SWOC'S on MARS

We raise cows on mars. They are called swoc's they live on mounds called mounds. They eat meteor blades and drink liquid gold. They don't have fences around them they have fences above them. We don't eat our swocs, since they are worth there weight in gold.

Happy Heifer

Grafting calves the skinny low down

When you live on a ranch as large as ours you are going to lose calves during calving season. Since we are currently in the middle of calving season we have been dealing with lost calves. Usually when you lose a calf at this ranch you call around to all the other herdsman and ask if they have any orphan calves. Orphan calves are usually 1 part of a twin pair or they had a bad mother. If someone has an orphan or as we call them bottle calves we then go get that calf and bring it to our part of the ranch to graft it on to the cow. Now this is this cows only chance if she does not take this bottle calf or she loses her calf when there are no bottle calves then she is going to the cull pen. We do not keep cows around that don't have a calf on them. Sounds cruel I know, but that is how they do it here and at most successful large ranches. If you look at it in a business mind it is "good business". Lucky for this particular cow today we did have a bottle calf so we proceeded to do the grafting process.
Step one-Put the calf in with the cow

step two-watch to see if cow will except the calf on her own(sometimes this happens most of the time you have to talk the cow into taking the calf)

step three- talk the cow into taking the calf "come on you old hussy you need to take this stinkin calf or you are going to be hamburger"

Step four- if talking doesn't work then you run the cow into a chute


Step five- once in the chute you have a handsome, strong, yummyscrumdidlumpsious gentle man's man coax the calf into grabbing ahold of that teet and going to town! Nothing like watching your husband play with another heifers teets. Except she was not a happy heifer she was a mean heifer. And she was not a heifer, technically neither am I since I have two children but I am Ok with that.

Once the calf sucks the cow for a few days she than begins to smell like the cows milk and the cow and calf live happily ever after.

The one and only happy heifer

Mexican eggs

Around here we love Mexican food and even for
breakfast we like to spice up our eggs a little!!






First you will need 8 -12 eggs depending how many
folks you are feeding. Then grab some butter or olive oil if you
are wanting a healthier version. Get one Medium green bell pepper dice and get one medium onion and dice. Next put butter or olive oil in skillet a couple of dashes of olive oil or 2 table spoons butter. Add bell pepper and onion to already heated oil cook until softened and a little grilled. To this mixture add 1/2 tablespoon taco seasoning, 1 teaspoon garlic powder or chopped garlic. When vegetables are done and seasonings mixed in, add eggs that have already been beeten ( is that even a word) then using spachuala (what is that) cook until eggs are done. Put eggs on a plate top with lots of shredded cheese and salsa and wrap in tortillas and enjoy!!!!


Ingredients:
8-12 brown eggs medium bell pepper
small-medium onion
taco seasoning
garlic powder or minced fresh garlic
salt and pepper to taste
tortillas
shredded cheddar cheese
salsa


Healthy ingredients:
10 brown egg whites and 3 yolks
olive oil
no cheese
whole wheat tortillas

Delisimoooooo
Happy Heifer

The adventures of Apple

This apple was the only one left in the fridge this morning
and we thought he was lonely, so we decided to let him help
us for the day.

Apple is swinging

Apple is riding a trike

Apple climbs a tree

Apple feeds the cows

Apple rides a horse

Apple is lunch

Happy Heifer

WOE BLACK BETTY WAMBULAMBALAMBA

Today is the day I shall post my first official photos with my new camera "Black Betty". Black Betty is a FujiFilm FInePix S1000, 10 mega pixel with 12x optical lens. I finally sat down today and read how to operate her. I am usually one who is all gung hoe for new things and taking risks, but with Black Betty I did not want to hurt her. I think I was a little afraid to use her. Now that I have used her for a whole day she is now one of my children, I love her and she loves me (I think). She will be put in time out if she does not behave. I have always wanted a daughter.

WOE BLACK BETTY WAMBULAMBA WOE BLACK BETTY WAMBULAMB YEAH!!!

