Last Day to Name the Puppy and Win!

This is the last day to enter the Great Poprs Giveaway...name this special puppy and win! She will be a Leader Dog for the Blind, and give someone the gift of independence and mobility.

Winner will be announced Friday, so this is your last shot.

The winner will receive FIVE multipacks of Poprs, one each of color changing, rainbow, cinnamon, butter and strawberry. Each multipack contains 10 pouches of magic crystals, to sprinkle on good food to make it great! All who suggest a name will receive one multipack, so everyone is a winner.

Remember, this is a female puppy. She is German Shepherd and Labrador. And she has a very important job to do. Be creative, and have fun.

"Mom, Was I Planned?"

These photos shot with a film Canon Rebel. Weekly Winners brought to you by Lotus at Sarcastic Mom. And BTW, don't forget: I've Got a Great New POPrs Giveaway going on...and it involves a puppy!

"Mom, was I planned?"

That's the question Soccer Boy posed last night at dinner. And I was surprised, to say the least.

"What possible difference could that make?" I replied.

He said "I just want to know." So I said, "Of course you were planned." I don't think he bought it, though. Because, the truth is, he definitely was not planned. We already had three boys, the youngest was eight. I was forty, for goodness sakes!

We finished dinner, cleaned up the kitchen, and each did our own thing. But his question was still swirling in my mind. So I went to the photo albums, and went back in time for a while...

And what I found, late last night, was a better answer to his question. After hours of looking at old photos, I saw a family that was meant to be made up of four boys, we just didn't know it at the time. But God did.

His older brothers are proud of him, they delight in everything he does. Big Bear cuddled him to sleep when he was a baby. College Boy helps him with his homework, and is way more patient than I am. Shark Boy uses him to work out! Just kidding.

He was taken to show and tell in fourth grade, because he was 100 days old on the 100th day of school. Other kids brought 100 pennies or 100 baseball cards. He spent the night in his brother's college dorm room, the first year he went away. They both needed to see each other. They taught him how to climb stairs, ride a bike, play soccer, ride a longboard, divide fractions, dive, use an ipod and computer, eat crab legs and mushrooms, boogie board, be tough, play beer pong (with Mt. Dew), play Texas Hold 'Em and text message. (Hey, he's 13 and his brothers are 21, 24 & 27).

There will be more lessons. Like driving, and how to treat a girlfriend. Things big brothers were made for. And I don't want to miss a minute of it.

Sometimes, the best things in life aren't planned!

After Fifteen Years, Vanna White Retires!

I've Got a Great New POPrs Giveaway going on...and it involves a puppy!

Not THAT Vanna White...This one!

Hey, doesn't EVERYBODY name their cars?


I am participating in Six-Word Saturday, hosted by Cate at Show My Face.

Name the Puppy Great New Poprs Giveway

Yesterday, I talked at length about the Leader Dogs for the Blind program, and the part you can play in naming a Future Leader Dog puppy.

My great friend, Kristi, has raised eight previous puppies (not 9 as was previously reported!).

These are the names they were given:

Moses, Daisy, Vince, Odin, Liise, Ingrid, Scout, and Abby

Moses is my favorite, maybe because he did not go on to complete the program, because of a slight hip problem, and he is lying at my feet as I write this! It is also the name of a great leader!

Odin, Liise and Ingrid are Norwegian names. Kristi is a proud Scandinavian.

Vince was named after Vince Lombardi, another great leader. It was fun to give the puppy a name that also reflected the state in which he was raised. This pup was a black lab, with a big head. Vince fit him to a T. And I think he wound up with a man, so it was perfect.

Anyway, you get the drift. Come up with a name for the next puppy. Think of great leaders, Wisconsin or any other tie-in you like. The puppy will be a female, German Shepherd/Lab mix.

The contest will run through Thursday, September 24th. The winner will be announced Friday, September 25th. Kristi will choose the winner herself, and the name will be put on all of the official documents, and will be the name this dog will learn as she is growing in her Leader Dog skills. Her eventual owner will be introduced to her with the name you choose. HAVE FUN!

