Double Nickel Farm

Something to Think About

2012-01-28T10:30:00.004-05:00

I finally realized why so many kids from farms go into the Army-

wait for it...

It will make you smile...

and has much truth in it...

and farm kids all over will smile...

the reason so many farm kids go in the Army...is because they want to sleep in!!!

Conservatives are dumb

2012-01-27T21:00:00.009-05:00

Well isn't that quaint?

How incredible in an election year to have a study prove that it is a mental defect to be conservative~

Low-intelligence adults tend to gravitate toward socially conservative ideologies, the study found. Those ideologies, in turn, stress hierarchy and resistance to change, attitudes that can contribute to prejudice,

The strategy of the liberal is clever isn't it?

For those that wish not to be seen as racist, intolerant, and dumb this is a brilliant strategy.

So lets recap: conservatives are dumb.

Signed,
Conservative me

Friday Five

2012-01-27T10:11:00.006-05:00

Friday randomness would be a better title! I love reading as I have shared, and recently I began reading about Gees Bend. Have you ever heard about Gees Bend? It is most famous for the quilts made by the local women. Sometimes I tug at a string of information and see where it unravels. Look at this amazing quilt!! I love the quilts of Gees Bend, as they create how I live. I found this quilt as a result of a Google search for images of the quilts. You see the false images of advertising have convinced us to seek perfection in our homes, our bodies, and our families.

I hope that when folks read my blog, they understand this. I refuse to accept the standards set by the world. Our homes are to be lived in, comfortable and safe. Our bodies are to be as we were designed, and not chiseled into some unisex creature without an ounce of softness or beauty. Oh and our bodies should not become the newest billboard~we are wonderful in our uniqueness already. I also see our families as gifts. We should enjoy the time we have with them, as not everyone is fortunate to have a mother, father, or children. I grew up without a father and I truly understand. Who says is my rule. Who says that a couple married 23 plus years can no longer hold hands? Because here~in my world, I hold my Bill's hand when we go somewhere. I hug him often much to the embarrassment of the children. We enjoy each others company and time and the hatred the media presents towards family and men does not impact us at all. I value my spouse. I do not see him as the village idiot, for goodness sakes, and I love knowing my role at home has been appreciated. Sigh~I could go on you know. I love how men and women can absolutely complement each other.

Next photo, when traveling for days on end and the vehicle looks like a mini dumpster-it is best to be incognito!
I found this photo from my trip last year to Indiana, then NY with two of the kids. This person is the mystery traveler!! Mystery or not, we enjoyed this traveler and I am so happy I found this photo to share!!

As this Friday Five continues~my Second has continued the pattern that we set. He bought his first vehicle Thursday after much searching. He knew what he wanted and patiently(well kind of) waited.
Like his other brothers, he saved until he had enough cash. We have worked very hard to teach the kids to pay cash for as much as you can, as the credit option is not a winning option for anyone but the banks. I know we have sold this big time to America~but on the farm we prefer to live by paying cash for everything we own. Keeps us current in case, heaven forbid something bad would happen~such as what happened to Bill. Remember the quilt above~homes do not need to be mausoleums for love, happiness and joy to exist. In fact, the burden of debt and the pressure of keeping up with the Jones' seems to help our nation slip into this current economic state.

Love technology photo~While waiting for our oldest the other day, Bill was texting the others to make sure everything was going smoothly at home. He then texted the oldest too.
It sure is funny how easy we have crossed over to an entirely new way to communicate. I do love technology for this instant connection! I know my kids and Bill are laughing now as my texting abilities are well...not so fast. And I sometimes send when I mean to put a space, so they will receive a half text~and not question me, as it is me!!!

Now~about the advertising that I mention many times on this blog. The media is not a truth machine...sorry.
I found this photo on Weasel Zippers. Do you see the lie? Let's see if I can help you. The Roe V. Wade decision took place in 1973. We have had Nixon(1 yr.), Ford(3 yrs.), Reagan(8 yrs.), Bush(4 yrs), G.W Bush( 8 yrs), all Republicans-for a total of 24 years of Republican presidents. Now lets add up the years for Democrats-Carter(4 yrs), Clinton( 8yrs), and Obama so far 3 years-for a total of 15 years. Sorry folks this is a LIE. Seems like Roe V. Wade is supported by both parties. The media divides to get us riled up....oh my the Republicans are waging war on women! And we have forgotten ever so nicely, the aborted baby-and the war waged on babies in the womb. Please remember this: like our tax code-which is over twenty thousand pages, the abortion issue is what it is~because our government leaders want it to be this way. Sorry. This is the truth. Same with taxes. If taxes were less complicated-they couldn't shift our hard earned money into program after program.

By the way-we do have a war going on since 1973, and it is horrific-I wonder if we will ever have a campaign or tee-shirts for that?

I wish to close today reminding everyone that the Double Nickel Farm gives bibles away. We have plenty of them and order more all the time. Please feel free to link to the giveaway page here or, if you would like leave a message requesting a Bible today.

Dates

2012-01-26T10:25:00.004-05:00

Yesterday Bill had another appointment in El Paso, Texas. Since our oldest is now stationed at Fort Bliss, every time we go, we meet up with him. Yesterday I decided something that makes me smile.

It was all because our time with First last night. We went to dinner with him and stopped off at Costco. It was a date(corny to say) with our son. I loved this idea so much I am going to plan a date per week each month with each of the children(young adults). It is so nice to sit across the table and talk. I was smiling last night during our dinner with First, as I was so amazed to hear his thoughts, dreams, and more importantly of his day. I never thought when a new momma, that someday, I would have moments like these, and while I can, I will make every opportunity possible to continue to be amazed by these goofs that Bill and I have been so blessed to raise. They have made life so incredible that my eyes well up as I type. I cannot believe I have been so fortunate to see them reach each stage in their lives and look forward to the years ahead.

So my handsome Firstborn-thank you for our dinner date last night. You make me so proud~ Dad and I love you so much~ and as always the newest trends begin with you. Thanks for the inspiring idea!!

We Interrupt This Post: Update at Bottom

2012-01-25T09:24:00.010-05:00

for a message about reading. We are all avid readers on the farm. Therefore we have many books.
This photo was from our annual 2009 kids photo~and was titled The End~in front of the bookshelves in the front room. Before the internet~one could still travel the world and learn about anything and everything, by opening a book. A book takes the reader through time, places them in another's shoes, and allows the reader to take the words and create the set.

Many discussions around the table begin after we watch a movie based upon a book. Almost all of the conversation is because the readers were disappointed with the movie because the movie did not match up to the way they saw the book.

I have made reading a part of the children's lives from birth. I have read to them while they were babies, read poetry to them during lunchtime, and Bill would read the Bible to them in the evenings. Bill also read most of the condensed classics to the children at bedtime. He would come home during bedtime(he was a police officer) and read to them and head back to work. He read Moby Dick, The Three Musketeers, David Copperfield, and War of the Worlds to name a few. I would sit in the family room and listen to him change his voice for different characters and hear the children giggle and I would smile.

The kitchen table always had a pile of books in the center and for breakfast-usually self serve, the children would read while eating. Each child has their own likes and dislikes and we promoted the direction each child headed all the while allowing opportunities to read anywhere and everywhere in the home. Yes, even in the second library, if you know what I mean. One time, when one of the boys was small he called out to me and asked me to bring him the book on dinosaurs~while he was on the throne! I took him the book smiling all the way. When we took road trips each kid would take a few books to read.

I share this because the books are for everyone. We all should make time to read. It is restful and takes our minds off of things and is very relaxing.

I have a mini list of books to share that I have loved reading:

The Bible-there are 66 books inside
The poetry of Robert Frost
Anything written by Mark Twain- his short stories are wonderful.
The Little House series. I have read and reread these books many times. Life can be as simple and as loving as the way Laura Ingalls Wilder shared in her collection.
The Great Brain series. This series has a boy as the lead character and it takes place in Utah around the turn of the 19th to 20th century. Like the Little House series, the books are wholesome, fun, and great reads for children as well as adults.
Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle
Cookbooks-especially those written before the 1960's
Peterson Field Guides-you can read about anything in your region
Historical books I try and gather the older books as less revisionist history occurred.
For quick read the Louis Lamour books. Lamour wrote of the old west, cowboys, Indians, and pioneer stock.

That is a short list including books for the young and old alike. I would hope everyone would have a chance today to pick up a book and escape for a while!

UPDATE: I loved all the comments that had so many suggestions of other great books that I am going to compile a post of readers favorites and suggestions, so feel free to leave more if you wish~

Jennifer

What? No more Checkers?

2012-01-22T19:38:00.015-05:00

Sadly, a farm symbol-the checkered floor, is no more. Our oldest son came home this weekend and helped the others remove the flooring and replace it with stronger sub~flooring.

We are finally ready to put tile in the dining room and kitchen...

What do you think of the tile we selected?

Update on Laundry Room

2012-01-20T13:52:00.009-05:00

Building an addition is not as hard as I thought. The ceiling was the hardest and then the walls, as I wanted them to be perfect.

I also wished for the floor to be the kind of floor that matched the southwest. I hope you like my new laundry room!

Here is where I began the addition.
Getting the walls perfect was somewhat tricky.
Oh and the ceiling?! Sky blue paint is not as easy to find as one would assume. And I am all for staging the room to make it feel the way I desired when I built it.

So same photo sharing all the perks of my laundry room remix. First if I feel like I need a mini workout, I have built in pull-up bars. I can also attach a toddler swing when little ones visit. My laundry table was hard to find, but once I found it, the rest of the room fell into place. The Bible verse is inspirational-and I read it every time I go to the laundry room. Note the purse. My former lovely clothespin bag was to die for on the farm...and Delilah had to have it. I left it out one night and she teethed on it. So now the clothespins are housed neatly in a purse that I kind of liked but had not used...hey what new laundry room can't use a timeless classic such as a brown handbag?

The clear divisions of my laundry room still keep up to date with the open house feel we have seen in floor~plans of the 21st century. I worked very hard to make sure that if, Mr. Farmer and I were ever to sell, the additions would be modern yet simple. Another important factor when considering the efficiency of an addition to the laundry room was how much energy was available and how much would be used? Our climate is very similar to this site, and it boast 350 days of sunshine. Energy use-pretty much nothing, except Farmer's wife, which is great because natural vitamin -excellent, and physical labor-magnificent!

So recapping the building project. I had an unfinished laundry room for a good while and decided it was time to complete the project. My laundry room makeover did not cost a single penny!

In case you are wondering what scripture is on the gate: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matthew 7:14

This, That and The Other

2012-01-19T21:50:00.008-05:00

The weather in New Mexico has been lovely and so I have been enjoying January days and less online. I do have a few things to share about this, that and the other...

Nothing special about popcorn~usually~but this popcorn is from my food storage and is 4 years old. So how did it taste? Absolutely delicious and fresh! I did not buy any special prepacked popcorn. I bought 50 lbs of popcorn~stored it in the freezer for 48 hours, and then packed the corn in a food grade bucket. I picked up my bucket from a local restaurant(free), washed it and sealed the corn in it. The lids still have the O rings which allow for the lid to be closed tightly.

Dinner tonight was chicken wraps, Spanish rice, and beans. What is special about this meal is that we eat this style meal often~beans, rice and tortillas. The wraps were filled with cooked chicken, spinach, tomatoes, avocados, and cheese~

This photo was taken in June. Third and itty bitty Samson.

This photo I took the other day, that Great Pyrenees grow so fast continues to amaze me!

The other thing happening on the farm is that I built a larger laundry room! Me~all by myself! I will take photos to share so please stay tuned!

Oh that's okay, I make lamb*

2012-01-17T20:44:00.010-05:00

This is my second post title using a quote from the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding. I am more familiar with recipes using beef and chicken, so cooking with lamb is experimental for me. We have made lamb chops several times in the past and each time we make it, the chops are a big hit. Now I am getting more familiar cooking with ground lamb. Tonight, I made a spaghetti dinner using ground lamb.

The menu was: Spaghetti,
Spinach and Greens salad,
Toasted French bread with a garlic herb butter

Dessert: Cheatin' Peach Cobbler

In case you wish to know how I prepared the meal, here is what I did tonight:

First I browned the ground lamb, with a bit of cumin, onion powder, and garlic salt.

Then I made my totally easy spaghetti sauce. The base is 3 or 4 cans of tomato sauce and a few tablespoons of seasoning mix.

I have a master mix of seasonings for the sauce:
minced onion~ 1 TBSP
parsley~1 TBSP
cornstarch~1TBSP
salt~1 TBSP
garlic powder~ 1/4 tsp
sugar~1 tsp
basil~1/4 tsp
thyme~1/4 tsp
sage~1/4 tsp
marjoram~1/4 tsp
oregano 1/4 tsp

I multiply this by six when I make up the master mix. Then I add a few tablespoons to the sauce, judging by how the seasoning looks. Slow cook over medium-low for a while, then add the browned meat.

For the salad, I have to confess that we are a picky group. Each person loves to have it their way~so I wash the spinach and greens and prep the sides and allow the family to have a mini salad bar! For dressings we use red wine vinegar and Balsamic Vinegar.

The Cheatin' Peach Cobbler is easy~
I have a master mix for homemade Bisquick too:
9 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
2 cups shortening
3 TBSP baking powder
1 TBSP salt

I keep this in the freezer and use the recipe which is the Strawberry Shortcake from the box(Bisquick). I call it cheatin' because I cheat and use this recipe and instead of strawberries I use peaches.

(2~ 15 oz. cans peaches)
2/3 cup sugar
2 1/3 cup Bisquick(or the mix)
3 TBSP sugar
3 TBSP margarine or butter -- melted
1/2 cup milk

After the ingredients I change everything. So here is what I do:

Mix everything but the peaches together. It makes a stiff dough. Kind of roll/flatten into several dumpling style thingies! Put the peaches in a pan, plop the dumpling things on, sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar and bake.

