Happenings...

I feel like we have been busy with the oddest things lately. Appointments in the city takes up so much time. Driving back and forth alone takes up most of the day. Since we do our big grocery shopping during one of these trips into the city the day gets even longer.  

I noticed a few things while grocery shopping this time. Items that we were looking for that we have purchased in the past were non-existent or could only be purchased online. It seems that these items go on sale then disappear completely. The last time this occurred was during the pandemic. And of course, the prices were outrageous. Some items also go on sale then the price goes up even higher. I didn't purchase to many items this time because I placed an Azure Standard order.

With the sporadic tasks that we have been doing, I haven't been doing much of my normal routine, so I don't have a lot to share here. Number One Husband is also dealing with getting repairs done around the house. The roofs are done and now the solar is next. Dealing with the county has been tremendous job. They claim to want to support renewable energy, but they make it nearly impossible to get anything approved. They are uneducated and practically unmovable. Meanwhile, we are limping by with generators and tap lights in the evening. 

Number One Husband is trying out a cold weather sleeping bag.

It finally rained and hailed! Once it stopped the red-tailed hawk that took
refuge under our solar panels came out to dry off.

I made whole grain, high protein waffles for the week. We heat them up
in the air fryer and it's just like they came out of the waffle iron.

Fresh sauerkraut and a corned beef sandwich. A friend gave
us the kraut. She did a great job for her first attempt making
sauerkraut.

I love red shoestrings on hiking boots. Red shoestrings are hard to find, so I found a pair of hiking boots with red shoestrings.  I found them in a thrift store. They are like new. It looks like someone put them on and broke one of the metal clips that hold the shoestrings. I had them repaired for $5 at a shoe repair shop on one of our trips into the city.

I bought them for a steal. The thrift store has a brown bag deal for $10. All adult clothing and shoes that will fit in a brown paper bag for $10. I was able to stuff the bag full of nice clothing plus the boots. This made the boots less than $1. They had a $25 price tag on them. The retail price is $120. They are very comfortable. The real test will be hiking in them one day when I am able to again.

Cilantro lime and seasoned potato wedges. 

I've been doing some meal preps the last few days preparing the freezer for an Azure Standard order. I need to squeeze 13 pounds of frozen vegetables into the freezer and I mean squeeze. I also needed to use up my older potatoes to make room for new potatoes. I decided to make potato wedges; however, I had to freeze them. using more space in the freezer. I also had to re-package about 20 pounds of beef for the freezer. I am thawing beef fat to make beef tallow. That helped a bit. I still have a week or so before the pick-up date. I'm sure that I will be able to free up a little more space. It is going to be a tight fit.

Our solar project was approved by the county so we can finally get our solar up and running again. This has been a huge process with the county but know we have some changes that we need to have approved. This is taking forever!

I have been trying to get this post up all week. We ended up with having company show up as soon as I sat down to finish it. I was able to snap the sunset yesterday evening and add it in, so it was worth it. These clouds dropped big raindrops. I enjoyed listening to the raindrops on the metal roof.

Guess who's back for a few of days?

Have a blessed weekend,

Lady Smith

Days of Our Lives

From appointments to having my laundry room spread out between the kitchen and living room things have been a little hectic. Our power issues have gone nuclear. We have a bad battery in our power bank, and a system that does not meet our power needs. We have to use a generator that uses gas and that is expensive. Number One Husband is on it! 

The power bank had to be moved in order to access the individual batteries and since I couldn't help, we enrolled the neighbor into the situation. Everything sits behind our washer/dryer combo. Everything was put back into place until we get our new system installed. The power bank weighs 1200 pounds. 

Oh, did I mention that our pressure tank gauge also stopped functioning, so the water pump kept coming on every 2 gallons of use? This also sits behind the washer and power bank. We were able to temporarily remedy this situation until we are able to install a new one when the new solar system gets installed. It is tight quarters in the utility room.

We had company staying at the homestead that had an emergency and had to leave a day early. They are fine, but their little dog is very sick. The are seeking treatment for him now. We had a nice time while they were here. We ate good food, enjoyed the outdoors and had a good visit while it lasted. Update: The little dog recovered, praise God!

We had a rare event happen. Two female pronghorns 
came right up to our porch. 

Just look how the sun is outlining the clouds at sunset.

The alignment of the moon and this star was just as impressive.

Our hummingbirds are not shy.

I got up early one morning to feed the hummingbirds but before 
I could hang up the feeder I had a customer.

I held it up and as still as I could until she was finished eating.

Just look how dry it is.

This is just a sample of what has been going on in our neck of the woods. We never know what tomorrow will bring. Every day we just press onward until it's time for bed just like everyone else traveling through this life.

Have a blessed day!

Mrs. Smith

Happenings...

We have no snow! It was in the 60's yesterday. It should be negative temperatures with 3 ft snow drifts. We do have wind though. It won't be long before we see more dust storms if this keeps up. We had a small dust storm last week and tremendous winds.

