We have had a wonderful year, looking for another wonderful year in 2009. The other day started less than wonderful, when I had to pick up my car from the repair shop and then go to the laundrymat because my washer is broke.
On the way to do the laundry I bought a turkey. I have been craving a turkey dinner, and even though it will only be husband Mark, and me for Christmas....I decided to cook a turkey anyway. So, I picked up my turkey and drove an hour to town to get my laundry done. I was in a less than perfect mood...........after all, who really wants to drive an hour and then sit at a laundry !
Some time later, as I sat folding all of our stuff, I started to reflect on our year. Folding clothes provides an excellent time to think, even if you do not want to. I decided to stop feeling sorry for myself , (not an easy task since my washing machine is a big deal, one of the few modern things I allow myself) and I started to reflect on my year. We are healthy, children are healthy, grandbabies all well, bills paid, animals well, 2 freezers full of food, root cellar full of food, parents still alive, live in a beautiful mountain setting, etc, etc, etc,.....the good thoughts kept coming till I was truly grateful for my life. All of a sudden, a broken washer was not so important.
I felt so grateful to God, with my whole heart and soul...I just HAD to give an offering. What do you give the God who has everything ?
Then it came to me..I will give away my turkey. But to whom will I give it ? I started asking around, wondering who would REALLY need this turkey.
My 10 pound turkey went to a single mom with multiple problems. I was glad to see the turkey go.
THANK YOU LORD FOR MY GOOD BLESSINGS
ENTER 2 DAYS LATER
I was minding my own business in my home in the middle of a snowstorm. Rocky mountain snowstorms give a great opportunity to work on a quilt. With my quilt in my lap, I fell asleep for How long I do not know. The dog awakended me, then there was a knock on the door...right here in the middle of the storm. Mark was tending to some cattle, so I answered the door myself. I was terrified to see sherrif Mike standing there. My first thought was that something happened to someone I love. He quickly calmed me and told me he had a gift for us.
Now it should be known at this time, that we have NEVER received a gift from the county. AND there would be no reason to expect one.
To my surprise he carried in a box with potatoes, beans, pie, AND A 21 POUND TURKEY.
My surprise was so great, I barely remembered to say thank you !
I did thank God. You cannot out-give God. I gave away a 10 pound turkey but received so much more !
I am going to savor every tasty mouthful of my turkey on Christmas day !
here is a dessert, I made to go with our turkey
CHERRY CHEESE DESSERT
2 &1/4 C graham cracker crumbs
3/4 C melted butter
1/2 C brown sugar
dash salt
press this into a 9 X 13 pan and bake 350 for 5 minutes
1 envelope dream whip ( whipped according to package directions)
3/4 C powdered sugar
8 ounce package cream cheese
mix these together and spread on cooled graham crust, then top with..
2 cans cherry pie filling, that has been mixed with
1 teaspoon of almond extract
CHILL SEVERAL HOURS
this is one of my favorite desserts.
MAY GOD BLESS ALL WHO READ THIS, WE WISH YOU ALL A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A VERY BLESSED NEW YEAR, from the Shoestring ranch...Happy Hollidays
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
WALKING THE CATS
It is a sunny snowy day in these mountains. I take walks to try and keep fit. It is a good thing that my driveway is almost a quarter of a mile, or I would not get a walk at all....You See...my four cats have taken to following me on my walks. I cannot go too far, because the coyotes are numerous this winter, and they love to eat cats. SO, I just go up and down the drive and walk through a few pastures with my four little loves, K.C., Patches, George, and Sweet Tart. ( the grand daughters named her )
I was in a health food store once, buying supplements and the salesman (who has a wife that owns a gym) would not stop hammering away at me about my lack of a exercise. I tried to tell him we own a ranch and I get lots of exercise. He informed me (not in a nice way) that ranch work is not real exercise. I was angry and left without buying anything.
