Runamuck Ranch

Wheat in April

April wheat in Arizona.....

April wheat in Colorado...

Courtesy of my farmgirl friend from Colorado who sends not only great pics but kind words - when I was a bit blue.  Thanks!!  The Farmer says this is the biggest grain drill (crust buster) he has ever seen.

The Faierie House

Faierie's have built a house in the Enchanted Forest.....  Boo is over the moon about this.

They are making good use of the flowers from my garden.

No one has the right to sit down and feel hopeless.  There's too much work to do! - Dorothy Day

Super Fast Polar Fleece Blanket

Two pieces of polar fleece cut into a rectangle and tied together.  An easy present for my beautiful niece.  May it keep her warm and wrap her in our love.

Scarlett O'Caboodle

I repurposed some old denim curtains that used to hang in TT's room into a couple of pair of jeans for Caboodle.  This is so Gone With the Wind.  The pictures are bad but you know it is tough here at Tara after the War.  This material made some nice very soft jeans that are not so stiff for little legs.

 

Super Easy Taco Meat

This is a great dinner option when I know I am not going to be able to cook dinner and need it to be ready. 

I take frozen  (you can use fresh) hamburger meat (Mine is always frozen because we produce our own beef.)   and put however many pounds you need to feed your family in the crockpot.  Add taco seasoning mix and cook on low all day or on high half the day.  Right before dinner, mash it up into small bits with a spatula and then drain off the liquid and fat.  Put back in crock pot and add more taco seasoning if desired.  Serve with shredded cheese (which I store in ziplocs in the freezer) store bought taco shells, and cabbage, tomatoes and salsa. 

This meat is better tasting for tacos than if fried, and I can literally put dinner together in 5 minutes.  This is not  gourmet but it is a cooking tip that has saved me time and again through the years.

The leftover meat makes a great pizza topping.  I either use it the next day or freeze it for later pizza.

A Colorado Farmgirl

I had the most delightful email from a reader in Colorado.  She shared the following pictures with me.  She also explained how their house is not finished as her husband is building it himself and does not believe into going into debt for  a house.  It strikes me that had more people followed this wisdom our economy would not be facing its current crisis.  It also strikes me how cozy and well loved her home looks in spite of being unfinished.  Her husband handmade her kitchen cabinets.  That is a man that loves his wife. 

TT and Boo were very interested in this email.  I think they sometimes feel like they are the only kids that live as we do.  The first thing out of TT's mouth was "They have 5 boys.  Why can't they live here!"

She has also conquered her fear of the sewing machine and is making this great quilt. 

I am inspired.

Tractors, UPS, and Necessary Things

I copied these from the comments so they wouldn't be buried.

You might be a farmgirl if.....

Your two year old thinks all naps are taken on a pile of coats on the floor of the tractor and looks at you with total confusion while becoming completely distraught when you actually put him in his crib for a nap while the tractor is being repaired. (Cy & I have been driving the tractor like crazy planting spring wheat and the tractor is in for repairs today before we commence plowing. He actually got to lie in his bed for his nap and didn't quite know what to do!!!)

If the UPS man has a camper shell on a four-wheel drive truck for his brown delivery vehicle because he could never make it to your house in one of those vans.

If you take your two year old to visit in the city and he rips back the blinds on one of your hosts windows and asks "Where you dog? Where you cows? Where you horsees?". The expression of complete disappointment meets every response of "we don't have those here" at the end of which the two year old announces "bye" and heads for the door because he has no interest in being at a home without these necessary items.

City Chicks

You might be a farmgirl if .....

You are hiding out chickens in your tiny yard (deck) and you live in a suburban neighborhood.

Your 7 year old daughter has ever rustled a full grown rooster and brought it home.

What A Day

Today was a smorgasbord of experiences for TT and Boo.  They started out by going to the news station to do a live spot with their yoga instructor, Lauren.

We then headed to Scottsdale to drop off some artwork at the giclee printer.  Upon returning home TT went to trap practice.  Meanwhile Caboodle and The Farmer prepared to plant cotton.  I do not think The Farmer quite gets yoga as he keeps saying, "You need to dominate the court."  Perhaps he has watched a bit too much March Madness.