HOLY COW!!!

I had big plans to get a lot of yard work done because the weather was absolutely gorgeous and one should not be inside on days like these {and I haven't seen a snake yet so I am still willing to go dig around in the weeds}.  I got each of the kids a pair of leather gloves so they could help out {there isn't child labor laws when it comes to your own kids.....is there?!?!?}.  Jordan and I pulled the gigantic weeds and tossed them in piles.  Alivia and Hayden were suppose to carry the pulled weeds over to the burn pile.  We had a good system going and I was looking forward to accomplishing a lot!!!!

I got a phone call from Mike asking to head to the farm to help move cows.  You can never tell how long these adventures will take.....but I figured my yard work was done for the day!  So we headed to the farm to help out.

When we got there Emma was trying to get this calf to follow all the cows.  He wasn't  up for the adventure and seemed to be a little weak.

Mike and AJ used the 4 wheelers to gather the cows up.  I am not crazy about 4 wheelers....well I should say I am not crazy about watching them go wild on the 4 wheelers.  I can't count the number of times I have seen daylight between the tires and the ground when Mike is riding one.  I feel much more at ease when he rides a horse.

We needed the cows to cross the bridge so the kids and I blocked an area we didn't want the cows to go to.

We did our job because the cows went across the bridge without a hitch.

Except for this cow and her calf.  We call her the Mouse Cow....I don't really care for her.  She isn't the prettiest one of the bunch and she always seems to cause problems {there is one in every herd}.

We decided the weak little calf should come home and be a bottle baby.  Hmmmm....we only have two 4-leelows {remember from an earlier post...that is what Hayden calls them} and a mini-van.  So I did what any farm wife would do {only because I didn't have my new vehicle....and the calf hadn't ate so I was sure he wouldn't "eliminate" anything}.

We loaded up Yogi {that is what Alivia named him....I'm sure we will get the birth certificate in the mail soon} and brought him home.  He is doing well taking his bottle and is quite ornery.

Oh, and Mike helped with yard work the next day and we accomplished a TON!!!!

{{{HUGS}}}
The Farmer's Wife

Spicey Sirloin Kabobs

Spicey Sirloin Kabobs

I love to make kabobs and EAT em too!!!  You can use any veggies you like (that will stay on the stick).  I used green, orange, and red pepper, yellow squash, zucchini, purple onion, and mushrooms.  I would normally add some cherry tomatoes, but our store didn't have any.  I used a large sirloin steak, but you could use chicken as well.

Cut your meat and veggies into 1 inch chunks.  Put the meat in a ziploc bag with the marinade.

Spicey Marinade

2 tbsp water

2 tbsp beef bouillon granules

3 garlic cloves chopped

1 tsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp course ground black pepper

½ tsp salt

Add beef bouillon to the water and stir.  Add the remaining ingredients and mix.  Add to the meat in a ziploc bag and shake until all the meat is seasoned.  Allow at least 2 hours for the meat to soak up all this spicey goodness.  I use wood skewers so I always soak them in water for at least an hour.

Add your meat and veggies to the skewers.  You can make them all the same if you suffer from OCD.....but I don't!!!  After they are put together take 2-3 tbsp of vegetable oil and brush each kabob until coated.  

Preheat your grill on med to high heat.  Then grill these wonderful yummy-ness on a stick for about 12 minutes to achieve the perfection (steak will be done to about medium...a nice pink center).  Turn them often so all sides get done.

After they are grilled to perfection.....

Eat them!!!!!  You won't be sorry!!!

{{{HUGS}}}

The Farmer's Wife

Fresh Strawberry "Pizza"

Here is a simple dessert that involves my favorite things....chocolate and cream cheese!!  You can make this on a pizza pan and serve it up by the slice.  I make it in a 9x13.

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees.  You will need sugar, flour, butter, cream cheese, vanilla, cocoa, and fresh strawberries. 

Mix ¼ cup cocoa, 1⅓ cups flour, and ½ cup sugar together.

