The ol' homestead

What a glorious day *today* is!

*Today The Little was born. What a doll he is.

*Today because of The Little Being born, I had all my children in the same room, which is a huge thing anymore...

*Today I french braided Little Miss's hair.... Okay not really as you can tell, this is not french braiding but fishbone braid. Oh well, I am still working on it.

*Today I rode with Frontier Man in the wind. I was really trying to concentrate on the beautiful scenery, the cows in the pastures and that cute white colt with its momma. But the wind, the wind, kept forcing Frontier Mans smart smelling cologne into my nostrils and I kept getting side tracked. I tried, really, I did, but some things are just beyond my control. Now, going 60 on that bike feels like 80 and I kept telling myself I AM NOT going to dig my nails into him, cause then he would know I was chicken ( and I want him to think I am as tough as he) So I was brave and I kept concentrating on that beautiful scenery.... and trying to ignore that cologne. And my butt going to sleep. And it almost worked too..... I just kept telling myself that surely I MUST look good on this cool bike...behind this cool man.... but there was that little voice in my head telling me that the people driving behind us must be totally repulsed by my underarm fat flapping in the wind....

And how could you enjoy your evening ride after that ?

Even with a great smelling Frontier Man in charge ???

Good morning! We had a productive day on the homestead this week-end. It seems we worked sun up to sun down every day and few is the evening when we come in before dark thirty anymore. There is just so much to do on the place this time of year. The garden is coming along quite well now. We have blooms on almost everything and small green tomatoes but no red yet.

And the asparagus bed is in...

On Friday, we went to the Ok City Summer Classic Dog Show. Little Miss was just delighted by all the different breeds and watching them in obedience and Rally was really enjoyable. We laughed at the many antics and of snooty odd breeds (Chinese Crested?) and some looked like giant pandas, some like puffballs and some like mops. Little Miss's favorite of course, was the spotted Dalmatians. She even met a pair up close and was rooting for "Leo" and "Dixie."

I believe we are on the verge of an explosion of babies. Yesterday we seen 2 more chicks peeping out behind another hen. So cute! But we have more sitting and so we will have to see how they are all going to co-habitate with each other. I know they don't like the turkey chicks and so we have graduated them out of the run in the daytime now. Last week-end we ran across a chicken snake that had his mind set on chicks but Frontier Man changed his mind for him and then yesterday we found another snake who just expired from swallowing a decoy egg. Sorry for this to be so graphic but this is the real part of animal husbandry and if I report the good, you have to know the bad to get the whole picture. Keeping vermin away is an everyday challenge when you have animals and the wild is looking for it's next meal.

The big Marshmallow says "Get out here so I can heard you little guys!"

Our good friend Max stopped by the other day to show his his old 1972 VW bug that he had restored for his daughter. She lives in Tx and was taking it to her this week-end. What a surprise she will have! She didn't know it was being done and it took 2 years to be restored. Beautiful huh?

I talked with Pianomanjess yesterday and it looks like the baby is full term and they do not want her to go much further because of size and so they will be inducing Grand-Doll Mom on Wednesday. So looks like The Little will be making an entrance real soon. I just went and picked up some baby things and can't wait for the time to get here already!

Well, we are all getting ready for the yearly river trip. All the kids are excited and we are too, but we have to work around all the animals and get them situated before we go. We work so hard on the garden, just to leave it every year right when it is time for the veggies to be picked. We either get sister or son to keep it watered until our return (10 days) along with the animals.

This is Frontier Man's motorcycle sanctuary in the works.

"I can't wait to take this bad puppy out all by myself..... the wind in my hair...   sun on my skin...   uh...bugs in my teeth"

Until then... you can be my bug protector dad!

Why do I have weird children?These. are. weird. children. On reflection through my pictures..... what can I say, they speak for themselves....

these three....they'r related. See the pattern ?

And now my baby, my baby is being sucked in .... Noooooo fight it Little Miss, fight it.

Olive Garden's Mushroom Ravioli in Cream Sauce

12 oz. Ravioli or Tortellini

1/4 cup Walnuts, chopped

3/4 cup heavy whipping cream

1/4 tsp black pepper

8 oz. mushrooms, sliced

2 cups freshly grated parmesan cheese

2 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Cook pasta according to package directions.

Meanwhile, heat olive oil in large skillet over medium heat.

Saute mushrooms and walnuts until mushrooms are golden brown.

Add heavy cream and cook, stirring frequently for 5 minutes until slightly thickened.

