Abc Wednesday...Round 3....the letter N

The letter N this week eh?

Well I have chosen Nostalgia...why, because there is a performer who is coming here in January and it is Tommy Hunter. He brings back fond childhood memories for me...ones that I wish I could do all over again.

I grew up on television. It was my babysitter.

The Tommy Hunter Show along with The Lawrence Welk Show and Carol Burnett were family shows, where even my grama, grapa and mom would sit down after a busy farm Sunday and relax.

Nostaglia: I have fond memories of my grapa and I dancing to The Tommy Hunter Show and Lawrence Welk. I would dress up in a "fancy gown", it was actually this gawdy, all coloured dress. It had the best twirling action though...I loved it. I would twirl in circles and the "gown" would billow out. I would dance with grapa, which included the polka and waltz.

Nostalgia: Being with my grapa. I wish I could be there again.

ABC Wednesday is hosted by Denise(Mrs Nesbitt), and let's not forget Mr. Linky

ABC Wednesday Round 3....the letter M

M is for Moosomin, Saskatchewan.

Moosomin is my home town.

The Town of Moosomin is a community of 2,500 people on the southeastern edge of Saskatchewan, approximately 230 km East of Regina and situated on the #1 Highway. We are a growing community noted for our pleasant residential neighbourhoods. Moosomin is surrounded by rich farmland, oil, gas and potash mining industries which help make our economy vibrant.

Moosomin was the first Saskatchewan community on "steel", with the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1882. First known as "siding No. 4" and the Moosomin Station" early businesses were established and by 1884 the community had grown to include five general stores, five hotels, two livery stables, two blacksmiths, a doctor, a lawyer, butcher, one printer, amongst other businesses. Moosomin was incorporated as a Town in November, 1887, R. D. McNaughton was the first merchant to arrive in Moosomin. He founded the R. D. McNaughton Company, a general store operation that played a vital role in early settlement.

It's a great town for a family to raise the kids in. Everyone knows everyone and they all know what your doing!!!

ABC Wednesday is hosted by Denise(Mrs Nesbitt), and let's not forget Mr. Linky

ABC Wednesday Round 3...L

ABC Wednesday is hosted by Denise(Mrs Nesbitt), and let's not forget Mr. Linky.

L is for Laughter.

Sometimes when I am feeling down and out, a good bout of laughter does wonders.

However...I know that when I am nervous, or shocked, the laughter button kicks in.

The time Bruno, Kenny and I had our little roll over. I remember looking at Bruno, snapping my fingers at him, so his eyes would quit rolling, asking if we were all ok, then busting out into hysterics! Shock had set in and laughter is all we could do.

Laughter helps us in all sorts of situations and thats a good thing to have. Wouldn't the world be a sad place without laughter?

ABC Wednesday Round 3...K, L, M

ABC Wednesday is hosted by Denise(Mrs Nesbitt), and let's not forget Mr. Linky

Boy, am I behind!!

K is for Kale..
Kale: Also called borecole. a cabbagelike cultivated plant, Brassica oleracea acephala, of the mustard family, having curled or wrinkled leaves: used as a vegetable.



Ingredients
Serves 8 to 10
7 cloves garlic, unpeeled
1/2 teaspoon olive oil
2 medium acorn squash, (about 1 1/2 pounds each), halved crosswise and seeded
1/2 pound kale, stems trimmed, large ribs removed
1 teaspoon unsalted butter
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
2 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
3 tablespoons breadcrumbs
2/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions
Heat oven to 450 degrees. Place garlic in an ovenproof ramekin, and drizzle with olive oil. Roast until light brown and very soft, about 20 minutes. Let stand until cool enough to handle; peel garlic and cut into slivers; set aside. Reduce oven temperature to 400 degrees.

Peel squash, halve lengthwise, and seed. Cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices; set aside.
Place kale in a steamer basket over boiling water, cover, and steam until bright green and wilted, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat, and chop roughly. Squeeze out as much water as possible; set kale aside.

Butter a 2 1/2-quart gratin dish. Distribute half the sliced squash in the dish, reserving the prettiest slices for the top layer. In a small bowl, combine nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Distribute half the sliced garlic over squash, and sprinkle with one-third of seasoning mixture and 1 teaspoon thyme.

Arrange kale over squash, and sprinkle with one-third of the seasoning. Arrange remaining squash over kale, and sprinkle with remaining seasoning and 1 teaspoon thyme. Distribute remaining garlic over squash, tucking it between slices.

