Prairie Quilts and Kolaches

Traditions

noreply@blogger.com (Kay) — Sun, 11 Sep 2022 21:05:00 +0000

Brenda from Coffee Tea Books and Me, recently reposted her thoughts on traditions (http://coffeeteabooksandme.blogspot.com/2021/05/sunday-afternoon-tea-for-love-of.html). The Ohio branch was here a few weeks ago and their visits always include so many traditions.

Littlest Big, who is 10 now, was especially into the Traditions! And reminded us often, "It's Tradition!"

The foods we eat, the places we go, the things we do.

Bale jumping/running.

Tractor rides

Checking out the other farm, "The 80."

Eating at Runza.

Grammie making chocolate chip cookies &/or Scotcharoos.

The only thing we didn't do, was play games. With #3 going to UNL's volleyball camp on Friday, we "lost" a day. But not really. While she was at camp, we walked around the campus between the Coliseum and Memorial Stadium. We got to see the Trophy Room on the north side of the stadium as it had recently reopened. There was a (very) short self-guided tour inside the stadium where we could take photos of the field. More photos with all the famous statues and areas where we could see inside the new exterior to the original exterior with all the famous quotes. Let's just say DS1 was VERY happy. (It's hard being a Nebraska fan in Ohio.)

Menu Time again. Finding my fragments

noreply@blogger.com (Kay) — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 07:00:00 +0000

Menu 1/16/22

First, HAPPY 6th Anniversary to DS2 & DDIL, the parents of our Littles.

I made a menu using the multitude of fragments I have. I'm am only pantry buying to fill what I've used and buying some fresh produce. We are eating out of our pantry and freezers for as long as I can make it happen.

Now on to the menu.

Sunday:

B: Coffee and whatever we each could find

L: Leftover pizza (FMF) and home-made cinnamon rolls (Because who doesn't like a treat on Sunday.)

D: Quesadillas (FMF, beans & rice (FMF)

Monday

B: Cinnamon roll & fruit

D: Leftover steak (FMF), sheet-pan veggies (FMF) and garlic bread (FMF)

Tuesday

B: Cinnamon rolls & fruit

D: Taco Salads (plus any bean or rice leftovers - FMF)

Wednesday

B: Cinnamon rolls & fruit

D: Omelets, (ham & cheese or spinach, onion & peppers FMF), toast and fruit

Thursday

B: Oatmeal & fruit

D: Soup & grilled cheese. Probably tomato and chicken noodle (homemade out of F)

Friday

B: Oatmeal & fruit

D: Tater tot casserole, mixed vegetable (FMF)

Saturday

B: Oatmeal & fruit

L: Deli turkey sandwiches, chips and carrots (FMF)

D: Cheesy potatoes with either smoked sausage or ham, green beans (FMF)

Nothing else going on around here. It's winter and we're enjoying the quiet farm months. Cattle are being fed daily. We took our bull to the sale barn and will be getting a new one. I'm working on farm bookwork. As soon as I get that finished, I hope to get back to quilting.

Hope everyone is staying well.

Until next time,

Kay

A quick trip away - Mt Rushmore

noreply@blogger.com (Kay) — Mon, 09 Aug 2021 04:30:00 +0000

Mt Rushmore at night

Happy Sunday everyone.

I hope you all had a joy-filled past week. Mine was the normal getting back into the late summer groove.

The last week of July we left for vacation with our best friends to South Dakota and Mt Rushmore. They had not been there since they were children.

We left on Wednesday morning from our house, Farmer driving our pickup. We back-tracked a little going back to the out-skirts of the city to eat breakfast at the truckstop and planning our route. Since we have not done the southern part of Nebraska much, we chose to take the long way around. We stopped in Red Cloud to see the Willa Cather Center (our culture for the trip) and toured the town a bit. I may not bring much to the group but I try to bring some educational bits. Like so many, "O Pioneers" and "My Antonia" are my favorite of her books.

From there we drove by Harlan Co Dam and in to Kansas before turning northward and heading to Broken Bow. We have stayed at the Arrow Inn in the past and love that hotel & pub. So friendly. CLEAN. Great food. I could have easily stayed there the whole 5 days. Only thing lacking was a pool (not that I'm much of a pool person.)

We toured slowly north the next day and ended in Chadron. Another nice small town in NW Nebraska. Our desk clerk suggested a down-town bar & grill for dinner It was ok. More of a young college student place. Chadron is a college town. Similar to our small hometown in feel.

Back to our motel which had a nice central courtyard. 3 of us sat and enjoyed a beverage and the space with a group of wedding guests/family. Beautiful cool, not humid evening.

Before we got to Chadron, as we do, we stopped in the small village of Cody NE. One reason was to see the high school student ran grocery store made of straw bales. Read more here.

Yes, the students run it. It was a cute little store. A bit pricy but then they are way off the beaten path. We spoke to the young man running the cash register and supported them by buying fruit to eat. It was nice to see they had a steady stream of folks stopping in while we were there.

The next morning, Friday, it was terribly smoky from the Utah and Canadian fires. We thought it was fog at first. Our visibility was a couple of miles at best. That was disappointing as I love the sandhill vistas. We ate breakfast at a lovely family-owned cafe. So good. Then it was on up to Rapid City SD.

We stopped in Hot Springs and waded in the "river" (more like a creek to me) in the city park. We toured Custer State Park and observed the Buffalo, Pronghorns and Prarie dogs. We wanted to go through Cave of the Winds but we found we had to get advanced tickets. Next time.

We had our moment of panic when we called to confirm our booked rooms and they couldn't find us! Thankfully it was just a matter of being "lost in translation" as our last name starts with an "F" which can sound like an "S" on the phone when you are spelling it. We did say "'F' as in 'Frank'" but the clerk was an "English, second language" person and didn't quite make the connection. It was all sorted out and we sighed a big sigh of relief. (This was the weekend before the big Sturgis SD motorcycle rally and rooms were not easy to find.)

We got settled in and usually we eat local/Mom&Pop places on our trips but this was a city and we didn't know where to go. Plus, we saw Texas Roadhouse on our way to the motel! It's one of our favorite places to eat, so we went for a good meal.

Back to the motel and we utilized the lobby's commons area to play cards.

Saturday we ate breakfast at the Colonial House where Farmer and I have eaten before. Again, locally owned and good food. Stopped by the Candy House. The old sticks-in-the-mud wouldn't participate in my idea of trying the weird flavors of soda. I didn't even expect them to try the gross ones just the weird flavors. Such party poopers.

Then on to Keystone to see tourist stuff. So. Many. People. We walked around but none of us wanted souvenirs. We ate at the Historic Ruby's Place. Good food even if the place is touristy. We enjoyed watching the chainsaw artists at work. And the taffy pulling. (We have simple tastes.)

Mid-afternoon we headed to the mountain. We hiked the presidents path (those 250 steps at one point, were harder than a few years ago), took in the rangers' talks in the artist studio, took photos and absorbed the grandeur of the monument. It never gets old.

While Farmer and BF went back to the truck to get jackets and snacks and water. BF's dh and I stayed to people watch. I was that kind, older lady who took family photos so everyone could be in the shot. And watch a couple from another country (Bosnia? Russia? Ukraine?) get their wedding photos taken. Everyone around applauded.

We ate the famous Mt Rushmore ice cream for dinner and found our seats for the Lighting Ceremony. So patriotic and heart-warming. If you've never stayed for it at sundown, you really should.

Back to the motel and the next was our last day of vacation, on the road home. Sunday, Colonial House again for breakfast. We had 8 hours of driving so we were up and on the road by 9 a.m. We took a different route home but stopped in Broken Bow again for lunch. Dairy Queen this time. Home to our sweet Farmhouse by 7:30 p.m. Farmer was off to check cattle as soon as our friends were headed to their home and I was sorting and washing 5 days of laundry! It was all done by Monday bedtime.

It was a nice get-away and the last time-off except for Husker Harvest Days in September. Now it's back to the usual. It's hot and humid here. The county fair ends tonight. We chose to not go since it's so hot. We stopped by the Littles' yesterday to see them and hold Little #4. He's growing chubbier. I soaked in baby snuggles, Toddler Hugs and Big Brother play. They have all grown in the past 2-3 weeks. #dontblink We are so blessed these babies live close to us.

I'll pop a few photos below. If you've made it this far, these shouldn't bore you too much. :D And excuse the hair. My stylist had to cancel my appointment I had for the day before we left. I'm a bit shaggy. Also, there are rare sightings of the Farmer in case you wondered if he's real.

Have a great week. Stay hydrated. Be safe. I'll be back soon with a new menu and food talk.

Until next time,

Kay

Willa Cather center in Red Cloud NE

I love Windmills.

