Simple Homemade Refried Beans

As I pointed out in a previous post, I kind of, sort of, like Mexican food...alot. Although, up until the last few years, I shied away from refried beans. I mean, come on, it looks kind of gross. And it's beans, the things I swore to my mother I would never eat.

(Side note-do NOT ever say "NEVER" because the good Lord above will make you eat those words! I know from experience....)

However, when you eat out at a Mexican restaurant, most dishes come with rice and beans. EEWW! So at some point some of these refried beans would wind up mixed with my meal and I'd end up eating some. Wow. They aren't that bad mixed with rice, salsa, cheese and whatever else is left on my plate. Next thing I knew, I was sneaking a can or two of this stuff that reminded me of what I feed my dogs into the cart at the grocery store....

So, where is this post going, you ask? Well, I finally decided I could not stomach using a can opener and spooning the beans out of the can. It just reminded me of stuff I did not think humans should eat. I knew there had to be a recipe somewhere that was not complicated. And there is!

I did not find this recipe from Pinterest! I subscribed to a blog Once A Month Moms, where they have mastered once-a-month cooking (and I have not!) One month they featured a recipe for "Refried Black Beans" What? Hello! I clicked on that link and low and behold you cook these looking boogers in a crock pot and then put through a food processor and BAM! Refried Beans. 

This is the adapted recipe for Slow Cooker Refried Beans - (which I can  no longer find on their site. I guess that is due to changes they made regarding free vs. paid memberships....)

1 lb of Black Beans (I use Pintos)
1.25 cups chopped onion
2 Tbsp minced garlic
5 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
9 cups water
storage containers or freezer bags

 Place all ingredients into a slow cooker. Cook on High for 8 hours, adding more water as needed.

Once the beans have cooked, strain them, reserving the liquid. (Now, I don't do this. I just scoop them out with either a large spoon or a slotted spoon. I am a klutz in the kitchen and can imagine puddles of bean juice all over the place!)

Mash the beans with a potato masher or puree in a food processor (which is what I do), adding the reserved liquid to attain the desired consistency.

Eat immediately, or portion the beans into freezer bags or containers and freeze. To Serve, thaw, reheat in the microwave or on stove top.

I use plastic storage containers and freeze. I pull one out whenever we are having a Tex-Mex meal. The best thing is that my kids LOVE these! When I was their age, I would have a hard time even sitting at the same table with a dish of refried beans....

Enjoy! And "Happy Spring"...I think. It has not really shown up here, yet.

Confessions Of A "Meal Plan" Failure

I absolutely love the idea of planning plans and menus. I get super excited when I think about how "stress-free" my days will be because I have supper planned, somewhat cooked ahead, or ready for a crock pot.

I began over a year ago, sitting down with a spreadsheet, sheets of paper and a sharp #2 pencil and trying to jot down what we usually eat, how frequently we eat it, and what I use to make those meals. Then I started filling in the upcoming month with those meals.  Then I tried to equate that into a shopping list. OH. EM. GEE!! I think my head will explode!

At some point, I became overwhelmed, depressed, and felt like somewhat of a failure. Sure, it was 'nice' to know what was on tap, but what if I did not want "Minute Steak and Gravy" for supper on that particular night? What if I was tired and all I could muster was browning some ground beef and making tacos or sloppy joes?  My calendar looked like a toddler's drawing with scribbles, scratches and erasure marks....And maybe even a few tear stains.

I am too much of a 'rebel' to follow a list line for line. My tastes differ from what the calendar says and some days, I'm just too tired to do whatever it is that I am supposed to do and other days, I just feel rebellious.

So, I kind of kicked the "meal planning" to the curb. But, I have not given up completely. I have found some success in making "freezer bags" of meals that go into the crock pot. Now this is an idea I can get used to! There are several resources online - blogs, Pinterest, etc. Now, these ladies still are way too organized for my likes, but I have learned to adjust their concept to me.

Basically, anything you toss in the crock pot, can go in the freezer bag. Hello! It is that easy!

