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Archive for the ‘Musings’ Category

Barn Wood

Posted in Family, Hubby, tagged , on April 27, 2011| 2 Comments »

While we were at The Farm for the weekend, I made Captain Cavedweller wander around with me while I took a boatload of photos.

I will freely admit I was more than a little fascinated by all the weathered old wood around the place.

It started with wanting some barn wood photos.

This used to be an old granary. If you look close, you’ll see even the nail heads have turned red from age and weather.

These boards were part of the old chicken coop. This would be the place where I learned to despise chickens because I just knew they were determined to peck me to pieces whenever I got sent in to collect the eggs. The chickens flew the coop about 35 years ago and the building has since been used for irrigation tube storage.

This cool shot was taken in what used to be the original shop built goodness only knows when. The back wall had this great knot hole that peeps out on one of the pastures. When I was growing up I hated walking past here because a flock of terrorist birds would dive bomb me almost every time. So you learned to run fast and hope for the best.

This door used to let the cows out of the milk barn and it seemed like it weighed half a ton when I got stuck opening it. Maybe I need to resume a fitness routine that involves pulling way too heavy doors open. It was great for keeping the arms in shape. This would also be the door that didn’t get opened soon enough on one particular occasion which resulted in the cow going down the steps, into the milkroom and chasing my mom around the tank until my dad and brother came to the rescue.

This is one of the old barn windows. Surprisingly, all the panes were intact. If you look really closely in the right-hand side, you can almost see Captain Cavedweller. He’d be thrilled to know I caught him in the reflection. Or not.

She Who Likes Old Wood

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Keepin’ An Eye Out

Posted in Family, tagged , , , on April 26, 2011| Leave a Comment »

When we went to The Farm for the weekend, I took along my new camera. (That would be the one that makes me smile deliriously every time I get to use it.)

Anyway, I took a few hundred photos of all sorts of farm-related things like barnwood, animals, tractors and even some little people who like devouring candy like it was, well, candy.

And they all looked at me like I needed watching. I kid you not.

It started with this big burly fellow. He kept giving me the eye and I decided to let him be. I’m pretty sure he ate the plywood that is missing and the iron bars were next on his menu.

I wandered over to the pasture where the baby calves were frolicking and enjoying the sunshine. These two stopped jumping around long enough for me to grab a quick shot. They weren’t too keen on the camera or me.

My time spent admiring the bovine babies came to an abrupt halt when this Mama decided I was trouble with a capital T. You go ahead and convince her I came in peace and meant no harm. As for me, I’ll be on the other side of the fence quietly moseying on.

Even the horses weren’t convinced I was not intent on disrupting their blissful rural existence. It took two tries and a flake of hay along with coaxing by my nephew to get them to stand still long enough to snap this photo.

My buddy Pete knows I can be trusted. He has to keep his eye on some of the other characters, but not me. I scratch his ears, rub his back and tell him he is a good boy. He, in turn, rubs against my legs until he nearly knocks me down.

And this kiddo – she keeps her eye on me to make sure I’m watching her antics, not hiding any presents or pilfering her chocolate. Like her auntie, she has a thing for candy. I kind of like her… whole heaps and bunches.

She Who Has Been Watched

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Tortilla and Ham Roll-Ups

Posted in Appetizers, Entertaining at Home, Hubby, Recipes, tagged , , , on April 1, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Tortilla Roll-Up Appetizers

If you want a simple appetizer that people absolutely can’t stay away from, try this easy recipe. I’ve made it countless times over the years and never have any leftovers.

Warning – we absolutely will not talk about the caloric content of this recipe! And don’t go all healthy-substitute crazy on me here. You have to follow the recipe or it just doesn’t taste right!

Ingredients

Mix up your filling. I know it looks a little... um... interesting.

Please don't be like me and absentmindedly put the meat on first then try to spread filling over the top. Put the filling on the shell, then layer on the meat!

Filling spread out on the shell, then add the meat.

Roll it up tightly.

Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and let set in the fridge for several hours or overnight. The longer it rests, the better the flavor!

Unwrap, slice and enjoy!

Tortilla and Ham Roll-Ups

4 large flour tortilla (or 6-8 smaller ones)

1 large package cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup grated cheddar-jack cheese

1 small can chopped olives

1/4 cup ranch dressing

1 package of ham lunch meat, thinly sliced

In a bowl, combine cream cheese, cheddar-jack cheese, ranch dressing and olives. Mix well then spread over tortilla, going almost to the edges.

Layer on ham then tightly roll up tortillas. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for several hours or overnight. When you are ready to serve, unwrap, slice into about 1/2-inch wide slices and stand back. You don’t want to get trampled by the crowd as they hurry to devour these. (Unless Captain Cavedweller is there, in which case, linger all you want, he ain’t eating these!).

Happy Entertaining!

From She who Loves Roll-Ups way too much!

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Don’t be an April Fool

Posted in Family, Musings, tagged on March 31, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Tomorrow is April’s Fools Day. A day celebrated around the world on April 1.

Sometimes referred to as All Fool’s Day, it is not a legal holiday. Instead it is a day that tolerates practical jokes, many pranks and much running amuck.

Supposedly, the day is marked by good humor and funny jokes, tricks and good-natured ribbing. The variety and depth depends entirely on those partaking in the frivolity.

I will admit that I have participated in the shenanigans of the day in past years, sometimes on the giving end and sometimes on the receiving end.

The  April Fool’s Day I remember the most is the year I played a nasty joke on my dad. Like me, he loves sweets and is unable to pass by candy, especially things like chocolate covered nuts.

Mom had a bag of frozen peas in the freezer, so with a little effort, I managed to melt some chocolate and dip each frozen pea, completely covering it and making it look like a very round and somewhat mutated peanut drenched in chocolate. When Daddy came in for dinner, I had the bowl of the “candy” strategically placed so he couldn’t miss it. Sure enough, he walked in and took a handful of candy and popped it in his mouth.  I believe there was probably much spluttering, spewing and quite likely a threat or two made about the ability of me being able to sit down in the very near future.

After seeing the look of revulsion and disgust on his face, I have since refrained from messing with food on April Fool’s Day. It really was cruel and unusual punishment.

So however you celebrate the (or hide from it, as the case may be), I hope you don’t encounter any chocolate covered peas.

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