Fun Day at Auction

I had a blast working for Lange Auction.  My daughter Justine was there and snapped my photo for Instagram.   She was able to buy a few items for her vintage photo booth along with a Star Wars garbage can.  My favorite purchase was a taxidermy horny toad/lizard.  I love the addition to my weird collection.  It was a beautiful Wisconsin day - I was doing something I love - with someone I love.  Blessed!

(I staged him on a rock - looks live - but stuffed...)

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Up Date on My Hen "Martha"

My independent hen Martha - bless her heart - was broody.  She thought she had a stash of eggs, as she knew she laid them.  I gathered them.  She sat anyway on the cat's blanket.  So I took another egg from a setting hen and gave it to her.  I didn't even know if it was fertilized.  So she sat....

I had almost given up hope that it would hatch and threw it away.  When Martha jumped off the nest to go for a drink, Anna picked up the egg and it was hatching.  You could hear the cheep cheep through the shell.

When she saw us, she came running back with wings bowed out to sides "cluck, cluckin away."  Of course, we ran (she actually pecks really hard!) and sat back on the egg.  Just as it was getting dark, it started to thunder and pour down rain.  I ran outside and threw a tarp over them for extra protection.  I wasn't sure if the little chick would make it.  I find it best to just let "nature take its course" when dealing with things like this.   In the morning I lifted up Martha's belly and there was a little chick - alive.  

I took them both over to the chicken coop and made them a nice nest inside one of the cages.  Martha did something so endearing, I just loved it! I made a circle in some fresh hay for her nest and laid the wet little chick in the middle, she jumped right on top and quickly grabbed the pieces of hay with her beak and pulled them over he back and wings.  She was fluffing up her nest.  I love it when hens do this!  

Here is the chick later in the day - all fuzzy.  It has fuzzy legs, so I'm thinking this egg was one crossed with the Silkie rooster.  

Chick count to date:  Martha - 1
                                      Henny Penny - 4

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Our Crazy Farm - New Book and Giveaway

Terri from Our Crazy Farm has a new book!  This one is about her homestead journey.  She is an inspirational woman - as her other book reflects.  This one reflects her humor.  I can't wait to read it!  Go to her page and read about the giveaway.  The link is here:  http://ourcrazyfarm.blogspot.com/2014/05/ourcrazyfarm-book-announcement-and-give.html

Feel free to share her information on your social media.

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Motivation Monday - Memorial Day Service

Community Service is something that I truly enjoy!  Teaching children that the world is not all about them...is important!  Showing children how to help in their community is our job as adults!  If we want to make the world a better place, we better be willing to work for it.  Get out and make a difference, be a good example to the little ones that are watching you.

I was waiting in line at a store in Stevens Point, I turned around to see an elderly gentlemen wearing a veteran cap.  I quickly thanked him for his service and then read that the VFW post said Elderon, WI on it.  I told him my brother has a little church in Elderon.  We talked a few minutes and then he added that "Monday is the big day."  I hate to say, but I forgot that the upcoming weekend was Memorial Day.  This had me thinking about my encounter with him.  I decided that it would be nice for the Sunday school kids to make some Thank You cards for the veterans and pass them out at one of the Memorial Services the VFW Post from Elderon was doing.  This would show our support for them in our community.  

So, this Motivation Monday (actually Tuesday) think of ways you can help the children in your life do something that is selfless, by helping in your community.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Congratulations Justine!

Congratulations to our daughter, Justine who graduated from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point as Magna Cum Laude.  This represents hours of study, hours of internship, dedication, working part-time, full-time student, wise stewardship of funds and determination by her.  I would be remiss not to mention the gift of education that her grandparents, Edward and Marlene, wisely set aside of each of their grandchildren - without which she would have graduated much like others with a huge debt.  

She plans to continue with her studies at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh pursuing her Master's Degree in Social Work.  

She has learned early on in her married life - that things that are worth having, are worth working hard for.  This will be a long year of commute back and forth, but I know she can do it.  Her husband Josh has been so supportive of her dreams.  He too is working full-time and is a full-time student.  Both of them are so determined to finish their education.  I couldn't be more proud!  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Easy Instant Oatmeal Pancakes

Easy Instant Oatmeal Pancakes:  2.5 ppts. each

1 package of any flavored instant oatmeal
1 C flour
1 egg
2 T oil
1 C milk - I used 1% 
1 t baking powder

Put all ingredients in a bowl and mix it up.

