Much Painting Going On

With Moose Fest just 1 month away I am busy painting to get everthing done in time. From the log signs and rocks to those Dress-Me Friends and outfits. There just dont seem to be enough hours in a day anymore.
I do have some helpers, when they are not at school or their part time jobs.

This is Chris and J.J. our little leprechaun. His hair is the color of his beard!

We are adding new camping signs and some really cute painted windows to the shop. I added some of the crocheted sweaters to Etsy

Remember mark your calendars for May 1 & 2 and come out and enjoy Moose Fest and visit us at the shop.  I better get off the computer and paint, soooooo  much to do and so little time left!

Things are changing quickly here

The shop feels like spring now, bunnies and ducks and tulips galore!

We are seeing new Moose Hunters every day which is wonderful, spring has sprung up here.  People are also buzzing about The Great American Moose fest and beginning to come in and ask questions. Great bring your friends and family and join us May 1 & 2.  Maybe win a scooter finding Moose tags, alot of fun for the whoe family.'

The Easter Bunny was spotted down at The Garden Center and Teapot Quilt Cottage. WOW are they decorated. We see people up opening their places early this year, a very good sign.

My favorite new item this spring is the duck hat

this littel guy is a favorite model of mine and loves to help unlike

this litttle guy who really asked to try it on, but what a face!  Just like his Dad

Moose on the mind in Montello

Well, we have wiped the winter off the windows and are well into spring.  So, with Moose on everyones mind here in Montello, we are finding new ways to bring MOOSE into the shop.

Starting Saturdays we will have MOOSE POOP cookies, and other treats.

Something for the Moose Hunt followers and those gearing up for Moose Fest.

Hopefully I can get some Mooose Welcome Friends donae along with some Moose on cabin signs and logs.

Here is the first MOOSE POOP Cookie recipe we will try !

Ingredients

•2 sticks of butter (1 cup)

•3/4 cup brown sugar

•3/4 cup white sugar

•2 eggs

•1 tsp vanilla

•2 cups flour

•1/2 tsp salt

•1 tsp baking soda

•3 cups oatmeal

•1 cup chopped walnuts

•2 cups chocolate chips

Directions

.Mix all together, drop by 1/4 cup portions on a

.greased cookie sheet. Bake at 325 degrees for 20

minutes.
Sounds easy enough , I'll let you know

great cupcake recipe

Box-Mix Cupcakes


1 box (18.25 oz) cake mix (vanilla, devil’s food, or yellow)

1 cup buttermilk (in place of water called for on the box)

Vegetable oil (the amount on the box)

4 eggs (in place of the number called for on the box)



Preheat oven to 350F. Line muffin cups with paper liners.


I think I will try these at our nexy bake sale on April 3rd


Follow the box instructions, putting all the ingredients in a large bowl and using the buttermilk in place of the water specified on the box, using the amount of vegetable oil that is called for, and adding the eggs. Beet with an electric mixer until moistened, about 30 seconds. Increase the speed to high and beat until thick, 2 minutes longer



Fill paper liners two-thirds full. Bake 12 to 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean. Cool completely before icing.

philadelphia chocolate cheesecakes for two recipe at kraftfoods.com

philadelphia chocolate cheesecakes for two recipe at kraftfoods.com

Do you know any......

Craft Fair vendors or Festival goers.  If so tell them about this great upcoming event !

Hot Air balloons rides have just been added and the advertising is nationwide!

There is something for everyone from kids fishing ( Dad's can meet the Pros) and carnival, food vendors, shopping and an incentive for visitors to stop at every booth.  They are looking to collect 2 matching tickets to earn FREE Ice cream. Music, cartoon auction and much more.

Not a vendor.....then grab the family and come on out, campgrounds and Montells in the area for a weekend stay. See all the great natural resources we have also,

http://www.greatmoosefestival.com/

Please share this event with friends and family

SEE YOU THERE

stop in at Pattibears Place and let me know you made it !

With St. Patrick's Day Tommorrow

I thought it would be nice to share a recipe that goes great with your coffee as you read the blogs ,

Cinnamon Bun Scones
Servings: 12 Scones

Cook time: 11 to 13 minutes

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup quick oatmeal (uncooked)

1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter chilled and cut into pieces

3/4 cup whole or 2% milk

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup toasted chopped pecans, or walnuts

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Glaze

3/4 cup powdered sugar

3 to 4 teaspoons Tropicana Pure Premium orange juice or milk

Directions:

Heat oven to 425 F. Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray.

