Extending Traditions

Halloween - the forgotten holiday - by many - when it falls on a week night. Not me! For the last few years I have been implementing soup night at my house on this night. Halloween soup night has been in my life from as far back as I can remember. Dad and all the other neighborhood dads would take us kids trick or treating and when we were done we would all head back for a bowl of chili or clam chowder at mom and dad's. I never imagined that I could extend this tradition into my current life but am blessed with such a great group of friends that they all make it happen...

Anne & Joe

Food & Friendship

                                                                                                The newest pumpkin

Halloween is truly a group effort. Someone takes Ella on an epic trick or treating run and we all take turns handing out candy at my house. In between the doorbell rings - we eat! Soup! No clam chowder though - gross. This year we had Ann's chili, Nell's famous carrot soup and Lynda's new hit Meatball soup. Great friends who are also great cooks - what more can a girl ask for?

Eats

It's cold today! I thought I would share our favorite chilly day soup recipe with you. Southwest Chicken Stew - thanks Staci for setting a bowl of this in front of me and creating a great way to get my kid to eat veggies :)


1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken
1/4 c. flour
1/4 c. olive oil

1 T. flour
2 T. minced garlic

3 (14 1/2 oz.) cans chicken broth
1 (14 1/2 oz.) can chopped tomatoes (undrained)
1 (6 oz.) can tomato paste
1/4 c. chopped onions
1 1/2 tsp. Lawry's seasoned salt
1 1/2 tsp. groud cumin
1 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. thyme
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

8 oz. smoked sausage (I put in 16 oz.)
1 small can kernel corn
2 cups each:
new potatoes (quartered - usually I substitute 2 cans of black beans for potatoes)
carrots (bite sized chunks)
zucchini (1 inch chunks)
yellow squash (I usually skip this)

chopped cilantro
shredded cheese
chopped avacado
sour cream

In a bag, coat chicken with 1/4 c. flour.  Brown chicken with hot oil in Dutch oven; remove and set aside.  Saute 1 T. flour and garlic in drippings for 30 seconds.  Stir in next 10 ingredients starting with chicken broth and ending with red pepper flakes.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 20 minutes.  Add chicken and smoked sausage, cover and simmer 20 minutes longer.  Skim excess fat.  Add vegetables, simmer, covered, 30 minutes longer.  Top with sour cream, cheese, avacado, and cilantro.  Yum!

Expeditions

Okay, yes, I have been a terrible blogger this summer. I wish I could say it was because Ella and I were backpacking through Europe the last few weeks but then I'd be lying. We have been busy with my schooling and her dancing. We did manage a few fun excursions the last few weeks so I'd like to share what we did with you...

 Road Trip! Our first adventure was a trip to my old stomping grounds - Denver, and a new adventure to the Grand Canyon!  We started off on a friday afternoon - me, Ella, Mom and friend Lynda. Our first stop was the Mitchell Corn Palace - whatever. The next day we hit Denver!

Right away on Sunday morning we met up with some REF friends for brunch at a place called The Fainting Goat. Recent River Falls transplant, Bailey, met us there too. What a great group of people! It's probably been 12 years since I've seen them and it just felt like old times. 

The next day we checked out Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. The last time I was there was with Billy, so there were a few bittersweet memories. It was good to make a few new happy ones. Even though we sorta lost mom for a bit.

Rattlesnake!

After Garden of the Gods we took the Cog railway to the top of Pikes Peak.

 Last time I was there I drove to the top so it was nice to sit back and listen as our conductor pointed out rock formations, peak history and hoary marmots. This is a picture of Ella and I at the top.

After Denver we made our way through the mountains. We spent the day exploring Idaho Springs, Swimming in the pools at Glenwood Springs and having lunch in Vail. I really missed those mountains so it was great to be back!

We ended up staying overnight in Fuita where we met up with some Denver friends again and had dinner.

The next day we headed off to the Grand Canyon. It was an amazing drive through the Canyons of Utah. And the Grand Canyon surely did not disappoint! I did not know what to expect and I can truly say that my first glimpse was breathtaking. We stayed at the Grand Canyon North Rim Lodge and I can say I am ready to go back. Simply wonderful. Views, lodging, education, food, service - all perfect.

The Lodge

Enjoying the view and a Prickly Pear Margarita

Ella became a junior ranger while we were there. They make you work hard for that badge! We both learned a lot from the ranger at the park. There was lots of wildlife too!

Our next trip was a quick getaway to New Lisbon, Wisconsin where my cousin's family owns a cabin. I thought it was kinda funny to drive south to "go up North". We had a blast!