Pour cream over assembled gratin, and cover with a piece of parchment. Bake until squash is soft when pierced with the tip of a knife, 40 to 45 minutes; halfway through the baking time, remove parchment, press down on squash with a spatula to compress and distribute the liquid; cover and continue baking. Meanwhile, combine breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper.

After 35 to 45 minutes, reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees. and remove the parchment paper. Sprinkle breadcrumb mixture over squash; return to oven, and continue to bake, uncovered, until golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool for 15 minutes. Garnish with remaining thyme.

To reheat: Do not add final layer of breadcrumb mixture. Remove from the refrigerator, and let come to room temperature, 15 to 20 minutes. Cover with parchment paper, and reheat in a 400 degrees.oven for 20 minutes. Top with breadcrumb mixture, and bake until golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Garnish with thyme.

This is one of my favourite recipies that I wrote when I was "into" Martha Stewart. I make this alot for pot lucks, and family gatherings. It is delish!

Abc Wednesday Round 3....J

ABC Wednesday is hosted by Denise(Mrs Nesbitt), and let's not forget Mr. Linky



The letter J this week.






The letter J is for Juice.



When I was in Colombia I discovered the Guava fruit and have loved it ever since.



Number 1 favourite Juice: Guava (which I recently discovered it is now sold at Walmart)
YAY!!!

Rubicon is the best juice to buy. (I think)

2). Lychee


3). Orange
4). Grape

Juice is filled with many vitamins..all sorts of good things. It can't be any imposters, you know those types of juices that have the vitamins added. They taste funny. Almost chemical. Nope, the real juice is the best.

Abc Wednesday Round 3...I (a week late)

Let me see, the letter "I", eh?

The word today is Igloo.

Now contrary to what people who live in other parts of the world think, we, here in Saskatchewan do NOT live in Igloos. Nope.

We live in actual houses.

Igloo

1.
an Eskimo house, being a dome-shaped hut usually built of blocks of hard snow.
2.
Informal. any dome-shaped construction thought to resemble an igloo: immense silos topped with steel igloos.
3.
Military. a dome-shaped building for the storage of rockets or other munitions.
4.
an excavation made by a seal in the snow over its breathing hole in the ice.

Now...with that being said, yes, we do still build them, but, we don't live in them.

ABC Wednesday is hosted by Denise(Mrs Nesbitt), and let's not forget Mr. Linky

ABC Wednseday Round 3.....H

The letter H is of course, also one of my favourite things...Horse.....ok, you all had to know I was going to do it!! I mean really, why would I disppoint?!

Napoleon had one.

Custer had one.

The Nez Perce Indians had them...and I have them....

A horse of course!

Horse and Rider

The prairie blows the grasses

And whips the horse’s mane.

They travel, horse and rider,

Through the sea of amber grain.

Hills roll by, and clouds pass

But steady are the horse’s hooves

Upon the wind blown grass

As they travel, horse and rider

There is no trail that they follow

No path that can be seen

There they travel, horse and rider

Upon the endless blowing green

Horse Poet

There are many, many breeds of horses and all have very special characteristics.

Appaloosas have a "hiden" gait called the Appaloosa shuffle, which is a cross between a lope (canter for all you English riders out there) and a jog (again a trot for the English rider). It is unique to watch.

Missouri Fox Trotters also have a fascinating gait. It isnt quite a trot and its not quite a walk but man, is it smooth and it is ground covering.

Horses are very sensitive to the emotions of others. They are perceptive of all things great and small. You are the predator and they are the prey...they know when to run! They all have personalities....they can be happy, sad, moody, stubborn. Just like us.

Horses come in all shapes and sizes and all colours.

Oh, and H is also for "Holy Hell!" which I say alot!!!

Holy Hell is normally said when things either frustate me or take me off guard. Holy Hell is also used when a driver on the road does something not very bright. Like sit infront of a green light while texting someone and others behind are honking for them to go. Its kind of funny to watch but also not very smart....and not to mention dangerous. That is another blog!

I could go on....but I won't.

ABC Wednesday is hosted by Denise(Mrs Nesbitt), and let's not forget Mr. Linky

ABC Wednesday...Round 3...Letter G

Ahhhh the letter G!

G is for Garlic...

Not only does it ward of Vampires but it is delicious in any dish. You can use it in curry, stir fry, any type of meat, bread, veggies.... and you can take it daily as it helps your body fight off many things...yes G is for Garlic.

Here is a great recipie for Brushetta!! A real favourite of mine.

