tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74144586442829305622024-02-19T08:02:17.588-08:00The Single Girl HomesteadOne girl. One income. Full-time job with a part-time farm. Working on a happy homestead and embracing the imperfections in life. Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05922715446678718434noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414458644282930562.post-44799982791845490702014-11-05T13:44:00.002-08:002014-11-05T13:47:21.585-08:00Concealed Carry WoesI am not someone who generally complains about my lot in life. I think I have it pretty good, and work hard to maintain said status because I like it. However, today has been rather frustrating for me so please pardon this rant.<br />
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Some kids go on a bar run for their 21st birthday - I happen to have applied for, and received, my firearm concealed carry permit for my 21st birthday. This makes me an 11 year veteran *gasp* for concealed carry, and never once have I had to use my firearm. Praise Jesus!<br />
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Promptly upon moving to Idaho, I took advantage of the reciprocity agreement between Washington and Idaho, and received a firearm concealed carry permit in The Gem State. I am now licensed to carry in two states, and am working on becoming licensed in Oregon because living on the state line sees me frequently there. This will result in being licensed and trained to conceal carry a firearm in three states, with 11 years of experience.<br />
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No follow along closely from here because it gets very confusing! I am a University of Idaho employee, stationed in a county owned building, duly licensed and experienced to carry a firearm concealed on my person. Simple right? Ha! (sarcasm)<br />
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The University of Idaho passed a <a href="http://www.uidaho.edu/apm/95/12">controversial statute</a> allowing for concealed carry on campuses for Idaho Enhanced Conceal Carry licenses. My Washington license is the equivalent of the Idaho Enhanced license, however, I was not granted this level. I am enrolling in a course as soon as this entry is complete!<br />
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My county has a <a href="http://www.canyonco.org/getattachment/Intranet/Departments/Human-Resources/canyon-county-handbook-final-version-9-5-13-2.pdf.aspx">policy (pg. 100-101)</a> stating no county employee but an on-duty law enforcement officer may carry a firearm (or pocket knife - which I am routinely guilty of, what farm kid isn't?). Remember, I am a University employee not a county employee. <br />
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The State of Idaho has preformed the required background checks into my life, previous licenses and residences and known alias' (which I don't have) and granted me the basic license to carry a firearm concealed in public areas (County ID # 1P3181). To add another level to the insanity, Idaho is also an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_laws_in_Idaho">open carry state</a>: Meaning if I wanted to carry a loaded weapon around town I could. <br />
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I am running in circles and chasing my tail, watching the question of whether I can legally carry a firearm concealed in my office being pushed higher and higher up the ladder. Meanwhile, my frustration level is ratcheting up at a steady pace as I feel my 2nd Amendment rights being restricted.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkRsa8s-p3wsNfQnuiy1JbX4lR03qhpyPZzlN3HfwHSxEs3LdvY2vViG-XQhGYC7JhbydaoiW26AdmgvBeDxIhI48DbPtsWCGXnSozxGm1d0syw7UvE-5SSkpS6KfPBv3WsIJO_LGJK0w/s1600/Do+no+harm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkRsa8s-p3wsNfQnuiy1JbX4lR03qhpyPZzlN3HfwHSxEs3LdvY2vViG-XQhGYC7JhbydaoiW26AdmgvBeDxIhI48DbPtsWCGXnSozxGm1d0syw7UvE-5SSkpS6KfPBv3WsIJO_LGJK0w/s1600/Do+no+harm.jpg" height="320" width="189" /></a>Another anomaly I've encountered during this inquiry process is everyone seems to think something is wrong. As in I am fearful for my life, someone is threatening me, or I am going to go bat-shit (that one hasn't been voiced but it's there). Why does every one assume that? I wonder if I exude the weak and scared female vibe? I can honestly say if that's what people are picking up, it would literally be the first time in 32 years. Ha!<br />
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I will keep you all posted, but I don't look for this to be resolved at any time in the near future. I thought I'd include my philosophy on life today! :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0Z5xUuG_SnPOsFJKAngjCSHeEz_9LSwpksDFtFhVgCIKEZYU09qx6mxwCUJinrd2IJm1m4myU_hyDBUdE0-rMshQ7FP6KlJmkZvt2yqxj5eWsKAj2FYNNrvwmgHIehkcZXdfLXkKADk/s1600/Zero+BS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0Z5xUuG_SnPOsFJKAngjCSHeEz_9LSwpksDFtFhVgCIKEZYU09qx6mxwCUJinrd2IJm1m4myU_hyDBUdE0-rMshQ7FP6KlJmkZvt2yqxj5eWsKAj2FYNNrvwmgHIehkcZXdfLXkKADk/s1600/Zero+BS.jpg" height="224" width="320" /></a>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05922715446678718434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414458644282930562.post-7889137159268657092014-10-27T14:14:00.000-07:002014-10-27T14:14:38.245-07:00As some of you may know, I keep a small herd of Saanen milking goats, and these lovely ladies provide me with yogurt, cheese, ice cream, meat and of course milk! I currently have four full-sized milking does and two miniature milking does: Now when each one of the big girls produces rough a gallon and a half of milk per day you end up with a lot of milk! I use it all, but that's another story for another day.<br />
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In order for these lovely ladies to produce their copious amounts of milk, they have to kid, or have babies. Well, my rental property is backed up against the freeway, and on a flat area in the valley that gets quite a bit of wind, so I needed some way to keep these ladies and their babies safe, draft free and warm during kidding season. I couldn't afford a nice barn and those rent-to-own deals all have floors so I wasn't left with too many options.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhceqOIfABM7glfP7RXkjQ66QTsnYHxNmwlRUgzopPcD0SBT-OKhqPCO9Qr1YJq9CJcsyNW-R3YBxPN8uP7DkNrNRXyGIo0xNDYpGih_C4BBNEUGQIbLI34PAv9Pz5awr6BiMvUYMY4yKY/s1600/Goat+Shed+Plumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhceqOIfABM7glfP7RXkjQ66QTsnYHxNmwlRUgzopPcD0SBT-OKhqPCO9Qr1YJq9CJcsyNW-R3YBxPN8uP7DkNrNRXyGIo0xNDYpGih_C4BBNEUGQIbLI34PAv9Pz5awr6BiMvUYMY4yKY/s1600/Goat+Shed+Plumb.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></a>Enter the West Virginia side of the family - AKA my dad's side. All the siblings were born, and with the exception of my father, raised on the multi-generational farm in West Virginia where everything from tail to snout (animal, vegetable, and mineral) was used, and then re-used! These ideals were never abandoned, and to this day I have one uncle who keeps a "museum" of old stuff for self-reliance, or because he thinks it's cool, or when SHTF.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2XzD0mF-RVsE0oKXUnJea9UQVsCWdpNTl56V8uYyyuKxJ-gyxzUCr-RcXQYVb8YDuWb4Wr3nLbhi2GplERrLntsZHHHrabqkLO1YZYlGBBzXWkXCly807X8uZT-fTsRIiVFDHrqTYJzY/s1600/Goat+Shed+Roof.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2XzD0mF-RVsE0oKXUnJea9UQVsCWdpNTl56V8uYyyuKxJ-gyxzUCr-RcXQYVb8YDuWb4Wr3nLbhi2GplERrLntsZHHHrabqkLO1YZYlGBBzXWkXCly807X8uZT-fTsRIiVFDHrqTYJzY/s1600/Goat+Shed+Roof.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></a></div>
Lord love my uncles and father, because they all came to the rescue when they heard my predicament about the goat barn. Salvaged lumber from previous projects was furnished, old <br />
greenhouse siding was unearthed from the back-40 and given, posts from our sustainably harvested range/forest land were cut and gifted, and tin sheet-metal, which has seen the side of more than one building was compiled and donated to the cause.<br />
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Dad collected and loaded all these materials up and headed the five hours down to my house on a <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7oY2b0CzVFX1STTBJ9Pd4GDiAnGU7x9-88r_GHCISOaEbkP8czz2HjWVpztksHybDCbLoCIqxPr5wDkL6BOS0gMpAU-f6NZeFGpot9LJkkLUjFWcoWaJx_wxExfOawdAGyRGF3TuzreU/s1600/Goat+Shed+Siding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7oY2b0CzVFX1STTBJ9Pd4GDiAnGU7x9-88r_GHCISOaEbkP8czz2HjWVpztksHybDCbLoCIqxPr5wDkL6BOS0gMpAU-f6NZeFGpot9LJkkLUjFWcoWaJx_wxExfOawdAGyRGF3TuzreU/s1600/Goat+Shed+Siding.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
Thursday after work, and by Sunday we had a functional shed for the ladies to utilize. We started with bare ground and went to a post-in-the-dirt, roof and sides covered and LOTS of "ventilation" holes from previous projects. This past Sunday I put up the very last pieces of the siding to close in the barn from weather. There are a few things I'm planning on adding when kidding season gets closer, but until then the ladies are enjoying their space out of the wind!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxcvfVHs4-jpJV5wK9I3baycgh-AvvqQZU7UjURbSdWu3cSkIVtfTr8Wm1B8U6GtyzMJMCmN_62NwallKWjGNq10rj3CuJP_kD41jCsnWM2eKwvO_PMzuoyL1RUp0LkHAnnnXw2BY7WOs/s1600/Goat+Shed+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4g4LegPKxjg5AO2RNpl3dLuERLIlFcJOyiK82X2UM4-TBCKGCaNTd9obsx75hgu10G0lhtJu3gq0Tc6FNZ0o4kXOyK8DO6Xbo5Tf1s3CVYo1eJtch5A22WZlj5y2tIIrhpTDwgJi7x8g/s1600/Goat+Shed+2.jpg" height="150" width="200" /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxcvfVHs4-jpJV5wK9I3baycgh-AvvqQZU7UjURbSdWu3cSkIVtfTr8Wm1B8U6GtyzMJMCmN_62NwallKWjGNq10rj3CuJP_kD41jCsnWM2eKwvO_PMzuoyL1RUp0LkHAnnnXw2BY7WOs/s1600/Goat+Shed+1.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05922715446678718434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414458644282930562.post-14202685727057582402014-10-21T12:55:00.000-07:002014-10-21T12:55:02.614-07:00<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5TMnDoCzXuPSD_AOFnW9acHmZL9lhJI6Unzy01F3D96G_v5XQzdlpZzu4bkQgpFIoBMceu8roYQOVEgELKYVqy_8vWrNCp-R1cLZJZjuKqhOYjkIQWqNWeiEbROWpgY-hZLOBxuNJpcM/s1600/IMG_20140927_122617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5TMnDoCzXuPSD_AOFnW9acHmZL9lhJI6Unzy01F3D96G_v5XQzdlpZzu4bkQgpFIoBMceu8roYQOVEgELKYVqy_8vWrNCp-R1cLZJZjuKqhOYjkIQWqNWeiEbROWpgY-hZLOBxuNJpcM/s1600/IMG_20140927_122617.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beautiful bride!</td></tr>
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Ok - obviously I've been neglectful in my blogging. I have excuses I promise! :) September and October have become akin to the April I had this year, which was busy let me tell you. I was on the interview trail during April, so much so that I was only "home" 17 days out of the whole month. Yowza!<br />
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September was chock full of meetings, fields days, Mom's birthday (the big 6-0), more meetings, beef harvesting (butchering), the Lost Rivers grazing Academy in beautiful Salmon, Idaho and the wedding of an amazing lady to an amazing guy! I was home for half of the weekends in September. Again, yowza!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihtIdJERuZoNCpxKQ8to_4tJiFVOJQlthyphenhyphen7klievWq3Eq-txqMx0hNt50Xl2wNuWzdBTk9a6azOOnbRqwXESfL06GiDPQ_5Q-QCUMByvyy_VsRzD0yyNbIq8HpDzASPGDAM2nH8IV6BtE/s1600/IMG_20141018_101325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihtIdJERuZoNCpxKQ8to_4tJiFVOJQlthyphenhyphen7klievWq3Eq-txqMx0hNt50Xl2wNuWzdBTk9a6azOOnbRqwXESfL06GiDPQ_5Q-QCUMByvyy_VsRzD0yyNbIq8HpDzASPGDAM2nH8IV6BtE/s1600/IMG_20141018_101325.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turkey number 1 of 3:56 lbs of meat overall.</td></tr>
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October has been a bit more laid back than September - I'll be home three out of four weekends. Ha! Meetings, coaching team members from Idaho's state 4H livestock judging team, again with more meetings, a full week of new employee orientation in Moscow on the University of Idaho's campus, poultry harvesting, and my first evaluation as a UI Extension Educator are all on the docket for October. By this time yowza might not cover it. :)<br />
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However, my freezer is full, my pantry is going to be full once I get all the produce I picked up in the Yakima Valley canned-up, I've gotten to visit with my equally as busy brother and sister-in-law and parents. My girls (goats) are bred and in 4.5 months the babies will arrive, milk will flow, cheese and yogurt will be made and the bottle feeding of day-old calves will begin. My other girls (dogs) are very happy I'm home (and so am I!) that they want to cuddle all the time. I get a temporary roommate in December (I'm hosting a local ag student teacher).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaubKyclbNlK2G-lfAElGITZaPwleTKykGq7ZYitAI56qlOXZIeuu-zEAxcp90VQynjHcD0trFMPIajKhSecllHBzeSuu7io13_OE9PE-icMZUpAbQiPTRl7RjfHTWpo2uCBPT4lnj8dM/s1600/55dbb275775bfb8ff28ebc0f80853dc1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaubKyclbNlK2G-lfAElGITZaPwleTKykGq7ZYitAI56qlOXZIeuu-zEAxcp90VQynjHcD0trFMPIajKhSecllHBzeSuu7io13_OE9PE-icMZUpAbQiPTRl7RjfHTWpo2uCBPT4lnj8dM/s1600/55dbb275775bfb8ff28ebc0f80853dc1.jpg" height="139" width="200" /></a>I am very thankful for the opportunities I've had to re-establish relationships with friends and family, as well as begin new friendships with people in the area. As busy, and a yowza, as my life gets, I enjoy it. But I need a nap! ;)Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05922715446678718434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414458644282930562.post-12731333438470134982014-07-07T11:19:00.003-07:002014-07-07T11:19:50.946-07:00Times they are a changin'.....Three years! It has been three years since I posted on this blog, and let me tell you it has brought some big changes.<br />
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1) I took a job that moved me back to the Yakima Valley in Washington. I worked in a completely new career (agronomy) for a year and a half. Everything was going well, my custom livestock raising business was beginning to take off, I was asked to be a panelist for a Women in Ag conference, I found a place to rent in the country that was perfect and had an easy going landlord, and I finally graduated with my Masters degree! Then I was called into the boss' office one morning prior to a conference and was told I was being laid off. Holy crap! So I took some time to regroup and began a new job search.<br />
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2) I decided I didn't like the sales portion of my previous agronomy job and started searching for a position in Extension once again. After all, it has been a dream of mine since I was 16! So I claimed unemployment, raised animals to fulfill the contracts I had in progress and for my freezer, and applied for jobs. Once the interview processes began, I was ping-ponging all over the Western United States! In the month of April 2014, I was only home for 17 nights. I was one tired lady!<br />
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3) I accepted a position with the University of Idaho as the Small Acreage & Production Livestock Extension Educator for Canyon county. I am in my 2nd month of the job and so far I'm loving it! It's the perfect blend of concepts to satisfy my inner hippy and yet also my practical side by working with area dairymen and cattlemen. I have kept my goat herd and one breeding pair of sheep and plan to begin anew with my custom livestock raising project. I have been laying out breeding plans, and tracking down bottle calves and hay for the winter.<br />