No measly sand castle's for us - we made a sand village with an evil princess and a good queen.

Ella tried tubing for the first time. Megan went along for moral support the first time. Megan is very serious about her tubing!

Ella got the hang of it pretty quickly. She had a lot of fun. Thank you Holtz family for having us there!

Our last trip was this past weekend to our annual golf outing in Sumner, Iowa. Yeah, we (Ella and I) don't really golf - but it's a great opportunity to catch up with family.

Representing the Mahnke's!

See what I mean about the not golfing?

My awesome team! Lots of laughter, little golf, too much fun. Hey - and no crashes this year!

Ella and I are blessed with a family that knows the importance of reconnecting every year. Thanks to those that do all the planning and work! Next year Amber and I are in charge of the hole challenges. Watch out family - we already have a theme!

Exhausted

It's been a crazy few weeks here in Western Wisconsin - which I'm sure you know about if you've watched the news lately. Besides summer school fun classes for Ella and finishing up my last admin. hours at our summer school here in River Falls, I had participated in both the search for a missing autistic boy in Prescott and helped out at our Elementary School after our recent tragedy here in town. So I was happy to spend the last two days celebrating this awesome town we live in and partake in some River Falls Days fun!

We started on Friday by picking up niece Katie to join us for the fun. From there we went straight down to second street for the big parade. Our parades are famous for being excruciatingly loooonnnnngggg. But there are some fantastic give aways. After a brief and concerning rain delay the parade started - one of the first floats was giving out nice reusable bags -so Katie scored a great bag for her candy finds. Apparently Ella was too slow. Besides candy we can always count on milk and cookies being handed out at the parade! One of the perks of having a cookie factory in town and many dairies close by. 

 On Saturday we (and by we I mean Ella and Katie) participated in the water fights at the fire dept. watched the awesome Henry family sweep the bench press competition, rode rides, ate food we shouldn't and dunk Pastor Sandy at the dunking booth. I'm proud to say I dunked her on my first throw and Katie got her twice :) The girls also got henna tattoos.


Tonight our plan is to catch the movie "Superman" and I'm hoping we get to sleep in tomorrow. We have a busy week ahead - we're packing up and heading for Denver and then the Grand Canyon. Hopefully I'll be a bit better about updating this blog and get some great trip picks on here!

Ella - are you snuggling up to that fireman?

Esculent

So, when a loved one passes, friends and family gather. They tell stories, share happy memories and memorialize the loved one by supplying the survivors with flowers, donations to favorite charities, cool garden statuary. Thanks to co-workers and friends Mom and I are working on memorial gardens for dad. I planted all annuals in the color red - his favorite color.

When my dad passed those things happened, but I want to share with you the one thing that really made me cry. Yeah, it's a grill. My River Falls friends decided to honor the memory of my dad by getting me a grill. You may shake your head in wonder but you should know that my dad taught me to grill. Charcoal grill. And I think the River Falls folks appreciate my little talent. None of the men folk ever ask me if they should do the grilling - well, Ryan did once, but he was kidding. He knows he's not half the man I am when it comes to grilling - he he!

Here's my grill

The added plaque was what made me tear up.  I take pride in knowing how to grill, and that I learned from the best. I love having people over, entertaining, feeding. One of my fondest memories was a few years back. Dad had knee surgery, I was over for dinner with an aunt an uncle in from out of town. Steak was to be grilled. Instead of handing the tongs to Uncle Jerry, dad handed them to me. Wow! I was so proud he trusted me with those delicious, expensive pieces of meat. I'm not even sure how they turned out - I was just proud to have the honor. Sorry Jer - I think it's because you cook on a gas grill ;)

Dad always made sure I had charcoal and lighter fluid on hand. Usually when he came over he did the grilling - and hey, I let him because he's my dad - the grill master. But he did indulge my new ideas and recipes. Once, I wanted to put asparagus on the grill and he said "no, we don't need that." Me, being me, did it anyway. Gee - guess who liked to grill his asparagus after that. I also fondly remember making him steak sandwiches one night. The next day I got a phone call. "Yeah, I was thinking about the dinner you made last night. That was really good." High praise indeed!

This is what we ate for the christening of the grill:

Chicken, steak, leeks, asparagus and peppers - num!

Here are some of the people who participated in the memory grill. Love these guys! (In the pictures and the ones who couldn't make it)

Some friends are coming over tonight. I'm grilling. Tuscany lemon chicken, sweet potatoes wrapped in bacon, glazed with maple syrup. Should be ok - maybe I'll post pictures.

