Cowboy Up!

We had a fun time out at the ranch today.  After having a lively breakfast, horseback riding was the scheduled event.  The star of course was Rowan!

Our favorite little nephew dude dragged his parents and his Grandma up to visit Aunty Julie, Uncle Mike and Papa Bill.  He was sporting his brand new cowboy boots and told them he just had to go on the long drive to see us.  We weren't fooled though, he really came to see the horses, the chickens and Adolph the dog!  We're all aware of our place in line :)  I think the tractor we call "Greenie" has also moved ahead of us..

Rowan was all dressed up for the occasion

-Uncle Mike, not so much

Rowan on Hailey, Uncle Mike on Ace

"Tickle, tickle Hailey!"

Rowan showing Papa Bill how to drive "Greenie"

He's a natural farmer!

It was a fun way to spend a sunny morning with loved ones who don't live close enough to see as much as we'd like.  We're already looking forward to Ro's next foray into cowboying.  Look out Hailey!

Recipe - Basil Beer Bread

While I do grow most of my basil from seed, I sometimes can't help myself and MUST buy a beautiful plant when I see it.  I recently snagged two gorgeous basil plants while out shopping.  I was pleasantly surprised when one of them had the following recipe included on the plant marker.  Because I had all of the ingredients on hand and just reading the recipe made my mouth water, I tried it.  And I loved it....So here it is...

Basil Beer Bread

3 cups self-rising flour
3 tbsp granulated sugar
12 oz warm beer
1/2 cup chopped basil

In large bowl, mix all ingredients together.  Pour mixture into a well-greased loaf pan or dish.  Put loaf pan into an unheated oven.  Turn the oven on and set at 350 degrees.  Bake for 50 minutes or until lightly browned on top.  Remove from pan and place on a wire rack to cool. 

***I think I would leave it in the oven for a few minutes longer and just keep a close eye on it.  This first loaf didn't get quite as brown as I would have liked.

The basil smell alone was enough to get the hubby wandering into the kitchen to find out what I was up to.  I  sliced it up while still warm and used some of this overly delicious herbal butter that I had made up the day before.  I followed the recipe I found at my idol Nancy aka The Lemon Verbena Lady's blog.  (Be sure to visit her site for great recipes and herbal wisdom.)

It was a huge success as we skipped dessert and opted for another piece of bread instead.  Needless to say, this will be a recipe that we'll use quite a bit in the coming months.  Many thanks to the lovely Nancy for the awesome herb butter recipe :)

Dawg Days

The little tyrant tells him off and then attacks

(Cailen and Pippi)

  

The old man ignores them all

(Muttley)

Bottoms up!  Vole hunting..

(Chandler, Cailen & Pippi)

How can you stay mad at this face?

(Pippi)

Mama's big baby boy

(Chandler)

Chandy has the toy and is ready for take-off!

Spring is Sprung

You know you've been a neglectful blogger when the hubby of all people, asks why you haven't posted anything in several weeks!  I didn't even realize that he'd been paying any attention to "my little blog" as he calls it :)  So I have a couple photos for you today..


Our first flowers of the year


Needless to say, I've been spending a lot of time outside this week.  After weeks upon weeks of storms, we're finally seeing some sunshine.  This has been our wettest winter since 1997 ~ we've been having extreme flooding and our ground is completely saturated.  Since we usually live in a state of near panic due to drought conditions and the threat of wells going dry, it really is nice to see an overabundance of water.  It would just be nice if it could rain a few days and then be sunny; then rain a day or two and be sunny.....  We had ten days straight with rain at some point so we're a little soggy.


Super high grass and weeds

Poor Mr. MoonCat is asking if I won't reconsider adding a couple of goats to our menagerie for weed control.  We may have to get the mower deck for the tractor for the front and back yard as the grass and weeds have been growing several inches a day.  The ground is super wet so we can't get the lawn mower in there yet and the lovely sunshine is just making everything GROW!


Our gorgeous Weeping Willow

The photo below is actually a blossom from a weed.  I loved the shading and pattern on the bud.

Weed flower bud

And finally, we already have a rose (or possibly, still have a rose?)



Rose in bloom

More to come...

Woman Eaten by Chickens or Stuff n Such

So, as usual I've been a flake.  I guess my only excuse for not posting is that I didn't really feel like I had anything to say.  I figured I'd better give a brief update on what's been going on around these parts or you'd think the chickens truly had eaten me.  Bad birds.

Mr. MoonCat has been working six days a week, keeping very busy.  I've been working on my new business which is in the infant stages.  I'm excited about getting it off the ground and I'll have more on that at a later date.  The garden is starting to see some activity.

The hubby's uncle passed away a few weeks ago after a very long battle with cancer.  We've spent a day up in Sacramento for the last two weekends helping his parents clean out the house to get it ready for sale. While it was a sad reason for us to all be together, we really enjoyed visiting with his parents.  Hubby's best friend/brother from another mother Chris went with us this last weekend to help us move all of the furniture.  We were grateful for the help as there was a lot of heavy lifting involved.

Most of the critters are doing well.  The dogs and cats are happy that Spring is pretty much here.  The chickens are keeping us snowed under with eggs and attitude.  We have a great bartering deal going on with my "other parents" - my best friend Becky's folks.  They keep kitchen scraps saved up and I weigh them down with eggs.  Everyone's happy!  Especially the chooks - it is hysterical to watch them dig through the goodies.  They recognize the large plastic ice cream tubs that the scraps are saved in.  When I walk out carrying one of those it is a large squawking herd of mini-monsters meeting me at the gate.  (Remember the Velociraptor Chickens?) They get quite rude and scary!

All is not great though as we do have some cause for concern.  Wedgie's leg isn't healing like we had hoped.  Since I posted about his injury we've had him x-rayed and found that he had actually fractured his leg.  The vet seems to think it will heal just fine in time, but it's sure making us worry.  He has to stay in the small box stall and not move around too much.  Poor little guy isn't taking confinement well, he is horribly bored. It's really hard for such a curious and mischievous little dude to deal with forced inactivity.  We try to keep him entertained, but it's a challenge. He is such a good baby though.  He allows us to change his bandages/semi-cast with a minimum of fuss.

That's about it around here at MoonCat Farms and the ranch.  I will try to post some photos in the next few days - truly.  Wedgie really is getting cuter all of the time.  I know he sends his love to all of you who love him from afar, especially his honorary auntie Lemon Verbena Lady :) (Phantom kisses being blown your way)