Humus

Humus

I like humus.
 I wouldn't say I am a humus lover
 BUT
I started to buy Jalapeno humus from my favourite store
and I began a very fond relationship with this dip.

BUT

then they stopped carrying it and I don't eat enough of it to buy two containers of the onion kind

so

alas

my relationship ended.

I have a friend

and 

she makes humus.

she said that she makes really good humus

(she is modest- unlike me- that's why we are friends-it's really about balance)

well

FINALLY

I made it

and it is more than really good

it is dip your leather shoe in it worthy.

Humus

- 1 can of chickpeas

- 1 tablespoon of all natural peanut butter (she uses two BUT...)

- 1 tablespoon of tahini (I have a vat of tahini that I really should use)

-3 garlic cloves

- 1 tablespoon of lemon juice

-1 tablespoon of hot sauce

- 1/2 teaspoon of cumin

-1/2 teaspoon of paprika

and a dash of salt.

Process it until the consistency you most desire. 

i like mine like whipped cream.... 

well just really smooth.

you might need to add a little water if it gets too thick.

and eat.

YUM

Big Shoes

I have lots of memories of spending time with my grandma.

My mom and us would often go with my grandma on holidays.

We went to her house for dinner

or hers to ours

Every night my mom would talk to her on the phone

This post is sounding like it is about my grandma 

but

it's about my mom

My mom was a great daughter.

My mom was a really great mom.

I wouldn't say we were ever best friends

but

she was always there

she was usually pretty consistent

and most importantly I knew

(even if I didn't want to)

that she was usually right

and 

she really had my best interests 

in her heart.

I now find myself calling her

and going on holidays with her

We go there for dinner

(not as much as we should)

and she brings me dinner

(more than she should)

I am thankful

for

the example she was/is

I 

have big shoes

(hopefully never to fill)

but to follow.

Happy Birthday Mom.

The Garden. Not Eden.

To plant or not?

it is usually a question...

this year the question was

WHERE are we planting?

So after many exhaustive debates

we agreed on a location

Then Dusty got some old rototillers.

(like a lot of them)

and spent a long time trying to fix them

THEN

he rented one

AND

we finally got to plant.

you will notice when I said

"WE"

I actually mean

that

Dusty got to plant.

 and Lucy.

She was the only other interested one

she actually held her interest most of the day

I

sat in my supervisor chair

along with my supervisor dog.

You will notice his head in the first picture.

BUT 

the important thing is that it is done.

and

now

MY

work begins...

Black Bean Burgers

 It was a fine afternoon 

and

I

was hungry.

We were all hungry.

but

the BBQ lights me on fire.

So BBQ burgers were out.

I decided I would actually try my hand at the whole cooking business

it has been a while.

So I looked in my pantry

I looked in my fridge

Nothing.

I had a bunch of veggie that needed using

beans in my cupboard

and hamburger buns.

This is not a recipe.

I didn't measure anything.

This was ravenous dumping.

I grabbed:

1) my food processor

2) black beans (1 can)

3) cooked oatmeal (1 cup)

4) half a thing of mushrooms

5) carrots (about 1 cup shredded)

6) Onion (half of one)

and then I processed

Oh and then I dumped in

7) a drained can of diced tomatoes

and then I decided I better add some 

8) dry oatmeal

until it got less liquidy

Then I put in the spices.

garlic powder

seasoning salt

onion powder

pepper

Cayenne pepper

Then I plopped (cause that is the sound) them

on parchment paper

and baked them in the oven

for 25 minutes 

on 425

(because that is my favourite temp because I am impatient)

(especially at lunch)

(particularly when I am hungry)

and they actually weren't too bad.

I put some tomato and lettuce and mayo and BBQ sauce on

and 

it was almost enjoyable

Dusty even admitted they were tolerable...

Tips for positive Blogging

My top tips for Positive blogging

5) preplan what you are going to say

4) have pictures

3) take a Valium

2) blog first thing in the morning

and the number 1 tip for positive blogging....

don't have kids around.

Kidding...

sorta.

Penny peeled her paint off her wall at some point today.

I haven't been able to pin point as of when 

BUT

Now as you can see 

there is a lovely blue spot on her wall.

