Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Time for Goat News/Turkey on the Roof!/Out Door Wednesday!

 

Thanks to Susan, we have another Outdoor Wednesday.  Click on my blog list to go to A Southern Daydreamer to see  the list of other participants.

 

 

outdoor wedasoutherndaydreamer 

I have been very negligent in posting about my goats, so today is the day and I hope you will read it all and find some enjoyment in my way of life.

BUT I HAVE A BURNING QUESTION FOR YOU FIRST…HOW MANY OF YOU WAKE UP TO THE LOUD GOBBLING OF A TURKEY ON THE ROOF OF YOUR GARAGE?

 

088

He was one upset gobbler, he had lost his wife. I found her, she was just blogging away. She had gotten up early to blog while he was still asleep and she was not answering him. After all blogging is important.

 

Well, back to the goats.

First of all, about a week ago,  a lady named Goatlady came to my blog and left a message, then on her web site GETYERGOAT, she wrote a nice article about my blog and she designed some items for The Purple Goat Lady, which of course I had to buy a few.

pgl1

Big Mama aka Hairy Legs, the one that had 3, we lost the little black one, I don’t believe her lungs developed completely and she was having a hard time in the heat. 

 

065

Since then we have had three more.  The nanny standing on the right is Daisy Mae and she had 2 girls and Cry Baby had one.

I hope there are no more right now, the heat is too stressful on the mother and the babies.

As a whole, our goats are doing good, they are losing a little weight, but that is from the heat and there is nothing we can do, they are getting plenty to eat.

Pilgrim has lost weight also. He always comes to see who is entering his pasture and he will come up to the mule, but of course I can’t touch him.

 

050

Our pasture is suffering and if we don’t get rain soon, we will be in trouble.

 

078

081

This is our new corral, but we need to do lots of work to it.  Below are some of our sheds.

 

080

Our pond if you can call it a pond is in bad shape, there is now a walkway in the middle

 

048

If you are wondering about my three children, they are doing great.  Termite got in the mule and rode around the pasture with me.  Red Bug got in but didn’t stay long.

 

063 

 

068

They still cry when they see me and come running.

Last but not least are our Billies

 

069 .

Baron is the one on the left and he is our new Billy, Chocolate Chip is on the right and he is on his way out.  Our problem is, we have about 15+ to take to market, but they can’t make that long trip in this heat.  We are just stuck with them for now.

 

This is my Mule, which we have two, there is now way to do without one of these and the bottom picture is Roy’s tractor and mine is in the shed, but the battery is dead, so I can use the big one if I need one.

 

085

 

083

I realize this is not decorating,  tablescapes, thrifting or crafting, but it is a major part of my life and although I enjoy the other things, this is basically what I am about.  Living in the country brings a whole different set of worries.  No Rain, too much rain, heat, too cold, sick animals, fence down, etc.

There are times when I wish we could move to the city, but Roy loves this life and I would have to go without him!  Then there are times when I wouldn’t leave, like a turkey on the roof of the garage and saving a baby goat like Termite and although it may not be the life for you, I hope you can enjoy reading about it, just like I enjoy reading about yours.

 

So here I am……The Purple Goat Lady!

Happy Today!

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Blue Monday and the winner is…..

 

 

download[2]

Many thanks to Smiling Sally, not sure how she packed, looked for an apartment, moved and still never lost track of posting for Blue Monday…what a gal, you go Sally.

 

 004 

giveaway

My friend Karen, is in Hawaii for a week with her granddaughter.  I called her on my cell phone and ask her for a number between 1 –67.  She gave me the number 12.

I looked at the list I had made as people registered and number 12 is ……..

Debbie @ There’s an Angel on My Front Porch.

Congratulations Debbie, I hope you enjoy the cake plate and the blue bracelet.

Please email me your address and I will put the prize in the mail .

I want to thank everyone that came, commented and left a Blue Thing.

Special thanks to Smiling Sally for letting me post my giveaway on Blue Monday.

Here is the creative list.

1. yard full of blue jays

2. blue corn

3 blue hot air balloon

4.blue Kodak camera

5 blue sapphire earrings

6 blue heron

7. blue cell phone

8. blue lagoon

9. blue gardenia

10 blue magpie

11. blueberries

12. blue moon

13. blueberry cobbler

14. blue sky

15. blue skies

16 blue salvia

17 granddaughter’s blue eyes

18 Blue suede shoes

19. Blue ribbon

20. oceans

21. an in internet explorer logo

22. blue lobster

23. blue recycle bin

24. blue plate special

25. blue light special

26. bluebonnets

27. blue clues

28. code blue

29.  wild blue yonder

30. blue spruce

31. blue rose

32. crystal blue persuasion

33. blue man group

34. red roses for a blue lady

35. blue jeans

36. baby blue birds

27 grandson’s blue eyes

30. blue boy

31. blue baby

32. blue walls in office

33. American flag

34. Texas flag

35  four o’clocks

There are 45 more because some participants choose to add more than one.

