This... this after my pretty rhubarb!?

Sometimes I just wish I had more time! I read other peoples blogs and it makes me want to blog... it's therapeutic to blog! But yet, to get it in most days I sit, like now, at almost midnight doing it!

Matt just went to let Ruffis in from being locked out on the screen porch and he caught himself a bat:-/ Ekkk... I really do not care for bats. One night, while at Abby and Andy's house, one came flying thru the dining room and I ducked so fast and said, "ahh, it's a bat"... Abby went to hide under the table - I thought that was a good idea and followed:-) The boys used the "bat racket" and got it. I sill get made fun of for reacting the way I did. Rats, bats, mice... who LIKES those things?! Come on!?!? lol... That was off the beaten path of where I was going w/ this whole thing, where was I going...?

This is what we woke up to on Monday morning here. SNOW. Big, fluffy, white snow. It was pretty, well would have been pretty I should say, two months ago.

That right there... those are my tulips and irises trying to come up... Mean, mother nature can be just MEAN:-p

The guys had their first softball game tonight. It was fun.. it was cold, I'm not going to lie. They won. Even if it was a "just for fun and pratice" game. I was bummed I forgot my camera at the house. I guess I didn't miss a picture of their first real game:-) That's to come next week - bet you can't wait!? We did have a fun, if a bit rushed, through together dinner/pot luck at Addy and Andy's before the game and that was fun. We'll continue to do that:-) I love ppl that are real (have their houses ripped up like mine) and love to eat:-D

I have to go to bed now.. I'll write more later. I'm tired now.

Spring Means Rhubarb

RHUBARB CRISP

1 cup flour

3/4 cup oatmeal

1 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 cup butter, melted

4 cups diced rhubarb

1/2 pkg. dry strawberry Jell-O

Sauce:
3/4 cup white sugar

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1 cup water

vanilla

Preheat oven to 350°F.
To make crust, mix flour, oatmeal, brown sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter until crumbly. Press 1/2 of the mixture into the bottom of a 9x9 inch pan.

Cover with chopped rhubarb, then sprinkle with dry Jell-O. In a medium saucepan, combine white sugar, cornstarch and water. Cook until thickened and clear. Add vanilla. Pour over rhubarb, pat remaining crumbs on top.

My notes. I used a large pkg of Jello. Also, the only kind of jello I had was raspberry - and that was really good too.

Bake at 350°F for 1 hour.

It was soo very good! And that's coming from someone that doesn't really care for rhubarb. I forgot to get a picture of the whole pan cause we were in a hurry to get to the Lundgren's to eat before the softball game - this was the last pice before it was gone - it was still pretty:-)

"There will be blood"

Had potential. However...... Strange music that kind of creeped us out. It was verrrrrry long. It was okay. It was not fast paced enough, not interesting enough to be that long. Kept hoping it'd get better. Acting itself was good. Didn't really have a good ending - again very strange, kind of... dark.

The weekend is here!

It's been a good Friday. Glad it's Friday. Started out raining, hard. Went to the gym w/ Heather. I ran on the treadmill, two and a half miles. I am getting better! My cardio is getting so much better:-) Came home and put corned beef in the crock pot. I've never made that before, and it was really good. Had friends over for dinner and then watched a movie. It wasn't a very good movie - Charlie Wilson's War. Kind of dry in my opinion:-p

Work went well till I had to breed cows. Grrr. The were so bad, wild and irritating. My patients were gone after breeding three of them. Told Steve I was done and he could do the rest! Before that, everything was going well:-D

This is a pretty picture of the river that I took while Callie and I were out and about. So pretty after the rain....

Here are the boys w/ the pets. Matt and Nick sat down then Callie laid down w/ Nick. Hank decide he didn't want Callie to feel like she could intimate HIM, so he laid down right next to, almost on top of, Callie. It was cute! Hank likes her kennel... I think to show her that HE'S the ruler... and then she's all confused like she's not sure if she should stop it, or just watch Hank walk into her house!?! Right now the wind is freaking her out. She's sitting in Nick's lap right now.. the boys are kind of teasing her:-) She's a cutie!