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I am happy to be working again and be able to follow my personal vision to operate Cherryview Creek Custom Livestock in Fruitland, ID and I promise to do a much better job blogging! :)Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05922715446678718434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414458644282930562.post-40413904254271370892011-09-29T16:27:00.000-07:002011-09-29T16:27:09.517-07:00Chickens...Clucking Brilliant!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRE3hmHtUl5Xoiva7kItv8FLtoHu2ghyphenhyphenhftaIMFjayt2kv9di1GLQnMaVQPN3B2DgCLU7GTIUGrrP_CIyHlanxKK2u1M9g8pya6KYi2yyMBNimFILwOvYAYszVmxdrLFrdVn6cPV6RO-E/s1600/100_0801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRE3hmHtUl5Xoiva7kItv8FLtoHu2ghyphenhyphenhftaIMFjayt2kv9di1GLQnMaVQPN3B2DgCLU7GTIUGrrP_CIyHlanxKK2u1M9g8pya6KYi2yyMBNimFILwOvYAYszVmxdrLFrdVn6cPV6RO-E/s320/100_0801.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>If you've been keeping up with my blog you know I've had wretched luck with chickens this year! So I decided to bite the bullet and buy one of those per-fabricated coops online. The Chicken Saloon received my business and shipped "The Corral" in a timely manner. Everything arrived intact and all the parts were there. Yippee! The FedEx guy brings me wonderful things. :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBE0mHCZ9KjZ6ikbg93DpJyVVVsTN2JDbjh4dPERFaEBrfp9dryW_MRS6HqQ9R7G8OxDjJsLE19wAa7uEvtrOIGB0-CwyVQohvpyZNwKx3XlOqCLyQGmTlSCATYffHI3k-G4C2CvaTVE/s1600/100_0806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBE0mHCZ9KjZ6ikbg93DpJyVVVsTN2JDbjh4dPERFaEBrfp9dryW_MRS6HqQ9R7G8OxDjJsLE19wAa7uEvtrOIGB0-CwyVQohvpyZNwKx3XlOqCLyQGmTlSCATYffHI3k-G4C2CvaTVE/s320/100_0806.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dO1RMCAqdm5ZF-atwUEdAVzQqK4UWUNSI19DHdp2Uz8dXNspAA5pNh1i_r1lcEVTwFSD3ccxQsWMxnDeCtiI5A-GR-I2C5RsjlnZ3H35bi8f4mYhJeJxYHTZZscCOjdwFUk-bx-6Rkk/s1600/100_0805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dO1RMCAqdm5ZF-atwUEdAVzQqK4UWUNSI19DHdp2Uz8dXNspAA5pNh1i_r1lcEVTwFSD3ccxQsWMxnDeCtiI5A-GR-I2C5RsjlnZ3H35bi8f4mYhJeJxYHTZZscCOjdwFUk-bx-6Rkk/s200/100_0805.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
This is supposed to house 3-4 full-sized chickens. I always like the animals to have plenty of room so I've got only two chicks in there. Later on I might add one more hen, probably a banty. I like it for the nest boxes and it looks like a little barn. Cute! Those are some happy little hen chicks. I'm looking forward to seeing those beautiful Silver Laced Wyandottes and their yummy eggs, hopefully in the spring! :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4sJpb-DKhgjDXehTMTKTHIhyphenhyphenI45xFM5L4SMdFFa0CNW5hF-SgdOZTeLe9mBCD_GtDiNXRYJI_S5hUfKdBVdFi5kNJFL3T3kH9wfoDeTqBWm3Yy1H37Qs4tWo_1m4eLZD29uBCf5dsfnQ/s1600/100_0802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4sJpb-DKhgjDXehTMTKTHIhyphenhyphenI45xFM5L4SMdFFa0CNW5hF-SgdOZTeLe9mBCD_GtDiNXRYJI_S5hUfKdBVdFi5kNJFL3T3kH9wfoDeTqBWm3Yy1H37Qs4tWo_1m4eLZD29uBCf5dsfnQ/s320/100_0802.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>We've also ad some bad luck concerning dogs. Yotee got away from me the other day and went to chase cars. He was hit by one which didn't slow down or stop to see if he was still alive. I was not happy about that! What if it was their dog? Wouldn't they want someone to do that for them? Anyways, Yotee came out of it with only a tibial fracture and will be in a rigid splint for roughly 8 weeks. He just had his wrappings changed and is now sporting a hot pink right, rear leg! He is ashamed. This is a picture a few days after it happened. That's the new guy, Kooper, in the background. Yotee's a bit crabby at the moment, but they play and have fun when they can. Kooper is currently upstairs barking at himself in the mirror...see what I'm working with? :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigi51mKuCz6e6X4DqOvb8oWzTBwPjSi2964ISO_MOBCOAj6UnWWcCbUbvs00jLUdCoDo9rxzYfGB17ZkT_-YB-S_gFrCZPyDNO3dfjdQBQ_D92-ddRcQAzsshrD7ZBugCuZaMURxV_A6w/s1600/100_0810.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigi51mKuCz6e6X4DqOvb8oWzTBwPjSi2964ISO_MOBCOAj6UnWWcCbUbvs00jLUdCoDo9rxzYfGB17ZkT_-YB-S_gFrCZPyDNO3dfjdQBQ_D92-ddRcQAzsshrD7ZBugCuZaMURxV_A6w/s320/100_0810.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>We had our first hard frost last night, which is one whole month PAST the average frost dates for this area. I have to say I've enjoyed it immensely, but alas, winter is definitely on its way. *sigh* I decided to clean-up my little garden since there won't be anymore growing weather. I had a pleasant surprise at the amount of food I was able to get. I'm already planning on what I want to do next year. *teehee* What you see here are parsley, chives, rosemary, pumpkins, and tomatoes. Pretty good haul for being a bad year and learning how to garden in a whole new climate! Kinda proud. :) <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_r8RKA7MOTYOdfCA1Zi39t8SIJGAN8YRkIEZXtTm00mA2Xh80qee9HHVcUlY2euECUK-kPtRe_DpfPrW5hrEcBkP8vENMy4EJmepWm9b2IcOXIsHStHwJg2DbfZ0IWBaOFR7ooarDM8/s1600/100_0812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_r8RKA7MOTYOdfCA1Zi39t8SIJGAN8YRkIEZXtTm00mA2Xh80qee9HHVcUlY2euECUK-kPtRe_DpfPrW5hrEcBkP8vENMy4EJmepWm9b2IcOXIsHStHwJg2DbfZ0IWBaOFR7ooarDM8/s200/100_0812.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLakimN4QxEDTypMK8BElxpeHSmzkxewpuRsrVCioP6bGSEYGlNyV8sTIPjJM8-ERBQU4zngCEn30jmUxHezEagRHC0dMqhyphenhyphend9lTwtoflXuIrwZzdiHNtAnOhA7gg7G1BPUe1gpQzMPc/s1600/100_0807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLakimN4QxEDTypMK8BElxpeHSmzkxewpuRsrVCioP6bGSEYGlNyV8sTIPjJM8-ERBQU4zngCEn30jmUxHezEagRHC0dMqhyphenhyphend9lTwtoflXuIrwZzdiHNtAnOhA7gg7G1BPUe1gpQzMPc/s320/100_0807.JPG" width="320" /></a>And look at all food for my goaties! Glorious because they really, <i>really</i> like their forages! They're not really sure how they feel about the pumpkin plants yet, but I'm confident it wall get eaten! They love green things to eat! :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrBfLhX3HITJ3oJLavDrNI3Cp05OMVbGauK-n1OPoPbjcAoEZNuGroJ8HKlVOhCRUYzagokDdZXZnpTiw8qS1I0LI3WAWjo6ikZ_0hMHAp2AsHvtv0oMirraYaPzN0GXoeM0Id38Z-6U/s1600/100_0808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrBfLhX3HITJ3oJLavDrNI3Cp05OMVbGauK-n1OPoPbjcAoEZNuGroJ8HKlVOhCRUYzagokDdZXZnpTiw8qS1I0LI3WAWjo6ikZ_0hMHAp2AsHvtv0oMirraYaPzN0GXoeM0Id38Z-6U/s320/100_0808.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I was able to mulch my strawberries before the frost. Thanks to purchasing a "bale" of cedar chips for the chickens, I ended up with a ton of extra and put it to good use!<br />
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I did way better with the pumpkin growing than I thought I would and now will have some for decoration at home and work. I'm hoping they ripen up though I have no idea if that will happen. Anyone out there know?<br />
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Happy Fall Ya'll! :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzeYAIN4YhnBcOLo5kuMY2af2AQz8EEsSjZNF69BMBg_KLnjbAt2C_vpPgYKyuNqgkTYOSgwHug3MPZqtRBO5lIQejQRfSWWaDX5uHKjuwR2L4qmlJ9LDFK2SCROG2xN-YGjz8yLvD5E4/s1600/100_0814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzeYAIN4YhnBcOLo5kuMY2af2AQz8EEsSjZNF69BMBg_KLnjbAt2C_vpPgYKyuNqgkTYOSgwHug3MPZqtRBO5lIQejQRfSWWaDX5uHKjuwR2L4qmlJ9LDFK2SCROG2xN-YGjz8yLvD5E4/s400/100_0814.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05922715446678718434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414458644282930562.post-66043983236319402402011-09-20T18:43:00.000-07:002011-09-20T18:43:07.114-07:00The Ups and Downs...So we've had an interesting time lately here at the Muddy Manicure. Depression relapse, tibial fractures, disappearing chickens and house training new puppies have reared their ugly head recently!<br />
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I suffer from clinical depression and recently had a relapse that lasted the latter part of the summer. This caused me to spend a lot of time traveling between Montana and Washington to visit family. I also suffer from seasonal affects disorder and "clicked" into fall and started to feel sooo much better! :) I was feeling some of the warning signs but hadn't realized how far the depression had progressed. During this time I came to the conclusion that I will never beat the depression; I'll just have to pay closer attention.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix2_NwHuHaPhNW-iFgpoCoAw4FgN33XaHeKHQxz2VtlnLZBnaS42QF1ncmvcBLXrY08E-Qv6_KYpeXINhQEkTmvZyH3tRNTNHzjc7QqSIPxYuLXTo-A9n1Ex51fBNwANd9UyimT7zcdGM/s1600/100_0791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix2_NwHuHaPhNW-iFgpoCoAw4FgN33XaHeKHQxz2VtlnLZBnaS42QF1ncmvcBLXrY08E-Qv6_KYpeXINhQEkTmvZyH3tRNTNHzjc7QqSIPxYuLXTo-A9n1Ex51fBNwANd9UyimT7zcdGM/s320/100_0791.JPG" width="320" /></a>Once I surfaced from the relapse, dad and Scott came over for a guided antelope hunt. They teamed up with Toby Werk from <a href="http://www.blueheavenmontana.com/contact.html">Blue Heaven Montana</a> and Scott filled his tag immediately. It was a good hunt and everyone had a good time!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbQqiNDuy6Y-MKeA6dwKidn_TjnAXKBzmhr1-bI8IAHJtpIN0LPEn8Qln7Y-ZHx99cS8qDN-ffPMmmAXTaDC7HXW_I5tAFLb_xftDQYf1OrStzBXNt5KgZQWXcMhpZXNSP2qdQn6EEJY/s1600/Yotee+Splint.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbQqiNDuy6Y-MKeA6dwKidn_TjnAXKBzmhr1-bI8IAHJtpIN0LPEn8Qln7Y-ZHx99cS8qDN-ffPMmmAXTaDC7HXW_I5tAFLb_xftDQYf1OrStzBXNt5KgZQWXcMhpZXNSP2qdQn6EEJY/s320/Yotee+Splint.JPG" width="320" /></a>As a result of the hunt, my dad misplaced his really expensive binoculars. He requested me to head out to the gut pile to see if they were left out there. So I headed out yesterday and took my pups with me. Yotee came with me to scout out the gut pile and instead of behaving he took off the 1/4 mile to the highway and got hit. He ended up with a tibial fracture and I thank goodness that Dr. Schmidt in Chinook was able to take him on. He came home today and is a bit more mobile than I thought he'd be, but it's obvious that he hurts pretty bad.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijsoUW2SoMO-I_Lu6XUb5wR7J7tCCyuIdUzLpyCiF_iuBIifsM-DaUncYdQdgk28QoRL_9-JRTpT0LfH-gQVAgaaS2D3-G8zZitKXiJJMkbbWYr0r8c1G8iYYUbkmvWTyeU4oiHYB4fV4/s1600/100_0805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijsoUW2SoMO-I_Lu6XUb5wR7J7tCCyuIdUzLpyCiF_iuBIifsM-DaUncYdQdgk28QoRL_9-JRTpT0LfH-gQVAgaaS2D3-G8zZitKXiJJMkbbWYr0r8c1G8iYYUbkmvWTyeU4oiHYB4fV4/s320/100_0805.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
For those of you who have been keeping up on the chicken escapades I have news. The goose (who thinks it's a goat) is the only bird left from the original group. I purchased an order of 5 silver laced wyandottes from <a href="http://www.cacklehatchery.com/">Cackle Hatchery</a>. They arrived happy and healthy and were doing great until my mom's wiener dog ate one. Then the next trip home two more chicks drowned in the water bucket.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3fT9kmZoHYSPCtrof5qbAR_QlfXTSU7mNGAQgnhT_GtMwzlZynC114OO4zusW2qpuVc3zlIFQs7TPZBoN-mo5GzXt_ig1P4jxKhZQE1GQPodjV5sC8tUb5CC2Oc27VcTjLuDyhA8cAY4/s1600/100_0806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3fT9kmZoHYSPCtrof5qbAR_QlfXTSU7mNGAQgnhT_GtMwzlZynC114OO4zusW2qpuVc3zlIFQs7TPZBoN-mo5GzXt_ig1P4jxKhZQE1GQPodjV5sC8tUb5CC2Oc27VcTjLuDyhA8cAY4/s320/100_0806.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>So I am now down to two chicks and I caved and bought a pre-fabricated chicken coop from <a href="http://chickensaloon.com/">Chicken Saloon</a>. It cost me a pretty penny but I'm hoping it will preserve the chicks I have left. It's called the "Corral" and it turned out pretty cute. I gave myself a blister putting it together but it was way easy to put together by myself and came in good condition!<br />
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I ended up with a new puppy when Lil Guy was run over. Sad day! I miss him! I now have Kooper who was one of Karen's puppies that she wasn't able to keep. He's a pretty good little doggie but he's no Lil Guy! :) I'm luck y that he was pretty much house trained but having been in a crate most of his life, I'm finding that I'm having to teach him how to be a dog. It's an interesting experience for sure!<br />
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Well that's all folks! Enjoy the dregs of summer! :)Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05922715446678718434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414458644282930562.post-15574786731304159322011-08-21T16:25:00.000-07:002011-08-21T16:25:21.525-07:00Update-a-palooza!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSLj6z7D21zma0-ixKgz6ivRnVGIHlu8LkYMshLyKkT0lmOimOf-RxkddzY2mhGhk13_AxHM1przu7Kg8maGlE8neRXA7kMjehOCsDkXh0K0zVniCDPUA67YhIiybRoRTkW7BL-ii6LU/s1600/100_0765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSLj6z7D21zma0-ixKgz6ivRnVGIHlu8LkYMshLyKkT0lmOimOf-RxkddzY2mhGhk13_AxHM1przu7Kg8maGlE8neRXA7kMjehOCsDkXh0K0zVniCDPUA67YhIiybRoRTkW7BL-ii6LU/s320/100_0765.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I <i>finally</i> had a harvest from my garden! I'm not really sure if you'd call it a "harvest" but I got two small tomatoes yesterday. I was so excited I couldn't even wait to take a picture! I just wiped 'em off on my t-shirt and popped 'em in my mouth. Yummy! They tasted amazing! I think these are called Tom Thumb tomatoes but I can't remember the variety for sure. I've still got the seeds so next year I'll pay more attention. I've got a couple more orangey-red small tomatoes again today! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQyKur7kA2DW9cTuCDUj9fZ1Mx4y3du8hhbOLdLTTMK3r90SIRkKmeg4ubrmcjUPTEAEgkklzSYsnLJiL6CtbqkW_5htTg24_6cY5ov8GPnUwdw-JaKc58iWRihXz2LgKyFu8VAwr1Mk/s1600/100_0766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQyKur7kA2DW9cTuCDUj9fZ1Mx4y3du8hhbOLdLTTMK3r90SIRkKmeg4ubrmcjUPTEAEgkklzSYsnLJiL6CtbqkW_5htTg24_6cY5ov8GPnUwdw-JaKc58iWRihXz2LgKyFu8VAwr1Mk/s320/100_0766.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>There pictures to the right are my Amish Paste tomatoes. This is a new variety for me and I'm noticing that they take a while longer than regular varieties to mature. I'm hoping they get nice and red soon! :) Also, sorry it's a sideways photo! LOL<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKmLLa09KJwOhZIsWQfqwZpejlqshEkOEqEc2TxaF9zLMu3cwupn22Hdj_qr-XstWjFLAgMd3FIjw-PVpL1TtqHMJh-FK4Cr2-64uKxJvSzggk3s41d5J8Ekt7IXHD6aG7RW75_R_84WM/s1600/100_0763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKmLLa09KJwOhZIsWQfqwZpejlqshEkOEqEc2TxaF9zLMu3cwupn22Hdj_qr-XstWjFLAgMd3FIjw-PVpL1TtqHMJh-FK4Cr2-64uKxJvSzggk3s41d5J8Ekt7IXHD6aG7RW75_R_84WM/s320/100_0763.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>This is my Three Sister's bed. It contains two varieties of corn (Yukon Chief and Orchard Baby), Small Sugar pumpkin's and Scarlet Runner beans. They are all doing well and the pumpkin's have left the bed and are crawling all over the yard now! The runner beans have produced a hand full of beans which I will be picking as soon as I have enough for a dinner. The corn have a few baby ears on them which hopefully will be ready to eat by the middle of September!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_ZT-frf2uRzQPiQUoc-XxtKbm6Rk3spEsb4Sks25_HyT6N17YfbZYlc4C4ySKuFSyabLsn1b7FBnwvRA2p01-JuOV3kbmrgSHCta4AwgyChFv2189Vu1ulfIxF8XfZ8cs1ztlK-OoUc/s1600/100_0768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_ZT-frf2uRzQPiQUoc-XxtKbm6Rk3spEsb4Sks25_HyT6N17YfbZYlc4C4ySKuFSyabLsn1b7FBnwvRA2p01-JuOV3kbmrgSHCta4AwgyChFv2189Vu1ulfIxF8XfZ8cs1ztlK-OoUc/s320/100_0768.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Sorry again for the sideways aspect...think of it as abstract. Abstract is art...right? LOL This is my soap box...literally! The soap that I made and highlighted in an earlier post has finally cured and was ready to be wrapped. I went the freezer-paper, scotch-tape and marker route. I wanted to get all fancy and creative but didn't want to spend the money it would take to do it that way. This works great and now I have a lot of soap and one more batch to make and cure.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD95uzez89kD-09Lk1LiByaVJvtNeXVzfHi1XGiQXbQ9dm2_p8V26W5BO4360qELjaVdMG61g6TcBoMi2hknC7cINyHxP_JAi0x9rQJeYAstoXtzHqxqz7RO8XcuIdY2PTJd8RdhjLSvQ/s1600/100_0770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD95uzez89kD-09Lk1LiByaVJvtNeXVzfHi1XGiQXbQ9dm2_p8V26W5BO4360qELjaVdMG61g6TcBoMi2hknC7cINyHxP_JAi0x9rQJeYAstoXtzHqxqz7RO8XcuIdY2PTJd8RdhjLSvQ/s320/100_0770.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpMtCdBYe1Kuy-ylu5geNdGjAxUjIf86K01yeoZsit7yW5KMCRIyR8qLWmbTIEXhnJFJPn6iQhPvIyUA8aABq98jCUeXB8xr5DsqxeUQ7uPi5kHDT0iYaXU8DSKc6F3yNa_K2IYZ8mig/s1600/100_0769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpMtCdBYe1Kuy-ylu5geNdGjAxUjIf86K01yeoZsit7yW5KMCRIyR8qLWmbTIEXhnJFJPn6iQhPvIyUA8aABq98jCUeXB8xr5DsqxeUQ7uPi5kHDT0iYaXU8DSKc6F3yNa_K2IYZ8mig/s200/100_0769.JPG" width="200" /></a>So remember my last post about the coupon extravaganza? Well I have started my mini-stockpile. I have also started a list of when to stock up on certain things, like in June you should grab pickles and condiments.I'm already planning some more couponing and price-matching at Wal-Mart. I'll keep you posted!<br />