It is my opinion that THIS MAN has never had real exercise. I bet he has never in his life had the exercise that is part of my life.., toted a 5-gallon bucket of water, split wood, saddle broke a colt, been on a horse for hours moving cattle, hand shoveled snow, carried laundry baskets to the clothesline, forked hay to the sheep, took on a masonry job, planted and harvested a garden, fought with a crazy rooster, helped someone stack 200 bales of hay, chased escapee calves back into their own pasture, cleaned out a stock trailer, painted the house, or did any mountain hiking, just to name a few of the "exercises" in MY life. And...I bet he never walked the cats.
CHEESY BEEF ROLLS
(here is a good inexpensive main dish)
3 pounds hamburger
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup saltine crumbs
2 eggs
4 tablespoons B B Q sauce
mix all these together and (on a piece of wax paper) make a rectangle of beef about 11 X 16 inches.....to this rectangle, sprinkle on ;
2 cups of your favorite cheese
2 chopped green peppers
1/2 cup bread crumbs
Then roll the beef up jelly roll style and chill several hours
After the roll has chilled, cut it into 8 or 9 equal pieces and bake the rolls about 30 minutes (350) oven, or till the meat is no longer pink.
TIP;..If the peppers are out of your budget, wait till they are on sale and buy as many as you can....they freeze well, you do not even have to cut them, freeze them whole if you like. The peppers will be a little mushy when you thaw them, so they will not be good in salads, but they work well in the above recipe, or anything else you need cooked peppers for.
WATCH THE PENNIES AND THE DOLLARS WILL TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES
I was in a health food store once, buying supplements and the salesman (who has a wife that owns a gym) would not stop hammering away at me about my lack of a exercise. I tried to tell him we own a ranch and I get lots of exercise. He informed me (not in a nice way) that ranch work is not real exercise. I was angry and left without buying anything.
It is my opinion that THIS MAN has never had real exercise. I bet he has never in his life had the exercise that is part of my life.., toted a 5-gallon bucket of water, split wood, saddle broke a colt, been on a horse for hours moving cattle, hand shoveled snow, carried laundry baskets to the clothesline, forked hay to the sheep, took on a masonry job, planted and harvested a garden, fought with a crazy rooster, helped someone stack 200 bales of hay, chased escapee calves back into their own pasture, cleaned out a stock trailer, painted the house, or did any mountain hiking, just to name a few of the "exercises" in MY life. And...I bet he never walked the cats.
CHEESY BEEF ROLLS
(here is a good inexpensive main dish)
3 pounds hamburger
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup saltine crumbs
2 eggs
4 tablespoons B B Q sauce
mix all these together and (on a piece of wax paper) make a rectangle of beef about 11 X 16 inches.....to this rectangle, sprinkle on ;
2 cups of your favorite cheese
2 chopped green peppers
1/2 cup bread crumbs
Then roll the beef up jelly roll style and chill several hours
After the roll has chilled, cut it into 8 or 9 equal pieces and bake the rolls about 30 minutes (350) oven, or till the meat is no longer pink.
TIP;..If the peppers are out of your budget, wait till they are on sale and buy as many as you can....they freeze well, you do not even have to cut them, freeze them whole if you like. The peppers will be a little mushy when you thaw them, so they will not be good in salads, but they work well in the above recipe, or anything else you need cooked peppers for.
WATCH THE PENNIES AND THE DOLLARS WILL TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
SAVING MONEY-GYM MEMBERSHIPS
We had lots of snow in the rockies last night. I think we on the shoestring ranch had about 6 inches, but the drifts are in feet.
All of our animals fared well through the night, and today is a brilliant sunny day.
The sun is dancing off of the snow like a fairy ballet.
The only drawback(if you call it one) is the fact that the snow keeps drifting at our doors!
Mark shoveled the drifts away at 6 this morning, and I just shoveled again at 10 this morning. After freeing myself from the bonds of the snow at my back door, I set off for the chicken house. I had no intention of shoveling ALL THAT WAY ! ! It must be a good 100 feet from the door. Not to worry, I had my snow boots on.