Preheat oven to 425 F until the dough is cooked.

I serve this in a bowl with milk~and I love it.

To continue with being frugal here on the farm, I remove the labels from the canned goods. I use these for projects around the house, like the photo of our second freezer. It was a tad old and beat up, and now I have a Warhol~ one of a kind freezer.
Excuse the photo...it was off the cell phone. This post shares a bit more about my frugal ways. In years past folks would not call me frugal but thrifty, as I use each item in the house to the max, thereby stretching the ever shrinking dollar.

*this will be a recurring title!

Anything But

2012-01-17T10:31:00.007-05:00

I found tweet this on Weasel Zippers.

Pro~choice-

1. advocating a woman's right to control her own body (especially her right to an induced abortion).

2. supporting or advocating legalized abortion.

Was it sexy when Hitler rounded up the Jews? Can you imagine if Twitter existed then?

RT if you think the #extermination of the Jew is #sexy.
Think about it. Hitler was advocating his right to control his own country.
Sexy? 6 million Jews were exterminated because they were in the way of his extermination plan.

Now let's go back, especially since some may be reading this and shaking their heads saying this is not the same as being pro-choice. I disagree. 50 million babies have been aborted since Roe V Wade-

Pro-choice is also racist:

Minority women constitute only about 13% of the female population (age 15-44) in the United States, but they underwent approximately 36% of the abortions.

According to the Alan Guttmacher Institute, black women are more than 5 times as likely as white women to have an abortion
This incidence of abortion has resulted in a tremendous loss of life. It has been estimated that since 1973 Black women have had about 16 million abortions. Michael Novak had calculated "Since the number of current living Blacks (in the U.S.) is 36 million, the missing 16 million represents an enormous loss, for without abortion, America's Black community would now number 52 million persons. It would be 36 percent larger than it is. Abortion has swept through the Black community like a scythe, cutting down every fourth member."(Bold added by me)(link)

Pro-choice is anything but sexy.

Abortion has exterminated the equivalent of the populations of all the states in black.

Sexy-

1.sexually attractive,
2.causing feelings of sexual excitement,
3.feeling excited or attractive in a sexual way,
4.INFORMAL-fashionable, or exciting.(source)

I wonder what times we live in, when we are finding something sexy such as being pro-choice. Let's not mince words. Pro-choice is not about planning children at specific times in ones life-no, it is about ceasing the life of the unborn in the womb.

Can you imagine if we had a fashion show and had women wear their aborted fetuses?

photo credit Huffington Post

Now she is wearing 40lbs of flank steak, but you get the idea. Sexy? I think not. Women have bought into aborting their babies because it is sexy, a blob of cells, not life, not viable(nor is an infant without care). We have convinced women to abort babies because it is too costly to raise the child, it is not right on the career path, or because the baby has a genetic defect.

THIS IS NOT SEXY

Our nation has given women the ULTIMATE authority on life. We are above men, because when we kill, it is sexy. When a man does he is a murderer-think that this is not true? Ask Scott Peterson. He is on death row because of the multiple murders(2-the wife Lacy and the unborn child).

We have changed the meanings of words...and confused those that are feeling vulnerable: the poor, the young, and even those with changes in their hormones. Abortion is not sexy. Pro-choice is not sexy.

I will close with this: if you or someone you know has had an abortion, I am not condemning with this post. I believe in the saving Grace of Jesus Christ. If you have had an abortion and have been carrying the burden in your heart, it is time to unload your burdens and turn to the Lord. If you have any questions and wish to email me, please do at mcbenningministries(at)yahoo(dot) com.

Jennifer

Kidding?

2012-01-16T10:30:00.012-05:00

This is Nellie, she is a LaMancha goat and is going to kid soon. She is the doe we bought with Norm the buck. Soon we will have goat milk, goat cheese, and frolicking kids jumping on top of everything (note the photo on the top of the blog).
No kidding!

North of the farm is a junkyard. I snapped some photos awhile ago and thought about my Mad Max post and realized I need to share the photos.

Did you know we have dinosaurs in Southern New Mexico?

Well for certain, toppled Rusty Rex dino's! I love the detail with the teeth!

Look at the back! Someone had some creative energy and of course a junkyard at their fingertips~

so they created rusty dino's skinny dino's and more!

No kidding!

So the pups have grown a bit~

2012-01-15T22:32:00.007-05:00

May 5,2011

June 29, 2011

October 9, 2011

January 15, 2012* corrected~I had 2011!!

In Times Like These

2012-01-15T20:06:00.008-05:00

"You've come a long way, baby," was the campaign slogan of Virginia Slims linking smoking "to women's freedom, emancipation, and empowerment."

With the link above I have a few thoughts~

The Titanic sunk almost exactly 100 years ago.

photo credit: Titanic Universe

A disproportionate number of men died due to the women and children first protocol that was enforced by the ship's crew.Of a total of 2,201 people aboard Titanic only 711, less than a third, survived and 1,514 perished.Overall, only 20 percent of the men survived, compared to nearly 75 percent of the women. (source)

The Costa Concordia ran aground and tipped to its side this week.

Photo Credit News Pictures

Survivors have told how people were screaming and women and children were not given priority.

Fathers desperate to be with their families ignored the order that women and children should go first. There was even fighting between some passengers who tried to get on lifeboats.(source)

Now it seems we have come a long way, haven't we baby? I think those on the cruise should be very thankful that the ship was not too far out to sea as the Titanic was, or things may have turned out very differently.

Tired? Weary?

2012-01-15T00:27:00.003-05:00

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:28-30

If you would like a free bible~please leave me a comment here. If you have questions feel free to email mcbenningministries(at) yahoo(dot)com

Why we were busy today...

2012-01-14T20:52:00.017-05:00

well, not because of the farm, but the farm gang was very busy. Three of us headed south.

We had to pass through Oro Grande, New Mexico. Yes, it is a huge community! The traffic was a bit heavy and I was glad I was not driving!

We had to cross into Texas. I love crossing as I am welcomed every time!

We had to stop at the local Super-Center. Not to shop...

but to wait for this car...

and our handsome soldier. He met up with us, and we loaded back up in the truck.

And went to Costco
and then because we were starving,

We went here. The language spoken here is Spanish and the food~delicious.

We were close to Juarez, Mexico, yet have not been there for four years because of the extreme danger of going there. It is known as the Murder Capital of the World. El Paso, Texas, on the other hand is known as one of the safest cities in the US.

We saw many license plates from Mexico. When I lived in Ohio, we saw many Canadian vehicles~always love the things that make each area of the country unique.

We went to the mall. I had fun with these cuties. For the record, I am shorter than Fourth~yes, I know~it is hard to believe! Picked up a part for First's computer and then snapped a photo of...

a mall cop. I couldn't believe it, as I had recently watched the movie Mall Cop!
He could have actually been my grandfather as he was an older fellow, but he was pretty fit.
After the mall, we headed to Fort Bliss

to go to the PX and see some things for First. He is stationed here.

Although it was a wonderful day for us, we are a bit tired. Oh and while we were in El Paso...in New Mexico,

Second(on left) had his final training and is now a Firefighter One for the state! He is 19. But wait there is more~ before he went to training, he had his testing to become a reserve law enforcement officer this morning. He passed and was called during his training, and was hired! He begins reserve training Thursday.

Third could not attend as he was at work. He works in the ER~he is 18. I cannot believe how fast these babies of mine grew up. Seems like yesterday they were playing army, police, fire, and medical people...and today they are living these roles. I am so thankful that I have been able to be a part of their lives and watch them from birth until now(and beyond), as I could not be more happy that these children have all decided to serve in their life choices. I am happy that money has not been their driving force as they selected unique roles. I am pleased that they are able to be in positions to assist others and serve others.

Have a wonderful Sunday~

Saturday on the farm

2012-01-14T10:38:00.008-05:00

Little bit busy today on the farm. I thought I would share a few photos and then off I go!

Here are the puppies~ Delilah and Samson. Aren't they cute?

I borrowed this photo of Samson and my daughter(from her FB page). I love it.

One more of Samson. Little stinker, he loves to wander of the farm. Hope we can train this behavior out of him. Looks like he ate peanut butter or something!

I took this early and the sunrise kind of impacted the photo. How do you know a turkey went by? By his tracks...oh and a few hens, a dog and well this and that too!

In honor of all those planking, we on the farm are hip~now~and with the current trends. Here is planking on the farm. This is a plank path to our garbage area. With the moisture from snow this winter, I am trying to reduce the muck brought in by the family, so I made a plank path. Like the previous photo, I took this early and so the quality is kind of off. (ps...seems like the sheep like the planking too...as they left a raisin trail!)

Have a wonderful Saturday.

Dear Mel I think we found your car

2012-01-13T23:58:00.006-05:00

I had to go to town today, and ended up picking Bill up and running the errands. While out and about we stopped in here and there and ended up pulling over and snapping a photo of Mel Gibson's car. You know~the one from Mad Max.

Well maybe it isn't the car, but it certainly made a couple married many years giggle like school kids. Sometimes life gives you an opportunity to smile...so smile!

Something Old

2012-01-12T22:28:00.004-05:00

My Bill celebrated his birthday a few weeks ago, and I did not share any photos. While sorting my desktop photos I found this one and thought I would share.

Bill is finally as old as me~for six months. Yes, I robbed the cradle. I couldn't help myself.His birthday was December 25 and we always celebrate his birthday with cheesecake. To my Bill I am so glad that the photo is the something old I am sharing, as you are the same as you were the day we met.

How I really feel about the 2012 election cycle

2012-01-12T17:07:00.022-05:00

I had to go into town yesterday and realized that many were wondering how I feel about this candidate or that candidate. As I take you through my day, I will share my thoughts.

Elections in the US have become like sporting events. The masses are divided into two opposing groups and are riled up with slogans, speeches, and mud.

I think often about how easy it is to get the common man divided and fightin'. It is as easy as a hen jumping in the farm truck. This is Rose. I opened my door and then walked around to gather something from the other side. I cannot reach the other side so I must walk around. Rose hopped in. She is the friendliest bird we have had in a while. She will jump up on the porch and peek in the windows and even tried to come in the house once.

We common folks are busy. We have bills to pay, children to raise, and jobs that take us from home at least 40 hours a week without considering drive time. So our elected officials(I see them as the political class-or America's royalty), have to work hard to make us mad at each other, otherwise we will note something very important about them. You see if we do not work and supply money for them via taxes, they cannot live the lives they have become accustomed to. Our elected officials have many perks and they lead us much like these rams that I had to wait for while heading in town.
These rams are armed-in case you missed it, with horns. Our elected officials are armed with our money and fear. They say things that are horrible: Children will starve, racism will increase, the elderly will die-and then blame the other party.

Then they have the masses do their work ensuring that we loose touch with real concerns that our government should be involved in~and voila they are elected. This is Fourth opening the front gate. The basket is for FED EX...as they do not come onto the farm, but leave the package at the gate. Unlike the infamous tossing of a package our delivery guys set the box down and beep if it is large.

As I head off my property I drive on this county road. Note the lack of pavement. This is fine with me. We bought the farm knowing that it was remote. No occupiers here protesting the 1%'ers and paved roads of gold that go directly to their ginormous houses.

Our politicians are wasteful of our money, our time, and of our services. This is the first paved road I hit off the farm. Note the yellow line down the center. We have very little traffic on this road, I used to count the cars and came up with a grand total of 10 cars per day! Yes ensuring that this road has a yellow marker down it, right off an unpaved road...is, well interesting.

In town around 4 pm the traffic became almost unbearable. So many cars going through the intersection! All kidding aside, the presidential campaigns are unbearable. We were not allowed to use President Obama's middle name, mention his attendance in a radical church or any of his friends(that helped launch his political career) because they were linked to terrorism. Oh and we were never allowed to see one college paper, one transcript or any military service he did(because he did not serve). All the while, we are to question whether a Mormon can be president, question the intelligence of the governor from Texas, and read some thoughts by Paul that have some radical things in them. It is unbearable. Oh and what Clinton did with women was his personal matter, but we have to go over and over Newt's marriages and divorces.

I do feel like they are the ones out of touch with the people. Floating in their luncheons, dinners, and fundraisers trying to tell me about how things are for me. Things are fine with me, if all the politicians respect the Constitution. It is not a living document, but I do believe it can be amended. I wish to express that I do not believe any of the politicians will give up any money, or work to remove bills that are already on the books. Yet we the people bicker over Democrat and Republican like we are on a football team...all the while, in plain site our elected officials spend, waste and spend some more. Oh and they do not spend their money. They spend ours. They make sure their money is protected whereas ours is not even guaranteed to go to our children when we die.

Some folks have taken to blogs, Facebook, or Twitter giving shout outs to their guy, and belittling the rest of the folks that do not share the same letter~Democrat or Republican. We need to forget the roaring for one side or other and think very seriously about what we expect of our politicians.

I am one that lives very conservatively and love the code of the old west. Life really is that simple. When others start thinking about how they can spend your money things get muddled up.

Moral character is as important to me in a politician as their political beliefs. But as a nation we have put aside this trait. We have ignored behaviors of our politicians that are bordering on criminal if not criminal.

I am sickened by our politicians. This does not mean I do not pray for them and pray for our nation to get back to our roots. I find every single candidate lacking more than in simple things to become a president. I believe that our nation has stopped promoting good morals and standards and as a result~everything goes.

It is time to be serious. Stop the political nonsense and figure out that most of what our government is doing is wrong. States should decide what goes on in their states. Local communities should decide what local schools teach. Lowering the standards has only produced candidates that are not as much worried about America, as much as they are worried about themselves. I am not interested in this anymore. If the Tea Party is serious then we need to get back to basics...
By the way, on my adventure to town, I found a cute Pyrex bowl. I really love Pyrex and enjoy collecting a piece here and a piece there-but always within my budget. Unlike politicians, here on the farm, I know that when the money runs out I cannot spend any more. So I collect Pyrex-at thrift stores and yard sales. It is wonderful to find a new piece for less than a dollar.