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My baby chicks are coming in the mail this week. I ordered 5 hens from Cackle Hatchery and I picked the Silver Laced Wyandottes. A post will follow when they arrive! I'm headed home for the last week in August through the Labor Day holiday. It'll be nice to be home for a bit and do some catching up! Well that's about it for my updates. Have a great day!Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05922715446678718434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414458644282930562.post-6142895956793192302011-08-15T19:58:00.000-07:002011-08-15T19:58:24.814-07:00It's A Coupon Extravaganza...Hello, my name's Samantha and I fully admit I am an <a href="http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/extreme-couponing">"Extreme Couponing"</a> addict. *A chorus of hello's ensue.*<br />
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If you never seen it check out <a href="http://www.tlc.com/">TLC</a> and bask in the amazingness of all that savings. Most of these women, and they are almost all women, are totally OCD but they do save a lot of money. Now with more student loans coming due and possible salary reductions in the future I am trying my best to save as much money as possible. And hey, what chick doesn't like to save money?!?<br />
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The show inspired me to give it a try and of course that spurred a Google search. I came up with an excellent blog from the <a href="http://www.thekrazycouponlady.com/">Krazy Coupon Lady</a> and devoured her information. She really makes it easy to understand <a href="http://www.thekrazycouponlady.com/beginners/">for the beginner</a>. If you're thinking about starting this kind of thing I encourage you to do plenty of research before hand.<br />
<br />
After absorbing my Krazy Coupon Lady glut of information I started clipping <iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0984149783&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>coupons but didn't really have the opportunity to use them the same way as the shoppers on the show or how the Krazy Coupon Lady says to do it. Shopping choices are rather limited up here. Since WalMart has the best prices and literally the only place to find a variety of products, I decided to focus there.<br />
<br />
Coupons lower the already low prices but I wasn't having so much luck saving the amounts I wanted to, which is a lot! So after regrouping I went after the health and beauty products, cleaning products and other commonly used household products like Ziplock bags. There were some really good coupons for that kind of thing this week so I clipped 'em and headed to Havre.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhryhDs1DBxQ97merC9rAtbOSAJXy8pZFFOvrXduDwRCKQ6-JKKhn09gUXGVvn-TZu4MTFy0V67Kzi2PVNz51BhVECMTzxeJI8JfWHtbudrct0RLye_7P2Qhzmk523xPnsDBQGoQbm2gKY/s1600/100_0762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhryhDs1DBxQ97merC9rAtbOSAJXy8pZFFOvrXduDwRCKQ6-JKKhn09gUXGVvn-TZu4MTFy0V67Kzi2PVNz51BhVECMTzxeJI8JfWHtbudrct0RLye_7P2Qhzmk523xPnsDBQGoQbm2gKY/s320/100_0762.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I was able to purchase the following items:<br />
4 - 50 oz. Purex detergents ($1.99)<br />
2 - Gain dryer sheets <br />
2 - Gain liquid dish soaps<br />
2 - Ziplock bags packages<br />
2 - Suave Rosemary & Mint conditioner<br />
2 - Suave dry shampoos (FREE)<br />
2 - Suave deodorant<br />
2 - Whiskas cat food (B1G1)<br />
2 - Advil PM<br />
1 - Garnier Fructis conditioner<br />
1 - Clean & Clear facial cleanser<br />
1 - Pampers diaper wipes (excellent for removing make-up & grime)<br />
1 - OralB toothbrush<br />
1 - Advil Congestion Relief<br />
1 - Milk & Cereal Bars<br />
1 - 1/2 milk<br />
<br />
It totaled $71.03 before the coupons and I paid $48.55 when it was all said and done. That's a 69% savings and I am jazzed! I had to call my mom and totally geek out for a bit. I'm proud of myself and amassed a nice little stockpile, which is another key to using coupons like this. Be sure to research your store's <a href="http://www.walmartstores.com/7655.aspx">coupon policy</a> before you head out...it's important to know the rules they have so you can use your coupons to the best advantage!Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05922715446678718434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414458644282930562.post-32649363247336290412011-08-13T20:06:00.000-07:002011-08-13T20:06:38.694-07:00A Goose And Two Goats Walk Into A Bar...Good intro huh? :) So the coons have prevailed and all my chickens are now raccoon poop. Bummer for sure! Now all I have is my goats (which are doing great!) and my goose. Still not sure if Gooses is a boy or a girl but "he" now thinks he's a goat. I feel bad because he must be lonely but if thinking you're a goat keeps you from being eaten by raccoons then who gives a damn right?!?<br />
<br />
I have gone back and forth on whether or not to get more chickens, finally deciding to repopulate. I want to be able to have chickens for several reasons but mainly I like watching them be chickens. I also like watching my goats be goats. It all calms and relaxes me! What can I say? I have an affinity for animals. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPl4v5D6X5WKWil_c0m0UyvbXZZ4XpsjQBJ8j4Rx21uzrSw1esRjZlF-reK9yHdbj5Q2Zybr36K25_dO-_OIDIjuQcmCJ8p_fs23TKE96sd8msZPmpIAzbHS2ZRebBLvGglGPkiABdhbU/s1600/Chicken+Coop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPl4v5D6X5WKWil_c0m0UyvbXZZ4XpsjQBJ8j4Rx21uzrSw1esRjZlF-reK9yHdbj5Q2Zybr36K25_dO-_OIDIjuQcmCJ8p_fs23TKE96sd8msZPmpIAzbHS2ZRebBLvGglGPkiABdhbU/s320/Chicken+Coop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>So in an effort to thwart those damn raccoons I began researching enclosed coops because I will have my chickens! I'll let them free range during the afternoon/evenings while I'm home. But holy-moly-cow those pre-fab coops are REALLY expensive. I mean we're talking the cheapest one is close to $350 plus shipping. I then thought I'd make one and quickly on the heels of that thought came a reality check that I simply don't have the tools needed to construct such a structure. However, I knew what I had in mind from searching Google images.<br />
<br />
After some thought I realized I know a soon to be unemployed, soon to be college student (who always need money) who will have some time on his hands. Enough time to construct a coop like this. So my brother is going to take a few pictures I found him online and make me a coop for my chickens. Oh yeah, I totally ordered new chicks as soon as he confirmed he'd be willing to do it. :)<br />
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I had to do some searching around the online hatcheries because most have a minimum order of 15 or 25 chicks. Now I know I have a 100% mortality rate on this place but I don't need that many chicks! So I looked around and stumbled upon <a href="http://www.cacklehatchery.com/">Cackle Hatchery</a> which has some amazing specials for small orders. They call them "City/Town Small Order Specials" and you can pick your chick's variety and sex or just have an assortment sent to you. I've never used this company so I will report in on the procedure and quality.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF815awnrt2mkjLoR0EYUZbrEPu00ivO7ix7eSwpdEoPeAeA6J6xXQ8Yy2Tcglg5V06Y7FdzgV920lZa1tBKkRSZ5EDnH1pNQ_o2cML-TnAjuVcwtMq_A2jeQBgRGYzaQjOz0xtRbe56M/s1600/Silver+Laced+Wyandottes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF815awnrt2mkjLoR0EYUZbrEPu00ivO7ix7eSwpdEoPeAeA6J6xXQ8Yy2Tcglg5V06Y7FdzgV920lZa1tBKkRSZ5EDnH1pNQ_o2cML-TnAjuVcwtMq_A2jeQBgRGYzaQjOz0xtRbe56M/s320/Silver+Laced+Wyandottes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I ordered five Silver Laced Wyandotte hens. And I think they are some of the prettiest chickens out there. My mom likes her Buff Orphingtons and Black Austrolorps because they are friendly, but I think if you handle the chicks enough when you get them they will grow up friendly. A perfect case of nature versus nurture! <br />
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I am determined to successfully have at least three hens to get my eggs from, eat bugs and be a friend to Gooses! Coons be damned! :)Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05922715446678718434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414458644282930562.post-21648773706429709682011-08-06T12:55:00.000-07:002011-08-06T12:55:12.948-07:00A coon hunting I will go...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3xFOLOy9sA1UHpbrgFYUDD1svb6OgdV2UhtiI239rvD6CXQKZguHdQz6NCdAgbaAm3_tHtYZZrf4FweDxqBUkvgGMdhFOEFQxozP-UUDfh69O-uYAUXVjhW_UuFZBVFF4FK7mK0OozY/s1600/Camera+435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3xFOLOy9sA1UHpbrgFYUDD1svb6OgdV2UhtiI239rvD6CXQKZguHdQz6NCdAgbaAm3_tHtYZZrf4FweDxqBUkvgGMdhFOEFQxozP-UUDfh69O-uYAUXVjhW_UuFZBVFF4FK7mK0OozY/s200/Camera+435.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Remember these guys? Cute huh? I started with 10 hens, 2 turkeys, 2 geese and 1 duck. They all grew well until the goats showed up and then I lost 1 turkey and 2 hens...squished by the goaties. Forgivable. The remaining birds were doing well, going through a bit more feed than I was expecting but well all the same. They were large enough to run outside for a supervised amount of time, then they were large enough to stay out all the time.<br />
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One day they started to mysteriously disappear! I initially thought it was my resident feral cats, so I started feeding the cats. However, the disappearances continued. Then one evening I saw something blob-like moving out in the yard. Running to grab my glasses I identified the culprits. RACCOONS!<br />
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I was unknowingly feeding (chicken feed, grain and unwittingly my birds) a family of raccoons. Oooo my temper got the best of me that night! I let the dogs out and ran outside yelling and flapping my arms, making a general raucous. I'm sure the neighbors were entertained. There mama and four babies scurried away and weren't much of an issue for a bit. I went about my business and was able to travel home for an extended weekend. The evening I pulled in my driveway there those damn coons were! <br />
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I kind of kept an eye on everything but wasn't seeing any missing birds until the spilled grain ran out. I bought a garbage can and put my grain in there with the lid bungee corded closed. This apparently sparked a revenge mentality in the coons, who then ate 2 of my remaining hens and my only duck! Oh hell no those lil bastards were not going to eat my entire fowl investment! Those birds were expensive!<br />
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So for the last two night I have been camping out in my TrailBalzer with "Old Betsy" otherwise known as my <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hoppes-24033-BoreSnake-Shotgun-Cleaner/dp/B000H6QKQU?ie=UTF8&tag=widgetsamazon-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">.20 gauge shotgun</a>. The first night right at dusk the family appeared (minus mom who is MIA). They knew I was there because they curiously inspected my vehicle from a distance. They were kind of cute but I felt no remorse taking them out. Farm life at its best...you have to protect your investments.<br />
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I had a successful night that first night. I killed one for sure. I'll spare you the details but it took two shots. That's what I remorse about. If you are going to kill something, humanely with one shot is the best way to do it. I'm pretty sure I wounded one enough that it will eventually die, and perhaps another one. Three down and one to go...ok maybe two.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZWuX0vQCYcf2VcRVXbEcLgIUnJn0GhPO0pVbp5OTHLRQCk0uTZvfTbJs2zdWGuIIVkxB-Pa3U1TEsssPeWktn7tYNcuGp3bRZ7olFEqS6403oNVEH6ur024DqsC8FlWfg3xUq2Uf8_Y/s1600/100_0759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZWuX0vQCYcf2VcRVXbEcLgIUnJn0GhPO0pVbp5OTHLRQCk0uTZvfTbJs2zdWGuIIVkxB-Pa3U1TEsssPeWktn7tYNcuGp3bRZ7olFEqS6403oNVEH6ur024DqsC8FlWfg3xUq2Uf8_Y/s320/100_0759.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Unfortunately last night was not as successful. I stayed staked out until it was too dark for me to comfortably shoot. Sometime during the night I lost 2 more hens. I am down to one hen and one goose. I will be placing an order for more hens and a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ware-01517-Premium-Penthouse/dp/B001AT9P2Y?ie=UTF8&tag=widgetsamazon-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">coop</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=widgetsamazon-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001AT9P2Y" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> to keep them safe. I hope the coons don't decide to eat the goats next.<br />
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I'm thinking a spotlight might be a good idea too so I can get the remaining coons. :/Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05922715446678718434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414458644282930562.post-42247263108205111852011-07-14T18:16:00.000-07:002011-07-14T18:29:46.988-07:00Shave poochie poochie...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwwIKPbAZPSeqAhE8bk3167yDT-QBuMH_vLor-LrCVC2F4-1DHC53JtBL3RA6YIMF2ocI6QqRln5MV7GoInsmVLzvesG7YDTL3Cx_tS74v6SZL9ruUhBLsRlTv88VAcPfhkcLecojy4h0/s1600/Sam+%2526+Fam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwwIKPbAZPSeqAhE8bk3167yDT-QBuMH_vLor-LrCVC2F4-1DHC53JtBL3RA6YIMF2ocI6QqRln5MV7GoInsmVLzvesG7YDTL3Cx_tS74v6SZL9ruUhBLsRlTv88VAcPfhkcLecojy4h0/s200/Sam+%2526+Fam.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>I know, I know...*hangs head*...I haven't written in a while. Bad Samantha. Bad! However, I intend to make up with an update with pictures and an interesting story. :)<br />
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<i>Setting: Early morning (OK maybe not too early) June 30th on HWY 87 between Havre and Big Sandy (that's less than 50 miles from my house).</i> <br />
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I am headed home to Washington to help my dad with cherry harvest and since I will be gone for over a week I have decided to load up the posse and take every one with me. Interesting, no? I had purchased two rabbit cages for my birds and had under taken the painful assembly process. The night before I am set to leave I place the large dog crate and two rabbit cages into my TrailBlazer. I also have tied the four tires (minus rims) onto the roof of my rig. I have been preparing for the journey for two days and was super jazzed to leave early in the morning. I packed up and got everyone loaded (oh yeah it's as much a travelling shit show as it sounds) and head out for Havre (breakfast stop, duh) and home. <br />
