Backyard Garden Progress

For the past two months I have been eager to get my garden planted. This is the latest I have ever done a garden. Usually I have my plants in the ground by the middle of March, but not this year. With Easter falling so late it was hard to get it done when I wanted it to. By this time my plants are usually huge and producing lots of veggies.

This was my garden in June 2009

Anyhoo… after Michael got off work he got started on cutting the wire fencing for my garden. And it would have gone by so much quicker if Michael would just listen when I call :) I reminded him to bring home the bolt cutters, but he forgot. So he had to cut it with a hacksaw. It was great to be outside with all my boys and spend time together. Now, I really didn’t do much work, but I did what I do best and took pictures. Here are some pictures from the work we did tonight.

The boys were playing like this… {my boys don’t believe in clothes, so sadly they are only in their underwear}.

And it turned to this...

But Daddy’s kisses make it all better!

Baylee thought she would help out.
She then decided to just lounge around.

And with a face like this there is no way you can be mad!

The 16 feet of wire fencing we began with…

This will definitely keep Baylee out and maybe even the kids!

Then we cut it in half… well Michael did.
I just stood there and took pictures.

He measured and re measured.

Then he bent it to make smooth corners.

Perfect!

Now I can plant my veggies knowing that Baylee will not dig them up.
I also smoothed out the soil to make it look pretty.
{See in that back corner… that is where the chicken coop will go :) }

Photo Friday Week 20: Anger

This weeks theme for Photo Friday was anger!

Let me tell you…this one was hard!

I had to get creative this week since last week I was not very creative at all.

And I figured most people would take pics of their kids, so I decided to go a different rout.

Down the street from my house is a field. And in that field are some cows with HUGE personality.

And well… today this one kept giving me the evil eye!

Scary!!!

I think it had something to do with this brand new cutie patootie!
Is he not the cutest thing you have ever seen!

P.S. The cow with the flaring nostrils and evil eye was not this calf’s mother.

Next Week: Temptation

Homemade Butter

Yes! You read the title right. I made homemade butter yesterday!

It is so simple, quick and easy to make!

Anyhoo, I was reading Design Sponge yesterday and she gave the quick and simple way to make butter. I had some heavy whipping cream laying around, so I figured why not try it?!

The best part is we were almost out of butter, and now I don’t have to buy any.

And now I would rather make it than buy it!

And it is such a cute gift idea. We will get to that later though :)

I hope you have as much fun making it as I did.

 

You will need:

2 cups of heavy cream

Strainer

Food Processor

Salt *optional*

Pour your heavy cream into the food processor.

Let it whip for 8 to 10 minutes on high.

It may not look like butter yet, but it will.

Lay your strainer on a bowl and put all of the butter mixture in there.

Let it sit in the strainer for another 10 minutes or so. Just to let most of the liquid drip out.

Once most of the liquid has dripped out, move the butter to a cutting board.

There you will press paper towels around the butter to get out the rest of the liquid that was left.

You will not be able to get it all but don’t worry.

Transfer the butter to a jar of your choice, mine was the mason jar :)

I plan on getting cute ones next time.

Place a paper towel over the top of the jar, screw on the lid and place in the fridge upside down.
This helps let out all the excess liquid that was left from before.

The next morning you will have wonderful homemade butter for your breakfast bagel.

ENJOY!

Dave’s Hot Sauce

My brother-in-law, Dave, makes the absolute best hot sauce. Well I think so anyway. It is just so yummy!

I have been craving hot sauce lately. I don’t know what it is about Mexican food, but I just can’t get enough of it! I would be lost without it. I am so glad that I have learned how to make a variety of dishes as it saves us tons of money now that we don’t have to go out to eat it.

Anyways… while we were Skyping {is that a word?}  the other day I asked for the recipe and he gladly gave it up!

Unfortunately in my version I left out the red onion because it was the only thing I did not have. Sniffle Sniffle. But I have to say it is still pretty darn good, but I am sure it would have been better with it.