It used to be our citizens understood egg money, putting things up and planning long term. We have disconnected ourselves from our roots and go for flash...or someone that can speak very well, even if using a teleprompter. I think I would like to see a callous or two on the candidates hands. I would like to know if they know how to change a tire. I would like to know if they instilled in their children the hope that America had for so many years. I would like to see if they or their children served this nation. I would like to see the rolls of their families and how they supported their communities- not in uprising and occupying, but by showing up after a crises and helping their neighbors. After Hurricane Katrina, I would like to know how many politicians rolled up their sleeves and helped out their fellow citizens?
Not many, although a large number went to Louisiana to oversee the damage and then come back and blame then President Bush. I think it is time to stop blaming anyone but ourselves. We allowed this to progress to the point where we are electing pain in the fanny~ narcissistic people who want to spend the sweat of my earnings for their programs.

Enough already.
To clear things up~I am sickened by our political system. I say NO MORE. It is time for real hope and real change~unless it is already too late.

Jennifer

New Blogger: link fixed

2012-01-12T14:34:00.004-05:00

A new blogger is sharing her journey becoming self-sufficient and I thought I would share her blog with the readers of the farm. Her post about having to put down a hen really brings to life what we farmers do and the emotions that go with it.

Please jump over to Patti's and welcome her to the blog world and say Jennifer sent ya!

N &P Plum Acres

I can so I can

2012-01-11T10:28:00.011-05:00

The political scene is a bit crazy so I have been posting simple posts about life. Yes I have an opinion. No my vote does not matter. Now before anyone gets up in arms, please recall I live in New Mexico. One does not show identification to vote here~and although I am an optimist, my vote against those that may or may not be legal/alive/or even human is cancelled several times over. Not that my optimism will end, but for today and for the last little bit, I am thinking upon the times and what it will truly take to make a change in America.

Now back to my regularly scheduled blogging post! I have made 2012 the year of the flower and the year I am canning a large volume of our foods. If we cannot eat the foods fresh, then my goal is to preserve the food to eliminate all the extra nonsense added. I cleaned the fridge yesterday which made me realize that it was time to can vegetable stock.

My archaeological dig in the fridge uncovered 1/2 head of lettuce, 1/2 head of cabbage and two carrots that had seen better days. I chopped these items up and added four potatoes, 3 garlic cloves, 2 onions, and some dried parsley. I went back one more time to the archaeological site and discovered 1/2 cup of chopped tomatoes~perfect!

With these items I added 7 quarts of water.

And as I looked upon the veggies I realized I needed more green so I added 1/2 cup of frozen spinach. I simmered these veggies for a good long while.

Then I strained the liquid. Three times.

And look as these veggies. All mushy and ready for the chickies. Well not today as these veggies are going to make something more for the farm! I canned the vegetable stock according to the canning book~food safety is of utmost importance. After simmering the veggies and straining them~
I ended up with 5 quarts of vegetable stock.
Remember these veggies? I added them to 20 lbs of tomatoes and another onion and some salt~

and began simmering tomato vegetable medley juice! It was so amazing to squish and squeeze the veggies one more time and once all was strained (twice),

I ended up with 7 quarts of what can only be described as a V-8* compatible drink!! I am looking forward to the year and what else I am able to can maintaining my frugal lifestyle with taste. (once again follow the book on canning and be sure to add either lemon juice or an equivalent).

Finally, although I was thinking of ways to use the squeezed tomato/veg medley, I opted to toss the tomatoes into the chickidoodles slop bucket!

Oh and have you ever heard of a shortstop? We call a shortstop someone that takes something while the food was being passed to another at dinner. For example, "please pass the peas." As it is passed (to the left) if someone decides they want peas, they say, "shortstop!" While cooking the veggies, both Bill and Fourth shortstopped the canning process, as they could not resist the aromatic flavors wafting around the house. Like always simple things makes me smile on the farm!

Did you ever

2012-01-10T11:41:00.010-05:00

do something because it reminded you of your childhood? My mom made a train set that would fold up on the wall like a Murphy bed. On the bottom she painted every state where each child was born. I loved it. I always knew in my home I would do something like that.

Many years ago we bought a pine table and benches. I began adding where each of us where born and down the center added two food scriptures. I was not a Christian so I used a Bible on hand not knowing the many versions that exist in the world. I have not changed anything aside from adding several years ago all the places we have lived along the edges. Thankfully we have only moved 34 times so the places we lived fit around the edges.*I was playing around on picnik dot com and kind of liked how this showed all the nicks and cuts. This table has been the school table for 18 years as well as the breakfast~lunch~and dinner table. Many family memories are affixed to this table. In fact many forts have been built under this table!

Thought I would share this again. This is a simple remedy to hang work gloves. It is a yard stick cut in half with glued on clothespins. We use gloves every day on the farm to feed, work on projects, as well as gardening. Extra pairs await any day workers that show up for in trade items (farm fresh meats or eggs). My gloves~on the bottom right are the garden gloves and the turquoise gloves. Gloves are kind of big for me so I ended up using children's garden gloves. I have the turquoise gloves because I do live in New Mexico, and they match my Crocs!

On the table are some granny squares I am working on. I have never made a granny square quilt but decided in 2012 I am going to.

To maintain my theme of being careful to use it up, wear it out, make it do, I am sharing what a farm sheet looks like. And yes, the cat is just about to roll off the bed. She was ~~attacking~~ playing with me as I was putting the freshly solar dried sheet on the bed. Many may scoff at repairing something to the point that the repair takes place of the item, but for me it is about being debt free. By the way, the sheet does match the rest of the bedding~

This is a blanket I sewed about five years ago. All of the denim is from pants that the children, Bill or I wore. I have saved from the point we married cutting pieces out and putting them in a box collecting until I had enough squares. For me, home is filled with my creations. It is a place I can set the tone for the family. By the way I do like the simple majestic beauty of Creations. Rough around the edges, imperfect to landscapers but captivating~

Like the view from my front porch. Beautiful, unique, and breathtaking~don't you think?

Now back to an unedited photo of the kitchen table~

In all its glory. Top places are purple- Germany, blue-Utah, brown-Texas, Pink-California, Red-Georgia, and green Germany.

In the King James the verses are:

Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

and
Matthew 4:4
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

*we were active duty military during the Clinton years draw down.The longest we have lived in one place is...drum roll please~the farm!

Where's Waldo~New Mexico Style

2012-01-09T12:41:00.008-05:00

As we have mountains to surround us many children in New Mexico missed out dearly on playing the shape in the cloud game. I played that as a child. The rules are simple, lay on your back and see if you can see a shape in the clouds. We do have clouds in New Mexico. Magnificent ones at that, with incredibly wide open skies, but the ground is too hot, the snakes slither too and fro and grass is something that one has to go to the park to walk upon. So most children play the shape in the mountain game.

The children find the Lady of the Mountain while they play. It is easy would you like to play?

Check out this photo.

Do you see the Lady of the Mountain?

While wondering if you see her, I will share a few photos from around the farm.

The little bird with the red breast is a pyrrhuloxia. I love them~and love the calls they make to one another.

Saturday the oldest came home and so I was able to snap a quick bench pile up! Third was working so as life is the photo is only of the three.

My lovely Fourth, Second, and First! Thanks to these goofs, we were able to have more wood split and stacked, as last February reminded us that winter can surprise even a desert dweller!

Now back to the Lady of the Mountain. Did you find her? Here she is!

Can you see her? Some people say she is hard to see. For me, after several years I look to her as I drive in the community and smile. What makes your community unique? Do you have something that makes you smile as you drive here and there?

Have a lovely day!

Fear

2012-01-08T11:35:00.003-05:00

Who or what do you fear?

Zombies? Economic collapse? A Dictator? Nuclear War? Global anything? The Mayan Prophecy? A thief in the middle of the night? Inner city gang land? Christians? Muslims? Jews?

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7

When you direct your fear to the One that is the Creator, the Alpha and Omega, the I Am, you will begin a journey that will grant you Hope in times of despair, Peace in the times of war, Comfort in the times of loss, and Security in the times of insecurity.

The Double Nickel Farm gives Bibles away to any that ask for them. Feel free to click here to find out how to receive a free Bible today.

The Incredible Edible Egg Orange

2012-01-07T12:36:00.008-05:00

Bill brought home a big bag of oranges yesterday and I knew what I was going to be doing this morning! I began with only 20 oranges, washed and ready to become incredible!
The first thing I did was eat an orange-so I washed one more! By the way, I highly recommend this step~product safety and all. I had my canning jars and lids prepped as well as the water bath canner rearing to go.

I then was grateful that I had read this post the other day. Thanks Canning Granny! While my 15 oranges were in the canner(7 pints). I had a few more things to do with the remaining five oranges as well as the skin.

I scraped off all of the white pithy part of the skins... kind of slow going so have something to watch. I watched the turkeys out the back window. The critters never cease to amaze me. I added several minutes to the canning time due to elevation of the farm.

Canned oranges

I also peeled the remaining five oranges to prepare for the next part of the incredible orange day! I cut the skins(after removing the pithy part) into very thin slices(about 2 cups). I then cut up the 5 oranges into small pieces. I added 12 cups of water and then covered it and placed it in my pantry to rest for 12 hours. Tonight I will can 7 half pints of orange marmalade. Do not skip the step of letting the orange rest, as it makes all the difference.

As the marmalade is resting, take about 2 more cups of thinly sliced skin and place it in a canning jar. Add equal parts of water and vodka...yes vodka as this is how to make orange extract. I used this link. I will finish the orange extract in February and put into small jars then. But wait there is more!!

Take the peelings that you did not remove the pithy white part(once you had 4 cups of removed pith skins you can stop). Slice thinly and put on pans and warm in low heat oven at 175 F for a few hours. This will dry them and now you have a base to make a lovely potpourri. My own personal recipe of stovetop potpourri is orange slices, cinnamon sticks and water. In the morning it is so wonderful to turn the potpourri pan on and have the aromas of cinnamon~ orange sweetness.

Here is a recap of 20 oranges:
7 pints canned oranges
1 pint of orange extract(in a month)
7 half-pints of orange marmalade
1 pint of orange peels for potpourri
~and all the white pithy part went to the birds!!

Now do you see why the orange is so incredible! By the way you can make candied orange skin which is delicious!

Oh that's okay, I make lamb*

2012-01-05T12:09:00.006-05:00

When we moved to the farm and began raising Navajo Churro sheep we began the journey of learning how to cook lamb/sheep. Last night I made ground lamb meatballs which my family ate as is, not in a sandwich or in a sauce. The recipe calls for
1~two eggs
2~1/4 cup mustard
3~1/4 cup honey
4~1/8 tsp garlic powder
5~1/8 tsp cumin
6~1/8 tsp ginger
7~2/3 cup of bread crumbs
8~ 2lbs lean ground lamb

Now I mixed it all together and cooked it at 275F for 45 minutes. The honey and mustard was to be a dipping sauce but I was multi tasking and mixed it all together. BEST mistake ever! This is a repeat lamb recipe!

*I loved this line from the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding :
Aunt Voula: What do you mean he don't eat no meat?
[the entire room stops, in shock]
Aunt Voula: Oh, that's okay. I make lamb.

***and I knew someday I would be able to use it somewhere!

Some thoughts

2012-01-05T10:59:00.011-05:00

On the farm we have mesquite. The mesquite have horrible thorns and out of the blue you will step on one and be momentarily incapacitated. If you note the photo some are pretty large. On average the thorns are about 1/2inch to an 1 inch long. Now we know that the thorns are out there and yet we still have times we step on them. You see the thorns come with living in the desert southwest. It comes with the territory. We would not have them if other options were available but we have mesquite because it does hold down the topsoil, and if you remember anything about history you will recall the Dust Bowl of the 1930's, you know how important this is. We have learned to live with the mesquite. The most important thing to share about our learning to live with the Mesquite is this: we never forget its thorns and what the thorns can do.

I find that this is an important lesson today in America as well as the world. We have become so politically correct, so tolerant that we have forgotten that thorns are real and when stepped on will hurt.

As I have been thinking about politics, our schools, and the security of our nation I wonder does anyone else think about the thorns among us? Please remember I live on the southern border...and am aware of how porous it is.

photo credit my Fox Boston
Well trained government agents securing 'some' of the passengers at our airports.

Our nation does not care about securing the borders, therefore they are not secure. Our nation does care about conditioning our citizens therefore the pat downs at the airports exist. These are very real thorns among us. If TSA was serious about security they would pat everyone down. Yet only a portion of folks are patted down. Please remember that if anyone put their hands down a child's pants outside an airport they would be most likely convicted as a sexual offender for LIFE. As a parent if you respond you face being separated from your child and possibly arrested or fined. Talk about serious conditioning. Perhaps we as citizens should take back a few of our rights stolen from us.

Could we unite and force the airlines to act in our behalf? Only if we all decided to stop flying, even if only for one day. But we won't. We have been dutifully told that this is for the greater good.

Suppose the next step after Americans have dutifully agreed to having our children patted down at the airports, we agree to having monitors placed on our children? How would we react? Would we react? Or would we accept because it is for the greater good?

Perhaps we should turn off the football games, the Wii's, and cancel our next cruise and truly work to rekindle the nation that so many fought to defend.

Always and Forever

2012-01-03T18:38:00.006-05:00

My Bill is back at work. In case you are new to the blog, Bill had surgery in October and has spent the past few months recuperating. He is now back to work half days while going to physical therapy and all seems to be going well.

I guess I never think he reads the blog, but that goof does. He came home yesterday with a simple gesture that makes this farm wife smile in happiness.

