Hidden Gems

Green County is home to many artisan businesses, and one of the tastiest is on the east side of Monroe's downtown Square. Chocolate Temptation is one of the Hidden Gems of Green County.

The exterior colors of cafe au lait and bittersweet chocolate hint at the delectable treats awaiting inside. Step through the doors, and the gentle aroma of chocolate and coffee envelope you.

The Buol family has been creating gourmet hand-dipped chocolates at Chocolate Temptation in Monroe since 1995. Their truffles are exceptional - a domed shell of chocolate encasing a rich, superb blend of cream and chocolate. They offer a wide variety of flavors, each a with its own unique appearance, miniature works of art. My favorite include the caramel, the hazelnut and the cappuccino with a chocolate covered coffee bean perched on top.

If truffles are not your treat of choice, the case is filled with other confections - Gertles made with pecans, caramel and chocolate; creamy chocolate covered nougats; solid chocolate pieces and more. Children love Chocolate Temptation's shaped chocolate lollies; the stars and frogs are always a hit. Try the creme de menthe covered Oreos or milk chocolate dipped peanut butter cookie.

Desserts and ice cream are also available. The tiramisu is excellent, and their ice cream dishes and sundaes are festive with a sugar wafer cookie on the side.

The other specialty at Chocolate Temptation is their coffees and other drinks. Year round, they offer a changing selection of specialty coffee flavors available by the cup or purchase a pound of beans to take home and brew yourself. There is a full menu of lattes, cappuccinos, and mochas, both iced and hot. In the summer, you will see many cups of their raspberry lemonade walking around the Square in the hands of happy customers.

The sign above the display case reads "I can resist anything but temptation". With the variety and quality of the treats at Chocolate Temptation, who would want to resist?

One Hard Hat in Pink, Please

Can you swing a hammer? Turn a screwdiver? Building a home may be easier than you think! Consider volunteering at a Women Build event for Habitat for Humanity. Sponsored by Lowe's, this Habitat for Humanity program empowers women while helping provide housing for people who may not otherwise be able to obtain the dream of home ownership.

As a child, I spent entertaining hours pounding nails into my father's workbench with his hammer, much to his annoyance when he would later come in to find fifteen bent nails sticking out of the top of the bench. However, my construction skills never passed that stage. I reached adulthood without knowing much about how easy most building projects can be. All it took was Luis, my ever patient husband, showing me how easy most building projects can be to give me the confidence to tackle things on my own. Now, I am still content to let him mud and tape drywall when we build a new wall in our home, but it is satisfying to decide to rearrange my kitchen cabinets or lay tile in our mudroom and know that I have the skills to do it myself.

If you are a woman who feels inept with tools and household projects, I would strongly encourage you to look for a Women Build event near you. You will be welcomed warmly, and you can learn a new skill. Take a step out of your comfort zone to come out, learn something new, meet some new people and help build a home for someone in your community.

If you already know your way around a drill driver and air nailer, Habitat for Humanity can certainly use your help. Come to a Women Build event to help other women learn these skills and put your talent to good use.

Women are always welcome at any Habitat for Humanity build, but if you are feeling like a fish out of water at a construction site, a Women Build event can be a good place start.

Visit Habitat for Humanity's Women Build page for more information and a directory of events near you. Green County does not have a Women Build event going on, but if you can make a short 45 minute drive, both Janesville and Madison are doing Women Build projects.

Things to Do

If you are looking for something to do this weekend in Green County, consider the attending one of the following events:

~ The Monroe Theater Guild production of Drawer Boy is playing on Friday,Saturday Sunday at the Monroe Arts Center. Tickets are $15 for non-member, and are usually available at the door. Call the MAC at 608-325-5700 for more information.

~ The Monroe Business Expo is happening on Friday and Saturday at the SLICE. Sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, more than forty local businesses are participating in this event. 12 pm until 7 pm on Friday, 10 am until 5 pm on Saturday. Admission is free.

~ The new Albany Branch of the Monroe Clinic is complete. The grand opening celebration is on April 26 from 11 am until 1 pm. There will be kids activities, tours and the doctors will be available for conversation. Refreshments are provided.

~ Brooklyn is celebrating Depot Days this Saturday and Sunday. There will be fun for the entire family with Speeder Car rides, model railroad displays, carnival, artist displays and more.

~ Toffler's in New Glarus is having live music again this Saturday evening starting at 9 pm. They are featuring the solo guitar music of Don J. No cover charge.

~ Dance and Dine at Turner Hall will feature music by the Don Peachey Band. Sunday from 2 pm until 6 pm.

Spring Fever

Spring has finally sprung here in Cheese Country. After the long, hard winter we have had here, people are peeking outside, eager to start the spring activities. Tops on the list of many people in our area is working in the garden.

The garden center choices in our area are numerous. Up in New Glarus, Brenda's Blumenladen is loaded with plants, trees, shrubs and garden ornaments. Near Brodhead on Greenbush Rd, Ahrens Acres is a full service greenhouse as well. Just west of Monticello on Hwy N, Garden Path Greenhouses is a popular spot. A few miles north of New Glarus, you will find Sugar River Nursery on Hwy 92. Down by Lena, IL., are three more options - Lily Pad Garden and Nursery, Judith Ann's Garden Center and Double K Nursery.

Here in Monroe, I like to visit The Garden Spot, located on the corner of 13th St and Hwy K, just a ten minute walk from the downtown area. Do not let the modest storefront fool you. The Garden Spot has two important elements - a friendly, helpful owner and a large variety of plants and gardening needs. There is always a good selection of shrubs and trees (fruit trees, shade trees and evergreen trees).

We stopped in today and already there is a variety of perennial flowers, fruit plants and herbs along with the trees and shrubs. More stock is arriving next week, and as the weather continues to warm up, the annuals, hanging baskets and vegetable seedlings will be available. Now is the perfect time to put down some new mulch for the growing season, then come back in a couple of weeks for the flowers and vegetable plants. Seeds and gardening accessories are also available for purchase indoors. If you have no idea what you want to plant, ask for advice. The owner is knowledgeable and personable.

We like to support local businesses, and trips to The Garden Spot are a spring and summer tradition around here. Stop in next time you are in need of something for your garden.

Property of the Week

This week's property is a commercial lot in Monroe.

I hear what you are asking - a parking lot? Yes and no. This is a commercial lot only one block off of Monroe's Downtown Square. Currently, it is a parking lot. We all know that parking can be a premium near the Square, especially during the downtown events when the street parking is banned and the city lots are closed to the general public. If you are looking for additional parking for employees or customers, this is a rare opportunity for your to insure plenty of parking for your business no matter what.

Look beyond what is there now, and imagine the possibilities. The historic buildings on Monroe's Square are wonderful, but they do not lend themselves easily to all types of businesses. Plus, vacancies are not always easy to locate. Take advantage of this generous 62x120 foot lot with a 20x60 foot alley to 11th St and build exactly what you need. It could the best of both worlds - a great downtown location and a modern building. Priced below assessment at only $29,000, business owners and entrepreneurs should pay close attention to this one!