I was so proud of myself. I did all my photos in natural light and I am very happy with how they came out.

Lets get started shall we…

 

The lineup: Cilantro, Jalapenos, Tomatoes, Limes and Kosher Salt.
You can use less or more depending on how much hot sauce you want to make.

Cut the stem out of your maters. I almost cut myself every time I do this.

Cut your tomatoes in half and then dice them up.
Then put them in the blender.

Cut the stems off of your jalapenos, cut them down the center and then chop them up too.
I think you know where they go from here.

 

Cut the bottom stems off of your cilantro.
You can pick the leaves off, but I found this to be easier.

  
Then chop up all tour cilantro and put it in the blender with the other players.

Squeeze in the juice of a whole lime.

 
This is my favorite part! I love whacking the garlic clove with the knife.

 
Then I chop it up and inhale the wonderful aromas.
I even sniff my hands for hours afterwards. Shhhhhh! Don’t tell anyone.

Sprinkle with a large pinch of salt.
Remember: You can always add more later, but you can’t take away.

Here is where you get to hit the chop button on the blender and watch it work it’s magic.

  
Pour your hot sauce into a jar of your choice, mine is always the handy dandy mason jar.

  
Doesn’t it just look absolutely yummy?

Don’t laugh…I couldn’t find a lid, so I had to settle for a make shift lid.

Serve with tortilla chips and enjoy!

A Simpler Life

A while back, I think it was in March, I said I was ready for a slow down {you can read it here}. I jotted down that my blog was going to go through a transformation, and well I think I am ready for the transformation to start.

My main goal if for my family to start living a simpler way of life. And when I say simpler life, I mean everything about our lives. From the things we eat to the things we buy… or don’t buy.

A few months back my friend gave me a book called Enough by Adam Hamilton {who is a pastor}. It talks about discovering joy through simplicity and generosity. So far I am very pleased with the book. The author also presents some reasons that we overspend, and how to strategically overcome these problems, firstly discovering what our purpose in life is, then setting goals for our life and then developing a plan.

Now, I will be the first to admit… I have a spending problem! I am doing much better and have not spent any money in over a week! For some reason I have always felt the need to try and keep up with the Jones’. But man it sure is exhausting, time consuming and cost way to much money!

Learning to live on a budget had been way harder than I thought it would be. I can not believe how much money we spend on things we don’t really need. It’s really kinda sad. But you know what? Since I have quit spending so much I have realized that I do not miss spending that money, not one little bit.

I want my blog to reflect the changes I am making our lives.

My blog is going to be more about me and my family, my photography, the changes I am making to my house and the cost effective ways I am doing that, gardening and more quick and simple recipes. {And possibly a name change to reflect the new blog style.}

I hope that you will follow me through my journey to simplicity!

I Heart Faces: May Flowers

This week I have decided to enter the I Heart Faces Photo Challenge: May Flowers. I am so excited to be able to show off some my handy work :)

I {Heart} the Country

Oh how I wish I could describe just how much I absolutely love being in the country.

It is so peaceful…. and quiet.

I am oh so ready to leave the hustle and bustle of the our somewhat big city. And I think that Michael would actually agree with me.

I dream of the day that I need a riding lawnmower to tackle the yard, or am able to grow veggies without worry.

Oh that would be the life!

Here is a pic of my table centerpiece right now. Yes! They are fake.
P.S. See the red walls? I am going to paint them as soon as I get done with the living room.
What color you ask? That I am not sure of yet.

I would love a house on LOTS of acres and a relaxing porch!


{Source: Hunting Club.com}

Who doesn’t love a country table?
{I actually have one of these in my garage waiting to be refinished}

{Source: The Feminist Housewife}

Or a light, bright and open kitchen…

{Source: Google}

  I am eager to be able to have some chickens…

{Source: A Dash of Sass}


So I can have fresh eggs!


{Source: A Dash of Sass}


Maybe even have one of these…

And you can’t forget some of moo cows!

{Source: Google}