In large bowl, combine flour, oats, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, baking powder and salt; mix well.

Cut in butter with pastry blender or two knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

In small bowl, combine milk, egg and vanilla; blend well.

Add to dry ingredients all at once; stir with fork or rubber spatula just until dry ingredients are moistened.

In small bowl, combine remaining 2 tablespoons granulated sugar with the pecans and cinnamon; mix well.

Sprinkle evenly over dough in bowl; gently stir batter to swirl in cinnamon mixture.

(Do not blend completely.)

Drop dough by 1/4 cupfuls 2 inches apart on cookie sheet.

Bake 11 to 13 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire rack; cool 5 minutes.

In small bowl, combine powdered sugar and enough orange juice for desired consistency; mix until smooth.

Drizzle over tops of warm scones.

Serve warm.

Recipe - Shamrock Cupcake Pops - MixingBowl.com

Recipe - Shamrock Cupcake Pops - MixingBowl.com

New items for Spring

This is not to the face I was going for.  J.J. ASKED to model but this face looks more like"Grandma made me wear this "

I have just added a Duck hat, hooded duck sweater, hooded frog sweater and a duck sweater and hat to the Etsy shop. Hopefully today when my little helpers go home I will have time to add them to my site as well. They are on hand in the shop in Montello and the first duck hat sold yesterday. That LITTLE GUY DID'NT LOOK NEARLY AS UPSET.

I am still between ducks busy contacting crafters for our upcoming Great American Moose Fest, space is still available and it is a huge family fun event.

Spring is starting early here!

    Our windows have daffoldils and spring sweaters to brighten these last few grey weeks of winter. Adorable little duck and lamb hats and sweaters are appearing in the shop daily. Of course those little frogs are back with sweaters and a new hooded frog sweater. From the littlest baby to 4 toddler these are a must this spring. Our log signs are filling the shop for thos cabina nd camper visitor who will be stopping in trying to break up the cabin fever blues.
   And will all this to do we are still very busy helping to get The Great American Moose Fest all settled in here in Montello. What a fun family event this will be, with Pro Fisherman taking the kids out for a fishing lesson to carnival rides food and tons of great shopping.

Excited about MOOSE !!!

We are busy making plans for our part in The Great American Moose Fest . The February posters came yesterday with the photos of all ten pro fisherman. WOW what a treat for the kids to get a chance to go out in a boat and fish with a Pro. New vendors are signing in every day and we are amazed at how well this all came together and what it can do for the area, not just Montello. Not just us (Pattibears), but all the businesses can help make this a huge event

Need a gift?

       Valentines Day is coming fast and already signs of hearts and cupids can be found around town. This year take a few minutes to see what great Valentines Day gift ideas you can find right here in town. Flowers, handmade gifts, gift certificates, sporting goods, dinner out,or maybe a little of each. Shops around town are getting those Valentine Specials ready and are also holding a Valentines Day Bake Sale on Februaury 13th at the Teapot Quilt Cottage. Stop in and pick up a sweet for your sweetie. The New Montello Group is sponsoring the Bake Sale .Cupcakes and more for your holiday treat.
     
    Our Dress-Me Welcome Friends have their Valentine outfits ready to go, what a cute way to greet your guests.


     While you are out and about , do not forget to collect your Moose Hunt tickets. Anywhere that is playing has a ticket for you, no purchase necessary from Subway and the hardware store to Yahooz and Tambears, Hometown Florist, Montello Beauty Salon, Rustic Bar & Grill, Teapot Quilt Cottage and Pattibears Place .If by chance someone doesnt offer you one, JUST ASK!!!!! The more you collect the better your chancing of winning one of the great prizes.


     Also keep an eye out for updates on Moose Fest May 1 & 2. This will be a wonderful family fun event right in downtown Montello. Carnival rides, pro fishing with the kids, crafts, food, music and more. So, mark your calendars and join us in starting the season off with a bank.