My list of health for 2009

HE IS STILL SCARED FROM BIGFOOT

2009 list


1. grow a large garden and use as much of our home grown food as possible


2. Compost


3.eliminate as much waste and trash as possible


4. post more healthy recipes


5. can, can and can some more I love canning i can't wait to start doing canning posts


7. watch less TV


8. get chickens, I want chickens


9. recycle more


10. make homemade crafts





Someday list


Learn how to quilt, Cindy I will need you for this one this is a someday though





Probably never list


Become comfortably wealthy so I can afford to be more green IE solar panels etc... and so I could travel the world helping others to become more green. Seeing as how I will be a Green Goddess by then.

BIG FOOT

After a long day of feeding horses, cows and bottle calves Cason and I settled in the house for a few minutes to warm up and watch a movie. Patrick and Dustin went on to cowboy church, since Thursday nights is our night for that. Cason and I did not go because I still had barn chores to do. While we were hanging out at home I decided I needed a few things at the store. So Cason and I ran into town (pop. 150) and grabbed a few items. As we were driving back on one of the many dirt country roads we have to drive on I stopped my car for a brief moment to fix something or find something or both I don't remember. Of course, I stop my car on a slick snow packed part of the road my car tires aimlessly spinning as I mash the gas peddle . At this point my little world begins to close in on me because I am not but 2 feet on either side of my car from dense, monster filled, dark, creepy forests. Let alone the moon tonight was nothing but a sliver. No big deal you say,well I am very good at talking my self into being scared. I could see the Texas chain saw man heading towards my very stuck vehicle smoke billowing from his very sharp bloody chain saw. On the other side of the car was the big scary tree from Halloween Tiger and Pooh it's creepy eyes staring down at me as I try to rock my car of the slick spot. Then I hear the growl of a mountain Lion It came all the way from Colorado to Mo. just to be in this spot at this time to eat Cason and I. "It's Ok: I tell myself "the Texas chain saw man is not going to be in mo. he is in Texas and the scary tree is a nice tree he is not mean and Mt. Lions in mo. haha". I am doing better nothing to be scared of my car is starting to gain traction the world is looking up then all of a sudden out jumps Bigfoot just as my car catches some gravel. Feeeeeew we got away just in time!



Happy Heifer

SKY WATCH FRIDAYS LAKE PIC FROM MOM

This is a beautiful picture of a lake near Ashland Or. I remember the name of the lake but not how to spell It...... HELP ME NOW, MOM

The bad speller (is speller a word)

Pictures property of Dawn Allen photography

NEW Sky watch Fridays Front porch and more

This tree resides in our front yard, I absolutely love it this time of year when the trees are naked they seem so vulnerable but so majestic

Sunset view southwest from our barn lot.

Front porch early morning

Photos property of happy heifer photography please do not reprint without permission

I LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY

Panera Bread

Today the boys and I went to Panera Bread. My boys are wild children among wild children so it is a feat in itself to go anywhere, let alone a hip place like Panera Bread.

Once we were there the boys were being wild, and my hopes and dreams of savoring every bite of my Greek salad and veggie sandwich were slowly being flushed down the pooper.

Just then my simple mind had an idea. I will get them bagels and there own packets of cream cheese and let them have a blast (my kids are easily entertained). I was slowly devising a way to plunge my hopes and dreams back out of the sewers.

My skillfully devised plan worked spreading the cream cheese on a bagel quietly occupies a three and five year old for a good twenty minutes. In my small, strange world twenty minutes is plenty of time to enjoy a tasty Greek salad and a veggie sandwich.

Watch as the child concentrates on just the exact placement of his cream cheese, genius.

Oh and he has played a difficult card. He will be hard to beat!

This face might win the game!

Nope this won and we are going home, NOW!

GOOD MORNING WORLD

Happy Heifer photography please do not copy without permission

Today was a day to remember! Everyday around here is a day to remember! We went from being ice breaking, cow feeding, horse feeding country people to Panera Bread eating city people. Yes, I do eat Panera Bread and I love it!!!!

