Well that was a CRAZY night!

I hate hate hate night storms, especially when they include tornado warnings!   It hailed, blew, rained, lighteninged, thundered, and did it all night long! Not to mention the 4.7 earthquake that happened in Arkansas.  We didn't feel it, but there are reports of tremow being felt as far north as Ava which is just about 50 miles away.  It is so scary to think about. 
Remember the learning about the dust bowl? Well last night we had the mud bowl- So I guess this storm picked up dust from Arizona and Texas (where apparantly it is dry) and dumped it on the Ozarks last night-in the form of mud.

Everything is COVERED.  You don't expect to wake up to that after a thunderstorm. crazy huh?  Not to mention Chris left the passenger window down on the truck...

My poor purse is ruined!

Now it looks tye dyed!

This was the only purse that I ever just LOVED!



Guess I need to go to the mall and see if I can find another one like it!



Some new pics of the kids-

I decided to edit some pictures I took of the kids the other day, instead of trying to get professional pics done.  I think they turned out okay.

This is my favorite.

My new mixer :)

I LOVE IT!

RIP Bunny

Well Mr. Bunny died overnight. :( He just wouldn't eat or drink and I didn't know what else to do.  I got up in the middle of the night and tried to force feed him because I was so worried about him.  I couldn't sleep.  This morning when I went back out to check on him he was dead.  Such a sad day. 

On other notes, the other bunnies all seem to be healthy and in great spirits. I don't think I mentioned it earlier but I have a cat in a cage too.  I know that sounds horrible, but she is happier in the cage then I think she has ever been.  Someone dumped her on our property a few weeks ago and I have been trying to feed her and take care of her, but my other cat-Bucko- hates I mean HATES other cats and tries to kill them.  I guess it is the Siameese in him, I don't know.  Well the little kitty had been hiding out in the chicken coop for the past 3-4 days and wouldn't come out.  Yesterday afternoon I caught her in a nest box asleep.  So I scooped her up and took out to the bunny cages.  I have 2 empty cages and put her in the bottom one.  I put some nice dry hay in her cage and gave her some food and water.  She snuggled down in the hay and slept nearly all day.  This morning I held her awhile and she purred like crazy.  I think she feels safe for once in her life.  I have been trying to find a new home for her, but no one needs another cat, and I really don't want to keep her in a cage forever.  I will keep trying.  When I set her down this morning I opened her cage door and she walked in on her own.  She then ate some food and snuggled down in her hay bed.  I am happy that she is happy, but I still don't feel that it is right to keep her in a cage, but what else can I do?  Bucko is an indoor/outdoor kitty and has been with us since I was pregnant with Cooper.  We can't get rid of him.  I want to keep them both, but I don't know if they will ever get along.  I am hoping that Bucko will get used to her with her in the cage and eventually they will get along *fingerscrossed* :) 

It is thunderstorming here this morning and the fire went out over night--it is 42 degrees right now. brrr.  So most of our wood is wet.  I have been trying to start a fire all morning, but the wind is coming in from the south so I don't have much draw on the fire. AND I really need to go to town and get milk for the kids. (I made chocolate chip cookies last night and Chris drank 2 glasses)  I have fresh milk in the fridge but Chris doesn't think the kids should have fresh milk. (I don't think a little would hurt them since we  cook with it and I drink it occasionally but he is more anal about things like that than I am-it is funny. But then again I am more anal about other things. PARENTS! HA!)

Cooper has been trying to write his name.  He has the C and the O's down, but that is as far as he has gotten.  He drew me a bunny yesterday and it actually looked like a bunny- I was impressed.  The funny thing is he won't use a regular pencil...he uses a carpenter's pencil that he saw Daddy using in the shop. lol.

Sick Bunny!

I have a sick bunny :( I am afraid he is going to die. (oh and we have 3 boys not 2..)  After some suggestions on BYC today I decided to give the bun a bath and look for skin infections or lumps. (easier to see when the fur is wet) While giving the bath I found boy parts! lol kinda freaked me out since I wasn't expecting that. lol.  Well he hasn't ate anything in a couple of days and isn't drinking much.  I am worried about him.  Today he spent the day in the bathtub.

