My Modern Country

Small Town Snowstorm

2012-01-24T19:14:00.000-08:00

Last month we had a snowstorm. A big one.

I posted some of the pictures from around the ranch, but here are some I took in our small town.

This is a shot in front of our business.

This snow allowed me to have a snow day at home. Cause the roads were closed.

And our vehicles were stuck.

I love a snow day.

And here is the view down our Main Street.

And here's what Main Street looked like when they finally opened up the highway.

This, my friends, is the preferred method of transportation for the locals. He came in our store for tow ropes, then headed directly to our one and only grocery store with his wife's list.

And here are a few more shots around the ranch.

And this, folks, really is the Middle Of Nowhere!

Vintage Believe Sign

2012-01-15T19:26:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend, I went out to the barn and rummaged through some of our scrap lumber.

I came out with an almost perfect 1x4. Using a router made the edges have a little more character, but it's not totally necessary. It's just my preference.

I know there are many ways to make a vintage looking sign, but for me, it's all about keeping it simple, man.

A base coat of black paint. Then a coat of ivory paint. A little sandpaper action around all the edges, and bada-bing, it's all done but the ~~cryin~~ inspirational word. I chose Believe, because for me it's a pretty powerful word.

Because I pretty much prefer "easy", I just used stencils and sponged on the black craft paint.

The last thing, which I almost forgot, was intalling a hanger on the back.

BOOM! I have a new sign.

Linking up at Funky Junk
Homemaker On A Dime
Craft-O-Maniac

About Me

2012-01-12T08:33:00.000-08:00

Once in awhile, I think it's fun to find out facts about other bloggers. You know, stuff we don't always type on the screen.

Here are some things you may, or may not know about me.

1. In 1995, I rented a small space, and opened a children's clothing boutique. I had never worked in
     retail, or been to "market", and had ZERO experience in this type of business. Yea, I'm weird like
     that.
     This little business was not only successful, it was a blast! I would still be there, but in 2000, I
      took  my place in our 50 yr. old family business, along with my dad and two older brothers.

2. I had been a single mom (divorced) for ten years, when Wranglers and I got hitched.

3. Said hitching came only after knowing/dating for three months. Yea, I'm weird like that-are
     we seeing a pattern here?

4. When I try to lose weight....I gain weight.

5. I buy and sell unwanted gold jewelry. I started this little business mostly for family and close
     friends, but it has grown into something more, as people in our small community know and trust
     me.
     This is a lot of fun for me-it's like a treasure hunt!

6. I may have mentioned this before, ....I have the one and only tuxedo rental business in our little
    town.

7. I love making chocolate chip cookies, but....somehow, I manage to eat the bag of chips before I
   ever have time to bake the cookies. This happens one handful at a time.

8. My twenty-two year old daughter is the exact opposite of me. You can see that here....

Well now, wasn't that fun?

Have a great Thursday everyone!

Small Bathroom Remodel

2012-01-08T07:23:00.000-08:00

When I used "Small" in this title, I meant...it's a small bathroom.

And it's a small remodel.

But, none the less, it looks totally different, and that's what I was going for.

And it was cheap. Like only $40.00.

Here's the before...

This plaid wallpaper was not horrible. In fact, I thought it was pretty cute and fit in quite well with our house out here in the boonies.

But, it was just a tad busy for me. Of our three bathrooms, this was the only one with wallpaper, and man, I was ready to take it down.

Until we actually started taking it down.

Then, I was ready to quit. Good gosh, that stuff is a pain in the hiney to remove.

Thankfully, once again, Wranglers swoops in and takes over.

He has way more "staying power" than me.

I found spraying a mixture of vinegar and water on the wallpaper glue or backing, or whatever that stuff is, worked really well.

Okay, actually he did most of it, but from where I was standing, I could tell it really worked.

Without the vinegar mixture, it would only come off in tiny little bits.

I have ZERO patience for this kind of stuff-I am working on that now. You know, with Resolutions and stuff.

So now, for the big reveal....

My lighting wasn't all that great, but the color is kind of greenish brownish-I really don't know what it is, but I like it. It's a calming color. And I can use all the calming I can get.