C Market in Cody NE

Hot Springs SD (Best Friends enjoying the water.)

Stinky Bull Buffalo

Canadian wildfire smoke

My favorite Farmer and me at Mt Rushmore

Awe-inspiring

Menu July 18-25, 2021

noreply@blogger.com (Kay) — Tue, 20 Jul 2021 04:30:00 +0000

It's been a a little while since I've posted a menu. Or found my fragments. Let's do that, shall we?

First the fragments. The Ohio kids were here and with 4 pre & teen-aged kids, we made plenty of food. For supper on the last full day they were here, we brought out all the leftovers and everyone heated up what they wanted. There wasn't much left over.

What is left:

BREAD

Buns (hot dog and hamburger)

1/2 loaf of bread

1/2 loaf of banana bread

1-1/2 bags of flour tortillas

2 slices of garlic bread

7 dinner rolls

DAIRY

1/2 large container Sour Cream

1/2 large container Vanilla Yogurt

Cheddar, Mozzerella, Parm block cheeses

Provolone. Co-Jack and American sliced cheeses

Almond Milk

MEAT

Deli Ham

Small portion of beef steak

Small portion of ham steak

Leftover sloppy joes

PRODUCE

Cucumbers

Summer Squash

Small amount of bag romaine

Tomatoes (med-sized and cherry)

Carrots & Celery

Kiwis

Apples

FREEZER

Spaghetti sauce

Bananas

Other frozen fruits

MENU 7/18-25/21

Sunday: AF meal (Shrimp & Corn Dogs)

Monday: Spaghetti (FMF) with rolls (FMF)

Tuesday: Chicken Nachos (FMF)

Wednesday: Waffles & Bacon, smoothies (FMF)

Thursday: Chef Salads (FMF)

Friday: Fish sticks &/or Shrimp (AF), FF or Rice, Cole Slaw, Rye Bread

Saturday: L- Tuna Sandwiches & Chips S- Hot Dogs on Grill, Baked Beans, Chips, Carrots & Celery

Sunday: My Birthday! No cooking!

Grandbaby #9

noreply@blogger.com (Kay) — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 04:30:00 +0000

Little #4 AKA Grandbaby #9 is here. Healthy, beautiful, much loved. He weighed in at 6lbs11oz & 19inches long. Everyone is adjusting well and we can't wait to see what he becomes.

Not the best photo but I'm keeping him as concealed as possible for safety.
PS Notice the socks from Pappo Farmer.

Grandchildren are the crown of the elderly, and the pride of sons is their fathers. Proverbs 17:6

Week in Review July 18, 2021

noreply@blogger.com (Kay) — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 04:30:00 +0000

Sunday: Spent the day quietly as we are wont to do. Church/quiet time. Coffee and blueberry muffins. There is always dishes and laundry, so I did those up as quickly as possible. Farmer really overdid it Saturday in the heat and humidity so I was glad he spent the day quietly watching tv and napping until late afternoon.

Lunch was whatever we found ourselves. I had a deli ham sandwich, cucumbers and carrots. I have no idea what he had.

I spent the majority of the day reading blogs and making lists. I also napped in the afternoon.

Later we did chores. It had cooled off and was not as humid. A really nice evening. He opened up the small pasture for the beef calves as the flies were so bad. They were happy to move out of the pen. He mowed the lawn and I picked a few cucumbers and harvested some herbs.

Clockwise upper right: Basil, thyme, rosemary, oregano and dill

I made some Pasta Salad using Amy Marion's method of chopped veggies (tomato, cucumber, summer squash, onion & herbs in my case), pasta (I used shells) and a lot of Miracle Whip. That was what my last attempt needed. That tanginess.

I made our Air Fryer meal of Butterfly Shrimp and Farmer had 2 Corndogs while I had the pasta salad.

It was good to have a quiet, restful day before the craziness of the workweek starts again.

AND Then Life Happened....

I had every intention of writing down what I did each day to make this easier to post. Well, this past week just done did me in. It's late July in Nebraska. It's hot, it's humid, it's Hay time.

We both worked all week. And came home to do the outside things in the heat & humidity. And then ate supper at 9:30-10 p.m. Which meant I was going to bed around midnight and then not sleeping well most nights due to leg cramps and hot flashes. But we don't need to talk about my aches and old lady stuff. Let's move on...

FUN STUFF

A friend met me for lunch on Thursday and treated me for my birthday. We both used to work at the local paper until I didn't anymore. She keeps me in the loop of what is going on there. We contemplated margaritas but it was noon on Thursday. Somehow we thought that would be frowned upon.

Friday after work I stopped by a garage sale and found a pack & play for our house for Little #4 and some "new" toys for the others. And bought some sourdough cinnamon rolls for Farmer. I went up to deliver the goodies to the Littles and got some hugs & kisses.

Saturday we went to pick up our new Amish-built Glider Rockers. My old one had a bearing going out and with a new grandbaby to rock, I needed a quiet one. They are so comfortable. I napped in mine in the afternoon.

Before we picked them up we did errands: Menards for farm shorts for Farmer & canning mixes for pasta sauce and chili base that I will be canning for DS2. Rotated pickup tires. Went up to a further away farm store to use a gift card Farmer had. We bought him a new shirt, cat food, pickup additive, ratchet straps. (so exciting, I know!) Walked through a meat market in that town to see what they had. Nothing we didn't already have in our freezer and the home-made buns were too expensive for me. I can make them cheaper.

Home by 1:30 p.m. We brought in the chairs, rearranged furniture and then rested for a bit. Farmer went out to do farm stuff and I cleaned the farmhouse and did laundry. It was nasty hot with no breeze so I only went out when I had to. Couldn't even dry the sheets on the line.

Supper was grilled hot dogs, green beans (for him), chips, cole slaw and pasta salad for me. Fresh berries for dessert.

And that ended our week.

Today is my birthday. I have been thanking Almighty God for all my blessings. My readers are included. I don't use this blog for income, just an outlet for all the stuff in my brain. I appreciate that you all like to stop by and read my musings.

Now on to this week. We are going on vacation Wednesday with our best friends. I can't wait to just sit and relax for 5 days. We are heading to South Dakota. DS2 and our neighbors/friends will be checking the cattle and the farm house.

I'll be back with another round up soon.

Until then,

Kay

Now that I am old and my hair is gray, don’t leave me, God. I must tell the next generation about your power and greatness. God, your goodness reaches far above the skies. You have done wonderful things. God, there is no one like you. Psalm 71:18-19

Finding my Fragments this week

noreply@blogger.com (Kay) — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 04:30:00 +0000

Pot Roast Dinner
It's on the menu.

The last several weeks we've been sustaining on a whim and a prayer, meal-wise. It's been HOT! We've been busy (too busy)! And we've started going to Sam's Club wayyyy tooo much! (As in weekly! What in the world?!)

So it's time for a menu and to Find My Fragments.

First, The Fragments

Buns and bread (hamburger and hotdog; rye and wheat)

Fruit and Veg (thawed frozen strawberries and peaches, grapes, bing cherries, little bit of rhubarb, grapefruit sections and lemon sections; carrots, celery, romaine, bell peppers, sweet potatoes, russet potatoes, onions & garlic, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes)

Dairy (sour cream, yougurt, shredded cheddar, block cheddar and mozzarella, fresh mozzarella, Feta, cream cheese, milk.)

Leftovers: Homemade pizza, baked beans

That is pretty good. Not a ton to use up.

The only items I feel unsure about is the fruit. If they are still good I will probably make smoothie packets for future breakfasts. My fault for thawing them all instead of partially thawing and portioning them out.

The Feta has been in there a while; need to double-check it and use in salads or scrambled eggs this week.

The fresh mozz I accidentally froze. I have a feeling it will be grainy when thawed so will use it in a cooked pasta meal.

( And later, back at the Farm....)

It's a week later; how did I do?

This week on the grocery buying front... I did a walmart trip for other things and got the stuff I didn't get at Sam's. A smaller pack of romaine; Brie cheese because I was hungry and I love it; Gala apples because they were a good price and I couldn't find any local strawberries; and the usual stuff for Farmer's lunch (single serve mashed potato cups and peaches.) So that added to our monthly shopping bill.

Fragment usage:

The old hamburger buns got tossed. No idea why I didn't use them up, even if just crumbs. They must have been a good kind with less preservatives because the store brand last "forever." So far the hot dog buns seem ok as does the bread. Other than that there are a few blueberry muffins from this morning that he'll take in his lunch.

Dairy: I ate up the frozen fresh mozzarella. It was fine. And I finished the Feta today on my salad. Brie was eaten one night as part of a cheese, crackers and grapes dinner. The milk is all ok yet as well as the yougurt and sour cream and block cheeses.

