Reading

Fay doesn't read much, he prefers to be active. The only author he enjoys is Ben Green. For Christmas this year I found a copy of 'A Thousand Miles of Mustangin'. The only book by Ben Green that Fay didn't already own. 

What I'll do for next year I don't know. 

Christmas 2009

I didn't get pics of Christmas this year. Just never got the camera out. But it was wonderful, we opened presents before chores. There were lots of presents, my electric chain saw, his book, our gifts to each other. All the cds from Amanda and a huge fuzzy Christmas shawl. Meg and Amanda got me two new cookbooks. Love books for Christmas.

Then went out together to feed the stock. Everybody got a few slices of stale bread to celebrate. Even the dog, who took her slice off to bury. Mercy knows where since the ground is froze.


After chores we had coffee and cardamom bread toast. Just wonderful to have such a slow day together.

At 2:00pm we went up to Ada's for a couple of hours for Christmas dinner. Which was fun, three out of four of her kids were there and the great grands too. Love my in laws.


More chores and a slow evening spent reading our new books. 


God is indeed good to us.

Burdock butchery.

Got up last Saturday and went with Fay to feed the horses. Three out of four of them had found old burdock plants, manes and tails full and the one mare even had them in her ears. I'm still picking them out of her ears. They look awful, I had to cut their fore tops off and his little saddle mare has a half roach.

Caramel Corn as I get it done

I've made caramel corn for years, my recipe is simple, but it mutates according to what's in the cupboard and I absolutely adore this years darker mutation.

Caramel corn

Two batches of air popped corn (1 cup unpopped)
1 cup butter, real butter from cows!
1 cup white sugar, could use raw sugar or brown sugar

1 cup succanat/rapadura
1/2 cup black strap molasses
1/2 cup honey
1 tsp salt
1 tsp soda
2 tsp real vanilla
Grease two cookie sheets, grease the REALLY large bowl/canner that the popcorn is going to be mixed in and also the cup to measure the syrups.
 Put the sugars, butter, syrups and salt into a large pot and heat at medium heat, stirring until it boils. Boil for five minutes, turn off heat, add vanilla and sprinkle soda over the top. Stir quickly! It will boil up and thicken. Dump over popcorn and mix. Divide gooey popcorn mess between greased cookie sheets. Bake on the same rack at 250degrees for 20 minutes. Take out sheets out of the oven, remix popcorn, turning it over. Put the sheets back in the oven for another 20 minutes. Take out, stir and cool. When cool, bag and keep dry.



Not as sweet as commercial popcorn but very flavorful.

Pendleton Christmas Carriage Parade Pt 1

Before the parade and it's much bigger this year, side saddle riders, a sheriff's posse in old time costumes, a rider's club.The little pony and buggy, decorated for Christmas and a lady and her mule. Fay said the mule was at least as old as him. The mule denies it.There they are, ready for take off, I'm on my usual viewing platform. This is one of the few pics with out Immie's ears included.

Pendleton Christmas Carriage Parade Pt 2

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Thanks to Jackie, I always have a pic with me from the parades in Pendleton. It's so much fun to go up there, visit with every one. It's a good family tradition. 

After the parade while we adults were unhitching the team, cleaning up decorations, all the stuff that needs to be done, Josiah needed a place to be. I set him up on Immie and he had a ball. He was talking to everyone, ringing the bells I had tied to the saddle. Immie's such a good horse, he stood there, just as quiet as a lamb.


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The day before Thanksgiving

The day before Thanks giving we were going to drive the team, practicing for the Christmas Carriage parade in Pendleton, just a little over a week off. Just as we finished hitching, here came Kai and Ada. Kai is just as horse foolish as her great grand dad, so he took  her up on the fore cart with him for a ride. 

Ready. Set.

Go.