Remember this post?
I shared a Carl Larrson print...
My Bill printed it and framed it so I could have for my desk area. As a newlywed I am always amazed at how my husband knows that a simple gesture makes my heart warm. It is funny and I wonder how it will be when we are settled in our marriage...

Always and forever I love waking to the voice of my husband.
Always and forever I love the silly twinkle in his eye when he is full of baloney.
Always and forever I love the recording studio of the shower and wish I recorded every song every sang.
Always and forever I love roadside bouquets brought home for my table.
Always and forever I love the hugs that encompass me.
Always and forever I love the man that is the father of my children. He has given them such an example to follow.
Always and forever am I thankful that a young man and a young woman decided to marry even though they had only known each other 2 days.

It has only been almost 24 years so I will wonder how things will be when we settle in our marriage but for now, I will believe that always and forever, I am the best I can be, all because of that wonderful man.

A Day in the life

2012-01-03T13:00:00.007-05:00

As the year rapidly winds down to 2013 I thought I better share a day in the life of today in early January on the farm. I am not ashamed to admit that the first and last photos are from the file: Post Someday as time gets away from even the best of us.

I snapped the photo at the perfect time. In my journey I must travel near train tracks. Fortunately I enjoy the graffiti on the cars and consider it my own private art showing with modern, eclectic, punk, and of course incredible paintings and I am allowed to view these for free. The other day I saw Spy Vs. Spy painted on the entire car!!! We humans are doodlers. I have this blog, the pioneers moving west carved their names on Independence Rock~so why not on the cars? Please remember I am not endorsing the destruction of property, I am only appreciating the sights of my humble farm. Perhaps there is a college course offered for railroad car painting as Columbia University is now offering a course on the Occupy Movement.

Back to the farm. I am working on a simple project today of painting the lids to my canister set in the kitchen. The set carries on the frugal theme of the farm by repurposing pickle jars into a canister set. This is a before photo with a few more steps to go. I will update at some point an after photo!

Many have posted the books they wish to read this year and I thought I would join in. This is a very small collection of books I am going to be reading as I read every day and wander from a variety of topics. Remember I have to be Jen-of-all-trades! If you would like a free Bible to read in 2012 feel free to leave a message and we will send you one.

And my final photo is to share with any new readers and to remind any regular readers of the climate I live in.

This was a dust storm that hit the farm. It was massive and I was so glad I was inside when it hit. Last spring we had a dust storm pick up one of our coops and turn it upside down!

That is a simple day in the life of the Double Nickel. I pray you have a moment to appreciate any free art showings in your neighborhood. I challenge you to take a bit of each day to read for your enlightenment. I call for the art student inside you to repurpose something this year no matter your age and of course when you have a dust storm head your way duck because one of our coops may knock you out!

Have a great day

Where Else?

2012-01-03T08:04:00.006-05:00

We had a young family visit the farm the other day. I was busy with the 2 and 4 year old daughters and we played the game where you ask what each animal says. The girls did very well and I laughed with them. Then I asked the oldest little girl where we get milk from, as we had just established that a cow says moo. She smiled and told me "the fridge!"

2012 Tally Page

2012-01-02T17:48:00.013-05:00

This is a tally page to help remind me of what I projects I have completed this year.

6 pillowcases 1-2-12
crochet hat 1-2-12
Tortilla Warmer 1-3-12
3 dish scrubbies 1-3-12
12 granny squares 1-5-12
5 quarts vegetable soup 1-6-12
7 pints oranges 1-7-12
1 pint orange extract 1-6-12
1 quart dried orange peel for potpourri 1-6-12
7 quarts tomato vegetable juice 1-10-12
5 quarts vegetable stock 1-10-12
5 pints navy beans 1-12-12
7 quarts pinto beans 1-12-12
7 quarts kidney beans 1-12-12
2 pints black-eyed peas 1-12-12
Painted canister lids for old pickle jars to repurpose 1-3-12
made liquid laundry soap with Borax, washing powder, and fels naptha 1-5-12(this fills the bucket that kid/lamb formula comes in-not sure of the measurement-a few gallons or so)
7 granny squares 1-17-12
clothesline area rocked 1-17-12
12 granny squares 1-19-12
3 dish scrubbies 1-19-12
5 granny squares 1-19-12
5 granny squares 1-21-12
5 crocheted dish scrubbies 1-22-12
1/2 coop painted 1-23-12
subfloor of dining room replaced 1-23-12

And 2012 is the year of the

2012-01-02T16:24:00.004-05:00

flower!

This is a Carl Larsson print and I love it. Flowers on the windowsill, knitting on the table, a throw blanket over the couch~how simple!

I have been plotting and planning for several months what I am going to grow in my desert oasis. I have a few eclectic planters and by the time I plant I will have several more. I suppose the enthusiasm for the sign post has made me more willing to share some of the more eclectic things about the farm!

So 2012 will add beauty to the farm. We will continue with our gardens, our animals, our trees, and of course living in a climate that most pass by as we add yet one more thing to our lives.

Last post of the year...I think

2011-12-31T18:53:00.003-05:00

My year in review is pretty simple.

All of my children have graduated from McBenning High.

Oldest son was in Afghanistan and came home safely. I thank God that I was able to see him once again and have him stationed right next door(almost) to the farm.

Second son continued in his training as fireman, and expanded training to included first responder and working on EMT. He can drive all the bright red firetrucks as well as the ambulance. He was on several wildfire crews and looks forward to next summer. I pray for no fires even if it means no work for him...He also begins as a reserve officer in a few weeks.

Third son worked so hard saving for his first vehicle then switched jobs to work in the ER all the while expanding his education thanks to a program offered at the hospital. He loves his job and moved closer to work as the realities of paying for his gas kicked in. He also made me a grandmother for the first time~~kidding, he got a cute puppy he has named Athena. Photos will follow, but keep in mind all American mutt and you already know what she looks like!

Lovely daughter graduated and began a full-time summer job saving as much as she can. She also took a trip back east and met many of my siblings and cousins for the first time. She is taking online courses and dreams of having her own photo studio. I see this coming to fruition as she is very goal oriented.

Bill had major surgery in October and is recovering quite well. He is still able to take the breath away of one short farmer's wife with his smile. With his partner in crime he plans on making the farm more productive in vegetation implementing some dry farming and water preservation skills learned over the years. Only in the mirror can I see the years pass, as when we are together it is as if we are back in 1988.

For me, let's see. My mother died this year. I am without words to how I feel and can only say that His grace is sufficient for me. I am thankful once again to be the mother of my children. It is a delight to see the kids move on to their own lives and seek out their dreams. I am smiling because my dreams led me directly into the life I am living matched up with a man I had only known 2 days. Yes, it has been worth it. I never realized when Bill told me he would give me the world that he meant it. I cannot believe we have lived in so many places and seen so many things. Only thing I wish we could have filmed that we didn't would have been that traffic circle in France with the three boys in the back seat! That makes me laugh aloud every time I think about it. I am thankful every day for my husband, my children, and my simple life on the farm. I would not have changed one day, one hour, one moment that brought us to this point.

My blogging has taken me around the world and I have met many people that I would most likely never have met. Today I want to make sure I thank everyone that reads the Double Nickel Farm and leaves comments here or in the email. We are very thankful and appreciate the support the kind words and prayer sent our way.

May 2012 be a year we all seek Truth, find Hope, and have Peace...all available through Jesus Christ.

Happy New Year from
The Double Nickel Farm!

This is an outtake from December 31, 2009 being shared for the first time~ as it is hard to orchestrate an annual photo and the patience of the natives is often pushed to overload...As a result this is what happens!! From left to right Third, Fourth, First, and Second.

Something to Think About

2011-12-30T18:06:00.010-05:00

Farm families take care of their animals 365 days a year...
In the snow...

After catastrophic flooding *

During sunshiney days...

and
Have no paid holidays. No sick days... Kind of makes you think the next time you feel tired, under-appreciated and feeling like not getting out of bed.

Now we on the farm chose this life. I wish to make this very clear. I am not complaining... we began this life because we choose not to become a statistic. We opted to learn how to provide for ourselves as much as possible when times got tough for us, and during the first year it was very hard.

Yet,I read something along these lines today and had to share. Life is unique for each of us. And it is important to remember that nothing is free...hard work pays off, and if you want freezers filled and eggs each day, you give up a wee bit of me time.

Stay tuned for the Year End Post~coming soon, as there is but one day left to post it!!

*Flooding damaged much of the farm (except the house)...pens leveled, coops destroyed, pens broken...yet not one animal died.

Before and After Post!

2011-12-29T16:15:00.011-05:00

The moment I snapped the photo of the fence post, I knew what project I was doing next on the farm.This plain old post seemingly missing fence wire was exactly what I had been needing even though I had no idea! I loved the television show MASH. I have not seen it in years, so I am not sure if I still do, but I did love the sign post in the center of the camp.

Photo credit Wikipedia
I did not check to see what the sign post looked like and created it from memory, as I have been painting signs for awhile. In fact, every time I find a board I wash it off, haul it inside and paint it. I finally had enough locations and needed a post or pole. I had thought maybe I would have one of my sons put the post in the garden...but my random farm photos gave me the location of the Double Nickel Farm Post!

I have some on the back side too. Oh and yes this is how it usually looks in the winter in southern New Mexico.
My daughter wanted me to give the post an old feel so I tried this. No matter how I change the photo, I confess I love it!

And the answer is yes, I am pretty free with making the farm my own. I am not sure how things are done anymore mainstream as I kind of live eclectically. I have a small error on my mileage on one sign and edited the local city distance so I could keep the farm location between me and the sign.

Simply Life...

2011-12-28T11:43:00.010-05:00

So many titles for one person. Of course any title with mom is a pretty great one~

Project 875,321 on the Farm: Here is a before photo of the front hall. I have to add the trim as well as a few minor things, then I will share an after photo.

Dishes await while I post. I made turkey yesterday for dinner as well as for individual freezing packs (ended up with enough for four more meals and leftovers for today in lunch as well as turkey stew). Then I boiled the bones not for broth for us, but for the dog food. This was amazing because I ended up with enough meat and stuff we don't eat for 4 large batches of homemade dog food. As a result, more dishes await...full circle and all!

My three sons.

I call my biscuits Tin Can biscuits, because the best biscuit cutter I found is the tin from tomato sauce can.

The lone post. This post is the part of an old pen that we have not removed. I kind of like how it is alone on the farm. I have a feeling it will find a new purpose!

This photo was edited with the brightness and color augmentation suggestions by Third and Fourth. Ignoring the color and how the butter is whited out, don't you love having breakfast for dinner? The other night we had bacon, scrambled eggs, homemade chunky apples, homemade waffles, and country potatoes~yum!

This concludes what I call Simply Life on the farm for today~ have a lovely day.

Friday Five

2011-12-23T13:45:00.009-05:00

Photo 1: Sunset on the Double Nickel!

Photo 2: County road to the front gate of the Double Nickel
someday we will have the Double Nickel over the gates!

Photo 3: A bit of Rummy 500 on the kitchen table.

Photo 4: One of us works for an elite organization-or someone may have had a wee bit of time with an old deck of cards!

Photo 5: Delilah on the porch. I think she wants us to come out and play as yes, once again, we are having snow, oh and for anyone new to the blog, the farm is located on the southern US border in the desert of New Mexico. Really, no joke~

That is my five, but I would like to share about Jesus as many are thinking upon His birth this weekend.
1. We have been given eternal life through Jesus Christ.
2. We have been given comfort through Jesus Christ.
3. We have been given Peace through Jesus Christ.
4. We have been given Grace through Jesus Christ.
and
5. We have Hope through Jesus Christ.
He is coming again.
May we take one day that we think upon Christ and turn it into 365 days a year, as He is far more than a season, or a wee babe in a manger, He is the Alpha and the Omega(the beginning and the end).

Cranbars Made simple: Updated

2011-12-22T13:51:00.013-05:00

I made fig bars yesterday. Instead of fig filling I made it with dried cranberries.

Cookie:
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup each granulated sugar and firmly packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cup wheat flour
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/4 tsp each salt and baking soda
Mix butter and sugars together. Add eggs and vanilla stir well, set aside. In separate bowl combine the flours, salt and baking soda. Mix wet and dry ingredients wrap and put in fridge for about an hour.

fruit filling:
1.5 cups dried fruit
1/4 cup walnuts
1/4 cup almonds
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1tsp grated lemon peel
2 tbsp lemon juice

Cut the cranberries into finely chopped pieces and crushed the walnuts and almonds. Then combine all ingredients and put in pan and cook over medium heat. Stir until it becomes thick(5 minutes or so). Let cool completely.

After an hour roll out the cookie dough, and use a ruler to make shapes like the photo, then spoon on the fruit mixture, fold over sides and cut into 4 inch or so cookies, invert and bake at 375 for 6-10 minutes. When cookies are baked cut into 2" cookies.

Updated: And here are the remaining 4 cookies!

Top View!

Side View!

I really cannot express how delicious these cookies are. I am not the biggest fan of sweets, but these cookies could be the life changer!

Monday evening on the farm

2011-12-19T18:22:00.010-05:00

Evening update: Teen girls all delivered to town, and I picked up 20 pounds of potatoes for $2.00 at the local grocery~yay!

The girls made graham cracker houses and chatted until around 2 this afternoon. It was a good deal of fun, but I am a wee bit tired!

Teen village 2011!

Ham the ram in the rain this afternoon. Ham comes to the truck when we return home. I think he believes that this is his farm and he needs to oversee everything that happens.

Oh and the weather outside? Well it is frightful-and definitely not delightful, as it is rainy/snow and far different from my traditional New Mexico day.

Stay warm and snugly or cool and refreshed(depending where you live!)