At a later date, we plan to change out the counter top, and the tile. For now, we are pleased with this cheap and effective remodel.

Do you have any projects you are working on, or planning?

Nine Days

2012-01-04T12:28:00.000-08:00

For the past nine days, I have not had internet service at the ranch.

There have been brief moments of service, then........BOOM. No service.

It's off before I can finish a post. A comment. An email.

Mind you, during this painful nine day period, we were actually gone to Oklahoma for a couple of days.

In Oklahoma, they have internet service.

I am going to move there.

But, while we were visiting family there, I never took advantage of using my mother-in-law's computer.

I could have, but we were busy having too much fun. I figured we would be home soon and I could get my internet fix then.

HOWEVER...I had no idea the internet would not be working when we arrived home.

Had I known this, I would have begged my in-laws to let me move in with them in Oklahoma where the internet service is abundant.

And, where the wind comes sweeping down the plains.

Right at this moment, I have internet.

Because I am at work. Blogging and checking my email. I am pretending to do journal entries in Quickbooks, and that will work for a few more minutes.

The internet company says they will have someone down to the ranch on Friday. (When I say we live in the middle of nowhere, I really mean it). Hopefully we will be back up and running soon.

Until then, Wranglers is frantically trying to find a place for me at internet re-hab.

Please accept my apology for not visiting your blogs and returning emails.

Oh, and....

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

A White Christmas!

2011-12-22T18:59:00.000-08:00

Everyone dreams of a white Christmas.

For those of you in warmer climates, here ya go....

While it's been beautiful, it's also been a bit messy.

Here's what happened to me today.

I thought I could make it.

I'm not really sure how I got in this situation, but I, well uhh.... never mind.

Thankfully, Wranglers came to my rescue.

And while I was laughing and giggling....he...was...not.

I tried to come up with a good and logical explanation, but he wasn't buying.

It took some digging. Both with the tractor, and shovel.

And then, all was good again.

On a brighter note, here's Miss Callie, back on duty as Head Of Ranch Security.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Baxter The Basset Hound aka The Flying Nun

2011-12-20T16:05:00.000-08:00

Baxter is a short fella.

His legs are only three inches long.

So, when we get a big snow, he chooses to fly.

I took this picture this morning after the snow and wind had stopped.

But, yesterday, during the full blown storm, he was doing the same thing.

And, today, he was king of the snow drifts.

Short boy loves this snow.

It makes him feel tall.

Just to give you a better idea of the magnitude of this storm, I wanted to throw in this picture of Wranglers trying to clear our drive.

Here is one last shot of Baxter.

Not his best side, but ( pun intended), here ya go....

THE END.

p.s. I would love to be able to reply to each of your comments. Does anyone know how to install a reply button on blogger?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Christmas In The Country, Continued

2011-12-19T11:57:00.000-08:00

Yesterday it was sixty eight degrees, and I was outside washing windows wearing nothing but a short sleeved tee shirt.

Wait.

That didn't come out right. I did have jeans and boots on. BUT, I wasn't wearing a coat. That's pretty darn weird for December in Colorado.

Here is what it looks like today.

Well, so much for my nice clean windows.
This storm is a doozie-we are expecting two feet of snow, with forty mph winds.

That, folks, is a true... blue... blizzard.

Back to yesterday, here is Wranglers putting a few adjustments on the Christmas lights.

Yes, that's a tractor.

And, yes, that's Wranglers in the bucket with his Christmas hanger light thingy.

I jumped off the tractor to snap a few photos, so you could see how ~~rednecks~~ we hang Christmas lights in the country.

When it was time for this little operation, Wranglers reminds me, "Now, when I am in the bucket, you raise it up. DON'T FORGET...raising the lever up LOWERS the bucket, and pushing the lever down RAISES the bucket."

Ya, ya. I got it...up is down, and down is up.

Do you guys know how hard it is to think backwards like that?? I have operated this tractor many times, and inevitably, I do the wrong thing first.

This time was no exception.

Mission accomplished!

Catching Some Rays

2011-12-14T12:41:00.000-08:00

Today, on my lunch hour, I made a mad dash out to the ranch.