All those recipes floating around cyber-space! If you would toss it in the crock pot, then toss it in a bag and put it in the freezer!

What I do is pick several crock pot recipes we like, grab the ingredients on one of my shopping trips and come home and make my bags. Now, the hard-core, super-savers will wait for sales, coupons days, etc and really go to town. I just cannot do that with our current situation, but back to the topic.

A few things I have learned doing this -
1. "Everyone" talks about flattening bags, stacking neatly, etc. There are pictures of pretty, neatly stacked bags filling a freezer...Not mine! It is just not practical when you think about pulling the bag out of the freezer and trying to fit a large square block of frozen food and liquid into the proverbial round dish of your crock pot. The block sticks out the top and the lid will not fit. So, my freezer does not look very "neat", but I can drop the block of frozen goodness more easily into the crock pot and forget about it.

2. Seriously, anything you put in the crock pot on a 'normal' day, can be packaged up and frozen. Chicken dishes, savory beef dishes, soups, etc. I started with meals from one blog, but then realized that the stack of "other" recipes I use in the crock pot would work too.

3. The ladies on the various blogs talk about how they spent 4 hours in the kitchen chopping, dicing, slicing and packing to get 100 meals in bags...Do not let this overwhelm you. Start small, try a few new things. Make a list of ingredients to buy for say 10 meals or even 4-6, (Do not forget the bags!) and try it. If it works, then increase or decrease based on how it fits into your family's schedule and taste.

My favorite recipe so far is the Santa Fe Chicken from SkinnyTaste. Another site with great recipes is Six Sisters Stuff.

So, if cooking "once a month" or planning a month's worth of meals "scares" you, give this a try.

The Backyard Boogeyman

Being a former city-girl, living in the country, sometimes my fears of the outdoors get the best of me....

During the day, I LOVE my yard! chickens, dogs, cats, trees, dirt, grass, you get the picture. But at night, I sometimes let the absolute darkness get to me. My friends and I joke about mountain lions, bigfoot, wolverines, and lions, tigers and bears, Oh my! But I rarely go running in the dark...And I will adamantly say it is for the fear of tripping, falling and blowing out my knee on the washboard dirt road!

Anyway, we came home the other night and it was dark. No biggie. I run to the backyard to close up the chickens for the night. I come around the back of the house and STOP dead in my tracks. My alert is on. All I can make out is something where there was not anything the night before. I stand there and try to get my brain to process what it could and could not be. All I could come up with is the neighbor's dog. I call his name, but it was not moving and he knows when he sees me that he should not be trying to court my girls and he moves along. I was stumped and starting to panic a little.

All I could think to do was not scream and get inside and get a flashlight. I do and by now, the whole family is all in my business "What are you doing?" "What is wrong?" and so I am kind of "busted" when we flash a light on it and this is the big, bad, boogeyman in my backyard....

Yep, it will be a long time before I live this one down....

Backyard Predators

I started out on another blog sharing the escapades of my chickens. They were hilarious! They had such personalities. I had to close that blog because my free-ranging friends had a dinner date with a predator and they did not know it. After a chicken hiatus,

Fast-forward to 2013. I have chickens again. We are in a new location and I have decided to keep my chickens penned for now. Here's why -

 This sweet, loving, cow dog has an unquenchable taste for chicken...and not just the scraps I share with her...

 This is a juvenile Golden Eagle. It is one of a pair and they have been hanging around this winter scavenging for food....

 I could not tell if this is an adult Golden or a juvenile Bald. It was just freaking big.

 A chicken hawk, who decided to sit outside my window for quite a while....

Not a great picture, but, it is of two bald eagles in the pastures behind our home....

I do not have a picture of the Great Horned Owl that is in the tree row behind the house. I have seen him and heard him on numerous occasions. Only, I did not realize it was an owl. On more than one occasion, I have heard something honking in the trees. It did not sound quite like a goose, which migrate through here, but I could not figure out what it was. One evening, when my guinea men disappeared, I heard the honking again. I ventured out behind the piles of fallen trees and saw this owl. It honked a few more times and flew to another tree. BIZARRE! I had never heard that before and still could not attribute the honk with the owl. After some research online, I discovered that Great Horned Owls will growl at you and it sounds like a HONK! It must have snatched a guinea and I was keeping it from enjoying its supper...