Our friends have gathered into a large herd this year. We haven't seen a herd this size in a long time. They are probably just as confused about this weather as I am. 

We stayed the night in town last evening with a friend of ours. We came in late, and she had already gone to bed. The next morning, we visited for a while and headed out. Since we were in town, I returned an item to the thrift store that was broken when I purchased it. I didn't inspect the item very well. Lesson learned? Not quite...

I used my store credit to purchase another item that also does not work properly, so that will need to go back in the next few days. This item is an electronic item that I could not test in the store. I'm going to have a $30+ credit. Ugh! 

It's going to take me a while to use the credit unless I find another high dollar item. Usually, I just buy books. Sometimes I can find something that I need to replace or have wanted for a long time, like my pressure cooker. If I find something that I can resale to make a profit, I will buy it, but it's usually just a few dollars.

Did I say that it's like just after 3 am? I know, my sleep has been interrupted by a literal pain in my neck for months now. I had an MRI last week and I don't know the results yet. The holidays have slowed the results down a bit. 

Number One Husband just inquired about the time. I have apparently interrupted his sleep also. Getting older is not for wimps. I guess I need to act my age and get to know my physical limitations. I'm a get it done kind of gal. That mindset is not working for me at the moment, and I may have to change my ways. Life can sometimes rub the grit right out of you. 

That's it for now. There is more going on, but I think my acetaminophen has kicked in. I have to catch some more zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz's.

Mrs. Smith

Traveling - Happenings

We have been traveling for the past week to pick up a car. The first car didn't work out. It had some un-diagnosed issues that we were not willing to take on.  We were blessed by our friends with this car instead. Plus, we had a wonderful visit with them. Blessings all around...

The car averaged about 32 MPG. This will save us on fuel. The chickens
are checking it out.

We discovered a new dip made with smoked beef brisket. It is delicious!

It was good to see Pikes peak again...

When we got back to the homestead it was a relief to see that everything was just as we left it. We had our prayers answered with safe travels and with keeping our home safe too. The chickens were glad to get out this morning. I spent hours unpacking and putting everything up. I lost my favorite hair clip and my favorite water bottle.

We divided up the trip on the way home and that sure made the trip back a lot less tiring. I went to bed last night about 7 pm. I slept for 12 hours. We stayed busy while we were gone getting up very early every morning and going to bed late. We had good food and great company. I'm hoping for another get together this fall. It may turn out to be a girls' trip to Rocky Mountain National Park. We also have some company coming at the end of May.

I took pictures. I will post them as soon as I can. It was so green compared to here. It was snowing when we got home. We were able to avoid all the severe storms by just a few hours. Severe storms frighten me. 

It was kind of a last-minute trip, so I had to catch up on laundry when I got back. I cleaned out the refrigerator and made Refrigerator Soup with the vegetables that needed to be used up before they succumbed to the inevitable waste that occurs when left in the refrigerator too long. 

I picked up a couple things from the Dogwood Festival. The leopard wood
scrapper is for cleaning my cast iron pans. The applewood smoked salt is
flavorful and smokey. A little goes a long way.
   

I opened the blinds this morning and discovered that it had snowed.

Number One Husband fed his kefir grains a half gallon of milk and put them
in the refrigerator before we left. He set them out on the counter when we got
back and they are very happy and ready to strain. 

This is what we have been up to for the last week. I almost have everything caught back up. I need to finish up posting all of our receipts in my expense journal for the month. I have a lot of receipts this month with two trips under our belt. I'm ready for our monthly grocery shopping trip next week. The refrigerator is in dire need of some fresh vegetables. I hope to catch up on my studies over the weekend. That's about it unless something else pops up. We are ready for the upcoming Sabbath to begin so we can have a proper day of rest...

Shalom,

Mrs. Smith

High Protein Rotis - Duck Pond - Happenings

We received some much-needed moisture over the weekend. It filled up the duck pond. I found this little rubber duckie while metal detecting a few weeks ago. I found this and a couple of tennis balls down by the river. None of which are metal. 

The duck floated probably over 75+ miles with all the twists and turns in the river from a town that has a duck race. This little duckie got away. It is numbered on the bottom, so I know that is where it traveled from. I would say that it may not have been the fastest, but it certainly floated the furthest. I'm certain that the tennis balls were lost by dogs. People stop there and walk their dogs along the river. 

I found tools and metal cans at a park down a dirt road. It's a nice little park. It has the sturdiest of playground equipment. Fun and whimsical with bright colors for the kids along with a small horse arena and stalls. Unfortunately, it is rarely used. 

I'm still recovering, but I hope to do some baking tomorrow now that the Feast of Unleavened Bread is over. We ate the last of our Rotis made with yogurt, flour and salt. They are really good flatbreads and simple to make. Use a high protein yogurt such as Greek yogurt for a high protein bread.  