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With breakfast at McDonalds taken care of, the two goats, duck, goose, eight hens, three dogs and I (crammed into the TrailBalzer) are on the road. I notice I'm experiencing some major wind resistance due to the tires...I topped out at 65 mph. I think, "Crap! This might take longer than I'd hoped." As I'm toodling along at my whopping 65 mph I hear the sheet metal of the roof flexing. Hmmmm...probably just normal for having crap tied to the roof, I think. Boy, was I wrong! All of a sudden the flexing stops and a massive POP! happens and in my side mirror (because my rear view mirror is block by goat cage and goose head) I see two of my tires go bouncing and rolling down the roadway. Double shit!<br />
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Thank goodness there was no one any where near me on the road. I pulled over, untied and removed the two remaining tires from the roof and shoved them in the one available space (the space behind the passenger seat which was supposed to be for the dogs). I then pulled a U-Turn and went off in search of my two missing tires. Luckily they were easy to find, so I hauled them up from the barrow ditch and began shoving and praying!<br />
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With a fair amount of determination, stubbornness and sheer luck, I was able to shove the two remaining tires into the rig. Now I have zero visibility for my rear view mirror and there is a serious lack of air flow. The 12-hour drive went well after that. I stopped about every three or four hours to water everyone and give the dogs (and me) a potty stop. I also put the goats on a leash and let them stretch their legs at the rest stops. People loved it!<br />
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Once I got home, my mom and I immediately set about getting all the animals out, housed, and fed and watered. While we were doing this my dad was trying to get the tires out. The good Lord was with me on the tire thing...dad had to use a pry-bar to get the tires out. The return trip was much easier (if not easy on my wallet) because I am now in possession of a new-to-me 2-horse trailer.<br />
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Anyway, the girls made it home safe and sound. Aaaaand here they are....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkX0io0VZIt3U-7t7mzHBRF6LRhIXXf0OdnuqW3jM5e9M3Vq2dWtnbGzXLFRBuK9NPBBdmk2vrmSWU_2Z6cl7AXoRyX5XfrWWd2V3dcQ1Td_LnzA8Dcl6rYlGJ7atxn9jpzbQDgOuvmgs/s1600/100_0756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkX0io0VZIt3U-7t7mzHBRF6LRhIXXf0OdnuqW3jM5e9M3Vq2dWtnbGzXLFRBuK9NPBBdmk2vrmSWU_2Z6cl7AXoRyX5XfrWWd2V3dcQ1Td_LnzA8Dcl6rYlGJ7atxn9jpzbQDgOuvmgs/s320/100_0756.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Goatie (standing) is now 4.5 months old. My guess is she weighs roughly 25 pounds. I'm still debating whether I will be getting a boy Goatie to make babies, but I won't have to make that choice for a while since Lala is just a baby. Lala is 3.5 months old and is about the same size as Goatie but she hasn't caught up in the poundage area yet. I know she's grown some but I can't really see it that much yet.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcO1AcZANq2XrJraHMiSfCt_ebSSIbj-8V_1YFv7xFpFzTBgFWXFzxa0Uudye3Xux4M9ebAjDq71eoYZFgg5ke4VzsUlpu67R7zHnyWzaOEfV0pfqTbGCYT-XDLdv7fgFelErXPTHQhew/s1600/100_0753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcO1AcZANq2XrJraHMiSfCt_ebSSIbj-8V_1YFv7xFpFzTBgFWXFzxa0Uudye3Xux4M9ebAjDq71eoYZFgg5ke4VzsUlpu67R7zHnyWzaOEfV0pfqTbGCYT-XDLdv7fgFelErXPTHQhew/s320/100_0753.JPG" width="320" /></a>The birds have taken up residence with the goats because as you can see there are a few birdies missing. Something (probably my resident feral cats) started eating them, even during the day. However, since I put them in with the goats not a one has disappeared. Yay! I guess the 5-foot fence thwarts even the wiliest cat.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxR87tMtVpdjs-Qe-_1YioJObHBoDz_YUiGqxtiZIE3c5kUyPv63wnTIMuaLuss6z37sGzkf_OVD_imioEeMiDS0rsbQVV2ps3BdfF3ryMxHUMwAPOYknrBFieamNrDrcs9C2RU1FjZ2k/s1600/100_0754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxR87tMtVpdjs-Qe-_1YioJObHBoDz_YUiGqxtiZIE3c5kUyPv63wnTIMuaLuss6z37sGzkf_OVD_imioEeMiDS0rsbQVV2ps3BdfF3ryMxHUMwAPOYknrBFieamNrDrcs9C2RU1FjZ2k/s320/100_0754.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>This is my "boss" chicken. Isn't she pretty? My hens are Barred Rock (this chick) and Buckeye (the red ones), I think. Then there is my one goose and one duck. The duck is for sure a hen (she quacks) but the jury I still out on the goose. I'm working on a good way to tell...it doesn't honk, kind of has a hoarse cheeping sound. I will for sure know if it lays an egg! :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNyBzCfeFeQ8gdaO_R1ALekmSbSFV6MbFPPhPSDvN0fsgGojPAaplOxlbXmTfVBlItkkcaAZEL4UTaJTumHwBFx9B253dU5c_NoFfbVn0-5HlyT_fRIDm6Rn-k0TucLuwCwE2cY4MX3To/s1600/Yotee+Haircut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNyBzCfeFeQ8gdaO_R1ALekmSbSFV6MbFPPhPSDvN0fsgGojPAaplOxlbXmTfVBlItkkcaAZEL4UTaJTumHwBFx9B253dU5c_NoFfbVn0-5HlyT_fRIDm6Rn-k0TucLuwCwE2cY4MX3To/s320/Yotee+Haircut.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
And as an added bonus, while at home in Washington Yotee got a haircut! He looks kinda like a lion because whenever the clippers got any where close to where hair remains he fuh-reaked out! So I just left it and now I call him my "little lion." :)Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05922715446678718434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414458644282930562.post-83844363624095795222011-06-24T11:19:00.000-07:002011-06-24T11:19:01.837-07:00You may outgrow the clover but you never outgrow the experience....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdFszF954jg_Ds02Iv9wXf-K2AdAUHE46ISsSriA6FVTn27-41c2t3xSevQhLCxvGTgLavvLtVlkeCFBeuPh7VARr-OyYZIk2SI60CkOxD6q_BosWy8xPzD-VwTTSjwVYqqA__X4f4d9A/s1600/4H+Green+Clover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdFszF954jg_Ds02Iv9wXf-K2AdAUHE46ISsSriA6FVTn27-41c2t3xSevQhLCxvGTgLavvLtVlkeCFBeuPh7VARr-OyYZIk2SI60CkOxD6q_BosWy8xPzD-VwTTSjwVYqqA__X4f4d9A/s200/4H+Green+Clover.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>Living and breathing within the agricultural industry (and all it's aspects), I tend to forget how many people out there are against "us." I was reminded this morning by <a href="http://www.loostales.com/">Trent Loos</a> and his Friday edition of <a href="http://www.ruralrouteradio.com/">Rural Route Radio</a>, where he and his guests discussed a recent <a href="http://www.cnn.com/">CNN</a> blog questioning whether <a href="http://www.4-h.org/">4H</a> desensitizes kids to killing. <br />
<br />
Now in full disclosure, I was a twelve year member of 4H and I have been a 4H leader for 10 years now. My how time does fly! I was also an <a href="http://www.ffa.org/">FFA </a>member and stay current with my alumni chapter in Washington. That's roughly twenty-two years of raising, or helping raise, animals for the fair. I also did the home economics type stuff like cooking, sewing and bread baking. I carried about 7 projects for those years of 4H, and participated in many Career Development Events in FFA. I think you all are intelligent enough to understand the impact 4H and <a href="http://www.ffa.org/">FFA</a> had on my life, considering I am now an agriculture <a href="http://www.msuextension.org/">Extension Agent</a>. :)<br />
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Getting back the the CNN blog and the point of my entry today. ... "<a href="http://eatocracy.cnn.com/">Eatocracy</a>" is the title of the blog. They recently did a feature on why you should buy your freezer hog (or other type of meat) from a <a href="http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2011/06/21/55-five-reasons-to-buy-from-your-local-4-h/">local 4H member</a>. I cannot say that these people are totally against 4H and it's educational model, but some of the people who read it are. This blog entry, <a href="http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2011/06/23/does-4-h-desensitize-kids-to-killing/#comment-170911">"Does 4-H desensitize kids to killing?"</a> uses comments from both pro-4H and anti-4H people, and both sides have valid opinions. Here is an excerpt from the blog entry:<br />
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<em>"4-H stands for "Head, heart, hands, health" and apparently a fifth - for "haters." To many, 4-H Clubs are all about nurturing sweet little calves, adorable children winning ribbons, urban garden patches and proud future farmers grooming prized pigs for show. To others, it's a calculated system for turning the youth of America into cold, unfeeling animal killers."</em><br />
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This is truly what some people feel about <a href="http://www.4-h.org/">4H</a>? When I read that paragraph I was appalled! How could such a wonderful organization have such a bad reputation with so many people? I actually learned more by participating in the 4H "<a href="http://4h.wsu.edu/conferences/kyg/index.htm">Know Your Government</a>" conference than sitting in a high school civics classroom. I am one of the few members of my generation who can sew, cook, administer first aid, comprehends food safety, can take some pretty cool pictures and can identify, diagnose and doctor a sick animal, and then some; And all this is because of my particiaption in 4H.<br />
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I want to clarify that the Eatocracy blog isn't totally bad. They did have a good article titled, "<a href="http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2011/06/21/55-five-reasons-to-buy-from-your-local-4-h/">Five reasons to buy from your local 4-H</a>." This article advocates utilizing the entire animal, sourcing your meat locally to cut down on food miles and 4H animals being some of the highest quality animals in the country. The blog entry we are talking about here is in response to reader comments generated from the 5 Reasons blog entry. This blog is acutally defending 4H and it's educational goals. Kudos for that! :)<br />
<br />
<br />
Then I read further and realized it wasn't 4H the readers were upset with, it was the fact that people were harvesting animals for their omnivore diet. The reader's emotions and personal values were set to defame an amazing organization. Sad day!<br />
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<em>"In cold blood - I don't and would never support the 4-H. This group helps desensitize youngsters into having no emotional attachment to animals raised for food. For those who say no one should have attachment to animals raised for food, I say "of course". This is how the meat industry stays in business. If children are raised to love all animals and not try to see them as products, they would not be interested in seeing them killed. "Listening to the auctioneer and seeing how excited the children get when their animal is purchased is an incredibly fulfilling experience."</em><br />
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<em>Really? Incredibly fulfilling experience. You mean knowing the animal that trusted you from birth is off to be mistreated before being slaughtered! That's fulfilling? Maybe that's because the 4-H has successfully desensitized these children who may have once be appalled by this. It's simply horrific. Shame on you 4-H for what you do to animals and to children. - Heather King"</em><br />
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I wonder if this person is a vegan? Or perhaps they think bacon comes from the grocery store and not from hogs. I truly feel sad for this person that they never experienced all the things that I was fortunate enough to go through and learn in the 4H and FFA organizations. I can honestly say that you don't become desensitized. You become <em>appreciative</em> of the h<span class="text_exposed_show">ard work it takes to raise that animal, treating it much better than simply humanely, and then are rewarded by a check and the companion animal on your plate. There is no substitute for growing and harvesting your own meat. And yes, I have harvested and butchered my own 4H animals. It's a tremendous learning experience, but one every person should have!</span><br />
<br />
As an <a href="http://www.causematters.com/ag-advocacy/">agriculture advocate</a>, I realize I have not done a thorough enough job in my education of others! We all must take the time when we over hear a person in the grocery store or on the street saying something ignorant about agriculture. It's not their fault - they haven't been educated! Another commenter responded to the "In cold blood" entry with the fact that 4H is an educational opportunity not to be missed.<br />
<br />
<em><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B004PLNROQ&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span>" Education, not desensitization - What 4-H does do is promote responsible animal husbandry and the cultivation of food resources in a responsible, ethical way. I accept your position that any killing of animals for food is, in your position, not ethical or moral, however most of us are omnivores and I for one would rather that those producing the meat I choose to eat do so in a humane and ethical way. I respect your position, but I would also hope that you would rather see people brought up to understand, and therefore demand, that there an ethical way to treat an animal even if that animal's eventual purpose is the nourishment of a human being.</em><br />
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<em>Desensitization is the wrong word–education is the right word. These kids (I was one) are not at all desensitized to the process–rather, they are educated about proper raising and care of these animals. Not only was I a member, but growing up we also purchased meat and produce from 4H and FFA members–talk about locally sourced! We could be confident in the quality, origin, and raising of these products in a way we can rarely be in a supermarket. - Value rather than desensitization"</em><br />
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We all must work to educate others about what agriculture really is and how we, as farmers and ranchers, are the trusted stewards of the land. Now don't get me wrong there are bad seeds in every industry but with all the negative press about how agriculture is ruining the environment, we need speak up louder than the rest and tell people the good things that agriculture can and IS achieving. For example, the CRP prgroam (Conservation Reserve Program) even though it can be controversial takes steps towards preserving farmland at high-risk for erosion. <a href="http://landresources.montana.edu/swm/PDF/Final_proof_SW3.pdf">Wind erosion alone causes 5.5 tons per acre of soil to be lost annually.</a> This program helps to maintain and enrich the current soil levels. This is just one example of an agricultural program ushering in a new level of stewardship within the industry.<br />
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Take the time to educate others around you. Slowly and steadily the ignorance and bad attitudes toward agriculture will meet with what actually happens. You can't change every one's opinion but shining the light on reality may be enough to get them to think twice about agriculture. <br />