This is pretty little Callie. We're puppy sitting for our friends, Kevin and Sarah. She is a sweet little girl, and so pretty! As she gets a little older the hair on her back gets more curly:-) She's a little pooper, though! I didn't know such a little thing could poo so much! lol.. Matt is LOVING her. He runs in the yard w/ her like he's 6 again, pretty cute!

There she is!!! She thinks she's really something! So proud of her self.... So cute, I hope she always stays this way:-)

Last night I wanted something good, easy and cheap for dinner last night. So.... I e-mailed Matt at work and told him I was hungry for Culver's bergers and onion rings. Then I got to thinking, cup cost and make the onion rings myself!! So I did. They turned out really good. I also did some green beans - also really good, dipped in ranch - yumm! The one thing I'd change about this recipe is put garlic salt, pepper or a chili powder... something to "spice it up" at little bit.

1 c. flour

1/2 tsp. salt

1 egg, beaten

1 c. milk

2 tbsp. oil

Fat or oil, for deep frying

Combine above ingredients and beat until lumps are gone. Coat onion rings with batter. Fry, a few at a time, in hot fat - stirring to separate - until golden.
Drain on paper toweling. Sprinkle with salt. Fat should be 360 degrees for frying.

Here's Chester. He's pretty cute when he stands up on the dish to eat:-) He's not a friendly guy, but kinda cute!

I'm going to bed. Going to bed to sleep in. It's Saturday!

Another Beautiful Day!

This is random, but I love pretty little bottles. These are just a few that sit in my window... It's so fun to see the very different sizes, shapes and colors. It's also fun to think about what they were once used for and where... They are so pretty!

So, my big news from yesterday was that I guess I figured my phone needed to be washed... so I put it though the wash at work! It didn't go so well:-p This morning I went and got a new phone. Our friend, Nick, works at sprint so I was in like Flin... bless his heart!!! Now, I have this silly little pink phone for now.. till I get my "real" phone back:-) I miss my Palm already..

The kitties and bunnies have been loving having the porch door open all the time and laying in the sun where it comes in the window:-)

Matt milked w/ me last night. That was a good time. He's getting fast! It'll be fun to work w/ him three nights a week! I sure am blessed...

Matt did some yard work today, picking up piles he's raked up earlier last week. Good to have done. I'd like to say I helped, but I just wondered around the garden looking at all the new things that are coming up!! My Lilly Of The Valley are coming up now, just since yesterday! Very exciting. They're are soooo many of them and they smell incredible!

When I got home from work today I went for a two and a half mile run. It felt so good and I was so proud of myself:-D It was so, so nice out... perfect weather to be out! Only one rail road guy passed me on the tracks. Oh, and he honked and waved:-p Great, just great. He was a big guy w/ a cigarette hanging from his lips:-p There were so many ppl out walking and enjoying the day. On my way back I passed an older couple (maybe 75), and then I sat in the grass to stretch and they caught up to me and when they were passing me asked if I was sick. lol.. It was cute. I told them I was just stretching.

I just made cookies. Yumm. I'll have Matt take them to work to share, maybe take some for the guy I milk w/ every day (he's a single guy who's mom cooks for him) and maybe have Matt take some to a neighbor that I've been meaning to bring cookies to for a long time.

Snicker Doodles

1 cup butter

2 eggs

1 1/2 cup sugar

2 tsp. cream of tarter

1 tsp. soda

1/2 tsp. salt

2 3/4 cup flour

Roll into balls and roll in sugar w/ some cinnamon in it. They will flatten as they bake. Bake at 350 till golden brown.

Ahhh, it's green again!

Caught!

I caught this little guy in my yard this afternoon. I really do not like the wild bunnies, they eat flowers! He's kind of pretty, though, don't you think? The first Daffodil of the year (for me anyway)!! It was kind of mud splattered cause of alllll the rain lately.

My pretty Chives. They smell awful when Matt accidentally hits them w/ the mower:-p But, they are pretty, and green! Anything green now, makes me happy!

More of the weekend and..... I think summer is finally coming!

Here we are again......

