Family, Tractors, and Laughter

Onions! On a Mission for Self-Reliance!

2010-05-21T09:03:00.000-07:00

If you happen to have extra onions, other vegetables, fruits, etc. Using a dehydrator is a great way to preserve them for food storage.

We had several extra onions, so I decided to dehydrate them, and save them to help season foods.

Yes, the smell is fairly strong, and I think my eyes burned for a few hours, but it was kind of fun!

First peel the onions and cut the roots off.

Secondly, slice them about a 1/4 of an inch.

Third, chop them into small pieces. A food chopper would work well, and help to avoid "burning eyes" :)

lay the chopped onions in a thin layer on each rack off your dehydrator.

Turn on the dehydrator according to the manufactures directions. Onions will take about 6-8 hours.

yeah! they are done.....but the smell is still lingering!!

Place your dehydrated onions flakes in airtight containers, such as a mason jar. Food storage bags, would work well also. The dehydrated onions should last many months depending on the style of storing, and the temperature.

"My Hands Stink"

yes, onions have a very distinctive odor. Some ideas to eliminate the odor are to wash your hands over a stainless steel sink, or rub your hands under cool water onto a stainless steel spoon. Lemon juice, or salt, rubbed on the hands is also said to work. Good Luck.....

PoPsICle COziES

2010-05-13T16:06:00.000-07:00

Popsicle Cozies

Somewhere I had seen that you could sew little Popsicle holders out of Eco-friendly Felt.

Eco-friendly felt, is made out of 100% recycled plastic bottles. The felt is washable, sturdy and very versatile. I just measured the popsicle and cut the felt to fit, leaving a little extra on the sides to cut with the pinking shears. I tried three different ways. 1. cut 2 pieces and sew all three sides. Finish edges with pinking shears. 2. sew all three sides and hem top opening. Turn unfinished edges inside, so that the seam is on the inside(like a pocket) 3. Cut one piece, fold over and stitch hem, side and bottom. Finish with pinking shears.

Embellish with felt flowers or other cuties.

I am no expert, but it was a simple solution to avoid paper towels, and mess. My kids said it kept their hands warm, and since they are washable, yee haw!!

CRaZy MAy DAys!

2010-05-12T16:19:00.000-07:00

ok...my attempt at a camera strap cover. It was alot of fun to make and gives your camera a little something special.

Kids are growing, kitties are growing, calves are growing....... Fun on the farm

Cheddar is really sweet to the kitties!

We decided to build a bird house and safely move the little birdies. They were running out of room inside the metal pipe.

The baby birds seem nice and cozy inside. They are really growing and gettting their feathers. ahhh....life is sweet!

Joy in the Simple Things

2010-05-11T08:49:00.000-07:00

Cinco de Mayo

2010-05-05T15:51:00.000-07:00

We decided to have a little fun today making tortillas. I love tortillas!! I found a fun and cool way to make them at Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom , called Tortilla in a Bag. It was super easy and the kids had alot of fun making making them. Ag in the Classroom is a really great website, with many crafts, recipes, learning tools, and information about agriculture.

The ingredients (for four tortillas)
1 qt-storage bag

1 1/2 C Flour

1 tsp baking powder

3 Tablespoons shortening

1/2 C hot tap water

1/4 tsp salt (or to taste)

1. Place flour, salt and baking powder in bag. Close and shake just a few shakes to mix.
2. Add shortening and reclose the bag. Work bag with hands until the mixture looks crumbly and there are no large pieces of shortening visible.

3. Open the bag, and add the hot tap water. Knead in the bag until the dough is one large piece and the sides of the bag come clean.

4. Take the dough out of the bag, and divide into four pieces. Put the pieces of dough on the table, and lay the bag on top of them. Let the dough rest for 15 min.

5. After the resting time, roll or pat the dough into 8 to 10 inch circles. If dough is too sticky you may add a little more flour. Place the circles on a griddle or frying pan heated to medium high, and cook until dark brown spots appear. Turn and cook on the other side until brown.

6. Fill tortillas with ground beef, beans, salsa, cheese and lettuce to make burritos, if desired, or spread with butter or peanut butter.