<span> </span>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05922715446678718434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414458644282930562.post-45866071426805413512011-06-19T11:41:00.000-07:002011-06-19T11:41:49.037-07:00<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5lPi3k9qQdT70iJG_vB_wx4PuouJzvz8jaS2i605VgaaZag01KhqlYNh734s8mzIU5vW96kFby5ByPwTdIgCtS_NNsvDsr-sI4qKd-2mF_3R7j-ksiD8KFkoWlgkksFBgg42SPWOHUO4/s1600/100_0750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5lPi3k9qQdT70iJG_vB_wx4PuouJzvz8jaS2i605VgaaZag01KhqlYNh734s8mzIU5vW96kFby5ByPwTdIgCtS_NNsvDsr-sI4qKd-2mF_3R7j-ksiD8KFkoWlgkksFBgg42SPWOHUO4/s320/100_0750.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorry it's such a poopy picture.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>It has been an eventful weekend here at the Muddy manicure. Saturday morning I put the dogs out and snuggled back in bed to read and when I let them back in I noticed Yotee was acting strange. I got him to hop up on my recliner and looked him over and discovered he had sliced his leg open! Yikes...I found out that he climbed up op my cold-frame window box and broke the glass, falling through. Well, looking at his wound I decided it was way beyond my vetting capabilities. So I bit the bullet and called the vet - I'd have to pay the emergency fee plus whatever treatment he needed. Let me tell you it was a pretty penny but Yotee is now stitched up and doing well. I just need to keep him from licking and tearing out his stitches.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqk25jhLlo7ASNtHatUCrsdD1nX9Vnag3oJlYsFsvfIvSTz_g6EJncj_GdnjlaizYKbcCGBdzDDzgmZfEPLaBoopYIZTS2BqfOSqZi1rJ5y68LMqdG958HRlOQ5NBYNwHwC06bzArornM/s1600/100_0749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqk25jhLlo7ASNtHatUCrsdD1nX9Vnag3oJlYsFsvfIvSTz_g6EJncj_GdnjlaizYKbcCGBdzDDzgmZfEPLaBoopYIZTS2BqfOSqZi1rJ5y68LMqdG958HRlOQ5NBYNwHwC06bzArornM/s320/100_0749.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>So after our excursion to the vet we all settled down to rest and get down to the rest of our weekend. Saturday past in a blur but Sunday seems to be dragging for me. In order to speed life along a bit, I decided to bake. :) I had some seriously over-ripe bananas I needed to do something with. I decided muffins would be a great idea so I went to <a href="http://www.tastykitchen.com/">Tasty Kitchen</a> and looked up a new recipe for banana nut muffins. I found a good looking recipe called, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/">"Brown Butter Banana Nut Muffins"</a> <span id="goog_1585857222"></span><span id="goog_1585857223"></span>and set to work. I didn't have any patience to brown the butter traditionally, so I did it in the microwave. Turned out well actually. I also didn't have any buttermilk so I subbed in yogurt. The muffins are rather bland and I'm not sure if it was the subbing of ingredients or I missed something but I think I'll stick with my regular old banana nut bread recipe next time. <br />
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In gardening news, things are coming up like crazy! My corn, beans, pumpkins, cucumbers and zucchini are sprouted up and growing well. I am excited for this and am hoping the warm, semi-dry weather holds out long enough to get them all growing mad. Yum, yum for fresh veggies. I can't wait! :D<br />
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Now, I need to figure out something to eat for lunch. I think I'll head back over to <a href="http://www.tastykitchen.com/">Tasty Kitchen</a> and find something to do with <a href="http://www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com/">beef</a>.Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05922715446678718434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414458644282930562.post-83183698397516134862011-06-13T10:43:00.000-07:002011-06-13T10:43:14.744-07:00Bad Luck & New Beginnings...<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">It was a rough weekend over at the Muddy Manicure. I got home Friday from a doctor's appointment and immediately started mowing the lawn. It felt amazing to get that completed and with the awesome new riding lawnmower I received as a gift from the coolest parents ever it cut the job from about 6 hours to 1.5 hours. Great right?!? </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Well, afterwards I let the goats and birds out for their regular afternoon constitutional. I sat outside with them for a while, but then went inside to grab an iced tea (which I had to make). I was inside no longer than 20 or 30 minutes and when I came back outside Spatz was dead under my rig! I am devastated! I still don't know what she got into but whatever it was the other twin (Bug, renamed Goatie) didn't get into it. She's alive and well. Thank goodness! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I spent Friday evening frantically searching Craigslist for another goat and after hearing back from a couple people I was able to purchase one only 60 miles away. That's amazingly close if you're not used to Montana distances! So without further ado, I'd like to introduce Lala. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcx3ZRJx_GCUVNjNJoQHXdKRum1cJ6H6_DAHjXSffnTpYZ2Rb2Ava16IuikcGty9K-oWcdp8uH6KUpIYlhyphenhyphenEKaTN8VtagRjpo8Pt8Em_k2a9PzT9jipbC282HOP3UtGd3ADz0m842pqI/s1600/100_0734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcx3ZRJx_GCUVNjNJoQHXdKRum1cJ6H6_DAHjXSffnTpYZ2Rb2Ava16IuikcGty9K-oWcdp8uH6KUpIYlhyphenhyphenEKaTN8VtagRjpo8Pt8Em_k2a9PzT9jipbC282HOP3UtGd3ADz0m842pqI/s320/100_0734.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a>Lala is 3/4 Nubian and 1/4 Saanen, so she will be an excellent milk goat when her time comes. She is only 8 weeks old so it'll be a while! Lala was a bottle baby (thankfully weaned now) and so she wants to be right where you are. For those of you who have ever bottle fed any type of animal, you know what I mean. I had a bottle fed pig a while back and Piddy was the same way. :) So far Lala is settling in well, and we're working on her getting used to me, the dogs, Goatie and being touched everywhere. We're doing so well! :)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Goatie (formerly Bug) is doing much better now that she has a friend to keep her company, and to boss around! Goatie's name change occurred because she won't answer to Bug and I always greet the goats in the morning as, "Good morning goaties!" I think she though that was her name so I just started calling her that. And she comes to the name - done deal! :) </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzrxjlaSwL1mCj9vKMb-LpBe5cS-oSUxNP2jnBiIxeA5nXAXNVRrzvHW0G8eruH0tveadhIiSaxa14vtJEK' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Here is a short video of Goatie and Lala playing in the driveway. It's a hilarious thing sometimes, and they do it every evening when I let them out to roam. I am on high alert from now on and the goats won't be left alone! It's always a learning experience. :/</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5eTLZe6wZN9BUKtA433pOSzoBMItQVaLOWnd6Yv2OKvTPFmx2TvBj9GdvPwVeuLch_7E2NgU-ZWpgV1Fj8RfY9DQR_IeJYxfLqFisLKFr2APV_HDXx_RuxjEDbYkn1gti0LaXCTmh2Xc/s1600/100_0748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5eTLZe6wZN9BUKtA433pOSzoBMItQVaLOWnd6Yv2OKvTPFmx2TvBj9GdvPwVeuLch_7E2NgU-ZWpgV1Fj8RfY9DQR_IeJYxfLqFisLKFr2APV_HDXx_RuxjEDbYkn1gti0LaXCTmh2Xc/s320/100_0748.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a>Also...major victory! I was able to harvest a handful of spinach from my cold frame. I like to call them my window boxes. :) The one with the spinach in it was almost a lost cause on Friday afternoon because I wasn't watching the front end of my lawnmower and hit the frame! It was bent off square but I was able to man-handle it back into shape and only lost some lettuce. It was a good thing from my point of view. :) My other window box holds my <span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B003F1RTNM&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span>precious strawberries, and I actually have some berries growing! It's awesome!!! :) I bought some window screen and will put it up this afternoon to keep the birds (and dogs) out of it while the berries grow. I'm not worried about bees, etc. getting in there to pollinate because the box is off square enough to have several areas where insects can get in to do their business. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Well, I'm going to do some old-fashioned pen-paling to my relatives now so I'll check ya'll later! :)</div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05922715446678718434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414458644282930562.post-67337131173072995662011-06-07T18:00:00.000-07:002011-06-07T18:00:14.300-07:00Books, books, books and MORE books!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_TAQA6zzaCp5Tf55kjLNqIgKX6rGUtzBJ_RsTjUbAs4dN19Olvgw0sjsoYzcSX-vsMbFSAJN9K1gFxNfdK0PzU7i6WRqrYjRwJ3NnPz_wOt7-Gv7vC081G3xeGnyG7N9ptWsJ-9wbPQ/s1600/100_0721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="93" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_TAQA6zzaCp5Tf55kjLNqIgKX6rGUtzBJ_RsTjUbAs4dN19Olvgw0sjsoYzcSX-vsMbFSAJN9K1gFxNfdK0PzU7i6WRqrYjRwJ3NnPz_wOt7-Gv7vC081G3xeGnyG7N9ptWsJ-9wbPQ/s200/100_0721.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like my sweet bedroom carpet?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I have a serious over flow of books and there are more I want to get my hands on. So what's a girl to do? Why list them on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/">Amazon</a> of course. I have been selling and buying books (and other things) on Amazon for a long time and have found I like the ability to buy and <i>sell</i> books and most important to me textbooks on this site. I have never had any issues buying or selling.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRRfb7ashCkJ-fPJ6ceMu6aoLtuZOaL7HfQXBEbdnvtTUGbVi-gfAp5Zaje9BtVODRDvnaAe-z3kDPyFYUyth3-9bBY_pbroTUCWCH1ZZrh9UusjhFky9d_UwpOVKQ0bmNc6JZccIGEM0/s1600/100_0724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRRfb7ashCkJ-fPJ6ceMu6aoLtuZOaL7HfQXBEbdnvtTUGbVi-gfAp5Zaje9BtVODRDvnaAe-z3kDPyFYUyth3-9bBY_pbroTUCWCH1ZZrh9UusjhFky9d_UwpOVKQ0bmNc6JZccIGEM0/s200/100_0724.JPG" width="86" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea foam green?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I guess I've created my own monster by saving all my textbooks from college that have material worth remembering, being addicted to books in a series - a loooong set of series and multiple series at that. I tend to have a similar set of tastes when it comes to books. Historical romance is a genre that I enjoy; however, I've kind of wavered away from those. I think most of those books are going to be listed on Amazon as well. My favorite author in this genre is Kathleen Woodiwiss...weird name, great writer. I also enjoy Stephanie Laurens but I've just gone a different direction with my reading.<br />
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Aaaaand that direction is blood, guts and supernatural, mythical creatures. I really enjoy the "Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter" series. It's got a lot of <iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0425197549&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>violence, blood and guts which is perfect for cuddling up in bed, snuggling with the fur babies and reading for an hour (or two) before I fall asleep. :) Vampires, werewolves, demons and the like coupled with a main character who enjoys her alone time, is tough and shows integrity. Hard to find a strong, confident female character in today's society.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBym1_7BKY1MeRNOsQyZkrlRFNJA-sKWIllwkFmENXu54heUEI2Dnd3b_y8px_B0blehaot3mg0J-z_WLBxtPlZMwLoO7X17L55h17lhN_33rSR1X9jtleSacod7QBpJQIIf4U8HH37cQ/s1600/100_0722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBym1_7BKY1MeRNOsQyZkrlRFNJA-sKWIllwkFmENXu54heUEI2Dnd3b_y8px_B0blehaot3mg0J-z_WLBxtPlZMwLoO7X17L55h17lhN_33rSR1X9jtleSacod7QBpJQIIf4U8HH37cQ/s200/100_0722.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This beautiful bookcase is totally hidden!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Another series I enjoy is the "Sookie Stackhosue" books. These books are crazily similar to the Anita Blake books but in a lighter, less dark tone. The Stackhouse books also have a lot of detail that builds from book to book, while the Blake books could stand alone from book to book. I also have the Harry Potter series, the Twilight saga and the Stephanie Plum books. Now that is a <i>great</i> series of books! Author Janet Evanovich mixes a great mystery <iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0312362080&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>with unique characters and <i>HILARIOUS</i> situations - I would totally recommend this series to anyone. Even if you don't like the mystery/detective genre these books are so friggin' funny you're sure to enjoy them!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLiWQu18kTRqK_3fVaccBJdegJzI_vR4xwBu6NhXpW2kFl46GHlVA2IKDPxlc70_2o6xbiv4A-k3fLr8b3nJCVOEtePVVgeizBPOUoDeWlk7P_aUUf96AJ3dkDNvwyMrmuNZ3VfZTjwuQ/s1600/100_0714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLiWQu18kTRqK_3fVaccBJdegJzI_vR4xwBu6NhXpW2kFl46GHlVA2IKDPxlc70_2o6xbiv4A-k3fLr8b3nJCVOEtePVVgeizBPOUoDeWlk7P_aUUf96AJ3dkDNvwyMrmuNZ3VfZTjwuQ/s200/100_0714.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Packaged up and ready to go.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>But I digress! It happens a lot when I start talking books. :) Back to selling them on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/">Amazon</a>... .Today, I shipped of three books (The Hunger Game series) to places all over the world. It was a nice feeling to free up some shelf space. I make the shipping easy. I save my paper bags from grocery shopping trips, cut the bottom off, then wrap the book in the bag (logo side in) and packing tape it shut! Simple as that. <br />
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So perhaps you're asking yourself, "How do I get started selling books on Amazon?" Easy peezy... .Hit up <a href="http://www.amazon.com/">Amazon</a> and scroll all the way to the bottom of the page. There choose "Sell on Amazon" and follow the prompts. You will have to create an account and you will have to give some personal information; however, Amazon is quite secure and I personally don't worry about having my information out there. I have request my payment and BOOM! it's deposited into my checking account. Gotta love it! :)<br />
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I'm working on de-cluttering my life, although some days I wonder about why. One of those things where you just feel the need I guess. First, I'm going to sell as many of my books as possible, and it's not truly for the money because some of the books aren't worth much. :) My biggest issue seems to be I accumulate books as quickly as I get rid of them! LOL<br />
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Next, I'm trying the extreme couponing thing. I'm collecting coupons like mad and reading blogs like crazy; trying to educate myself on how to do it right. I'm always about saving money but I hope this is another way to add a bit to the old bank account. :) <br />
<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B002ZNJWGI&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0545162076&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=031613290X&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05922715446678718434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414458644282930562.post-78936986733085945412011-06-05T20:06:00.000-07:002011-06-05T20:06:07.234-07:00Productivity is an amazing feeling...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJGP8rm_M44on8AE1-yQEO10_s-JB7kcYqdTWe2FOasJyAy7zkA4P9ZkZbf2N03rInA6UtpaZQdmwb1h0kALGw7X532zO8ZWB7tF3711n-9Y124bwiHJMFRPhexNy3gOUCcXmnm94Gbc/s1600/100_0711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJGP8rm_M44on8AE1-yQEO10_s-JB7kcYqdTWe2FOasJyAy7zkA4P9ZkZbf2N03rInA6UtpaZQdmwb1h0kALGw7X532zO8ZWB7tF3711n-9Y124bwiHJMFRPhexNy3gOUCcXmnm94Gbc/s320/100_0711.JPG" width="320" /></a>I have had one productive weekend! The new additions - Bug & Spatz - required a new living environment because they squished a baby chicken and a baby turkey. So I took all weekend to build their pen mainly because I ran out of energy to do the physical work. On Saturday, I drove the T-posts and ran one roll of wire. Then I had to make a Big-R run because I needed more posts and wire. The pen cost more to construct than the friggin' goats did! LOL After I returned from Big-R with my fencing supplies and other various sundries I finished the third side of the pen but just plain ran out of oomph to do the rest so I relaxed for the evening. This morning I moved my old chicken coop and took the front off to create an A-frame house for the girls. I also had to make a run to WalMart today to purchase a tarp, carabiners and some bungee cords because the girls needed some shade! So by 3 pm today the girls had a finished home with shade, a tub for their feed and mineral block, and had been vaccinated to prevent goat diseases!<br />