All entries will receive a 10 pack of Poprs, and the winner will receive one 10 pack each of all five flavors! This is the introduction of FOUR NEW POPRS FLAVORS. Uncle Lynn is anxious to hear what you think about them. As of this week, all five flavors are available at Festival Foods.
Learn more at http://www.poprs.com/.



The varieties of Poprs are:

*Color changing, for yogurt
*Cinnamon, for applesauce
*Rainbow, for cupcakes
*Butter, for veggies
*Strawberry, for ice cream

Have fun with this one! Only one entry per person, please. Check back to see the names that have been suggested so far, and next Friday, to see if you are the WINNER. Good Luck.

Wordful Wednesday: Destined to Lead

I am participating in Wordful Wednesday, sponsored by Angie at Seven Clown Circus.

Founded by three Detroit area Lions Clubs members in 1939, Leader Dogs for the Blind provides dog guides to people who are blind and visually impaired to enhance their mobility, independence and quality of life.

Leader dogs are raised by volunteer puppy raisers. Leader Dogs could not be provided without the assistance of volunteer puppy raisers.

There are nearly 400 puppy raisers in 22 states and Canada. Puppy raisers travel to Leader Dogs for the Blind in Rochester, Michigan, to pick up and return their puppies.

Seventy percent of puppy raisers raise more than one puppy in their lifetime.
Puppy raisers receive their puppies at 7 to 8 weeks of age and return them to Leader Dogs for the Blind between 12 and 15 months of age.

Puppy raisers teach puppies basic obedience, house manners and good etiquette while exposing the puppies to all types of environments, such as:

• Churches, stores, amusement parks, sporting events
• Different types of people
• Different types of floors and stairs
• Different sorts of animals, including squirrels, cats, birds, dogs and farm animals
• Loud sirens
• Busy sidewalks and bicycles.

Some puppy raisers are able to take their puppy to work with them . Puppy raisers are responsible for meeting at least monthly with their puppy counselor. Volunteer puppy counselors are regionally placed. Counselors organize obedience lessons and exposure opportunities for the puppies.

Puppies who see and experience a large variety of environments during the first year of their lives will be more confident when exposed to future experiences .
Raisers provide health care, food and necessary supplies for the puppies.

Raisers have the privilege of naming the puppies.

Puppy raisers follow very specific guidelines, such as:

• When puppies are in public wearing their “Future Leader Dog” bandannas or jackets, they are expected to be clean and well mannered.
• Puppies will be taught to stay off furniture .
• Puppies are expected to lay quietly at meal time and not beg.

Each month, approximately 30, 1-year-old puppies are returned to Leader Dogs for the Blind to begin formal training .

My friend, Kristi, has raised 9 puppies to date. They have all been Yellow Labs up to this point.

Moses, the love of our lives, was her first. He went everywhere with her, restaurants, church, the grocery store. No place is off limits to Future Leader Dogs. Anywhere a blind person would be welcome, these puppies are welcome.

After a year with Kristi, Moses was returned to start training, and Kristi took another puppy home. Not long after, she got a call. One hip was not perfect, and did she want him back? That was easy! So I picked him up part way home, and drove him the rest of the way to her house. Two of my boys rode along, and fell in love. How could you not? But Kristi had plans for him. We bid a tearful goodbye, and I whispered "If your plans fall through, call us." And that's what happened.

Kristi is devoted to raising these wonderful dogs, and giving them a terrific head start for the life they are going to lead. This German Shepherd/Lab mix will be her tenth! Moses was a "Career Change", one is undergoing training now, and 7 have been placed as Leader Dogs.

Which brings us to the puppy at hand.

Your task, privilege, is to come up with a name for this puppy. She will be picked up in Rochester, Michigan on October 3. The name will be decided before then, so that it can be put on the formal documents. (Once she has the puppy home, I'll be able to publish a photo of the actual puppy you have named. The one that has appeared so far is a photo furnished by Leader Dog of a former Shepherd pup).