Spray your pan, drop batter into 3-4" diameter circles.

I did sprinkle with a small amount of cinnamon and sugar before I flipped them.

This makes 1 doz. pancakes.  Enjoy!

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin. 

Chicken Salsa Tortillas

Chicken Salsa Tortilla

3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts.  Cut into very thin strips.  2 large cloves of garlic minced and 1/4 large red onion diced.  Put some olive oil in pan, add the above and saute.

Add diced peppers and 2 t. taco seasoning

Add a can of rinsed black beans, 1/2 c salsa, 1/2 c water and 1/4 c refried beans.

Put the cover on the pan and let it simmer and thicken up.

Bake the flour tortillas on a cookie sheet in a 200 oven, flip them so the get light golden brown and puffy.

Prepare the other toppings for the tortilla.

We enjoyed these.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

Linked to:  http://www.oakhillhomestead.com/2014/05/homeacre-hop-70.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+OakHillHomestead+%28Oak+Hill+Homestead%29

Cookie of the Week - Week 17 - Secret Granola Bars

Cookie of the Week - Week 17 - Secret Granola Bars

After researching some "healthier" options, I came up with this modified recipe.  The secret of this is, no sugar, I used dates and honey as the sweetener.  

3 C oats
2 C almonds

I put this on a cookie sheet lined with foil and toast for 10 min. @ 250.

Put 1 C dates in a food processor (I used my Magic Bullet) - chop up.  

Put the toasted almonds, oats, dates and 1 C craisins to a bowl.

Mix this together - I used my hands to fully incorporate the dates.  

add 1/2 C creamy peanut butter
        1/2 C honey (mine was local - from just down the road)
        1 t vanilla

Stir together till well mixed.  

 Add 1 C Chocolate Chips

Put back in the foil lined cookie sheet and bake @ 300 for 20 minutes - when you smell it - it is done enough.  Let cool completely and cut into squares.  

I hope you give them a try.  Really good.  Not too sweet.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin. 

Thrifty Thursday - My "Pickins"

I went on a little road trip yesterday.  I wanted to check out a "new" shop in another town.  With my selling opportunities at Grand Repeats coming to an end, I am looking for another booth somewhere.  I actually checked out a couple of places yesterday.   I took contracts and will be praying about what might work the best for me.  

As any good picker would do....I ran into a few "thrift" shops and this what I found.  The rug that everything is sitting on and the blue picnic basket, I will probably keep.  Everything else in the picture was under $20.  All from the same place - what a great deal.  I plan to return to that shop again.  

Happy thrifting!  Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.     

Rubbish Tuesday Pictures

I started following a new blog that hosts a Rubbish Tuesday blog hop.  This is my second week.  Click on the "link" below to go to her blog.  

This rubbish was made by my husband.  He welded together different farm implements, hand tools and other interesting "junk" to make this yard art.  I LOVE them!  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

Linked to:  http://rubbishbyroan.blogspot.com/2014/05/rubbish-tuesday-3.html

Farm Auction

I had requests:

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

Motivation Monday - "I'm Not a Loser" The Kid

Our bible study Thursday night was on the wise man who built his house upon the rock.  It wasn't the standard message, rather one that represents our past.  You don't have to be defined by your past.  Frank made reference to the movie The Kid (his favorite).  The quote he used was "I'm not a loser!"  something the character says at the end.  

None of us can go back to our past and change it.  We might have "built on sand" at one time, but we can rebuild.  We have all heard "once a ____(fill in the blank)____, always a ____(blank)____."  Not true!  

I know a savior who changed that.  I not only have to remind myself of that, but reflect on my mistakes and learn from them.  

One neat thing that happened this week, was that an older gentlemen (over 70) came into the 4-H office while I was volunteering.  While he was waiting for some information, I could hear him humming/whistling "the wise man built his house upon a rock."  I waited a bit, then walked over to him, "are you whistling 'the wise man' song?"  He says, "yes, I am."  I tell him my brother preached a message about that just last night.  He tells me that his dad and uncles were all ministers.  He tells me that his dad preached his wedding and the message was on how a marriage should be built on the rock.  I was thinking, was this a coincidence..." 