Making your way through lots of drifts is quite a workout. Many years ago, when we lived near the city, I had a gym membership. Today as I brought my girls an offering of seed, peelings and the last of the cinnamon rolls I made 2 days ago, I realized that I get lots of exercise just by my lifestyle.
I got quite a workout this morning with the snow, but as I was clearing the stairs and part of the driveway, I reminded myself of the "workouts" I received this last summer as I put in this driveway ALL BY MYSELF. I installed a brick drive and patio ( about 600 feet ) and I insisted on doing it myself without help from Mark.....I now proudly show off the calouses on my hands.
I earned every single one...AND the brickwork looks great !
If you live in a city appartment, sadly, you cannot take advantage of these kinds of exercise, but I bet you can walk. I do that too. I started mentally counting all of the dollars I have not spent though these last many years, then I felt quite clever !
WATCH THE PENNIES AND THE DOLLARS WILL TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES
All of our animals fared well through the night, and today is a brilliant sunny day.
The sun is dancing off of the snow like a fairy ballet.
The only drawback(if you call it one) is the fact that the snow keeps drifting at our doors!
Mark shoveled the drifts away at 6 this morning, and I just shoveled again at 10 this morning. After freeing myself from the bonds of the snow at my back door, I set off for the chicken house. I had no intention of shoveling ALL THAT WAY ! ! It must be a good 100 feet from the door. Not to worry, I had my snow boots on.
Making your way through lots of drifts is quite a workout. Many years ago, when we lived near the city, I had a gym membership. Today as I brought my girls an offering of seed, peelings and the last of the cinnamon rolls I made 2 days ago, I realized that I get lots of exercise just by my lifestyle.
I got quite a workout this morning with the snow, but as I was clearing the stairs and part of the driveway, I reminded myself of the "workouts" I received this last summer as I put in this driveway ALL BY MYSELF. I installed a brick drive and patio ( about 600 feet ) and I insisted on doing it myself without help from Mark.....I now proudly show off the calouses on my hands.
I earned every single one...AND the brickwork looks great !
If you live in a city appartment, sadly, you cannot take advantage of these kinds of exercise, but I bet you can walk. I do that too. I started mentally counting all of the dollars I have not spent though these last many years, then I felt quite clever !
WATCH THE PENNIES AND THE DOLLARS WILL TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
ROCKY MOUNTAIN HI
Woke up this morning about 5am. Coffee was calling. I decided to take the coffee pot outside to the propane burner.
We boil our coffee the old fashioned way, we do not own an electric coffee maker. So..grabbing the pot and the matches, slipping into my outdoor shoes, I stepped outside into the darkness , only to be surprised by the snow. The weather report said we might have some snow, but I did not believe it then.
It is always a delightful surprise for me, the first snow of the season. I get as excited as a child, as I again experience the wonder of the snow, the Lord's wintertime creation.
I contained my excitement long enough to place the old blue enamel pot on the burner, turn on the gas, and light a match. The flames quickly evaporated the snow on the burner and began to warm the old pot. Damp and chilly, I hurried back inside to the warmth of the bed. November nights in the rocky mountains (at 8,000 feet) are cold, and we heat only with wood.
My husband, Mark, was getting out of bed then, and made his way to the kitchen wood cookstove where he built a fire. On these cooler mornings he spoils me. After the coffee boils, he serves it to me while I am still in bed. I enjoy the hot coffee and a relaxing and warm bed while he tends the fires and gets the chill off of the house. WHAT A GUY!!!!!!!!
The snow on the higher peaks is amazing this morning. Breakfast is a quiet affair, at the table in front of the wood cookstove, and the cozy feeling I get this morning will last all day for sure.
Mark needs to move some cattle today but is not taking our cattle dog, Rocky ,with him today. Our poor boy got kicked by a steer yesterday and will take the day off to recover. Nothing is broken, but his one hip is very sore, badly bruised.