Tomorrow, check back for names Kristi used for previous puppies. And I'll have info on the prize for this new Great Poprs Giveaway, too!

Calling All Winners!

Wanted to tie up some "loose ends" before I start my Big Beach Bash. I've heard from most of the winners in my Everybody Wins POPrs Giveaway...the rest of you need to give me a holler!

If you're one of those fabulous readers who recommended a great beach read for Aunt Julie, please make sure you send me your contact info. Just shoot me an e-mail: veggiemom@poprs.com, and your prize will be on its way.

Looking forward to sending you some beach reports from North Carolina's beautiful Outer Banks...stay tuned!

This update is brought to you by Candid Carrie's Friday Foto Finish Fiesta. So, there!

ANOTHER GIVEAWAY? And EVERYBODY WINS!

This Giveaway is Closed. Thanks for playing!

I have a small problem, and I need YOUR help to solve it! You see, I'm off to the beach in two weeks and need a couple of really good books. So I came up with this great idea...



We'll have another Great New Popr's Giveaway!

For EVERYONE who suggests a really good beach read, I'll send you, as thanks, a 10-pack of magic-popping, color-changing crystals.

This stuff is so cool, and GOOD for you, too! The POPrs crystals are red, and when stirred into yogurt (or applesauce) it turns the food blue. And then start to pop. POPrs make eating fun. And tickly. And nutritious, all at once!

As many of you already know, Uncle Lynn makes this stuff. This is a new product, with limited marketplace release. And I'd just love to give you some. But to win, you need to recommend a good beach read. In the comments section of this post, the rest of the week through Saturday, August 1.

And if you would be so kind, after you've tried your POPrs, please let us know what you think of the color-changing variety. Be creative. Come up with new ways to use them. Let your kids in on the fun. Then let us know what you think.

And HELP ME FIND A GREAT BEACH BOOK! But please, no James Patterson. I used to like him, and still would read an Alex Cross book, but his other books have gotten too predictable.

And maybe before the trip, I can suggest a book or two to you. Do we have a deal? The contest will run from now through next Saturday, August 1, at 11:59 EST. Winners will be announced Monday, August 3.

But wait...I can announce the winners all this week...

Because IF YOU RECOMMEND A BOOK, YOU WIN!

Wait 'til Uncle Lynn hears about this one! I'll just have to remind him who he always tells the kids the boss is...Yikes.

Is Your Mama a Llama?

Or an Alpaca? This is Big Bear, down on the farm recently. BB's aunt, out Southwestern Wisconsin Way, plans to sell the Alpaca fiber from the 10 critters she owns to be made into yarn for soft, plush winter sweaters. Playing along with Candid Carrie today, and thought this was the perfect addition to her Friday Foto Fiesta Finish!

I'd also like to say "Yay!" today for Nik, over at Exceptional Voyage, who is our Bloggy Winner, selected by Random Drawing, in the Great New Pop'rs Giveaway! Nik wins Two Pop'rs Flavors of Her Choice! Uncle Lynn wanted me to remind you all that Pop'rs are only available online--they're not in stores yet! And, they come in eight delicious flavors: Buffalo, Butter, Chocolate, Colorbust, Cinnamon, Raspberry, Strawberry and Taco.

So, Nik, please e-mail me with your info, so Uncle Lynn can get those Pop'rs in the mail to you right away! And, everyone, listen up! Tomorrow, we announce our the Giveaway's Grand Prize Winner--so come back to see me tomorrow, and we'll have a little Bloggy Celebration!

"Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn."

~Elizabeth Lawrence~

And the First Winner Is...

...Channah, of Get a Grip, Mom! According to her Bloggy Profile, Channah has been blogging since May, which would make her a Newbie, just like Veggie Mom!