Gearing up for Valentines Day

Great American Moose Fest


We are bringing out the hearts and cupids and getting ready for our Valentines Day Bake Sale on February 13th. The New Montello Group is hosating this sale to raise funds for advertising and such to promote The Great American Moose Fest, on May 1st and 2nd. This is going to be a huge event for Montello and the surrounding area. With something for everyone to do and see, this will be a sure hit with families. Carnival rides, pro fishing for kids, crafts, food, vendors... and a chance to win a scooter. So mark you calendars and stop in town. If you are a crafter, check out the site and come set up and get your year off to a great start.
     Here is an ad for Moose Fest...........Saturday, May 1, 2010 through Sunday, May 2, 2010. 9 am, 8 pm. A fun festival that transforms an entire city around the nationally syndicated cartoon Moose Lake. With free ice cream for the public, a hidden scooter give away, carnival rides by Calkins Midways, craft vendors, food vendors, antique vendors, pro fishermen to take kids out fishing, music, national author Linda Godfrey, national entertainer Dan Kirk, National cartoonist Steve Krueger. Something for everyone and fun galore all while raising proceeds for the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. Free. Montello, WI, Montello, Marquette County. Call 920-809-0636. E-mail: themoosehunt@yahoo.com Web: www.greatmoosefestival.com Subjects: Festivals, Crafts, Kids [E-70779]

Winter clearance Sale

Join us for a huge winter clearance sale going on. Everything that even looks like winter is 50% off. We are gearing up for spring . While you are here don't forget to pick up your Moose Hunt ticket and then collect them around town. Before you know it , it will be time for Moose Fest so mark your calendars and bring the family out for a fun weekend. May 1 & 2

November Drawing

To get the holiday season off to a good start I am going to gift a Dress-Me Bear and Holiday outfit to the comment chosen from the blog. So , it is easy just leave a comment about your favorite holiday outfit of the Dress-Me Friends!

The shop is well undr way going from pumpkins and gourds to snowmen and mittens. Santas are in the works and warm ladies hats as well as adorable baby and toddler items are filling the shelves. New items will be added weekly to the site and my Etsy shop.

Pattibears.com

Oktoberfest plans

Pattibears Place and the rest of Montello are sprucing up for some upcoming events. The first is of course our ongoing Great American Moose Hunt. A great way to visit Wisconsin one town at a time and one shop at a time. Think of the places you can find along the way.  October 17th will be Oktoberfest with activities at different businesses around town. You can almost hear the polka music already ! Then a visit from Channel 57's own EMMY FINK to help us show just what the Great American Moose Hunt is and how much fun it can be! There is always something new poppping up so come on out and visit.....collect a Moose Hunt ticket at each stop and enjoy an afternoon in Montello.

We are busy here with Halloween costume alternatives for the little ones, from a frog hat to an adorable little skunk, what a great way to trick or treat and have the little one warm and snug.

Personalized gingerbread are coming together as well as a new shipment of 6 car wooden trains, what a wonderful Xmas gift!

So stop in and say hello while you are in Montello !

It not only feels like fall but smells like fall in downtown Montello this weekend. Traffic has been fairly heavy but I am sure as the leaves change and people travel back from Warrens Cranberry Fest we will see customers take some time to stroll through town.

I have been busy as can be crocherting little skunk and frog hats. I sometimes amazes me at what items catch on. The model is adorable, that's true but so are the hats. Pair up one of these with a pair of soft warm sweats and the little one is ready to trick or treat. A great and inexpensive costume alternative. Then use the hat all winter.

Gingerbread men are also coming along as the holidays will be here long before I am ready. The personalized ornaments and family are a big seller and everyone loves to get personalized gifts.

The Great American moose Hunt is well under way and we are seeing people come in now from across Wisconsin to play. This is a wonderful idea for businesses and for those playing, they will find some really great shops that have been overlooked and the prizes are great.

If you get a chance come on out and visit us at Pattibears Place and see all that Montello has to offer!

This little "Stinker" was amazed at how many Moose Hunt players came to Grandma's shop !     Saturday found us very busy at Pattibears Place with more than 40 people getting in on the Great American Moose Hunt. It has been alot of fun chatting with visitors and finding out where they are from and sending them on their way to find more Moose Hunt tickets around town and then throughout the state.

    I was also shocked when I listed this adorable skunk hat on Craigs List and got orders almost instantly. So I am off to paint and crochet and get the orders out.

Thank you to all my new customers and those who come back time and again for a great weekend!  See you soon

A new idea for Halloween...

Over the years I have dressed my fair share of kids for Halloween. Being from the Chicago area many of those years the weather was so bad, you did'nt even see the costume hidden under the winter coats. Then there were alwyas those so small they came along for the ride in the stroller. So with 2 new little guys in the family I have set out and come up with a few hats that could double as a halloween costume for the little ones. The adorable bright green froggy hat, that also has a sweater to match  and this morning finished a little "stinker" skunk hat.... too cute, I can't wait to get the photos uploaded. We have a puppy hat and a cow hat in the works complete with a cow bell.  I can't wait to get home and finish up a few more.

