The Farmer's Wife Year End Review

It is hard to believe that 2011 is coming to close already.  Time goes so fast anymore...I can hardly keep up.  I don't know whether to look forward to 2012 or be scared for another bad year.  2010 and 2011 were not the best years and I remember saying I don't think we could have a worse year than 2010 and then unfortunately 2011 was worse.  2011 left us saying goodbye to my father-in-law when he lost his battle with cancer.  Last week, we had to say goodbye to my grandma after she was so courageous in choosing to amputate her legs in hopes to gain a few more years of life, but the good Lord was eager for her to come home.  I do have peace knowing that our loved ones had great faith and will spend eternity with Savior and that I will one day get to see them again.

The end of this year also marks the one year anniversary of The Farmer's Wife Blog.  I have truly enjoyed my blog.  I wanted to start a blog to ramble on about the happenings in my life and I thank everyone of you who take the time to read my ramblings!!!  I thought I would highlight the popular posts from the year.

When it comes to projects, printing on burlap takes the top spot.

As far as recipes go, the caramel mocha frappe seems to be the big hit here at The Farmer's Wife.  It is one of my favorites too!!

If you like to keep up on our life at the farm you probably remember when things got a little hot.

Here are my favorite posts from my blog in the categories:

Farm Life  This is my Valentine's day post.  I know I would not live the life I have without my hubs and I am so thankful for him everyday.  Plus, without him I wouldn't have these four precious individuals.

Projects   This is my ladder project and it was a close second to the printing on burlap.  I love it!!!

Recipes   This is my recipe for spicey sirloin kabobs.  I could eat them for every meal!!!!!!  You must try this recipe!!!!!!!


So there you have it, the year end review from The Farmer's Wife.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking time from your busy life to read a little about mine.

{{{HUGS}}}

Broccoli Cheese Soup

When it is cold and snowy outside I love to make soup.  It just hits the spot when your tootsies are cold and you want to spend the day cuddled up under a blanket.  I made this soup the other day in the midst of a winter storm which dumped about 9 inches of snow on us.

1 stick butter
1 cup carrots, chopped
1 cup broccoli, chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
2 potatoes, diced
1 small onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 tbsp. flour
8 cups chicken broth
2/3 cup milk
12 oz. velveeta cheese, cubed
Salt & Pepper to taste

Melt butter over medium-high heat, add carrots, broccoli, and onion.  Saute about 6 minutes and then add garlic and continue to saute 2 more minutes.  Reduce heat to low and add flour and whisk until well blended.  Remove from heat.  Place chicken broth in stock pot and vegetable mixture, potatoes, and salt and pepper.  Cook on low-medium heat until the potatoes are done, add milk and cheese and simmer until cheese is melted.  I sometimes add a little cornstarch mixed with cold water (3 tbsp cornstarch and 1/4 cup cold water, mix) to make the soup a little thicker.  Enjoy!!!

{{{HUGS}}}

Bad Word

A quick story I had to share.

Last night my son was already tucked in bed, but he somehow got his sister to come get me and tell me he needed to talk to me.  I went to my son's room and asked him what he needed.  He began to say something with his quivering lip, but couldn't get it all out.  When he was finally able to sputter some words out he told me he said a bad word.  I did not get mad at him {he thought he was going to be in big trouble} and thanked him for telling me.  I encouraged him to not say it again.  About 2 minutes later he was asleep.

Fast forward to tonight.  I was preparing supper and he said he wanted to help {he is great help}.  I told him he could and he pulled a chair up to the stove.  While we were cooking his guilt got to him and he was again apologizing for saying a bad word.  I said to him "don't SAY it again" and we went on cooking.  A few minutes later he told me he didn't say the bad word.  Here is what he said to me "Mom, it wasn't me that said it.  I didn't tell my mouth to say it!!  It just dumped out, so it wasn't my fault!"  I had to turn my head and laugh.

Now, how could I be upset with a face like that?!?