I go about my day, bringing in wood in between regular household chores and sewing projects. Rocky is my constant companion today. I do not want him outside today, he needs to heal. The vet said I could give him an aspirin. I crush a pill, and conceal it in some corned beef hash , which he ate without complaining. He is resting now, I can tell the aspirin is working because he is sleeping quite soundly.
It has been a lovely quiet day at home, except for 2 hunters who ignored our "no tresspassing " sign. They had a good reason, they found a kitten that they thought maybe was mine. The little calico kitten was not ours, and I cannot imagine how she got here in the middle of no particular place. She must have been dumped. I accept the kitten from the men and, introducing her to the rest of our feline brood, I accept the fact that we now have another member of our family.
Mark will be back at the house soon, I will now go feed horses and sheep. I think I will give them extra feed tonight, it is going to be a cold night, and the extra hay will keep them warm.
I have never lived on Park Avenue, and I never will because I am sure it is not this good.
We boil our coffee the old fashioned way, we do not own an electric coffee maker. So..grabbing the pot and the matches, slipping into my outdoor shoes, I stepped outside into the darkness , only to be surprised by the snow. The weather report said we might have some snow, but I did not believe it then.
It is always a delightful surprise for me, the first snow of the season. I get as excited as a child, as I again experience the wonder of the snow, the Lord's wintertime creation.
I contained my excitement long enough to place the old blue enamel pot on the burner, turn on the gas, and light a match. The flames quickly evaporated the snow on the burner and began to warm the old pot. Damp and chilly, I hurried back inside to the warmth of the bed. November nights in the rocky mountains (at 8,000 feet) are cold, and we heat only with wood.
My husband, Mark, was getting out of bed then, and made his way to the kitchen wood cookstove where he built a fire. On these cooler mornings he spoils me. After the coffee boils, he serves it to me while I am still in bed. I enjoy the hot coffee and a relaxing and warm bed while he tends the fires and gets the chill off of the house. WHAT A GUY!!!!!!!!
The snow on the higher peaks is amazing this morning. Breakfast is a quiet affair, at the table in front of the wood cookstove, and the cozy feeling I get this morning will last all day for sure.
Mark needs to move some cattle today but is not taking our cattle dog, Rocky ,with him today. Our poor boy got kicked by a steer yesterday and will take the day off to recover. Nothing is broken, but his one hip is very sore, badly bruised.
I go about my day, bringing in wood in between regular household chores and sewing projects. Rocky is my constant companion today. I do not want him outside today, he needs to heal. The vet said I could give him an aspirin. I crush a pill, and conceal it in some corned beef hash , which he ate without complaining. He is resting now, I can tell the aspirin is working because he is sleeping quite soundly.
It has been a lovely quiet day at home, except for 2 hunters who ignored our "no tresspassing " sign. They had a good reason, they found a kitten that they thought maybe was mine. The little calico kitten was not ours, and I cannot imagine how she got here in the middle of no particular place. She must have been dumped. I accept the kitten from the men and, introducing her to the rest of our feline brood, I accept the fact that we now have another member of our family.
Mark will be back at the house soon, I will now go feed horses and sheep. I think I will give them extra feed tonight, it is going to be a cold night, and the extra hay will keep them warm.
I have never lived on Park Avenue, and I never will because I am sure it is not this good.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
FREE FOOD
I always love free. Not only is free food great, but getting it is fun.
My husband and I took a hike up to the higher country this last weekend and picked rosehips and pine nuts.
The pine nuts went into the freezer and will be a nice protien snack throughout the winter.
I have posted a picture of my rose hips. I think we picked enough to make tea all winter long.
If you do not know about rose hips, you will be surprised to know that they are extremely high in vitamin C. A cup of tea made with rose hips is a comforting and pleasant hot drink when the snow is piled high....a common occurance in the rocky mountains.
After picking the hips I put them on trays and they are now drying. When completely dry I will put them in jars and store them in our root cellar. I will know that they are dry any ready to store when the bright red color turns almost brown, and the hips are a little wrinkly.