Leftovers: We still have that homemade pizza. I'll probably have some tonight and Farmer will get some tomorrow for lunch or I'll freeze it for when I have nothing for his lunch. The baked beans he will eat tonight. We've added in some of the roast that I made and there is some cheesy potatoes left that MUST be used up. He'll eat the roast in sandwiches but he's had that twice in the last few days. I think I'd better freeze that as well. And the potatoes. They'll reheat ok.

Fruit: I haven't used the fruit and truth be told I'm a bit scared to look at it. But I will later this afternoon and freeze it as smoothie packets with the almond milk that I think may be getting close to date. Smoothies for this week's breakfast with raisin toast.

MENU(S)

Last week I didn't make one but let's see if I can remember.

There was the Mississippi Pot Roast (IP) and Cheesy Potato Casserole (AF), Chef Salads, Grilled Cheese Sandwich and Cheese-Crackers-Fruit, and we ate out twice. I'm missing a day. It must have not been very exciting of a meal.

Here is this week's menu:

Sunday: AF night (Him-Corn Dogs with baked beans & chips; Me-Leftover Homemade Pizza with salad)

Monday: Spaghetti, meat sauce, salad, Butter Sticks

Tuesday: Taco Tuesday (which means anything Mexican related): AF Chicken Fajitas, onions & peppers, rice and beans

Wednesday: French Toast, Bacon & Fruit

Thursday: Sloppy Joes & FF for Him; Grape-Pecan-Chicken Salad on greens for me.

Friday: Date Night

Saturday: Shrimp &/or Fish Sticks, rye bread, cole slaw, fries or hash browns

Sunday: 4th of July - Grilled burgers or hot dogs, baked beans, pasta salad, chips, ice cream

This is all Pantry food. I will only have to buy cabbage slaw this week. We have everything else including snacks.

The Ohio kids are coming July 8th so we'll need to do a haul on the 5th. I will be asking them what they want for meals. Last year we ate only one meal out and it was wonderful. Some of their favorite places are not open for inside dining yet so we'll cook here. You know we have PLENTY of food here so we'll only need produce and milk, cereal and bread stuff. I'll be sharing our menu later.

I'll be cleaning out the upper freezer to see what's lurking up there to be used but that's a Finding My Freezer Fragments for another day.

DISAPPOINTMENT

As you know, we butcher our own beef and I usually get local chickens & pork as well. This year I'm eating up the chicken we have in the freezer and will get more next year. We had gotten a hog in the spring and stored most of it in DS2's freezer. We'd had a few meals of it, chops and sausage and all 3 times I've feel bad afterwards. Not sick-sick but not right either. Putting 2 & 2 and 3 together, we figured out the meat must have been tainted. Not sure if it wasn't chilled fast enough (my guess) or what but it's not good. Ds mentioned he felt sick also. So, **big sigh** we decided to throw it out. I absolutely HATE that but you can't mess around with food poisoning. Since we have our own land, we took what we had here and after unwrapping it, tossed it in a gully up on our other farm (just fields and timber.) I'm sure the coyotes had a feast. We'll need to get the rest from Ds's and toss it in a few weeks too. Farmer contacted the butcher we used to take our pork to and got a butcher date in 2022(!!) for another hog. The person who processed this hog did such a great job in early 2020. He does this on the side but has a nice facility. I think he got too busy because all the bigger processing businesses were booked up and maybe pushed the envelope a bit too much in chilling/freezing. I'll miss not having chops for the next 6-9 months. We do have about 10# of bulk sausage from the previous hog that I'll save and use in sausage gravy. We buy bacon and ham so we'll be ok with that. Just such a disappointment to waste all that meat.

That my menu & fragments for this week. We are on Grandbaby #9 watch this week into next. Little #4. And with the Ohio Bunch coming, it'll be a wild time around here for a few weeks. I'll try to pop in and share what we do and what we eat and share a photo of the new one.

Prayers going up for the Pacific NW and the heat.

Stay hydrated and have a wonderful & safe 4th of July!

Until next time,

Kay

Drought 2021?

noreply@blogger.com (Kay) — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 04:30:00 +0000

So far it all looks lush and green.

Drought? Oh, Father God, I hope not! We weathered the dry year of 2012 but it was not fun. So far we've had timely rains and the crops and gardens look good; but last night's predicted rain ended up in just wind and a sprinkle after midnight. Looking ahead for the next 10 days, I see only 2 days with 30% chances.

It'll be good for the hay Farmer is planning on cutting this week; but it'll mean I'll be out every evening watering. I went out this morning (Sunday) as a few things were looking peaked and wilted. Everything got a good drink. Tomorrow evening I will mulch the raised bed. The soil there is not the best and I've noticed some areas that have washed out under the sides of the bed.

I also need to mulch the squash & cucumbers. I should have done that when I first planted those plants but I"m only one woman with little time.

I did get the pumpkins mulched right around the plants and then Farmer tilled between, yesterday morning. They look happy enough and as their leaves & vines grow, they'll cover the soil and create their own living shade mulch.

As I keep hearing about the devastating heat and drought in the western U.S. I'm looking at ways to lessen our cost of fresh produce. Obviously we are growing some of our own, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and summer squash. But those will not be ready for several more weeks.

Thankfully we have our local farmer's market in town. I plan to start looking there this week. I have enough romaine, cucumbers and cherry tomatoes to keep us in salads this week. But I will need to find another source of fresh salad ingredients or start buying frozen veg to supplement.

Fruit is another item I need to resource. Thankfully it's June on the Prairie and strawberries are in season. Also cherries. I'll see what is available for those as well. I have canned fruit and some frozen here as well that I can start using. Our pear trees have quite a few pears setting on, so I'm hopeful for a nice crop to can.

I've read how some of the Aussie bloggers save their warming-up water and use in their washing machines. That is a great idea! I've also been saving the water left in our glasses and dumping it in the watering can. Liquid from canned vegetables or when I wash store produce also.

Every little bit helps in the end.

Spring & Planting time on the farm with a menu

noreply@blogger.com (Kay) — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 04:00:00 +0000

My gift for Administrative Assistants Day. I have wonderful bosses.

Another Birthday

First, a happy 61st birthday to my Blue-eyed Farmer. I love you bunches, Sweetie.

Farmer with dgs2 (oldest Little)

What I Did This Weekend

Despite snow and below freezing temperatures a few mornings this past week, it is Spring on the Farm. Farmer started planting corn yesterday (Saturday.) It was also his birthday. I gifted him with a card and his favorite meals (tuna sandwiches for lunch and homemade pizza for supper.) The boys called him and the Big granddaughters all texted him plus he got some cards in the mail. I also made him chocolate chip cookies for his treat.

We got hay for the cows in the morning. Then a quick run into town to get some things he needed. We dropped off a succulent bowl I had gotten for DDiL. The kids re-homed their big dog and now she can beautify her patio.

Took the seed up to the field and he was off and going. I spent the morning cleaning the house & doing laundry. Made up tuna salad and took him a field lunch. It was a cool day but sunny.

In the afternoon he sprayed the fields he had planted. DS2 came out to check/fix pasture fences. Then Farmer & I went to get more corn seed and he planted until dark.

New iris is under the far trellis.

I transplanted a iris plant in the new garage flowerbed and prepped the new planter for planting a mandevilla vine when it gets warmer.

Last week Farmer helped me detangle all the tomato cages and organize that area by the fence. I also uprighted the compost "bin." It's something I bought with the idea of making compost without building a bin. Saturday I finally started a "proper" compost. I layered sticks in the bottom (which is open to the ground. It has mesh sides and is open on top); then a layer of "brown or dry." They suggested leaves but there are few dry leaves around anymore in spring. I found a bunch of old tomato vines that were brown and dry so I used those. (Thinking now, I could have gotten some dry straw or hay from the bunk and used that as well.) Then I layered in some cut grass and the kitchen waste, then a layer of manure/soil. I watered it all down well and covered it with some cardboard. I'll give it 2 weeks and stir it with a pitch fork. And I'll start a new layer. And hopefully by June, I'll have some new compost to dress the plants.

I bought some moss roses from a local fund-raising plant sale this week. I was going to plant them but it's suppose to get hot Monday and then rain Wed. I'll plant them Tuesday after work so they won't cook. And then it's suppose to get cold next Mon-Tues, so I won't be planting my herbs yet. Not until the 3 Frozen Kings come & go. https://www.farmersalmanac.com/who-are-the-three-ice-men-11048

Late afternoon, I went back inside to do more laundry. I made pizza dough and defrosted the meats, ground beef and some Italian Chicken Sausages. I had those 2 head of broccoli from the produce sale to use up yet. I decided to blanch them and just put in the freezer. And then since Farmer warned me he wouldn't be home until at least 8:30, I made a batch of chocolate chip cookies. It was a bit of a whirlwind of pizza, broccoli and cookies all the while keeping an eye on the clock timing the blanching, and timing the cookies baking and watching for him coming home.