So, my girls will be confined to their coop until I can figure out how to discourage the birds and dogs from feasting on my feathered friends.

Winter Blues and Dreamin' of Spring

It is January. It is the dead of winter. It is cold. I just don't mean "cold", but "freeze the snot in your nose" kind of cold.  And if that is not enough, you got to throw in some snow.

This is what we woke up to this morning. Note, the light is true...It is just dreary today.

Also, ignore the streak of dirt on the window. It is winter and I will not go and clean it until spring arrives...all 3 days of it!

During this dull, drab, dreary winter, it is almost like our sweet mail lady knows what we need. Seed Catalogs!!  YES!

This is what arrived within a few days of each other. I do believe I threw some out too. I know there are some Ag catalogs in there, but they also have greenhouse and chicken products. So, in my book, that throws them in the same category as a seed catalog!

Now, in my spare time, I am thumbing through these pages, dreaming of warmer days and a garden filled with produce.....aaahhhh....

Confessions and Buffalo

My husband LOVES when I ride along with him at work. I LOATHE riding along with my husband when he is a work. I have too much to do, to sit in a truck and be bored for hours....

This fall, through a class (Love and Respect), I was reminded how much it means to him to have me by his side, regardless of what he is doing. He loves the company. It energizes him and he loves spending time with me (I guess that is why he married me!) So, today when he asked, I agreed.

Just to set the scene a little better. The past week, my trusty-rusty camera was giving me some problems. I ignored them like any non-techno person would because it would just fix itself and go away. Right? Well, yesterday, we went for a little hike. The kiddos just love getting outside and outside our yard. We had a blast. A little snow, a little mud, hills, trees and bulls...Always makes for a fun afternoon!  I pull out the camera to take a few pictures to remember the day with and nothing. Well, not exactly nothing, but some grinding, beeping and lens issues. UGH!  So, I moped around the hike oblivious to my husband's shouts of "keep the dog with you!" and look up to see the 40 bulls in this canyon/pasture following us....nice.  One child was ready to leap off the top of the hill because she was terrified and the other, who is visually impaired, could not understand why I was holding on to her and would not let her "be out front". Well, the bulls became disinterested and we finished our hike, complete with tree knocking for "big foot"!

When we got home, I started researching my camera issue, because as much as I want a shiny, fancy pants, new camera, it just is not going to happen any time soon. I did find lots of information, as the issue is common. So, Monday morning, I set out to fix my camera! And I did! I am such a techy-geek! Ha!

This is when my husband walks in and congratulates me on my success and then pops the question - "Do you want to ride with me when I feed the buffalo?" Um....not really, but I bite my tongue. Ok, I will go. I grab my stuff and he adds "Aren't you going to bring a snack?" And, I am sure my reply was not all that pleasant, but went along the lines of "and just how long does it actually take to feed the buffalo?"

See, you have to understand that when he says XX mins/hours, it has to be multiplied by the "In Reality" factor. It NEVER takes what it should when I am along. Something goes "wrong" and we are stuck out in the middle of a pasture miles from anywhere and anyone with no cell service.

But, I bite my tongue, grab some almonds and a Diet Coke and a smile and hop into the truck.  Well, HIS dog is not impressed. She looks at me with some dirty words floating above her head because she knows she has to sit on the floor and I get the seat.  We get settled and go bouncing along our way.

We get to the buffalo (ok, they are bison, but buffalo sounds better!). They are waiting for the truck...Apparently, they know this thing pops out tasty treats each visit.  We drive to the feeding spot and I enjoy with my working camera!

Stampeding Bison! They love snack time!

Mad Bison! Or more than likely "It was chilly and she got her workout in!"

She is not impressed with the seating arrangements today....

4 pairs of swans having a snack. There are regularly 2 pairs in this cornfield, but today, they invited some friends. (and it is pretty foggy too)

From our hike, before the camera completely died - she needed a "gun" to shoot wildlife...