Uncle Lynn chose Channah yesterday, by Random Drawing! And what does she win? Her choice of two flavors of Pop'rs, that good-for-you seasoning, which really encourages everyone, young AND old, to Eat. Their Veggies! Remember, Bloggy Readers...Pop'rs are only available online from Uncle Lynn. And, they come in eight fanTAbulous flavors: Buffalo, Butter, Chocolate, Colorbust, Cinnamon, Raspberry, Strawberry and Taco.

So, Channah, shoot Veggie Mom an e-mail, and let her know what flavors you prefer. And remember: We'll be announcing four more winners this week, and a Grand Prize Winner on Saturday!

We'd also like to use our posts this week to showcase Fall, Our Family, and some Funny Stories we've be saving for ya. The shot above, an Aunt Julie Special, showcases Shark Boy, Uncle Lynn, Big Bear, and College Boy, who is hanging out in his Baby Backpack. They're in the Pumpkin Patch with their Newfoundland, Nelson. This photo was taken When the World was Very Young, of course, before Soccer Boy came along!

We'd like to leave you, Dear Readers, with a quote about Autumn. And, a Bloggy Reminder: Stay Tuned for more Great New Pop'rs Giveaway Winners!

Autumn is a second spring, when every leaf is a flower.

~Albert Camus, French Existentialist

It's Friday! And THAT Means...

...it's time for Candid Carrie's Friday Foto Fiesta Finish, and that the Pop'rs Polls close tonight at 11:59 p.m. EST in our Great New Pop'rs Giveaway! If you haven't entered yet, or you want to enter again, click here. Or here. Or here. Or even here! Enter as many times as you'd like, and help Veggie Mom celebrate her 100th Bloggy Post!

Today's Friday Foto is one Aunt Julie, my Gifted and Talented SIL, snapped the last time she and Soccer Boy went tubing on Lake Winnebago. I love the composition. And the contrasts. And the colors. Heck, I love the Whole. Darn. Thing!

We've got a Big Blowout planned for tomorrow. Saturday is my 100th Post, and we'll kick off the celebration by answering your Bloggy Questions. It's a 2-day Pop'rs Extravaganza, so stay tuned!

On Monday, I'll start announcing Giveaway Winners. We'll have one winner each day next week, culminating in the Grand Prize Winner a week from tomorrow. Big Doin's around Eat Your Veggies! I'm. So. Psyched!

Oh, Give Me A Home...

...where the Buffalo Pop'rs roam? Well, that's what my Friend from FLA, who Blogs under the pseudonym Does Anybody Hear Me? says!

Anybody, who makes her Bloggy Home at Don't Get Married...You Won't Like It!, purchased some Pop'rs earlier this month from Uncle Lynn, The Pop'r King. You know, the only place you can buy Pop'rs right now is online. Click here to find out how!

So, back to my story. Or, I should say, Anybody's story. Here's what Anybody reports: "Uncle Lynn and Aunt Julie have come up with a wonderful product called Pop'rs. They POP in your mouth and make veggies so much fun to eat!! I have tried them myself and love the Butter flavor. And the Buffalo is terrific on popcorn!!"

Thanks for the Positive Vibes, Anybody! And remember, all you Pop'rs Fans out in Cyberland. You, too, can pick up your very own Pop'rs by clicking here to find out how. Or, you can win them by clicking here. Or here. Or here! It's that easy! Remember, the Pop'rs Polls close at 11:59 p.m. EST tomorrow night, so you'd best get crackin'! Help Veggie Mom celebrate her 100th post, and win some Pop'rs in the bargain!

Bling and a Bloggy Giveaway

You know, don'tcha, that we're right in the middle of a 2-part Giveaway. You can read about it here. And here. You just need to remember to get your questions (the sky's the limit, and one question=one Giveaway entry!) in to moi by Friday at 11:59 EST. If you're reading this now, you can just leave a question or two in the comments section of this post. So, Get Poppin'!

