Our First Attempt at Carving Pumpkins

  Can you believe that neither Hubby nor myself had ever craved a pumpkin before? Hubby did think that he might have when he was young but couldn't actually remember it.  We have tried really hard to create some new traditions with Mr T that he would remember later in life.  The first year, we bought pumpkins (I can not believe how expensive they are!) and drew faces on them.  Last year, with the move, Mr T's birthday party and trucking our cows to SD, we skipped pumpkins all together.  This year we were lucky enough to have a neighbor call and ask if we wanted some pumpkins and he would deliver!  Of course, we jumped at the opportunity and took 2 large ones to carve and 2 small to medium ones for making pumpkin puree - haven't done it but plan on it!

  Here are some pictures from our Family Sunday Funday.

Getting started.

Pulling the 'gunk' out.

Concentration!

First one done!  I think Mr T was a little leery of Daddy's knife :)

Working on Mommy's pumpkin.

All lit up in their glory!

 

  I am not a fan of Halloween for a number of reasons.  However, I am trying to get a little on board with the holiday for Mr T's sake.  I have a few little baking treats that I created to help me 'get in the mood' of Halloween and will share them later in the week.  Enjoy all of the goblins and ghosts that come to visit you!

 

Have a Blessed Day!
~C~

Send a Prayer

  As I put pen to paper fingers to keypad this AM, I am of mixed emotion.  I find myself spending a lot of time thinking about the storm Atlas and what havoc it wrecked upon my fellow ranchers and farmers.  I feel that the lack of media shows a true picture of what our country has become and the focus that it has lost.  I can not imagine what it must be like to be searching thru what snowbanks are left for the rest of your missing cows, sheep, horses or what it is that you are missing.  We took a drive up to Spearfish for our chiropractor appointment on Tuesday and seen firsthand cattle tangled up the fence-lines or where they dropped from exhaustion and it was literally gut wrenching.  I pray daily for those ranchers and their livelihoods.
   
  I am thankful that we were on the edge of Atlas and received some rain and then 3 inches of wet snow.  All of our livestock made it thru just fine.   The last numbers that I was hearing was well over 60,000 head of cattle in the just South Dakota alone.  Devastation is one term that comes to mind.  I fear for the ranchers that won't be able to continue on with their livelihoods, bring an end to tradition in their family or operation.

   I think that it is important to try to educate as many fellow Americans as possible about the impact that Agriculture has on this great country, especially in a time like this.  Due to social media influencing, it's important not to believe all that you read online!  Pictures get Photoshop and captions get changed.  Let's try to help keep fact and fiction separate, keep positive thoughts heading to the Heartland of America.   If you can't send a donation or help out in the recovery effort, at the very least - send a prayer.

 

Happy Father's Day

  We had a semi-interesting day for Father's Day.  The day started off with Boss Man and Hubby tearing a tractor apart (this is ongoing thing in all spare time) and I worked on getting food prepared for supper.   On Saturday, we trucked two small loads of pairs to our leased grass from our neighbor, an elderly gentleman, Howard.  Since Howard is a bachelor, we decided to invite him over for steaks on Sunday. 

  After lunch, Boss Man and I decided to check cattle and put out salt and mineral.  We ended up needing to move one bunch of cows (around 250 head of pairs) since they were out of grass and out of water.  However, the calves did not want to move the direction that we needed them to and the cows were more than willing to go the right direction.  We only had the Ranger to move these cows so that left me to do a fair amount of running and chasing on foot.  Let's just say that I am not in shape!  But, we did get the cows and calves moved thru the gate into the next pasture and got most of them paired up. 

  We got home just in time for me to take a quick shower before our guest arrived.  Here is what I put on the grill for supper:

Buffalo T-Bones and potatoes!

While grilling, I noticed some clouds building....

 

And then we had quarter-size hail...:(

  However, we did get a little rain shower with the hail...probably only about a tenth!  The steaks even turned out really good despite the grill flair ups while I was running around trying to get pickups into the shop while it was hailing.  Always something interesting happening around here!   I hope that everyone had a wonderful Father's Day and celebrated it with the ones that they love :)!

