Down the Road We Went

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Every fall I pack my bags and head home to Tennessee to visit my parents and the rest of my family. You see I am the only one in several generations to move more than an hour away. I moved across the country. Which might as well be across the world to my family. However in the fall I go home ALONE! You may think well that’s weird, but I leave my kids, the fabulous grandkids at home to attend school and allow them and their busy schedules to mix with my husband. It is a lovely experience for them trust me. I on the other hand get to spend uninterrupted time with my mom and dad. It is fabulous.

Well mom and I have become quite the knitters. She picked up her needles after close to a 50 year hiatus last November on our girls trip and I started this past July. She is a little deeper into it than me mostly because she lives so close to yarn stores and knitting classes that she is always doing something. For me Ravelry and You Tube are my closest friends.

Now to say we are excited about yarn is an understatement. We love it like a baby seeing the bottle headed his way. The excitement that emerges right when we walk into a new yarn store, is like nothing you can compare. The rush of colors and textures. Well it’s enough to cause at least small heart palpitations! It is just so fun.

Now we have yarn at home. We have yarn in bags we take with us everywhere. We have projects started and projects almost finished and finished projects. However the excitement of finding a new more beautiful yarn is exhilarating.

I am beginning to think we are moving toward yarn hoarders from simple yarn collectors. Mom however is so organized I could vomit. She puts her skeins of yarn with the chosen pattern into ziplock bags so she is ready for her next project to start. I mean she buys yarn with a project in mind. Crazy! My yarn stash looks like a store. I think I could actually open one. I have no idea what I am making. I just like yarn and I buy a skein or two. The majority of my projects are hats. (Well we live in Wyoming on a ranch. We work outside everyday. The kids have recess at school unless it is below zero, so a multitude of hats, scarfs, and cowls is essential. Well I can justify it anyway.) With making hats I only need one skein, so I’m okay with my stash. If I start making big things well I will be in trouble, but for now I’m good. I can usually find a fun hat pattern and then look for the yarn in my ever growing plethora of spun wool. I love wool. It is so soft and warm and I love sheep. Therefore I love sheep ranchers and I need to support them and buy more wool! Wow see how that all just worked out. I should buy some wool yarn today.

Well if you are a yarn shopper as I am. You have heard of a yarn crawl. Yes, YARN CRAWL! It is a fabulous little idea where yarn stores team up at certain times if the year and give away prizes. You travel to each store on the list collecting a stamp from each one and your name goes in for drawings. Sound Fun? Well it is! Wish we had one in Wyoming. I would do it like every month! I would be so broke I would have to go work for the sheep ranchers so I could buy more. Anyway when I went home it was already over.

Mom and I cleared up our disappointment like big girls and did what only grown ups do. We made our own! That’s right. We traveled all around East Tennessee and western North Carolina visiting so many yarn stores. We had a blast. I drove and mom finished so many of her projects I almost demanded a switch. But, she does have more projects started and I hate unfinished projects. I will say we saw some of the best stores ever and met some of the nicest people.

My mom works midnights at a hospital, so you can imagine that when she is off work she doesn’t exactly go to bed early. After a long day of driving and shopping, we would come home, unload our purchases and knit! Yes knit! I spent more time on Ravelry than I knitted, but it was productive. We would knit until around 2 or 3 am and then turn in. My dad would also stay up reloading bullets. He was our supper in the middle of the night guy. It had been years since I had Taco Bell at midnight.

My trip came to an end and I returned to ranch life and my knitting has slowed down due to cattle work. Mom however has taken several more classes and finished a few more projects. Next time I think we should hire a driver so we can both knit as we travel. That would is a splendid idea and down the road we would go just as happy as can be
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We are Artists! Well maybe.

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I have been envious of so many people that have been going to Casper to the Artisian Alley and doing a paint class. I signed the kids and I up and away we went. It was such fun. They walked us through step by step the entire time listening to great music. You could even enjoy a glass of wine while you’re painting.

We are already signed up again for next months family painting. If you have one of these studios in your area I Highly recommend that you go.

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Well It Happens!

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I was careful. I mean careful.  When hunting season rolled around I made sure to keep them separated.  I didn’t want an accident or to have a huge problem again.  I really am not wanting to repeat the spring.  On the last day, of the last group of hunters. It happened. Yes, I let Jipsey out side and put Joe into the storage room of our basement. (Did I mention that they have the bar type door handles that you just have to push down to open? Well they do and Joe can open them!) I put Jipsey back upstairs, closed the door to the basement and headed over to cook cinnamon rolls for the hunters.

What a great day. The guys all left. They were a great group of hunters from Ohio. Mark and JJ were cleaning up the blinds and I headed back home to. . .   Yep you guessed it and dog with a wet behind.  I didn’t see them together. I didn’t see the deed. However I guessed my future was grim.  Oh how could I do this.

Well we are now about 2 weeks away from welcoming Jipsey’s 2nd litter of puppies. I know I am glutton for punishment. I am so praying, and praying that this litter is downsized from the 11 she produced in March.  I thought of having her fixed right after it happened. However when I emailed the owners of the puppies they all seemed so happy with them.  There were a few that have a little hyperness to them, but alas they are 7 months old.  Most are working cattle or sheep and learning quickly the rules of their ranches.