We ate and at 10:30 I was folding the last load from the dryer. It was a long, busy, but good day.

Today we slept in a little. I made our weekly blueberry muffins and we listened to church. I did my devotions with a second cup of coffee, but could not keep my eyes open. So I gave in and took a 2.5 hour nap! I guess yesterday wore me out.

Lunch on Sunday is whatever you can find. Farmer had more of the tuna salad and I made myself a big salad with greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, cheese and egg. We've rested and relaxed all afternoon and now he's mowing and I'm blogging.

MENU

This week is suppose to be up & down temperature-wise. 90 tomorrow, 70s Tuesday, then cooler Wed, back to the 70s Thu & Fri. Colder on Mon & Tues next week. We still have not had a thunderstorm which is rather strange.

I try to make out our menu according to the weather and what we are doing. And as always trying to Find My Fragments.

Here's this week's:

Sunday (today): Air Fryer meal or Leftovers

Monday (90day-HOT): Chef Salads (FMF) with ham, cheese, eggs and some leftover biscuits and garlic sticks)

Tuesday: Tacos, refried beans (FMF)

Wednesday (Breakfast Night): Pancakes and sausage, fruit (FMF from the fridge & freezer)

Thursday: Sloppy Joes, buns (FMF), baked beans, chips, for him; Sweet Chili Pineapple (or mango) Chicken with broccoli and rice for me.

Friday: Steaks on the grill, baked potatoes, salad

Saturday: Going to inventory the pantry and freezers and see what we have too much of or what needs to be used. Stay tuned for details.

FMF

I've been trying hard to keep the leftovers and extras used up. I do not want to waste food or our hard-earned resources.

I found our walking onions are growing well. I pulled several and shouldn't have to buy spring onions for a long while. These never get large bulbs but are still good to use as storage onions. I have 3-4 garlic cloves left and none in the store looked good, so I'll be on the look-out for new garlic soon.

I used the onion in the tuna as well as some celery that was on it's way out. Wrapping it in foil really does work. Keeping celery in plastic does not keep it. I also found that if your tuna salad doesn't seem thick enough for you, 6-8 crumbled crackers will help thicken it and you don't notice the taste or texture. They seem to "melt" away.

I also used the onions in the pizza topping and also found the packages of Chicken Italian Sausages I had vacuum-sealed. I used one on my side of the pizza. The other one I'll use on my salad or in the Chicken meal.

All that Bag-Sale produce has gone to good use. I did lose one avocado that was too bad to salvage. The others I was able to cut out the bad spots.

I cut up the pineapples and packed those in Farmer's lunches all week.

The mangos I cut up and used some in Mango Salsa for my fish tacos. So good. The recipe originally calls for pineapple but I've used peaches & cucumbers in it as well.

As you read I blanched the broccoli for the freezer. The peppers are still good in the fridge and I'll either put the pears in Farmer's lunch this week or make a pie or bread out of them with the apples that no-one is eating.

I cooked up one of the punts of mushrooms and put those in my eggs on Wednesday evening. The rest should hold this week and I'll use some in my Sweet Chili Chicken and some I'll brown in butter for my steak on Friday.

There is Romaine lettuce to be cleaned and cut up for Monday's salads along with various "extras" like those peppers, carrots, sugar peas (which could also go in my Sweet Chili Chicken), cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, cheeses. There is ham in the freezer and shrimp and chicken strips (not necessarily Fragments but something that needs to be used.)

I seem to have an abundance of carrots, so I'll need to find something to do with them. My mind jumps to carrot cake but heaven knows I don't need that! Farmer does like roasted carrots so perhaps a sheet-pan meal next week sometime.

My goal is to clean out my fridge. So much in it right now, condiments and other not used daily items. I need to discover what it all is and find a way to use it.

I also need to use up more freezer fruit, so zucchini bread or a cobbler or something; or just more smoothies.

Since I started this post, Farmer has finished mowing and we drove over to check on some elderly neighbors. She gave me 6 potted hostas that she divided out of her plants and offered me some columbine plants (if I come dig them) and promised to keep any small redbud trees that come up volunteer. This is the sweet neighbor that gave me the rhubarb plants and is always my "farm wife" mentor.

We are now home and supper is almost done so I'll close for another week. If anything post-worthy comes up, you'll see it here.

Stay well,

Kay

In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt. ~Margaret Atwood

Should I Rebrand?

noreply@blogger.com (Kay) — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 05:30:00 +0000

So I've been thinking about retitling this blog. It's rather a laborious title but it is unique. What do you think?

Also have been thinking about how to be more timely with posting. I often think of a quick note but it's hard to find the time to type it and sometimes it really is just a sentence or two. Would that be too short? Working FT and watching the Littles alot on Saturday mornings doesn't leave me much time to play with this hobby blog of mine.

So I'm thinking of doing what many others do, compile during the week and post on Sundays.

I'll start that next week, but here is what I have for this week.

I am in a bit of a slump making menus. Life is a struggle right now. Like many others, stuff gets on my mind and it's February and I'm weary. So we are taking care of ourselves and being kind and easy-going. So no menu and eating what we found easy to make.

Sunday:

Homemade Ham & Bean (from a jar) soup. It was so good.

Monday:

Neither of us were hungry. Farmer had Chex Mix and I made Rice with butter and parm.

Tuesday:

Fat Tuesday! We had Pancakes and Sausage. I found if I take our bulk sausage and pat it thin and flat on a rimmed sheet pan and then broil it, it cooks nicely. No hard pucks like when I slice it into thick rounds.

Wednesday:

Cheese Quesadillas

Thursday:

Air Fryer Night - Corn Dogs & FF for him, Shrimp & FF for me.

Friday:

Date Night!! Steakhouse for Ribs (him), Salmon (me). So, so Very Good!

Saturday (today):

Littles were here so lunch for us was whatever we could scrounge. I also made Cinnamon Rolls for Farmer's cousin who was stopping by. They were a bit under-baked. I hate when I do that!! So I am going to make more tomorrow. I will perfect that recipe.

Supper: English Roast in IP, mashed potatoes, roasted carrots. (I popped those in the oven while I was roasting white and sweet potatoes for next week's breakfast bowls.)

FINDING MY FRAGMENTS

Just off the top of my head I know I have the following in the fridge:

1/2 head of cabbage

Green onions

Runza filling

BBQ sauce

Zucchini shreds, 4 bananas

Roast, beef broth

Ham & Bean soup

Grated Parm (and various other cheeses)

Normal veg in crisper (carrots, celery, lettuce, cucumbers)

Red Cabbage

Feta Cheese

Plus all the usual stuff - eggs, condiments, tortillas

Full IP pot of chicken stock

4 bread rolls

So many things to use or put into the freezer. I know Farmer will eat the soup for lunch one day. The Runza filling could be put into fried rice with the green onions. Zucchini shreds can go into quick bread. The leftover roast he will also eat for lunch. The remainder we can freeze for soup or beef noodles (I think he likes that?) Feta and onions could go into a frittata. Cabbage into fried rice or just cooked, or salad or on tacos. All great ideas except some only I will eat and I was planning to do a big protein salad each night. I guess I could make that work. Farmer will have the protein and we'll figure out the sides each night.

Breakfast Bowls with scrambled eggs, bacon/ham/sausage, white or sweet potatoes, cheese.

Big salad topped with:

1. Runza filling

2. Roast

3. Frittata (served along side)

4. Taco meat

5. Hard-cooked or deviled eggs

6. Roast Chicken Thighs.

WHY THE SALADS?

Because my jeans are begging me to eat more salads! Ha. I'm going to cut back on my bread/grain consumption. Until I can find the time to make some Einkorn bread/rolls. Also cutting back on the sugar and eating more fruit and veg. I guess a modified Whole 30.

I've also been eating breakfast besides just coffee for the past 2 weeks. It's helped my mood and brain function. But toast, waffles, Toaster Strudels are not my friends. I could not see paying over $14 for Breakfast Bowls at Sam's when I can make them myself. I'll scramble up a bunch of eggs tomorrow, bake/cook the meats and assemble the bowls, freeze into bowl shapes and bag up. Should just be a quick nuke to reheat.

That's what I can think of tonight. I'll post this on Sunday and then keep a written record of the week for next week's posting.

Be Blessed. Praying for Texas.

Kay

I will praise the Lord while I live;

I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. Ps 146:2

Another Blizzard

noreply@blogger.com (Kay) — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 05:30:00 +0000

My area of the midwest just had a blizzard/winter storm with a lot of snow.

