Mocha Coffee.....Cinnamon Optional

I love all things coffee!!!  Here is a simple recipe for a hot mocha coffee that you can easily make every morning to get you up and going.  You can make it in the afternoon and curl up on the couch with your laptop a good book.  I am positive you can make it anytime you want!!!  It is flexible like that.

Here is the simple recipe:

1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tbsp white sugar {can use a sugar substitute if you don't want this to stick to your hips}
2 tbsp milk
1 cup hot coffee
1 dollop whip cream
cinnamon {optional....it is flexible too}

Add cocoa, sugar, and milk to a coffee cup and stir.  Add coffee and stir.  Top with whip cream and cinnamon.  Enjoy!!!

{{{HUGS}}}


Linked to: Someday Crafts

Preg Checkin'

I was rummaging through some pictures and came across this fun day!!!!  Don't you love how a photograph can trigger a memory.  That is why I carry a camera with me 98.9736655832 percent of the time.  It may only be the camera on my phone, but hey it works.  This particular day we were preg checkin' cows.

The reason {yes, there is a reason} we preg check cows is to find out if a cow is open {not bred} or preggers.  Why do we do this?  Well because it is great fun to stick your arm up a cows rear end and get poop all over yourself.  Actually, preg checkin' is done from a management stand point.  If the cow is not bred and hasn't been bred in the past that is a sign we may want to move her on.  If the cow is not able to produce a calf that becomes a huge factor in our cow/calf operation.  You can consider that a loss.....and we really don't need anymore losses than we already have in the wonderful life of farming.

The great thing about farming/ranching is that the kids always get to tag along.  They are eager little individuals learning the agriculture lifestyle hands on.

We farm wives can do it all...even with a kid on our hip.  This is my friend Sher'rie and her daughter.

#1 in chute getting....well........

Preg check'd!!!  Congratulations #1 you are bred.  Be sure to get plenty of rest and remember to take your prenatal vitamins!!!

The kids get a front row seat to everything on the farm!!!

Okay, so it is my turn to preg check.

I'm shoulder deep in a cow's butt....now what???????????

Ohhh, I can feel the calf....I think!!!

A little coaching from my hubs and I can defiantly tell she is bred and on her way to motherhood!!!

And here is my other friend's daughter.  I keep saying you got to start them young.  This was her cow and she got to be the first to know if she was bred or not!!!  Country kids are tough!!!

All smiles living the GOOD LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!

{{{HUGS}}}

What "Could" Be Next....

Today, this very day, August twenty third two thousand eleven was the FIRST day I have ever done this.  I actually feel a sense of relief by doing this.  What is so HUGE that it would have me feeling this way???  Well, let me tell ya.  Today I took my hub's shirts to be starched at the dry cleaner.  I know HUGE huh!!!!  For fifteen years I have slaved over the iron with my bottle of Stay-Flo starch to get his shirts extra crispy just the way he likes them.  I couldn't quite work up to sending his jeans....baby steps, baby steps...right?

I have been so busy with life that I just don't have time for the nervous breakdown I deserve....hahahah!!!!  I would usually take a few hours and get my ironing done, but time seems to be a precious thing lately and I feel so good knowing I don't have that on my to-do list!!

This has got me pondering what could be next on my "hired" to-do list.  I think a maid would be right there at the top.  Maybe a personal chef....the kind that cooks really delicious healthy food and I would be on a diet, but it wouldn't taste like I was.  I could hire someone to mow the lawn and tend to my garden and flower beds.  The list could go on.

However, when I really think about these things I would like to "hire" done I have realized deep down that I wouldn't want someone else doing it.  Okay, other than the dry cleaner.  I will probably keep that up....just because.  I actually like housework.  It is a great feeling to me when my house is sparkling clean.  I love to cook!!!  I find it therapeutic.  I think the mouths in this household appreciate it too.  And then the mowing, I enjoy that as well.  I love being outdoors and looking at the yard right after it has been mowed.  My flowers have been beautiful this year and I love caring for them and watching them grow.  These things are me and I don't want someone else doing them.....they probably wouldn't do it right anyhow!!!!

I guess the solution would be to have more hours in the day.  Time seems to be the reason I can't keep up.  I rarely have a day that is not full of interruptions.  I am sure most you feel this way.  I get right in the middle of something and then "POOF" something comes up that takes precedence over what I am currently doing.  I need to find balance in my life.....which will just take TIME!!!!