Yes, we live in the country, and yet it's only about a six and half minute drive from town.

Actually, it depends on who is behind the wheel.

All I'm saying is, I can make it in six and a half minutes.

Anyways, here's the deal.

I have always wondered what our Australian Shepherds did while everyone is away for the day.

Our snow just finished melting yesterday, and the dogs found a good sunny spot to nap and catch some rays.

This is Max and Callie. As you can see, I woke Callie up from a little nap.

Callie has always been The Head Of Ranch Security, and seemed to be quite proud of her position.

But now??? It seems pretty clear to me that Max is the one on high alert and keeping watch, while Callie is sleeping on the job.

Either way...what a life!

Christmas In The Country

2011-12-10T18:07:00.001-08:00

I just love decorating for Christmas.

I just wish I had a decorator to show me the way... And that I had a bigger family room.

Anyhow...here's what we have so far.

Yes, I know-there are no presents under the tree.

Yes, I am in a bit of a panic.
Living in the middle of nowhere, I do most of my shopping on line.

Crossing fingers hoping Santa's Elves get everything delivered on time.

Ha! I really am a poet.
And, you didn't know it.

Sorry.

A Little Bright Spot At Work

2011-12-02T07:59:00.001-08:00

Most of you know, I am a partner in our family owned NAPA Store.

What you don't know, is, selling auto parts is only one of many things we do.

One of our employees had a baby. Actually, his wife had the baby, but you get my drift.

Anyway, recently, the new mommy was under the weather. She happens to be VERY young, and her immediate family lives several hours away.

So....we gladly stepped in! And continue to do so, whenever we are needed.

He is so precious, I can't stand it!

Here is my mom, filing daily invoices, AND hogging the baby.

Both the mommy and the daddy are so appreciative when we help them, but, we LOVE doing it! Might seem a little crazy to let an employee bring a new baby to work once in awile, but that's the way we roll here.

p.s. Don't look at the train wreck on top of the gazillion filing cabinets we have. Now that I said that, of course you are looking. Once I saw this picture, I was so mortified, I cleaned them off completely. Really.

Mom's Banana Nut Bread

2011-11-27T09:37:00.001-08:00

Don't throw out those bananas! Instead, please try this easy and wonderful Banana Nut Bread.

This is probably the best banana nut bread EVAH!

Ingredients:

3/4 cup butter
2 1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
6 Tblsp. sour milk (who keeps sour milk around)? See below*
1/2 tsp. salt
4 or 5 over-ripe bananas, mashed
1 1/2 cups of chopped pecans
3 cups flour

*For the sour milk, I mix milk and sour cream together. Works like a charm.

Directions:

Cream together: butter, sugar, eggs.

Add: soda, sour milk, and salt.

Add: bananas and pecans.

Fold in flour.

Grease two loaf pans and pour mixture in.

Bake at 325 for one hour.

Frozen Cranberry Salad

2011-11-20T17:00:00.001-08:00

If you are looking for a new way to incorporate cranberries into your Thanksgiving meal, you should give this a try.

I made this salad for the first time several years ago, and both my mom and mother-in-law, look forward to it every year. So now, ~~I have to make it~~ it's a regular player on our holiday menu.

Oh, and the kids love it, too!

Here's the ingredients: Warning....I am NOT a food photographer, or any type of photographer, for that matter. AND, I am not a recipe post person. But, here ya go anyway. And yes, my pineapple can is open. I had already dumped it in the bowl, when I decided to do this post. It's the kind of gal I am.

One container Cool Whip
1/2 cup sugar
5 bananas
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 can pineapple tidbits, drained
1 can whole berry cranberry sauce

Combine sugar, cranberry and pineapple.

Next find an assistant to peel the bananas. If you don't have a sweet assistant like mine, just add a little more sugar to the mix.

Cut the bananas in half, then slice and add to the cranberry mixture.

Add chopped nuts and Cool Whip.

My assistant actually took this picture. Not bad, Little Man!

Pour mixture in a pan, and freeze.

Remove from freezer thirty minutes before serving.

This salad is pink and pretty.

And yummy.

And the best part....you can make it ahead.

