Dirt, dirt and dirt!!

Is there anything.....

...more fun to play with....

...than dirt?

I even like that filthy face!

Blog Break!

Whoo...I'm exhausted folks! This summer has already worn me ragged but the past few days have just about knocked me over! I've been working on Vacation Bible School and Playgroup stuff. I spent today filling our freezer with 1/2 beef and 1/2 hog after a 2 hour trip to go get it. The 4th of July weekend was busy with traveling and we are entertaining Indiana family this week too. I'm too tired to fold laundry much less to blog. I have plenty of things I could blog about but my fingers ArEn"T cOoPeRatIng!
Not to brag, but I've had a pretty consistent blogging history in the last year so I think I can a break without any harm to this little ol' blog of mine. So if you don't hear from me in the next few days have no fear, I'm just recuperating and recharging! I'll have plenty of things to talk at you about soon :)

Guess the Grain Game Answers Revealed!!

If you missed it, check out my Agricultural Product Guessing Game I posted here yesterday before you read the rest of this post.

And now, the answers revealed... (drumroll)...

I know, you are sitting on the edge of your seats in wild anticipation.

#1 The Mystery Grain is....

.....Canola!

 

That's right! I don't know how they are harvested or processed but somehow those little seeds are squeezed until you have a nice bottle of oil sitting in your kitchen cabinet and we have some growing right here in SW Kansas!

And how about #2 - Mystery Mulch??

None other than.....

....Cottonseed Hulls! Everyone has some cotton in their house right?

Thanks for playing along!

Guess the Grain Game!!

Welcome to Prairie Mother's Kansas Agricultural Guessing Game.

We've found two agricultural products out here in Southwest Kansas that I've never seen before. Let's see if you can guess what they are!

#1 - The Mystery Grain.

These pods are about 1 1/2" long and dried out.

DR just brought them straight from the field to me this week.

The seeds inside (small little buggers) are what are harvested and processed.

More than likely you have a bi product of this grain in your kitchen right now.

Give me your best guesses on the mystery grain!

#2 - The Mystery Mulch

DR came home with 4 bags of this...this...stuff to mulch our garden with. It's very light weight.

Need a closer look?

So far this has done really well at holding in the moisture; my tomatoes have really perked up after mulching them with this stuff. I know that everyone has some of this stuff in their house as we speak.

So, leave me your best guess in the comments below! The winner receives.....well, they receive the bragging rights of having a lot more agricultural knowledge than most people! I'll reveal these mystery products on tomorrow's post. Good luck!

Sunday Devotions - Desiderata

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness! Matthew 25:21

Are you familiar with the Desiderata? I came across this poem when I was in college. Although it's not biblical in nature, I've always felt it always had some wonderful messages without any wasted words. With all the conflict in the world I've always felt everyone should have the opportunity to meditate on the messages the Desiderata has to share.



Desiderata 

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrenderbe on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly;and listen to others,even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.


Avoid loud and aggressive persons,they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter;for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.


Keep interested in your own career, however humble;it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.


Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.


Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.


You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
 Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Dear Heavenly Father, Bless us all today. Help us to find our own happiness. We are a child of the universe, and although we may not understand, the world IS unfolding the way it should. Help us to understand, and if not understand, then help us to accept it. Amen.

Before the Storm

We had a storm start running through about 9 pm the other night. There was a lot of lightning activity way ahead of any rain. So I grabbed my camera and went out to play with it and see what interesting shots I could get. These pictures aren't good. I don't have a tripod and since I was using a 1 second exposure they are kind of blurry but still...I liked the results.

This one is my favorite.

I stayed out long enough that I got quite a few shots of one scene and with and without lightning. Those storm clouds are just beautiful aren't they? I was even happier with the 45 minute rain it brought later.

Foody Friday - Fake Apple Cobbler (or Vinegar Cobbler)

Along with the Coffee Steak, this was another recipe I found from the Chuck Wagon Gathering that I was excited to try.

This Vinegar Cobbler has no fruit in it but DR tried some and could have swore there were apples in it.

First you mix up some dough and cut it into one inchish squares.

Then you bring to a boil a mixture of sugar, water and apple cider vinegar and add the pieces of dough.

You let that cook until it's thickened....

....add some more dough on top, then bake.

Golden and bubbly.

As I was making this cobbler I really wasn't too confident that it would be very good. But it really does taste just like apple cobbler and unless you knew what was in it, you would think you were eating chunks of apples.

Vinegar Cobbler

Pie Dough:

3 c flour

1/4 c. sugar

1 t. salt

1 c. shortening

1/2 ice water

Liquid:

1/4 c. apple cider vinegar

2 c. water

1 c. sugar

Blend dry ingredients; cut shortening to rice grain size3. Continue to cut in and slowly pour in water until rough ball is formed (may not use all water). Let dough ball rest in very cool place for 20 minutes.

While rolling out dough, bring liquid mixture to boil. Separate dough into 3 equal balls. Roll out 2 balls (reserve 1 in cool place) to 1/4 inch thick. Cut into 1 inch squares and slowly add liquid. Boil until liquid thickens, stirring constantly. Pour mixture into 12 inch diameter pan. Roll last dough ball to 1/8" thick and top cobbler. Pierce breathing holes, then bake at 350 until top is golden brown. Let cool and serve.