Leaves and Loves

After the wind storms that blew through here recently, it left our trees pretty nekked.  Alot of them set up home in my breeze-way.  Normally, I will leave them be simply because it isn't over yet!  But my Mom couldn't stand it any more...

I told her not to, but she never listens.  Who am I to argue?  Now who's the smart one, eh?

Today I got my boots!  Woo-Hoo!  I know, such is my exciting life!  After we ran the mall a few, we went to a new fabric store.  That's like taking a kid into the candy store.  I didn't buy anything.  I think I'm feverish or something...kidding.

But my MIL did, of course!  And she sent it all home with me and told me to make her one.  Ok, that makes no sense to me...she sews 35x's better than I do!  I do love to sew, but I am no where near her!

Here's the new little project I whipped up for her:

It's a little wallet/card holder.  The pattern was very basic and similar to another that I have.  I actually liked this one better!  Fun, huh?

And on love...yesterday was Pig Pen's brother Ryan & Meagan's First Wedding Anniversary!  They didn't get their card...and it's all Pig Pen's fault.  That all I'm sayin' on that one!

This was the first 'glimpse' I ever got of Meg, so I thought I'd share it on their belated first!

Meg & Ry...we wish you many more years of happiness and love!  Congratulations on your first year together!

I'm High and It Hurts

My shot is high.  And my shoulder hurts.  But I gotta Woman Up! 

Pig Pen took me out back yesterday for some target practice.  I do just fine with the shotgun barrel.  Kinda hard not to really, unless you close your eyes.

After he warmed me up with that, we switched to the slug barrel, which was a first for me.  It's a bit heavier, a whole lot louder and it kicks more.  I have Iron Sights, so it took me a bit to work that out.  But it's sighted at least.  I was able to compensate for getting high finally! 

I don't imagine they will hire me as a sharp shooter any time soon, but I might be able to hit the broad side of a barn!  Or deer, deer would be better.

I'm going for my boots Monday.  Pig Pen seemed to think the taller ones would be better all purpose boots so the snow doesn't creep down them.  And I got my sock liners ordered from Campmor.com!  Thank you Erin for that little tip!

Are ya getting sick of me talking about our hunting trip? Sorry, I'm just pretty excited and I think it will be fun even if I don't get a shot off!  If for nothing else, my brother cooks breakfast every morning!  Astounding...

And I'm gonna let him!  Even more astounding.  Here I thought they wanted me along just to cook!

Bread Addiction

I think I have a new addiction and it's going to cost me a few pounds.  Every where I go and with every bite I take, I think of bread.  Every winter, I put on what we call the "Winter Spread".  It's generally about 10 pounds!  Yikes!

At this rate, it'll be 20!  But I have a wierd way of justifying things in my mind.  Such as:

It's not loaded with ingredients I can't pronounce.
It's always fresh.
It makes my house smell sooooo good.
It makes for great croutons in the dehydrator (got some going now!)  I cut up my left over French bread, and sprinkled it with garlic and thyme.  Thought it would be super yummy at Thanksgiving time.  Or snack time.
It tastes divine.
It's FUN!
And I am pretty sure it's a real crowd-pleaser.

I've already tried several different recipes and haven't found one yet that I did not love!  Is that bad?

Then yesterday, I went to B&N, where I always gravitate to the DIY and Cookbook sections.  I need another cookbook like I need a hole in my head.  Did I mention I am addicted to those too?   Not only do I keep my cherished ones in the house...

I have boxes of them in the garage!  (I should probably borrow a book on organizing, huh?)

So naturally, I want another one!

I told Pig Pen this one is officially on the list!  Do any of you have it and if so, what are your thoughts?  I came home and read all the reviews and it must be 'The One'.  All the ladies in my family may have to make sure Pig Pen knows where to find it on Christmas Eve night.  Just sayin'.

Side note, have you ever checked out this website?  The Fresh Loaf.  I thought it was pretty cool.

Today I tried a recipe from TastyKitchen submitted by Krista Maurer.  Click the link if you are curious.  I was a little scared at the part that says to add 'up to' 9 C of flour so that the dough is not sticky.  Mine was pretty sticky and I did have to go the distance with it.  But it turned out pretty darn good!  I also had to turn my oven down a bit, it must run hot and I didn't want to over-brown the top. 

Super yummy!  I don't think there is such a thing as BAD homemade bread.  Good-bye to the skinny jeans!

The Willies

The forecast in these parts is starting to look too much like winter.  A snow mix is headed our way!  Yuck!  I'm so not ready for that. 

I don't know about you guys, but when I have to go out and look presentable, I look forward to coming home and stripping it all off and putting on the comfy clothes.  And I hate wearing make-up, so that goes right away too!

Last night I got all hunkered down and naturally the dogs want out again.  Well, it's down right cold out there!  But off we go anyway!

As I am waiting patiently, I spy something moving ever so slowly across the patio.  Maybe you recognize it?

The Elusive Canning Jar - Caught!

No?

Let me help you out a bit...

Blech!

What the HECK kind of spider is that???

I Googled, I threw up in my mouth, I searched forever!  Nothing looks close to this!  It was every bit of 3 inches!

Have you ever seen one like this?  I only know it of the genus species aracnadead.

Imsorryimsorryimsorry

On to other 'orange' things that aren't so disgusting!  I have yet to can up my Sweet Potatoes.  I don't know what my problem is!  They are the sole survivors from this years garden and I-just-can't get myself to finalize the season.  Call it lazy, but I am lacking all motivation to do it!