The shop is filling up and everyone just loves these hats, my latest request was to make groggy hats in sizes for the teens at school!!! At least I know that their ears will be covered!Keep checking back to see the new hats posted.

Join us for Harvest Fest

The leaves are beginning to change and that makes this the perfect time to go on The Great American Moose Hunt. What a fun idea to find and visit so many special places throughout Marquette County and the rest of Wisconsin.

The timing for this seems perfect! Harvest Fest is Sept. 19th and 20th right in downtown Montello . There you can find 9 Moose tickets and a few just down the road. Crafters, food, shopping specials and MOOSE HUNT TICKETS !!!! Join us for some fun and enjoy the fall scenery. From fresh produce and fall decorations to that perfect Christmas gift for the early shoppers to scenic bike trails and a canoe or kayak ride. Montello has it all ...fun for ALL seasons !



How do you play? All you have to do is visit the participating businesses (see Where to Hunt) and pick up a free Moose Lake ticket. That's it! Each business has it's own unique Moose Lake ticket. The more unique tickets (with no duplicates) you have at the end of the hunt (July 31, 2010), the better your chances to win. Plus, attach a sales receipt from that business you picked up the ticket from, and the tickets' value doubles... it's now worth 2 tickets. It doesn't get any easier!







Mega-Moose Ticket: "Find the Cartoonist"! That's right folks, find Steve Krueger (the cartoonist of Moose Lake) at a retailer and receive the Mega-Moose Ticket worth 20 tickets instead of that retailer's normal ticket. When making a purchase or adding a Moose Receipt with the Mega-Moose Ticket it will double to 40 tickets! The Mega-Moose Ticket can be turned in for the final count along with that retailers normal ticket also! "Find the Cartoonist" dates and locations can be found right here and will be updated as needed.



September 19, 2009 - Go Wild With Birds, 192 Main Street, Menasha.

September 20, 2009 - Pattibears Place, 66 W. Montello Street, Montello.

For more information on Harvest Fest of participating in the Moose Hunt call 297-9079

Weekend Fun for the whole Family

Father Marquette Days comes to Montello this weekend with great food, baseball, parade, crafters, music and more. The City Park comes to life with whole families coming out to enjoy the chicken cookout and check out all the great vendors and enjoy some great summer weather. Not that that isn't enough but this is the kick off weekend for THE GREAT AMERICAN MOOSE HUNT fun for all the camping families in the area. Come on out to town and check out all the participating businesses and get your moose hunt tickets. Check out their website for all the details ! We are celebrating August with a 25% off sale so stop in and look around and get a moose hunt ticket while you are here. You get a bonus ticket at each business if you make a purchase. There are great prizes from the hunt so visit us and get in on the fun!!!!

There has been much going on here in Montello and along with other concerned citizens we have beeen trying to draw attention to the state of our Dredge Bank Road. After many flyers were handed out and posters hung around town. Locals spread the word of a meeting last night and with much surprise to those planning this meeting Montello showed up in force. Last nights meeting with local government , Senator Olsen, Rep. Fred Clark and 2 DNR spokesman was well attended. With standing room only we heard how this all came about, a little history of the Dredge Bank, a proposal by the City of Montello for moving the boat launch and repurposing the Dredge Bank. The DNR then explained how they came to their decision to close the Dredge Bank, what needs to be done and that they do not intend to close it completely but need to find a way to repair it so it could be used in case of emergency. I think we made great strides but don't think it is over. We need to keep on top of this and move forward. Committees need to be formed to start planning revitilazation of the area and start looking for funding to help pay for this. Rep. Fred Clark said he would also assist in this process. We hold all the officials to making this plan work. We would also like to thank NBC15 for their coverage, as in the past they have helped us in Montello get our word out.

Open and working hard

We are open for business and working hard to help atttract new visitors not only to our shop, but also to Montello. We are right in the middle of some of the best fishing and camping in all of Wisconsin. But, with money tight and so much to do in the Dells we have our work cut out for us. Last years visitors have returned and are sending friends who have seen their signs or solar lit logs and that is great. Word of mouth is the best advertisiement. Yet, I think we need more. After spending three days at a grant writing seminar, I am hopeful we can take some bigger steps to help revive our downtown and get back on our feet. There is money out there but we, as a town need to step up , ask for it and then follow through. So, between painting I am on the computer working to (what seem like a one man show) save our town!

Christmas in July ???????