It's just paint.

it's just paint.

it's just paint.

and 

maybe 

tomorrow

I will heed my own advice

and blog

in

the

freaking

morning!

Like a Jaybird.....

We actually got a sheep shearer out.

My sheep weren't happy

they'll thank me later...

 Fleece being removed

Almost done

Running far far away

(ps brianna this will give you a good idea of size)

They come up to your knee.

Bella thought she would be funny

and stick her tongue out at me

little doesn't she know

that I usually get the last laugh.

So now my sheep are naked.

and apparently Rams think like men...

Teddy has been chasing poor Bella around all afternoon.

she might be wishing for her clothes back

the good stuff!

I can't wait to process it!

Good thing for books and google!

Soul Searching

This is my 400th post!

I will try not to dwell on that fact.

I was driving in the car 

on the way into town 

and one of the radio announcers asked the other

 if she had ever been on a soul searching quest...

She said that she hadn't but that she wished she had after high school.

She wished she had gone and travelled to find herself

they guy said it was never too late 

and then asked

Where did she think she would find her soul?

She said something like a beach in Barbados....

I was listening to this conversation peripherally

but 

I immediately knew my answer.

It surprised me that it was so quick.

I found my soul at home.

I didn't need to go on any grandiose adventure to find me.

(although I think the adventure of going would be neat)

I am

(what I now believe to be one of the few)

who has found my "soul" or "me"

at home.

At home in the prairies

at home with my children

at home on the back of {my} horse.

These things let me breathe

bring me back in

let me focus

I feel so blessed

that I could find me here.

and that I can go on vacation 

and not be searching

but 

just be content to see everything

knowing that I get to come home to

the best part of life.

Ba Ba white sheep

We finally got our sheep.

All of us are thrilled.

Even Dusty...

who was skeptical.

They are called Old English Southdown Babydoll sheep.

It's a mouthful.

most people just call them babydolls.

They are adorably small and cute

and rare.

Their wool is fantastic for spinning.

Which is why they are here.

and 

they are also small.

Which means less intimidating for children.

aka Ellie.

So without further adu....

Meet Teddy.

He is our ram.

He is playful

and he wags his tag when you play with him.

He follows you around the pen.

He even licks the dogs.

 Teddy checking things out.

 Meet Bella.

She is timid.

It probably doesn't help that she had a bad case of wool eye...

Dusty and I got her fixed up till the shearing guy comes.

Bella and Buttons....

Buttons is the baby.

Not their baby

but she is tiny.

and friendly

when Teddy gives her a chance to be.

He's a bit of an attention hog.

I am sure you'll be hearing more of our upcoming sheep adventures.....

The good and bad of it

Starting out 

most days seem 

pretty much the same.

get out of bed

make lunches 

(or at least boss my children around to make their lunches)

make breakfast

brush hair

tell children to brush teeth

read

and

go out the door.

It is what happens post morning routine

that determines whether is is a 

good day or bad...

Today 

I went and visited a friend

Got a little prettier

then came home

made a healthy lunch

(I really would of been much more satisfied 

with the pizza the kids were eating 

but I am going to try hard not to dwell on that..... 

okay dwelling a little....)

cuddled Penny

(that was a necessity since she was very grumpy)

then finally got out to do chores.

with Lucy

who was actually of great assistance

because

The ponies got their gate open

the chicken house was soaked

and the baby chicks needed to be moved outside.

So I got the hen house scooped out

the baby chicks moved

the ponies back where they were supposed to be

the geese fed (which is dangerous right now)

and just as I was finishing...

our yearling filly 

was on the wrong side of the fence

 charging around.

Yikes.

So I grab a hammer

forget the staples

have a halter rope

but 

by the time I get there she is back threw the fence

with not too many scratches

(thank heavens)

and then I hear the bus pull in the yard

and Ellie yelling about piano

OOPS

Pound a few staples and run

(completely out of breath)

to the car and drive to piano

and then come home for 20 minutes

and drive back again

I am so so so so ready for bed.

Cleaner House

One of the many benefits of beautiful weather is

that children generally are outside.

Which means

my house stays cleaner

kinda

at least cleaner from toys.

there tends to be more dried grass on my floor

the bathrooms get sprinkled with dirt from the inside of bathing suits

but I'll take it.