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One thing I do wish I had taken the time to buy (and I still might buy it) is this great book called, "How to Build Animal Housing." It looks amazing! I also recently purchased Storey's guide to raising dairy goats and a self-sufficiency book. I am excited for them to arrive!<br />
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<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1580175279&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
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<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1580172598&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0486209741&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
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I woke up this morning with some serious sun burn! I'm still not used to being this far North meaning a higher UV index. I checked yesterday and today's UV index - it was 8 both days. Out of 10! No wonder I burned...I had bug spray and no sunscreen on. I did buy some Banana Boat this weekend though and will be sure to wear it!<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B001ET77UC&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
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I also did some planting of my containers. I planted my little BBQ with cucumbers - the Bush Crop variety. I planted my wheelbarrow with zucchini and I chose the Black Beauty variety. In my 4' by 4' raised bed I planted two varieties of corn (Earliglow & Orchard Baby), two hills of pumpkins (Small Sugar), some Six Nation heirloom dried beans, and a mix of marigold seeds everywhere! They are an excellent bug repellent and pollinator attractant. I have several lilac bushes in my yard and they are blooming like crazy! I picked some and put them in a Pace salsa jar - don't laugh it's the closest thing I had to a vase - and put them on my kitchen table. Gorgeous and they make the house smell great!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-az8Q3GZhYUo3ipkWQwZ1fSxgfZdJTWpbTX_8RkDQPsmypydx1P3jmSrsoWXmw7QL4NkB3wBwezlbL7ZnLJ4PdR7u4ypcL0QYZioKs_VH9SF0HDQKbbfP-6mZFuHex4J3SUmDdNXCmF4/s1600/100_0706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-az8Q3GZhYUo3ipkWQwZ1fSxgfZdJTWpbTX_8RkDQPsmypydx1P3jmSrsoWXmw7QL4NkB3wBwezlbL7ZnLJ4PdR7u4ypcL0QYZioKs_VH9SF0HDQKbbfP-6mZFuHex4J3SUmDdNXCmF4/s200/100_0706.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>I stared a small herb bed near the house and am hopeful that I can keep it growing well into the future. I brought some Libson Bunching onions from my mom's garden and planted small Rosemary and Onion Chive plants that I bought at Walmart. I also planted some parsley and basil from seed. The parsley is coming up well but I had to replant the basil since there has been such cool & wet weather. Here's to hoping it comes up!<br />
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I've mentioned how my dogs are my kids right? I always make sure they are spayed and<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqWt_0uYisGsbq7FvNz8x-PnPvO8_JzRnWTt7TQzL7kHMZPCER9wUA3ZdfxJxiv9X-IkI2XtZI-ZjRUbx39mi-6uleBa5YdanoU7Fvn5FMSrKy46pMCI9lGgKxnDTRaJimS3cSRsuD2w/s1600/100_0712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqWt_0uYisGsbq7FvNz8x-PnPvO8_JzRnWTt7TQzL7kHMZPCER9wUA3ZdfxJxiv9X-IkI2XtZI-ZjRUbx39mi-6uleBa5YdanoU7Fvn5FMSrKy46pMCI9lGgKxnDTRaJimS3cSRsuD2w/s320/100_0712.JPG" width="320" /></a>up-to-date on their vaccinations. June marks their annual vaccination time. I gave them a 7-way that covers parvo, distemper and Leptospirosis to name a few. Yotee did OK but didn't want to come to me so I could pet him for a while. Lil Guy did great but he didn't want to get his shot which resulted in a cat and mouse game for about 5-minutes. I tricked him by coming in to the mud room then nabbed him! :) Ruby on the other hand did not do too well. She struggled big time, had to be stuck three times and bent the needle but she got her shot! She must have struggled enough to make me hit her muscle because she's limping around and in obvious pain. So I called my resident farm vet (my mom!) and we decided to give her an aspirin and I started icing her neck. She's now resting comfortably!<br />
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Next weekend I plan on getting the chicken coop's outside run built! I love warm, sunny weather and the ability to be outside being ultra productive. This evening I let the goats and chickens out to run a bit before they got put back in their pens. As they grazed, I sat back and reflected how peaceful and content I am here. The middle of June will mark my one-year anniversary of being a Hi-Line resident. I am thankful for the chance to work at a job I love and with people who are great! All in all it's been a difficult but amazing year! :)Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05922715446678718434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414458644282930562.post-73868232455203056742011-06-03T16:28:00.000-07:002011-06-03T16:28:45.368-07:00Mental Health Friday....I took a mental health day today - I am very glad I did so! I went grocery shopping, which I desperately needed to do. I had no food in my house! Next time I think I'll shop more frequently instead of running out of everything before I go to the store. I used a bunch of coupons while I was at WalMart and while I can't say I saved a super whole bunch I was able to save around $10....better than nothing right? I picked up stuff to make the following recipe for creme cheese chicken enchiladas. They are auh-mazing! I found them on another blog called <a href="http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/">Homemaking on the Homestead</a>; I find a lot of great things here! You should totally check it out! So here is the recipe and my comments:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBmgrXKoCJZXtr3r0Bse9pIlgUw_QrgcsWJKsIgB0xZsCHHgQFY9JYY-lNSvv2UtCkrIH7FMyUs_Hhb2wOr6HBJ9BV1Ix-1RXQZrcLfL9pLMKBZ44c1v755Yrmkt5cXoM1QNII-vltses/s1600/100_0700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBmgrXKoCJZXtr3r0Bse9pIlgUw_QrgcsWJKsIgB0xZsCHHgQFY9JYY-lNSvv2UtCkrIH7FMyUs_Hhb2wOr6HBJ9BV1Ix-1RXQZrcLfL9pLMKBZ44c1v755Yrmkt5cXoM1QNII-vltses/s320/100_0700.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><u><b>Creme Cheese Chicken Enchiladas</b></u><br />
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* 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken meat, cut in to bite size pieces <i>(I shredded my chicken)</i><br />
* 1 medium onion, chopped <i>(I diced mine)</i><br />
* 1 teaspoon minced garlic<br />
* 2 tablespoons olive oil<br />
* 8 oz. creme cheese, softened & cut into chunks <i>(I took it straight from the fridge)</i><br />
* Milk to thin sauce <i>(I used some of the table cream I bought for this recipe)</i><br />
* 2 teaspoon chili powder <i>(I used more)</i><br />
* 1 teaspoon cumin <i>(I have an allergy to cumin so I omitted this and used paprika instead)</i><br />
* 1 cup salsa <i>(I bought a regular size jar of Pace Picante sauce and used the whole thing)</i><br />
* 12 corn tortillas <i>(I didn't use this many but I would suggest doing so)</i><br />
* 2 cups shredded cheese <i>(I used more just because I wanted them ooey-gooey & cheesy)</i><br />
* 1 cup cream <i>(I bought "table cream" and just eye-balled everything)</i><br />
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In a large frying pan cook chicken, onion & garlic in the olive oil. <i>(Here's where I shredded my chicken meat then added the onions & garlic.)</i> When the chicken meat is fully cooked & the onions are soft, add the creme cheese. <i>(I used a wooden spoon & paring knife to divide up the cheese.) </i>Stir to mix everything together while melting the creme cheese. Add a little milk to make the sauce a gravy consistency.<i> (Here's where I added the table cream instead of milk.)</i> Add the chili powder, cumin and salsa. <i>(Remember, I didn't use cumin but feel free to use it in your recipe.)</i><br />
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Spray a 9x13 pan with non-stick cooking spray. <i>(I forgot to do this but didn't have any problems with sticking)</i> Lay half the tortillas in the pan. Spread half the chicken mix sauce over the tortillas. Sprinkle half the cheese and salsa over the chicken mix sauce. Repeat the layers. <i>(I got two layers in my pan.)</i> Pour cream over the top. <i>(I just eyeballed about a cup of table cream all over the top of the enchiladas.)</i><br />
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Bake at 375F for 30 to 45 minutes, until the enchiladas are golden brown on the top. <i>(I am at roughly 2500 feet in elevation and only cooked the enchiladas for 30 minutes.)</i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBCJwEQH4zbJtsRRuSDzmiUQZBHJPNULAWEu2P3MuP4XovJxxG5aKpnm8MnScIxSz99q6A-E-wndCwib18gw-i4-L1BB6Y_oNm6G6TBuPmPScmscOppjfnMFESCs-hy1taJIoS1SN2CA/s1600/100_0701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBCJwEQH4zbJtsRRuSDzmiUQZBHJPNULAWEu2P3MuP4XovJxxG5aKpnm8MnScIxSz99q6A-E-wndCwib18gw-i4-L1BB6Y_oNm6G6TBuPmPScmscOppjfnMFESCs-hy1taJIoS1SN2CA/s320/100_0701.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I served my enchiladas up with some Uncle Ben's 90 second Spanish style rice.<br />
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I would also suggest some good re-fried beans and a salad but I was too hungry from making the enchiladas and just plain impatient to try how a new recipe turned out to make more than the rice! :)<br />
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I truly enjoyed my meal! I am going to save another serving for diner but the rest is going into my awesome new Tupperware<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B00079PEKU&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe> and the freezer so I can have lunched for a while. Yummy in my tummy!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin3yNpBm6Fgj98x6ecfvOzvLbl1gPUgjj7K0DQwK-cdhyphenhyphen5dviWheLaf8uS4L0VeQpgYg_dDnWCOniVZh7ndsk2EAc52a1cCNxq8_KbpVk7OqUdP3LKHMSRZn6mbyQwHjX9JAr8LzkZxEg/s1600/100_0699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin3yNpBm6Fgj98x6ecfvOzvLbl1gPUgjj7K0DQwK-cdhyphenhyphen5dviWheLaf8uS4L0VeQpgYg_dDnWCOniVZh7ndsk2EAc52a1cCNxq8_KbpVk7OqUdP3LKHMSRZn6mbyQwHjX9JAr8LzkZxEg/s400/100_0699.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Totally gone! ;)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05922715446678718434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414458644282930562.post-43455296838072301342011-06-02T19:42:00.000-07:002011-06-02T19:42:47.155-07:00New babies with new names...I would like to introduce Bug and Spatz. The girls are settling in well and despite one squished turkey baby we are all doing quite well!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrTX8CK0sJrtGL3tKhap_fVHElqSGSiEojLJO7JxhDp81meL2tXzpbGd5xGWGH7scBOIOfQuJ_Zl9VYQjgMTpWRWRZZOG73-9jrevGn9C2DMtoGfv0BwIfM3g5oPOSeim0BN_u2EhsRk/s1600/257911_867176823803_27208703_42109855_7866182_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrTX8CK0sJrtGL3tKhap_fVHElqSGSiEojLJO7JxhDp81meL2tXzpbGd5xGWGH7scBOIOfQuJ_Zl9VYQjgMTpWRWRZZOG73-9jrevGn9C2DMtoGfv0BwIfM3g5oPOSeim0BN_u2EhsRk/s400/257911_867176823803_27208703_42109855_7866182_o.jpg" width="336" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bug is in the foreground while Spatz is in the back.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05922715446678718434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414458644282930562.post-6765601555595727142011-05-31T20:40:00.000-07:002011-05-31T20:56:02.891-07:00Making a home in the mud...<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sloggers-5003YL09-Womens-Wildflower-Tallboot/dp/B001IB9L6E?ie=UTF8&tag=widgetsamazon-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"></a><br />
So once again I beg your forgiveness - the rain has made my desire to write null and void. However, we had 65F and sunny today so here I am with some writing ambition. :) I know the title of this blog entry is interesting to say the least but all the rain has resulted in standing water, massive flooding and mud, mud every where!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebFuYkX6KXmJ9oeMY7VQG-bentnlJRRMdazSFHSfStsbODsSXXdgPIV6kcEsXK4HzquBlfatA7e3EdLY3Lcd_Th9yDBiBnxXyEEIEKESThNlmetk39dL_zYeLl70RpdjO_beNTnO0QHE/s1600/100_0695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebFuYkX6KXmJ9oeMY7VQG-bentnlJRRMdazSFHSfStsbODsSXXdgPIV6kcEsXK4HzquBlfatA7e3EdLY3Lcd_Th9yDBiBnxXyEEIEKESThNlmetk39dL_zYeLl70RpdjO_beNTnO0QHE/s320/100_0695.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I have done some updates around the Muddy Manicure. I planted the window box with lettuce, spinach, broccoli, tomato plants and my one surviving eggplant. I mainly keep the window shut because it's still quite cool here at night - around 40F, sometimes lower. The cold frame concept really works well up here in the harsh climate of North central Montana.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9N4tRntisTThCMHiMzOA7l_6cgAuqo3rt3mn5tHpoZ4LM6YFDWohQjJLhQZRGKqic0czm4oytan1hUxWPAPzx2yMU2XfBhAfZ_CXr51jDLILiwCx40vGJCGuiQ8RZ-Vk5X8dF4puyso/s1600/100_0692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9N4tRntisTThCMHiMzOA7l_6cgAuqo3rt3mn5tHpoZ4LM6YFDWohQjJLhQZRGKqic0czm4oytan1hUxWPAPzx2yMU2XfBhAfZ_CXr51jDLILiwCx40vGJCGuiQ8RZ-Vk5X8dF4puyso/s200/100_0692.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My strawberry bed is thriving!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNeF1L1JM02waPEtR7UAvMXZtHR9Fx6_2tZ2xpj_LaoO_HzLAMdiWQDlb8MBLp34PIPlcp1tG1xQY11bIxeHviw2t6LKe0fxcOZE-SDIUsVTH109X38cbgSWkeDPbdEuehFa-_pDMwN38/s1600/100_0683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNeF1L1JM02waPEtR7UAvMXZtHR9Fx6_2tZ2xpj_LaoO_HzLAMdiWQDlb8MBLp34PIPlcp1tG1xQY11bIxeHviw2t6LKe0fxcOZE-SDIUsVTH109X38cbgSWkeDPbdEuehFa-_pDMwN38/s200/100_0683.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The big one's are the geese.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I have also watched my Homesteaders Flock grow. My chicks now have feathers and so do the turkey's. The duck and two geese are still peach-fuzzy; who knows when they'll get some feathers. I took them "swimming" every day while they were in the house. I had to teach them but they got the hang of it and love to swim. While dad and brother were out over Memorial Day weekend they helped me move them outside into the coop. I will be adding on the "run" part on later when the birds get big enough.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaNAlHvgmbKBb9x3bd7f6PeNZQKFUAebFYfrLG8fN9fYZYVonms5MNKaXRuDtjmig508DpPtMVn_ejCxi-inoIHyGzQFFWQ9771tizRB66vqQ4q8xA_66dPw2uis-Y571qns1zmA0CCJM/s1600/100_0688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaNAlHvgmbKBb9x3bd7f6PeNZQKFUAebFYfrLG8fN9fYZYVonms5MNKaXRuDtjmig508DpPtMVn_ejCxi-inoIHyGzQFFWQ9771tizRB66vqQ4q8xA_66dPw2uis-Y571qns1zmA0CCJM/s200/100_0688.JPG" width="200" /></a>Today I picked up my newest addition to the Muddy Manicure - two baby Nigerian Dwarf doelings. I haven't named them yet and would welcome name suggestions. They currently weigh around 19 pounds and the breed standard says does grow only to be about 30-40 pounds. Currently, the two babies are out in the chicken coop since there is a heat light out there but I'm hoping shortly the nights will warm up enough to keep them outside. I plan to do some intensive grazing with the girls around the outbuildings when they're older.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikapMkOsT7dmhPDYyZAIl9lZFoxAnCJmjCmYwqr_7pDPZFKLdzhBybk-k2hJL-db3xVHQaGHqPPMUkSkAhy6cfO1mw19gsqyrTitnorRi8Z8fc5CeuwxrMLaSrprvhL1bib8iJ7QrMA14/s1600/100_0678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikapMkOsT7dmhPDYyZAIl9lZFoxAnCJmjCmYwqr_7pDPZFKLdzhBybk-k2hJL-db3xVHQaGHqPPMUkSkAhy6cfO1mw19gsqyrTitnorRi8Z8fc5CeuwxrMLaSrprvhL1bib8iJ7QrMA14/s200/100_0678.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorry it's sideways - I'm lame ;)</td></tr>