It was a BeAuTiFuL day here in Dakota today! Wow, I couldn't get enough of it - the sun, good smells, sounds, green grass and the breeze! I got up early and put clothes on the line, and lots of them! When I got home from work I went for a run on that cute little bike path right on the river that I've written about before. Remember how it runs right along the train tracks also? Today there were about thirty (or maybe more) Canadian Pacific Railroad trucks and fixer trucks on the tracks along the whole way! That made for a more noisy, stinky and amusing run:-) One of them honked at me (who knew one of those machines would have a horn!?!?) and then there was a group of older guys just standing around in a huddle talking and they looked up at me a one waved so I waved - figured then I knew they saw me so I gave them a good wave and then they all waved back.. what a trip!

After dinner Matt had a fire department meeting. When he was at that I went into town and got groceries and went to the library. Nothing too exciting. I was pooped and was not in the mood to do anything other then sit on my butt and play on-line:-p

Back to our weekend! Sunday we got up late and had a wonderful breakfast! We always eat SOO well when we go to Mary's:-D Then we poked around, went shopping and then out to eat (no, not eating again!?!?).. then came home a napped... and then on the road. It was wonderful, I can't even put into words - and I mean it!

Below - Tyler and his girlfriend, Jami at the Mill. Top right-This is the Mill. It was a flour Mill in Mlps. It was such a pretty view up there! That's the Mississippi river behind it - that's what they used to power the Mill.

Left - My mommy and daddy on the observation deck at the Mill.. Below - My handsome husband! I love this picture! We were on the "Never Ending Bridge" at the Guthrie Theater. He's so cute!

Well, it's off to bed for us, tired!

Mill City Museum...

We're in the cities and having a wonderful time relaxing!! We went to see the Mill City Museum today also to the Crafty Planet... what beautiful sights! I have some pictures for you.... :-)

Cool Picture I took.... it's a mirror on the bottom...

Here's Matt w/ the pretty yearn at the Crafty Planet:-) This is Matt and I up top the Museum...

Some more pretty fabric at the Crafty Planet. Turned out kinda un-foucused, I forgot my "real" camera at home:-(

Mom is teaching Mary to sew right now... Matt and I are going to go for a walk! More later......

Seeing God's hand in your evey day life is so fun!

Haven't written in a while... been busy and tired!

Some very cool God things have happened the last few days! First, Matt is going to be able to work w/ me on Tuesday and Thursday nights now! This salves so many things for us... such as not seeing one another very much during the week and making a little more money to catch up on credit card debt. Praise the Lord... Also, God has worked in some neat ways w/ in a friendship need being met - I can't really go into it, but some of you know what I mean, and again, praise the LORD!

Matt got to go to breakfast this morning w/ the guys from church. He was glad he got to go to that, it's been a long time sense he's been able to go.

I haven't been out for a run sense last time I wrote:-( I have been so tired (not sleeping well at night) and have had a head ache... I will get to go to the gym tomorrow!!! I am going to take some Tylenol PM tonight, I WILL sleep!

I just got home from my second milking of the day... now having some cheese, meat and crackers... w/ some good, sweet, fake wine w/ the husband:-) I have to give Matt a hair cut now, before I shower for bed. Oh that man's hair grows!

Our a animals haven't really been doing anything too great to talk about. Matt was so wonderful and went and got the greens from the grocery store that they were throwing out for the bunnies. That was so sweet of him!! What a guy I married!?

We're very excited to be going to the cities this weekend to visit Mary. We are in need of a get away and some relaxing fun:-)

It's a windy day here! These are the little crocuses all opened up!! They're loving this 70 degree weather we're having here! This is Ruffis, he would really, really like to get outside w/ me. He's better off in here, though, or I may not see him for a few days:-( I opened the sun porch door this morning and before I could get out there to shut the door to the garage, Emma, Hank and Ruffis were all out there. Emma made a bee line for the garage. I guess she must have had a good time yesterday. I shooed them out and closed the door:-p Ruined their fun! I milk twice today. Not much going on here. I am taking advantage of the wind and putting clothes, rugs and sheets out on the line. Dinner is in the oven so I better go finish that so I have something to feed the man when he gets home!

Everyone around here is happy to see the sun again!!