Here on the Prairie Farm we got around 10+ inches of snow. It blew some last night and this morning Farmer had to dig us out here on the place and then dig out up our hill to the corner. We drove in together in the big Ram. There were several places I wasn't sure we'd get through but we did. Coming home from the highway for the first 2 miles, the plow had been through. But the last 2 miles were still dicey. Thankfully they had been on our east-west road and cleared it wider than Farmer was able to do with the John Deere.

As soon as we got home, he went to feed the cows and I went to widen his work on the sidewalk and scoop a path from the walk-out patio door up to the flat. I also scooped the drift away from the barn door where the feed is and the cats live. And had to dig around to find the cats' feed pans. "Someone" (not me!) didn't put them inside before the snow started.
If you like snow, enjoy the following photos.
Talk soon,
Kay

This is the back door of the garage. The drift is waist deep there and where Farmer broke through the drift further down it has to be hip-deep.

This is the other side of that deep drift. Easily knee deep or higher.

That crazy drift on top of the roof. When it melts it will leak through the door frame into the house. Also the piles on top of the step and the half-barrel show how deep it was with the wind blowing it away. This is on the west side of the house and is a bit of a breezeway for the north and south winds.

And I had to show you the great job I did opening up the front steps and walk. 💪

Reading the Anne series

noreply@blogger.com (Kay) — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 05:30:00 +0000

I've been looking at new (to me) blogs and found Jo of "Through the Keyhole" who lives in Leeds, England. I don't know what it is about England and the British Isles but I'm smitten. And recently vlogs about Sweden and living in small communities or off the grid in the forest. (Maybe I"m subconsciously trying to run away from it all?)

Anyway, Jo read through all the the Agatha Christie mysteries in 2015 (over 60 books I believe) in order of printing.

Many years ago I read through all of the Grace Livingston Hill books found on our little local library's shelves. The librarian even let me take them from the storage closet (they wouldn't all fit on the shelf so they swapped them out from time to time.) I was going to collect them all but I find I really only want my favorites. I like the ones that have a lot of homemaking descriptions. Makes me feel all warm inside.

I thought that reading through a series would be a good way to spend part of 2021. I'm currently reading my way through Miss Read's Thrush Green series and then will start again on Fair Acre. I've never read them in order and just mixed up the 2 series as I found them. Lots of characters and I got confused most of the time on who belonged where. Now I think I'll keep them straight.

After I finish Miss Read, I believe I'll start on the Anne of Green Gables series. I've only read books 1 and 2 I think.

And then maybe the Left Behind series. It's been a long time since I've read them.

I just finished "The Dean's Watch" by Elizabeth Goudge and absolutely loved it. Gentle, Christian, just enough mystery to keep my interest. It was a bit heavy slogging through the building history of the cathedral but the building is as much of a character as are Job, the Dean and Isaac Peabody.

I love E Goudge and D.E. Stevenson's books. Ms Goudge's especially fill something in my soul. I can't explain it but it's almost like God is there in those books, hidden by the prose. Satisfying, warming, deeply-thoughtful books.

As always, there is daily Bible reading and cookbook reading.

Talk soon,

Kay

Baby, It's Cold Outside

noreply@blogger.com (Kay) — Sat, 16 Jan 2021 05:30:00 +0000

We've had 2 days of WIND and last night & today we had a blizzard. Thankfully we had little snow. Farmer got the cattle a corn stalk bale to keep them warm.

I had to make a cup of cranberry tea when I got home to warm up. I left the oven door open when I took the casserole out for supper. It helped to warm up the kitchen.

I was just plain cold all day.

Matter of fact my feet/toes are still cold. Usually my woolen knitted slippers will keep them warm but not tonight. So I nuked my weighted neck warmer and have my toes wrapped in it covered by my fleece blanket and my fleece shawl around my back. I'm starting to unthaw.

Is it Spring yet? **sigh**

Talk soon,

Kay

The Pink Ornament

noreply@blogger.com (Kay) — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 05:30:00 +0000

Years ago, my mom loved to decorate our (always) live tree. She would let me and my siblings help which is surprising since we had all those old delicate glass ornaments. But to her credit, she let us. But only she could put on the old foil icicle strands. On every single branch. She kept them organized by length. It was her thing. (Meditative if you will because there were 5 of us! 12 yrs and younger.)

Of all the ornaments, there was a smallish brush-stroke painted, bright pink glass ball. All of us girls LOVED it. (It was pink after all.) We had to take turns each year on who got to put it on the tree.

One year, my mom gifted it to me, as the oldest child. It went on my tree each year with a smile, along with other ornaments that remind us of our parents.

I had found a set of similar ornaments to match my pretty pink ball, but they were duller in colors and so they rarely made the tree.

This year, 2020, I was happy, eager even, to put up our tree and to celebrate the Joy that has been so lacking. Farmer helped put the tree up and helped find all the plugs to light it and we celebrated our "new" star we had forgotten we got last year. I decorated it with Nativity scenes, red & white/clear balls, stars, snowflakes, red birds and filled in with red poinsettias instead of garland or icicles.

Somehow in the tweaking of the ornaments, my pretty pink childhood ornament,

bounced it's way down the tree

and as I held my breath,

I watched it

hit the banister and shatter.

*sigh*

There was nothing else to do but vacuum it up and mourn it's passing. It seemed fitting, that it's demise was in 2020.

I've grown much this year. My faith has been strengthened and I've held on to God so tightly.

I feel like I've turned yet another corner in my quest for maturity and wisdom.

As if I've been breaking through a tough shell. It's been "a year."

A good year, but hard.

Back to the ornament-

There is a pale pink version of it in the set I bought. And grey and aqua and gold. I'm going to print "2020" on the bottom of the pink one and hang it on the tree in remembrance of the other.

Perhaps it's a reminder to remember my childhood but to set aside childish things and look toward my senior years (58 next year).

Remembering the good, but setting my sights on the future.

Hugs,

Kay

For unto us a Child is born,

Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called

Wonderful, Counselor,

Mighty God,

Everlasting Father,

Prince of Peace.

Fall

noreply@blogger.com (Kay) — Sat, 24 Oct 2020 02:01:00 +0000

“And all at once, summer collapsed into fall.”

noreply@blogger.com (Kay) — Sun, 16 Feb 2020 02:33:00 +0000

Happy Valentine's Weekend!

This week has felt 10 days long. Actually this whole month has felt Big and Long. A week ago we had our annual tax appointment. It always feels so good to have that done. As soon as we got home from running errands and visiting the Littles; I fell to organizing and putting away the 2019 paperwork, And then I started on entering the 2020 receipts. My goal is to stay on top of it this year. (I say that every year!) But I mean it this year. To this date I only have about 5 or 6 receipts to enter and that can be done in less than 15 mins.
I also purchased an "in-box" so I have a place to collect them during the week and then can enter them on Saturday.

Sunday the 9th we stayed home from church. It was the annual Chili Cook-off at church and I'm not a fan of chili and not eating grains, so no cinnamon rolls for me. We both took a late morning nap and just piddled the rest of the day, RESTING. I helped with chores and made a few food items for my week.

A week ago Tuesday my best friend's dad passed away. The family viewing was Monday evening so we went to that and spent afterwards with B & A. Tuesday was the funeral, so I worked until 10 a.m. Farmer picked me up and we went to the funeral and luncheon. The country cemetery was terribly muddy so we chose to not go to that. I went back to work from 1:30-5.

Wednesday evening thru Friday, the weather turned cold. We had wind chills at -20s all day on Wednesday. I could feel the cold seeping through the north wall in the living room. I kept the thermostat at 68 until bed and then turned it to 64. Farmer wasn't cold sitting in there, covered in 3 quilts. My computer room is right above the furnace and it stays nice and toasty.

Friday was Valentine's Day. We are both just fine with a verbal greeting, a kiss & a hug. I found a great deal on Under Armor fleece shirts for the Bigs and had sent them out in time for the holiday and sent the family a Universal Yums box to share. I got the Littles each a card and a toy. P is very into super heros and Lego people. He got a Super Hero card and the generic brand of people. Sissy does everything P does, so Lego people for her too and a Minnie Mouse card. N is too little to care. She got a Minnie Mouse card too and a teething toy.
I also got inexpensive ($1 or less) gifts for my Boss' kids and 2 other special friends. A pack of pencils for $1 to be split up and a pack of Reece's Cups to be split. The other 2 each got a $1 gift and a tube of Kisses.
I also gifted my work guys with donuts as we haven't really celebrated or observed anything in a while. They are a good bunch of guys and work hard, so I'm happy to be the "office mom" and do these things.
By evening I was "done." Neither of us wanted to go to town and I don't need much for groceries and can easily wait until next week. Farmer wanted a frozen pizza and I had my sausages in the fridge. We ate what we wanted and enjoyed a quiet evening.