{{{HUGS}}}

My "Model"

I decided I wanted to take some Christmas pictures of my kids in HOPES that I will get cards mailed out this year.  I am very far from a being a photographer, but I do like to dabble with it and learn as I go.  I made up my impromptu Christmas backdrop with some lights, bulbs, and snowflakes.  Since it is practically dark outside when the kids get off the bus I will have to wait until the weekend to take the pictures when I can utilize some natural light.  Because I am impatient at times I wanted to snap a few photos to see how it would look. I got the display ready, but was in need of subject.  Since the girls were at school I had my son be my "model".

All of these are SOOC and as you can see he was quite thrilled to be my subject.  I told him to just sit there so I could play around with my settings.  It was quite entertaining for me.

Then the final 2 pictures couldn't sum up our 10 minute photo session any better.  I can't decide which is my favorite.  One of these might even make it on the Christmas card.  Which one would you vote for?

Funny picture #1.... "Mom, pictures are boring and they are making me sleepy."

Or

Funny picture #2.... "Mom, I can't take it anymore!!!!"

My kids make me laugh!!!

{{{HUGS}}}

Birthdays, Illness, Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Backups

It has been awhile since I have been able to dedicate some time to the old blog.  This post does not involve any cooking, crafting, or cows.  Just when I think things will settle down around here.....well....that is what I get for thinking.  Life couldn't be any crazier, or at least that is how it feels.  Here is a little update of what has been happening on the farm.  I have been sick for 4 weeks now.  Today I am going to call it sinus infection {it seems to vary day to day}.  If someone would just drill into my head and relieve the pressure I would appreciate it.  

My middle daughter turned 10...YES...the double digits.  That is a big deal, just ask any 9 year old.!!! Her birthday falls right before Thanksgiving {she was actually due on Thanksgiving day}.  She shares her birthday with her Aunt which is another BIG deal.  She invited several friends over for her owl birthday party {insert picture of birthday party here that I haven't even downloaded off my camera yet....that is how far behind I am}. We played minute to win it games and had an absolute blast.  The other big hit of the birthday was suppose to be Just Dance 3, but due to a mess up with my order it didn't make it in time.  Nobody missed it....LOL!!!!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving {insert pictures of family fun here that I haven't downloaded off my camera yet}.  It was a gorgeous day spent with family.  We really do have so much to be thankful for!!!

My Grandma has been in the hospital for several weeks.  She is a diabetic and has had infection in her legs.  Unfortunately, she had to have both legs amputated above the knee.  This is not what she originally wanted, but she also told me she would like to be around for another five or six years.  She is currently in a rehabilitation hospital learning the ins and outs of her new body.  Thankfully she has had a lot of family around to help her through this time.  I would really like to go see her, but since I can't get over the "crud" completely I can't go see here.  My mom took 2 of my girls to go see her which I think brightened her day.

Usually my mom and I go Black Friday shopping, but given the situation with my Grandma it didn't work out for us to shop this year.  Frankly, I think my mom and I were both exhausted and didn't care about going.  I did shop online and I and got some amazing deals.  I am not sure I will ever Black Friday shop in stores again.  Plus, I got to stay home and watch the Huskers beat Iowa.  Speaking of the Huskers, I have heard a rumor that Carl Pelini is going to go be the head coach at FAU????  The Husker volleyball team whooped up on Jackson State tonight too.  Go HUSKERS!!!!

To keep things insanely busy around here our sewer decided to back up.  It is NEVER a good time for "it" to happen!!!!!  My hubs and I woke up and stepped out of bed on wet carpet.  After renting a machine to suck up the river flowing in our basement and having very little success, we decided to take the carpet and padding out of the basement and have a professional  cleaning and restoration service come in.  They will be here first thing in the morning.  After a couple days of the cleaning service running fans, dehumidifiers, and sanitizing the basement we should be ready for new carpet.  Talk about a MESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I love the movie Christmas Vacation and there is a scene in that movie that mimics this situation....LOL.

So that sums up a little bit of life here on the farm.  Hopefully, I will be back to cooking, crafting, and farm wife stuff very soon.  I'm too exhausted for all this other stuff.......

{{{HUGS}}}