And I want to do them.  (not really) I want to be able to tally up this years food preservation.  I think I need that 'Grand Total' to make myself feel worthy.  Surely I am upwards around 500 jars of goodness.  I kept track of the freezer foods too, although I did much less freezing this year.  I didn't keep track of anything I dehydrated as I acquired it late season and am just piddling at this point.  But next year!  There is always next year.

Ok, someone offer me a swift kick to get those taters done!

Signs

I can't think of the word "Signs" without flashbacks to High School.



We loved our 'Hair Bands' back in the 80's.  This song was especially cool back then because we all had big hair - but for the most part, we were good kids.

Looking back, I wonder if I shouldn't have been just a little more 'bad'.  I mean really...my success or failures didn't have a thing to do with me stinking at Algebra or not taking Trig.  My Freshman year, I learned to type on a typewriter.  (A WHAT?)  My Sophomore year, I took the first ever computer class offered at our High School.  It was all DOS and I got an 'A'.  Now there's a class that gave me alot of miles!  I dropped out of college after two years, got a job at with a very big company and later used those new-fangled computer skills to go places I never even thought of!  I remember when this new product called 'Windows' rolled out.  I was first in line jumping to learn!  I worked hard, made lots of money...and left!

But still, I didn't do anything bad in my Teen years that had any huge impact on my Adult life. 

I messed up parts of my adult life ... all by my adult-self. 

How's that for irony?

So if you could go back, what would you change? 

Would you be more daring? 

Walk the edge a little tighter? 

Or, would you straighten up and fly more right? 

Get better grades?

Me, I'd have a heck of alot more fun and take it with a side of bacon.  But I suppose that's the Hair talkin'.

Jokes aside, for those wondering, I don't touch the stuff.  I'm a big chicken, but one can be wistful.  Today my 'Signs' are entirely different.  I don't seek thrills, I seek peace and quite.  Which I never seem to get enough of! 

When you enter my house, the first sign you see is my "Welcome to Grand Central Station".  Immediately followed by this one...

Conflicted?  Sure, whatever!  You'd be even more conflicted if you knew my PlayList!

Outer Wear...Check!

We made the long trek to Cabela's last night to exchange my Overalls with the crotch that never ended.  It's no wonder Pig Pen had such a hard time finding Outer Wear that would fit.  It's not like the inventory or selection in the Women's section had alot of pickin's!

Here is what we ended up with:

I think these should do the trick!  They are the Cabela's Women's Ultimate Suede™ Weather-BLOCK™ 4-in-1 Parka and Bibs.

I also ordered some ClimateSmart CuddleDuds earlier this week.  Those should be arriving soon.  I looked at the ten-thousand different types of socks last night too.  Then I quickly realized that since I absolutely can NOT wear wool (itchy-scratchy want to claw myself to death), I need to find the liners you all mentioned.  That was like trying to find a needle in a haystack.  Unless of course you are a man.  I will wear Pig Pens socks when I am too lazy to walk upstairs and grab a pair of my own from the drawer, but the heel goes to the back of my knee cap, so I need to find some just for the ladies.

Now I just have to go get my boots!

Calling All Lady Hunters!

Getting ready to do something I've never done before, such as hunting, has left me stumped.  I'm a pretty good planner when I know what to plan for!

I got nothin'!

Well, not really.  I have camo in one pair of pants and one long sleeved t-shirt.  Pig Pen got me a pair of camo coveralls for my Birthday.  They are a youth XL. 

Yeah...the crotch is to my knees. 

So those will be going back real quick.  He also got me a blaze orange vest, camo face mask and gloves.

I'm thinking I may be lacking a few things.  I have been scouring the Internet.  But when you don't know exactly what you are looking for and you hit up Google, you can come up with some pretty weird stuff!  I was searching for 'warm footwear' and came up with this:

No lie.  Not kidding.  Really???  I'd be more the target than hunter!  And my brother, niece and nephew would be mortified.  Rolling, but mortified!  Maybe Pig Pen would like it...

So here is the question I pose to any of you who have ever hunted or taken part in any other lengthy outdoor winter activity: 

What the heck do I need?  What have you used and loved and wouldn't do with out?

I know I need a good pair of boots.  I was thinking rather than spending good money on "hunting" boots,

Maybe I should opt for something a little more versatile yet still practical.  I have seen some pretty sexy Sorel's lately! 


What girl could resist polka dots?



Miss Erin's

Is this the perfect excuse to tickle my fancy?  They really ought to last forever, right?  They are sorta camo...aren't they?  My coveralls will hide most of them, right?  And it's not like I don't go on long midnight runs with Pig Pen when he snow plows.  Yes, I even get out and shovel the doorways when needed!

All that aside, trying to determine the whole Thinsulate and Temperature thing.  Geez...can someone just tell me what to do???  Pig Pen has 800 and 2000.  Let me tell you the 2000's look ridiculous.  And I am out of shape, my poor legs would fall off.  I think anything that gets me down to -25 should be plenty.  Chances are if it is much colder than that, I'll be sitting by the fire!

Next up:  Layers.  Peeling layers must be the smart way to go.  Do you wear Long John's or Cuddle Duds, Jeans and your outerwear?  Do you prefer bibs and a jacket to coveralls?  How about SOCKS???

Hats, hoods, gloves, scarves, masks, HotHands, snacks, water, sunglasses, hmm, toliet paper, oh and my gun...

I have a feeling this could end badly without some sound advice from other ladies who have been there and done that! 

I swear I am not a Sally.