My bunnies are as happy to see the sun as I was! I think Matt's just okay w/ whatever, sun or no sun... he's just a happy guy:-) This is Emma (black and white) and Chester. I opened the front door for them to be able to soak the sun up today! When we came home from church yesterday we caught these doves sunning themselves on a roof! Aren't they cute!? The breeze would come up and ruffle their feathers and they'd just sit there happy as can be! They had the same idea I did... get out there and get some vitamin D!
We got to go out for lunch w/ Matt's parents after church yesterday. That was nice. We live so close yet due to the day to day busyness we don't see that much of each other. Had good food and good conversation...

Back to the bunnies. Emma is the outgoing one. Chester follows Emma, and only if she's going somewhere safe (like not out on the kitchen floor - too slippery). We got up from a nap yesterday and Matt couldn't find Emma. We had the door open to the sun/three seasons porch and she does go out there but always comes back in. Matt looked and looked... he even looked in the garage cause there's a door into the garage from the sun porch. Still couldn't find her. He went out there one more time and here she comes... hopping out from under the car!!! We are such great pet owners! But oh, our pets have a good time around here:-) She came hopping back up in the house, seemed happy about her adventure!

Matt and I milked last night. Had a good time. It's fun to milk w/ Matt:-) He's a good little milker for a city boy:-D

Today I went for a two mile run! It felt very good. I was disappointed that I didn't get to see a barge or train:-( hehe.. I was running on a bike path by the river and train tracks. It was still beautiful and the sun felt great! I got to sit by the river and watch it go by as I stretched.... what a beautiful, beautiful place I live!?!

I'm reading a good book right now. It's called "Water Like a Stone" by Deborah Crombie. It's set in Scotland. The words they're using and way they talk make me want to talk like that and be Scottish!:-) It a very good book so far...

Well, off to watch a little Law and Order w/ my husband. We love to watch old Law and Orders on Netflix!

Till next time!

First signs of spring and good friends...

I have some first signs of spring for you! I planted bulbs and I'm seeing my work now:-) Rhubarb on the left! I don't care that much for the stuff... but Matt loves it and I love to cook and bake so I love to make new creations w/ it!

Heather was over and Matt changed her oil this morning. Also made cookies. Matt and I then ran to the bank and library... then came home and napped for three hours!!! It was great! Got up and went to put stakes on the grill and some friends called.. so we put all the stakes on the grill and made lots of other food and six friends came over for dinner. It was a wonderful time. We're all getting old, however, everyone was tired and ready to go home and to bed by 9pm! Matt was wonderful and cleaned up all the dishes and such.

I'm sad that Saturday is already almost over.... Going to watch a movie me bed w/ the hubby now:-)

Another rain soaked day!

It's stillllll raining here:-( Life does go on though. Should be nice by Monday!? After work stopped in to see my mommy for a while, and had a good chat.

Had a wonderful time milking cows today - cause I only had to go once:-D Matt had a busy day at work so was kind of late getting out of there. We went to Sara's for the evening. It was good fun. She's been a close friend of ours sinse Matt was little and sinse I was about 15. Watched the movie "Evan Almighty" it was pretty good. Better then I expected. Very good movie as far as good clean watching goes:-)

I have a big exercise ball and we've caught Chester (the littler bunny) playing w/ it. He'll roll it around, or bounce it at something and then it'll come back to him and he'll do it again. It's pretty cute! What made me think of that is that it was in the middle of the room when we came home, and that's not where it was when we left:-D

Well, we're tired and off to bed. Matt is changing a friends oil in the morning and then her and I will go work out while Matt's working hard:-p

Another day... but it is FRIDAY!

So, my mommy's blog spot is cooler then mine! lol...

I must get on here to learn how to do pictures and such.... more soon!

I HATE this weather.... grrrr!

Don't know what I'm going to do for dinner. I don't want to do anything but go to bed and stay there! I have to milk again tonight, though, so that's not going to happen.

My abs are sore today cause I did lots of crunches yesterday. Will go to the gym and run on the treadmil tomorrow morning. I was running outside, but not w/ this weather:-(

My house is a MESS:-( Hair balls everywhere!!!! I love to wash clothes so that's the one thing that's always done around here:-D

Just starting..

Just thought all the "cool" ppl have a blog, so I should too! I love to write and take (and display) pictures... so here goes nothing!