I have the pool already set up in the back room and we are in a tizzy of waiting. Jipsey is busy sleeping and eating. She has been quite upset the last couple of days because I put her on mandatory maternity leave from working cattle.  Last week while working calves, one jumped over her and landed on her back leg.  I was so scared it was going to hit right on her stomach. Therefore she is done until after the pups are born.  She doesn’t like it and makes sure that we know she doesn’t like it.

These pups will be ready to go at Christmas and this time we are keeping one. YEAH!!! I can’t wait.  The next time she comes into heat I will listen and put one in the horse trailer to stay until it is over.  But there is no going back and they will be here soon. I think I am a little calmer and Jipsey is definitely a little calmer.

Watch for pictures soon.

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Obsessive? Maybe…

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You know when you start out to learn something new and you plan to just dabble in it a little. You in no way plan to become obsessed or purchase any and all things associated with this said hobby.  I mean you plan to just find something to fill those few moments in time when you have time to learn. It’s good for the brain,  right?!

In the fall of 2012 I decided to learn to crochet. My good friend Mandy, (the one that knows how to do everything!), crochets all the time. She whips out these cute little blankets, outfits, hats, etc, etc, etc,.. Yeah, Yeah she is one of those.  Well I was just entering the first fall of my teaching hiatus.  I needed to learn something. I needed to grow my mind! I needed to not be still.  So with that eager yearning to learn I decided to you tube how to crochet.  I immediately learned to chain, then to single crochet. I was so proud.  Then Mandy informed me of a thing called double crochet. Mastered it!!

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This is a small, small, like only 1/16 of my yarn stash. I had just finished winding it all up. Well with the aid of the new gadget. LOL

Well with crochet comes the dreaded trip to the nearest yarn store.  I dreaded it. I mean piles of yarn. That can’t be as fun as a fabric store.  Well HOLD EVERYTHING! Have you seen these yarns? Have you felt the yarns that they make? There are so many choices of fiber, color, how it’s dyed, weight, and companies.  How does a semi sane person choose? It’s hard and then you grab as many as you possibly can. I like to buy any that I feel are beautiful or soft or pretty, or just because.  So yes, I buy anything that grabs my eye. I literally mean anything!

I perfected my crochet for awhile. I really liked learning to make new things with crochet. It is fun. I was feeling pretty confident. I was now able to read patterns and knew most stitches. Mandy and I would have our crochet time. It is a special bond between master and apprentice.

My mom and I went on our girls trip last fall. On this trip I reintroduced my mom to yarn stores and knitting.  She had been on a break for about 50 years and was willing to start again.  As my mom learned more and more. It became apparent.  I was holding a secret. It was bubbling to the surface at every chance. In the yarn stores I would see knitted patterns and people knitting.  I longed to learn to knit. It was so pretty and soft and the stitches looked so sophisticated and fun.  Don’t get me wrong I love crochet and love how it looked. However I really like the look of knit on certain things better than crochet. It just looks nicer to me. But it has to be so hard. My cousin’s wife Jennifer, (the master of things at home in TN), was a great knitter. She was eagerly pulling me to learn.

As I longed to learn I visited yarn stores wherever I was or when I had time. Then I found a company called YarnBox! I ran across this site on Facebook. Can you believe they have a yarn delivery service!! Oh My!! Now once a month I receive 2-3 skeins of fabulous yarn along with patterns.  It is the most amazing thing ever.

I may or may not have a small obsession with yarn. My office is slowly being taken over by yarn and yarn contraptions.  I mean I can not simply ball my yarn, when there is a fabulous tool for that. I purchased the necessary tools to make yarn cakes. Oh the fun!!

I always have lots of help with my new gadgets.
I always have lots of help with my new gadgets.

As I learn more about knitting, I am stocking up on more and more yarn. At some point I should probably open a store. I mean how in the world will I use up all this yarn. But to actually get rid of this would be impossible. My only option is to knit and crochet faster and use up my stash.

On Friday I am off to learn to Fair Isle Knit in Nebraska.  So the adventure continues. I think that there will be yarn to buy at the Fiber Fair!!!

 

Pound Cake? Recipe Anyone?

wyranchwife4 Comments

My son has entered the county fair in cooking. He is dead set on entering a pound cake. It can contain no cream cheese.

 

Anyone have an award winning recipe they would like to share? I’m desperate he has to enter it on the 18th of July and I am running out of time to find a recipe and to taste test one.

All help will be taken!!

Summertime Supper

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When summertime finally creeps its way into my world. I try to think of easy and fun things to cook. When the temperatures rise it is very hard to think of cooking a huge meal that not only heats up the house but weighs on your stomach.

I have found that this simple meal is refreshing and light. When the kids head to Tennessee to stay with my parents. I get to take a vacation from the heavy cooking and my husband and I can eat a very light meal. The kids would never touch tomatoes and it works perfect for us. Settle down with this light meal and a glass of wine. Perfect for any summertime evening dreaming of the return of fall and winter!