  Have a Blessed Day!
  ~C~

A New Rug

  So far it's only 9AM and I have already had to change clothes....tis the life of a Rancher's wife/daughter.  I had to help load out 75 head of Replacement Heifers this morning and since I was helping Boss Man (who was the official truck driver today), that meant that I got to open the gates and set up the pot (trailer that you haul cattle in when you use a Semi) and load the cattle, then shut the gates.  Let's just say that it can be a messy job! 

  Now, Mr T and I are back home while Boss Man takes the heifers to our land by town.  Hubby left earlier this AM with a pickup and flatbed trailer to start putting in a cross fence on some of our other land up by town.  They have an action packed day planned and it's suppose to be on the warm side.  I plan on staying home and getting some desserts ready for our upcoming branding (not sure when but I want to be prepared!).

  Back to the title of the post....a new rug....and a 'reorganized' entry way.  We finally bought a rug that fit our entry way and it happens to be a customized made rug as well.  We didn't send a lot about $200 and it's a commercial grade rug.  I spent the extra dollars since this rug needs to handle being cleaned almost daily by vacuuming and I like to take my large rugs outside and power wash them once or twice a year.  I plan on this one lasting me a long time! 

"Before" - About August 15, 2012

"After" - May 15, 2013

New basket and a much more 'lived in' look!

Mr T's little cap/coat hook and his chair.

 

  As always, home organization is on going process!!!  Enjoy your day!

 

  ~C~

Code of the West

Saw this on facebook and decided that it would be my post for the day.  If more people followed this code, we would have a much better society!




Have A Blessed Day!
~C~

Dilemma

Dilemma - There will be no farther blog content until I figured out what to do.  I seem to have hit the max picture storage available for free.  I am trying to get the blog downloaded into a PDF file for a keepsake however I am struggling with that. 

Keep checking and I will be back soon!

Recap of the Last Week or So....

   What a crazy blessed couple of weeks that we have had! 

  It all started last Monday the 1st with a phone call from my brother needing a truck driver for corn harvest by 9AM the next morning.  Hubby took off at 3AM on Tuesday and I was left home to get the house ready, help Boss Man all day on Tuesday and Wednesday, along with traveling on Thursday.  Friday, my In-Laws arrived just a half hour after Hubby got home.  I was out working on getting a couple of sick calves to the corral, so when the in-laws got here, Hubby turned them loose with Mr T and came to help me. 

  Saturday was the birthday party and we hosted about 20 people.  The party turned out a bit smaller than expected but still lots of fun :)  We had gotten some awesome wet snow on Friday and the weather was still cold on Saturday so some people couldn't travel.  I will work on a post with birthday pics soon!!!

  Sunday, we went to a neighbors to look at colts and then onto town for a pizza supper for Mr T and myself (I do have a birthday coming up).

  Monday, we moved calves to a new meadow with horses.  FIL was pretty stoked to get to ride (he gets bored just hanging out) and see more of our ranch.  MIL and Mr T rode in the pickup with Boss Man to lead the calves across the highway and to the new meadow.  The guys spent the afternoon working on the truck while MIL and I made a Flan Cake for supper and just visited.

  Tuesday, we went to our Chiropractor that is nearly 4 hours away.  Had lunch with the In-Laws and then had to say goodbye.  I got to go to Target but forgot to take my list so I wasn't sure what I needed!

  Wednesday, Mr T and I headed to town for our MOPs group meeting.  I am so glad that I joined this fun group of ladies.  The reason that I joined was for socialization for Mr T but I am getting a lot out of it as well as meeting new friends!!!

  Today, we are home ~ thankfully!!!  We will spend the day cleaning and getting rested up for the rest of the busy week which includes a 2 year checkup for Mr T and a wedding. 

Friday Moisture!

Snowy Calves.

Have a Blessed Day!
~C~

The Skunk Story.

  Wednesday started out as a normal day.  Mr T and I got up, had breakfast and eventually ventured outside to help Boss Man with fixing the tractor that was in our shop (attached to our house).  We were working on an electronical thingamajig and we were having trouble getting it to connect right since the new piece was different than the one that we took off of the tractor.  Boss Man went to his house to make phone calls, so Mr T and I went to poison some obnoxious gophers.