I'd also like to give a quick but thoughtful Shout Out! to Blogstalker, who--and I'm sure we can all agree on this one--gives all our Bloggy Lives new meaning. With incisive--and sometimes mysterious--analysis, Blogstalker cuts through the Cyber Chatter and Gets. Right. To. The. Point.

Which brings me to my point, which is this. Blogstalker recently bestowed some Bloggy Bling on my little ol' head. And I'd like to thank my Bloggy Friend from the bottom of my Digital Heart!

The honor, deemed the Arte y Pico Award, literally translates to "Art Peak." The Stalker, it seems, thinks my little ol' place is "creative and interesting." Well, thank ya kindly! And in the tradition of all Good Things, I am required to pass this precious piece o' hardware along. Here first, though, are the rules:

1. Choose 5 blogs that you consider deserving of this award based on creativity, design, interesting material & overall contribution to the blogger community.
2. Post the name of the author & a link to his or her blog so everyone can view it.
3. Each award winner has to show the award & put the name & link to the blog that has given him or her the award
4. The award winner & presenter should post the link of the "Arte y pico" blog so everyone will know the origin of the award.

So, I choose:

• Channah, at Get a Grip, Mom!
• Mannequin, at Fractured Toy.
• Adiel, at It's Because I Think Too Much.
• Lynda, at Art on a Limb.
• Lula, at Lulaville.

Thanks for making my Bloggy Life, at least, both creative AND interesting!

Pop'rs in Action

Marla was one of September's Great New Pop'rs Giveaway winners. She and her family recently tried out her new prize, and guess what? They got Poppin' right away!

Let's let Marla, of Pak Adventures, explain: "Remember a few weeks back...I was on a winning streak... I won Pop'rs from Veggie Mom! Well, check out the reaction I got from some 7-year-old boys... they first tried it on pizza (taco flavor) and then wanted to try a fruit flavor... I let them do a shot...which is NOT what it is intended for... but it made for a good video..."

Marla's enjoying her 8-pack of Pop'rs, and You. Can. Too! Just enter October's Great New Pop'rs Giveaway. It's really easy and fun to play along, and we'll have Six. Winners. This. Time!

What do you win? Five Bloggy Friends will each win their choice of two flavors of Pop’rs, the good-for-you seasonings that make eating veggies fun! One Bloggy Friend will win the Grand Prize—a complete set of Pop’rs, that tasty and fun seasoning that really encourages kids to Eat Their Veggies! Pop’rs, which come in eight flavors, add great flavor, and fun, to just about any kind of food, from applesauce to yogurt and beyond. Pop’rs, which are only available from Uncle Lynn online, have an added kick--as the name implies, they go POP! when you eat them.

Remember, friends, this is a 2-parter. We're also celebrating my 100th Post, which occurs on Saturday, so here's what you do:

1. To enter October's Great New Pop'rs Giveaway, readers must post questions that they want to ask Veggie Mom (That's Me!), Aunt Julie, Uncle Lynn, or anyone else over at Eat Your Veggies! This is Phase One of the Giveaway. Readers get One Giveaway Entry for every question they post. There is no limit to the questions you may ask! Veggie Mom will collect questions from today through 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday, September 26, so make sure to get your questions in! I will answer all readers’ questions on Saturday, September 27—which happens to be my 100th Blog Post—and Sunday, September 28.
2. Starting Monday, September 29, Phase Two of the Giveaway begins! Uncle Lynn, The Pop'r King, will award Giveaway Prizes to One Giveaway Finalist Each Day, through Friday, October 3. He will announce the Grand Prize Winner in a post right here on Saturday, October 4. Giveaway Finalists will each receive two Pop'rs flavors of their choice. The Grand Prize Winner will receive a complete set of Pop'rs--all eight flavors!

So, there you have it Pop'rs Fans! No, you don't have to make a video--but it makes for an extremely interesting post, doesn't it?

Who, ME? Plus a Recipe Alert!

We. Have. A. Winner! Actually, we have TWO Winners!