 And the magnifying glass to help see things "far away".....

And if you know where I live and realize it is the end of January and, yes, we are in "just" fleeces...Does not seem right.

Thanks for sticking with the rabbit trails in this post!

The BEST Popcorn!

Now that I live "in the sticks", I love when I can buy things locally. It makes me feel good knowing that my money is staying right here. This past year, I discovered a hidden jewel in the Sandhills! Double K Popcorn! This is THE BEST popcorn I have had in ages!

 The variety I love is Mushroom. It pops into the large, super-sized, "Cracker Jack" pieces of popcorn. It is awesome!

I used this over Christmas to make caramel popcorn. It was delicious! I will be posting that recipe a little later (after I lose some of the Christmas fluff and can afford to eat the whole batch!)

Check them out and find out what the buzz is about! There are a couple different varieties besides the Mushroom and I believe they even have microwave packets!

Taco Dip That Is Super Easy!

With a rather popular football game right around the corner, I thought I would share an easy dip that will be a crowd favorite!

I have been making this dip for years. Yes, finally something that is "pre-Pinterest"! I do not actually remember where I saw this recipe.

What you will need -

1-8oz container of Sour Cream
1-packet of Taco Seasoning (Or use 1 Tbsp of homemade Taco Seasoning, which is what I prefer)
A bowl to mix it

So, here is the hard part...Mix it all together. Done.

Then serve with Frito Chips and watch it disappear!

I have not tried this, but I am sure you could substitute plain Greek yogurt for the sour cream and make it a little 'healthier'.

(and, yes, I wrote a blog without pictures...naughty blogger...)

There's A Chicken Where?

As most of you know, I love chickens! I am still learning all there is to know about them and am not an expert at all, but I love chickens!


I love the fact that they share with me their eggs daily...Okay, maybe in the bitter cold it is a little hit or miss, but generally speaking, they share with me.

Overall, this group of hens is pretty tame. They do not try and rush me when I open the coop door and escape into the great unknown. They will run outside the chicken door into the pen and leave me to grab eggs, clean or feed them. Occasionally, I will catch one sitting on the eggs acting a little broody. However, there is not a big fight when I reach under and grab the eggs. I have yet to get pecked by these girls.

The other day, I noticed one of the hens acting like she was not feeling well. I just kind of kept an eye on her and was monitoring what was going on. The next day, she was even worse; pretty lethargic, getting stepped on by the other biddies, etc. So, I pulled her out and brought her to the house. The fabulous Cowboy, grabbed a dog crate and hay for me. I settled her in and made sure she had fresh water and feed. She was so sweet. She would quietly cluck to me. So, I knew in my heart I had done the right thing and that she would probably make it. She was not sick, rather bullied....

Here is where she is sleeping. This morning she was wide awake, talking to me, eating food! I was so excited! I gave her some table scraps as a treat. She loved it!

I hope to take her back out to the flock in a couple of days. I also hope my chicken bullies will leave her alone.

I am sure there a few people who knew me in a "previous life" that will laugh hysterically when they read all this. I mean, I owned a cat or maybe two back in those days. Never would I have dreamed of having farm animals, much less inviting them into my home!


So, yes, there is a chicken in my house...

Got Some Laundry To Do?

A while back, I talked about a homemade stain "remover" I used to clean the Cowboy's clothes after his long day at work. It was great! I still use it.  I have also been using homemade laundry detergent too. Actually, I've been using it for quite some time. It feels like a "Love-Hate" relationship. I started out making a liquid version. Hated it. Sorry, but I did. My sister-in-law loved it, but I hated mine. So, I had been on a long, several year journey to find a powder version that would suit me and my grubby family.

Well, I think I found it! I actually made the first batch last June. Yes, Last June...as in 2012.It lasted my dirt-loving, outdoor playing, family 7 months! I did not write about it because I wanted to make certain that I like it before actually talking about it.

