Watch 'em Grow...

I find summer as an interesting season. There are so many "things" you can sit back and watch grow throughout the warm summer days!

Watch 'em grow....
baby goats that were born in the spring,
nicely built colts,
speckled longhorn calves,
fluffy chicks growing their feathers,
curious kittens playing friskly,
smart, playful puppies,
and, of course, inocent children enjoying their freedom and the warm sunshine.

Here kitty, kitty, kitty...

Here are two of our three cats that you might see prowling around our place.  We value our cats for their great "mousing" ability. 

                                 ...and MamaKitty just had three babies! Doesn't she look worn out?

His name is Smokey.   We have another one that looks identical, except the female came with a bob-tail. These two are very playful.  We joke that they don't really think of themselves as felines at all....because they trot right along with our dogs to meet our pick-up when we pull down the driveway.  It's pretty funny!

:(

I believe I have one whirlwind week ahead of me. I just received a phone call from my daddy. My grandmother hasn't been doing well
and she just passed away this morning.

I have a million thoughts, memories, prayers, pains, etc running through my head. Please tell your loved ones how much they mean to you!!!

Have a good week...

Here I am again....a long breather since my last update.  Our life has been a bit hectic around here...to say the least!  But I haven't forgotten about my site, so let's get busy...

For Easter this year, my husband and I decided to give the kiddos home-made "gift certificates: good for one fruit tree of their choice"...beats a basket full of candy, right?  Anyway, that's what we did this year and a few weeks ago we took the kids to a nursery for them to choose their very own fruit tree.  We came home with a bing cherry tree, a plum tree, and two pear trees.  We proudly dug our holes and planted these little guys with great hope to harvest some fruit, if not this year, then next year for sure! 

Then several weeks later came Mother's Day...and my family brought me my very own fruit tree!...a peach tree!  It is so cute! So perfect! And already has fruit on it!  I can't wait to taste a fresh peach off my own fruit tree!  Here's a great little pic of it...

And here is a close-up of my first peach...isn't he cute???  Still has some growing to do!!!  But has potential!



what happened to that week?

Wow!  Can't believe it has been almost a week since my last blog addition!  I had planned on posting at least a few times within this past week! Where does the time go????

I have been trying to get our house (and routine) back in order since our trip.  Last Monday and Tuesday I spent unpacking and cleaning...and, of course, laundry!  Also made a trip to the feed co-op for our critters and to the groccery store for our two legged critters...aka: cowpokes!  Then we tried to visit with our extended family some. 

News Update #1: Just yesterday, we attended a Ranch Rodeo.  Some of our family members are now thinking about entering the next one.  I think they have a good chance at placing, or at least having fun out there!  I will let you know what happens with that!

News Update #2:  My son has been battling asthma for years now, and we have found a few things that he's allergic to.  One of the things on the list is, of all things...horses!  So for the past two years he hasn't been doing much riding unless one of his siblings bathes and saddles a horse for him to ride for about an hour, then he had to come straight inside and shower himself!  What an ordeal!  We thought there must be a better way out there...  So we have done some research and found that there is a breed of horses called Curly horses that are hypoallergenic.  (Some of you may know this breed) Sounded too good to be true!  Luckily, we have a friend that ran across a gelding, and is letting us borrow him to see if it works it's magic on my son....so far, so good!!!  It's amazing!  Actually, it's amazing watching my son get reaquainted with riding!  He has had so much fun in the past two weeks with that horse, and his rope!!!  My husband and I are so happy that he's "back in the saddle"!!! 

News Update #3: The kids have new twin baby goats!  They are the cutest little things!  One doe is red with tiny dark spots and the other doe is a mocha color with a white belt around her middle.  I need to take photos of them!  (Check back for pics of the goats!)

I suppose I should finish up supper.  I expect to hear the door any minute...and then pitter-patter of small cowboy boots across the wood floor...and the door again....and then my hubby's spurs rattling...and then the dredded question: "Mmo-o-o-ommmm, where are you??? What are we having for supper, Mo-o-o-o-o-mmmm???"....anyone familiar with that???

What a Trip!