Turn heat to warm and when cream stops simmering, add pepper and parmesan; stir until sauce is smooth. Do not boil.

Drain pasta and place on a serving plate.

Pour sauce over pasta and serve immediately.

side note: You can bet there won't be ANY walnuts in my pasta!

 I love the part in the movie "Dances With Wolves", where the indian is trading with Kevin Costner and he finally gets the idea of a "goot trade." I had a good trade myself this last week-end. I traded 5 loaves of my fresh bread for 5 baby turkeys that are about 4-6 weeks old. I was happy about the trade and am hoping that I have a pair (tom and hen) and if the rest are toms we will dress them out around Thanksgiving. Yep, I think it was a "goot trade."

As I mentioned before, Pianomanjess is really sick. They found out that the cause was mononucleosis. He sounds a bit better these last few days and I hope he will be able to return to work without being overly tired. Grand-Doll Mom is getting quite close to due date and I am sure she is very tired herself. We continue to pray and lift them up to God and they will be all well soon.

We heard of devastating news this week. A family in our homeschool group is going through a very tough situation right now. It has just been confirmed that the father (age 34) has colon cancer and it has also spread to the liver. They will be doing surgery on Monday. The family has only lived here a short while and some of their relatives have come to take care of their 3 little boys. How do you deal with such a thing??? Our hearts go out to them and if you can, please say a prayer for the Miller family.

 I really want to learn how to french braid. I want to be able to do my own hair. I want to be able to wear that pretty hand beaded hair piece that I bought at Red Earth. I searched and found instructions online and it seemed feasable -until I actually tried to do it. Man, this isn't so easy. Maybe I need instruction in live time instead of on paper. I did figure out all you need is 12 fingers and 3 hands....

Well here is the pool in full use. The olders (Police Son, Big Miss and Cuda Man) decided to "swim" with Little Miss and when I happened out this is what I saw:

Chicken fighting ???

And the victors were serious too!

This past week-end we also planted 10 asparagus plants. I know right now is not the ideal time to plant but mom ordered them for a surprise for me and they just arrived ( I think she probably got tired of me saying for the last 2 years that I want to get some asparagus planted.) Now it takes a couple years to be able to harvest them -depending on the variety but if I had got some and planted when I first started whining about them, then I would be eating some fresh asparagus right now! Thank goodness for moms!

Well I had my first ride on my Frontier Man's new motorcycle this week-end. We went up to town to get gas and it was a really nice ride. The wind blowing in my hair, the sun beating on my skin, and people stopping what they are doing to look at. the. unique. sound of a Harley. It's like those drag pipes are screaming "Hey, look over here at me, will ya." Well, anyway, it was kinda sensual wrapping my arms about the Frontier Man and he being defenseless and all... Uh hum...well enough of that... this being a family friendly site and all.

This last week we have done a lot of mowing, trimming trees and weed-eating -about 3 days worth so far. Man, we are about tuckered and I told Frontier Man I bet he was glad to go back to work so he wouldn't have to work so hard, but we both know that is just a joke. His job is demanding and very physical and I know he is tired most days but he gives to the ol' homestead without fail.

The kids are back from San Diego.They had so much fun.... they went to the San Diego Zoo, a ship museum, the mall, Sea World and more shopping and more restaurants and on the way back stopped at The Grand Canyon. Those teens... the ones I missed so much, happened to drive through the night to arrive at about 5:30 on SATURDAY morning and thought it would be fun to burst into our room whoopin' and hollerin'! Both Frontier Man and I sat straight up in bed out of a deep sleep thinkin a world war ll tank had lost it's way through our bedroom. Two silly grinning teens imploring "but we brought presents -it's like Christmas.... (as if that would make up for it !) Man I missed those kids.... I had to remind myself this about 2 hours after they were home and they were sleeping peacefully from driving all night and we were sitting wide awake tired on our Saturday morn!

I made some really yummy (not to mention fattening) amazing butterscotch maple cookies this week. I know they were not on the menu, but sometimes I throw something in the mix just because.... well, just because, and this was this weeks "just because." Several ladies fell in love with them and I do believe the maple flavoring is what really made them tasteful. Also keep in mind these are very crispy and resemble a shortbread. Go and bake some!

Look what we have this morning.

15 baby guineas so far. Mama hen is just talkin' away to them and they are just too cute!

With the promise of more to come.....

I leave you with a picture of Little Miss working on my hair at her "salon." Have a great week-end.

Grilled chicken breast

Baked Potato

Green salad

Drop biscuits

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Panzanella salad (Mediterranean Bread Salad )