Red, Brown,White and Before

2011-12-19T03:31:00.008-05:00

Red: This is Second with his new rig! He has a Dodge Durango that he now has here on the farm to respond to calls. I have to remind myself that he is only 19~because to those in need whether from an accident, fire, or emergency call he is able to handle a scene and do what is necessary. As I look at Second I smile, because he is only 6 months younger than Bill was when we married!

Brown: Yes it is always a good idea to wash the eggs. I do not think we have any white egg layers left after the bobcat frenzy of a few months ago. Oh and the bobcat-well it is no more. Now we are back to the coyotes, which aren't as stealth and are quite fearful of the dogs.

White: Delilah checking out the abundance on the trailer as our neighbor is packing up his ranch and heading off to Texas...and he kindly offered some supplies to the Double Nickel. Samson and Delilah had to get up on the trailer and take in the smells of the other ranch-as they were a horse ranch and well we do not have horses.

Before: This is a before of one of the feeding troughs we ended up with. I plan on painting it and putting Double Nickel Farm on it with our brand. I will post an after soon. I actually am thinking maybe I will have a mini tour of the farm as well as the house-hope it sounds interesting...The Double Nickel Farm is in the heart of the desert and so to the eastern eye it may appear desolate, dry, and brown~but I promise it captures your everything when you see a sunrise over the mountain and a sunset over the White Sands.

Have a lovely week.

Thank You

2011-12-19T03:04:00.009-05:00

from Bill & Jen and family.

4 Teens

2011-12-19T02:34:00.017-05:00

Fourth is having a movie night with a few of her friends so we have 4 teen girls at the farm this early morning. The girls went to a late movie and now are planning on doing what they do best~visit, laugh, and probably not sleep at all.

I made up a few snacks: a veggie tray, pretzels, cheese and crackers, soda, and popcorn which I hope holds them over to the morning planned event of making graham cracker houses. It has been an annual tradition for us and sometimes we have others join in so this will be fun.

Oh and in honor of the breakfast for dinner meal we have once a month on the farm~I am making dinner for breakfast for the girls. I am making homemade pizza's~as life is but one slice at a time, and for these young women~I think a slice of pizza for breakfast is the perfect way to start the day.

Sometimes reading the labels

2011-12-17T14:56:00.006-05:00

is just as interesting as reading the post. Today I am sharing some of the labels I have used in my blogging. I pray you all have a wonderful day...oh and be sure to read the label!

Freddy Krueger has nothing compared to rattlesnakes in my yard

funny how nice weather does wonders for the soul

Germ a phobe Jen

help my laptop has fallen and it cant get up

history will repeat itself if we refuse to learn from history(note repeat history~)

I am amazed at how much i enjoy my life and the simple pleasure of seeing chickens here there and everywhere

I am so thankful that I was the daughter of this woman and that her life has been an example for me to live mine

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me Philippians 4:13

I choose less so I can have more

I have loved sitting around this old table while eating crafting doing school writing baking decorating cookies decorating eggs and enjoying time with each other

I know folks think one s crazy to be concerned about how much is going on but I kind of love being like the bull and have the protection I need to live a simple life out in the meadow

I love driving out west it reminds me of the drive that changed my life nearly 22 years ago when I ended up in a small town in Nevada and met my cutie(now almost 24 years)

I must think of a catchy jungle and the good one is already taken drat

June 24 began the great pumpkin shortage in the summer which has confused growers for years and NOW you all know the rest of the story as to why the pumpkins disappear in June

oh and Mr. Farmer you make my breath catch when I see you looking at me

oh I love snuggle bugging babies THANK YOU Bill for my babies and making me a mom

by the way Bill you and the kids are a daily joy that makes me wonder what I did to be given you somewhere somehow I will always think that, as life is so special with you and the kids

without today in history Double Nickel Farm would not be

Why Do Birds Suddenly Appear

2011-12-15T13:04:00.006-05:00

I am feeling a bit reflective today. It has almost been two months since Bill's surgery and I think perhaps I am a bit exhausted. I hope to come back to my thoughts but for now, I am thinking of Peter and Paul and robbing one to pay the other, and smiling, as I wonder what happens when neither has any more money to rob? Sigh.

From December and BEYOND...to loosely quote Buzz Lightyear

2011-12-14T12:27:00.010-05:00

It seems like most people in the Western World devote a tremendous amount of time and planning to orchestrate a successful Christmas and New Years Eve/Day. As sad as it is to think about it, many people have not paid off last years presents and yet are hurriedly buying new ones. Oh and the race to be the first to put up decor makes shopping from September to the end of the year bizarre as Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween, New Years, and of course Valentines Day decorations bombard every one's vision.

As I sit and look to my mountains to the east of my farmI think about December and have some thoughts that are more than what most see it as. December is not about caroling, although caroling is nice because as a caroler I feel as though I can sing-thanks to all those with me! No, December is about visiting those that rarely get another crossing their doorways. It is about making sure our neighbors that are elderly, infirm, or widowed are able to meet their needs. And as I borrowed from Buzz Lightyear, we should take this beyond December. We need to be sure if inclement weather hits, that the folks I mentioned are fine. This is something I have been reflecting this month.

As I look to my mountains which at times make me feel as though I have traveled to Ireland,
I think about all the baking and food planning and preparation that is going on this month. If you have read this blog any at all you know I love baking, and planning meals. But December should also be about the planning of more than for a day or a few dozen cookies. December should take us beyond to the entire year. I know for the average American, food waste is pretty high. In the food production areas waste can be over 10%. In an American home the stat can go up to 15-20% of food purchased is wasted(thrown away). It would be a great thing if we could make menus and shop accordingly to reduce our waste and therefore increase money in the budget-which will result in maybe paying off debt. As we reflect upon the 46 million Americans that are on Food Stamps, it is easy to correlate that 15-20% of money to help them is also being tossed, as the poor are not unlike the middle class or the wealthy, in the US. I do appreciate those that will argue with me on this topic. I am well aware of real poverty, I live in an area that is considered a Colonia and I also see the slums of Juarez weekly if not more. Truth be told though, we Americans are far wealthier than most of the world.

A simple thing to do would be to make a two week menu and plan all the items you need for your menu. Include snacks in this. Then buy according to what you eat. It is very easy to read a magazine or see a blog recipe and rush out and buy things that then sit and rot in your home. What is more realistic is to make foods you and your family eat and set one or two days a month aside for sampling a new recipe. This way you do not have a ton of Indian ingredients and realize that your children cannot stand curry. Another great thing to do, especially if you are a local reader of my blog(wink-wink) is to have a bucket with a lid, such as an ice cream bucket and scrape your food slops in this and donate it to the farm. It makes for a great compost and the chickens love food slops.

As I turn my head slightly to the north east from my front door I see views that take my breath away and I am reminded of the division this month has caused in America. We are between Jesus is the Reason for the season and Happy Holidays, oops and Happy Winter Solstice-Happy Hanukkah, and yes others...it has become the poster board month of holidays. You know why? Because money can be made folks. We sit and harp and moan about what the season is about and forget that it is from December and beyond. Many of the Reason folks accumulate so much debt that it is hard to see that they understand the real reason...and materialism has become the new idol that many of us bow down to, sometimes without realizing it ourselves. The Happy Holiday folks are the peacekeepers without purpose. Yes, I said this-you see like the UN Peacekeepers, the Happy Holiday folks really don't believe in the spirit but enjoy the proceeds of the celebrations. They are ill armed with any factual data and have no problem decorating a tree with beer cans. Nothing against how anyone celebrates the holidays because the truth of the matter is that ALL of us have divided ourselves from the Truth when we join in the battles of the reasons for the season. You see the Truth goes beyond December and literally beyond our scope of understanding. December is not about any of us, but about something far greater...

As I look at the rainbow over my mountains,

I am reminded of a promise that God made to all of us. He placed a bow in the sky to remind us that he would not flood the earth again. This simple reminder should also let us know that God is real and aside from the cutesy ark filled with animals that many collect or play with, the story of Noah's ark is of great sadness as all but 8 died as a result of wickedness of man that was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was of only evil continually. Genesis 6:5

As we go through the month of December please remember that from December and beyond is what the greatest gift is. Instead of giving gifts this year, receive the gift that is freely given, for God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

And if you would like a gift from the Double Nickel Farm of a Bible leave me a message with your address and name and we will send you a Bible. I will not publish the comments with requests.

May you have a from December and Beyond month.

Jennifer

Planning My Day

2011-12-13T10:01:00.007-05:00

It is always best if you wish to accomplish something to come up with a plan, as it will help you see to the completion of the project. So here is a rough plan for my Tuesday:

First: stay warm and cozy...

At some point can some more kidney beans and perhaps some pinto beans.

Do one or two loads of laundry. As it is rainy/dreary looking outside, I may only do one load and hang it inside.

Have a small serving of Kimchi. I feel like I am coming down with a cold, and eating kimchi makes me feel like my old self (of course my old self is almost half a century old so this isn't too high of a bar to come back to).

Prep some potato soup here as well as dinner. Dinner most likely will be stuffed manicotti.

Check the alarm clock and make sure it is still working smoothly.

Check the park and ride schedule in case I wish to travel. Be sure to chat with all those waiting to park and ride. Perhaps take a bucket of slops to those waiting.

Make sure that the power for the heat is raring to go.

Go to the grocery and pick up...

Some fresh eggs for tomorrow's breakfast.

Read His Holy Word...and be sure to check out the declaration in Psalm 19

Which is revealed each and every day.

So that should about be my Tuesday~What do you have planned?

Small Town America

2011-12-12T09:40:00.011-05:00

Parking is available in small towns, pretty much all the time, anywhere.

Family and friends can visit and enjoy a stay reminiscent of the Route 66 days.

Small towns have places that are vintage or retro to city folk, yet are simply places where one can get the best dog, west of the Windy City while enjoying the simple open air dining on one of the main streets in town.

Small towns are to be peeled like an onion as one peels back a layer one uncovers a business that is a front for Wile E. Coyote and the Roadrunner.

In a small town one can get so comfortable being the other place that the name sticks.

Small towns understand that mom's cooking is something that everyone needs now and then, no matter how old they are.

I have lived in large cities and travel to El Paso, Texas often and realize that each city has neighborhoods that are comparable to small town America so this post is not against city life, but sharing small town America, because this is my window. Having a blog has been a great way to share something that many have only seen in the movies-which we all know is not always truth. So as I shared my small town in this post, I wish to say, I love seeing America and the world through other bloggers and am thankful that I do not have to travel in order to have a window to the world and eyewitness accounts everywhere, anytime.

In the beginning

2011-12-11T10:18:00.009-05:00

God

My Resume

2011-12-10T10:46:00.013-05:00

As I made breakfast this morning, I thought of a few things that I would like to share. I am a stay at home wife and mother and have been blessed to be so for 23 years. I never imagined doing anything else in life perhaps to the absolute horror of some people in more liberal circles.

farm fresh eggs with a side of onion potatoes and beef sausage all to be rolled up in a burrito!

I love my role. I can't believe one can see it as unimportant. As I homeschooled the children, I have made 3 meals a day, every day for probably 95% or more of the days. That means I have cooked over 23,000 meals, yet I have never been trained in the culinary arts.

I have been a triage medic for 22 years dealing with the simple bumped head, to broken bones, to one of my boys~age 6 walking from the back fields to the house with a board stuck to his shoe(2 nails), yet never spent a day reading a first aid manual.

I became a N.I.C.U. nurse in 1995 because I had a baby born 10 weeks early . I could do assessments, perform breathing treatments, change tubes, and care for a child that was as small as a ruler. I never sat for any test, yet my training guaranteed I could take this precious wee one home, and if I failed in my training-well, never mind as she is 16 now. Oh I also was very skilled in the apnea/heart monitor and the maintenance of oxygen and proper saturation levels...once again I was not licensed or trained on these.

I have read the works of Shakespeare, Twain, Dickens, Poe, Austin, Frost, and many more without ever stepping beyond my doors, and without critiquing the prose but instead enlightening and sharing with the next generation. Our library consist of a few thousand books and it is filled with many well loved, well read books. Every day books are restacked after I clean, from the couches, the tables and the place in our home that is referred to as the library.
Although I am not a librarian I play one every day.

I have never made a wage cleaning a hotel room, changing the linens, fluffing pillows and freshening up the room, but I perform this every day, over 8,500 days so far.

I organized travel for six people all over the United States, packing absolutely everything and sometimes the kitchen sink, yet never sat in a training seminar to become a travel agent. I have traveled with the same crowd all over Mexico and minus the baby(now 16, all over Europe) and pretty much did so based on critical financial finagling, yet I never sat in a business course.

I have conversed with people in German, French, American Sign Language, and Spanish, without sitting in a course or spending money on Rosetta Stone.

I have met with County Commissioners and secured $40,000 in funding for a youth program without ever being trained as a director of anything. I ran this program until moving to New Mexico not for money but for children living in a county larger than 6 US states and were spread out among four small towns 80 miles apart. The county population was 4,500 people.

I assisted the local sheriffs office during a wildfire that nearly consumed the town we lived near. The massive wildfire was the result of high winds and powerlines. Never being trained to field police/emergency calls, I did so anyhow for nearly 15 hours while my children played and watched television in the courtroom next to the dispatch office.

Without any fundraising background I raised several thousand dollars for the local sheriff's office and was permitted access to the closed Silver State Classic and not only met John Schneider of Dukes of Hazzard fame, but had him donate as well. No I am not a Hollywood insider either.

I not only met Chris Cannon US Representative of Utah, who was part of the committee seeking to impeach President Bill Clinton, but was showered with praise on my children and how absolutely well behaved they were as I took them to a meeting Representative Cannon had in our community. I homeschooled and I took the children ages 2,4,5 and 8. We were the only family and I had the children sit in the front row and although they may not have understand what was happening, they sat as if they were watching the most incredible show ever. Representative Cannon came over to the shock of many and spent time with us. Imagine that, and without any lobby behind me.

