Last Post

Ok, no its not my last post with you all, BUT it is the last post I will be making off of a smart phone.

I've decided its time to simplify, and get back to the while reason for having a cell phone, for emergencies, and long distant phone calls.  I've found that this expensive device, with an over priced service, is more like a toy, with a large monthly bill.

Knowing that I'm going to have to get used to not having this, the first thing I did was uninstall Face Book, and all of the many games I have on here...yes, I went into a slight withdraw...and then I got busy, my laundry is pretty well caught up, my bathroom is clean, and my kitchen table is almost clear....It made me realize just how much time I spend with this contraption. It truly makes me wonder, if this is why everybody says they don't have time to get stuff done...words for thought.

I sent that pattern off to somebody else to have tested, so I'm going to be able to have it up this weekend.

Still Cold out

Hi there!!! Sorry its been a bit since my last posting, but things have been a little busy here. Its been really cold out, as it is everywhere here in America. This means extra trips out to the chicken house to check on everybody, and since we don't have a heater for Sam and Jaspers outside water bowl, I make them come in more often than they like so that I know they are getting eats and drinks.  For a husky the cold isn't really a problem, but the ability to get unfrozen water is a problem.

I've spent parts of today doing some deep cleaning, and tossing of things. I'm not really doing "spring cleaning" but I think its more cabin fever cleaning. I gathered all of my yarn and crochet supplies up, and carried them all up to my craft room so that I can get an eye full of what yarn I do have, and don't have....and I have a lot...probably more than I need really...oh wait, I need it all!!! LOL I just left my current project down here, which is a hat I'm slowly working on for my dear husband.

Speaking of crochet, I'm still waiting to hear back from my pattern tester, but hopefully I'll be able to post it to you guys soon...I'm pretty darned excited about it to tell you all the truth. Its nothing big and fancy, but its fun!!!

I'm thinking I'm going to try the carrots again in the Rubbermaid tub. Now that I have found my spray bottles, and watering them will be much easier, I think I can get it to work this time!!! They actually sprouted the last time, and got nice and tall...but well...I didn't get it watered...lol

I don't know if I told you guys, but we ordered some Black Copper Maran hatching eggs. They should be here tomorrow, and I'm really excited about it. We got the incubator up and running on Sunday so that we could make sure the heat is going to stay steady, and to make sure we have a good humidity level in there. Unfortunately Maran's are really hard to hatch out.  I'm actually on the search for a BCM Cockerel, we are planning on breeding our own, and keeping our own stock, and selling off some of the extra fertilized eggs. Now, yes, I know there is a possibility that I will get a male or two or three or more out of this batch of eggs that are coming, so it seems silly for me to be looking for a cockerel from somewhere else. Well you see, I'm hoping to get one that came from a darker egg than these are coming from, so I'm hoping to be able to breed hens that lay the darker Maran eggs. Its quite exciting.

Macaroni Pizza skillet meal

 

Are you ready to tickle your taste buds, with something that takes no time to throw together???? Well good!!!!! This is just a little something I whipped up this evening for dinner with a few things I had in the fridge from this past weeks meals. The most time it takes, is browning the beef, and cooking the macaroni noodles...and truthfully you know that doesn't take long at all.

 

here's what you need

1Lb. ground beef, browned

1 box of macaroni noodles

4 slices of round provolone cheese

1 cup of sharp shredded cheddar cheese

enough pepperonis to cover top

1 small jar of pasta sauce

 

While your noodles are cooking, brown your beef, then drain. Mix the pasta sauce with the beef, and let simmer for a couple of minutes. Add your cooked macaroni, mix well. First place your provolone cheese, then cover with pepperoni, and then cover with the shredded cheddar cheese, cook until the top cheese is melted, and then remove from heat. 

 

That's it, easy peasy. Oh, in case your wondering, when I say 1 box of macaroni noodles, I mean a regular macaroni and cheese sized box, or just use about 2 cups of macaroni from one of the big boxes.

 

Enjoy!!!  

My favorite baby sweater set

 

All of us crocheters have that one crochet pattern that we turn to again and again, and have made so many times that we almost have it memorized. That holds true for me and this pattern. I've made this set for so many baby showers, and by request again and again. Luckily its a free pattern so I can share it with you all!!!!  The best part about these patterns here, are that they work up so quickly, and its up to you what color combo you use. You can make them solid, or striped, you can make them solid with a different colored edging, I've done them many different ways.

 

The pattern for the hat is here

 http://www.susan.kraus.net/pages/pattern5.html

 

The pattern for the booties is here

http://www.susan.kraus.net/pages/pattern6.html

 

and the pattern for the sweater or Sacque as its also called is here

http://www.susan.kraus.net/pages/pattern4.html

 

I hope you all enjoy this pattern, and just so you all know, this pattern was written by Susan L. Kraus, and the pattern is copyrighted, by her. While your at her web page, check out her links to her different charities. You never know you might find one you will want to crochet for.

 

Enjoy and happy hooking

Snow...snow...and more snow

I didn't venture out to take pictures of the snow today because it was just way too cold. The way the wind was blowing out there, I just didn't want to spend much time out there if I didn't have to. So I just went out, did what I had to do and got back in.

