Spring Is Springing!

You all may be wondering what happened to me. I've been MIA in the Trenches of Life!

Last week was just crazy, with somewhere to be most everyday and getting home late on top of that. The weekend wasn't much better. And now, I've been sick with my usual Spring cold and sinus infection. Cough Cough. Hack Hack. Monday and Tuesday I just felt drained. I only did what needed done and the rest of the time I was in bed or in my chair. The coughing has subsided some and is starting to loosen up, but now I'm congested and still feel a little achy. But, I'm drinking and resting and seem to be on the mend.

Today we are forecasted to get a high of 62!!! Yee haw!!! Even though I've felt crummy, I still had to get out and take advantage of the weather. I wore a dark jacket doing chores this morning and the sun just seeped into it! It felt so nice and warm! Even after chores were done, I found myself loitering around outside just to be outside. I saw some opportunities to snap some pictures.

Daffodils peeking through! It still amazes me each Spring when the bulbs start to awaken underground at just the right time. I guess God tells them it's time to wake up.

Tuffy enjoying the warm weather. And look, grass!

I couldn't believe it when I saw this Yellow Jacket climbing up the garage! He was moving slow, but enjoying the weather like the rest of us.

Ahh, Spring is springing. With Spring comes full manure pits. My honey just got a call today from a farmer whose manure pit is just about ready to overflow. I had to take a short break from writing this to help him load some of his equipment. That means driving the loader tractor, hitching and unhitching things, loading equipment on the trailer, etc. I'm always nervous when I have to run the tractor because Matt is a heavy equipment operator too. He can do this kind of stuff in his sleep--and he does (he talks sometimes and it's always about work). After many arguments, I think I've gotten him to realize not to assume I know what he's thinking and to be clear and concise--whether it is in explaining or using hand signals. I thought I did well considering I'm not all with it with this cold and sinus thing. No major catastrophes and no one got hurt.

So, Matt'll be off soon to get set-up to pump. Yeah! Not that he's leaving, but that he has work. Work is good.

Recipe of the Week: Baked Beans
courtesy Renee Schaaf, CT Farm

I made these beans last night for supper. I just threw them together and they turned out well. Next time I might add bacon. Instead of one of the cans of Pork-n-Beans, I might add a can of kidney beans or chili beans.

2 14.5 oz. cans Pork-n-Beans
1/4 c. applesauce
2 Tbsp. dried minced onion
2 Tbsp. ketchup
1/2 tsp. mustard
1/2 Tbsp. Liquid Smoke
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 tsp. smoked paprika
1/16 tsp. ground red pepper
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. garlic powder

Combine all ingredients and place in a baking dish. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.

Isn't Technology Wonderful?

I appologize for not posting! I have been busy, but what has been driving me crazy was a virus that somehow attached itself to my blog! I noticed it a few days ago when I tried to pull up my blog. My internet security (Great job Kapersky!) was blocking something called:

www.mktseek.com/myport.php?ref=postmaster HEUR:Trojan.Script.Iframer.

I was able to go to blogspot.com and sign in to my account and use the help forum. I posted what problems I was having and quickly got some responses. Both replies recommended deleteing some of the gadgets I had added. So, no more interactive "Joe Kitty", seasonal foods and sadly no more playlist. I really liked the playlist too. I'm not sure which one could have been the culprit, but the problem is resolved--at least for now.

Again, sorry for not posting. I'll have plenty to talk about in the next few days!

Work Day, Adventures in Babysitting, Day of Rest, Around the World & Recipe of the Week: Mexican Casserole

I've been a busy bee lately. Friday was a work day. Nothing too exciting there.