  I left Mr T out playing in the dirt with his shovel while I came back to the house to wash my hands.  I took my time, washed my hands, got something out of the freezer for lunch and then went to check on Mr T.  I opened the front door in time to see a skunk head into my shop.  Several not so good choice words came to mind along with where is Mr T.  He was not were I had left him so that meant that while I was in the house, he had ventured back to the shop also...oh crap!

  Ran to the house door that goes out into the shop, seen the skunk again, found Mr T down at the other end of the shop (luckily) next to the tractor that we had been working on.  Ran to the door that goes out to the back yard, grabbed a phone on my way and started dailing Boss Man while screaming at Mr T to come outside to me.  To back up a bit, we still haven't moved our guns over to the new house since moving...they are still all in Boss Man's house so I had no way to shoot the skunk myself.  Boss Man wouldn't answer, of course, since he was on the other line....I gathered Mr T up along with both dogs and got close enough to Boss Man's house that he could hear me screaming at him. 

  At this point, I am still keeping an eye on the skunk, giving Boss Man the hurry it up speech while holding Mr T and the dogs.  I had to put Mr T down to keep the skunk in my sight.  At this point, Mr T decides to start crying and why shouldn't he?  His mother is running around like a mad woman!  Boss Man gets outside with his shotgun and I tell him to go the back yard since the skunk had went around the front of the house and headed into the trees toward the back yard.  I went thru the house to get to the backyard and realized that Skunk had taken up a hiding spot underneath my garden shed.  Boss Man tells me that I am going to have to flush him out, ha!  But, I can't stand the thought of this skunk coming back to my shop where Mr T plays, so I grab a long tree branch and start flushing.  Got Skunk to the end of the shed and Boss Man laid him to rest with one shot. 

  All ended well!!!  Mr T and the dogs did not get sprayed and we are down one skunk!  I was so afraid the whole time that Mr T would see the black and white kitty and want to play with it.

My Treat to Myself

  We have been working exceptionally long hours around here, the guys more so than me but still long hours all around! Hubby has been gone trucking and getting home late and leaving way too early so I have been doing that single mom thing around here.  Some days, I just need a little treat to get thru the day or I decide that I need a treat for a job well done at the end of the day.  Mr T has been a real trooper for me and a real good helper but we have had our 'moments' and with him working on his 2 year molars....this treat has helped me get thru these 'single mom' moments!!!

Getting ready to dive in!

You have got to try this...it's so yummy!!!

  Hubby and I just love this stuff, it's delicious!!!  I doubt that he will be impressed to find the entire carton gone by the time he gets home later this week but I think I have earned it!  Hopefully, the Schwan's man returns before that and I get more in the freezer since I think he is going to need a treat after all of his long hours lately....he probably deserves it also! :)

Have a Blessed Day!
~C~

Thursday Ramblings!

  Since we moved to Nebraska, nearly a year ago, I find myself doing a lot more online shopping for diapers/wipes and other essential items for Mr T.  When we do make a run to a town with a Walmart or Target there just isn't room in the pickup for all of us, other purchases and large boxes of wipes and diapers. 

  I spent time researching different websites to find the cheapest prices on these purchases and I am shocked at some price differences.  The main example is Wipes.  I use Huggies Naturally Refreshing Wipes which are becoming Huggies One and Done.  They are combining two of their wipes into one, at least that is what I think they are doing. 

  I usually buy wipes from either Diapers.com, Target or Walmart due to spending around $50 (which isn't hard when buying diapers and wipes), you get free shipping.  Walmart only started the free shipping on diapers and wipes in the last 6 months or so.  Here is what I noticed the last time that I was putting an order together. 

  At Walmart Online, I could buy a 320 sheet count refill for $9.94 or I could buy a 448 sheet count refill for $19.97 - wow!  That is definitely a price difference of:  $.031 vs $.044 a sheet!  On top of that over at Target Online, I could buy a 448 sheet count refill for $10.99 which is $.024 a sheet.  Guess where I buy my wipes now????  Even though it takes some time and calculating, it definitely does pay off to do price checks online.