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Bruschetta

  • Servings: 3-4
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Print

1 loaf of french bread, sliced into 6-8 slices 1/2 inch thick

olive oil

2 medium tomatoes

6-8 basil leaves or dehydrated basil

fresh mozzarella

Salt and pepper

  • Chop the tomatoes and basil into small pieces.  Drizzle with olive oil and add salt and pepper to taste. Stir to combine.
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  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Slice the french bread about 1/2 inch thick and place on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil. Place spoonfuls of the tomato mixture onto each piece of bread. Top with sliced mozzarella.
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  • Bake until cheese is melted and heated through.
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  • Serve immediately.

Enjoy!

Attempt One and going!

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I have decided to learn to knit. I love crochet and feel pretty confident with it, but i want to be able to knit. I visited two amazing yarn stores in Laramie over the past several days while my daughter was attending their volleyball camp. during these visits it juzt became so clear that I need more to do and shoukd therefore take up the challenge of teaching myself to knit. I left the Cowgirl Yarn store armed with a skein of yarn, a pattern, and some needles. I have watched several videos online and so far feel pretty good with my progress. Hopefully soon I will have a finished hat.

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Well things are progressing nicely with this hat. I have a few holes from dropping a stitch and doing some weird thing. However ripping down to that and fixing it as my mother suggested is DEFINITELY not going to happen.  What happens in the knitting stays in the knitting in my book.   So I keep going. I have lost the pattern and will be calling the Cowgirl Yarn store ASAP today.

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We’ll I am finished! It came along pretty quick and I really enjoyed the knitting. I guess now I have to begin a new hat.

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Oh Winter I will Miss you!

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When most people are looking forward to warm weather, shorts, and grilling. I am counting the days till Fall and winter begin. 

Winter is by far my favorite season. I love the cold weather. I love snow and ice. I love sweaters and warm jackets. But most of all I love cooking in the winter. I mean who doesn’t right.  Soups, stews, and hearty dishes to warm tummies and hearts. There is just something about chopping up vegetables for a great soup that truly touches my soul. I just enjoy it.  We have had another cold snap that came through and I was able to get in one more soup last night. I made ham and potato and let me say it was divine!   Cooking is one of my all time favorite past times. If I could serve people out of my home I swear I would open a restaurant. However I would then have to cook and clean continuously and as much as I love cooking, cleaning is not my favorite. If it is yours, let me know I will give you my address.

The other thing I love about winter is that life on the ranch slows down.  We bring cows home from the mountain in November and life seems to gain a sense of normalcy.  The kids are not involved in anything that requires the constant driving to town, so we are able to relax and enjoy family time. This is also the time that we go on vacations and travel to see family.  Every other year we venture across the country to my family in Tennessee. It is a wonderful car ride and the kids are very good.  They have been making this trip since they were 6 months old and really are great travelers.  If I had to say it, which I will, they are much better than their father about driving without stopping.  

As we round the new year I begin dreading the months to come. It just seems that once it starts it doesn’t stop until November. Here is a sneak at our calendar. It is probably pretty close to what every rancher does but in case you aren’t a rancher here it is.

  • ‘Calving our heifers begins at end of February
  • Cows begin calving toward the end of March.
  • Branding the calves starts in May.  We have three large brandings and then several small ones to catch all the late calvers.
  • In May we spaying the yearling heifers that we are not keeping.
  • Yearling steers need EID tags
  • Heifers get shots and then we begin AI’ing them at the end of May.
  • Bulls need tested to ensure they are in working order ! LOL
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    Trailing heifers up the mountain. Day 2 of three 2013.
  • The last weekend of May we will trail the yearling heifers up the mountain to summer pasture. This takes 3 days and is a fun time for everyone. We are tired but enjoy it, well we enjoy it if the weather is nice.
  • The kids 4-H steers need feed daily from January through fair in July. They must also teach them to lead and be handled.
  • The cow/calf pairs must be trucked up the mountain from the north ranch to summer pasture.
  • Fence must be fixed at all locations. On the mountain the elk bring havoc on the fences. There are times we fix them only to return the next day to wires broke and more work than the day before.
  •  We take archery Antelope and deer hunters around the middle of August. This means that the hunting house must be cleaned, linens washed, and food purchased for the hunters.  It is 2-3 weeks of very early mornings and late nights. But it is so much fun and we meet the nicest people.
  • Kids begin school and fall sports in August.
  • On the mountain cows and heifers are moved to different pastures.
  • Weaning takes place and the calves are brought off the mountain. 
  • We truck or trail the cows home from the mountain depending on weather in October or November.  Last year we trucked them home due to the traffic and construction that our town has begun to see due to the oil boom.  Trailing takes a week to get the cows home.
  • Ultrasounding the cows will be done to ensure pregnancy.

Then it relaxes.  Yes it slows down.  It is fall. It is chilly outside and I am cooking soups and stews. I can’t wait. We are only like 24 weeks away from fall and cool weather, and maybe snow.  I can’t wait.