WOW when we (The New Montello Group)decided to have Christmas in July we had no idea that the weather would be more like fall than JULY. So with that crisp fall air came the taste for fall pies. And with so little time for baking I found this wonderful Apple Pie Muffin recipe which made the whole family happy and the house smelled wonderful! I have been so busy painting Santas and getting ready that I had to squeeze a black bear or two in just to relax. I am hoping to get the photos up soon so everyone can see the totem pole I painted. I just love it.







APLE PIE MUFFINS
SERVES 18

Ingredients

Topping
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Muffins
1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
2/3 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
2 cups diced peeled firm tart apples (such as Spy, Granny Smith)
Directions
Note:.
cinnamon could be added to the batter ( about 1 teaspoon or less).

Topping: In a small bowl toss together sugar, flour, butter and cinnamon until crumbly; set aside.

Muffins: In a large bowl whisk together brown sugar, oil, egg and vanilla until smooth.
In a separate bowl, sift together flour, soda and salt.
Stir oil mixture into flour mixture alternately with buttermilk.
Fold in apples, mixing just until combined.
Spoon into greased muffin cups filling 3/4 full.
Sprinkle topping over evenly.
Bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown and tops spring back.

Chrsitmas in July fast approaching

I am busy painting Santa beards and getting the snowmen put together. Each summer we like to run this event for the campers and visitors who are only here once a year. A great chance to try out some new items and get a jump start on their holiday shopping. July 17th through the 26th we will play Bingo games in the shop, have tasty holiday refreshments and fabulous inshop specials . I added aspecial or two to the website for those who can't get away to Montello, so stop in eaither online or in persona nd let us know what you think! Have a great weekend!!!!

Pattibears for online my etsy shop

66 W. Montello St. downtown Montello in person

Getting ready for the weekend

The 4th of July is a big event in our small town. Saturday is also Taste of Montello where local restraunts fill the City Park and show off what they do best. Following all the great food and entertainment the Rotary Club has a fireworks display at dusk. A great day to be out and about in Montello. Having a shop right on the main street means lots of traffic , so I am busy finishing up some logs and rocks and breaking out the Santas ( yes, I said Santa) A local campground has a Christmas in July celebration and we all like to join in. A great time to start your holiday shopping and find some neat items. I am going to go out and paint the front windows with red, white and blue stars this afternoon to help dress the place up as well as fill the pots with small flags and hope they don't disappear ! I will add some window photos later in the day as I finish up .

http://thehouseholdhelper.com/blog/clean-house-using-the-focus-formula/

http://ow.ly/f2pI

Classic Potato Salad Recipe

With Father's Day coming up on Sunday, there has been alot of talk about what to buy Dad.....and what to feed him. The answers vary. Some up camping for the week tend to lean toward fisihng gear and cribbage boards, while other are getting him that T-Shirt with the clever saying. But, dinner seems to have one thing in common....potato salad so I looked up some and this one seemed most like what the shoppers were talking about. Enjoy and have a great Father's Day

Classic Potato Salad Recipe: "Scroll down to see more potato salad recipes
Ingredients:
1 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper, or to taste
1 teaspoon sugar
5 to 6 med. potatoes, about 1 1/2 to 2 pounds, peeled, cubed, cooked
1 cup thinly sliced celery
1/2 cup chopped onion
3 eggs, hard-boiled
1 to 2 Tbs chopped green onions, optional garnish
1 tomato, cut in wedges, optional garnish
Preparation:
Combine mayonnaise, vinegar, salt, sugar, and pepper in a large bowl. Add remaining ingredients; toss gently to combine well. Cover; chill for 2 or more hours for best flavor. Garnish with chopped green onion and tomato wedges if desired.
Serves 6 to 8.
More Potato Salad Recipes"

It's a Berry Nice Day.....

I am busy getting ready for this weekends Open House Tour during Berry Dairy Days. We have tour maps made up and during the day each of the five locations will offer refreshments, instore specials and fun. There is also a sidewalk art contest open to all ages starting at 10:00 and the HULA Hoop contest at Daggett Park by the waterfall at 1:00. This should be alot of fun , so grab your hoop or use one of ours, or if you are not that brave just come and watch. Montello is a great daytrip destination. Juat about 1 hour north of Madison, the weather should be great, the fish are biting and you can almost smell the burgers on the grill. See you there!

