Travel… I am not sure what else to title this.

I started out a few days ago wanting to title this blog from snow shoes to flip flops in two days flat. Well that title quickly became obsolete once my journey south began. Let’s just start from the beginning last week I was in the cold, icy and harsh climate of Des Moines IA, quite a destination I know. I had some meetings there for work. Then on Monday I and the hubs were to head south for a bit of break from the winter. He headed off to Puerto Rico to work, while headed off to northern Chile for work as well. Of course the hubs has no trouble getting to his destination and has been there for a few days now. Me on the other hand, I have yet to make it to my destination. I was supposed to depart Kansas City on Monday January 25, 2010 and be in Arica Chile by early afternoon on Tuesday January 26, 2010. Well it is currently Wednesday January 27, 2010 at 8:37p.m. and I am sitting in the airport in Santiago Chile, with a flight scheduled to leave for Arica Chile at 10:50p.m.and arrive in Arica at get this 1:35a.m. on Thursday January 28, 2010 if this flight leaves on time it will be the first of my four days worth of travel. I won’t go in to all the gory details because those who know them told me I should have just went back home but lets just say it has been a long trip.




Oh and on a side note I believe I am beginning to smell I haven’t showered or slept since Tuesday.

And no pictures because my camera just died!

Cold Winter Night…

What is a dog like Gabby supposed to do on a cold winter’s night, stay out in the cold? Or should she convince her owner that she really should be allowed to come home and bring a great friend. Lucky for Gabby and her friend Norm the Hubs is a sucker for dogs. I thought when the front door opened I was seeing double but realized that Hubs had gotten played by two big sad eyed yellow labs.

Norm decides to warm up and take it easy.

Gabby isn't having Norm napping in her spot. Norm appears a bit frightened.

Norm decides he will go let big bro Zach know about this disturbing situation.

Zach must have advised him to confront her about her rude behavior. It appears that maybe she is feeling guilty.

Apparently there is enough room for both the friends; I guess Gabby's decision to bring Norm home wasn't so bad after all.

Warm and Hearty...

It was my goal this year to start utilizing my Crockpot more. I mean with my crazy work schedule and the Hubs busy taking care of piggy’s you never know what time we might get home to eat supper together. Plus I just love the smell of something being cooked in the Crockpot when I walk into the house. This recipe is really quite hearty and it makes a large batch that is great for leftovers or to freeze.

Old Fashioned Crockpot Beef Stew

2 Tbsp Flour

1lb Beef Stew Meat

2 Tbsp Cooking Oil

2 Cups Vegetable Juice (I use V8)

1 Cup Beef Broth

1 Medium Onion (Cut into thin wedges)

1 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce

1 ½ Tsp Beef Bouillon Granules

1 Tsp Italian Seasoning

¼ Tsp Black Pepper

3 Cups Cubed Potatoes

3 Carrots Sliced

2 Cups Green Peas

Place Flour in a plastic bag season with salt and pepper. Add meat cubes, a few at a time shaking to coat. In a large skillet heat oil to a medium heat add meat and brown. Layer meat and vegetables (except peas) in large Crockpot. Mix vegetable juice beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, beef granules, Italian seasoning, and pepper; pour over meat and vegetables. Cook for 7-8 hours on the low setting add peas in the last hour.

You must serve this recipe with some form of bread here I made herb covered dinner rolls (recipe to come later). The Hubs thoroughly enjoys this with cornbread. Hope you will give this one a try!

What you bring back from vacation…

My parents just got back from a week long vacation in Hawaii. This was their first big vacation, just the two of them, in a long time. They were quite excited about the chance to get away for a bit, not to mention it was crazy negative temperatures around here so they were looking forward to the sun. From the sound of things they had a great time, the pictures were very beautiful but a few caught my eye.

My conservative modest parent, crazy new tattoos??? No but they thought the fake ones were fun for a few days. We are so happy that they had a great time and hoping maybe they will take us with them next time!

Oh Baby!!!

Look at these cuties! Over the past week we have had several new additions to the farm family. And oh boy are they cute. The cold weather has been a bit rough on them, but the hubs is like the postal service come rain come snow come sleet come hail he is always ready to deliver and care for new babies. He even brings a few of them into our house to warm up, I think it is fun, Gabby is not so sure. Enjoy the pictures!

Who are you looking at!!!

These little guys had to come inside and warm up for a few minutes

Getting a bit to eat from mamma!

Mamma wasn't too sure about the camera taking shots of her little ones.

Cabin Fever…

Over the past week the temperatures around here and basically everywhere else have been quite cold and when I say cold I mean like single digits. I love snow and I love winter but I do believe these temps are a bit to the extreme. Well the weather not only makes life rough for us human it is also quite hard on the animals, our piggies are not excluded from the group. The past day or so we have been experiencing a bit of a warm up temps in the twenties (wow!). I guess this is ever making our sows feel a bit friskier. The hubs said this was the sight he saw as he moved toward the sow pen this morning.

We are ready for our close up!

Oh I was so proud of the hubs for promptly taking this picture and sending it to me I sent him out with the camera to get some shots of the new litters of pigs we have been having. Sorry the cold is a bit too much for me to want to get out and take the cuties pictures. So with a little luck we will have pictures of them tomorrow.