You can guess where I found this "recipe"...Yes, Pinterest. This is the recipe I used from Being Creative To Keep My Sanity. It calls for the usual stuff Borax, Washing Soda, Baking Soda, OxiClean and Fels Naptha.

I used the standard size of Borax and Washing Soda, 4lbs of Baking Soda, approximately 3 lbs of OxiClean, and THREE bars of Fels.

Next, grab a garbage bag. Dump the powders in and mix it up. You might want to make sure that you've pulled the top of the bag closed and keep an eye on dust wafting out of the bag. You do not want to get this stuff in your eyes!

Then the most dreaded part of the process...Grating the Fels. I started out using the small part of the grater to get finely shredded soap, like in this picture.

But I must admit that after what seemed like an eternity, I flipped to the other side and grated away, much more quickly. I then used a knife to break those pieces up.

Then I dumped the Fels into the grocery bag and mixed it up again. Then I carefully poured the detergent into my detergent container. (I got this one at Walmart)  I use about 1 Tablespoon per load. With our family of 4, one being someone who works outdoors and with large animals, It should last us about 7 months. Also, I do not have an HE washing machine.

And it is just that simple. Enjoy!

DIY Christmas Gifts

My friends and family may "hate" me after this year! I am making Christmas gifts...

These are super-simple gifts to make. Trust me, I cannot handle anything too complicated when it comes to being "crafty" (and the Beastie Boys song just went sailing through my head).

Here are three things I have made.

1. Lemon Extract
2. Vanilla Extract
3. Brown Sugar Body Scrub

Lemon Extract

First decide what size bottle(s) you want to use. You might need to search the web for sites that sell bottles for a price you like. Some have really great prices and outrageous shipping or vice versa. So, figure out what's the best deal for you.  Then depending on how many bottles you are making and the size of the bottle (2oz, 4oz, 8oz--you get the picture), you can determine how much Vodka you need to purchase. (Hint, it's an Algebra problem...Remember when you said you would never use it after high school?) I just went ahead and bought the biggest bottle I could because I plan on having a few cocktails while I am mixing this stuff up! Just Joking! Kind of...Probably not...

Okay, back on track! You will need a lemon for each bottle. Zest a lemon and put it in the bottle and fill the bottle with what is left of the vodka and Ta-Da! It is done!

Geez, even I can handle that!

Just add a label and some raffia and your gift is ready!

Vanilla Extract

The vanilla extract is almost as easy as the lemon extract. I suggest you make this in one big batch.

Take a large bottle of Vodka. Remove the little plastic thingy in the lid with a table or butter knife. Mine always flies away, but they are easy to pop off. Then take some vanilla beans. (You can order these online via ebay, beanilla, etc.) and cut a slit down the vanilla bean and gently scrape the seeds inside the bean. you will need to dispose of a little of the vodka in order for the beans to fit in the bottle. Place the bean seeds in the bottle. Many people put the whole bean pod in the bottle. Your choice. Others also add a shot of dark bourbon to the vodka bottle to give the extract a brown color. Again, your choice.

Put the lid on the bottle and let it sit and steep for 2-4 months. I have seen a couple different schools of thought on the aging process. Whatever works best for you. Once a week, shake the bottle to mix it all up. That is it.  Then use in the place of store bought vanilla or bottle it and give as gifts.

Brown Sugar Body Scrub - 

What you will need is--

2 - half pint mason jars with lids
1 c. of brown sugar, packed
2 Tbsp of Honey
1 - lemon
2 Tbsp of Olive oil

In a bowl, mix the brown sugar, oil and honey. Cut and squeeze the lemon (pick the seeds out). Mix together well. and pour evenly between the 2 jars and that is all! Add a label, fabric square or raffia and call it done!

(Note: This will need to be stirred before use. Mine has separated in the jar.)

Absolutely Fabulous Chicken Enchiladas with Red Chili Sauce

Oh! My! Goodness! These are Fabulous!

I swear, I have got to have a little Hispanic blood running through me! I absolutely love Mexican food, whether it is Mexican, TexMex, or anything pseudo-Mexican. When we make it to a "big" town, the handsome Cowboy asks me what I want to eat...the response is generally "Mexican"!

