. […] just in time for our next stop: Schuster’s Farm, for their annual Blooms on the Farm event. We went last year and had a blast, so a return trip was in […]

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