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The girls were born on March 7th and their breed is a recognized dairy breed so if I do decide I want a dairy goat one day - BOOM! already got two! :) I'm thinking that the girsl would also be useful for my 4H kids in case any of them want to show something at the fair but can't afford it. Other than that they're just going to be spoiled goat pets! :) <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjukUKLCH2h5jy48hPGs38SYuVMa5VFO8Pj3qjrmA4iz7x5QhEIZYEz7GPvtqwDCEulF5AqLuy8tX5K49ZfDeKvTdoH0DieCHgssht8TphABatqdNWp4-XV6j9Y8MgGiTjh1reQoYPNMP8/s1600/100_0691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjukUKLCH2h5jy48hPGs38SYuVMa5VFO8Pj3qjrmA4iz7x5QhEIZYEz7GPvtqwDCEulF5AqLuy8tX5K49ZfDeKvTdoH0DieCHgssht8TphABatqdNWp4-XV6j9Y8MgGiTjh1reQoYPNMP8/s320/100_0691.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorry it's sideways again!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Spring is making itself known around the Muddy Manicure and the Hi-Line. My container gardens are doing really well. My bathtub has Walla Walla sweet onions, yellow onions, shallots and Scarlet Nantes carrots in it. They are doing awesome! The pig feeder planter is chock-full of yellow onions and they have been loving the rain and cool weather. Too bad I'm not! :) They've rocketed from a dried up set to beautiful green, alive baby onions! Gotta love it! I need to get a bunch of other stuff planted but some of them I'm going to have to buy like the squash. I'm going to get peas and corn planted this weekend. The weather and package planting information should be just about right. Here's to hoping it doesn't rain like the dickens this weekend!<br />
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I'll leave you with a parting photo that brings a smile to my face and thoughts of spring followed by summer to mind. The lilac bush closest to my house has begun to bloom! :D<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSTh35Zdgc36bKJfiYtU_lEhiVO3BW2TW3HEQwwvjqP31TfUFs8I3vjavSfD0CgAY-fr1QochUEqVkW6it_YzBSJHbXhzt7D5WHMNZhFDqWVF1IKwqa2V4WY7OKZzSuVC3AbH0M35PAQ/s1600/100_0698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSTh35Zdgc36bKJfiYtU_lEhiVO3BW2TW3HEQwwvjqP31TfUFs8I3vjavSfD0CgAY-fr1QochUEqVkW6it_YzBSJHbXhzt7D5WHMNZhFDqWVF1IKwqa2V4WY7OKZzSuVC3AbH0M35PAQ/s400/100_0698.JPG" width="400" /><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B001IB9L6E&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></a></div><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0762744545&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe> <iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B0037QUNJ2&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B0030DCW64&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1580172598&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05922715446678718434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414458644282930562.post-60053612815580891002011-05-16T21:15:00.000-07:002011-05-16T21:15:00.353-07:00Soapy Tables and Chickens...<span class="f"><cite></cite></span>So sorry to be tardy on my post...I've been busy! I got a bunch of extras from my mom when I was home; strawberries, Libson bunching onions, mint and Lilly of the Valley. I also purchased Walla Walla sweet onion starts, yellow onions, shallots, garlic and raspberries. I have planted the Walla Walla's, yellow onions, shallots and raspberries; all except the raspberries went in the tub (my cast iron garden planter) with carrots. I read in Carrots Love Tomatoe<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1580170277&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>s that onions and carrots do well so I thought I'd give it a try. The raspberries went along one of the fence lines and the strawberries went into my small strawberry bed. I planted the mint in two places near the house but I'm not sure how well it will do. Keep your fingers crossed. :)<br />
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I recently got my Homesteader's Delight order from<a href="http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/"> McMurray Hatchery</a>. I was super excited but kind of unprepared for the 'lil critters. They took up residence in my bathroom for a day and a half and it's taken me at least that long to remove their poo from the floor! I moved them to a big box I snagged from work and they have since taken up residence in the mud room with the heat lamp keeping the snuggly warm. I received 10 hens (tentatively identified as Black Austrolorp and Buckeye), <iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1603424709&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>two geese (absolutely no idea what kind), two turkeys (one bronze, one white) and two ducks (again no idea on the variety). Sadly one ducky "went to the other farm" not long after is arrival on Crazy Woman Ranch (my pet name for this quasi-chaotic place). He will be missed. They all got to go outside for a bit today. The geese, duck and turkeys have imprinted nicely and I've been handling them all multiple times daily to insure they don't get mean when they grow up. Also, I figure the little <a href="http://www.4h.org/">4H kids</a> could show them at the fair this summer.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Honey Lemon Soap</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I have made two batches of soap from my purchased bases. One is honey lemon and the other is goat's milk and oatmeal. The honey lemon was the first time I tried to make this stuff so I tried it out and it lathers-up really well and smells wonderfully like sunny spring honey. I added extra honey to the mixture from my home neighbors Hibbard, Massey & Hibbard. They soap is kind of sticky but works great! The goat's milk and oatmeal is still curing in the form. I will cut it next week and wrap the honey and lemon bars. If Zurich has a Farmer's Market this year I'll be taking soap and various other things.<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B001PAHDWM&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Base Unfinished</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Another project that I started a while ago was my round, oak kitchen<span id="goog_241778216"></span><span id="goog_241778217"></span> table. I have since finished the sanding process, assembled top and bottom and applied two coats of stain to the table-top. I will be putting another coat of varnish on the table and then it will be ready to use. A recent antiquing trip provided me with three beautiful and mismatched chairs for my set. I also just bought a pine buffet which should arrive at the end of the week. I am slowly amassing some nice things and it makes me happy. :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ptc_RTtIVzcuwz-01j-ywEcJDanGtVXff5kOuV8LQ5B0w3SmO6MqHTwCLyeii2d-wQqZdE8rIMZGmSbDPLTFQlPKdKrHl_FJboN4PUmVmYZcczlpw038bweOabHwkC0h6_ZbapJ8wHU/s1600/IMG_0064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ptc_RTtIVzcuwz-01j-ywEcJDanGtVXff5kOuV8LQ5B0w3SmO6MqHTwCLyeii2d-wQqZdE8rIMZGmSbDPLTFQlPKdKrHl_FJboN4PUmVmYZcczlpw038bweOabHwkC0h6_ZbapJ8wHU/s200/IMG_0064.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Table Top Unfinished</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHxUOdqh32eZDqQBRfDbOVc_1gM1Wj5HChMgv9wSTq4XZj8WzlecFSeAO8XVv5TdL7P_V-7tjywwdLylmOvqsx63556c5oIq94e_c0uXrpni_jb9VVeB6FrWPTdoJjMK3A6Q0U0GrKrqs/s1600/100_0676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHxUOdqh32eZDqQBRfDbOVc_1gM1Wj5HChMgv9wSTq4XZj8WzlecFSeAO8XVv5TdL7P_V-7tjywwdLylmOvqsx63556c5oIq94e_c0uXrpni_jb9VVeB6FrWPTdoJjMK3A6Q0U0GrKrqs/s200/100_0676.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sideways Semi-Finished View</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTlxOnMnGWfzAEEbTJxo1tiMxAis3-LlTPEvjEmcPpVS1o6e_dI5VvdmEegTjr8kCDjiDINRCTk7L-AIiqb74ExUNniIEkhy6TBoFBZgLdUqxe8Vz5ND1QPF20kNSN0BtzW_Lt-4qYyyA/s1600/100_0667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTlxOnMnGWfzAEEbTJxo1tiMxAis3-LlTPEvjEmcPpVS1o6e_dI5VvdmEegTjr8kCDjiDINRCTk7L-AIiqb74ExUNniIEkhy6TBoFBZgLdUqxe8Vz5ND1QPF20kNSN0BtzW_Lt-4qYyyA/s320/100_0667.JPG" width="320" /></a>Well the Beagle is outside in the dark barking at who knows what and my chicks are peeping away. They want their mom to come check on them. By mom I don't mean me, I mean the Beagle. She truly thinks she's their mom. While the baby turkeys were outside today she tried to play with them Beagle style - I had to put the kaibosh on it but it was still cute!<br />
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Have a great night!Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05922715446678718434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414458644282930562.post-2586181491045524282011-04-28T22:19:00.000-07:002011-04-28T22:19:44.986-07:00A before and after of giving....<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiabyUjPwhYa8uJen6-DDpcDq_CNPnacqVl6y3jt8gkZsX0nrLYBtv2ayzzYuUJjH7UXBby1lo7txEdPo7XafZk5iI4Az9j60DFyPUndpkLcY8fi4HzAzMnPU_HKAZTyUPqQ5grKZ8gYss/s1600/IMG_0073%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiabyUjPwhYa8uJen6-DDpcDq_CNPnacqVl6y3jt8gkZsX0nrLYBtv2ayzzYuUJjH7UXBby1lo7txEdPo7XafZk5iI4Az9j60DFyPUndpkLcY8fi4HzAzMnPU_HKAZTyUPqQ5grKZ8gYss/s320/IMG_0073%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So I have had long hair pretty much my entire life - it's one of two physical features I'm really proud of. The other is my eyes. My hair has been well past my shoulders since I can't remember when and most recently it was three inches shy of the waistband on my jeans. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">With long hair comes maintenance and that's alright when you like your hair. I spent mega amounts of money on my hair over the years; highlighting it, deep conditioning, <span>special treatments</span>, etc. And I'm a dedicated worker! This being said I think it came as a shock when I told people I wanted to cut it while I was home. Well today was the day! I had a 1 o'clock appointment with a pair of extra sharp scissors and lost a massive amount of hair. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I have experienced many things over my 28 years and encountering people with cancer and other permanent illnesses and issues has developed me into a person who would do all I can to help out. So 12 inches of hair that I snipped off was definately going to an organization like Locks of Love. Sadly, <a href="http://www.locksoflove.org/">Locks of Love</a> won't accept my hair because of my highlighting habit. I did some research and found an organization that is just as great. </div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjltQgAz09zCqIyfbJ9TflJiE56NLEbIdgk7lCnK63NqRxWcPN77GqRIsg0SgQQ9xaGX0PdCouY5cwE-wZ_1xirwGuPGJGzV_H2t2C5vRwQAN5_PSV-RSLm9521Uv7FBnUxOONAu7fei4/s1600/IMG_0074%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjltQgAz09zCqIyfbJ9TflJiE56NLEbIdgk7lCnK63NqRxWcPN77GqRIsg0SgQQ9xaGX0PdCouY5cwE-wZ_1xirwGuPGJGzV_H2t2C5vRwQAN5_PSV-RSLm9521Uv7FBnUxOONAu7fei4/s320/IMG_0074%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And after!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.childrenwithhairloss.us/">Children with Hairloss, Inc</a>. is an organization based out of Michigan that will accept any healthy hair even if it has been highlighted or colored. This group grants wigs to children with cancer, allopecia or any other disease that leaves them without hair for free. That's a great casue if ya ask me so I sent my 12 inch long ponytail to them via the US Postal Service and I hope they put it to good use! :)<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B001ET7J0K&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05922715446678718434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414458644282930562.post-78402969807745190052011-04-27T12:09:00.000-07:002011-04-27T12:09:35.740-07:00Pretty Spring Pictures from the Yakima Valley... <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-mo9k0ijzPlBs7Td_N30wsX1LvxVQfcY6lqmnCkqyfxnbx1QXruDofL6dZepk6fsVLtzyx14_UiEzPDLw58pMw4ANE5Uz6C2bH1LGoW1df8THuOBueoiuY757e8emNPXDkWvGbwvW-g/s1600/100_0658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-mo9k0ijzPlBs7Td_N30wsX1LvxVQfcY6lqmnCkqyfxnbx1QXruDofL6dZepk6fsVLtzyx14_UiEzPDLw58pMw4ANE5Uz6C2bH1LGoW1df8THuOBueoiuY757e8emNPXDkWvGbwvW-g/s200/100_0658.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">A honeybee on a dandelion in mom's garden.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I know - I'm not doing too well with keeping you all up to date with the Montana life. I do have a valid excuse this week. I am home in the Yakima Valley! I am so happy to be here it's ridiculous. The sun has been out for the most part while I've been home. It hasn't been super warm but I will take it for sure! The day before Easter the most gorgeous day I have seen since leaving Washington and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I spent time with my brother catching up and just plain being in the same area as each other. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizevgCEDW2ISFxgRu46iKfSBtLfPj1aHE6Ff5kv4h-1Y05jFxsavo_1730uZN6gLp1Zbb5QOQXK-2t3_3DVtgUcwqnGIhweuDbk1P2Yhxw-HHlEYqdXcSu1zCBh6-3Uz3B38USr5yAyKU/s1600/100_0660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizevgCEDW2ISFxgRu46iKfSBtLfPj1aHE6Ff5kv4h-1Y05jFxsavo_1730uZN6gLp1Zbb5QOQXK-2t3_3DVtgUcwqnGIhweuDbk1P2Yhxw-HHlEYqdXcSu1zCBh6-3Uz3B38USr5yAyKU/s200/100_0660.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom's spring flowers. B-E-A-utiful!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I am lucky to have a job that allows me to take extended vacations when ever I want. I am working through some personnel issues at work as best I can but it can get extremely frustrating at times. This break was desperately needed for that reason and to escape the poopy weather in North central Montana. :) It'll all work itself out but some days are just too much and this chick comes home to drink a beer or glass of wine. Trust me, that's an extremely rare occurrence. I should stock up on some ultra good Yakima Valley wine while I'm home. :)</div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIr3FHVRjY0QAuOWzhyh6jNd_vB_YGUHQfL3yIVidv5XKmol_PUEf5uzuaJ4krYWr-f2r85SXPGlNxD3E7C_Xibbhmk0gNQbtirvvXIuq3GPEkR6XWHUFM7Ga0bHy7DCiH9spKvWvFJQo/s1600/100_0659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIr3FHVRjY0QAuOWzhyh6jNd_vB_YGUHQfL3yIVidv5XKmol_PUEf5uzuaJ4krYWr-f2r85SXPGlNxD3E7C_Xibbhmk0gNQbtirvvXIuq3GPEkR6XWHUFM7Ga0bHy7DCiH9spKvWvFJQo/s200/100_0659.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apparently eg-laying time is a community event.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">While in Washington, I took the opportunity to visit WSU and straighten some things out. This visit not only wasted a day but didn't really accomplish anything but honestly pissing me off. I can't say it was all my fault but I guess I didn't do things in a timely manner what with getting used to a new job and all. I am also caught in the middle of a pissing match between the higher-ups at CAHNRS and that I do not appreciate. Bottom line is that pissing match is going to result in me having to add 6 credits to my degree without receiving "credit" for them towards my degree. Oh well I guess....what can ya do?</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I miss the Yakima Valley so much while I'm away but when I'm here I truly miss my work and the people that go with it. Tough choices I tell ya! Anyways here are some pictures from around the farm to tide you all over until I get back to the Treasure State. That's Montana's motto for those of you who don't know. :)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicN7wMzOLQ9fusiCOtqtPmOHri8B1z5FOWfdNI_Bn33GeD2ZSYtxsIOLNaXgz-MZS6M9rvOowtq1tO-6Z_QRCmkMOvOnwmN-kDNYJtvEytFhZSx0WzTEzOwxvoeIQF9pu2G39xqo_QBR8/s1600/100_0661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicN7wMzOLQ9fusiCOtqtPmOHri8B1z5FOWfdNI_Bn33GeD2ZSYtxsIOLNaXgz-MZS6M9rvOowtq1tO-6Z_QRCmkMOvOnwmN-kDNYJtvEytFhZSx0WzTEzOwxvoeIQF9pu2G39xqo_QBR8/s200/100_0661.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> A couple pictures of mom's dogwood tree. Gorgeous! :)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgInitxOjj_hrHphATbljT1ppQi-QnzOSqlYXL-OpV4_dmHSrm013Vct8RE7EhrL4Jh76ovZXElYFYoFVoOAmxfHTc5MreaWFMa16RQGQPI8Y8LjbvHSR6lInDRYRp1A_QSdeK0vBtiCz0/s1600/100_0662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgInitxOjj_hrHphATbljT1ppQi-QnzOSqlYXL-OpV4_dmHSrm013Vct8RE7EhrL4Jh76ovZXElYFYoFVoOAmxfHTc5MreaWFMa16RQGQPI8Y8LjbvHSR6lInDRYRp1A_QSdeK0vBtiCz0/s200/100_0662.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05922715446678718434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414458644282930562.post-39132741128849556742011-04-16T14:02:00.000-07:002011-04-16T14:02:34.901-07:00Some photos from around "Crazy Woman"So I have decided to dub my little slice of Northcentral Montana the "Crazy Woman Ranch" courtesy of my favorite Louis L'Amour movie. This post isn't much but photos so come on over and take a look.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfF34DaLnDlB-F1_-2ijdqdCikHjIuGKiqKUbrbjVQSGlpB-iIG4p_IYcMXwzeHn0HpXXWZV06m_bQy7FuBmasi_qAB21ZNoEyUOEevIsWPTM1fWyT1bJPekwMoKWT2Hyju4Rih4WNF6M/s1600/100_0642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfF34DaLnDlB-F1_-2ijdqdCikHjIuGKiqKUbrbjVQSGlpB-iIG4p_IYcMXwzeHn0HpXXWZV06m_bQy7FuBmasi_qAB21ZNoEyUOEevIsWPTM1fWyT1bJPekwMoKWT2Hyju4Rih4WNF6M/s320/100_0642.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you see my lake? </td></tr>