One other thing about me, is that I do not like to crack open a can and pour. If I can make it from scratch, I tend to do that. I just like knowing what I'm eating and feeding to my family. Now, I'm not fanatical about it, but it's just how I lean in my cooking.

So, I was cruising Pinterest (Okay, so when am I not cruising Pinterest) and I came across this recipe for Homemade Enchiladas. Oh Dear Lord! So I clicked on the pin and it took me to this recipe . I had to try it! Like the next day! So, I did.

This is NOT my picture! It's from the blog "Pink Parsley" where I got the recipe from. My enchiladas did not look nearly as pretty, but tasted absolutely amazing! The sauce is to die for and so much richer and thicker than the canned version.

At supper, my youngest literally was gulping the tasty morsels down. No chewing, no taking breaths, just gulping. Guess the little stinker liked it! the handsome Cowboy had a huge pile on his plate and decided since there were only two left that he needed to finish them...So, no leftovers for me! RATS!

This recipe is a "Keeper".

I hope you try it and love it as much as we did!

A Little Christmas Decorating

We have never been big on Christmas decorating. My parents never went all out and so I have kept Christmas decorating pretty low key. As the kiddos get a little older, their excitement is contagious and I have been trying do to a little more.

Last year, on Pinterest (The place where missing time ends up), I saw this adorable outdoor Christmas tree decoration using Tomato Cages! I have those! And I have some extra lights! WOOHOO! This is a link to a page that shows how to make the tree. I cannot find my pin, which is typical these days...Maybe one day Pinterest will let us search our own boards!

This year, I have decided to do the same thing again. It adds a little "class" to the LED Snowman we usually have out. I just have to remember to stake these little guys down, or else they will end up several states away when the first big wind blows.

First, I dug out 3 tomato cages from the back of the shed. (I did not put them there...Rather "someone" was "cleaning up" and put them in an awkward place.)

Then I take a string of lights and wrap them around the cage. There is no "right" way or "wrong" way to do this. Put as many as you like or as little as you like to get the look you prefer. I used 1 strand for these "trees".

See, super simple.

Merry Christmas!

Fall and Changes

We have been enjoying a beautiful fall this year! Well, if you do not count the wind storm, lack of regular moisture and the first snow...Okay, okay, I loved the first snow! This time of the year has also brought a change in the kitchen. I feel like I have been baking up a storm, trying new recipes and baking some old favorites.

This weekend, I decided to make one of my favorite apple dishes. I made Ozark Apple Pudding. I found this recipe a while back on the Pioneer Woman's Tasty Kitchen site. It's delicious all on its own and even better warm with a scoop of ice cream on the side!

Just so you know, I cheated a little. When I whipped this together, I was not feeling all the perky and did not feel like pulling the ingredients out, setting them up for a shot and then taking "in progress" pictures. I was in a funk and thought this would brighten my day a little. 

So, back to the recipe. It calls for pretty basic stuff like flour, sugar, oil, baking soda, salt, eggs, apples, cinnamon and nuts. (and, yes, those eggs are from my gorgeous feathered friends!)

Following the directions, it is pretty straightforward and a "quick" dish to make.  After baking, you get this yummy dessert!

Dish it up with ice cream, whipped cream or just eat it by itself!

Enjoy!

The First Snow!

It is an event that I look forward to every year! I feel almost like a child when I know it is coming and so completely in awe when it happens! It is the "First Snow" of the season! WOOHOO! YIPPEE!

This year, it is such a huge blessing! This snow is a big, wet snow! And after the year we have experienced with lack of moisture, it is such a good thing.

The kids had school, but they were dressed super fast and outside playing for a while until I felt it was "ok" for me to try driving them to town for school. 

We were 'teased' with a chance of snow a couple of weeks ago. I felt like my kids, all disappointed because we did not get anything. And I know by April, when spring should be well on its way and we get that (hopefully) last snow, I will complain about the snow and cold.

Until then, enjoy your fall!

Yep, It Looks Like an Outhouse!