And that brings us to Saturday, today. We were up early to drive 2 hours south in to Kansas to look at a sprayer Farmer was interested in. We enjoyed touring some small communities and seeing some of the big older homes. Clay Center KS was a delightful little town. I'm sure I could move there and fit right in. We stopped at the little bakery, and were the object of everyone's attention (New Comers in town!)
After Farmer's inspection was done (he hasn't decided if he's getting it yet), we took a different route through the Flint Hills and back to Nebraska. By then I was getting car numb, so I took a nice nap.

During the morning I had had 2 service calls on the after hours phone. I needed to stop at my office to check on something for Monday morning, so we took the round-about way home through our small town. While there we called DS2 and asked if we could stop by to see the Littles. He wanted to come out with them to get them out of the house. So we agreed and hurried home get the house "baby ready."

4 hours, 3 yucky diapers, a snack and evening meal (Dinosaur chicken nuggets, green beans, mac & cheese, & pears), lots of imaginary play and Bubble Guppies later; I am doing laundry, running the dishwasher. Farmer is in his chair and I'm here.

Tomorrow may not be a church day again as I am still in need of some real REST. The workweeks are pretty stress-filled and the past few Saturdays I have not been able to get much done here. I don't want to get run down as the Flu is still rampant around here.

Menu
Last week
Friday: Whole 30 Spinach-Artichoke Dip on Sweet Potato Toasts
Saturday: Pizza Buffet (salad and small amount of non-compliant items)
Sunday: Salad for lunch. Fish Sticks and Fries for supper.
Monday: Fast food out with friends
Tuesday: Waffles & Sausages, Smoothies
Wednesday: Cast Iron Skillet Burgers
Thursday: Salads with grilled chicken breasts
Friday: Frozen Pizza or Italian Sausage on Salad greens.
Today: Donuts, coffee; Sonic burgers; Water, Pistachios & Craisins

Next week I hope to make pizza one night. We haven't had steak in a while. Or Meat loaf. We have some salmon in the freezer. Probably Chef Salads again as I have a ton of lettuce. Some kind of soup (other than chili) sounds good. Maybe Salmon soup with plain nut milk? Or Chicken Pot Pie Soup?

Homemaking Ways
I MUST clean out my pantry. DS2 was looking for any leftover homemade jelly. I couldn't find any of mine so let him have a pint of some yummy apricot a neighbor gifted to me. I think I have some left but all I could find was pepper jelly. Not so good on toast.
I need to find anything we are not eating anymore and donate it before it expires. That is a huge waste. And I cannot walk in that room due to all the stuff on the floor.
And I just need to declutter. I've decided if I haven't used it in the last 2 years, I'm boxing it up and will have the daughter-in-loves go through it and then offer to nieces before donating or selling on our local Swap.
After the pantry, I plan to go through the kitchen. Then the closet under the stairs and then the back porch. All this over the next 2-3 months since I only have Saturdays now. Once it gets warmer and lighter longer and Farmer is in the field, I can work upstairs on Saturdays and on the main floor in the evenings. (one drawer or cupboard at a time.)
I also need to make up some Elderberry Syrup. The Flu is going around here for the second time. That's the LAST thing we need.

Being Creative
My quilting is calling. I'm patiently waiting for Farmer to get the rocking horses done. Gifts for the Little Girls. Then I can finish B, K & N's quilts.
I also would like to plant up the sprouting bulbs I got for cheap. (Maybe tomorrow!)
I have cards I could make. And produce bags.

Learned Ways
I have several "deeper" books on Biblical subjects I'd like to get started on. I don't have the mental wherewithal to read them during the week, but Sunday afternoons seem like the perfect time.
I would also like to learn more about eating Paleo or Gluten-free. The more I test it, the more I'm finding grains are not my friends. This past week was heavier on them and I can tell. I get bloated and my face gets blotchy. Sugar is another no-no. That with the grains makes my Rosacea flare badly. I had a bad reaction after the holidays, and am just now getting it under control. Shea Butter and Helichrysum EO has helped enormously.

So all in all, I'm still busy and have lots to do. But I will work Smarter, Not Harder and will continue my Year of RESTING in Him.

See you soon!
Kay

**February is the border between winter and spring.
~Terri Guillemets, "Years,"

Word of the Year for 2020

noreply@blogger.com (Kay) — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 03:00:00 +0000

Rest

With this year's challenges, I think I will hold this word closely to me. I see a Bible word study in my near future.

If you would like to find your word of 2020, go HERE .

If you want, let me know Your word of 2020 in the comments below.

Hugs~~

Kay

January 1, 2020

noreply@blogger.com (Kay) — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 04:41:00 +0000

A new year, a new decade and the same old blog. Again, several years have flown by since I last was here.

When I was last here I had been unexpectedly released from my newspaper customer service job because of budget cuts. I then worked 2 temp jobs. One was as a nursery seed corn worker. I cleaned corn, sorted, packaged and organized seed packets for nursery plots. It was a fun job with lots of variety. I enjoyed the people there. And it helped me to understand the beginning end of ag corn production. As producers, we only see the end results of seed corn.

That job lasted from Feb-May. After which I worked for book bindery, prepping text books for recovering. My job was checking counts of the different titles and preparing the end papers. The training was poor at this job but thankfully I'm a fast learner. Our team of temp workers did so well that we had few re-dos and ended our time several weeks early. Good and bad. Bad as I was again without a job. Good because my last day was also the day we left for Tennessee and Bryant and Dana's destination wedding.

They celebrated their 3rd anniversary this past July. Their children are now 16, 14, 14 (the twins), almost 12 and 8. Their household is BUSY all of the time but so happy.
We flew out to surprise the twin for their birthday on Thanksgiving, 2018. The girls turned 13. We worked it all out with Dana's sister and parents. Her dad picked us up and we surprised Bry and Dana first at home. I love making my grown children cry with surprise and happiness. The twins were so amazed and grateful we made the trip. I loved being there with no plans except spending time with them all. We did a few fun outside things, like Black Friday shopping and a Christmas tour in an old gravel mine (set up to show the Biblical Christmas story.) I got to spend time with the girls making chocolate chip cookies and just loving each other. It will be one of my best memories for life.

Going back to 2017 and the job search; after our return from TN, I was contacted by the book bindery about another position there. This time I was learned more detailed work on other bindery work. Magazines, library books, thesis. Again my training was not terribly complete and I felt lost but I persevered. I was also in training on the actual binding, both hard-covers and paper-backs. I had just started on that, with much better training; when I was again laid off. This time because Hurricane Harvey hit Houston. I was hired to work on the books that came in from a new route from Houston. The flooded city was not sending in any books to be bound and we had not idea when the floods would reside and when the orders would come in or if the libraries would just buy all new books. I understood the reason but it didn't take the sting away.

So again I was home with no job in sight. I kept putting my resume out there and applying. It was a long 2 months. I painted almost everything outside. Fences, barn doors, propane tank, garage. I cleaned inside. We spent time with our young grandson. And I prayed. A lot!

And then one day a dear friend texted me with a FB notice of a job opening and told me to go apply. So I gathered myself, my resume and went to the office. I had some resistance since I was lacking in the one main software, even though I assured the interviewee I had always had to learn to use a specific software at my last 4 jobs. And had succeeded in doing very well.
A close relative of my friend was also related to the wife of the company's owner. After she heard I had applied, she called them and told them they HAD to hire me and a number of nice things about me. And so I was offered a follow-up interview with the boss's wife. And then offered the job. I accepted and this is where I am now. I am the Office Assistant, Dispatcher and all around Jill-of-all-trades at a HVAC/Plumbing company.

And to show you how our Father God loves us. I knew the person who held my job previously. When she left our former office and took this position, I had prayed for a job like that, even This particular job. I really didn't think God would put me into it, but through circumstances not of my making; He did just that. Gave me this wonderful, fulfilling job. I have learned ALOT. I don't really manage anyone but I do direct the technicians. There will be extra responsibility this coming year that is a little overwhelming but I am also looking forward to the experience and the opportunity to show what I can do.

In other areas over the past 2 years, the Farmer continues on. He still farms and work and has his cattle. We've grown a little older. We look towards his retirement from the factory in about 5 years. We do what we can to be healthy, by eating better; taking supplements; sleeping; drinking water and not soda. So far we've done well with this.

And to summarize the rest:
Our younger son and his wife now have 3 children; 3 year old boy, 18 month and 6 month old girls. They live in our small town now and we see them very often. They are busy little bodies but so good and we love to keep them for a day several times a month.

