Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Just a quick catch up blog...

Last Friday I was able to do something that I had been wanting to do for quite a while.  That is join in with a group of women who get together once a month and enjoy each other's company, some good food, as well as work together to do something fun.  These ladies have invited me several times during the warm months, but I am very busy then, now....I got to go play and it was GREAT!  Most of the twenty or so women I didn't know, but there were a few that when we figured out where we knew each other from we spent the day just visiting.  Neighbors from Laingsburg and the mother of one of the boys that rode the bus with my kids.

Besides visiting we made...now get this....at least a gross and I mean at least a dozen dozen doughnuts, nearly five pounds of noodles, and also at least two dozen fry pies!  Everyone pitched in and in about three hours this was all made and ready to take home.  Here is a picture of my carry out:

Did I mention that Daniella was with me during the whole time and was a really big help!  We split the plunder so she could share with her mom and dad.  She took home all the noodles with her since I had just made a big bunch on Wednesday.

Looking forward to doing the Friday Fry Day again real soon!

Saturday and Sunday became travel and horse days.  Saturday Jenn and I drove to Lapeer to look at a horse that she was interested in buying.  Sunday, Jenn, Pat, Daniella and I drove to Lapeer to pick up the horse that she bought.  Meet "Crystal" aka Isis now that she belongs to Jenn....


Newest arrival at the farm...

Onward and Upward.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Wednesday was Knitting group day, with a twist...

I hosted my Knitting group this week, I added a twist...we made noodles.  Ruth Ann had mentioned, not long ago, that she had never made noodles.  So I decided that we should make noodles, that way Ruth Ann could see it done, and also have some fun doing it.

We had a good time and some good food as well.  The first batch of noodles were Whole Wheat and Judy made them into Alio y Olio, which is an Italian everyday dish of garlic, olive oil, cheese, olives, and whatever else sounds good.  It was wonderful.

Mine didn't come out this pretty, but it tasted good!
For dessert we had a tasty Cherry Philo Strudel again made by Judy and Pumpkin Cre`me Carmel that I made:   http://www.usaweekend.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011111110008 

I think we had a good time.
Raija and I manning the pasta press.

Glenda, standing on a chair decorating the noodle tower!

Mary  Ellen volunteered for clean up...Glad you like doing dishes!
Everyone who wanted to try got a chance to make some noodles and everyone who wanted was able to take some home.  Greg and I had noodles with spaghetti sauce for supper, wonder what everyone else had?

After Ruth Ann made her noodles, she became the photographer...good job there Ruth Ann!

Onward and Upwards...

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Spent the day taking items to the Goodwill...

Oh my this feels good in sooo many ways.  Yesterday, Monday November 14, Greg and I took a truck load of items to Goodwill.  Something like three TVs, a vaccuum, and some small electronic things and of course some clothes.  There is more room in my house and there are things that someone else can use, and Goodwill will get some dollars, definately a Win-Win situation.  Good day all in all.

Today is opening day of Deer Season.  Not a great start as there is a heavy fog around here, can't make spotting deer easy.

Good luck to all the deer hunters, may your kill be quick, your prize be great, and everyone out in the woods and fields be safe.

Onward and Upward.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Canning is finally done...

Got a bit of a sag in the top shelf!




Top row is the leftovers, bottom row is what we did this year!

Got plenty of goodies in the root cellar too...potatoes, winter squash, and rutabagas.  Will leave the carrots in the ground over winter,  just cover them with straw.


November 10, we got our first snow.  Even made the ground white, but only for a little while.

I spent the day doing cleaning and organizing in the sewing room.  Big plans for homemade gifts this year, hope I can pull it off.

Right now it's cold out, 32 degrees,  but clear and sunny.  Time for a dog walk and then chores.

Onward and upward!

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Feel the need to change my blog format...

I have decided that instead of writing a daily blog like thingy, even though I only write it once a week, I am going to just write about the highs and lows and really cool or different things.  Daily journaling is really boring!  So from now on you will only get the good, the bad or the ugly or maybe the beautiful.  Also, if something is really good I will try to post it on the day instead of at the end of the week.  Hopefully making this a more reader friendly blog, like some of those that I follow.

Last week was nothing exciting really.  Still have breeding going on, so plenty of moving this goat or that goat.  Plan to finish breedings for my girls this month.  I  have no desire to have anymore May/June babies.  So if they don't take this month, I guess they don't take.

Friday and Saturday were my days for sports on TV.  My sport is horse racing and this past weekend was the Breeder's Cup.  Good racing and plenty of it.  Saturday's were recorded as I did have some interesting guests here.