Happy Blue Monday!

Barbara

Friday, June 26, 2009

Pink Saturday/ Last Day to Sign Up for Giveaway.

Pink_Saturday

Sweet Beverly is sponsoring Pink Saturday today, just like every Saturday,  Thanks Beverly. Please go to How Sweet the Sound.

The cake plate that I am giving away is my pink thing for today. If you are interested in signing up, just leave the name of something blue and a comment today.

 

 

001

 

002

 

 

003

 

 

004

Happy Pink Saturday.

Barbara

Thursday, June 25, 2009

FOODIE FRIDAY

Hey visit Gollum at Designs by Gollum to find more wonderful recipes and ideas.

Thanks Gollum for sponsoring this day.

 

Foodie Friday Logo 2

Egg Salad Sammies

Ingredients:

8 hard boiled eggs

1/4 cup mayonnaise

1Tbs. Dijon mustard

1 Tbs. chopped fresh chives

1/4 cup thinly sliced celery

1/2 tsp kosher salt

Freshly ground pepper to taste

8 thin slices of sourdough bread, toasted if desired

8 small better lettuce leaves

Directions:

The egg salads tastes better if it sits for a while before serving so, if possible, make it a few hours ahead of time and refrigerate it.  Slice the eggs into a bowl.  Then, using 2 table knives, scissor-cut them into smaller pieces.  Add the mayo, mustard, chives, celery, salt and a few grinds of pepper and mix to combine evenly.

To make each sandwich, top a slice of bread with about 1/4 of the egg salad and then with 2 lettuce leaves.  Top with a second slice of bread and press down gently.  Cut in half to serve.  Makes 4 sandwiches.

 

EggSaladSammies

 

And then we need a delicious drink to go with our sandwiches.

Cranberry Limeade

Ingredients”

2 quarts prepared limeade

2 cups cranberry juice

2 limes, thinly sliced

Ice cubes for serving

Directions:

Combine the limeade, cranberry juice and lime slices until blended.  I ladled mine into eight 1 1/2 cup Mason jars with screw caps. Keep  refrigerated until ready to serve.  You may also store it in frig and then pour over ice in tall glasses.

Good Eating!

Barbara

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

TABLESCAPE THURSDAY

tablescape thursday 

Be sure you visit Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for a list of participants in Tablescape Thursday.  Thanks loads Susan for all your work…

THE STORY OF THE FORK AND ITS LONG BATTLE TO TAKE IT’S RIGHTFUL PLACE ON THE TABLE!

 

Once upon a time, the fork was used primarily as a serving piece.  Its path to popularity as an everyday utensil  had lots of objections. Many thought it was either too common or too effeminate.

In the early 16th century, the fork finally took its place on the table, thanks to Italian nobility and upper class. The forks acceptance began to spread, first to England in the 17th century, then it became part of the place setting, but was considered a Berry Fork.

It was designed for eating strawberries  and other berries and has either 2 or 3 long tines.

tn_sterlingsilverberryset-2

 

tn_silverplateberryset-2

The forks usually came in a set of 6 along with the berry spoon.

Today these old berry forks are collector items.

tiffany_strawberry_sterling_pierced_strawberry_fork_P0000183655S0025T2

 

This fork  can be purchased at Replacements for 229.00 and they have 3 of them

 

tiffany_strawberry_sterling_pierced_strawberry_fork_P0000183655S0045T2

There is one that is defective and you may purchase it for 172.00

Happy Shopping!

Barbara

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY/104 DEGREES IN TEXAS YESTERDAY

wordless wed

HEY, DIXIE THANKS FOR SPONSORING THIS DAY.  IT IS REALLY HARD NOT TO TALK……..

 

 

DEAD FLOWERS

DEAD TREES

 

thumbnail HEAT

HAPPY WORDLESS WEDNESDAY!

BARBARA

Outdoor Wednesday/ Hamilton Pool/ Giveaway!

 

Outdoor_Wednesday_logo[4]

Many thanks to Susan for sponsoring this day, so we can enjoy beautiful  outdoor pictures.

 

hamilton-pool-and-falls

Hamilton Pool is a bit of a drive out to the countryside west of Austin, Texas. It requires a steep hike "in" and an equally steep hike back "out"... but the trip is SO worth the effort. This pool and collapsed grotto was formed by thousands of years of water erosion; and when we are not in a drought, a 50 foot waterfall spills over the top of this canyon. Before the 1800's, Native Americans lived in this natural shelter because its water and lush plant life; and its beauty no doubt.

pool2

pool3

Happy Outdoor Wednesday.