And that is what I've been doing for the past 2 years. I decided to come back to here after thinking about it for the past 3 months. I am still on Facebook but more often I am reading blogs. I enjoy the fellowship found there and hope I can perhaps be a friendly word here. I want to continue to write about how I make our home. About what Father God is teaching me (so much there!) About the books I'm reading. About the nature outside my door. So many things bring me joy that I want to share them here.

I hope it blesses you too.

Hugs~~
Kay

Coming home from very lonely places, all of us go a little mad: whether from great personal success, or just an all-night drive, we are the sole survivors of a world no one else has ever seen.John Le Carre

And 3 years later....

noreply@blogger.com (Kay) — Sat, 28 Jan 2017 04:13:00 +0000

Gracious it's dusty in here **ACHOO**... I guess almost 3 years of absence will do that to a blog. I hope maybe there are one or two of my readers still around, but if not I understand. Life got busy and then busier and then, well, not as much.
Let me explain...

When I last left you I was Eating In, Not Out; Pantry Challenging; Spring was in the Air along with Farming/Calving/Planting. We had enjoyed a visit from the Ohio clan and we were working off-the-farm & on when I left you in 2014.

Fast-forward: 2015 We did some remodeling as in gutting our entire living room and taking out the lath & plaster, putting up drywall, new woodwork, taking out the parlor door and doing some renovations in the kitchen with a tiled backsplash and built in dishwasher.

2016: Our younger son was married to our lovely dear daughter-in-law Mandy in January. We then helped them with painting and finishing the basement in their new home. Our older son over the years has gotten divorced from our granddaughters' mother and became engaged to a wonderful lady, Dana, who brings us a grandson & another granddaughter. The whole family came to Nebraska in August. There have been some extended family health concerns. My Farmer had some heart afib trouble, but is doing very well now. The newly-married ones gave us a new grandson the middle of December. And the very last week of the year, I was down-sized out of my job at the newspaper.

Which brings us to present, January 2017. Bry & Dana are still trying to figure out a wedding date. I'm still waiting & looking for a job. We now have 2 grandsons, 13 & 1 month; and 4 granddaughters, 11 (twins), 9 (on Sunday) and almost 6.

I've been doing the Whole 30 eating plan to figure out my food triggers. I'm finding grains are not my friends anymore. I am seeing this as a lifestyle change and I'm OK with that.

Also with having our take-home income cut by 1/3, we are being VERY frugal. I am so thankful God prompted me to set up our deep pantry. We have set a $35 grocery budget, and I am trying to hold to that every other week. There is little reason to go shopping every week. One deviation from that set-point; Farmer asked me to figure out what I needed for pantry staples for the next 6-9 months and we bought them. We got a grain check so there was a little wiggle room in the budget. Thankfully I didn't need tons and I also used some of the funds for non-food items to stock up.

At first being home was a shock. I believe I went through the stages of grief, as my firing was unexpected and I was in shock for a week. Then I was mad, depressed, shocked and mad again, then scared. Now I'm trying to be patient as I wait on God's timing. It's been nice to be able to just "be." Time to heal and now I'm starting to find my house again.

We had a small ice storm a few weeks ago and Farmer cleaned out the storm room in the basement. I sold an old sewing machine and had to clear out the extras that were still out in the main room. It's not done but it's a sight better than what it was. I need some shelving in that room for storage of my empty canning jars and our extra vitamins/supplements and laundry supplies.

I started to organize the kitchen pantry the day we stocked up and while there are some holes, there is enough to keep us fed for quite a while.
I plan to start declutter kitchen cupboards, drawers, the pantry and the under-the-stairs closet in February. Of course being open to God's leading on the job-front too.

It's been quite the emotional roller-coaster I've been on the past 8 months, starting with Farmer's afib diagnosis. Solace is always found in Father God, prayer and His Word. Our family brings us joy always. It's been wonderful to have a Nebraska-based grandchild. I've been making a quilt for this sweetie and in cleaning the sewing room, I found ALL the kits I has stored in one of my quilt cupboards, (like 20+!) And yarn for crocheting. I'm looking forward to digging into that fun.

I'll end with some of my most favorite things.

I'll be back soon,

Hugs,

Kay

** “Continuity gives us roots; change gives us branches, letting us stretch and grow and reach new heights.” ~Pauline R. Kezer

So God made a Farmer...

noreply@blogger.com (Kay) — Sat, 08 Mar 2014 03:13:00 +0000

My Farmer stayed home from his off-the-farm job to take a baby calf to the vet. The mother rejected it and we've been bottle feeding it for 2 days. The vet medicated it and said it was pretty healthy and had the Farmer get some better milk replacer. Farmer called me at work at 3:30 with the news Calf #32 had just died. We are sad. Not just because it is a loss to our income, and unnecessary expense at the Vet's and Feed store, but because it always hurts when a living being dies.

In honor of my hard-working, tender-feeling Farmer, here is Paul Harvey's speech to the 1978 FFA convention attendees. Thank you Blue-Eyed Farmer for all you do and for still being tender-hearted.

Here's the text of Paul Harvey's 1978 'So God Made a Farmer' Speech, which inspired the Ram Trucks Super Bowl ad that has resonated with so many Americans:

And on the 8th day, God looked down on his planned paradise and said, "I need a caretaker." So God made a farmer.

God said, "I need somebody willing to get up before dawn, milk cows, work all day in the fields, milk cows again, eat supper and then go to town and stay past midnight at a meeting of the school board." So God made a farmer.

"I need somebody with arms strong enough to rustle a calf and yet gentle enough to deliver his own grandchild. Somebody to call hogs, tame cantankerous machinery, come home hungry, have to wait lunch until his wife's done feeding visiting ladies and tell the ladies to be sure and come back real soon -- and mean it." So God made a farmer.

God said, "I need somebody willing to sit up all night with a newborn colt. And watch it die. Then dry his eyes and say, 'Maybe next year.' I need somebody who can shape an ax handle from a persimmon sprout, shoe a horse with a hunk of car tire, who can make harness out of haywire, feed sacks and shoe scraps. And who, planting time and harvest season, will finish his forty-hour week by Tuesday noon, then, pain'n from 'tractor back,' put in another seventy-two hours." So God made a farmer.

God had to have somebody willing to ride the ruts at double speed to get the hay in ahead of the rain clouds and yet stop in mid-field and race to help when he sees the first smoke from a neighbor's place. So God made a farmer.

God said, "I need somebody strong enough to clear trees and heave bails, yet gentle enough to tame lambs and wean pigs and tend the pink-combed pullets, who will stop his mower for an hour to splint the broken leg of a meadow lark. It had to be somebody who'd plow deep and straight and not cut corners. Somebody to seed, weed, feed, breed and rake and disc and plow and plant and tie the fleece and strain the milk and replenish the self-feeder and finish a hard week's work with a five-mile drive to church.

"Somebody who'd bale a family together with the soft strong bonds of sharing, who would laugh and then sigh, and then reply, with smiling eyes, when his son says he wants to spend his life 'doing what dad does.'" So God made a farmer.

Kay

"Each thing that takes place, whether it be fortunate, unfortunate or

unimportant from our particular point of view, is a caress of God's."

~Simone Weil~

Sort of a Menu Post.... kind of.... maybe....

noreply@blogger.com (Kay) — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 03:32:00 +0000

I love having company, and I love preparing for them. But I tend to buy too much food! I posted my menu HERE. We didn't eat maybe half of these meals. Partly because I worked 2 of their 4 days here and we went out one night and had company the last evening, so we got pizza.

Right now I have some of that pizza leftover. There is lots of milk in the fridge and lots of cheese and plenty of produce. I shouldn't have to buy much more than maybe some half-n-half & possibly some fruit.

I need to do a pantry & freezer inventory. Both are stuffed to the gills but I don't really know what's in the back/bottom.
Also, I'd like to be using up what's it getting close to expiration and open up some room for restocking before Winter.

I'll post something of a menu here but it is all subject to change depending on what I find when I do my inventory.

Sunday (today):
Lunch- OUT, Tacos
Supper- Sandwiches, chips, cupcakes

Monday:
Lunch: Leftover pizza & salads (pasta or greens), yogurt
Supper: Grilled steaks or kabobs, new potatoes (on grill?), grilled zucchini, leftover baked beans.

Tuesday:
Lunch: Turkey potpie, veggies/dip, grapes, yogurt
Supper: Breakfast for Supper- Individual egg & potato casseroles, fruit salad, toast.

Wednesday
Lunch: Packaged pasta meal (for me), fast food for Farmer
Supper: ?? We are attending an outdoor church concert.

MUCH MUCH Later....... as in Thursday evening.

Well, the week took over and here it is days later & I still haven't finished this post. So far only Wednesday's supper has been accurate. oh well.... There's always next week.