Congrats to Marla at Pak Adventures, and Karla at Zander & Me. They're the Grand Prize Winners by Random Drawing of Uncle Lynn's Great New Pop'rs Giveaway! Hey, gals--get in touch with me ASAP so we can discuss delivery of your delightful prize!

What do Marla and Karla win? Why, a complete set of Pop'rs, of course--all eight flavors! So many of our Bloggy Friends have tried Pop'rs, on foods ranging from broccoli to yogurt, and everything in between. We can't wait to hear what Marla and Karla have to say about these delicious, fun and good-for-you seasonings!

Thanks to all of the Fine Folks who entered Uncle Lynn's recent Pop'rs Giveaway, and to all our Bloggy Friends for their love and support. And stay tuned, kids...we've got many more delicious recipes, artsie crafts, funny family tales and General Nonsense to share with you in the weeks to come. Plus, Uncle Lynn's already told me that he has a Great October Giveaway in mind!

So, until then, remember to Eat. Your. Veggies!

Recipe Alert! I'ma gonna spend this rainy weekend looking for new recipes to add to my repertoire. Have you heard of Recipezaar? You can hit their site for delish dishes, you can share recipes, you can view their Chef of the Day, and you sign up to receive their weekly newsletter! I recently took a look at their suggestions for Dorm Room Dinners--think I'll give College Boy a few pointers! Aunt Julie should think about sharing some of her creations, shouldn't she?

They're Hoppin' to Get Poppin'!

Take a gander at Big Bear, Shark Boy, and Uncle Lynn, Sharing The Pop'rs Love early this summer at the Institute of Food Technologists trade show in New Orleans. The trio showed The Biggest Names in Food How to Get Poppin'! Smile, Boys!!

And, speaking of Pop'rs, it's time to enter our Great New Pop'rs Giveaway! Share that Comment Love and win you some of the most delightful, fun and nutritious seasonings around!


BTW, three--Count 'Em!--of our Bloggy Friends are Singing the Praises of Pop'rs!

Hoagie, The Coach over at DC Sports Plus--and also our only Giveaway Winner of the Male Variety so far--loves him some Pop'rs! Here's what he had to say:

"Try this Product!" Hoagie enthuses. "I recently won a contest where I received two flavors of Pop'rs. Pop'rs are essentially awesome-tasting, good-for-you Pop Rocks that you sprinkle on foods. They're mostly marketed toward families (so moms can get their kids to eat their veggies), but with my two flavors (Chocolate and Taco), I can add both flavor and nutritional value to my ice cream and Ramen Noodles. They're really worth trying out...To borrow the catchphrase from Pringles: Once You Pop'r...well nevermind."

Lula, Our Gal over at Lulaville, cooked her up a DyNaMite Dish the other day and added Pop'rs to the recipe. "Buffalo-flavored Pop'rs enhance chicken casserole. Delish! Thanks, Veggie Mom!" Lula's also the one who's trying to convince Uncle Lynn to e-mail Ellen DeGeneres to Get Poppin' with Pop'rs on The Dancin' Queen's show. Lula has all kinds of ideas to get that to happen. She's So Enthusiastic, that we Just. Might. Do. It. "Why aren't y'all on Ellen yet?" Lula wants to know. We're workin' on it, gal!


Mannequin, who is anything but at Fractured Toy, placated Mr. Man the other day with a Strong Dose of Pop'rs. Uncle Lynn's fun seasoning came to the rescue over at Mannequin's place.

"And have you tried Pop'rs?" Mannequin asks. "I was lucky enough to win some a couple months ago (Thanks, Veggie Mom!) and I'm greedy enough to enter for another giveaway! They were a big hit here! Mr. Man loves his chocolate milk but is VERY picky about which brand. Having run out one morning, I popped into my cupboard and popped out my Pop'rs (yes, very clever, huh?). Mr Man loved it! We used Taco on tacos and then per Uncle Lynn's suggestion, we used it on corn ( I added diced red peppers to mine also. Yum). We loved every one of the eight flavors; this is a giveaway you don't want to miss! The ColorBurst came in handy this weekend again! I had only plain vanilla yogurt in the fridge and wanted a treat. What better to use than my Pop'rs? What a yummy treat!"