That way, you can spend more time worrying about your turkey.

Or stuffing.

Or broccoli casserole.

Or whether or not your hot rolls are raising properly.

Or......

Moonshine

2011-11-16T05:05:00.001-08:00

Recently, as I was heading out for work, I decided to try a little moonshine.

Weird, I know, since it was only 6:30 am.

Normally, I save all my moonshine activities for the evening, but this particular morning, I couldn't resist.

Yes, I was late to work.

Yes, my bonehead brothers gave me the stink eye. (good thing we are equal partners in the biz)

But...I figure...now that I am, ahem....49, I can do whatever I want to. Including, enjoying a little moonshine before work.

Burp.

Girls Weekend Get Away

2011-11-14T09:04:00.001-08:00

My two best friends and I try to get away several times a year.

No husbands.

No kids.

No pets.

No worries.

Earlier this year, we flew to Phoenix, and had a blast. I'll tell you about it sometime.

This past weekend, we made the four hour trip to Denver.

There were mamogram's, annual exams, blood tests...all kinds of fun stuff.

Ok. Maybe fun, is not the right word.

Necessary stuff.

There. That's more appropriate wording.

After the flurry of doctor appointments there was a reward.

No not balloons, or suckers.

Or Sponge Bob bandaids.

We had tickets to the Broadway Production of The Lion King.

THE LION KING!!!

Image sources: http://www.lionking.com/tickets

Oh, my gosh! It was absolutely wonderful.

The costumes, the actors, the music. It was amazing.

If the production comes to your area, you really should go.

You can read more about the show here.

Hakuna matada...

I AM IN SERIOUS TROUBLE

2011-11-07T18:10:00.000-08:00

Hi. My name is...uh...what's my name??

As most of you know...ok...all of you know we just had a time change.

I knew that yesterday.

And I knew that all day today.

But, at work, at exactly 4:00 today (Monday), I looked at the clock, and thought to my very intelligent self, "hmm...I guess no one ever changed the clock."

So, I promptly grabbed a stick, and moved the clock to 5:00, gathered up my stuff, told our employee to holler at my bonehead brother if he got busy, and headed home.

You probably know, there is something very, VERY, wrong with this picture.

I arrived at home, poured a glass of wine, and started cooking.

Poured another glass of wine.

At 4:30, or what I THOUGHT, was 4:30, Wranglers calls.

Honey, where are you?

Hey, I'm home.

What are you doing home so early?

Uh, it's 5:30. I'm always home at 5:30.

No, honey. It's 4:30.

I swear, my life flashed before my eyes.

I had another out of body experience.

Not only had I left work an hour early, I moved the clock. (Which didn't need to be moved)

IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

Now, in my defense, I could blame this confusion on the fact that we spent the weekend in Oklahoma, and it is an hour later there.

And for my little blonde brain, that can be confusing at times. Couple that with the end of daylight savings time, all in one weekend, and, well....

Or, I could blame it on the fact that on Saturday night, while in Oklahoma, I took a muscle relaxer.

On Sunday, during the trip back to Colorado, I was in some sort of a coma.

And, surely, I am still not normal.

Note to self....when in need of a muscle relaxer, only take one half of the recommended dose.

Somebody, please help me.

The End.

A Dog And A....Dove?

2011-11-02T17:55:00.000-07:00

This is such a rare sight, I really have no words.

The cat has got my tongue.

I am speechless.

Which according to Wranglers, is much more rare than the photos you are about to see.

The End.

Tuesday Tips And Tricks

2011-11-01T05:24:00.000-07:00

Time for another round of Tips And Tricks. I love candles. But for some reason, I don't burn them much in the summer, however, fall and winter are a different story.

Here are few candle tricks.

When the candle is history, freeze the candle holder, and the wax will pop right out.
Rub out nicks and scratches with panty hose.
Put a small tealight in the burn well of a pillar to extend the candle's life.
Store candles in the fridge or freezer to extend burning time.

Another trick I use for adding scent to my house this time of year is:

Place a few drops of your favorite scented oil in your heater vents.

Okay, one more. This is for those of you who cook fish or seafood:

To cut down on the fish odor, boil lemon wedges on the stove while the fish is cooking.