1 cup plain yogurt

1/2 Tsp salt

All-purpose flour, 3+ cups

Use enough all-purpose flour to form a soft dough. Knead for about 5 minutes. Let rest 30 minutes. Divide dough into 8 balls and roll out on a flour dusted surface. Cook in a pre-heated griddle or skillet on med-high heat until bubbles form and then then flip. Flip again after it begins to bubble again. Press bubbled areas lightly with a spatula until the roti puffs up. Remove from heat and wrap in a towel until all rotis are cooked. Serve warm. 

I made roasted garlic butter and brushed it on both sides. They were soft, pliable and easy to re-heat. These make a nice snack, a great addition to any meal or use to make your favorite wrap. 

Mrs. Smith

Spring Has Sprung in the Mountains - Happenings

We rescued a calf that was separated from its mama when it got trapped inside an abandoned dog run. The mama cow tried to tear the fence down to get to her calf to no avail. She was mad snorting and kicking up dirt until she figured out that I was trying to help. For my own safety Number One Husband positioned the car between the cow and I so that I could safely get the calf out of the fenced area. 

The calf was probably just a day or two old. The next day the same mama cow laid her calf down just outside our fence while she went and got water. The wind scared the calf, and the calf ended up inside our fence and laid down next to our barn. I decided to name the calf "Fence". When the mama cow returned the calf refused to get up. 

The mama cow was patient and after a several hours the calf got
up, driven by hunger I'm sure, and made it back to its mama. I checked on the calf several times to make sure that all was well. This time the mama cow was not even the slightest bit aggressive, and the calf was not scared at all. I kept my distance and used the barn as a shield. 

Last spring, a friend of ours who has been around cattle all of her life, was tossed like a ragdoll into the air when she accidently got too close to a calf. She broke her ankle and sustained other minor injuries. Cows make the best mamas. 

The buffalo rancher brought back the newborn buffalo calf that we rescued last year. She is not so little anymore. She thinks that she is a dog, but she is 400 pounds. Number One Husband visited her while checking on the buffalo last week. I hope to visit her next week and take some pictures. I will post them as soon as I get them. 

It's a whopping 75 degrees outside. The wild buffalo grass is starting to turn green at the base. I have had the windows open in the house for three days now. It was a bit cooler the first two days (63 degrees), but the fresh air was so nice that it was worth it. I even left the windows open overnight that was until the fireplace kicked on in the wee hours of the night. 

We have been spring cleaning all week. The windows have been washed inside and out. Number One Husband was in charge of cleaning the windows on the outside and a couple of windows that I was unable to reach on the inside. He also did other spring chores inside and outside while I continued completing the goals on our list inside the home.

In fact, all of the glass and mirrors inside the house have been cleaned including all the glass on the pictures hanging on the walls. The cabinets and drawers have been wiped down and cleaned out. The high dusting is finished. The stove and refrigerator have been moved and cleaned underneath. Plus, all of the weekly cleaning and cooking in preparation for the Sabbath and Passover has been done. I still want to tackle the office and storage room, but that will have to wait for another day. The very last thing on our list is the dreaded barn. 

I am still limiting my screen time so that my neck and jaw muscles continue to heal. I am doing much better, but the computer is still my nemesis at this time, so bear with me. I hope to be back to posting regularly soon.

Shalom,

Mrs. Smith

 

 

Shabbat Shalom - Happenings - Deep Dish Kettle Pizza Recipe

We are definitely living in uncertain times right now, but the fact is life is uncertain all the time. We never know what tomorrow will bring. It's hard to know where exactly all this chaos is going to lead us, but life goes on. We can still find joy in the little things like an eagle sitting alongside the water or the daily tasks that keep our households running smoothly. 

An eagle sits on the edge of the water.

All the ice has melted.

It melted early this year.

Studies

Cranberry jam on whole grain pancakes.

The name of God for last week's study.

Bierocks (German Burgers). The dough was a bit moist, so it was not as smooth
as it should have been, but it turned out fine just a bit wrinkled.

My hands are as wrinkled as the dough.

Bottom.

Top

Repeat.

Viola! We ended up with twelve wrinkled bierocks. 

Deep dish kettle pizza

Deep Dish Kettle Pizza Recipe

This is a recipe for deep dish kettle pizza that I created. I also use this dough to make bierocks. The only difference is that I let the dough rise for 1 hour instead of 20 minutes when I am making bierocks. Please excuse my chicken scratch, I was trying to write down the ingredients and the techniques I used before I forgot once I realized that I created the best dough for kettle pizza. I took a chance and tried the same dough for bierocks. It worked great although I added a bit too much water on this last batch of bierocks. 

It snowed again last night. I was surprised when I opened the blinds
this morning. 

Do Not Worry - Matthew 6:25-34

25 “Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing? 26 Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds[c] them. Aren’t you more valuable than they are? 27 And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life? 28 Why do you worry about clothing? Think about how the flowers of the field grow; they do not work or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these! 30 And if this is how God clothes the wild grass, which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven, won’t he clothe you even more, you people of little faith? 31 So then, don’t worry saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 For the unconverted[k] pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But above all pursue his kingdom[l] and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own. 

Shabbat Shalom,

Mrs. Smith