Cut in ¾ cup of butter and mix until the mixture will stick together.

Press mixture into a greased pan and pat down to make the crust. Bake for 15 minutes.

Mix 1 brick of cream cheese,  ⅓ cup sugar, and 1 tsp vanilla together.

Slice up 1 pound (or whatever the container size is....remember I don't like to measure) of strawberries.

After the crust is cooled spread the cream cheese mixture over the top.

Spread the strawberries over the cream cheese mixture.  I think it looks a little plain...don't you?

So I added some chocolate syrup.

Serve up a piece.

YUMMY!!!

Here is the recipe:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees

Crust

• 1⅓ cups of flour
• ½ cup sugar
• ¼ cup cocoa
• ¾ cup butter

Mix flour, sugar, and cocoa together then cut in the butter until it sticks together.  Place in a greased 9x13 pan and pat down to make the crust.  Bake for 15 minutes.

Filling

• 1 brick of cream cheese
• ⅓ cup sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla

Mix together and spread over cooled crust.

• 1 pound of sliced strawberries
• chocolate syrup

Slice strawberries and place on top of cream cheese mixture.  Drizzle with chocolate syrup.

Enjoy!!!

The Farmer's Wife

It's a Tough Job....

My hubby was kind enough to help me with laundry {gasp, I will let you catch your breath) the other night.  There wasn't much to fold so I "thought" he could handle it.  Here is what he did.

Yep, they are folded.  He just laid them on the counter rather than putting them away.  He has some of them folded in half and then in half again and again.  Then there is one just folded in half and then ALMOST in half again.  The one on top is folded with the design to the inside....sigh!!  So I did what I had to do.

I had to refold them to MY standards.  I am not picky about laundry except when it comes to towels.  They should all be folded with the rolled side facing me {it is so much easier on the eye....and my towel anxiety}.

I put the towels away.  It is amazing we have a drawer in the kitchen specifically for kitchen towels.  Who would ever think to put them in there after you fold them?!?!

Whew, now I will be able to sleep knowing they are properly folded AND put away.  It was touch and go there for about 3 minutes.  Looking at my towels now I have noticed it is probably time to upgrade....they are getting thin {unlike myself}.

{{{HUGS}}}

PS  My hubby will probably never help me with laundry again.

Clothespin Board

I made this clothespin board the other day.  I had a piece of baseboard trim leftover from our bathroom remodel that I painted white {it was already white...but sometimes I am an overachiever like that}.  Then I beat myself up over taking seven clothespins from my stash {this might run me a little short when I climb Mt. St. Laundry....AGAIN}.

My choice of supplies included the board, scrapbook paper, clothespins, scissors, paper trimmer {everyone needs a paper trimmer}, spray adhesive, mod podge, aging glaze, hot glue, foam brush, & ribbon {which didn't show up for the photo shoot}.

Steal borrow a shop rag {you can find these in coverall, jean, and shirt pockets of most farmers} and dip into your aging glaze.

Rub the glaze over the board to give it an aged look.  If you get a little too much glaze on you can use a damp cloth and wipe some of it away.  Rub it on until you get your desired look.

Use your paper trimmer and cut a piece of scrapbook paper the width of a clothespin.

Then cut the paper to the length of the clothespin.

Repeat until you have all the scrapbook paper cut to fit the clothespins.

Use the spray adhesive and spray the pieces of scrapbook paper and stick them on the clothespin.

Repeat until all the clothespins look "purdy".

Then lay out your clothespins on your board.  I didn't like the "raw" look of the wood clothespins.

So I used the aging glaze and made them look old.

Then I covered the clothespins with Mod Podge so the paper would be good and stuck.  Let them dry.

Use hot glue and apply it to the back of the clothespins and attach them to the board.

Then I used the ribbon (that failed to show up for the photo shoot) and hot glued it to the board.  I used two pieces of ribbon and tied a bow.  I will hang it my office so I can attach my bills to it {I probably should make a bigger one since I am using it for bills}.

{{{HUGS}}}
The Farmer's Wife

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