The Week Of...THE SNAKE

2011-10-27T21:32:00.000-07:00

Well, I told you about the snake outside our door.

But, there's more.

This week, we also had another little, tiny, ahem...snake episode.

I wasn't going to say anything, cause, you know my sweet mother-in-law might be reading this.

Hello, Memaw. If you are reading this, please hit the X button, and go watch tv, or play with the dogs.

So, I arrived home the other evening and joined Wranglers on the porch. It's our routine. We catch up on the events of our day.

When he saw that I had finished my glass of wine, he quickly offered to pour me another.

Wow! I could get used to this.

Then, he said, "honey, there's something I need to tell you. But I don't want to tell you. But I really should tell you."

I'm like, "okay, just tell me already"

He says, "well, when I came home, there was a...a...well...it was a...there...was...a...snake...in...the...kitchen."

Me, "WHHAAAATT?"

A SNAKE.

IN MY KITCHEN?

Surely, this is April Fools Day.

Or not.

Folks, this was the real deal.

And now...I have been officially initiated into the country life.

Help me.

p.s. There are no photographs of this incident, as Wranglers disposed of the evidence, just in case he decided, you know...to keep this a secret. ~~which he should have done.~~

You Gotta Watch That First Step

2011-10-27T07:33:00.000-07:00

When you live in the country, the simple act of walking out the door can prove hazardous to your health.

You may encounter barn swallows protecting their territory, by dive-bombing your head area.

Or the latest invasion of wasps or flying ants, or you may just trip over a sleeping dog.

When you open the door, it's very important to be on high alert.

On Sunday, Wranglers opened the door to this....

This my friends, was just one step from the door. Just ONE STEP.

And we all know that snakes, especially rattlesnakes, tend to put Wranglers in a bit of a tizz.

Needless to say, he took care of the rattlesnake.

Now....he needs to take care of the gaping hole he put in the side of our house.
See, I told you he was in a bit of a tizz!

Tuesday Tips And Tricks

2011-10-25T05:07:00.000-07:00

I use old fashioned witch hazel for facial astringent-I quit buying the pricey stuff a long time ago, and achieve the same results.

I also use it for...

Razor bumps. Apply generously with a soft cloth or cotton ball.

To remove sticker adhesive.

It's also great to remove blood stains from fabric. Wrap the stained area in a rubbberband, to isolate the area, and then immerse in witch hazel for about thirty minutes. Then launder as usual.

I have not tried this one, but I have been told you can combine a few drops of peppermint oil with witch hazel in a spray bottle, and use it for mosquito repellant. I think this is worth a try!

Last week, I mentioned dryer sheets.

If you happen to live in the country, where mice can be a bit of problem...

Bounce Dryer Sheets work great for warding off the evil little creatures.

We place them all throughout our camper, and for some reason, it keeps the mice away. An added bonus...it smells great! Way better than using moth balls or poison. I got this tip from our local farmers, who put the Bounce Sheets in their combines and tractor cabs.

I loved all the comments on last weeks Tips And Tricks. Some of you left some great tips of your own, and I love that! If you didn't stick around for the comments, go back and check them out.

Seems there are several of us who struggle with keeping our stainless appliances looking shiny and clean. I use the rubbing alcohol for "water spots" on my stainless steel sink and other faucets throughout the house, however, I have read it can be used on appliances, as well. That being said, I want to share the BEST stainless steel cleaner for appliances. I have tried them all, and this is the only one that does the trick for me.

This is CLR Stainless Steel Cleaner, and you can read more about it on their website. This is not a sponsered post, just something I wanted to share, cause it makes my life soooo much easier! We found this at Home Depot.

Feel free to continue to shout any of your favorite tips-I love it when you do!

Fried Green Tomatoes Anyone?

2011-10-23T11:08:00.000-07:00

Everyone in our area had a bit of a problem with garden tomatoes this year. All over the county, everyone had plenty of beautiful tomatoes, the problem....very few of them ripened.

We are expecting our first snow in a few days, so we picked everything left in the garden.

I really, really, want these gosh dang tomatoes to ripen. Not that I am against frying them. I just want them to be red.