I feel so sorry for the little fellow.  If he isn't eating by tomorrow I am going to try and force feed him some babyfood.  I actually have 2 jars of applesauce left over from Sophia. So if he is still alive in the morning, I am going to force feed a bunny. Never thought I would say that. lol.

Chris and Cooper went over to the milk barn this evening and got me 2 more gallons of milk-going to make some more cheese soon.  Chris tried a sliver of cheese last night and it does actually taste like colby cheese.  I was kinda surprised.  It just is very mild, and needs to age more.

I sold 4 dozen eggs today to our neighbor.  She is kinda strange but she is nice.  She paid me in quarters...$8 in quarters.  I told her they will spend just like anyother kind of money. 

I am thinking about buying about 25 more laying hens...Chris thinks I am nuts...he thinks I should rename my blog to the Crazy Chicken and Bunny lady. whatever.

I think we are getting old...we are watching the Waltons and then thinking about going to bed.  It is only 8:00 pm. I am only 25!  But we both have had big days and the kids need to go to bed.  Cooper is super whiny, won't eat his supper (tacos at that-one of his favorites!) and whines about not being hungry but wants a cookie. I think he just needs to go to bed. I just hope my tooth doesn't hurt tonight.  I have had a toothache for days now--getting it pulled on the 2nd of March.

Tuesday- I think?

Well I think today is tuesday-we have been super busy the
se past few days!

Chris took off at 11 on Thursday and this is his 1st day back.  Friday we went to Strafford and bought the bunny hutch.  We then went to Dillons and got groceries, saved $101.15 with coupons!  Would have saved a lot more if the cashier hadn't been a big ole bitch, but anyway...

Saturday I made cheese and Chris went to Robert's sale barn to buy 2 bunnies...he came home with 7 lol.  Also informed me that he bought a calf that was blind in both eyes with pink eye.  Whatever.  He brought the bunnies home and then we all went to Bolivar to pick up the calf and buy bunny supplies.  Oh and I sold 10 dozen eggs. :)

Sunday we didn't do a lot. Chris put new brakes on the truck and we played with the bunnies.  Sunday evening we went over to Grandpa and Grandma Kirksey's house for awhile and then stopped at mom and dad's on the way home.  Dad had just got back from Kentucky.

Monday we got up early and drove to Warsaw to pick up Grandpa Reynolds.  From there we drove to Sedaila with me in the backseat (never again!!)  When we got there we were informed that Mary had the flu, so the kids couldn't go back.  So the kids and I sat in the front while Chris and his grandpa went to see Mary.  We then stopped at KFC and ate lunch. It was actually good and didn't make me sick!  The one in Bolivar must just be nasty. lol.  We came home and Chris and dad loaded up T-Bone to take him to the locker plant.  YAY FRESH BEEF! FINALLY!!

Today the kids and I went to Lebanon and went to Tractor Supply Company and bought 3 more bunny cages and we stopped at a lady's house and bought 3 more cages that I found on CL.  Got the bunnies situated and now I need to clean up the house. blah.

Look at my new projects!

Bunnies!!!

The boys...

Making Cheese:

and a random chicken picture...

and on and on and on

Well today is Saturday and Chris has to WORK! ugh. at least it is for time and a half comp time...so if he works 8 hours he will get 12 hours paid vacation. So I guess I can't complain and he was off yesterday for Lincoln's birthday.

We sold our '91 Ford yesterday so we are finally down to 2 vechicles. 

We got our state tax refund back, and now we are waiting on the federal one.  I am going to buy myself a new set of pots and pan, hopefully stainless steel.  Lots of people are recommending the Paula Dean ones, and I think I may get those. Don't know for sure.  I am also going to buy a new Kitchenaid Mixer with attachments.  I can't decide on what color though.
 This is the one I am going to get: http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/kitchendining/kitchenelectricsnew/mixers/stand/PRD~25941/KitchenAid+Artisan+5qt+Stand+Mixer.jsp

but I can't decide if I want the green color or a buttercream. 