Erroneous

Erroneous means wrong. And that's how losing my dad feels. Just wrong.

My first memories - mashed potatoes, peas, some type of meat. Cooking for the kids because mom worked nights. I think of the fact that he worked 6 days a week.  I think of lawn mowing, beer drinking, golfing, fishing, playing cards.

I think of jokes, laughing, making fun of one another. Laughing, laughing, laughing.

Support. When I needed a dad the most, he was there. Moving me to college, moving me again to Colorado. Moving me home. Coming to get me. Whenever, wherever.

I thought he would be a great golfing coach - not so much - never claimed to be. I had to ask for pointers.

Thinking he was opening milk cartoons he had made ice in. For the keg. Only there was chicken inside.

Flunking out of swimming lessons. That was fine. My dad taught me. I swim like a fish. I love the water. I get that from him.

Going to work with him. Learning that his long hard days on his feet really meant he was leaning over the newspaper every time I went out to the shop to see him. Now I know why the elbows in his shirts wore out too soon.

Feeling lucky the guardrail caught him.

Sitting on his lap in the car, steering the final mile to Grandma's. Learning to parallel park and hitting his truck. Over and over again. Aced my behind the wheel, in a blizzard.

Fishing. Proving him wrong. I could catch a big fish off a dock. Only it was a worthless dogfish. But hey, I was right. He stole my pretty blue fishing pole. I want it back. Birds. Sharing the joy, excitement, learning, feeding. Discussion just a few weeks ago on what type of bird food was the best.

Buying my first car. "Dad, I can't afford this" "I'll help you out a little" Only because he didn't like how the seatbelt worked in the other option.

We rarely, mostly never said the words "I love you" but there was never any doubt that I was loved. That Ella was loved. That we all were loved. So much, gone before I was ready to let go. But it wasn't my choice. I have to accept that and rejoice in the memories of my dad, and who he was to me.

Encouragement

Leadership - it's what my life is all about these days. I think as I learn more about what it means to be a great leader I become more critical about those that are in leadership positions.

Every class I have taken in my Principalship coursework is essentially a class in how to be a successful leader. See, as a principal, you have many shareholders that look to you for ideas, direction, solutions to problems etc. The school board depends upon you to run a successful school that is able to jump through every hoop that the state and federal government throw at you. The school staff depends upon you for a stable, cohesive work environment. In this day and age of critical views of teachers and the educational system it's important to keep up staff moral. I don't think you want your kid to spend their days with someone who hates coming to work. The students depend upon you for a safe, comfortable, stable, dare-I-say happy school. What kid can learn in an environment of fear, intimidation, bullying and ugly pea green walls? The last of the shareholders would be the community. When is the last time you thought of your schools role as the member of the community? It's important to be proud of the schools in your area, and if you aren't? Why not? And what can you do to change it? I don't care if you have a child in school or not. When a child graduates and leaves the community they represent the best of what we have provided. Don't you want to be proud of the products of our community?

Motivation, motivation, motivation. That's what I hear so often about leadership. So? How do you motivate? Well, not once have I ever heard that good motivation is a result of bullying and intimidation.

Educating Erin

I got an email today. It was a friend reminding me that I hadn't updated my blog in awhile. She asked if we were busy or boring. The answer to that is yes!

But I would like to share what I've been up to for the past year and a half. I have gone back to school - Hamline University - and am in the process of getting my principal's license. I'm getting close to finishing, but in the meantime I am keeping 12-15 hour days trying to get everything done.

I spend one night a week in actual class, but two days a week I'm working on my field experience hours. At a middle school. I spend my evenings with the "Minds in the Middle" kids. My main tasks are teacher support and student discipline. These are the phrases I say most often;

"Do you think that was a good choice?"

" What could you have done differently?"

"Yes, I understand you didn't get your meds today - what are some coping skills we can use

instead of hitting our neighbor?"

I'm down to one class, 2 portfolio sessions and the rest of my field hours. I'm pretty proud of getting through this. But I couldn't have done it without all the help from friends and family. Letting dogs out, hanging with Ella, getting Ella to dance - what amazing people I have in my life. THANKS GUYS!

Espy

Snowy!

If you squint and look at the middle fencepost you can sort of see the snowy owl I stalked one day after school. I'm usually not one for stopping for a bird, but in the case of this one, not only did I stop, I reversed down the road, pulled into a cornfield and got out. Beautiful bird!