Ingredients:

1.5 lbs ripe juicy tomatoes slices crusty Italian bread, cut 1/2 in. thickgarlic clove minced1-2 T capers, rinsed1/4 c loosely packed fresh oregano or fresh basilS&P1/3 c extra virgin olive oil

Directions:

Bring medium sauce pan of water to a boil. Cut a cross at the root end of the tomatoes and drop them into boiling water. Cook until skin of tomates begins to split, 1-2 min. Transfer tomatoes to bowl of iced water. Peel and seed tomatoes, then roughly chop. Place in strainer over bowl for 20-30 min. Brush bread lightly with olive oil and place over hot grill or under broiler until golden on each side. Put tomatoes, garlic, capers, and oregano or basil in bowl. Season with s & p. Add oil and mix. Spoon tomato mixture over each bread slice....YUMMY!!!

another favourite is Guacamole

In a bowl:

Mush up an avacado

fry about 3 strips of bacon until crisp and save the fat, then break up bacon and add fat and all to the bowl of mushed avacado then add

garlic (minced)

"epicure" spice: chili lime (about 1tsp)

and mix together. Then add 1 squeezed key lime and mix again....it is delish!!!

Garlic's health benefits and medicinal properties have long been known. Garlic has long been considered a herbal "wonder drug", with a reputation in folklore for preventing everything from the common cold and flu to the Plague! It has been used extensively in herbal medicine. Raw garlic is used by some to treat the symptoms of acne and there is some evidence that it can assist in managing high cholesterol levels. It can even be effective as a natural mosquito repellent.

ABC Wednesday is hosted by Denise(Mrs Nesbitt), inspired by Blue

and let's not forget Mr. Linky

ABC Wednesday Round 3....F

F is for Friends...

I truly have some great friends.

I have furry 4 legged friends...

And I have pale faced two legged friends.

And....I wouldn't trade them for the world!!

I love you guys!

XOXO

ABC Wednesday is hosted by Denise

and BJ

and Mr. Linky

ABC Wednesday Round 3....the letter E

The word starting with the letter E for me is Egg.

I like to eat eggs but they don't like me. I also like what comes out of them when they hatch too!

As you can see this hen decided to hatch her eggs in the twine bucket of all things! Once everybody was born, we moved them into a cage. Talk about gathering all your eggs in a basket!!

There are many different types of eggs and I have tried them all. There are quail eggs, goose eggs, duck eggs, chicken eggs and let's not forget, one of my favourites which does agree with me...caviar.

There are three colours of eggs. White, brown and yes, green, which are produced by a breed of chicken called Arcanas.

Which is this dude here. He is one of our many types of chickens that run around at the farm.

Eggs have many uses. Baking, cooking, throwing, using in games on horseback.....I could go on...

ABC host is: Mrs. Nesbitt

And let's not forget Mr. Linky

I sure do enjoy this!!!

ABC Wednesday....D Round 3

D....the letter D is a given...it is for Dog.

I am a cat person, but this particular dog found me and has been mine ever since.

This particular dog is my baby. Her name is Effie. I love her with all my heart. I miss her terribly and everytime I see Aussies on T.V. tears start to well up in the corners of my eyes because I miss her so much.

I can't have her live with me because of this damn apartment living, that I why I am so hell bent on getting this house built with the better half.

She has been living with my mom for three years now. That is three years of her life that I have missed out on and I hate it.

When I do go home, she goes with me EVERYWHERE. In the car, to the barn, to town, up in the pasture and to bed with me. She gives me such joy and when I have to leave to go back to the Border Town it breaks my heart even more.

This little Australian Shepherd is thee smartest dog I have ever known. She talks, she fetches the ball, she plays frisbee, she herds the chickens and the goats, ok she tries to herd them! She guards me with her life. I love her with all my breath. She is my Effie Sue.

Other dogs that have affected me in many ways are our other farms dogs.

They are dependable, trustworthy and our friends.....and would protect mom to their dying day. Two of the dogs have passed on and we miss them dearly.

Baxter Black (passed on May 2008)

Maggie with Hooper (cat) (passed on July 2005)

Tammy with Rusty (cat)



Theo with Rusty (cat)

I am missing a picture of Mojo, who is deaf. She is a sweatheart and was Baxter and Maggies outdoor companion. Mojo has now become a part time outside dog, just like the rest of the crew! I have a picture of her on my other computer and will add her later today.