We hung a third nesting box the other day, and its so popular, that we only had one egg laid on the ground today. Our egg count is back up, so that's a major plus. But 6 out of 7 of the eggs we got today were laid in the new next box.

So I'm convinced that the Black Copper Maran lays the best eggs ever. Unfortunately they aren't the best layers, but their eggs are just the tastiest...so that being said, I made my hubby do a great big internet search for some Marans to add to the flock...it would seem however that the chickens that I've fallen completely and totally in  love with are really hard to find, and are really expensive. So my hubby turned to eBay, the place to find anything, and he ordered an 18 pack of Black Copper Maran Eggs that are ready to be put in the incubator. I will be getting the incubator up and running as soon as they show up in the mail, and we will put them in the incubator the next day. I'm so excited about them. I have decided though, that I'm going to go ahead and breed my own, so that I can keep my own stock of Marans, specifically the Black Copper Maran. Now the coo coo maran is a common maran, but I don't want them. Its not about the fact that the BCM are rare that makes me want them, its the eggs...the eggs are just...I don't know how to describe it except to say they are rich in flavor.

I still want to raise Easter Egger Chickens, I just have to work on getting a coop/run plan in order for everybody so that they can all have their own space so that we don't have to worry about rooster fights.

I'm still waiting on my tester to get back to me on the pattern that I'm going to be sharing with you all, but I'm hoping that I'll hear back from her by tomorrow or Friday at the latest.

Keep warm and stay safe!!!!

Cookies

 

Its snowing!!!! Gah, I cannot wait for this winter to be over!!!! It seems like there hasn't been a week that's gone by this winter where we haven't had snow laying on the ground, even if its just a dusting, its snowed just about every week so far.

 

So, what do we do on a snowday??? When we are trapped in the house, and can't go outside to play??? We bake cookies!!!! yay!!!!

 

So every now and then I like to treat myself with something a little special. I love Ghiradelli chocolate!!! It is the best stuff in the world, especially when you are just craving chocolate. I decided to treat myself this week with some Ghiradelli Chocolate Chips. Yes they are a little more pricy than Hershey, or Nestle, but they are worth it. ( Now don't get me wrong I bake with the other two, and find them delicious, but there is just something different about this brand).  So, I don't follow any specific recipe, I tend to just use the recipe on the back of the package, and truthfully I think they are all about the same when it comes down to it.  So, I'm going to share the recipe from the back of the package. (you can also find this recipe and others at www.ghiradelli.com )

 

So here is the recipe from the back of the package.

2 & 1/4 cups unsifted flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup (2 sticks butter) softened

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar, packed

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 eggs

2 cups Ghiradelli semi sweet chocolate chips

1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Stir flour with baking soda and salt; set aside. Beat butter with sugar and brown sugar at medium speed until creamy. Add vanilla and eggs, one at a time, mixing on low speed until incorporated.

 

Gradually blend dry mixture into creamed mixture, stir in chocolate chips and nuts (if desired). Drop by tablespoon onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake from 9 to 11 min or until golden brown

 

 

Enjoy!!!!  

MY 100th POST!!!!

So, as you can see by the title, this is my 100th blog post!!!! Alright, so really its not all that exciting, or anything to celebrate, but hey, its post number 100.

So in honor of my 100th blog post, I thought I would tell you guys a little about myself that you don't know already.

My husband and I will celebrate our 9th wedding anniversary at the end of this month. We met at Walmart a little over 10 years ago. He was in line ahead of me, I stalked him through the parking lot, we went for coffee, and the rest is history.

I was born in 1980 in Bakersfield California to divorced parents. My mother remarried in 1983 to the mail man and he moved us all out here to Virginia in 1984.  So I guess you could say I'm a transplant who's roots took.

I hate doing laundry
I can not walk by a deck of playing cards without stopping to make sure they are straight.
I am hopelessly addicted to Robin Hood stories, my favorite 4 Robin Hood movies are Kevin Costners version Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, Errol Flynn's, Mel Brooks, Robin Hood, Men in Tights (that one is hilarious if you've never seen it), and then, there is this one version that just makes me cry like a baby, it has Sean Connery, Audrey Hepburn, and Robert Shaw, its called Robin and Marian, basically its about an aging Robin Hood and Maid Marian, and its the final battle between Robin Hood, and the Sheriff of Nottingham...well in the end Robin and Marian die...its just the saddest thing ever...it was made in 1976 so its not like I'm giving spoilers. But yes, there is just something about Robin Hood that makes me feel a little girlie.

I love old movies, and old music, and hard rock. I'm addicted to coffee.

When I was a kid, I wanted to move to Texas, marry a cowboy, and own a ranch. My plan was to go to the honkey tonks with the love of my life and go dancing every weekend, and I wanted to be up on the stage singing as well...yes, when I was a kid I also wanted to be a country music super star. I had big plans.  They could have been realistic, because people have made that kind of stuff happen, but thankfully I grew out of that.

I guess that's about it, don't want to bore you guys with the craziness that is me!!!

So, here's to 100 More!!!!