Former Governor Mike Leavitt(also former head of EPA, and Secretary of Health and Human Services under George W. Bush), requested that the local newspaper photograph him with the children at another townhall the same year Chris Cannon came to town. He was stunned that his coming had been announced months ahead yet only one group of students came to hear him speak (my group of 4). He was pleased that the education of the children was raised to a bar that did not minimize what a child could learn or participate in, and upon his second visit to the community once again asked for a photo. Both made it to the newspapers. I am not a politician, I sit on no committees regulating the content of textbooks, and have no abilities to influence what if anything is taught in our public schools.

I have painted 4 houses, and far too many rooms to note, yet never been on a construction or team that does these things. I have patched holes in walls, removed popcorn ceiling, built walls, taken down walls, laid flooring, painted floors, built doors, replaced windows, added lighting, replaced water heaters all without a contractors license. I staged one home without any 'staging' training and the first person that came in to the home bought it.

I have organized themed parties whether it be for a birthday, holiday or gathering for upwards of 40 plus people all without any training.

I catered a meal for a volunteer fire department for nearly 80 people and set up, made the decorations as well as planned the menu and cooked everything. I have never been licensed to cater meals.

I have Occupied the family room of most of my homes building far better tent cities than those that are seriously protesting the 1%er's. I have built encampments with the agility and aptitude of the finest field training of our armed forces, using Momgyver methods of clothespins, sheets, and cardboard in ways never imagined. All without attending Basic Training or angst towards anyone.

I organized a Youth Olympics in our town in New Mexico with over 100 participants gathering thirty plus volunteers, garnering donations to purchase ribbons designed by me, as well as 100 cases of water to quench the thirst of the youngsters, and even ensuring we had an ambulance team on standby at the event, even though I have never attended an Olympics.

I have driven a truck that almost requires a footstool for me, towing a trailer as well as a fifth wheel, without any special training and without any incidents...once for a trip of 2200 miles.

I have wrangled snakes in a skirt, because the livelihood of the farm animals as well as my children depended upon this, and I have never been trained on reptile management and dispersal.

I have sewn cloth diapers, bedding, skirts, aprons, pants, shorts, placemats, rugs, pillows, curtains, tablecloths, cloth napkins, mop pads and much more without one course in sewing and design.

I have delivered goats, lambs and well probably everything. I can trim hooves, sheer sheep, care for wounds in my sleep and I have never been to veterinary school.

Without attending any horticultural training courses, I am still able to grow an oasis in the desert. And the yields even surprise me at times.

I am not a scientist in food safety and management but I am able to store foods safely and with ease by water bath canning, pressure canning, dehydrating, pickling or freezing.

I have never worked in a bakery but I am able to make every kind of bread with ease, and sweet confections are whipped out with ease.

I have never attended any negotiation training but I have separated factions far more hostile than those on the world stage-all while telling each side how much I love them, and offer cookies and milk to boot.

I am not an operator but I have fielded calls from everyone and anyone. With ease at times and with children boisterously playing in the background at other times...and for the record, in confidence-I have NEVER bought anything from a phone salesman. It is not a reflection upon their efforts, but more so a reflection on my language abilities and how I can out talk anyone, and I have never been placed in the Guinness Book of World Records for that talent.

Oh and I can unplug a toilet or sink without using a snake faster than one can say RotoRooter, and I have no idea how the plumbing actually works. But what I do understand is that with children these items are far more important than a million dollars.

I have done all these things because I see my role as what it is and refuse to be told it is unimportant and that far greater things await me outside the home, as I am a housewife. I am not bored. I wish I had less to do at times, as I have heard many times how easy being a housewife is. I wish at times I was in a more specialized job, such as a doctor, airline pilot, politician, or banker but I am diversified and I am counting on major returns on my efforts so therefore when one wonders how I am able to accomplish something, or how I can think of something I must respond this way: After 23 years of training and specializing in so many arenas, I confess that it is like breathing for me.

Signed Wife of Bill and mother of First (US soldier), Second(Fireman), Third (Lab Tech-training in med field), and Fourth 16 taking college courses awaiting anything and everything she desires.

What can you make for 22 cents?

2011-12-09T19:37:00.010-05:00

I can make a Hanukkiyah!

(image:Goo*gle Images)

Here is what I did to make a Hanukkiyah .

I went out to the woodpile and found the flat piece of wood in front and came in the house and explained to my son what I was trying to do, and he cut the piece of wood in the back. I had purchased 9 nuts from the local hardware store for 22 cents to finish the project. Note the small round piece of wood on the left behind the flat piece. That is an important piece as the candle that is use to light the other candles must be higher than the other candles.

I used one screw(that we had) to attach the two pieces of wood together. I then used my glue gun to attach the small piece of wood as well as the nuts. My local super center had the candles that I placed in for the photos.

Here is a photo in better focus with two dreidels and candy pieces.

Easy Breakfast Cereal: Edited

2011-12-08T11:10:00.016-05:00

Here is a simple breakfast cereal recipe. After mixed and cooked, store in an airtight jar. When you wish for a simple bowl of cereal pour from your jar, add milk and enjoy.

1/4 cup slivered almonds* 1/4 cup dried cranberries* 1 tbsp flax seeds* 1/4 cup raisins

1/4 cup raw sunflower seeds *1/4 cup honey *1/4 cup melted butter
5 cups oats (not pictured)

Mix all together in crockpot...

Cook on High 3-4 hours or Low 5 hours

Stir often.

I changed this to cook on low if not in kitchen~or you have a bit more crunchy(burnt) cereal. In case you hadn't noted, this is a very healthy breakfast. One can pronounce all the ingredients, including what is in the butter(I buy from Costco-but it is very easy to make your own butter).

EDITED: I forgot to say I do not put the lid on the crockpot and when it is done dry it on a cookie sheet for about ten or so minutes.

It is so easy to make foods for your family that are healthy and delicious with minimal effort. A bonus for the farm family is that this is very inexpensive to make. Having less money does not mean one has to have less quality.

I am planning on sharing my recipe for homemade raisin bran...soon.

Today in History

2011-12-07T08:49:00.004-05:00

Pearl Harbor was attacked.

This is the powerful speech FDR gave to Congress on December 8, 1941. Please take a moment to read this. I read this aloud to Bill and was a bit emotional as I went through it. You can see how we have come to know this as The Date Which Will Live in Infamy speech,but I challenge this title as it is so much more. After reading this and reflecting upon the times we live in, I am profoundly moved by this line: "As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense."

This is the duty I expect-nay, demand of a Commander-in-Chief. If we do not defend our nation every thing else we think is important is for naught. So we as Americans should use this speech as a job description for a future president as well as the sitting president, and demand that they are willing to uphold the requirements of the Commander-in Chief.

December 8, 1941

Yesterday, December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its Government and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in Oahu, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to the Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or armed attack.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese Government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. Very many American lives have been lost. In addition American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched an attack against Malaya. Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong. Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam. Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands. Last night the Japanese attacked Wake Island. This morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.

As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.

Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.

I believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces - with the unbounded determination of our people - we will gain the inevitable triumph - so help us God.

I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December seventh, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire."

Copied from The University of Oklahoma College of Law.

Posted

2011-12-07T00:28:00.005-05:00

I saw this sign posted on the large shopping area in Fort Bliss, Texas the other day and I knew I had to share it here.

What do you think about this sign?

Apparently We Have Moved

2011-12-06T09:46:00.011-05:00

to the far north. It is frigid this morning and everything is covered in white.This is not Second's fire vehicle with emergency lights. This is the 1963 F100.

Woolly girls are not too worried about the snow.

Projects waiting to be complete will wait a bit longer.

The house from far using zoom. The camera was so very cold in my hands. Yes, it is foggy here. I cannot recall if I have ever seen this kind of fog here.

Trail in the snow for the chickies to get to one of the water's. They are all pretty much staying in coops aside from one hen that cannot seem to take in what has happened!

Woolly rams are fine too. They have been out and about checking things out without a care in the world.
Front of property towards east as sun is seen through hazy fog.
Oh and I kind of forgot to mention the actual temps. It was 10F. Now we are a bit warmer at 12F.

I am thinking we are in a different weather cycle. Winters are going to be more authentic to their name and we are going to adapt. Such is life on the farm-time to think about wintering somewhere warm-maybe Montana?

A Glimpse in the Farm Pantry

2011-12-05T22:22:00.012-05:00

Our snowstorm has reminded me to share once again about the importance of having a few weeks(or more) of food storage in case a storm shuts you off from the world-or a crises of any nature arises. I have a lovely pantry that my cuties have slowly built with salvaged items. I find the adventure of repurposing an item pretty interesting but that is for another day!

I have a few photos to give you an idea of the farm pantry. We live in times where job stability and the economy seem as worrisome as a crises brought on by weather. It is important to have items that your family eats. No sense stocking up on something no one eats on any given day, as it will not be appreciated during stressful times either.These two photos are actually connected and on the west side of the pantry. The left side has teas, fruits, canned meats, canned veggies, tomato sauce, apples, onions, vinegar, and three buckets with grains, sugar, or beans. The right side has soups, stock, beans, pickles, veggies, pumpkins, potatoes, onions, squash, tomatoes in gallon cans as well as in small cans.

August 1988 changed the world for a couple of someday farmers that decided to marry. Farmer's wife made the wedding invitations and this was how she felt so this was incorporated in the invitation. It looks just fine in the pantry as it is painted on one of the shelves.

You can see where the mushy~lovey stuff is...on these photos. Sometimes I wonder how so many years could have passed-then I look in the mirror! I do love my Bill!This is a close up of the right side. My life became because a crazy 20 year old woman believed this.
So back to the pantry. I have a good deal of buckets with beans of several kinds, rice, flour, sugar, pasta's, baking soda(use this in so many ways on farm), and powdered milk. Much in the buckets requires a bit of planning ahead, but can be eaten by a simple soak and cook on an open fire or woodstove(in worst case scenario). Please note that I do have drink mixes that can be added like koolaid(but I have mostly Mexican style), jello, pudding, cake mixes and some candy. Sweets and treats are not on hand for simple snacking, but part of mental health, as in a crises, simple snacks are mood lifters. I also have popcorn to make and cocoa for the chocolate fix.

This is not a complete view of my pantry but a window. The economy in the US is being held up by nothing in my opinion, and I recommend that those that can should have some stockpile of foods to help them through tough times that seem to be here for some, and on the horizon for many.

What I also have are seeds for next years garden, sheep, goats, chickens, and turkeys. This covers meat, eggs, dairy, and wool and food to put up next year. 2011 was a slow year in the garden with me being back east in the early stages of planting, but I was able to freeze a good deal and dehydrate a good deal more. My farm pantry is far larger than a converted closet, but the entire farm when we take in to consideration the animals.

My early days on the farm were of hurried shopping for the pantry. As I live more this lifestyle I am weaning my ways of foods that I thought were must haves. I buy tomatoes and unsalted tomato sauce to make the sauces I need. I make snacks from the base items of flour, sugar, yeast, oil, and salt and add a few different items to make a variety of things, instead of needing cookies etc. I am thankful for the time I have had to learn skills such as canning, dehydrating, baking, and cooking more than I ever realized. I am thankful that I know how to sheer a sheep, butcher, and build many things with a budget of zero. I am thankful that when a crises arises I have spent several years researching as much as possible about herbal medicines, washing clothing the old fashioned way, using homemade toiletries and homemade cleaners.

All I hope to share, as I close this glimpse into the farm pantry, that you consider having a wee bit of a food storage if you do not have one.

By the way here is a photo of our snow...and it was 19 F a few minutes ago.
All the animals are snug in their houses as the farmer and his wife are toasty warm with the woodstove warming the home. All is well!

Well guess what my son brought from New York?

2011-12-05T16:21:00.004-05:00

Snow!

He lived on the northern border of the United States and struggled acclimatizing to the frigid temperatures and of course several foot of snow...but I guess he missed it a wee bit. Because~it has been snowing for a few hours and the snow is actually beginning to stick to the ground! This photo is of one of the trees in the farm's small orchard.

Today is officially the first day of Hot Cocoa season!!

Did You Ever Realize

2011-12-04T10:06:00.003-05:00

what another thinks of you, and what they think is wrong/right, and yet it really is shocking? I have been pondering some things since going back east that made me realize how very different I am, and how little some folks seem to think of me.

Why should I write about it? I mean life is exactly this, some will like us, others won't and so we go on and not sweat about opinions. But I have been thinking about the topic so here goes.

Here I am in a nutshell:
I believe in a Creator that created all things in six literal days and then rested on the seventh day.
I believe that Jesus Christ is God the Son and through Him we can have eternal life.

I believe that marriage is an institution established by God. I believe that every effort possible should be made to ensure its survival. I believe that the relationship between a husband and wife should be so close that without the other life may seem bland. I also believe that marriage should only be between a man and a woman as the way God established it. As to the rights of a person and what and to whom he/she grants insurance coverage, medical coverage, benefits etc, should not be established by anyone but the person earning those benefits. I do not have any problem with recognizing a civil union and have stated that here on this blog, as well as on other blogs of mine.

I believe that children are a blessing. I am against the wholesale slaughter of our next generation (especially minorities) in a blind eye of "choice." I grieve for those that never took a breath and for their mother's who chose something, whether out of fear, finances, shame, rape, or the government telling us that the baby( fetus) is not viable...folks neither is the entire ward of babes wanted in the nursery at the local hospital, unless someone provides care for them.

I believe that men and women are uniquely made and quite different.
I do not believe that the earth is suffering from anything other than natural, normal periods of cold and warm cycles. I am saddened for those that have bought into this nonsense and the dollars that they have wasted to buy green, to have a smaller carbon footprint, and so that they can save the planet-As I am not surprised by the money-hungry folks that are more than happy to provide clothing to the emperors(in this case the climate change folks).