I am also getting these attachments for it: http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/kitchendining/kitchenelectricsnew/mixers/standaccessories/PRD~65663/KitchenAid+StandMixer+Attachment+Pack++GrinderSlicerStrainer.jsp

I can't wait!!

-10 degrees this morning

Have you ever seen a more blue sky than that? Just Beautiful!

This morning is a chilly chilly morning.  We broke record today with a low of -10, yet even though it is SO cold it is a BEAUTIUL morning!  The sun is shining and the sky is ever so blue.  There is no wind and everything seems so still and serene.

The chickens didn't really want to come out of their coop this morning but when I set some treats out for them (last night's scraps) they came out to eat in a hurry. But I think they were coldddd.



Doesn't she look cold? :)

So yesterday I made a Fudgy Tunnel Chocolate Cream Cheese cake- It WAS SOOO good.  I made it for the cream cheese challenge in Food Fo, but I don't know if I will be participating or not.  The forum has become overrun with trolls and yesterday I took the bait (not knowing)  It was stupid, but I got negged like hell for it and someone had been negging most of my posts for the past couple days.  I have a suspicion that it is a drama mama following my around-especially since someone posted pics off my blog yesterday in drama fo.  I haven't posted in drama fo in ages, and it really irks me that people assume everything vile is mine.  But Life goes on... (my new motto)

Anyway back to the cake... the recipe can be found here: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Fudgy-Cream-Cheese-Tunnel-Cake/Detail.aspx I didn't add the pecans since Chris doesn't like nuts and I followed the comments to add an egg to the cream cheese mixture. Also I didn't add the coffee since we don't drink it and don't even own a coffee maker!  I used 1/4 c water and 1/2 c heavy cream to replace the coffee.  Turned out perfect!

In the middle I poured the rest of the chocolate added strawberries and drizzled chocolate on top. What a tasty treat in addition to the cake!

It is really good!

I bought too much cream though. Oh well we like it in other things.  Last night I made smothered hamburgers, mashed potatoes,  and peas for supper. 

Smothered Hamburgers

1 lb thawed ground hamburger
1/2 package crushed saltines
1 egg
1/2 package onion soup mix
2-3 T A1 Sauce
a shake or two Worcestershire sauce
salt and pepper

Mix everything together and shape into patties.  Cook hamburgers in a skillet until cooked through.

In a bowl combine:
2 cans cream of Mushroom soup
1/2 package onion soup mix
Mrs. Bouquet browning sauce- about a capful
salt to taste if needed

Mix together and pour over hamburgers in skillet.  Turn heat to LOW and cover. Let simmer about 5 minutes or so.

They were so good.  I just made mashed potatoes with about 4T butter and some cream, salt, and pepper.  They were great with the "gravy"

I don't think I will ever buy margarine again!  Butter makes everything taste better!


and some more random pics...

Fitting that we are the Half Way Cardinals :)
We have Cardinals EVERYWHERE!

Day of Cooking

If I were to guess I would say more people cook on this day than any other day in February. Tomorrow is the Super Bowl.  I am not even sure who is playing, and I don't care.  I cooked a ton today, and no not for the Super Bowl- I just felt like it!

To me cooking is something to do when you are stuck inside, a fun activity.  Last night it snowed another 2-3 inches, and it made everything slick.  This morning I had to go to Pleasant Hope to the bank- Took me over an hour to get there and get back. (about a 15 miles round trip on a state lettered hwy)  When I got home Chris had the 70 John Deere out playing with it.  I took some pictures.

He even brought the cows around...

After spending some time outside-feeding the chickens, taking pictures, burning the kitchen trash I went inside to start cooking.  First I started with Lunch.  Bacon Cheeseburger Soup- It was really good!

And then I made my very first Chocolate Meringue Pie- It tirned out AWESOME! Not much left right now.

And then tonight after we ordered Pizza from the gas station (it was Chris' idea!) I made pretzels! Oh my they are good! If only I had some cheese sauce!