  My other compliant for the day is buying size 6 diapers online.  I buy either Huggies or Luvs.  I really like Huggies and I use the Snug N Dry for overnight.  They work like a charm but I have a hard time using Huggies during the day unless we are traveling then I use the Huggies Little Movers since they cost significantly more than Luvs.  When we are at home, I use Luvs and rarely have any leakage problems; plus the price makes them a wiser choice for us.  Online my issue is buying in bulk.  Unless I want to buy packs of like 12 diapers at a time, it's almost impossible to buy size 6 online.  I realize that I have a taller/bigger kid then most but I would still like to able to utilize the connivence of shopping from home!!! 

  Hopefully, we are soon out of diapers and I can find something else to rant about!  Ha!  Until then, enjoy your day!

Have a Blessed Day!
~C~

Thursday Ramblings

  A few things that I am totally enjoying this week :)

 * ZipLoc Twist 'N Loc Containers ~ I just become aware of them but I can see so many uses for them in my near future from storing Homemade PlayDoh to kitchen storage to using them in the Shop.  They come in Small or Medium sizes.



  *Hubby and I are enjoying this season of The Voice on NBC.  We are totally going for Team Blake and hoping that Gwen Sebastian does really well.  Time will tell!

  *  I heart clean fridges, they make me happy. 

  * I am really loving this weather that we are having right now mid sixties to seventies is pretty sweet.  Mr T is all about the outdoors!

Have a Blessed Day!
~C~

Thursday Ramblings

  Hello from the Sandhills!!!  It has been crazy busy and I just haven't wanted to give up the chance to get some sleep to post on the blog, please forgive me :).  Here our my ramblings for this fine Thursday!

  * The weather is feeling rather spring-like around here....the next 5 days should be somewhere in the 60s.  It's hard to complain about that!  At least I don't have to chase the toddler around to try to keep gloves on his little hands. 

  * By the weekend, the plumbing should be completed in the house!  My Hubby is learning to be quite the plumber and I am so proud of him.

  * One of our beautiful nieces turned 8 on Monday!  Happy Birthday to her, we love and miss her so much.  We did get to speak to her and her sister on the phone but it's not the same as seeing them in person.

  * My good friend, J's (from ND)  twins turned a year old this week also!!!

  * Speaking of birthdays, we gathered together this past weekend to celebrate my Grandma L's birthday who is turning 87 years young tomorrow!  Mr T had a fun time with his Great Uncle and Great Aunts who all took turns spoiling him especially Great Aunt D who fed him all of the cake they could eat together!

  * I have a new found love for Nutella!  Where has that stuff been hiding all of this time?!?!?  Try It!

  * Designing a kitchen and deciding on cabinets, pantry's, counter tops and flooring is not as easy as I had thought it would be!  But, suprising enough since we have very different taste, Hubby and I are pretty much agreeing 100% on all design elements so far.

  * We worked some of our cows thru the chute to get them ready for calving season.  I learned that I am really out of shape and that you can get sunburned in March!  Unlike my idol, Pioneer Woman who shows up with food, drinks and a camera....I had to show up with food, drinks and to help! 

I think covers all of the ramblings from this past week.  There is very little wind this AM for the first time in over a week, so I headed out to burn all of our trash and get some fresh air!  Enjoy the day!


Have a Blessed Day!
~C~

February's New Year's Resolution

  Back in January, I had mentioned that I was going to work on a new resolution each month here.  My January goal/resolution was to work on my blog and I can say that I have successfully accomplished that one!!!  I do have a new look that is up and running and I do like it.  Never hurts to do a little 'updating' when you get a chance. 

  My February goal is to work on our chemical usage around the house.  I am working on changing our cleaning products over to all natural or homemade.  One of the reasons for this is my Hubby gets nasty headaches from chemical smells and other strong, pungent smells.  I am going to work on reducing that for him.  I also believe that Mr T does not need to be exposed to chemicals either, with all of the cancer risks out there already....I truly do not need to increase his risk.  The other reason is the amount of money that you save by doing it yourself.  That reason alone is worth the little bit of work that it takes to make your own products. 

  I have found a blog over at Three Savvy Moms where these three ladies test out homemade laundry detergent and other stuff.  It's a great place for some info and they post the recipes also.  I am excited to get busy and try some of it. 