Through the Lens of Tara Gwynne

2010-05-03T12:37:00.000-07:00

Today was so beautiful! After days of windy weather....today was magical. Since I love to take photos, I try to keep my camera close by. Today I was able to capture some "wild life" besides my kiddos. Life is good!!

John Deere tractor toys.....everywhere, inside and outside

The "Sassy" Mrs. still kicking up some dust!

A pair of geese by our pond.

We heard baby chirps inside this fence post.....there inside 6 baby birdies....

2010-04-28T10:50:00.000-07:00

I found some cute ideas to make flowers from yarn at knitpicks I made several, and attatched them to hair pins. It was a lot of fun. There were so many possibilities to create.
I also made a few flowers from tulle and added a few crystals to give them a little "sparkle". I decided to attach one of the tulle flowers to ribbon and use it as a necklace.

Gardening

2010-04-22T13:51:00.000-07:00

"The kiss of sun for pardon,
the song of the birds for mirth,
one is nearer to God's heart in a garden,
than anywhere else on earth."
Dorothy Frances Gurney "Garden Thoughts"

I love to have a garden, it is good for the soul. Gardening as a family is a wonderful way to spend time together and to build family unity and love.

"I have never had so many good ideas, day after day, as when I worked in the garden."

John Erskine

Sandbox Party

2010-04-22T10:41:00.000-07:00

Today we had a party in the sandbox. The kids made a cake and various "treats" with sand. They even adorned some of the party favors with wild flowers. Sandboxes can be a magical place for kids to create and use their imaginations.
Here is a recipe for Edible "Sand"
Ingredients:
Chocolate and Vanilla Pudding
Sour gummy worms
Grahm Crackers
Directions:
make the chocolate and vanilla pudding according to directions, let set.
Pour the set pudding in a clean beach pail. Mix some of the gummy worms into the pudding. Save some for the top. Crush graham crackers and sprinkle on top, to resemble sand. Serve with a new beach shovel.
There are variations to this treat, such as using oreo cookies, whip cream, etc. Be creative and have fun!!

Read more: http://www.mylivesignature.com/mls_wizard2_1.php?sid=54488-156-175BCEADC3C76709952BC078026FD8EA##ixzz0msoLjLZW

Boys, Boys, Boys!

2010-04-21T18:07:00.000-07:00

We have a covey of boys at our house. They get into little wrestling matches, build forts out of logs, and rocks, play in the sandbox, climb......everything! Although from time to time there are little squabbles, my heart is touched, when I see brotherly love!

Rainy day fun!

2010-04-21T12:19:00.000-07:00

theidearoom.blogspot.com/2010/01/play-dough-lollipop-cookies.html

I found this cool recipe for play-dough cookies at the idea room , it was such a fun activity for the kids.

April Showers bring May Flowers!

2010-04-18T09:34:00.000-07:00

So it has been raining for a few days now. Actually it has been pleasant. The gentle rain is kind of soothing. The plants and trees are soaking it up. Blankets of grass are deepening in rich shades of green. We had a new calf born a few days ago. Its front hooves are bent down,(knuckling) so it cannot stand properly. We are fashioning some stents to help strengthen his legs, until he can stand straight without assistance. We have done it before with some other calves, and it worked beautifully. The calves mamma, has not been too cooperative. She has been a little SASSY! Worried about her baby, and being in the pen. I am sure she will calm down soon.
The kids have been enjoying the warmer weather, and love to be outside. They have been creating houses out of logs and bikes, and anything laying around. They are also excited about our new kitties. Four little tiny things. They are too small to hold and play with now, but we take little peeks at them during the day.

signs of spring

2010-03-23T07:16:00.000-07:00

So this morning I was running to the barn to feed a couple calves and our bull. The air was crisp, the ground was damp from the recent snow. The suns rays were glistening on the dew on the ground. I could see hints of green grass and (probably weeds) sharing their new life. How exciting! Spring flowers are blossoming, birds are singing their morning songs. I felt excited for the day! I am going to attack it with gusto!! I feel really blessed!

Ready for Spring

2010-02-18T08:04:00.000-08:00

It is a season of new beginnings, new year, new goals, and new to blogging. Spring is around the corner, and with it comes a sense of beginning, freshness, and excitement. I am ready for Spring!!