This morning we all headed up to the barn to feed bottle calves, horses, and grafter cows (cows that lost baby's and have an orphan put on them). That took all of three hours. Then PAtrick speeds up to the barn frantically, it really startled me. He had a calf on the bed of his pickup that had fallen through the ice in a creek over night and was on the brink of death. We put it in the office and began the warm up process. The poor things legs were frozen stiff (literally). We did all we could for it, an IV, warm heaters and blankets, Tubed it with electrolytes but to no avail the little guy died. It was probably for the best she would have never recovered from the whole frozen leg thing. It's disheartening sometimes when you are having a great day then have to deal with a life or death situation. In those situations you do your best and realize that everything that could be done was done.

After the ordeal with the frozen calf the boys and I went to go get my new camera (yippy skippy, jumping for joy at the moment). I did not get anything super fancy it is still just a digital point and shoot but it is a 10 mega pixels instead of a 6.0 like my old one. I have a lot to learn about it and have not taken any pictures with it yet. All these pictures I uploaded today were with my old one. The new Camera is a Fuji I hope it does well. My old one was a samsung and it did good.

Patrick also bought a new truck today.(new to us) It has been a day of buying. Yes we are loaded and spend this kind of money daily. JUST JOSHIN YA"LL we got our tax money, wooohooo. No we did not save it and yes we should have, but I really really needed a new camera. Our kids don't need to go to college! Patrick really really needed another junky truck. Our kids don't need braces. We did pay off one bill with it, yah you go you responsible people!!!!

Everyone have a great night and I can't wait to start taking pictures with my new camera, Black Betty.

responsibility

Fluffy Chicken

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT FLUFFY CHICKEN? YOU HAVE SOME NERVE TAKING A PHOTO OF ME!!

I THINK THIS COW WANTS TO EAT ME FOR DINNER! CAN YOU SAY HUMANBURGER YUMMY


HUMANBURGER

SNOW DAY

I am so tired of my brother following me around! I need my space!

Wait Dustin why are you leaving me? I can't walk that fast! You have to wait.



Dustin didn't wait for this poor thing so now he is sad.

Winter brings visions of sledding down country lanes, eyes closed tight, afraid, excited children, sounds of glee. Frozen noses warmed with hot chocolate, hands warmed by a fire, moms apple pie awaits.

Children's Dreams filled with snow men and sledding, summer time reminders are few and far between , when that first warm day arrives this swings long wait will soon be rewarded.



Cold, shivering, dedicated to children's play.

Relics of old " The school house"

I can hear the school bell ringing. The teacher stands on the porch in all her glory, ready to teach her pupils. A smile beams across her face as the last student scrambles through the door. Once inside the burn of the fire place nips all the frost bitten faces. The students giggle and squirm until the teacher, the one who holds all these hopes and dreams in her hands, calls the class to her attention. You can hear the pride in her voice as she teaches Math, English,writing and art. The teacher would not want it any other way than being here in this old school house with her students.

SCARY

This picture scares me!! Everytime I look at it, it reminds me of the Hound of Baskerville. When I glance at the trees mangled branches and dark spooky shadows I start to panic a little and my eye starts twitching then I have to look away!

Phobia Cowgirl

Healthy Vegetarian Chili

Sloooow cook spicy vegetarian chili

1 tbsp olive oil

1 large yellow onion, chopped

1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 tbsp chili powder

28 oz can crushed tomatoes

2 cans (15 oz ea.) black beans, drained and rinsed

1 cup water

1 4 oz can diced green chiles, drained

salt and pepper to taste



Heat the oil in skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, bell pepper, and garlic; cover and cook until just softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the chili powder and cook about 30 seconds longer.Transfer the mixture to a slow cooker. Add the tomatoes, beans, water, and chiles; season with salt and pepper, cover and cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours.Great to come home to after a long day and you don't want to cook. You could also serve this over rice and topped with diced avocado and sour cream.



I love my slow cooker, in fact I would use it everyday as I am more of a morning person and am usually uninteresed in cooking a good dinner in the evening.

My hubby bubbly

Patrick is my hubby

He is a stunner

He makes my hearty

go pitter putter

Dustin is my sonny

he is funny

He makes me happy

and so does his pappy

Cason is my baby

he is so wildly

he throws fits

I knit mits

That is undoutably the bestest poemy I have ever ready

Booger face

WHAT!#@ I DON'T HAVE A BOOGER ON MY FACE!

snakes,snails and puppy dog tails

When I went to pickup my oldest boy up from pre school today he was being an absolute Meany butt. I asked him to put on his sweatshirt he punched me in my stomach, I asked him again he punched me again. I demanded he put on his sweatshirt and once again my bowl full of jelly got a beating. Flame started to shoot out my ears and my voice began to crack. I was HOT, mad, disappointed, delirious, emotional I wanted to yell and throw myself on the floor and have a nice little fit, but I kept my cool because his teacher was watching, of course!