  Another company that has products that I use regularly is Norwex.  I just love their mopping system!  I have a good friend who sells for that company so if you need a hookup to buy products - just let me know!  I also have a friend that sells J.R. Watkins products and I hoping to learn more about their all natural cleaning products.  I have already started using their cooking products and I do know that they are awesome!!!

  Even though, Brittany is no longer blogging over at Our Greener Acres there is still a wealth of information her blog on make your own products from cleaning carpets to cleaning your dishwasher.  I personally can't wait to put a lot of these ideas to use once our new house is ready for some tough cleaning! 

  Since I do not have much storage room here at the rented house I am not sure how far that I will get on my resolution.  But, I do know that I plan on not buying anymore of the chemical cleaning products that I currently have on hand.  I am sure that there are more blogs out there that will help me learn how to 'do it myself' and I would love any tips that you have for me on something that you use!!!

Have a Blessed February!
~C~

Thursday Ramblings

  What a crazy week this has been so far but that is for a later post and will explain why there wasn't any posting on Monday or Tuesday. 

  This week I learned:

1.  Traveling with a toddler and staying overnight in a hotel isn't as bad as I stressed about for a month prior to the trip but still makes me long for home and letting Mr T just play and entertain me! 

2.  Going to a Bull Sale with toddler in tow is stressful and don't ask me what is going on because I am missing it all while keeping said toddler quiet as possible.

Hubby leaving for a different Bull Sale, saying goodbye to Mr T.

3.  Taking a toddler to Hobby Lobby after having been couped up for several days is not a bad idea, just an expensive idea.   Mr T was done sitting in a cart by the time we got there and I had been the good wife and left Hubby at Menard's.  So, it was a lot of just grab stuff off the shelf and get out of there as fast as possible.  I did score a couple of good deals though.

4.  Just when you think you can't wait for the next stage of a toddler and then you get there, you realize how much you miss of the previous stages and how easy that one was!

5.  One last thing.....never underestimate the amount of support that you get from your spouse and family.  When it seems like all hell has broken loose, it will surprise you how much they care.

Enjoy the rest of the Week!
~C~

Five Things That I Use/Need Daily ~ Thursday Ramblings

1.  Mt Dew - not sure how people function without caffeine and I definitely know that I don't want to find out!


2.  Double Stuffed Oreos - Thank you for finally double stuffing them so I didn't have to put two together to eat them.


3.  Baby Wipes - I really don't know what I did before I had a baby and they become a staple in our house, not just for wiping baby bottoms and hands, but everything!


4.  Gorilla Duct Tape and Glue - With all of the stuff that Mr T seems to break, we have a constant supply of it around our house.  Surprisingly enough, our house is not being built out of Gorilla Tape!


5.  My Family - Can't imagine all of those years before I met my husband, what a waste!  Now with Mr. T is the picture, I truly understand what family is.  I pray that we always have each other.

Disclaimer:  These items are in no particular order.

Have a Blessed Day!
~C~

Thursday Ramblings

  It's been quite a week around the Ranch and though is it only Thursday, I think that we are starting to really need the weekend!  Mr T is still going strong in his PJ's which is something that I just don't do!  I like to have a fully dressed kid before breakfast.  Now the snack cup of Cheerios from the diaper bag is all over the floor, the only good part of this is that Mr T is entertaining himself by eating them.  Don't worry, the floor is clean!

  The week started out on a good note, I did win my first ever blog giveaway, a letter opener, from The Simple Country Life of a Country Man's Wife which was awesome.  I never win anything :)!  Then we got some work done on the house even thought the temps got colder (post on that tomorrow).  Now, we are just trying to get thru a few more cold days and then hopefully the weatherman is right and we are going to go back to the 40s. 

  Another blog that I would like to call attention to this AM, is Organizing Homelife's blog who is currently having a giveway for $50 of FREE Pampered Chef product!  How cool is that!!!  Just head over to the post that talks about the rules and details and get yourself entered up!  I really enjoy this blog since it is an organizing blog and I will soon have a house that needs to be organized...a house all of my own!!!

  I think that it is time to clean up the rest of the Cheerios and get some clothes on my toddler and maybe just maybe make myself presentable to the world as well.  Today will be all about baby steps and an extra can of Mt. Dew! 

Have a Blessed Day!
~C~