</tbody></table>The river is high, the slew is full and the surrounding creeks are out of their banks. This water is all from snowmelt.<br />
Thankfully the nearby canals haven't filled with water and the barrow ditches around the house are blessedly empty. Everything here is just a bit more difficult so I do not want to have to face flooding issues.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBmSeQjtaA-gVhImBsMDMF_19-x8wQebXc4oPu2EkAPVQcpVrBcGRgecVw6FwC8liIjz0fec_FUmhjR1DDdHtK7-ufd3K3PtkLNs3vpS9AUYV855lqHuGg60SptM5UEB0KfJc9RSU7Sp4/s1600/100_0639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBmSeQjtaA-gVhImBsMDMF_19-x8wQebXc4oPu2EkAPVQcpVrBcGRgecVw6FwC8liIjz0fec_FUmhjR1DDdHtK7-ufd3K3PtkLNs3vpS9AUYV855lqHuGg60SptM5UEB0KfJc9RSU7Sp4/s320/100_0639.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>This is a picture of me and my pooples that dad took when he was out for a visit. Notice no one is looking at the camera but me. We were facing a bit of cabin fever induced ADD that day. From left to right - Lil Guy the Chihuahua, Yotee the Mini Aussie and Ruby the Beagle.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ODzMDXr8W-JzUk-vNmQ6kq1jJnZ38ZMGsG0C_eyZrAuvnkZtD8UnMxEPSJ30AeTjgQBF6M9XbYwhYDvwQSNh5PZcA12QqKeFxHKO3aehaPR7-yUt8I8-3yYc4JcPUWKAw12wa3QzkF4/s1600/100_0654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ODzMDXr8W-JzUk-vNmQ6kq1jJnZ38ZMGsG0C_eyZrAuvnkZtD8UnMxEPSJ30AeTjgQBF6M9XbYwhYDvwQSNh5PZcA12QqKeFxHKO3aehaPR7-yUt8I8-3yYc4JcPUWKAw12wa3QzkF4/s320/100_0654.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>And because I simply couldn't stand not having something growing green in my presence I started my garden plants this year. From left to right - jalapeno peppers, sausage tomatoes, Tom Thumb tomatoes and Black Beauty eggplants. You can kind of see my cabbage, broccoli and wong bok in the foreground.<br />
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And just so you don't think Extension Agents stick to the book please enjoy this video of a wonderful little song written by one of my fellow brethren. Turn up the volume and enjoy!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyPs7wPJJdzKuc1MArM5rU_xO0e98asduBHZaaA-vAg8PTTXZmA2asddNyRGlzmuvy-MJXcGK73JDLcBz1qFg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05922715446678718434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414458644282930562.post-38557345817428997222011-04-05T19:03:00.000-07:002011-04-05T19:15:16.277-07:00"There are half as many farmers and ranchers today feeding a population that has more than doubled."I would like to highlight "The Cattleman's Stewardship Review: Connecting Our Vision and Values" that has just come to my attention. It is a report that was funded by Beef Checkoff money and sponsored by the Cattleman's Beef Board and the National Cattleman's Beef Association. It discusses the beef industry's influence on communities, the economy, public health and the environment, and it turns out it's pretty interesting! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjiGHn8vQ3acAHai94VpkW_YMziOnOxXd3gQ9iz7x0O9Yjc_11E6xZCdvHzb9TWfIKGFYu4LRByvoMtW51plwCIiNfNRGm20O7XK6Av0abMFuABUjAGbP9nSynQSxdqyQaOkkQ-6cMO6M/s1600/Camera+129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjiGHn8vQ3acAHai94VpkW_YMziOnOxXd3gQ9iz7x0O9Yjc_11E6xZCdvHzb9TWfIKGFYu4LRByvoMtW51plwCIiNfNRGm20O7XK6Av0abMFuABUjAGbP9nSynQSxdqyQaOkkQ-6cMO6M/s320/Camera+129.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>The world population is currently at 6.8 billion, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, while there are only 742,000 farmers (USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture). According to the the review, there are half as many farmers and ranchers today feeding a population that has more than doubled. <br />
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The U.S. produces 20 percent of the world's beef while raising 7 percent of the world's cattle and they do this in a way to ensure quality. The report states, "it is estimated that farmer- and rancher-funded Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) programs influence the handling and management of more than 90 percent of the feedyard cattle raised in the U.S. today. Due to these practices, the 2005 National Beef Tenderness Survey found an 18 percent overall improvement in tenderness since 1999 and three-in-four consumers say that they have a positive beef eating experience."<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Another key accomplishment cited in the review is the cattleman's investment in safety. The U.S. cattle rancher and farmer invested nearly $30 million in safety efforts since 1993 and the whole beef industry invests $550 million annually to beef safety efforts. "Due in part to these efforts and others, there has been a significant reduction in foodborne illnesses, including reducing <em>E. coli</em> O157:H7 incidence to help meet the 'Healthy People 2010' goal of no more than one case per 100,000 people."</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_x8LZsau2BCb3Rl9T7ve86MiVfkNsHdosD35iS3mxrFbJe1pZmBHH4WLgBcFl7BWUcddM8coQyfceTC1bJyhlTJtXjlWhffeDOArLB04ejWacpHfb22FIAtb7ZZYRGmR18e-kB5sGuo/s1600/Camera+360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_x8LZsau2BCb3Rl9T7ve86MiVfkNsHdosD35iS3mxrFbJe1pZmBHH4WLgBcFl7BWUcddM8coQyfceTC1bJyhlTJtXjlWhffeDOArLB04ejWacpHfb22FIAtb7ZZYRGmR18e-kB5sGuo/s320/Camera+360.jpg" width="320" /></a>America's farmers and ranchers are extremely innovative. The review highlights this concept through "a Washington State University study, where each pound of beef raised in 2007 compared to 1977 uses 20 percent less feed, 30 percent less land, 14 percent less water and 9 percent less fossil fuel energy." The drive and creativity of those farmers and ranchers has lowered the carbon footprint of producing a pound of beef by 18 percent; pretty good for a bunch of cowboys huh?</div><br />
In 2002 the USDA studied the major use of land in the United States. According to that survey about 587 million acres acres of U.S. land, which isn't suitable for raising other food, is used for livestock grazing. Forest-use land is 29 percent of land use in the U.S; grassland, pasture land and range land uses 26 percent; cropland comprises 20 percent; special uses takes up 13 percent; and miscellaneous land uses 10 percent. Surprising to this blogger is that urban land only makes up 3 percent of land use in the United States. I honestly thought this number would be higher considering the startling rate at which we, the farming and ranching community, lose land to developers.<br />
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Now we all know that the farming and ranching lifestyle is one to be embraced and treasured, but did you know the nearly one-half of cattlemen and women volunteer with a youth organization (that's 47 percent) and more than one-third (35 percent) donate their time to other civic organizations? Compare that to the national average of only 7 percent and I think it's safe to say that farmers and ranchers most definitely give back to their community. Over 84 percent of farmers and ranchers also contribute to their church.<br />
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If that wasn't evidence enough of a community with a giving spirit here are some more statistics: "nearly one-fourth of U.S. cattlemen and women have served in the military" which is significantly higher than the national average of only 14 percent. Also, 94 percent of cattlemen and women vote in "national, state and local elections; comparatively, only 64 percent of the general population votes. One-half of cattlemen and women have run for an elected office and 81 percent have been elected to serve."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgAQ8_6YBVCUbdRjZj7s8Q1-5HMbkYBKL0YQe4n8Hn5ibwO1iM2g2ekTUrQ8CFEsQq7dkIovFqFChr9CneogLEDuts6V83nYDckIAyQ2Fbo1DUlV1HMSjTHCXfSJqqOyX9VpzKtLzoTLM/s1600/Camera+326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgAQ8_6YBVCUbdRjZj7s8Q1-5HMbkYBKL0YQe4n8Hn5ibwO1iM2g2ekTUrQ8CFEsQq7dkIovFqFChr9CneogLEDuts6V83nYDckIAyQ2Fbo1DUlV1HMSjTHCXfSJqqOyX9VpzKtLzoTLM/s320/Camera+326.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Perhaps the next time someone says something derogatory towards farming or ranching you can quote some of these statistics. You can find out more by downloading a copy of "The Cattleman's Stewardship Review: Connecting Our Vision and Values" or watch stakeholder interviews discussing the beef industry's accomplishments by visiting<a href="http://www.explorebeef.org/"> Explore Beef</a>.Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05922715446678718434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7414458644282930562.post-33117687507945829262011-04-02T13:03:00.000-07:002011-04-02T13:03:53.128-07:00Semi-ranty but a happy ending...Sorry this is a bit ranty but it as a happy ending...I promise! :)<br />
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I have been dealing with WSU for around 3 weeks, going on 4 now, over my University Account. They (WSU) are insisting I owe them roughly $2000 in excess tuition. False! After a thorough review of my account, I discovered they actually charged me for 9 credits when I'm only taking six. I have been on the phone non-stop with WSU and finally hit upon the correct process - file a petition for refund. My major professor (serious shout-out to Dr. Swan!) and now the Crop & Soils Department Chair is involved (and pissed I might add over assessed fees) so I'm hoping in the next two weeks we can get this resolved. After chatting with my department's academic coordinator, we discovered I was actually charged for 12 credits when I'm only taking 6 AND only refunded for 3 credits in stead of 6. It's a way confused mess that apparently stems back from me being an undergrad there - this has screwed up my graduate account/work. <br />
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My super-awesome (read: shit-head) co-worker has caused the maximum amount of drama this past week while managing to only be in the office for roughly 4 hours the entire week. Auh-mazing if you ask me. She called in to the office administrator and bitched her out over going to lunch with me the previous day. According to her this is beyond a business relationship (a personal relationship she called it). I'm sorry that I get along with my other co-workers! I feel comfortable going to either of their houses to visit on the weekend or just chatting with them about how their day/week/life is going. In my opinion this is not only being a good boss but a good friend. Whoopsies for being a normal person. Anyways, this pone call evolved into mega-drama for our office admin., regional department head and myself. It literally made me sicker than I already was. Booo!<br />
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Thursday night around 11:45 the water alarm triggered in the basement. SHIT! Is my immediate thought. So I turned off the alarm and noted the roughly 1 inch of water in 3/4 of the basement. So I knew my morning was shot and emailed in to work that I wouldn't be there. I checked the next morning and the entire basement had water and now it was up to a good 4 inches throughout. Called the plumber because I had no friggin' idea what was going on and he never called back, never came out and was an all around useless waste of my time. Spectacular. On my way to my afternoon doctor appointment I decided I would buy a new sump-pump because that's the only thing I could figure was wrong. I was right...go figure. So after figuring out how to replace it and realizing the sewer system was not working properly (oh joy) I had to chase Yotee around to avoid him getting shot by the neighbors who were out working cows. By then I was at my wits end - I called my dad and had a breakdown. Of course, he talked me through it all and as of 12:30 AM this morning there was no more water (than usual) in the basement. Yippeee! :)<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">My doctor was new which kind of sucks but we did try some alternative treatment for my almost 6 month enduring sinus infection. He literally squeezed my face and pressed on the lymphnodes in my neck. This wasn't the most comfortable thing but boy did it work! The fluid started flowing down the back of my throat: sorry but after having supreme congestion and not being able to breathe even remotely well for that long it was like the best thing ever! Although, it was uncomfortable later that night and I had to do the nasal flush which made things worse (I don't want to repeat it but I'll give anything a try) I do have antibiotics now. He gave me amoxicillian which means I'll be back in the office in two weeks but whatever!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqjLpGYn85eGJiqNlDU69jIXf4JguASucKSh1KElLSFlurpzP8QkoXkmGAiU44YET5mvQvZqI5vS55sF7mu6td9puHUXl3f0mktMj-9CM73p87ZWC9DMpAqBLqnL8lP8Ng_-RIwvaocek/s1600/IMG_0069%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqjLpGYn85eGJiqNlDU69jIXf4JguASucKSh1KElLSFlurpzP8QkoXkmGAiU44YET5mvQvZqI5vS55sF7mu6td9puHUXl3f0mktMj-9CM73p87ZWC9DMpAqBLqnL8lP8Ng_-RIwvaocek/s320/IMG_0069%255B1%255D.jpg" width="289" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Now I can concentrate on my homework that's due Sunday. :/ LOL So here comes the happy ending. I drank half a bottle of really great red wine (Cabernet Franc from Three Rivers Winery) from Walla Walla, Washington. While consuming this amazing-ness, I also ate 3/4 of a tub of Stonemill jalapeno and artichoke dip with Juanita's corn chips. I also downed a 44 oz. fountain Diet Pepsi. Don't judge it was grrrreat! For those of you who have not tried this combo I strongly advise it. It made my stressful and crappy week sooooo much better.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>My soap products came yesterday too so I will have a post up about those soon. Have a great weekend!Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05922715446678718434noreply@blogger.com0