Saturday, I cleaned house in the morning and then Matt and I did a little shopping. First we grabbed a bite, then went to Other Mothers and New Destinations Thrift store in Wooster. I found some Easter baskets for nephew number four that will be arriving March 16th. My mom fixes Easter baskets and so do I for the boys (my nephews). Then, we headed to Lodi Station Outlets. It is an outlet mall. I was looking for chrome or stainless steel cooling racks and was having no luck anywhere else. There is a store there called Kitchen Collection. I figured if anyone would have them, Kitchen Collection would, and they did. I'm a sucker for kitchen gadgets and this store has tons. I told Matt, "I could drop a lot of money in this store..." He agreed that I probably could. We checked out a couple of baby stores and some shoe stores, but didn't find anything. Then, we were off to my friend Peggy's house. It was Peggy's birthday and she and her hubby (Scott Rixson of Scott Rixson Custom Guitars--check out the link) were going out with friends for dinner. Matt and I were going to watch their two kids. No major catastrophies. Matt and I had fun. I think their girls did too. So did Peggy and Scott.

Sunday was another day of rest. Church in the morning, afternoon with my parents. We cut the afternoon short to get back to Wooster and meet up with Stan, the guy I milk cows for. Matt and he had some business to attend to. I was able to catch the tail-end of milking and feed the calves. There were three calves to feed and they were hungry! I was practically mauled! They were trying to nurse off of my pants or anywhere they could! Al, Stan's hired man, came to my rescue and helped with crowd control. After milking, we went to visit Matt's dad and watched the closing ceremonies of the olympics.

Yesterday was very busy. I had a chiropractor appointment in the morning and errands to run after that. I had Tuffy scheduled for an ultrasound, of the bulgy muscle Dr. Amity found, at one o'clock in Berlin. On my way to the vet, I stopped at the Country Pantry and got Matt some lunch meat and cheese. I was a little ahead of schedule, so I took some back roads into Berlin and snapped some photos of Amish farms. I love the peacefulness of the farms and fields in Winter. Soon, God will paint these sleeping fields and pastures in the lush greens of Spring--views I never tire of!




I got to the clinic at about 10 minutes to one. I got in right away and Dr. Amity let me watch the ultrasound. I Rubbed Tuff's chest to keep him calm through the ordeal. He has a fatty tumor (lypoma) that is running between the muscles on the inside of his right rear leg. Dr. Amity said the location is more rare for this type of tumor to occur, but nothing needs to be done at this time. I just have to keep an eye on it and see if it changes. If it gets too big, or get's in his way, then it may have to be removed. But, no action needed now. She took a fine needle aspiration (FNA) to be sure it was what she thought it was. The cytology showed fat. I was relieved. Tuff wanted to be done and back in the car. I picked up some meds for the yeast infection Dr. Amity suspected and confirmed that Tuff had in his ears and we were off. I stopped at Nature's Food Market and picked up a few things. Then, we headed to my parent's.

Our church was having a Women's Fellowship meeting at 6:30 PM and mom and I were going to go. So, I hung out at Mom and Dad's till then and then Mom and I went to the meeting. We had the business meeting first and then we made a no-sew fleece blanket to have on hand for any new babies in the church. Mom and I got back to her house around 8:45 PM. I chatted a bit and then headed back to Wooster. I got home a little after 10:00 PM.

Recipe of the Week: Mexican Casserole
courtesy Peggy Rixson and Renee Schaaf

My friend Peggy gave me the original recipe and I put my spin on it.

1 lb. ground beef
1/2 lb. Bob Evan's Zesty Hot Sausage
1 medium onion, diced
1 14.5 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes, divided
2 tsp. chili powder
2 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/16 tsp. red pepper
1 tsp. dried cilantro
1-2 Tbsp. honey
2 cups salsa
8 oz. block sharp cheddar cheese, cut into thirds
6 8-inch flour tortillas

In a large saucepan, brown ground beef and sausage until cooked. Drain any grease. Add onion, black beans, half the can of tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, salt, red pepper, cilantro and honey. Stir and let simmer until onions are tender. Remove from heat.

In a medium bowl add salsa and remaining tomatoes, stir and set aside.

Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray. Take two tortillas and tear them each in half. Place tortilla pieces in the pan with strait sides on the sides of the pan. Layer 1/3 of the meat mixture, 1/2 the salsa mixture and shred 1/3 of the cheese. Repeat. For the final layer, spread the remaining meat mixture and shred the remaining 1/3 of cheese. Bake uncovered in 450 degree oven for 15 minutes. Remove and let sit five minutes before cutting. Serve with sour cream.