I also believe that there are peoples and nations that do not like Americans. I believe that some folks are evil and wish nothing but harm for Americans. I refuse to molly-coddle the we are the world mantra...and believe that like a Texas Long Horn, we should have some defensive measures to let others know that "hey, we want to live and let live, but these horns are to make sure you leave us alone" as the Long Horn eats grass alone...yet is armed to the hilt.

I believe that my kindness or my living the way I do has been and most likely will be seen as an idiot subjugated by a religiosity and for that I have failed. I need to not worry how I am viewed, but that His light shines through me. I need not worry but instead pray for those that I know and those I don't as time is dwindling, such as in Japan, none of us, know the hour or moment that we will pass on. (italics/bold added December 2011)

******
I wrote this post in March 2011. I need to remind myself of things to keep myself in check. Have a lovely Sunday.

Saturday on the Farm

2011-12-03T10:32:00.005-05:00

Snow surrounds the farm~at least high in elevation. For the farm we had rain and around 11pm a bit of big fluffy flakes. After last year I no longer will say we do not get snow here, but I will say we rarely have much snow. This is looking northeast of the front gates of farm(note the two poles not power poles).

This is Sierra Blanca~which means white mountains(white mountain range)~makes sense doesn't it? We are surrounded on three sides with snow on the mountains as to the west the mountains between us and Las Cruces, New Mexico also have a dusting. Perhaps more snow angels will pop up on the farm!?!

In other farm news: seems like more and more dumping of critters in my county. I am not sure how it is in other places, but we have tons of horses for sale which would be expected with rising costs, but now even goats, chickens, ducks etc. Someone gave away 20 or so chickens and pygmy goats the other day. I missed out on that one, although would have only taken the birds to assess whether they would be ok for eggs or butchering. Times are getting harder I think.

We ended up buying(for almost nothing) a few LaMancha goats a few days ago. The doe is pregnant and the buck clearly was raised as a pet and is pretty shook up that he is far from his home. The owners slashed the price as we originally only wanted the doe, but feeding cost were too high and they wanted us to take them both. So I revise my earlier statement...I do not think times are getting hard for people, I know it. I am thankful that we have been on this simple path for several years now and are more stable with less.This is the buck(dehorned). I am thinking of calling him Norm-because it was so normal for him to come up on the porches and look in bleating like he is part of the family. He cried a good long time last night. Today he is getting a new home as the boys are shoring up the buck pen, which he jumped with ease as the most athletic high jumper would. Scroll back up to the photo on the top of the blog and you will see how goats usually are: that is Comet and Cupid some of the first goats we ever had, and they lived on top of anything far more than on solid ground. I am sure the shoring will only benefit long term aesthetics of the farm instead of keeping Norm from coming to the house. I smile and think well why not? Here on the farm every critter learns very quickly that I am a softie-I talk to each one of them and eventually they know that I save prize treats for each one. The animals are also for food, but Bill and I agreed when we began this venture to see how we could be farmers using gentle training instead of whips etc. Bill actually has a rule that all animals must come to his call, and believe me, within days of acquiring any animal~ the animal does follow him.

Have a Wonderful Saturday!

Non Poisonous Snakes

2011-12-02T10:04:00.006-05:00

still give the farm wife the weebie-jeebies. But they are needed. In fact, they have been needed around the farm since we moved in, but everything has a season and this is the season I deal with the non poisonous bean snake...Isn't he frightening? Notice the pattern, on the bean snake. This is how one can differentiate between the poisonous rattlesnake which has the diamondback pattern.

This is the diamond back pattern that one must be aware of...sigh. Yes, this snake is missing something vital(its head) as rattlesnakes on the farm are a no-go. We are always cautious as we live in the hotbed zone called rattlesnake central(in my mind for sure) and actually in truth, as we live in the desert southwest. I appreciate the need for rattlesnakes, no~ guess I really don't. Anyway, the bean snake is needed on the farm far more than the rattlesnake, so back to the important snake.

Bean snakes are necessary to an older, poorly insulated farmhouse. In New Mexico, they will be as effective in the heat of the year as they will be in the winter as they are to stop cold or hot air from seeping into the home!!
On the work table you can see that kitty refuses to allow bean snakes to scare me!! She wrestled them the entire time I was sewing, she is such a cutie.

Step one is compile the materials needed. Thanks to thrifting, polyester fabric is the fabric of choice as I bought about 50 yards of various patterns of polyester fabric for 80 cents!! Step two is to wash the fabric and then cut into strips to sew. Sew three sides leaving one narrow end open. I am not that serious about perfection for any snakes so I did not sew them inside out so we would not see the stitching. I also used the thread I had in abundance as bean snakes do not care too much about thread color.

Once you have the snakes sewn on three sides you need to fill them with beans. I used a handy dandy funnel to do this, but if you do not have a funnel you can roll up a piece of paper and make a funnel quite easily. Oh and please use dried beans and not

refried beans or the bean snake as well as the purpose will be completely lost~

One more photo of some of the completed bean snakes, not because I want you to see my very worn work/kitchen/school table, but because of the sneaky little paw on the top of the photo. Yes, the kitty could not help herself and played and played with the bean snakes! Her antics are tolerated because her valiant work on the farm ensures that I have no Mickey's(as in mouse) in my house!

Frugal Tin Foil Hat Person~Perhaps?! UPDATED

2011-12-01T12:59:00.005-05:00

I am not surprised about the news on Black Friday about stores tracking consumers through their cell phones. I have noted if I look at something on the local yard sale website, ads on newsblogs I read are for that item. If I write about something on this blog, the ads after I post but still on my dashboard are relative to the post. Big Brother can't help himself.

And we use cell phones. It made connecting with friends and family all over affordable as using the same carrier allowed us to connect for free. But I do like to have a bit of control over who is watching or tracking me.

I had experimented with pretty cell phone bags in the past but I was not able to add all of the bling I desired, until now. I found these chips the other day and realized that the color was perfect for my cell phone. So I washed the bag out and cut it open.

I then measured my phone-eyeballing it, as this is a bling bag in a former chip bag and not the Sistine Chapel! I cut, sewed the edges and made a fold over.See my cell phone nestled nicely in the bag? All that I need to add is a velcro close. Velcro can be picked up for less than a few dollars at the mega centers. Oh and you will want velcro to close it.

Here's the back side. I decided to have a cell phone bag that was an instrument to maintain my health and remind me of all the nasty ingredients in chips!

Now in all seriousness, this bag seems to make it like your phone is disabled. No calls coming in, and you cannot call out-I tried holding the phone inside the bag. But to stop incoming calls or even a record of the call it must be closed. I just bet, in my frugalness to have a handy-dandy cell phone bag, so I won't loose it in my purse, that I have a way for my personal shopping to be kept between me and the cash I have on hand. No store can store data about what I buy so they can cater ads to me or the likes.

And~using this in a vehicle also maintains a bit of privacy too. The phone has always been a convenience of the user. We can choose to screen calls and never respond to others. Why on earth should we allow our convenience to be distorted?

I found this and thought it is a must see

Be aware of this...

People, Food and Bookcovers or Something

2011-11-30T00:11:00.014-05:00

I thought about my produce purchases today and had some thoughts that jump around like the title~ First off, I never even heard of Cilantro as a kid(number 1). I use cilantro nearly every single day of my life now, but had no idea it existed for the first half of my life. I use it fresh, dried and cooked.

For tomatoes(number 2), I never knew you could cook(sear) them on a comal(griddle) to peel the skins off. I learned how to do this when Bill made salsa, and it never occurred to him that he was doing anything unique. Tomatoes are also another daily item. Salsa is a daily additive to foods, as well as sliced tomatoes with salt and pepper on them. As a little girl, I only had tomatoes on sandwiches or ketchup.

Avocados(number 3) are another daily item. No I do not have guacamole made every day. Bill loves avocados on his egg burritos in the morning. Sliced and simply placed on the eggs and rolled up in a burrito-nothing else). Some afternoons Bill will eat an avocado in a folded tortilla with a bit of salt on it. I cannot recall anyone eating avocados when I was small, although I am sure that we had avocados in the house.

And finally the cucumbers(number 4). We ate cucumbers-pickled, sweetened or raw, but never how we eat them now. On the farm, we slice the cucumber and squeeze lemon or lime juice on them and then add chili powder, salt and mix. The kids love this and I love to sample as I prepare the cucumber snack(what I call this recipe).

As I thought about these four simple foods I thought the foods are like people. Some of us are obviously something like the tomato and therefore most of us will only think ketchup-when in truth they are so so incredibly amazing in so many other ways, that type casting the tomato has done a grave disservice to the tomato as well as any one that enjoys salsa.

Others of us are clearly an herb, but as to what herb-is anyone's guess and so once again we are missed out for being a delightful spice in life and ignored because no one knows how to use us.

And yet others are easily recognizable and easily used and so the box is never breached. Cucumbers are pickled and avocados are for guacamole. This is yet another way we loose out when we see others. When we box a person in by something we are certain is the perfect place for them we miss the world and more.

I read a blog by a woman who is much like the cucumber. She is placed in a box on first impressions and therefore many people never discover that she is something far greater than the pickle(not hating on the pickle). As I hope she reads this post I will not delve too deeply into her identity aside from saying that our bookcover was not designed by us. Some have been able to augment the cover because of plastic surgery, but our exterior body is a direct result of genetics and living in a sin filled world thousands of years from the ideal creation.

How and with what we fill the pages of our book is up to us. Whether one decides to open the book is up to the depth of the other. It is not a reflection upon us, regardless of how personal it feels. And for the record I prefer the beat up, dogeared pages of a well read book far more than a book with a perfect cover, just as I prefer learning how to use a tomato in as many ways as possible and not only as ketchup...

what about you?

Monday Morning on the farm

2011-11-28T11:15:00.010-05:00

It has been a bit chilly here in the early mornings. So I think I will share some photos of things I saw this morning as mentally prepare myself for the day and the week ahead.

It has been a bit chilly here in the desert southwest.

My second son breaks the ice in all the water troughs each morning. The black spider looking thing is a turkey feather~trust me, I actually had to go check, wondering if a tarantula had an unfortunate accident!(and yes we do have tarantula's here-should not now because of chill but sometimes we have had stragglers leftover from the spring or fall migrations).

Thankfully we on the farm have a lovely woodstove that keeps us snuggly warm during the winter.

We even have a firepit that cast off wood and mesquite branches are tossed in for weeks that is a great place for family to sit and toast marshmallows on chilly evenings. Our days are usually brisk but sunny which I love, so a fire in the firepit in the evening is very nice.

As I walked around Ham the Ram decided that he would join me. He is a bit frightening to me at times because he is free ranging and comes up to the house and well everywhere, but he also wags his tail when I pet his cheeks. Isn't Ham a great looking sheep? He is named Ham after Noah's son, in case you are wondering.

As I walked around to the west side I saw a cat on the tin roof!! Kitty was watching me on the roof of one of the sheds. White Sands Missile Range is just west of us.

Coming inside I have my seed preservation ongoing. The middle seeds are from a gourd that I tossed to the hens. I am keeping the mini pumpkins on the plates so I am able to remember which is which!

My thoughts seem more clear after a refreshing overview of the farm inside and out and I am able to plan my week. It is amazing what a quiet morning can do for the energy! Have a wonderful week~

I spy with my little eye~something

2011-11-26T21:45:00.003-05:00

green...
I planted 3 bird feeder gourd seeds in late June. I wasn't sure I would harvest any of the gourds because this year has been an interesting weather year, yet surprise~I ended up with six gourds. They are drying and I think I am going to paint them for the County Fair.

Simple Life

2011-11-25T12:51:00.006-05:00

Our Thanksgiving was simply lovely. Knowing that my oldest would not be heading off far away made my thoughts peaceful. We ate early which is not the norm, but I seemed to like having the afternoon and evening for games and visiting. We played the board game Life and then the kids played a game system with Bill on our bed with Bill laying on one side and the others piled around. I can't remember the game as I am not a gamer unless it is board games or playing cards!

Although we had the traditional foods(well kind of) we also had salsa on the table as a meal in our house without salsa is not a meal! I made cheesecake, pumpkin pie and cherry pie. I skipped the cranberries because as the lone cranberry fan it seemed not to be too important. This year I boiled the bones and waste and ended up with 28 quarts of dog food. After I removed all the bones I boiled the meats and fats with some frozen veggies, rice, pasta, and lentils. I wrote about the recipe I used here. So our turkey made not only our meal for Thanksgiving, but so far it has been nibbled on last night, eaten with a roll this morning and will be for lunch as well as at least four more meals as I shredded the turkey and froze four 2 cup portions. I know I share my frugal ways often, but this one surprised even me!

Becoming frugal is not because I am obsessive about saving a planet or saving money. I began living a frugal lifestyle because of a crisis. It was a life changer for all of us and we came to the conclusion we had to make some drastic changes. The changes were planned and incorporated slowly as to not shock the kids but at the same time rapidly because finances were greatly reduced! I was not totally convinced the first few years. Sometimes now I get a bit dismayed as things I could replace or repair immediately in my old life must be replaced or repaired by ingenuity, and for the record, I am not an engineer, electrician, carpenter, or veterinarian. No need to stay at a Holiday Inn Express anymore, one need only to spend time on the Double Nickel to become one that is a Jen of all Trades!

Although the original reasons for us being on this path are very real we have discovered that the path of a simple life is an incredible life. I can never see us changing from learning these ways, walking with a simple step, raising our own foods, storing our foods, and closing the distance between me and the Saviour as life before was more about what I can gain in life. Here on this path it has become more How can I see more of Him as I live a more full life.

Have a wonderful weekend!