So, for this Monday, I want to challenge us to look at our past, reflect on how we can make today better and build on the lessons learned.  The knowledge/wisdom gained, will help us to have a more solid foundation.  

One is never too old to learn and change - if they are wise enough to see that they need to.    

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Good Old Farm Auction

I was asked to help at an auction tomorrow.  If you have been following long, you know that last year I over came a fear and jumped on a wagon and sold the items on it.  I'm not going to say I'm still not anxious about tomorrow - because, selling and calling isn't that easy.  I am also excited.  The auction is in Gleason, Wisconsin.  Here is the link:  http://www.alangeauctionrealty.com/auctions.cfm?az_feed_pos=http%3A//www.auctionzip.com/cgi-bin/auctionview.cgi%3Flid%3D2077717%26feed%3D129%26group%3D0%26state%3D%26kwd%3D%26zip%3D%26category%3D0%26nojava%3D0

I think the little trailer is so cute.  The farm is really nice too.  I will not buy more than I sell, I will not buy more than I sell, I will not buy....

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Cleaning out the Potting Shed

Cleaning out the potting shed.  I love this little outbuilding.  We store our garden tools and such in here.  I have lots of primitive "treasures" I put out each year, but have decided to part with some of them.  I'm taking them to my booth at Once N Again Antiques today.  All the items in my car are $5 or less.  Here are a few pictures.  

These all are sold as is....

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Linked to:  http://rubbishbyroan.blogspot.com/2014/05/love-it-when-i-find-old-windmill.html

University of Wisconsin Milwaukee - Orientation Day

Our youngest, Anna,  is going to marry Jon in August.  

Jon is in the Architecture, Urban Planning program at UWM.  Anna will be transferring there to complete her major, which is Community Engagement and Education with a sub-major in Community Based Organizations and Leadership.  Yesterday was transfer and adult student orientation day. 

Jon took us up to his "studio" work space and showed us the projects he worked on this year.  I really enjoyed it.  He is very talented.  I know God has big plans for him, even if it takes our "baby" to a big city - maybe even bigger than Milwaukee....some day.   

We went past the building that they hope to get an apartment in.  The best part, I could actually figure out how to find it - as it is close to a Goodwill!  My internal GPS finds all thrift shops.  

Many people have told Anna that "you will hate Milwaukee" or "why would you want to live down there?"  Anna has always been a "busy" kid.  We wouldn't even finish one thing we were doing, without her saying "what are we doing next?"  We would be eating lunch and she would say "what's for supper?"  "What are we doing tomorrow?"  I would always reply, "can't we make it through today first."  Anna will thrive in this excitement.  She loves adventure - something going on all the time.  She will be fine - as long as her "red head" doesn't get to0 sassy!  

I actually really like the area the university and apartment is in.  I don't even mind driving through the "rougher" area to get there.  I don't let prejudices stop me from doing things.  People will treat you as good or bad as you treat them - true!  I know I have a "gift" of talking to anyone.  I'm so happy I do, I love that part of my personality.  I know it can be embarrassing to people I am with at times - but, they have benefited from my openness too.  

This past fall, Justine, Anna and I went down to Milwaukee for the day to take their engagement pictures.  While we were waiting for Jon's classes to end, we drove around all sections of the city.  I know that Milwaukee has been noted as one of the most segregated cities - not something to brag about.  I'm glad I don't know the boundaries of the neighborhoods - I don't even want to know.  I can't wait to go back to the neighborhood with the Mexican food trucks - I'm stopping and getting some "real" Mexican food!  I can't wait to go back on Capital Drive and eat at the Popeyes Chicken.  I especially can't wait to hit the upper east side estate sales - even I can see the "money" walking around there.   But, most importantly I am excited for the adventure that waits Jon and Anna.  Yes, they are young.  Yes, life will be hard.  Yes, juggling school, newlywed life and jobs will be hard.  I will just keep praying for His hand in their lives.  

Mama's letting go isn't easy!  When you have faith in Him and His plans, it is easier!  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.