Lodge decor

It seems that customers are still looking for those unique pieces of home and yard decor for their place"up north" or homes and I am busy painting away to get the orders from last week done. Most of the time I paint cute little black bears or raccoons on log pieces and then add a sloar light for a nice piece for your deck or yard. Recewntly, though we have had some new requests...eagles and once again a family pet. Those are always different as people bring me in a photo of the family pet to work from. Added to the logs and slabwwod wall art and signs are the handpainted rocks. Right now I am working on 6 rocks to be used for an animal shelter fund raiser...3 cats and 3 dogs. They are alot of fun as I am open to which breeed and color and size. When I get them finished I will post some photos. We are also getting ready for Berry Dairy Days here in Montello where we will be part of the Open House Tour and serving refreshments and having some great specials to highlight our work and upcoming classes. June 13th 9 to 4 Downtown Montello

June begins classes

With June just around the corner I thought I would post a little about our summer classes. First and probably the most fun for all ages is the rock painting class. Now, not just any rock.....when you leave each person has created their very own bunny rock . It is so much funa nd not all that hard to learn. We provide the paint, rocks and brushes, you bring you imagination !!!!! The cost is just $10.00 per person for the 2 hour class. Saturday mornings are when we schedule most classes but special days and times can be arranged!

We are also offfering beginners crochet classes, just bring a hook and a skein of yarn and you will be on your way to making something grand all on your own@! The cost for this cl;ass is also $10.00 and it lasts about 2 hours!

By the way I hope you are all practicing with your HULA HOOP because June 13th is fast approaching at at 1:00 that day at Daggett Park right in front of the waterfall we will have our contest open to all age groups, come out and join us or just watch.

Memorial Day Weekend....was good

Montello saw alot of traffic and not just passing by. People were out enjoying the great weather and checking out all that's new in the shop. The logs are always a big hit and we did get a few special orders over the weekend. Now not only bears and raccoons, peoples pets from photos but I am working on an eagle for the latest order. They are always alot of fun to work on and everyone appreciates the handpainted work that goes into them. The fact that we are one of the only shops in the area that carries so many handcrafted items makes it a bonus when shoppers can find a little something for almost anyone on their gift giving list, or that just perfect addition to their home, garden or weekend retreat. With all the new visitors the summer is looking up and I am off to add to the handpainted items so those who visit next will find something right for them! With us being just a short rifde from the Madison are and the new word this season is day-cation and Montello is a great location for that. Fishing, biking, oh and shopping at Pattibears Place and the other great shops. For a list of upcoming events and what's happening in Montello visit http://montellohappenings.blogspot.com
http://www.Pattibears.com

You can feel it in the air.....

People are buzzing around and the town is coming to life. Why ? The campers and cabin owners are once again coming up to enjoy the fishing and great weather we have had. Along with that they come to town to see all that has changed over the winter months. What new businesses might have opened, which old favorites have gone away and all the new items added to each shop since they were here last!
So I have been busy painting away. Logs are being finished and the painted windows are complete. Everyone who stops in just loves the handpainted gift items we have here. Just yesterday a group of ladies spent quite awhile oooing over the handmade baby sweaters and cute caps. It is hard to find handmade shops around anymore so this is a treat for them. I am adding more Dress-Me Friends outfits and just got a delivery of field stone for some new and larger animal rocks. People are always amazed at how it goes from a dirty stome to a rabbit, raccoon or even family pet. If you are looking for a nice destination trip, comew on up. Besides Pattibears we have a handfull of really nice and unique shops to visit. Montello, Wisconsin is more than just a waterfall LOL

Montello Daze next weekend !

Stop by Montello this upcoming Saturday and try your luck with the fishing for a sale special going on. Each of the participating shops will have special "fish" with sales, discounts, coupons or freebies on them. Stop at any or all of the shops and get a catch of the Day! aLL THIS WHILE mONTELLO dAZE IS GOING ON RIGHT DOWNTOWN. dj BBop will keep the music playing al day while the crafters show off their latest aand the food is served up all around town. Kids activities as well as the city wide garage sale and $500.00 tagged crappie contest will also be going on . So grab a friend for a day trip or the whole family and come out and enjoy all that Montello is blessed with! Hope to see you there !

A bright sunny Saturday found the Easter Bunny in downtown Montello at 1:00 for his annual parade! Hats were decorated and kids and adults alike were set to stroll the downtown and show off the holiday attire. There were even a few well dressed dogs in the group. Local businesses like B&B Country Store, The "Silver-Smith's", Tam Bears and Pattibears Place were outside to add treats to the kids baskets as they marched past. The bunny was so impressed with the turn out and participation ALL the kids won a free ice cream cone. The grown-ups were found going from shop to shop collecting the prize filled eggs. The Garden Center, The Silver-Smith's , Montello Beauty Salon, Granite Falls, Rustic Bar & Grill and Pattibears all had coupons, discounts or freebies inside the eggs. Everyone seemed to really enjoy the day.
The next bake sale will be April 25th at Pattibears and the Silver-Smiths, these proceeds along with those from April 10th will help fund the Montello Daze celebration !
May 1st and 2nd is the City Wide Garage Sale and May 2nd is MONTELLO DAZE. Food, crafters, family fun and day long music. Sidewalk sales, kids activities and a tagged crappie contest are lined up. Bring the family and join the fun. A great day trip!