And juicy.

So I can slice them. And dice them.

And put salt and pepper on them. You know...the way they are meant to be.

My mom told me my Grandma used to wrap them in newspaper. And presto, they would ripen.

So, I am gonna try this with some of them.

Now, I know there are probably some wonderful things to do with the green ones. I just don't know any, and frankly, I am a little to miffed to research it. So, if you have any ideas or recipes for these gosh dang stubborn maters, please...let me know.

Healthy Halloween Snacks

2011-10-20T18:01:00.000-07:00

Last year, our little great-nephew was living with us, and I was in charge of the snacks for his kindergarten Halloween party. I decided to go out on a limb and make something healthy.

I made these cute little jack-o-lanterns, and they were a huge hit!

You just cut the top off of the orange, remove the "meat", and carve out your design.
Then fill it with fruit. Super easy!

The kids loved them, and even asked for seconds!

Tuesday Tips And Tricks

2011-10-18T07:08:00.000-07:00

Living in the country means sometimes, we have to get creative and make do, with whatever we have on hand to deal with just about anything that crops up. So, for my own sanity, and hopefully to get you out of an occasional pinch, I am going to put all of our household tips and tricks in one place.

My plan is to get my thoughts organized and post them here on Tuesdays. This will make it much easier for us, cause, I am always asking Wranglers, what was that one thing your Grandma used to clean this type of stain? what did my mom tell me to use to ward off the flies? what was that crazy way my sister-in-law cleaned her sink? Anyway, you get the idea.

Here ya go!

Remove water spots on your stainless steel sink with rubbing alcohol. Our water well has really, really, hard water, and I constantly battle water spots-I use this little trick on the kitchen sink and the bathroom faucets/fixtures. Works like a charm!

Remove scuffs from shoes by rubbing the scuff with the white side of a banana peel.

Re-cycle scented dryer sheets by soaking used sheets in liquid fabric softener, squeeze out excess, and let dry. I love this because I can keep a little recycled stash for those times I forget to pick up a box of Bounce!

Love,
~~Tipsy~~
~~Trixie~~
Blondie

A Visit From My Old Friend...KARMA

2011-10-14T05:16:00.000-07:00

So, most of you know I went on a trip to meet my daughter for her doctor's appointment in Denver.
Once that was done, we headed on to northern Colorado where she lives.

We had a couple of great days of shopping, eating out, doing her laundry, etc.

Then, I made my way south to Colorado Springs, where I was meeting Wranglers. He had meetings, and I had to take our new car in for a minor recall.

The car dealership was kind enough to rent me a car, since I was so far from home.

They drove me to the rental place, and the little girl was so sweet. She told me everything was taken care of by the dealership. So cool.

She just needed my drivers license, and a credit card.

Both formalities.

No problem.

She punched my info into the computer and handed the card and my license back.

I quickly stuffed both back into my purse.

She looked up and said, "Can I see your license again? Apparently, I typed in the wrong expiration date."

No problem. But....my stomach fell to the floor as I recalled my birthday last month, and a conversation I had with my brother just a couple of days earlier.

He told me how the security guy at the Denver Airport, had informed him that his drivers license had expired in July. I remembered thinking....you are such a dumb-butt. Who lets their drivers license expire??

Karma is such a .....never mind.

Anyway, while the sweat started to bead on my forehead, she handed my license back, once again, and said, "did you know it expired yesterday?"

In case you didn't know, there is no renting a car with an expired drivers license. Period.

She was so sweet, she offered to drive me home. But, when I told her "home" was four hours away, she took the offer back...maybe she isn't as sweet as I thought. It's only four hours. One way.

So, she took me to the nearest Kohl's, where I left no stone un-turned.

I hated like heck to call the dealership and inform them of my predicament, but they kindly sent a driver to pick me up when my car was finished. Thank you Chevrolet.

Then, it was time to meet Wranglers at the hotel, where I had to inform him of my little situation.
Needless to say, he is still laughing and making fun his little blonde country wife, stuck in the city.

But....he hasn't seen my Kohl's bill yet...he won't be laughing then.

Love,

Blondie