Still doing the Pantry Challenge, however. I stopped by the dreaded Wallyworld after work but only got half-n-half and fruit. Ds2 was moaning over the lack of fresh fruit for a snack when he comes out after work. I got nectarines, honeydew melon, Bing cherries, black grapes, apples, 1 avocado (the rest seemed light for their size). Once home I bagged and refrigerated the sweet corn Farmer shucked for me and then we went by neighbors to get cucumbers they were sharing.

Supper was "What can we find that is quick and easy??" since it was 9 p.m. (again!) He had a big salad and leftovers. And I had leftover veggies and pasta.

And now it's 10:30 and time for bed.

Until Next Time,
Kay~

**Patience is the ability to count down before you blast off. ~Author Unknown

Crying and Corn

noreply@blogger.com (Kay) — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 03:15:00 +0000

Cool in 3D!

The Ohio clan and my precious Pinknesses left this morning for home. We took them out for breakfast early so they could start out with a good meal, since ds1 does NOT stop for anything other than serious potty breaks and gas. They have a cooler of food for on the go meals so they won't starve, but we still wanted a little more time with our girlies.

Ice cream silliness

I hate those first few hours after they leave.

Love my Girlies

Pappo and I always cry when they leave. (they live sooo far away) and then we have to clean up and put away all the toys and the memories come flooding back. It's hard for an hour or two.

Being Cute

She just won't stand still!

But if we keep busy and once our house is put back to non-Pinkness, we start to get back to normal ourselves.
I stripped beds and washed bedding to hang on the line. All the toys were stored back in the basement closet and the books in their container. The highchair and car seats will be stored in the basement closet as soon as I reorganize the suitcases.

I had an hour or so of work at the office from yesterday, since I left early. So I went in and finished that up. A quick Wal-mart trip and home.

Blue-eyed Farmer was hauling bales from the 80, so he was doing his own thing. I did more laundry and then started in on freezing corn. Farmer bought 2 dozen ears during the week and we kept it on ice; trying to find an evening when we could have it for supper. We ran out of evening meals. And we didn't get it in their van to take home.

From This

To keep from wasting it, I washed, blanched, cut and bagged it. From those 2 dozen ears, I got 6 quart bags. They are freezing flat in the big freezer. The fat calves got the cobs and my plants will get the blanching water after it cools completely.

to This.

(I tried Terri of Blue House Journal's idea of using cooking water on my plants. I poured the cold water from the hard-cooked eggs on my 2 flower pots out front and they are going bananas. I guess they liked the little bits of shell and ?? from the eggs. Thanks Terri for the great idea!)

I used my new Amish tomato knife to cut the corn off the cob as it is super sharp and serrated. Worked well. It needed a longer handle to be truly comfortable but for the little bit I had to do, it worked fine. I also stand my ears, tapered side down, on the middle part of an angel food cake pan, to cut off the kernels. That way the kernels fall into the pan and not all over the counter/floor/etc.

After I cleaned up the mess (because "doing corn" always makes a mess, no matter how careful you are!); I sat for a few minutes to rest and then took the cobs out to the calves. Fed the cats. And slowly ran the hose on the cucumber, summer squash, my potted tomato and the basil & rosemary plants.
Farmer came home from spraying then. While I waited on the watering, I snipped the tops of the basil that was wanting to go to seed. I have the basil in the dehydrator now and hope to get many more harvests this summer. Store-bought dried basil is NOTHING like my home-dried basil.

Brought the bedding in off the line and we are both now showered and fed and relaxing. It's VERY quiet in our Farmhouse and I miss my girls. At least I have my memories of all the fun we had and my photos.
And I have some harvests to make the day worthwhile also.

Have a blessed Sunday and tell me if you "do corn" or have started drying your herbs.

Hugs
Kay
** "The best place to be when you're sad is Grandpa's lap." ~Author Unknown

Readjusting

noreply@blogger.com (Kay) — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 04:30:00 +0000

We're readjusting things.

The grandgirlies are coming tomorrow sometime. (Can you see me grin from there?) So we've made up the futon and set up the portacrib and found all the games, books, puzzles, babydolls and play kitchen.

And since we were slightly busy this evening, supper was NOT grilled salmon, but cheese and bacon quesadillas and salad instead. Tomorrow's lunch for Farmer will be a "better" Turkey pot pie, grapes and yogurt.

I may not be around much until the weekend after they leave, but I'll try to post photos.

Hugs
Kay

** "And thank You for a house full of people I love. Amen." ~Terri Guillemets

Menu Musings

noreply@blogger.com (Kay) — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 03:25:00 +0000

I'm thinking of my menu for this coming week. It's a holiday week and we have company coming and I have to work all the days except the holiday, so.... (not to mention the need to use up some food in the fridge before I lose it.)

Monday
Breakfast: Smoothie with frozen bananas, yogurt, strawberries, honey
Lunch: Farmer-Roast beef sandwiches, yogurt, grapes & chips. Extra water for the heat.
Me: Leftover Mac & Cheese, mixed veggies and grapes. Water!
Supper: Grilled Salmon, rice, grilled veggies or heated, canned. Ice cream

Tuesday
Breakfast: Homemade "Instant" Oatmeal with craisins & pecans.
Lunch: Salmon soup for me; purchased "better" turkey pot pie for Farmer.
Company supper: Spaghetti, garlic bread, salad, cookies

Wednesday
Happy Independence Day! We'll eat breakfast in town. Lunch is on your own.
Supper: Grilled burgers & hot dogs, baked beans, chips, fruit kabobs w/ yogurt dip or ice cream

Thursday
Breakfast: Pancake cups with fruit
Lunch: They are on their own, I'll have a purchased pasta thing or soup.
Supper: Homemade chicken nuggets, oven fries, frozen mixed veggies, 3-2-1 cakes & ice cream

Friday
Breakfast: Eggs and Toast and fruit or Cereal & fruit
Lunch: Leftovers for them or Pizza Rolls; Salad in a jar for me.
Supper: Tacos or Nachos with all the fixin's, ice cream

Saturday
Breakfast: If they are still here, Waffles & Bacon, Fruit
Lunch: Leftovers
Supper: Kebobs or steaks on the grill, veggies, grilled bread, brownies.

My goal this week is to not lose ANY food to spoilage this week. And to get up and walk each day before work & while it's cool. Oh dear...... Pray for me. I so despise exercising in the heat/humidity.

Have a wonderful week contemplating our Freedom and the ONE who gave it to us.
Hugs
Kay

** And I'm proud to be an American,
where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.
~Lee Greenwood

I like Busy Saturdays.

noreply@blogger.com (Kay) — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 20:41:00 +0000

Welcome to a Busy Saturday on the Farm. Except it's not as busy right now. We got up early to beat the heat (close to 100 with high humidity--ugh). Farmer went out to spray weeds with the intention of going to town to buy sickle sections and guards. I started in (after my required coffee) with laundry, vacuuming and then to tackle the growing mildew problem in my bathroom. >_<

A quick Google-search for more natural remedies found me at eHow.com and How to Make Natural Mildew Remover . I substituted Pine oil for the Tree Tea oil. I worried a little that the oil might stain the ceiling or cause streaks down the wall but after I ran the fan and lights and let it all dry, all seems to be fine. (I did wipe down the drips from the walls with a damp cloth.) I used my microfibre cloth (from Harbor Freight) for a little more scrubbing action with the baking soda paste and to wipe it all down. I also used the paste and cloth to clean my shower and sink. I did NOT miss the chemical smell from my usual cleansers and the extra elbow grease it took did not hurt me. Hey! Free workout while I get a clean bathroom. Works for me! *wink*

Later I put about 10-12 drops of the Pine oil in my Steam mop. My house smells clean without using chemicals. I will be buying some Lemon oil the next time I put in a order to Puritan's Pride. Lemon/Citrus is always the cleanest smell to me.

In the midst of all this cleaning, Farmer came back to say he had other spraying to do and we wouldn't be going to town. Ok with me. I was far from ready to go and was still scrubbing. We both finished around noon and had a quick lunch of "Whatever you can find." I've had a shower to clean up from cleaning. (LOL) The "good" laundry is done and I'm on the last load of rugs/spray clothes.

I'm trying to keep the man inside where it's cool since outside is sauna-like. NO air moving and hot. Maybe I can get him interested in a movie, but whatever he decides to do, I'm not going outside except to hang out the rugs.

I've been reading blog posts from others I enjoy and have been getting tons of great ideas for menus.
But that's a subject for another post. :)

Stay tuned, I may post it yet today. Or I might take a nap.

Hugs
Kay

**Who will tell whether one happy moment of love or the joy of breathing or walking on a bright morning and smelling the fresh air, is not worth all the suffering and effort which life implies. ~Erich Fromm