Day 130

So, I had these ingredients in my fridge and pantry.


Since it is currently slim 'pickens for groceries at our house, I decided to get creative and come up with a pasta salad for lunch today.

This is what I came up with.


Red pepper salad with cherry tomatoes

(not a very creative name, I know, but seriously..it is HARD to come with recipe names..at least for me!)

It was yummy!

But it led to this...a pretty BIG mess of dishes...


I LOVE the poem at the bottom of the photo.

It hit home with me and makes me remember that there are so many less fortunate people in the world who aren't eating well and would probably give anything to have a mess of dishes in their sink!

Day 129

Dandelions.

They are everywhere I look these days.

Instead of getting frustrated about it, I decided to take a few photos of them.

While I was laying in the grass, shooting away, a bee happened by.

It decided that the dandelion I was photographing was worthy of a stop for a snack.

Lucky for me, I was able to capture this shot!

It really makes me wish I had a macro lens!

Day 128

I love these three!

I asked them to just sing and dance and laugh right before I took this shot and this is what I ended up with!

If there is one thing that they are teaching me, it is to just be happy!

Day 127

I stopped in to see my sister today while I was in town and brought my camera with .

The little guy was getting pretty hungry right before we left and while Angela was trying to console him, I captured this priceless moment between the two of them.



Can't you just feel their love for one another?

Day 126

Today was one of those milestone days when I didn't know whether to smile or cry.

As I sit here, trying to write a decent blog post about my oldest child finishing kindergarten, I am struggling to find the right words.

I am going to let some photos tell the story of his day...

He was very excited when he got on the bus this morning.


His class took a field trip around our hometown and visited places like the library, the clinic, and the nursing home.


Ty was so excited about seeing his big brother, and Tanner was equally thrilled to see him. I love that they held hands walking together through town.


We tagged along after we heard they were making a run for ice cream...Yum!


And this post wouldn't be complete unless I told you a little about Tanners amazing teacher.

Meet Mrs. Strand.

She has been such a positive, bright spot in Tanners daily life the past nine months! She helped us find ways to challenge him and keep him interested in school (which honestly has been a little bit of a struggle). I can't thank her enough for everything that she has done! But I will try to anyway, THANK YOU for loving and nurturing and helping our child grow this year!

I think Tanner summed it up pretty well when asked if he was going to miss Kindergarten...'I want to go to first grade, but I am really going to miss kindergarten and I don't really want to talk about it.'

Day 125

I am posting some kitty love tonight....but I guess I really shouldn't say 'love'.

Don't get me wrong, I like cats and all.

As long as they stay outdoors.

I opened our door tonight and nearly stepped on the poor miss mama kitty.

She was meowing pretty loud and since I had my camera in hand (like usual...for those of you who know me, it is practically glued to my hands most days) I snapped a few photos.

As I was focusing and switching settings, the mama kitty sneakily crept past me and into the house {gasp}.

Damn cat.

I had to chase it downstairs and coax it out from under some boxes.

Apparently she likes us so much that she wants to take up residence here...but I DON"T THINK SO...



She taught me a lesson tonight though, never underestimate the intelligence of farm cats!

Day 124

Madi and I have been busy crafting this morning!

Lately, I have been really into the website pinterest.

Since I have been busy 'pinning' (which is saving ideas found online to a virtual 'board') all of these fun craft ideas, I have been itching to try some of them out!

Here is what we came up with this morning...

These are just washed tin cans that I have saved the past couple of weeks...we are going to put them on a shelf that is always cluttered with these items in our mud room.


and seriously, how can you not love these?

As a photo junkie, and a person who has collected a TON of picture frames over the years that are mostly collecting dust in the basement, this was a perfect idea!

Spray on a little colorful paint on the frame, coat the inside with chalkboard paint and voila, a super easy, useful way to re-use old things!

Day 123

Meet the newest adorable additions to our farm family.

They made their blog debut last week, look how much they have grown!



..and just in case you are wondering, there are still 4 kitties. I just really like this shot and not any of the others where all of them were in it!

Day 122

I love spring.

...because

when you stop and look around,

this life is pretty amazing.

Day 121

Mmmm...

Brace yourself, this is going to be doozy of a blog post!

So, I made cowboy caviar the other day for a party I was hosting at my house and since it didn't last very long, I decided to make it again.

Step by step.

So you can become addicted to it too!

Just like I am.

I could devour this stuff without chips (it is made to be a dip)...it is just that good!

To start with, you are going to need the following ingredients..


corn, black beans, black eyed peas, diced tomatoes, a lovely green pepper, a green chile pepper, some fresh cilantro, Italian dressing, garlic powder, and my personal fave, a purple onion..(if for no other reason than I love the color pop it adds!).

I added corn to the mix first tonight because I wanted the little frozen kernels to thaw out before I tasted it!


See what I mean? Isn't this pretty?


I can taste it already :)


I like the onions diced up nice and tiny.


Next up on the chopping block is the little green chile pepper to add some zing!


This beauty has been in the fridge for about a week, so it is looking a little 'sick'.


I chop the pepper until it is itty bitty.


I rinse these until the water runs clear so they don't turn my pretty caviar all black.


Pour in some black eyed peas...


and tomatoes..(I used the petite diced ones in case you are wondering)


Time to mix all the beautiful colors together...I love this part!


Chop up some cilantro,


Last, but not least, you'll need to add some Italian dressing.
Since I am not the type of gal who likes to measure things out precisely, I eyeballed it and went for taste...I think it is around a cup in case you like to use measurements!


and there you have it, a tasty, summery salsa that is easy to make and fun to bring to family gatherings!


And for those of you who read and love the pioneer woman (like I do), I know that this post is just like her food posts..I couldn't help it. I wanted to try one all for myself and wow, it was f.u.n.!

Day 120

While brushing our teeth the other morning, I realized that Tanner is almost to my shoulder.

He is growing like a weed, which is really nothing new for us.

When he was a baby, I used to be shocked by his fast growth rate. He was always off the charts, not at the tip top, but off!

For that reason, I am cherishing moments like this...



I can literally see his childhood slipping away from me!

That is why I am so thankful that he still loves activities like 'Western Day' in school!

Day 119

I didn't grow up on a farm.

When I think back to my childhood, it makes me smile.

I was definitely {blessed} with the happy, loving family I was born into.

I think my kids, however, have a leg up on me....

They are extremely fortunate to be growing up on a farm!

Everyday feels like a new adventure when I am viewing it through their eyes.

On top of the new kittens and calves they have grown to love, they were able to meet some new baby chicks.

Madi wanted to know when we could get our own.

I have a feeling it might look like Old McDonalds Farm around her in a couple of years!

Day 118

The end of the school year is nearly here.

Tanner had his very first track and field day at school and it was such a joy to watch him!

I can't believe how grown up he has become!

Great job Tanner, I am so proud of you!

(He is standing beside me as I write this blog post, reading every last word that I am typing and laughing...I LOVE it!)

Day 117

I was all set and working on a blog post about dishes when plans changed.

I know, you're bummed out aren't you?!

Of course you would love to read about dishes...I mean, come on, who wouldn't!?

Ahh, I know, not too exciting!

I was struggling with creativity today and couldn't come up with much better.

That is, until my father in law pulled into our driveway with a HUGE suprise!



Aren't they adorable?

We were pretty worried about them though because they wouldn't drink out of a dish and the mama cat was no where in sight.

Luckily we went out in search of her and found her!



Growing up on a farm has some serious perks.. Madi and Ty couldn't have had a better day!