Rent a Ride: Random Photo Friday
Posted: April 27, 2012 Filed under: My Photos | Tags: boats, dock, lake, Ohio State Parks Leave a comment »
Boats for rent at the causeway sport shop
I Love You, Liquid Stitch
Posted: April 26, 2012 Filed under: Around the House, My Life | Tags: denim, Liquid Stitch, products, recommendation, sewing 3 Comments »I’m a good wife.
I enjoying cooking. I don’t mind cleaning. I love working outside in the yard and garden. I spend plenty of time in the barn with the steers and plenty of time in the yard playing with the dogs…
But I do not like to sew.
Not this girl's idea of a good time.
Hence, you can imagine my dismay that my darling husband didn’t tell me about his little problem with his pants before we got married.
Farmer D is a walking, talking, working denim destroyer.
Obviously NOT my husband, but I swear some of his jeans look almost this bad. (Picture courtesy of Second Life)
Not only does Farmer D come home a few times a week with god-knows-what on his jeans – and I’ve learned not to be surprised when I hear about the nature of the stains – he rips, tears and shreds them like you would not believe.
And then he brings them to me to repair.
Though the bigger holes require the use of a sewing machine (which contrary to the fact that I do not like to sew, I do know how to use), I’ve found the best thing in the world to fix the smaller problems: Liquid Stitch.
I picked up this tube today because I ran out when Farmer D's jeans accidentally met Mr. Chainsaw.
Liquid Stitch is a permanent, clear-dry fabric adhesive that will hold patches and hems WITHOUT SEWING! All you need to do is spread a bit of Liquid Stitch around the hole in the fabric (I patch on the inside of the jeans), apply the patch, and let the fabric dry. (Note: Though Farmer D’s jeans are dry enough to wear after sitting overnight, I don’t wash them for 24 hours after applying Liquid Stitch.)
And since I don’t have to sew all those patches, I have time for the truly important things in life like cooking, cleaning, and shoveling cow poop.
Today's patch job. Now I have to figure out what to do about the stains.
FOR THE RECORD: I wrote this post of without the knowledge of, or any compensation from Prym Consumer USA Inc., the manufacturers of Liquid Stitch. However, if the company would like to send me Liquid Stitch as a thank you for recommending their product, I might make it to the end of the year be able to share some with my friends. 
What would Doctor Doolittle think?
Posted: April 24, 2012 Filed under: My Life Leave a comment »
I love animals. Ok, except for snakes and wild boar.
I came across some pictures of miniature animals and they are just the cutest things. Makes me want to buy a farm and have only mini-pets. Would Dr. Doolitle approve of this? I think he would be clapping at the genius of it all.
The Mini-Cow. The Panda-cow will only weigh a hundred pounds or so vs a few thousand of a normal size cow:
Buggy Wheels: Random Photo Friday
Posted: April 20, 2012 Filed under: My Photos | Tags: Amish, Amish buggy, buggy, wheels Leave a comment »
It's not uncommon to see Amish buggies driving down the state highway around here, but this buggy was (obviously) stopped.
A new baby, now what?
Posted: April 18, 2012 Filed under: My Life Leave a comment »
I, like just about everyone on facebook, twitter, instagram, pinterest and every other form of social media, tend to post a lot of pictures. No real surprise that instead of kids, cats, dogs or shoes my pictures are mostly photos of cows, calves and farm life. Cats, dogs, shoes and other random photos do make the cut but it's mostly all about the cows.
Baking Day: Grab n’ Go Banana Nut Muffins
Posted: April 16, 2012 Filed under: Cooking, Canning & Preserving | Tags: baking, banana muffins, banana recipes, ripe bananas 4 Comments »Though it’s still too early to plant here, the guys have been busy making repairs on the equipment and getting things in order before it’s time to head out to the fields.
Farmer D is usually working outside before I even get out of bed, and often doesn’t come in until it’s either dark, or he’s exhausted. And that’s on top of his “real” full-time job.
Needless to say, as most farm wives will tell you, having regular mealtimes is sometimes a bit of a challenge. Especially the meals in the morning.
I think D lets the bananas get this way on purpose.
So since I had a bunch of way-past-ripe bananas on the counter this morning, I decided to make my hard-working husband a treat.
Grab n’ Go Banana Muffins
- 1 c. sugar
- 1/2 shortening
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 2 c. flour
- 3 tbsp. ground flax seed (optional)
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 c. chopped walnuts (optional)
- 3-4 ripe mashed bananas (I used 5 small ones)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
In a large mixing bowl, cream sugar and shortening. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well.
Stir in flour, flax seed (if using), baking soda, and salt. The mixture will be thick.
Stir in chopped nuts (if using) and mashed bananas. (I usually just squish them with my hands as I add them to the mixer.)
Spoon batter into muffin tins, about 2/3 full. (I lined my metal pan with cupcake papers and just sprayed the silicone one with a bit of nonstick cooking spray.
Top the muffins with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar. (Approximately 3 Tbsp. sugar to 1 tsp. cinnamon or more or less to taste. We just keep a shaker jar in the cupboard.)
Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until springy on top.
Just try to wait until they cool before eating them.
Come and get them while they're still warm!
Farmer D loves these muffins straight and normally grabs a few before heading out the door again.
Sometime I warm them in the microwave for a few seconds, cut the muffin in half, and spread it with a bit of butter.
What a delicious snack!
Goofing Off: Random Photo Friday
Posted: April 13, 2012 Filed under: My Photos, Our Animals | Tags: b&w, dog, dogs, pets, photo, photography 5 Comments »
Rodeo is looking at Miss Annie the same way Farmer D usually looks at me.
Happy Easter
Posted: April 8, 2012 Filed under: My Life 1 Comment »It’s Easter Sunday, so I am forced by convention to be away from the computer today and to spend time with family and friends.
However, I’d like to take a moment to tell you how much I appreciate your likes, comments and follows.
White lilies at the Rockefeller Park Greenhouse
Whether you celebrate Easter or not, may you have exactly the kind of day for which you hope.
Sincerely,
Janet
The Mayfield Theater: Random Photo Friday
Posted: April 6, 2012 Filed under: My Photos | Tags: Cleveland, little italy, mayfield road, old buildings, theater, vintage 4 Comments »
Though the Mayfield Theater is empty, the building (opened in 1923) still stands.
This Week’s Been All About Family
Posted: April 3, 2012 Filed under: My Life | Tags: band concert, dog, family, kids, pets, Rockefeller Park Greenhouse, sunday dinner 2 Comments »So here it is Tuesday already, and I haven’t written so much as a word. But it’s not your fault–I’ve been quite busy with all sorts of family “quality time.”
Last week was my nephew’s very first band concert.
The kid made it through all of their pieces without hitting the girl in front of him in the head with his slide. I'm so proud!
And stepdaughter #4′s baby shower.
The mother-to-be of our first grandchild.
And hubby convinced me to make Sunday dinner (luckily part of the family couldn’t make it and I only had to cook for a dozen or so).
Not the actual carrot cake that I made for dessert...as if there'd be any left!
And finally, I managed a trip back to the Rockefeller Park Greenhouse with my folks yesterday.
Like two little kids, mom and dad kept calling me from ahead saying, "Come check this out!"
So here I am today, with piles of dirty laundry, semi-empty cupboards, and some really tired feet, but it’s okay.
Sometimes it’s more important to take the time to hang out with your family…
and your dog.
Remember me, Mom?