City Wide Garage Sale

May 1st and 2nd will be Montello's City Wide Garage Sale so start looking through those closets and the garage for the treasures you no longer need. This comes at a very good time because right around Mother's Day we have city wide cleanup and anything you can't sell could be taken away at that time. Remember one mans trash is another mans treasure and who knows what you might find!

With Montello Daze on the 2nd we can hope to have lots of campers and visitors from other towns to help snatch up all the treasures for sale. Downtown businesses will also get in on the day and hold sidewalk sales. Shoppers paradise right in Montello !!!!!

Plans are being finalized

for this years Easter Bunny Parade and GROWN-Up Easter Egg Hunt.

After Monday nights City Safety Meeting approved some of our upcoming event details we met Wednesday morning at Rustic Bar and Grill to get the plans finalized.
Friday April 10th we will be holding a Easter Bunny Bake Sale at The Garden Center at 505 Main St. in Montello. Proceeds from this sale will help us fund the upcoming Montello Daze celebration in May.

I would love to get some new recipes for bake sale item so please comment and leave me yours!
Saturday April 11th from 10 to 5 there will be a Grown-up Easter Egg hunt in some of the participating shops downtown. Eggs have been filled with coupons, discounts and prizes from many of the Montello businesses. As for shop owners you NEED NOT be open to get your coupons etc. in the eggs and distributed to the particpating hunt locations. Refreshment swill be available in the shops and it should be alot of fun. At 1:oo the Easter Buuny will find his way to the City Clock on the corner of hwy 22 and hsy.23 and lead the kids and adults ina parade through the downtown. Please wear your favorite, funniest, prettiest of most colorful hat as prizes will be given at the end of the parade whe we stop at Daggett Park for photos and time to talk to the Bunny. Bring the family and enjoy the day in downtown Montello !

Pot of Gold Weekend Event

St. Patrick's Day is next week and to get it off to a good start Montello is holding an Art & Fiber Weekend as well as a few of the shops are having Pot Of Gold drawings to treat the customers to a discount, freebie or special offer. With local artisans around town and shops putting on the GREEN grab a friend and come out to see all that is going on. Rustic Bar and Grill will be offering a corned beef and cabbage lunch that day so take some time and enjoy Montello and all that is has to offer. It really isn't to early to start thinking about summer and we have great places to stay and enjoy the area. So may things can be done as a family here at little or no cost and the time together is so important. So, grab the family or a friend and come out and see us!

Letting off Steam

Did you ever have one of those days where everything just seems to get to you? That is how today is for me. To start out the day , when arriving in town we noticed the school kids had painted on some shop windows to vote to save art etc. Nice job kids but, we just passed a referendum to give the local schools the money the asked for and now after getting that money they are threatening to cut art, Spanish 3 &4 music some shop classes, yet not sports and after school activities. I went round and round with them a few years ago about helping with an older grandson who was behind in credits and got nowhere, finally I found a school that not only helped him to graduate on time but taught him construction and welding. When he graduated they also helped him find a full time job. Now they have started a special class for credit deficient kids and wanted the shop owners to let these kids work off some of the community service they must do. Something isn't right there, I said no!
Then we ( a group of local downtown businesses) have been holding monthly events, promoting our town and working our butts off to keep the tourists coming back even though we have a flood last June, road closures until October and then all this snow and ice. Well the county is holding a kids activity day and went to a few businesses around town for donations and had a big newspaper write up and never even approached us! Working together has never been a strong point here in Montello.
So even though all the rain they called for has seemed to miss us and the weather is finally above 40 and people are out checking out the few shops open this has been one crumby day!

Spring is right around the corner

or so it seems!
Downtown Montello is getting ready for spring in a big way. From Pattibears Place which seems to have bloomed overnight to The Garden Center on Hwy 22 Spring can be found. The shoops are getting ready for A Pot Of Gold Special running from March 14th to the 17th with discounts, specials and prizes at participating shops. An Art & Fiber event is planned for March 14th and 15th at various shops throughout downtown. Come on out and see local artisits, demos or maybe even try your hand at something new.
Montello and the surrounding area is a great place to get away from the traffic and enjoy at little or no cost NATURE like it was meant to be. This are has some of the best fishing, bike trails, hiking and just relaxing. About 1 hour north of Madison it makes a great day trip. So grab a friends or the family and come on out and see what we have to offer, maybe get some good ideas for your summer vacation. Remmeber you can still have fun in this tight economy, just simplify and you will be so happy you did!

