Let there be RAIN

As most anyone on the High Plains knows, we have been living in a drought,  a huge, far reaching Dust Bowl equivalent drought.  Last night the good Lord smiled upon us and dropped just shy of two inches on our dry land. 
The storm howled in, a line of dirt proceeding it, to slam us with dirt and destructive winds and, most importantly, rain.
It takes very little rain to bring the green back, as these picture show!

this is my pasture prior to last night

It was trying!

Leading edge of storm

The dirt proceeds the rain

A girl and her horse

I rode, too!

Convincing Jake it wouldn't hurt him

Puddle happiness

Playing in the puddles

 

 

We are hoping for more rain tonight, and I don't think anyone, horses included, are complaining!

Not all of the plant growth is horse edible, but as you can see in the last picture, Belle found something worth nibbling!

Thank you, Lord, for this glorious rain!~

 

 

And how was your day?

The Mighty Mack

I often forget that Conner is only eight.  I often forget that he shouldn't be as athletic or as energetic as the others.  I often forget that he is always "playing up".  He plays up at least one level in soccer.

He plays up a level for baseball....

He is determined to be right in the thick of things, and sometimes....well sometimes, like tonight, it catches up with him.

He gets over heated, exhausted or just plain tuckered out.

It often doesn't matter where.

Here's to the Conner Mac, one tough little guy!

 

And how was your day?

 

 

 

 

Cuppie cakes

Yeah, it has been FOREVER since I blogged, and I stand here ashamed.  Okay, enough of that.  You know how it goes, soccer, baseball, work, animals, kids and husband!  It is overloading.

But today, I bring you cuppie cakes!  Our Youth Group at church is raising money for church camp, so we are hosting a Wednesday night dinner.  I always volunteer dessert, it gives me an excuse to make sugar heavy items that I try to resist the rest of the time.  I mean really, is the squat challenge going to work all that well is I stuff my face with cookies?  I guess we will find out, because I love baking.

Pudding In the Middle Cuppie Cakes

Pudding comes first.  I put a large zip close bag in my bowl.  Why?  Trust me, make this easy on yourself!

Mix the pudding as directed, in the bag, in the bowl.  Zip it shut and stick it in the fridge.

 

Make cupcakes as you normally would.  I figure you already know that part, it isn't brain surgery, after all.

This little gadget is available for about two dollars.  This is what punches the perfect center into the cup cakes.

Let those cupcakes cool...I mean completely.  Other wise the knifty little plastic gadget will just mash the cake.  Still edible, but not what we are going for.  I punched the little buggers and kept the cores.  I used the end of a wooden spoon to keep the gadget clear.  I also plan on eating those, just saying.

This is where my madness has a method.  You don't need fancy equipment, I don't count the gadget as fancy because it cost less than a Big Mac.  Cut the corner of the pudding bag.  Now you have a cheap and disposable icing bag.

 

Fill those bad boys!  I noted that by making sure the cut part of the bag was inside the empty center, rather than near the top edge, I had better fillage. (Which spell check just told me isn't a real word. Like it knows anything)

 

Now, to cover the tops with icing.  Do I need fancy bags? No.  Scoop the icing into a sandwich bag, cut the corner and go.  Want something fancy?  Guess who has two thumbs and discovered that her Wilton decorating set can screw into zip bags....  you get the idea.

There it is.  Strawberry cupcakes with an awesome vanilla pudding center.  I say awesome, because awesome ends with ME!

 

 

 

 

And how was your day?

 

Last Minute Meal Rescue

If you are like me, you get to living each day and forgetting that come evening, there will be a tribe of children asking, "So what's for dinner?"
I admit it.  This question often scares me because sometimes even I don't know what is for dinner.  I figure, I just can't be alone in this.  So, I decided to share as these great or horrible dinner ideas show up.  I will either provide good ideas or warnings for the rest of humanity.
Today was a day of our first Storage Auction (more to come), moving dirt into the duck pen (you know the drill, plan a quick project to have it drag on because you have to fix a wheelbarrow or find a rake...) and pumpkin smoothies...hello Pioneer Woman, my hero.

I drove Caitlyn to a sleep over and when I got back, the three boys were waiting with the dreaded question. I strapped on my Super Mom cape, "To the Freezer!"
Thankfully, we have half a pig in there which we purchased from neighbors.  Love it.  So tonight's rescue it:

Sausage and Potato Casserole

 

For this, I cooked the sausage in bacon fat (I know, but it tastes so dang good)

Then, I parboiled some potatoes, and by that, I mean I boiled them into submission because spuds and I don't get along!