Whitney contacted me through facebook and told me that she had owned a horse that I bred and trained.  She loved him dearly and had him for 11 years.  We made arrangements to meet and exchange pictures and stories.  It was great fun for all of us...Whitney, her mother, Jenn and myself.  When I get more of the pictures on the computer I will post some as I am very proud of the things that Whitney and he accomplished.



Earlier in the week we did take Abraham's wool up to Frankenmuth to be processed into roving for me to spin.  Will have some before and after shots when they are available.

Greg and I finished the riding area, so I hope to post about  my riding.  Here's hoping I get out and ride alot.

Well, that's it for this week, like I said nothing really special.

Onward and Upward.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Adding another busy week...

Sunday, Oct. 23-Went to Laingsburg to help with putting up a garage in a box for our friends Don and Betty.  Jenn and Pat were there as well.  All day project.

I had put beef short ribs in the slow cooker before we left, so when we got home supper was ready.  Thank goodness.

Monday, Oct. 24-I am personally starting to switch over from daylight savings time (DST) to slow time, so I got up at 7 AM which in two weeks will be 6 AM.  Don't care for DST, don't see how it helps anyone.  Just have to live with it.

After chores I got my pickled peppers done.  I only got two pints, but that will be plenty.  At least until I decide if this is the recipe I like.  Lunch time, went to town an then Home Depot and TSC.  Picked up lumber for us and Swanson's.  Swanson's are building a goat shed for the twins.  The stuff from TSC is fencing supplies for my new riding area in the front pasture.

I have the horse bug right now really bad.  Cool weather brings it on every year, but this year seems like it is worse the usual.  To add to it I have had several different encounters with "horse people" and that is making it even more pronounced.  Example:  I was recently contacted by a young woman, thorough FaceBook who had owned the one horse that I bred, raised, and trained.  She was very happy with him and called him her "soul mate".  She had him for 11 years before he passed in September of 2010 at the age of 20.  She was looking for another horse like him and was hoping that I could help.  We are making plans to meet in November so we can exchange stories and pictures.  That way also, she can meet his mother and half sister, Mandy and Mariah.  Here is a picture that she has already sent me...I am sooooo proud of him.
Wow, that's my horse!
Back from town and it's late, nearly 7 PM!  Daniella's doe Genevieve is ready to be bred.  I will AI her with KbarC Ranger Rick semen...here's hoping it works!

Earlier in the day, Jenn had called to say that my ex-husband's brother had been murdered in his home up north.  Gary (ex) was hoping that either Jenn or I had his sister's phone number, as he had a number but there were too many digits.  I didn't have her number, but between Jenn and I we figured out the correct number and she called Aunt Janet to tell her the news.  They had a long chat and before ending Janet told her to tell me to call so we could visit.

So, I spent my evening visiting with Janet.  Somewhere around two hours we talked!  Mostly about horses, as that was one of our common interests.

Tuesday, Oct. 25-Two months until Christmas!  Woke up at 5:30, caught up on my journal, then did up dishes.  Did some good house cleaning.

Will be doing another session of teaching homeschoolers this coming January.  Spinning will be held again per their request.

Did some repairs to the buck barn.  Put some OSB up to cover  and reinforce the east wall.  Less drafty as well.

I made Moussaka for supper.  Egg plant, ground lamb, and cheese in it.  Yummy!

Wednesday, Oct. 26-The usual Meals and Group.

Thursday, Oct. 27-Lots of puttering around in the morning.  Afternoon the Share customer picked up and Cindy Carter brought over her two does for breeding.  Isaiah will be busy.

Friday, Oct 28-My girls are visiting the bucks this morning.  Then put Cindy's does in with Isaiah in the pig barn.  Angus gets to have Thea as company today in the buck barn.

Greg and I cleaned out the tomato plants and cages from the garden.  Cages are in the small area of the pig barn for the winter.  We pulled the beets and picked some broccoli as well.

Made the beets into pickled beets and canned 14 pints.  Tried using the Tatler lids I had gotten at an auction.  Seem to work fine.  There is still more beets to finish up later.

Saturday, Oct. 29-Got around early and went to the auction.  I didn't know she had this much stuff...she would mention that this or that was upstairs but WOW upstairs must have been packed!

Unfortunately for me, but great for the estate everything seemed to go high.  The wringer washer I was hoping to bring home went for $165!  Way over my budget.  I did bring  home just a couple of things, nothing really what I had hoped for, but that's life.  What I did get was a sheep bell that I plan to give to the goat that I name after Ann.  I hope to use her Slovak name as the registered name.  I will have to do some research as Ann told it to me one time, but can't remember it right now.

Long auction, not home until after 4 PM.  Chores and then just relaxed.

Onward and Upward.