We have returned from a ten day trip!

-We drove 9 1/2  hours, one way
-With four rowdy kids
-Pulling a loaded stock trailer
-Through the heat
-Plus two dogs in the truck cab
-And my husband doesn't believe in stopping for ANYTHING...except fuel!
....Do you now, have an idea of our travels?

Seriously, we had a great time! 
I plan to get back to blogging this week...

One dirty RANGER

This is our "RIDE" around the ranch!  It's a well-used Ranger, don'tcha think?  Seriously, I don't know what we did without this "tool"!  We use this Ranger daily...either feeding cattle or hauling water or just picking up around the yard!  It's a great lil' machine to have on a ranch...no doubt about that!

...I'm heading outside right'directly to make it a happy lil' machine!  It's getting power-washed today!

SCONES! SCONES! SCONES!

Here's one of my (and my family's) favorite treat...whether they are served after a meal for dessert, or breakfast with a hot cup of jo, or just an afternoon snack...scones always go over well in this house!

BLUEBERRY SCONES
Ingredients:                                   Icing Ingredients:
3 1/4 cup flour                              1/2 lb powdered sugar
1/2 cup sugar                                2 Tbsp butter
1 tsp salt                                      2-3 Tbsp cream
5 tsp baking powder                      dash of salt
1/2 lb chilled butter                       1/2 tsp vanilla
1 egg                                           Stir icing ingredients together until very smooth!
3/4 c cream
1/4 cup blueberries

Preheat oven to 350.
Stir together the dry ingredients, then cut in the butter until crumbly.
Mix cream and egg together and add to bowl. Mix until combined.

  Place mixture on surface to knead gently. Fold in the blueberries.

Form dough into a ball then, flatten out about 1" thick

With a knife, slice into 8 equal wedge shape pie pieces

Place wedges on baking stone or greased cookie sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes.

Do not let the edges turn dark!

Let cool completely.  I like to transfer them into a sided dish before drizzling icing all over them!

Set them on your counter, let your kids and hubby find them, and you will be loved....forever!

busy...busy...busy

Here I am again...No, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth!  We have been super busy with weddings and new babies!  Let me clear this up...NOT ME!  It's has definitely been an eventful month, and I cannot believe that next weekend is already the last weekend of May!  Amazing!  I am still trying to find time each day to "enjoy the moment"!  I really believe these days one needs to be aware of how fast time goes and TAKE TIME to enjoy your life...every day...and don't just sit by and watch it "go"!  While you are driving in your car, or doing laundry, or washing dishes, or vacuuming...just stop for a quick moment, evaluate your life and thank God that you have what you have...feel blessed!

Anyway,...well, yep, my husband purchased a chainsaw a few days ago!  (I guess he didn't trust my judgement on that purchase)  He has used it almost every day this past week!  He says it's a great gift and has thanked me for it multiple times!  I just smile and say "you earned it, it wasn't a gift".  And he chuckles...knowing that he DID earn it! 

Now he is talking about another "bet".  I am a little more hesitant to take his bet this time...but I am considering it!  What do you think?  I already told him that I wasn't going to bet to loose weight again...I just don't think that was wise of me in the first place!  Guys loose weight different from gals, ya'know?  Oh-well, my mistake! 

I will let you know if I decide to bet him again...  as of now, he is calling me to come help him clear limbs as he cuts them....does it seem like I, yet again, got the wrong end of this deal??? 

I've been CREAMED!

Ok, here we are at THE END of our lil' bet.  And, yep, my husband won fair and square :(  He lost his 10lbs before I lost mine.  (This is harder than I thought, girls!)  I have lost 4 lbs...does that count for anything?  I guess I will be chainsaw shopping this weekend....wish me luck on  purchasing the right one!!!  (This will be an experience in itself.) 

Thanks for all your support and to those of you that baked desserts for my husband...I must say, he does have will-power!  I guess I can still learn something from him...

to all you mothers...

Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers out there.  Have a blessed day!

