Playing Around With More Ricotta (again)

I tried another recipe from Allrecipes:   Grandma Johnson's Scones.  I used my homemade ricotta in place of sour cream and used frozen blueberries.  They were soft and moist, and the family loved them.  I think they did need something like nutmeg or cinnamon, but they were still delicious.

I ventured around the Internet the other day, in search of a dinner that would utilize our homemade goat's milk ricotta (once again).  This crock pot macaroni and cheese dinner was delicious.  Just to warn you, it's not your creamy mac n' cheese, but still good.  I did spice this recipe up, by adding some grated gruyere cheese in place of about 1/2 cup of the cheddar cheese.  The kids loved it!  Oh, and I doubled it, all except the butter.  Yum!

3 Cheese Mac Crock Pot Recipe 

I am selfishly taking the day off for myself today.  Although I have laundry to do, I am going to refresh with a good book, good tea, and God's beautiful sunshine. Just don't tell Hubby I am not planting in the garden or weeding the flower beds today.  

Phew! I'm Back ~ Family Funny

I'm back, and a day early.  The tulips are blooming and we have beautiful colors surrounding the front porch - pink, purple, red, and white.
 
My break from blogging gave me more time to work on our "extreme" house cleaning.  I got all the windows washed and cleaned of winter mildew, washed all the curtains, a few walls, and boots are put away.  I spent time cleaning out my closet (holds my crafts supplies, so you can imagine how packed in it is), and tidying up and dusted.  I also got work done in the gardens.

Here's what else I got accomplished:

I finished the brightly colored tablet cover.  It was too short for my youngest daughter's tablet, so it went to my 13 year-old.  However, I will still make her one.  I just won't make these for sale.  They will make great gifting ideas though.  The pattern is on Sugar n'Cream (http://www.sugarncream.com/search.php?pspt=o&advps=y), and you do need to register to view the free pattern.

I finally found a hot pepper jelly recipe that tastes hot, but it turned out too thick.  I've only had this problem once, but with another jelly.  If you have a hot pepper jelly recipe to share, I'd love to give it a try.   The one I made yesterday used habanero and green peppers, and the peppers get strained out.  Hubby said he'll eat it all, but I can't sell  any of it, so I'm a bit bummed about that.  It's just too thick.

~The Funny ~

I was sitting at the computer this morning, loading photos, updating blogs, and making the last of the market signs, when I hear my 13 year-old screaming in the bathroom.

Those of us who were up, began looking at each other, wondering what was going on in that bathroom.  I thought, hmm?  maybe a spider?  

I got her to unlock and open the bathroom door (after much more screaming, and by then I was thinking snake?).  We found her sitting on the top of the toilet, with her feet up on the sink, screaming even more.

Guess what it was?

A mouse!  Ha ha ha!  We got the biggest laugh.  Even though we sent in a mouser cat to get it, it escaped through a tiny crack in the floor. 

I was still laughing when the school bus arrived. Ha ha ha! 




 

 


  



 

Taking a Break

I am taking a week break from my blog.  It may be longer, but I will be back. 

Not Just for Dogs

Dog beds in our house are not just for dogs. Ha ha ha!  Tiger took over Jesse's bed.

Sister Mail, Jesse's Surgery, and Missing Eggs

I came home, after a long day of driving everywhere yesterday, to find this in my mail box.  My sister, who visits India often with her family, sent me these.  They are from India.

Jesse's surgery didn't go completely well.  The vet found a hard and soft mass that was all the way to his bone.  They could not remove all of it, without risking damaging nerves etc.  The mass is being sent out to a lab, and will be checked for cancer.  We are praying that it was a result of an embedded foreign body, but the vet could not tell for sure, and thus the lab work.   

Jesse is not doing too well either.  Last night he could not open one eye, and could not walk on his left foot.  Today, his eyes are not bothering him, but he continues to favor his foot.  With today's rain, we have to wrap up his foot when he goes outside, and he's not too happy about that either.

Three days ago, only 4 eggs.  Two days ago 1 egg.  Yesterday 0 eggs.  I am betting we have another rat in the chicken barn.  Grr!  Later today, I will need to check their coop for new holes anywhere. 

 

 

Garden, Handiwork and Family

. . . planted peas late last night, rain is due tonight.

. . . started yet another new project.  This one is for my youngest daughter.  I'll post an update when it's finished.

 . . . on my 3rd skein of yarn, crocheting my shawl.

. . . checked these books out from the library.  When our egg production increases, I hope to share our reviews on some of these recipes.  I think I may even invest in buying the book on vegetables.

 . . . put up an inexpensive net for badminton and volleyball net.  Future plans are to install 2 - 4 x 4's with eye screws in the future.

. . . our 13 year-old earned two 1's as scores on her choir contest pieces.

. . . Jesse (youngest dog) goes in for surgery today.


 

From the Gratitude Journal . . .

Today I am thankful for:

. . . for Hubby cooking me breakfast on the weekends

. . . for my washing machine and clothesline

. . . for soft pillows

. . . for our coffee maker that brews in 3 minutes

. . . phones

. . . for fragrant candles my Mom gave us

. . . good ol' fashioned, to-the-mailbox, mail

. . . the sun shining today and warmer weather

. . . God's availability, always there, always listening

. . . pens and pencils

. . . for my 19 year-old daughter getting a job yesterday.  She's officially employed.

. . . for locating an alpaca farm not too far from here.  You may hear more about this later.



Today, the weather is to be up in the 60's, so the washing machine is getting a workout.  So are my clotheslines.  The kids have not been counting eggs, so I may skip the egg count this year.  I have a few new tulips and hyacinths to plant today, and add yet a bit of more pink and purple to the gardens.  Bills need paid today too.  

The herb garden is looking nice already, and my green onions need divided out.  I am replanting a new rosemary plant, since I left mine out all winter (oops!).  The chives are looking great and my sage is doing good (lost them the previous winter).  Even parsley has popped up here and there, and the same with cilantro.  We may be planting peas tonight.