ABC Wednesday host: Denise

Mr.Linky

Here is our Mojo....a little sheltie.All of our dogs at the farm, mine included, are rescue dogs. They have either been dropped off at the gate or left for dead in the ditch. Tammy, for instance was dropped into the creek but survived. She came into our yard wet, with a bag tied around her neck....they are survivors...they are ours and we love them dearly.

ABC Wednesday C - Round 3

ok...I am caught up!

C is for coffee.

While we were in Colombia, we had the chance to visit a coffee plantation. I can not tell you how much coffee we drank and I can not even begin to tell you how many different ways we drank it.

I can say that I enjoyed myself immensely and it will be one adventure I will never forget. The day was beautiful, I was with family and friends. It was joy through and through....

ABC Wednesday...Mr. Linky

This great idea is also hosted by Denise (Mrs Nesbitt)

ABC Wednesday "B"

ok...I am a little confused and I am thinking that I should catch up....it is round 3 which is C but I am only on B so I have missed 2 letters so I am going to do A for Appaloosa, B for Baking, and C today and will then be caught up. Right?!? I da know. But I have been perusing through other blogs and every one is on C. I think this is a great idea and would like in on it. So I am hoping I did all the right directions for this and I am sure I will be corrected if I did not so here goes B then I will do C.....wow that was alot of rambling!

B is for baking....

I don't bake, I eat others baking! I am not a good baker, eventhough I supervised a bakery for two years. It was however a cheaters bakery where all the good were brought in frozen, we thawed it, then we baked it. There was really no "scratch baking" done there at all. I have just recently been able to start eating donuts again!

Hosted by Denise

Have you herd? It's ABC Wednesday!

Well...it's a coincidence really.....A is for Appaloosa. I never really thought of it. I was perusing Blue's Blog and saw it...so here we are.
Mr. Linky for ABC Wednesday
Hosted by Denise


Ghostwind Appaloosas

(Phantom) Ghostwind Appaloosas

Now that our stallion has passed here at our ranch (Pipestone Appaloosas & P.O.A.s), we are looking for a new stud for our mares. We have about 6-8 mares and only breed 2-3 a year. I've been there when we bred all of the mares and the halter breaking process is a nightmare when you have 8 rotten little colts to do!


(Sugar and Ice)

I am hoping to breed at least two mares next spring. Legs however, thinks otherwise. But I pay for the feed and I am the one doing the mucking and grooming and the selling so I figure its ok. He does his cow thing and I do my horse thing. Tit for tat.




(Ava and her baby)

I am excited about this. I love the babies. They are so cute and SOooo rotten! They are curious about everything and have an untouchable attitude! They say that a horse will take on the personality of its owner. I do believe that to be true. Bosley, whom I have had since he was a yearling and is now 20 some is skiddish, thinks there is a bear in every bush. He is nervous, but when in familiar surroundings is easy going and jovial.



(Ice)

Jeannie, however, was not raised by me. I bought her when she was 5 and her previous owner was a witch (with a "B"). She is moody, and crabby and is only happy when she is at the feed bucket by herself....her previous owner was a rather large woman, who I suspect likes her food too!

Bonnie, who is "homegrown" is happy. She never has a "moment". She is willing to do whatever I ask of her. She is the one who comes running when she sees me. She comes full tilt right towards me, I stand my ground.....and she always comes to a sliding stop, with her nose inches from mine. I trust her with my life.

Katie too is "homegrown". She is only 2 years old. She is super sweet and one smart horse!. She plays tag with me. I haven't run across a horse this smart in years. She was the one I saw born. It is very rare to see a horse being born, but her momma Anna was an amazing creature too. I am not sure how Katie will turn out but I am keeping her and have her booked in next year with the trainer.

Then there is Jay....she is a 3 year old and very smart as well. So smart that I am having a helluva time halter breaking her. I will put her halter on her and she won't step on the shank, she steps over it, around it, beside it!

When we halter break colts, we put them in a little pen for about two weeks, feeding and watering. It's a smaller pen so they can't get caught up in anything. We add a shank (lead rope) to their halter so they step on it, dragging it on the ground, teaching themselves to learn to give to the shank, rather than them seeing us causing them stress by pulling on their faces. It works really well....except for Jay!

I have about 6 others to bring up from Ma Kettles. 4 are booked in to the trainers and are heading there this month. Two I am giving to Legs and the rest are mine. Mine, mine, all mine, and nobody elses but mine.

Anyway getting back to the original topic....Ghostwind Appaloosas is where we are taking some of our lucky ladies! They boast 100% colour which is exactly what we are looking for.