Cowboy Courtesy

Most folks don't relate a cowboy with manners, but true cowboys are true gentlemen!  Unfortunately, I find that "cowboy courtesy" has been negatively affected by our lenient society.  My family has always felt it an honor to be interconnected with the cowboy way of life...something to be proud of!  Seems as though this type of courtesy has gone by the wayside.

Let me share with you a less familiar form of cowboy etiquette that true ranch wives still notice...

When cowboys wear their spurs into a house it shows a lack of respct, and looked down upon by housewives.  But you can always tell a cowboy that has respect for you (and your home) when you see his gear looking like this next to your back door!

Some cowboy etiquette has been long forgotten.  It's important to hand down the "rules" to the next generation of cowpolks...because it's rough to learn the rules the hard way.







                                                                                                         This makes for one happy rancher's wife!
                                                                                                 

a new creation out of old

Yesterday I grabbed an old piece of barn wood...and today created something new out of something old!

Seems like I am always untangling one of my girls' necklaces, so I decided to build them a rustic jewelry board.  I used an old piece of barn wood, several horse shoe nails, and two horse shoes I bent.  Then I placed them where I wanted them, and screwed the whole board to the wall. 

They were quite pleased when they walked into their room today!  One for Mom!!  Now (hopefully) there won't be any more tangled necklaces...

Tex-Mex Spuds

I find myself preparing large meals and doing extra baking more-so in the winter months, but here is a somewhat new recipe I found (but refined) that's pretty simple yet very tasty!

Tex-Mex Spuds                                                
Ingredients:
4-5 unpeeled potatoes
1 green bell pepper
1 yellow bell pepper
1 red bell pepper
1 onion
3 Tbsp olive oil
3 Tsp Taco Seasoning

1.  Preheat oven to 400*
2.  Pour olive oil in large bowl.

3.  Cut up potatoes and peppers and onion          and place into bowl. Toss until coated.                                                                   

4.  Season the oil covered veggies. Sometimes I substitute some garlic and oregano and paprika.                                   

5.  Pour out onto a large cooking sheet.

 (I line the tray with aluminum foil for easy clean-up)

6. Cook for 30-40 minutes.

7. Remove from oven and place in a serving dish. 

 Can even sprinkle with parmesean cheese or add
 pico de gallo or just ketsup!

I like to serve this with a simple hamburger meal!

This can also work well if you completely wrap the spuds in aluminum foil and place on your grill while you cook your burgers!  *NOTE: start cooking the spuds before you cook the burgers

I encourage you to try this recipe and let me know how your family likes it...and any other seasoning mixtures you come up with!

Easter decorating

I enjoy decorating for different seasons. Of course, my favorite is Christmas, but I here is my table top Easter decorations for this year... 

I have chosen to use some of my old Ball canning jars as part of the display (because I love the color of them).  In the large one gallon jar, I have placed some fresh cut pussy willow branches.  In the two blue quart jars, I have primitive candle holders.  I found these cute candle holders a few weeks ago while antique shopping with a good friend of mine.  I picked up three of them. I figured they could be used year 'round.  Then the African Violet has bloomed at just the right time for my spring display.  I then just added some Easter eggs for color.  It doesn't take much to create a holiday display.  Just look around your home (and basement) for some items to group together.  A general rule of thumb is to place odd number of items for a display.

On a roll

Okay, I know it's been a bit since my last post. I was hoping for a better update to share. I can report that I have lost 3lbs. Yeah! At least I'm heading in the right direction, but I want to go faster!

wanna bet?

My husband and I each would like to drop 10 lbs!  Sounds great, right?  So, we decided to make it a little more interesting...a little more fun...a little more competitive!!!  We agreed to a bet. 

Here are the terms: the first one to get to their desired weight (in this case, dropping 10 lbs...bare with me, I'm taking a little at a time!) by exercising and/or eating better WINS!  Well, you might ask what is the prize? 

If he wins....he gets a chainsaw that he's been wanting!
If she wins....she gets a night away that she's been wanting...for years!!! (just her and her hubby...no kids, no dogs, no horses, not even pick up or drop off any animals along the way! PERIOD! For those of you who know us, you understand how that's a "stretch" for my husband.)

