March 23 - Snow Day for Our School = Crockpot Day

From a Friend on Etsy (Lona @ ShadySideFarm)
Pinto beans for supper. Will have them in tacos with gound beef. Yum!

3 cups pinto beans
9 cups water
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, chopped fine

Cook all day in the crockpot. Check for doneness--fresh beans will cook quicker than old beans. cooked mine 5 hours on low, but they're as fresh as can be. Then I added:

1/4 tsp. cumin
4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. black pepper

You can mash them for refried-style beans (drain excess water) or just eat whole with chips and cheese and salsa and corn or on tacos... Use your imagination.

March walk with Cruiser & Jared

Cruiser is always concerned when one of the boys is too far away.

Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.

Saddle up and continue on with the day!


You know how much I love photography, right?! Well I came across this cool website named PhotoFunia that is a total blast. I just had to share.


It's free and it's fast and easy to use. And you're not required to download the program onto your computer! This is my kind of program. . .


My kids will be so excited with this website.

Make It: Egg Bouquet
1. Cut out individual egg holders from an egg carton.
2. Paint the outside of about 10 egg holders in a variety of colors using acrylic paint. Blend colors as desired. Allow at least one hour to dry and then paint the insides.

3. Twist together two different-colored pipe cleaners to make the stem.

4. Poke a hole in the bottom of each "flower" and pull the pipe cleaner through. Make a loop at the top to secure.

5. Place flowers in a clean, glass jar. Wrap a scrap of fabric around the jar to add more detail to this timeless, recycled bouquet.

I (with my needle felt) will be at Shady Side Farm's Shearing Day

Info here

http://shadysidefarm.blogspot.com/2011/02/shearing-day-feb-26-2011.html

FolkArt Fish Pin Cushion

Birch Landscape

WINE BOTTLE PIN CUSHION

A special gentleman ordered this for his sister, giving me artistic freedom to create something interesting. This solidly felted 6 1/2" tall bottle can be used laying down or standing tall.

Tuna Cakes recipe

Tuna Cakes recipe

Camera Case with button on flowers

Cruiser tried to taste a flying helicopter tonight and buzzed his tongue. . . he is giving it a Pit Bull Evil Eye. . . it stays on it's side of the room and he stays on his side of the room. . .LOL

I, so love the idea of homeschooling and actually have 2 kids that have asked to be homeschooled (out of 4, 1 NEEDS to learn to work with others and the other, my only girl, I really, really perferred to be alive to reach majority, step-son was the one that needed homeschooling but that wasn't my call at all). So all of my kids have gone or go to public school, the last two go to a school where my oldest neice is Principal.

But as a Public School parent, I totally believe that schooling doesn't end when the school bell rings or the bus doors close on their behinds. We raise & train animals for 4-H (not for my fun either), public speaking and demonstration events, horse judging, Pit Bull Education, Anti-Breed Specific Law events, go the library several days of the week (not just when I work there, LOL), tween club, chess club, lego club, anime club, and my Jared is dragging me kicking and screaming into the Middle Ages. . . with PVC sword in hand. LOL ( www.sca.org )

At the end of 4 kids and multiple animals, what I have to impart is. . . what works for one doesn't work for another and each Child is a learning event.

LIVESTOCK

Always a farm kid. . . when viewing animals (livestock & pets) I start catagorizing them according to use, breed, coloring and conformation without even thinking.

Many parents who see a horse in the field, say to their child "Oh, look a horsey", or "see the sweet pony", my poor kids got from me "Honey, look at the Belgiun, it's a breed that can pull wagons!", "No that isn't a pony, ponies are under 54 that is a small quarter horse type" or "Wow, See the field of Oreo Cookie Cows they are a beef breed called Belted Galoways. Aunt Mary has some Dutch Belted, which is the Dairy breed marked like this. . . ".