Thanks to everyone who's been Sharing the Comment Love! You're all So Dear to our Little Ol' Bloggy Hearts. *Group Hug*!

Welcome to Wisconsin!

Hi, there! I’m Veggie Mom, the proprietress over here at Eat Your Veggies! Nice to meetcha! I started blogging back in June, at the behest of my BIL, Uncle Lynn. Lynn, also known as The Pop’r King, is a Wisconsin Legend in his Own Time. He makes Pop’rs, but that’s another story. Let’s just say he’s on a Quest, and it all revolves around his fun new product. If you have time after the tour, please drop by Uncle Lynn’s Great New Pop’rs Giveaway. You’ll be glad you did!

For those of you new to the Pop’r Family’s Story, let me introduce you. There’s Aunt Julie and Uncle Lynn, the Pop’r Queen and King, respectively, and their four boys: Big Bear, Shark Boy, College Boy and Soccer Boy. I’m Veggie, and I’m married to Aunt Julie’s bro, Uncle Mark. We call him Moker, and he’s our Guest Blogger today. That’s him in the photo above, tailgating at the famed Lambeau Field in Green Bay. We have two daughters: College Girl and The Wild One. The six kids together constitute the entirety of that Famous Northeast Wisconsin Gang, The Pop’rs Cousins.

Before we embark on our tour, we’d like to thank Debbie and all her friends at Blog Around the World, for this chance to showcase the Great State of Wisconsin! So sit back, relax, grab some snacks (the cheese curds are fresh!) and pay close attention, as Moker takes us on a tour of our Upper Midwest Home.

Moker, here, with all the news that's fit to print, and then some! Wisconsin has many mottos. Some of them, like "Forward,” “America’s Dairyland,” and the “Badger State,” are official, steeped in tradition and history. But most residents understand that the best descriptive slogan is “Eat Cheese or Die!”

Wisconsin, where one congressional district has more cows than people, is a national leader in the production of milk, butter and cheese, especially cheddar. Fans of the Green Bay Packers (12 NFL championships) are known as “Cheeseheads” and wear yellow foam rubber wedges on their heads. BTW, one of those foam cheeeseheads once helped prevent serious injury to a victim of a small plane crash!

Wisconsin also is famous for its beer and bratwurst, delicacies that celebrate the German and Polish immigrants who settled in Milwaukee. The Scandinavians–Norwegians, Swedes, Danes and Finns–who immigrated to the rest of the state brought along lefse, lutefisk and sandbakkels.

Living so close to two of the Great Lakes (Superior and Michigan), Wisconsin residents are hardy souls who enjoy delightful summers and falls and endure sometimes brutal winters. Only in Wisconsin can you have a White Christmas as well as a White Halloween and a White Easter all in the same year. No wonder the state leads the nation in per capita brandy consumption!

Wisconsin gets its name from an Indian word of various origins–the Algonquian word for "long river" or the Chippewa/Ojibwa Tribe word that means "grassy place" or "gathering of the waters." The towns of Oshkosh, Menomonie, Menomonee Falls, Oconomowoc, Aswaubenon, Kaukauna, Mukwonago, and Chippewa Falls, among others, are of American Indian origin.

Politically, Wisconsin is viewed as a progressive state that produced Gov. Robert M. “Fighting Bob” La Follette, maverick Sen. William Proxmire and Sen. Gaylord Nelson, the Father of Earth Day. Wisconsin also is the birthplace of the Republican Party (Ripon) and gave the country that infamous, disgraced “Commie Hunter” of the 1950s, Sen. Joe McCarthy.