Please don’t forget to register for my giveaway.  Go to my post for Blue Monday to see the gift and how to register!

Barbara

Monday, June 22, 2009

Father’s Day Weekend from Hell!

 

Boy, do I know how to ruin a perfectly good weekend….

Paddling the Forks …. was not exactly what they made it out to be, the write-up said it was for novice and experienced paddlers, well I am here to tell you they painted a pretty picture.

Number 1.  The B&B was not what it was cracked up to be, the lady running it was very nice, but the facilities were terrible.  The house was in great need of repair and TLC.  The owners were in a foreign country and came home only several months a year and it showed.  The house was still decorated for Xmas and things were falling apart and dying a slow death.   Am I being hard ..yes, but if you are going to advertise and run a B&B, then I think you should keep it up.

We didn’t breakfast on either morn, we got up and left Sunday at 4:30 am.  Our Bathroom was stopped up and we had to use one down the hall, thank goodness we were the only people up there.

Sorry Swann Hotel and B&B, but you should close until the place is redone.

Here are a few pictures and I realize it does not look too bad, but….

006

 024

Number 2.  When we arrived at the launch site for the canoe trip, we were told that this trip was NOT for novice and remember this is my first time in a canoe and I don’t have a clue as to how to paddle,etc.

Topping off that little bit of info was the fact that there would only be 4 canoes and 7 kayaks and these don’t mix well. 

We left about 8:15 and took 2 breaks totally about 35-40 minutes all day.  We ate lunch with me sitting in the canoe and Roy standing on the bank and we used the front of the canoe for our table.  There was one gentleman, age 73, that came by himself and he couldn’t paddle against the wind and keep up with the kayaks.  I realized about lunch time, that I was going to have to help Roy paddle, the wind was blowing in our face, the sun was beating down and most important the kayaks were setting a pace that was almost impossible for the canoes to keep up with.  Our lady from the park service was a darling person, but was very ineffective and the guide was not sure at times which fork to take until he sat and studied it. 

030

034

 

As my kind husband said, Barbara we have made a memory…boy what a memory.

036

I do want to say that once this little woman started paddling, I almost killed myself, but brother we were headed to the dock as fast as I could help Roy get us there and by golly we were the first ones and out of our canoe and headed to our cool car before most of them got to the dock.  Time 2:00pm. We had been on the river about 6 hours and paddling like heck for at least 5 and I mean paddling, never being able to slack off for fear of falling too far behind.

I was going home (to B&B) to shower and go get food and a cool drink.

I am usually not real critical,I go with  the flow, and try to fine the good in everything, but this was really bad.  There was little if any planning and no guidance hardly at all.

Our trip home was great, we did finally began to laugh and still complain about the Trip from Hell, but now that  we are home at the best B&B I know, we are laughing a lot.

Yes, we did make a memory.  It was kind of like child birth…you forget the pain….HAHAHA!

If you are interested in going, just call me and I will be happy to give you the phone number.

REMEMBER YOU CAN STILL SIGN UP FOR MY GIVEAWAY POSTED ON BLUE MONDAY POST. JUST LIST A BLUE ITEM AND POST A COMMENT ON THIS POST.

IT’S THE OLD PADDLER, BARBARA

Name Something Blue and Win the Giveaway on Blue Monday

 

download[2]

Loads of Blue Monday thanks to Sally for letting me use Blue Monday for my list making and a giveaway.

Let’s get creative and add something Blue, no one else has thought of…when you post your comment, put your blue item first.

Next week I will post the list and announce the winner of the giveaway. Please advertise the giveaway on your post. 

You can post until  Saturday, June 27th at midnight, something blue and be entered in the giveaway.

The giveaway is this beautiful Blue Bada Bling bracelet to always remind you of Blue Monday and this beautiful cake plate.

 

giveaway

 

 

001

003 002

004

The plate and cover are hand painted with cupcakes, cookies and sheet cakes and the words “life is uncertain, eat dessert first”

The plate is hand painted with fruit.

 

HAPPY BLUE MONDAY AND MANY THANKS TO SALLY …. I would never reach this many people without letting me to this.

Barbara

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Happy Father’s Day!

spiritual sunday

Thanks Ginger and Charlotte for sponsoring this Blessed Day.

I am dedicating this to my Father, who passed away many years ago, but is and always will be in my heart and on my mind.

his  is also for my wonderful husband, Roy.

HappyFathersDayPoem

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY TO ALL FATHERS!

Let’s remember all the Fathers that are serving our country to keep us free!

Blessings  to all.

Barbara