I have this website bookmarked on my computers and refer not only my own kids but my 4-H kids to this great resource . . . http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/ (Welcome to the Breeds of Livestock resource presented by the Department of Animal Science at Oklahoma State University. This site is intended as an educational and informational resource on breeds of livestock throughout the world. We hope you enjoy the information provided and find it both educational and fun. We see this site as a continually growing resource)

Not only does this website list American popular livestock and breeds but this resouce seems to have most breeds world-wide listed and even lists breeds of Buffalo, Camel, Donkeys, Llama, Reindeer and Yak.

You don't even want to get me started on dog breeds, "Yes, Stevi, ask the owner if you can pet the American Pit Bull Terrier but stay away from the small chihuahu, see how shy it is. Shy dogs can bite in fear. Remember ask the owner first. . . "

Snow. ..

Make it stop

Look, I'm as big a fan of winter as they come. I love sledding, I love the pretty fairyland all that white stuff falling from the sky creates. I'm not afraid to drive in it and as long as the schools don't close their doors, depriving me of my few hours of respite from my offspring, I'm happy to go to work, go shopping, go wherever.

My animals, however, would really appreciate a break. Horses, despite any evidence to the contrary, believe that the moment the snow starts falling that they are going to starve to death. It doesn't matter how fat and shiny they happen to be, how much hay is in the feeder and buckets of sweet feed they get, they are convinced that starvation is just around the corner. The moment they sight you in the window or hear the back door open, they rush the fence, then stare at you with haunted eyes. Its enough to make you lose sleep.

The dogs hate potty time, but since they refuse to learn to flush the toilet, outdoors it is. And the big fella, the nearly 60# pitiful Pit Bull, has gotten it into his brain that he is somehow too weak and fragile to go outside to pee in the snow. He stands at the door, looking at me with reproach in his eyes. I can't go out there. Yes, yes you can. No, I can't. I'll die. I'll freeze. The snow might eat me. Look, buddy, I don't care if your pecker falls off from the cold, you're going OUT THERE to do your thing. You are the meanest human being that ever lived. I know, my offspring remind me of that fact approximately every thirty seconds. Now go. Out. Go. Fine, I'll go. But I'm peeing on your front porch and entry way garden and tires and. . . here.

When is spring again?

Pit Bull Lady Designs at the Hastings Public Library Art Show

yoyo's on display!

something new

Needle Felt version of an ACEO "Art Cards, Editions and Originals"

ACEO stands for "Art Cards, Editions and Originals". These cards have one main rule - they are 3.5 inches by 2.5 inches - the size of a trading card.
The reason for this is, of course, that Art Cards are made to be traded! But while artists were happily trading cards, the general public was left out in the cold, having no Art Cards to trade. A group of artists realized this, and quickly made their cards available for sale at remarkably low prices so that everyone could join in the fun!

Cards are also sold either as originals or editions. Make sure you know which you are buying! If it is a print it should say so, and it should be numbered and signed, usually on the back.

Art Cards can be a riot! Artists from all over the world are creating, and now selling these little gems in different mediums and of different subjects. Watercolor, Oil, Acrylic, Colored Pencil, Pastels, Pyrography, Pen and Ink, Sketching, Collage - the sky is the limit. Abstract, Surrealism, Outsider Art, Impressionism, Expressionism -every style you can think of - and then some!. Every interest and subject is covered! Extremely collectable Pocket Art, you can't stop at just one!

Beneath The Tree Needle Felt Display

Old Bathroom Cabinet gets an upgrade to my Display

approx. 280 items displayed in a 4'x2' space

Necklace Pendants

Magnet Broaches

Pins

Rings

Earrings

Hat Pin

Hair Clips

Bracelets
Animal Portriats
Snowmen
Finger Puppet
Fingerless Gloves
Martini Glass
Artist Trading Card
Pumpkins

Pin Cushions -Toadstools, Mice, Pumpkins

Bookmarks - Paperclip & Elastic Band styles

Indoor Snowballs

Jean Jacket w/Lily Cascade

Christmas Ornaments

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