So I'm not willing to tell you my actual weight, but I will keep you posted along the way on the amount of weight I'm losing!  We will call today "day one"( April 7).

Today, so far I have rode the elliptical for 30 min and lifted weights...small ones, but they were weights none the less!  And I am now eating a salad.  No more sweets for me...I hope!!!  But I intend to fix brownies with nuts and Texas sheetcake and all those yummy chocolate and nut desserts for my husband.  Isn't that what a good wife is supposed to do??? :)

Wish me luck...(I'll need it)

learning as I go

You may have noticed the blog header image is a little different in size.  I have been wondering and researching how I was going to fix this situation.  I knew what I wanted it to look like, but since I'm learning as I'm going, I wasnt' sure exactly how to change this.  I want to share with you a great site that I found while doing some research myself.

Check out this website:  http://www.resize.it/  This site will let you download a photo,resize it, then save as usual to your photos and use as you wish.  (FYI: Most headings are sized at 200high and 800 wide.)  Hope you find this tool helpful.

My next issue is moving the text in the heading box...  but I'm saving that for another day!

Last day of March

Here we are the last day of March already.  I know, you hear it everywhere..."time flies".  It does seem that time goes quickly these days and there doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day to get everything done that you would like to complete.  I think we all have had those feelings at least once in our lives?! 

But if I may encourage you to slow down and appreciate what is really  important in your life! 

Slow down and really listen to your child. 
Slow down and visit with a friend you run into while you're doing errands in town.
Slow down and ask your brother/sister and their family over for dinner.
Slow down and walk around your home and yard and be thankful for the things you see.
Slow down and tell your significant other how much they mean to you.
Slow down and write a letter to a friend/grandmother/mom/dad/etc
Slow down and cook a meal from scratch!
Slow down and just realize how fortunate you really are!!!

Homemade butter

Butter...ahhh, the creamy texture of homemade butter!

I have tried to make real butter a few times...yesterday, I succeeded!  Isn't it beautiful?  I started out by saving the cream off our fresh cow's milk.  I had about three quarts saved.  We started out shaking it in the masson jars, but it seemed to take too long.  So I poured our (slightly shaken) cream into my KitchenAid Mixer and turned 'er on!  It mixed for almost an hour. As I was in the dining room, I heard my youngest daughter yell out about the mixer.  As I entered the kitchen, to my amazement, there was butter in the bowl and the buttermilk was sloshing out of the bowl (so that corner of my kitchen got sanitized yesterday too).  I washed the butter with cold water and patted it dry with a cloth.  I added some salt and...here it is...my beautiful homemade butter! 

We had it last night on some bread.  It was delicious! (But next time I will add a little more salt.)  Give it a try...it's a great experience! If you don't have access to fresh cream, you can purchase heavy cream from the supermarket. 

Let me know how your's turns out...

another perspective

There's always another perspective on things... 

When you are looking at a situation from one side, don't forget to view it from another angle...it could look totally different than expected!

This photo I snapped shows off the relaxation of the rider.  He was watching a steer run down the side of the arena as his horse was also relaxed and both waiting their turn. 

springtime

SPRINGTIME ...what a word!  Today was the perfect definition of "springtime".  The sun was warm, the wind was strong, daffodils are blooming, and the animals are enjoying a much needed break from the cold winter we had this year. 

                                                           A true sign that spring is here.....

keepin' kids

Well, today has already been a great day...
This morning our good friends that are visiting from Guatemala dropped off their two young boys for our family to keep while they take a mini-vacation.  I am so glad they asked us to watch them.  These boys fit right into our family.  They love to hang out here at our place and feed the animals with my kiddos, but I think their favorite thing to do here is to ride the "range-range"...aka Polaris Ranger.  Oops...gotta run and catch these boys...getting used to have little ones running around today

day one...

Well, I have decided to enter into the world of blogging.  Forgive me as I'm sure I will make mistakes along the way.  I hope to share ideas about ranching and living life as a rancher's wife...preparing meals, house keeping, orgainization, keeping track of the kids and their chores, homeschooling, hosting, gardening, caring for multitudes of animals.  Follow along as I share my journey...