The one thing I really wanted when I moved from the city and suburbs was chickens. I love those little, noisy birds and the beautiful eggs they produce. I was so super excited when I was able to have them running freely through my yard.

This past winter, I admit, I got a little lazy and did not button the coop up quite as tightly as I should have. I was lulled into that false sense of "security" and ignoring the fact that one by one, the free-ranging hens were being picked off every other day by some raptor. Some times ignorance is bliss...Until the morning you go out and find that the chicken-loving predator has taken liberty in your chicken coop and destroyed the entire flock.

So, I took a break from the feather friends for a while. I did pick up several guinea hens this spring to help with insect control. I will write more on those "I'm-So-Ugly-I'm-Cute" little boogers another time. However, I refrained from getting chickens.


Now, "settled" into our new home, I immediately started bugging the old cowboy to help me get a place for chickens set up. We went back and forth. Do we build a coop like we had?

 (ok, we did finish it! This was during construction)

Use the ever popular trampoline coop? This one made the Fed-Ex guy pull out his phone and snap a picture to send to his friend "Back East" for a laugh. So, yes, I'm probably in some "You might be a redneck if..." email.

Or do something different?  We opted for "different". This place had an old outhouse which had not been used in quite some time. So, we picked out a spot, moved the heavy beast of a bathroom and added a small pen area and buried the chicken wire about a foot in the ground.

So, yes, that is an outhouse turned chicken coop! And I'm loving my chickens!

A Long, Dry Summer

This summer has been hard for most folks. Even those not directly affected by the hot, dry, windy summer.

Everyone where we live seems to be on pins and needles, terrified of wild fires. I can certainly understand why. There's a feeling of complete hopelessness when you get a call or look out the window and see flames racing your way.

This is smoke from a fire that greeted us the weekend that we moved. Too close for comfort, but beautiful.

Luckily for us, we have not been in the direct line of one of these monsters. The guys have had to rush out and help neighbors as dry storms go through and light up the landscape with fires, but we have been able to stay put and pray for those in the path of this destructing force.

If there is an "upside" to this horrible time, it could be the beautiful sunrises that greet us each morning and sunsets that bid us goodnight.  Some of the most beautiful colors have blanketed the skies.

The Dreaded Birthday Cake Adventure

It's that time of the year again. A child's birthday! I LOVE baking cakes for my kids. It gives me an excuse to make sure there is extra frosting because that is MY favorite part of the whole experience!

With this child, if you know her, the world revolves around princesses. Over the years, I've made a variety of cakes with some type of princess theme - a crown, a castle, a "princess". This year, I made the executive chef's decision to go with something a little more simple and told her she was getting a cake in the shape of "Flip Flops"!

See, the problem isn't that I'm a bad cook. I love to cook. I love to make delicious meals and treats for my family. I do buy store-bought things, quite frequently by reviewing my checkbook each month, but I feel that the cake made at home is just a little more "healthy" than something I have no idea where it came from.

So, back to my birthday dilemma. I bake really tasty things. I do NOT make really "pretty" things...The "Alice in Wonderland" cake from a couple of years ago - FAIL! Tasted delicious. Looked like a pile of something. So, this year, I am determined to "master" this simple project. One year, I did not decorate anything! I let the kids do it at the party! Total win with that one!

First, I found something on Pinterest that boasts "Box Cake Will Taste Like Bakery Cake". Hhhmmm...So, I followed the link recipe-for-making-a-box-cake-taste-homemade and did what it instructed me to do. I used melted butter in place of oil and milk in place of the water.

It says to add 1-2 eggs on top of what is called for, but I decided to use what the box said to use. A few minutes of mixing and baking and "Voila'"!

I will have to say, this is the most beautiful cake that has ever come out of my oven! I cannot wait for it to cool some more in the freezer and be transformed into the most beautiful pair of flip flops ever!

After the cake was cooled, I used the template from Betty Crocker ( http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/flip-flops-cake/) and cut out the "Flip Flops".