I want to add that I am thankful for many bloggers for sharing tips along the way that have helped me out including Rhonda.She has a weekly series on what is on her mind and I confess that living a simple life is on my mind every day.

Farm Wishes

2011-11-24T09:21:00.001-05:00

From The Double Nickel Farm

These are a few of my favorite things

2011-11-23T20:07:00.011-05:00

I thought I would share a few things that make me thankful. I love my simple life. So as I sit and listen to my family doing busy things around, playing a game, reading, talking I would show you a few of my favorite things-

I love simple things like:

Braiding rugs on the table

Pumpkin pie for birthdays (in June)

Puzzles for anyone and everyone to join in and piece together

Parents and Grandparents sharing a day

Anniversary picnics far and away

Day trips with the photographer here

Booms and explosions reminding me of yesteryear

A farm in the desert with critters galore

A corny plaque that makes a difference forevermore.

Parents of an honorable man

How incredibly fast they went from this...

to this...

Handiwork of doodlers...

The handiwork of the Creator.

These are a few of my favorite things...

Mood Ring on the Farm~Bliss!!!!!!

2011-11-23T13:52:00.003-05:00

After a flight delay(by three days), flight change, and another delay 9 hours...I have wonderful news. I never share any news about my son that is in the army until it is old news, because with the military things change without notice. Anyhow a flight that should have arrived at noon made it to El Paso at 9:35 pm last night and check out the passenger we picked up! Yes we were all tired but how exciting to have First home for the holidays!

First with Fourth-Second and Third both had to work yesterday evening.

Now to the mood ring excitement!!
My oldest received orders for Fort Bliss and this arrival is well~

his arrival to his new duty station in Texas. And thanks to maps of the world dot com, you can see where he was and now where he will be stationed! Yes the smile will not leave my face! El Paso is right down the road from the farm(in western speak) and I am thrilled to be so close to all the kids once again!

Back to regular posting perhaps later today!

One year ago

2011-11-19T19:10:00.006-05:00

I was a million miles away in thoughts even though I was here on the farm. My oldest son, who is in the army, was in Afghanistan. It is not an easy thing to think about today, let alone when he was there. Our young men and women are all over the world, far from home, family and loved ones. They are sometimes seeing things that will change them for the rest of their lives.

My son is in the bottom row, middle.

No matter how old my son gets he will always be my baby. As I see him holding the weapon I flash back to him playing with his teddy bear.

July 1989

I could go on and on about how much I cherish this young man and how concerned I was when he was in Afghanistan-because I am a mother of a soldier. Today, I am not thinking of my son in Afghanistan. I am thinking of other sons and daughters in Afghanistan and elsewhere far from home. I think of our soldiers that have come home injured and of the families of those that were killed. I don't think I will ever be able to disconnect my thoughts from the military. You see, they are not the ones that direct the orders on where they go and what they do. They are young. Some of the young men barely have facial hair. This is what I wrote when I went back east in 2009, to take my son some things from home for his barracks in Fort Drum.

Our soldiers that live in the barracks(at least here) are young- under 25, and are so normal. It was like going into my sons rooms at home. The troops have posters up, and TVs, game systems, and well~ guy mess, but the thing that resonates the most with me is the youthfulness. When I went to my son's room his roommate was playing Connect Four(a board game)...and they all were goofy to the fact that Bill's mom came to see him and brought lots of stuff from home. It was like Christmas for everyone around as they helped carry up stuff and then laughed and looked at what I brought. Fourth made brownies for her big brother- which then was shared by all...they loved the home made goodies!

And my eyes well up with tears once again. I love my country. I am thankful that we still have men and women that will put the uniform on. But I want to remind you all that to all the mother's and father's that are as I was last year...

My oldest son age 2 in Heilbronn Germany(just outside Stuttgart)

this is how their son or daughter is to them in their thoughts. May we all keep not only our troops in prayer but also their families.

In case you are wondering

2011-11-18T15:59:00.011-05:00

it was 70 F today. It was lovely!

it was a spinach cabbage salad day where each one of us could add our extra toppings-raisins, onions, tomatoes, feta cheese, sunflower seeds, olive oil,fresh orange juice squeezed from orange, red wine vinegar, salt and pepper were the choices! I love this salad.

it was hard for kitty today as I put some Thanksgiving decor in her favorite resting spot~Bill's lectern. She finally perked up to the festive mood...feel free to click on the photo!

farmer is doing well. We rearranged the house before his surgery so he could look out and see our mountain while recovering. Yes that is my pine bed in front of the bookshelves from these photos...We have been reading the Bible together, playing cards, watching old movies-and visiting.
After 23 plus years I am not just in love with this man~I am complete because of this man. Corny~maybe, cheesy to heart doodle~definitely...but one~absolutely.

Have a safe weekend from the Double Nickel Farm

Hospitality~Double Nickel Style

2011-11-17T22:29:00.008-05:00

Henny Penny would like for you to pull up a chair and visit for a while. You aren't busy are you?

She promises not to hen peck anyone and would love to share exactly which came first~the chicken or the egg. She has a beau although he barely notices her because she is still young. But he will take note and for that she gets her feathers dusted often.

Sometimes she will walk with you and if she is busy on Little Red Hen tasks she will have one of her Eggbook friends keep you company. If your hands are full she and the girls will all race out to see if you have the slop bucket...and will tag along even if it is only the laundry basket.

Don't fret if she squawks, it is poultry for I am having a wonderful time, let's do this again. She also wants to remind the Double Nickel visitors that here on the farm it is totally acceptable to have chickens on the porch as well as an occasional sheep that thinks for a moment that farmer has some greens in his hand. Here on the farm things are, shall we say, a bit more relaxed than in the city but never you mind! Thanks for your visit~y'all come back now, ya' hear!

~Applethoughts~

2011-11-16T16:01:00.018-05:00

Today I made applesauce to go with dinner and I had a few thoughts while in the kitchen.

I never used to make my own applesauce. In my old life I would just buy applesauce from the grocery. I still buy applesauce just not very often or very much. We have a friend that owns an orchard near us and since meeting him and helping him through a season a few years ago I appreciate apples far more than I ever did and have learned how to can, dry, freeze and bake almost anything with apples.

The apples in the first photo may not have clearly shown how old and shriveled the apples are. I wanted to share that apples that look like this are fine. In my old life before the farm, I most likely would have tossed apples that looked like this. Oh how sad was I? They are just as tasty and while I was peeling the apples I ended up eating much of the peels. I did end up tossing a nice portion of the peels to the chickidoodles and turkey's that have earned the coveted 2011 Reprieve. I store apples for at least 4 months. If the storage room is cool enough I suppose they could last longer, I am not sure as we finish the apples before they go bad. I had 40 lbs in storage and am down to about 5 lbs.

After the apples were peeled I carefully removed the core and diced up the apples.

Make note~there are not many uniform slices. Seems like it improves the taste the less uniform the slices are! I put the slices in my handy dandy pot and put it on the stove top with about a cup of water and 2 tbsp. of sugar and a few pinches of cinnamon. I cooked it on low for a while and used the TI~IITRIS method. In case you are not trained in the culinary arts this stands for taste it~ if it tastes ready it is.What I love about the TI~IITRIS method is that you may need to apply this method often as to be absolutely certain.

While the applesauce was slowly cooking, I was able to cut open the core and salvage the seeds. I love how beautiful the place that houses the seeds looks!

Isn't it amazing that a lovely star is inside each apple? I am a bit of a frugal frau since moving to the farm and I love utilizing every single item in as many ways as possible (remember this post?) Apples are perfect for a person that is living a simple life no matter if one is living this way due to circumstance or choice. The old peelings feed the flock, the apples fill the pot, the seeds fill our plot (of land). These are apples that are organic and grown locally, so we know that they can survive in this climate. So the seeds are my hurry up and wait project. I am looking forward to my fifties and eating, selling, and giving away fruit off of trees that grow from these lovely seeds!

and to my applethoughts:
Both this post and the applesauce I made required me. First I was the cook in making the applesauce-funny because I had all the ingredients to make applesauce yet it didn't make itself. Same with this post. Blogspot is so easy to use, yet the post did not write itself, add the photos or publish it. This blog is mine and in my little corner of the world I am the author. Without me, neither the applesauce nor the post would have happened.

But the beautiful apple, simple and yet incredible in design is without a Designer? Seems kind of silly to believe that everything about the apple in this post needed me, but the apple itself slowly came to be over millions of years from nothing...

A Glimpse of Tuesday on the Farm

2011-11-15T15:38:00.019-05:00

Laundry and the benefits of using a solar dryer. In New Mexico solar dryer's are extremely cost effective. In addition natural vitamin D is a secondary bonus. Second load will go on line in a bit. Yep~I made that clothespin bag out of a jacket Fourth outgrew.

Hearty stew cooking in the crockpot for my hearty crew!

Bread pans are in use today. As you can see they are quite a collection. I picked them up at yard sales over the years.

Some of the bread...still waiting on the cinnamon rolls.

This hen followed me around today while I was out and about, so she makes it to the blog!

My handsome rams. Obed in the front and Cuatro in the rear. They are Navajo Churro sheep. We are almost 100% allowing the sheep to wander the farm. The mesquite still cause woolly tangles but they all love grazing here and there. When I say grazing I mean munching on native vegetation to the desert southwest.

Loved the sky today.

~piles like this are cropping up all over as we are going to burn the debris in another week.

This is what I worked on while the bread was rising as I need some new potholders. I have several piles of squares cut of old jeans, shirts and skirts that await projects. I added the chickidoodle as I am in a chickidoodle mood!

That is our simple day today as Fourth awaits delivery from Amazon (and boy is she excited as it is the final book in the series). Bill is slowly able to get up and move a bit and recovery is far better than I imagined post surgery. Flies are still buzzing around and I have the fan on as I type this post so all things are normal for New Mexico.

Life is like homemade pizza

2011-11-14T21:51:00.008-05:00

Yes I tweaked that line that from Forrest Gump. I have not seen the movie since the first time I saw it yet some movie lines resonate with me.

Life is not perfect nor easy. I love thin crust pizza and wish I could have the Schwan's man deliver me some all the time. But I cannot. We moved to the farm to have a good life in spite of the hurdles placed in front of us. What is interesting is that I have discovered it is pretty nice to live a simple life on less.

The photos are from left to right the flour- mixed with olive oil and salt, the yeast mixture- mixed with warm water and sugar, the dough just as it is kneaded and the final photo of the dough at about half the final size it would rise to.

Now on to the sauce. The base is unsalted tomato sauce. I use unsalted tomato sauce as my base in spaghetti sauce too. I added homemade Italian spice mix and a bit of pepper and garlic powder.

Four personal pan pizza's. Well they are pie sized so for a few of us there will be some for breakfast! The docking-or poking the holes in the dough is very important and was a step I skipped once because I did not know what docking meant. The dough has yeast in it and will rise while cooking if you do not dock it!

After spreading the sauce on to the ingredients. On the farm they are what is on hand~fresh items first and cheese that may be homemade or not.

The toppings tonight-fresh spinach, tomatoes, onions and pineapples, black olives, peppers and farm fresh ground beef (this year edition).

And here are the personal pizzas awaiting a chance to cook in my lovely oven that my sweetie found on Freecycle a while ago.

Do you know what is amazing about the pizza's? We all loved our personal pizza, yet each one of us ate something different. One of the pizzas was cooked in a very good quality baking pan while one was in a yard sale brownie pan. The cheese on the pizza on the bottom left was scarce but the person that ate that pizza did not mind at all. The top left pizza seemed boring as it only had meat on it, while the bottom left had tons of onions and pineapples. Only the top right pizza had all the ingredients on it, and the bottom right pizza had a surprise that no one else was told about and so no one else had a chance to ask for: fresh jalapeno slices.

And you know what? So what!

Life is like pizza. Especially for Americans. We all start out here free to do and act. Some of us have nicer homes and some are pretty humble but for the most part we are content whether we are full of material items or lacking nearly everything. Life in America is so incredible that those of us that have the least still have far more than the majority of those anywhere else in the world.

And until recently most of us understood this. So what if some have more than us? So what if some are cheating and stealing. We have a system to maintain law and order. In addition we should focus more on how we are managing what we have and not worrying if someone else has something more or different as more or different do not mean things are better or for that matter worse.

You see in America we all have this as our guide: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.

Make sense? We are not created equal so that we all have the same things as happiness is subjective. So to all those that are Occupying our cities-I am sorry. You have no right. Happiness is not based on what percent you believe you are or not. Go home. Stop pursuing what others have and start pursuing the happiness that is an unalienable right granted to you by the Creator for you. Once you realize this life is better and you can be totally content with a meat pizza all the while accepting that those around you may have an entire vegetable garden on their pizza. Oh and some are very content with their very own lovely cheese pizzas too...

so life is like a homemade pizza if you are willing to stop looking at my pizza and enjoy your own.

Before

2011-11-13T17:06:00.010-05:00

This post is a Before post. Things on a farm have a few perspectives. Before and After posts share a window that is not the most pleasant because if you are reading a Before post then you know what is coming.

This is the Before of Lil Turk. His appearance for after will be more fitting for the freezer later today.

This is Before of Krut. His appearance will be more in line with the main course on Thanksgiving.

This is my mountain Before the storm hit. Oh and the storm? It did not hit us, just the mountain.

On the table are my Before little owls. I sewed the one on the left and need to stuff him and attach his eyes wings and beak. The little one on the right is in the Before stage.

For the record this season-the autumn/wintertime in New Mexico is the time to butcher, to craft and to relax from the intense heat experienced over the other season...remember? Surface of the Sun season is finally over and we can cool off for a bit!

Beware as an upcoming post will be titled After. I really don't hold back with the realities of farm life.

Thank You

2011-11-11T09:31:00.006-05:00

To all those who have served and are serving.
We are thankful for your service.

Bill & Jen
and the kids