Cold Outside

Well we survived another shot of winter and although is it frosty and very slippery outside I am busy inside working some magic to get spring in here. Flower pots are being painted and the wooden tulips are very cheery. Some new additions to the baby sweaters and blankets brighten that section up really quick. St. Patrick's Day decorations are in the window and the silk daffodils are in the planter out front, now if Mother Nature would just play along things would be great.
Right now with money being tight shopper need to be very selective where and how they spend their money and I realize that. That is why I try to keep the prices as low as possible. Everyone needs to find a gift for someone at one time or another during the year and hopefully I can help them out with some great items at a good price. People appreciate handcrafted gifts, they say you went that extra mile to get them something special. That doesnt mean you need to pay an arm and a leg.
I have also been busy working on some furniture pieces. Nothing too big but maybe you just need to add an accent piece to a room or maybe change the look a little. We might have it here. Come on in and browse around and if you don't see what you need, never be afraaid to ask I just love custom orders.
We are getting ready for a Art weekend here in Montello March 14th and 15th. There will be local artists showing off their fiber art as well as demos and specials through out town.

Twitter Moms: The Influential Moms Network

Sweetheart of a weekend

This morning we visited with Christine Bellport on NBC15's Morning Show. What a wonderful way to get news of all the upcoming activities this weekend. From The Women's Club and Historical Society Bake Sales to the Chocolate contest and Valentine Dance and couples Pool Tournament. So much to do. I just cant think of anything better than strolling through town and nibbling my way from one shop to the next eating chocolate. We hope to see alot of the community who has been home bound due to the ice and snow out and about this weekend.

Sweetheart of a Weekend

is coming up fast. Feb.13th the shops will stay open late to help those last minute shoppers find just the right thing for their sweetheart. From flowers and jewelry to signs and sporting goods. Montello has something for everyone. Here at Pattibears we have been busy painting and making the jewelry and candles perfect for the personalized gift.

Saturday morning the Chocolate contest will begin at 9am and run until4pm so all you bakers, candy makers and just tasters be sure to stop at the Garden Center and join us! The Valentines giveaway is going on now until Feb 14th , so get your entries in to win any or alot of great prizes. One grand prize winner will be chosen!

NBC15 time set

I will be appearing with Christine Bellport on Friday Feb. 6th at 6:10 am on the MorningShow. We will be discussing the upcoming Valentine event in Montello and the new itemscoming into the shop. Also the Chocolate contest. Entries of chocolate in any form will be tasted and voted on during the day Feb. 14th what a way to spend a cold February day in Wisconsin !

We are really starting to see cupids in our sleep. The shelves are filling up and red and pink are everywhere. I am looking thru cookbooks for the perfect chocolate recipe for the contest on Feb14th. What could be more perfect and make you feel better than being a taste tester in a chocolate contest. Come on out to Montello and join us.

working hard......

It is still cold here but, the snow has ended and hopefully we can get it all cleared before the cold sets in. This is just one of the new items I am adding. Would'nt this look cute on your little one?

Widget

Cold and Icy

This is last years window .....watch for the update!

It isn't bad enough that the economy is so slow. Top that off with icy street and sidewalks and snow everry couple of days. Small shops like those in our town are closing on a daily basis. But, hopefully if we can stick it out, provide good prices on our items and some fun incentives we MAY just make it through.

I am busy getting ready for Valentines Day, I was invited back to NBC15 to preview all the great items we have and to build on that and get some traffic to our town, I am going tro go to each business and take some photos to give the viewers a better idea of all Montello has to offer as well as here at Pattibears.

Right now we are running a special drawing in the shops and one lucky person will get the grand prize of gifts from each shop! Feb. 13th we will stay open late and let those last minute shoppers get their gifts and even some gift wrapping. Feb. 14th we will have a chocolate desert contest as well as wonderful refreshments and treats in the shops for those who stop in to shop or enter the drawing. So, even if you don't need a Valentine gift........ Stop by say hello and enjoy some refreshments and enter, enter at each shop because each shop will have its own prize as well as one in the grand prize package so , who knows you could win all over town!

Stay warm and watch those icy walks but please stop in and say hello !