Not bad, so far! Then I frosted them and used M&Ms instead of Sprees. Plus, I could not find any fruit roll-ups (maybe that was on purposed) and used frosting instead.

I know, I know. It's probably my choice of frosting that makes the decorating hard, but it is my favorite frosting and I opt for flavor over looks any day!

The birthday girl loved it! She was thrilled that I even added the flowers to the shoes.

And it was a great tasting cake. I will make these modifications to a box mix whenever I use one!

Changes....

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes.....There's a song, right? Well, if you haven't learned already, life is packed full of changes. As much as I try to keep things the same, God turns my head and I see there is something that changed. I mean I was a full-fledged corporate career girl happily climbing that ladder and now I am a SAHM, "self-employed" and raising a family on a ranch literally in the middle of nowhere. Big change, there.

Most recently, my husband felt the call to find a new position. Nothing was really "wrong" with the current place. He just didn't feel like this was where he was supposed to be. He found a new job, thankfully, and we have moved....again....

So no pictures...I am too embarrassed to show the unpacked boxes and clutter that still grace my house, 10 days post-move...I know. I'm an overachiever...haha!

The move went pretty darn smoothly. My husband is a rock star! He is tireless and can pack a trailer like no other I've seen. I am thankful that we got the guineas penned up and packed in a dog crate for the move. The only casualty was me, when a guinea was not quite on board with the plan and flew into my face and left a huge welt. Yep, a welt. I was sure I was going to have to be rushed to the E.R., but no skin was even broken.

I am a bit heart-broken that I have left my garden behind. It was just starting to come in. I will try and get back a couple times a week to pick and see what devastation the grasshoppers and deer have inflicted since the guineas are not there for control.

I did dig up a couple of fruit trees. I hope they make it through the transplant! And on the next trip, I will dig up what is left of the dried up strawberry plants.

The first night we spent here with all critters, the one dog got out of the back yard and took off. We knew she'd come home. It just might take her a few days to remember where we live now. However, my husband, not as trusting as I am, went out "for a drive" (yeah right. I knew what he was doing!). He stopped and asked my child a question and out pops the dog from the ditch. He was one happy camper! But because the chicken-eating dog was roaming, I was afraid the guineas did not make it through the night. As he walked in the door to tell me the dog was back, he also tossed in the "Come feed your guineas. They are standing at the front door waiting for you too." Yippee!



Stay cool and enjoy the last few days of summer "vacation"!

The Skunk

One warm morning, I was running around doing some chores before I headed to my job in town. The kids were already dressed and outside playing. One was out front swinging and the younger was out back playing in her sand "box".

I was wandering around looking for the silly guineas to put out corn where they would find it. They were out by the garden. I shake the feed scoop filled with corn and they start running towards me. Past the younger child the sand box. I start counting to make sure they are all accounted for. 1-2-3-4-5 that is almost right. Let's try this again 1-2-3-4-5. Huh. It should be 4. The fifth one is black with a white stripe and a bit furry. Then it registers! SKUNK! I scream for, lunge and grab my child, holler at the dog, who is nose to nose with the skunk, and scream for the other child to get in the house.

I race for the trusty firearm, race to the other end of the house for the ammo. Race back through the house and burst through the back door. I'm so rattled that I can't keep a good aim on the smelly creature. I take a breath and pull the trigger. Nothing. Really? I actually cock the gun and then take aim again. I pepper his back end. He scurries back to his hideout....sigh...

A couple of observations. (1) My guineas are not the smartest birds on the farm...this is the second time danger has slithered right by them and they stare obliviously at it. A month ago, a 4 foot bull snake slithers by and they just stare at it. Seriously? I thought you were supposed to attack the thing? And now with the skunk, they don't start their alert squawking until after I shoot. (2) I need caffeine to make sure I am awake enough to actually kill the varmint who wander through my yard.

No pictures of the half-dead skunk, but one of his "house"

 And just because summer has arrived and my garden is loving it, a photo of my spaghetti squash! This has nothing to do with the skunk...unless it decides to climb into my garden and eat it. Then we have a problem!

Happy Summer! Stay cool and away from crazy animals!