What was going on with my boy he has never, ever been an aggressive type I could not figure it out. I was to the point of threatening, but his teacher was there and I had to keep my cool, I guess. The more I pleaded the more I got kicked or punched. Little did I now that my boy was showing off. Standing behind me was a cute little girl laughing at every punch and kick, and is he ever the little flirt. I was oblivious to the presence of this little girl since I was in fight or flight mode. I was really contemplating flight and telling his teacher I will pick MY son up tomorrow! She could keep whoevers heathen kid this is.

I finally dragged my boy out of his school tempted to drag him by his ear, but since his teacher was watching I had to keep my cool....... oh forget it I did not care anymore. Oh, when we got to the car did he ever get it I blistered his little Butt (just kidding he was already saying sorry before we even got to the car) because I told him it made me want to cry how mean he was being. He hates that line and man does it work. I am sure glad I have that option in the whole realm of discipline options. Is that even discipline? or is that black mail, who cares it works.

The black mailing mommy

THE TITANIC

My sweet son, my oldest boy he is inequitably, undeniably, unusually, crazily, weirdly, absolutely obsessed with the Titanic. Yes that is right that big boat that sank, I don't know how many years ago. Wait just a minute and I will go ask him.......... OK Iam back it sank 97 years ago.

A little over a year ago I took him to a Titanic exhibit at a museum he was absolutely in awe. I thought at the time how cute. Now I cringe and my face starts to take on this new shape, a strange shape, it is like I am trying to be supportive and understanding but I am incredibly annoyed every time his lips even quiver the words titanic. I can even tell by the look on his face that we are about to have a 3 hr marathon full of Titanic questions.

I know I should be enthralled at the fact that my son who is 5 wants to know about history. I am glad that he does want to learn things but, OH MAN has it gotten old.

Ok now for my bad mommy moment we finally broke down and bought him the movie, Titanic you know with Kate Wins let and Leonardo DiCaprio. He saw the movie on a wal-mart shelf( here I go talking about wal-mart again I need a life) so I bought it. He loves it, he wants to watch it everyday (we don't let him of course). He even likes the part when the ship is breaking apart and people are falling, yeah, he likes it. His grandma(Patrick's mom) won't even watch that part. We let him watch the whole thing(except we did fast forward through a few parts). SCARY!!!!!! I thought OK maybe now the questions and Titanic marathons will end. Nope, he just asks more questions like " why did the captain not turn the ship" " how come the ice burg is bigger under the water" " how come the ship was unsinkable" " where's the north Atlantic" " I want to take a cruise to the north Atlantic" " How come they did not put the anchor down? that would have stopped the ship" " how come everyone wanted the necklace". We explained to him the movie was not what really happened and he understands most of the time. He knows Leonardo did not die. But since this is a daily conversation in our house he sometimes gets the real facts and the movie mixed up.

Does anyone else have kids with obsessions or am I the only one? Echo Echo Echo Echo I guess I am.

Let me know your kid's obsessions if you want to share.

I am the bahumbugger of the Titanic

FLower's by Mom

My mom sent me this flower picture this morning and I absolutely love it. She is a very good photographer just this past year she upgraded from a inexpensive point and shoot film camera to a point and shoot digital. She has an eye for a beautiful picture and I think I get my love of photography from her. She sent me the original photo and I adjusted the exposure just a little( not photo shop) just the contrast button on my computer. I'll show the original

and the cropped ones. I like the original one the best, but it was fun doing the contrast with the other photos. Beautiful Mom!!!!!!!

What does everyone think the original or the darkened ones?