Wisconsinites love their sports, especially the outdoor variety, including hunting, fishing (muskies), snowmobiling and skiing, and residents enjoy thousands of lakes, although they do grumble about the number of Illinois residents who head north and bag black and white Holsteins instead of deer every year!

Notable Wisconsin personalities include architect Frank Lloyd Wright, super computer inventor Seymour Cray Jr., pianist Liberace, actors Orson Wells and Spencer Tracy, astrologer Jean Dixon, and magician Harry Houdini, whose most famous trick may have been escaping from Appleton!

Well, that concludes our tour of The Badger State. Hope you enjoyed yourselves and Moker, our Guest Blogger! Please feel free to snag some more snacks (we’ve got plenty of lutefisk left!) on your way out, and Don’t Forget to Share the Comment Love Before You Leave. Pretty Please?

Veggie Mom Exposé: Six Random Quirky Things

It's that time again, folks! Angela, over at Memoirs of a Chaotic Mommy, got the ball rolling by *tagging* me for a "Six Quirky Quirks" *meme.* I'd been dutifully compiling my list, when Channah, of Get a Grip, Mom! got in on the action, too, *tagging* me for "Six Random Things." Similar, but totally different, if ya know what I mean!

You know where this is headed, right? How 'bout a "Six Random Quirky Things About Me" *meme*? And I'ma gonna take it this time, folks, since Aunt Julie is resting up for the onslaught of entries to our Great New Pop'rs Giveaway. Didja see that Uncle Lynn's Giveaway was featured on SITS this morning? You Rock, Ladies! And remember, Faithful Readers: You can't win if you don't play!

So, without further delay, here are the Rules for our Little Ol' *Meme*:

1. Link to the person who tagged you.

2. Post the rules to your blog.

3. Write 6 random, quirky things about yourself and post 'em!

4. Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them.

5. Let each person you have tagged know by leaving a comment on their blog.

6. Let the tagger know when your entry is posted.

Six Random, Quirky Things About Moi? Let's see now...

1. I can say the alphabet backwards. My Nana taught me when I was 4.

2. I detest lima beans. Absolutely abhor them. Won't even look at them! If some are sitting on a plate near me, I. Will. Leave. The. Room!

3. I am a Cat Lady Extraordinaire. If it weren't for The Hubby, Moker, I'd have a lot more Feline Friends than two! One of my kitties, BTW, is pictured for this post. And you need to stay tuned this week...Moker's gonna be my Guest Blogger on Tuesday. It'll be a wild ride, for sure!

4. I put peanuts in my Coke. Seriously. Did you ever hear the song "Country When Country Wasn't Cool" by Barbara Mandrell? That's Your Veggie Mom, in a nutshell!

5. I usually count the stairs that I'm either ascending or descending. Some say I might be a tad OCD. Ya think?

6. I used to adore the Green Bay Packers. But Brett's a Jet now. So I've ordered my #4 jersey, in a different color green. Go, Jets!

That's all, folks! Except for that *tagging* business, which is such an important part of *memes*! So, then, here we go. Tag, You're It!

• And Baby Will Make 4
• Between Loads of Laundry
• Candid Carrie
• Exceptional Voyage
• Half-Passed Kissin' Time
• Pocket Change

Tasty Taffy and a Great Giveaway!

While The Pop'rs Cousins were at the beach, they clamored for a batch of Aunt Julie's Taffy Bars. "These are my kids' favorites, and extra easy," she explains. As you may recall, Auntie J. really knows her way around a kitchen!

So, without further ado, here's a Tasty Taffy recipe. It goes well with our Great New Pop'rs Giveaway, don't you think? Please enter today--don't delay!

Aunt Julie's Taffy Bars
1 cup butter, soft
1 cup brown sugar. Cream the sugar with the butter, then add:
1 egg yolk
1 tsp. vanilla
¼ tsp. salt
2 cups flour
Press into sprayed 9 X 13 pan. Bake 20 minutes @ 350
Melt 1 bag semi-sweet chips on top. Cool. Serve and Enjoy!