I have grown some rugosa roses on our place, they also make rose hips. Wild roses and rugosa roses are low bushes that have 5 petal hot pink roses all summer long. They have a mild rose scent and are lovely(watch the thorns). When the flower dies you do not "dead head" the bush.
The blooms die and produce a little green round or oval fruit. Leave the fruit on the bush and let it ripen. The rose hips turn a bright red. After the first heavy frost, pick the fruit and dry it.
It is amazing how much "free food" is available this time of year if you just look for it. When my children were small I always grew a garden, however whenever someone had more than they wanted I always put my children in the car and drove to the "free food" site.
Giving each child a bag or bucket, I would assign them each a row or area and we would all pick green beans, blackberries, corn, lettuce, tomatoes, or anything else edible that no one wanted.
I would rush home with armloads and boxes of veggies or apples, strawberries and other goodies !
Back home would be a monumental canning and freezing marathon which might last 2 days.
My children are all grown now so when I can, I do it by myself, and now I just smile at the memories ! I remember myself peeking out of my kitchen window, watching the children shucking bushels of corn....until they got into a corn flinging fight, tossing tomatoes at each other, or spitting seeds. Boredom among siblings does strange things to children sometimes.
Anyway it has become a habit of mine, to look for free food and to can or freeze it whenever I can.
My husband and I took a hike up to the higher country this last weekend and picked rosehips and pine nuts.
The pine nuts went into the freezer and will be a nice protien snack throughout the winter.
I have posted a picture of my rose hips. I think we picked enough to make tea all winter long.
If you do not know about rose hips, you will be surprised to know that they are extremely high in vitamin C. A cup of tea made with rose hips is a comforting and pleasant hot drink when the snow is piled high....a common occurance in the rocky mountains.
After picking the hips I put them on trays and they are now drying. When completely dry I will put them in jars and store them in our root cellar. I will know that they are dry any ready to store when the bright red color turns almost brown, and the hips are a little wrinkly.
I have grown some rugosa roses on our place, they also make rose hips. Wild roses and rugosa roses are low bushes that have 5 petal hot pink roses all summer long. They have a mild rose scent and are lovely(watch the thorns). When the flower dies you do not "dead head" the bush.
The blooms die and produce a little green round or oval fruit. Leave the fruit on the bush and let it ripen. The rose hips turn a bright red. After the first heavy frost, pick the fruit and dry it.
It is amazing how much "free food" is available this time of year if you just look for it. When my children were small I always grew a garden, however whenever someone had more than they wanted I always put my children in the car and drove to the "free food" site.
Giving each child a bag or bucket, I would assign them each a row or area and we would all pick green beans, blackberries, corn, lettuce, tomatoes, or anything else edible that no one wanted.
I would rush home with armloads and boxes of veggies or apples, strawberries and other goodies !
Back home would be a monumental canning and freezing marathon which might last 2 days.
My children are all grown now so when I can, I do it by myself, and now I just smile at the memories ! I remember myself peeking out of my kitchen window, watching the children shucking bushels of corn....until they got into a corn flinging fight, tossing tomatoes at each other, or spitting seeds. Boredom among siblings does strange things to children sometimes.
Anyway it has become a habit of mine, to look for free food and to can or freeze it whenever I can.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Friday, June 13, 2008
Raggs To Roses
This is my backyard. God has truly blessed us to be able to live in such an amazing place. Pictured are 2 of our horses. I am a 53 year old mother of 5, grandmother of 10. My husband and I raise cattle, horses, and now I have a few sheep.(I will soon learn to spin)..........
I love Sewing, quilting, gardening,cooking, horseback riding,knitting, and I love the Lord.
Blogging is new to me, but you can see that I am quite isolated so I am eager to make new friends.
I love Sewing, quilting, gardening,cooking, horseback riding,knitting, and I love the Lord.
Blogging is new to me, but you can see that I am quite isolated so I am eager to make new friends.
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