I added onions and green chilies (duh, New Mexico, and FYI. the answer is GREEN)

Then, I sacked my pantry for the "filler".

Ahhh, Alfredo sauce!  And look!  Fresh grated parmesan  cheese.

Mix mix mix

 

Hmmm, needs a topper...canned biscuits!  pat and pull!

Voila!

Because everyone knows that biscuits go with sausage!

 

 

350 until the biscuits are firm!  Let you know how it turns out!

 

And how was your day?

 

 

PS.....

IT WAS GREAT!

 

 



Just Another Day in Paradise

It would figure that when the flu comes, it comes in waves.  Nothing sends me scrambling for Lysol and spray disinfectant like the call of, "my tummy hurts."
Like everything else at the ranch, we do things big.  First was Caitlyn.  She announced that her stomach hurt and she was just plain sick.  She spent a day in bed, reading.  The second day I went in the wake her for school and she shrieked that her head hurt and I just shut the door.  Some times I feel that tween/teen behavior is worse than anything a toddler and throw at you.
After I took the kids to school, I brought her a drink and some meds.  She recovered after that and I wiped down or sprayed every surface in our house. 
Alas, the evil virus had already laid siege to our home.  Twenty-four hours after Caitlyn, Conner succumbed.  He patiently sipped ginger ale and watched old Nickelodeon shows on Netflix.
We had a small reprieve and then James, too, fell victim.  Only this time, there was actual puke.  Three times, which is three times too many for my tender stomach. It lingered longest with him, causing fatigue and loss of appetite.
Then, just after a great birthday, I felt horrible.  I was able to muscle through most days, but then last night, William got sick.
Not to let his twin out do him, he managed to produce copious amounts of returned food.
Luckily for me, Steve was home and able to take point on that.
So, today, William stayed home and I napped on the couch. 
Yes, it was lazy, but after a siege, you just have to rest. 
Now, on to the laundry.

And how was your day?

If You Want to Play With the Big Dogs....

At any given time, there are more than four children at my house.  I birthed four.  Three pregnancies resulting in four kids.  I am a proud G3, P4.  That little tidbit will only make sense to some one in the medical field.
I hadn't realized just how magnetic my home was until recently.  Steve and I have a soft spot for most creatures.  Steve is the ultimate kid magnet and is just as quick to rescue an animal in need as I am.
But, and it is a BIG but, there is apparently a cosmic sign over out house:
SOFT HEARTED WOMAN HERE!

In the past couple of months a large white dog named Seven has showed up.  She loves the kids.  She belongs to my neighbor, Joan.  Joan raises pigs and other livestock and keeps several Pyrenees dogs to protect them.  Seven really likes kids.  Joan has kids.  They are grown.  She has grandkids, they don't live with her.  Have I mentioned that Seven really likes kids?

She never stayed too long and then went home.  OR so we thought!
Now, she really wants to go to school with the kids.

 

And yes, she really loves to ride in the car.  And yes again, that is a line of drool.

The problems started when she decided she wanted to stay overnight.  At first I didn't have the heart to make her leave.

 

 But then, she started to invite other dogs.  While they were cute, and I felt very secure as all of them decided to be defensive about protecting the house, they all had jobs they were neglecting!  They were in dereliction of duty!

So, after consulting with Joan....I am now not nice when Seven comes over.  Or, at least, as not nice as I am capable of....I don't open the garage door when she taps on the window, I don't share my food and I use very strict words to remind her of her responsibilities waiting for her at home.
Yeah, she still visits.

And how was your day?

Never a dull moment

I know, I know....I am sooooo behind on posts.
My beloved twin boys turned ten and spent the day hacking at each other and friends with nerf swords and celebrated with a rocking Angry Birds cake.
My dear daughter turned 12, something over the summer, we feared might never happen!  She celebrated in style... VEGAS BABY!
Darling husband noticed a sale on air fares that, well, was irresistible.  We flew to Vegas and spen Christmas with my in-laws. We caught some fantastic light shows, ate some incredible food and then flew home.
This was the first time the boys had flown on a commercial jet.  Or gone through security.  TSA level security.
We explained why we had to do it and then explained to William why he COULDN'T talk about it the whole time at the air port.  Luckily, we had wonderful TSA agents and the process was painless. The kids loved flying and the attendants commented on what a mannerly family we had.  They should see us at home!
After ringing in the New Years, I took on painting the twins' room.  It had been on my to-do list, but the boys had conflict over how to decorate their room.  Thoughts ranged from Indiana Jones to a lego room.  I was exasperated. I talked them down to basic country and all is well.

So I will end this first post of the new year with some highlights from the last couple months that I missed!  Here's to better posting in the future!

And how was your day?