FLOWER POWER

Happy Husband Pizza

Patrick loves this pizza and it can be made and rearranged in so many different ways


First buy frozen white bread dough ( it usually comes in 3 or four raw loaves to a bag)
or if you want to go healthy (this will be hard healthy recipe if anyone tries it and likes the healthy version let me know) buy whole wheat bread dough. ANd use less cheese like feta or Parmesan. also after you put the bread in the dish wipe it with olive oil then add the lighter cheese and all the veggies you want.

Next follow directions on bags of how to thaw out dough

this is how we like it but I will add some suggestions to the bottom on how to make it different

get shredded pizza cheese (lots)

I like Ragu Pizza sauce homemade style

Toppings- pepperoni, sausage, onions , olives, peppers, mushrooms, anything your little heart desires

Take the thawed out pizza dough one loaf and spread into a greased glass casserole dish with the edges going up the side of the dish ( we like ours deep dish and thick you may like yours thinner crust) you may have to add or subtract bread depending on the thickness you want. Since this pizza is baked in a casserole dish it is suppose to be more casserole like so I say the more toppings the better. slather with pizza sauce and then pile with cheese and your favorite toppings.

Put in oven around 350 and bake until crust is golden. Insert fork into middle of pizza to make sure the bread is cooked through. remove and serve hot it is also good cold and heated up the next day.

Simple, easy homemade pizza no mixing no settling it's your way and your way only

PS- I will have more pictures coming soon my camera is out of commission and won't be back in working order until tue. or wed. But it will be worth the wait because I have some super good picture Ideas and I am so excited!!!!!!

To buy Organic or to not buy Organic that is the question

Being a ranchers wife and making a meager salary organic and healthy are not always an option. The only local store ( and by local I mean 30 miles away) that has a health food section is Hyvee and the health food section is kinda expensive. It is difficult to shop in this section and not spend fifty dollars on just a few items. So I try to utilize the rest of the store and products that are somewhat healthy and sometimes Organic. If you do your looking throughout a store even wal-mart ( I spend a lot of time at wal- mart) you can find things that are good for our environment and good for you too, but aren't incredibly expensive.

My favorite beauty products that are pretty darn cheap but also don't test on animals------
ST. IVES most of there products are not tested on animals. They make a great apricot facial scrub that I LOOOOOVE

For fruits and veggies if you are wanting to go Organic buy things that are in season. You don't have to go Organic on everything. If you are trying to do this on a budget than go Organic on the things that absorb the most pesticides. Take baby steps anything will help yourself and the environment. This is a list of things that absorb pesticides( yeah I know it is everything almost) but remember you don't have to do it all. Say you eat Apples a lot buy them Organic and don't worry about the oranges if you don't eat them as much or vice-verse.
Almonds
Apples
Apricots, peaches
Beets
Bell peppers
Carrots
Celery
Cherries
Cucumbers
Dairy products such as milk, cheese and butter
Eggs
Grapes, particularly imported varieties
Green beans
Greens and spinach
Lemons, limes and oranges
Peanuts and peanut butter
Pears
Pecans
Potatoes
Raspberries and strawberries
Winter squash

At wal-mart you can get free range eggs which I suggest they are more expensive but once in a while they do have have sales on them. Watch for sales and buy them when they are on sale. When not on sale buy the cheaper one's any little bit helps. Or get eggs from a neighbor, or the Amish or Mennonites they are usually pretty well priced and a lot of people who have laying hen's usually have an over abundance of eggs.

For flour, yeast, oatmeal, bran and most anything along that line I like Hodgson Mill you can find it most anywhere and it is good for you and your wallet

For cleaning products I like the price of method a product I found at Target they are pretty reasonably priced and are non-toxic, biodegradable,phosphate free, naturally derived and NO animal testing. I like the french lavender flavor of dish detergent.

I also like Clorox green works. Since it is Clorox and a large company they can have cheaper products and better sales. Search the Internet for coupons and sales and stock up when you find these. Stocking up on non perishable products is key to saving money.

It is hard for me to not buy the lesser known more expensive products that are made by mom and pop company's but I just can't afford it. I do the best I can and that is all we can do. When the "good" products that are made by small mom and pop company's are on sale cheaper then the normally cheap products I buy them and try them out.To support small American business's the best that I can.

REMEMBER ANY LITTLE BIT HELPS
Hippy Cowgirl