{{{HUGS}}}

School Supplies

School has started here and usually I am ready, but this year the summer went way too fast.  In the past I have started getting the kids back into the school routine a couple weeks prior to school actually starting.  I guess we will get back into the drill of things soon......or at least I hope we do.

My oldest daughter is in seventh....GULP.....grade this year!!!!!  My middle daughter is in fourth grade and my youngest daughter is in second.  My baby will be starting preschool on Monday.  Excuse me for a second while I grab a tissue............ Waaahhhhhh!!!!  My babies are growing up!!!!!!

The school sent out a list of supplies that each grade would need.  However, the only thing listed for my oldest daughter was a journal!!!  Okay, sounds like seventh grade should be easy!!!  After the first day of school she THEN comes home with a list from each teacher of what supplies she will need.  Now, if you remember we live in the sticks and it is over an hour away to a Wal-Mart.  HELLO!!!  Let me just make that trip "real quick" to get her supplies.  Thankfully, there is a smaller retail store a half hour away and my hubs happened to be going to that town for parts.  He kindly said to text him the list and he would be willing to pick up the supplies!!!

Here is what he got!!!!!

Not the greatest picture because I took it with my phone, but the supplies he got are girly, blingy, pink, and cute!!!  I was impressed!!!!!  He said he looked for the ugliest stuff he could find and he knew she would like it.

Good job Dad!!!!!!!!

{{{HUGS}}}

Cucumber Salsa

When you live in a small town it is very important to lock your call this time of year.  If you don't, you will end up with a seat full of squash, zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, and any other produce the locals have an abundance of from their gardens.  So I repeat LOCK your cars.....unless you love all the goodies like I do then you may want to put a sign on your window that says....WILL TAKE FRESH GARDEN VEGGIES.

Here is a delicious recipe to make with fresh garden veggies.

Cucumber Salsa

3 cucumbers, peeled, seeded and chopped
4 Roma tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 green pepper, seeded and chopped
1 jalapeno, seeded and minced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp fresh parsley, minced (or 1/2 tsp dried)
2 tsp fresh cilantro, minced (or 1tsp dried)
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
1/2 tsp dried dill weed
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 ground black pepper

Mix all the ingredients together.  Serve with tortilla chips.

I love cucumber salsa!!!!  I think I could founder on it!!!

{{{HUGS}}}


Linked to: Little Lucy Lu, Someday Crafts, Be Different Act Normal

Vacation

There is one thing that doesn't happen often with our life of farming and that is taking a summer vacation.  Farming is at its peak during the summer months.  The days are long and the nights of sleep are short.  When it rains we are relieved with a "day off" and thankful for the moisture that our crops can soak up.

This year we decided to take a vacation to Estes Park in the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Colorado.  We have said every year for the past fifteen years that we would like to go, but never got the chance or MADE the time to go.  My father in law always wanted to take us so this year we went, but unfortunately he was not physically there with us.

Here are some of the pictures from our trip.

 The kids love saying the name of the store.....go figure!!!

 Up we go!

 The view from our condo.  Gorgeous!!!

 Our condo.

 Grillin' veggies!!!

 Nothing like the smell of hot charcoal.....especially in the mountains!!!!

 Old Glory!!!

 Getting ready to eat.....we do that so well!!!

 My hubs hat.....I think it says it all!!!

 Grillin' steaks YUMMY!!!

 Heading into the park.

 What a beautiful site!!!

 My niece and my kiddos.

 My son and the rest of the clan WAY up on the boulder.

 The whole gang.

 Beauty right here!!!

 Cow elk in the snow.

 Gorgeous!!!

 Wildflowers!!!

 A large bull elk....you can barely see him, but he is in the center of the picture.

 Would someone count these trees please?!?!

 Lovin' the wildlife.

 Purdy huh?

 The whole gang at Bear Lake.

 I am sure he is giving some good advice to him.

 The trampoline aka prancholine according to my son.

 Way up there!!!

 They had a blast on this.

 Enjoying the view and listening to the beauty of nature!!!

 My BIL, SIL, and my niece.

My clan!!!

What a wonderful time we had.  So glad to have the memories!!!!

{{{HUGS}}}


Linked to: Sweet Little Gals