Christmas Gift Exchange- Join in!

This years Country Christmas gift exchange is called " The Country Christmas Connection" to sign up visit, Guernsey Dairy Mama's blog. 

 I encourage you to sign up. I have participated in the past in the Christmas in the Country, hosted by Jamie Rhoades (This Uncharted Rhoade), Laurie Link (COUNTRY LINKed), Those ladies are taking a break, not to let us down 2 other great bloggers are coordinating. Jenny from The Magic Farmhouse and Darleen from Guernsey Dairy Mama

Check out past year's post 2015 and 2014  post to get a small idea of what fun gifts you might receive. 

National Taco Day- Share with me

 I have quite a few I really like but one that I tried that a fellow blogger posted about was a hit:
Baked Tacos- Crystal Cattle

What is your favorite?

Haying in the Hay Capital

Its a busy time in Kansas, the county fairs are winding down and we are getting geared up for the State Fair! AND its Haying Season, brome, alfalfa, prairie and more.

What better way to see a glimpse of haying than that which is taking place in "The Hay Capital of the World!" Yes, that is a place and no its not a made up title. Learn a little more about The Hay Capital from my previous blog post here.

To learn more about native/prairie hay and its nutritional value, check out this handy publication from University of Missouri Extension. While the publication can be a little technical at times it is great at describing how to make great hay!

Mowing the last 80 acres of the year. Hay shown in this video is Prairie.

Thrifty Thursday: Dresser Organization

Having a full time "town/real job" I don't get to do the things I love as much. Last night I decided I was going to take a little "me time" and check off a project from my list. I had been wanting to paint the dresser that had been in my bedroom for a year or so and finally did it!

 

While I was at it I decided my jewelry and other "stuff" on my dresser needed some organization. Long OVER DUE!




I have been using the coffee mug tree for necklaces for years. But still had other items that needed captured.  I went to my garage in my stack of "stuff I will use sometime"


DISCLOSURE: Usually it doesn't look so "put together" and  this time next week I bet it won't look this organized. 

The solid wooden walnut stand is perfect for perfumes and body sprays. The vintage relish tray works for pendants, rings, and pins. 


This was all done in an evening and cost about $1.35! I guessed on the amount for the stand and tray ( $0.25 is too much, but guess that covers the cost of my purple paint) These were in a box I bought at an auction for $1...yep, you heard me right. A whole box for $1 !!!

While I enjoy having a unique look and not having the same thing as everyone else, I hope I have given you some new ideas.

What is your favorite way to organize jewelry? Do you have any unique items you repurposed?

Last Minute 4th of July Craft Ideas

It's looking like it might be a rainy 4th of July in our area.....So an indoor craft/activity might be needed . These 2 ideas are perfect for kids of any age and to make it better, you probably have the supplies on hand!

1. Toilet Paper Roll Fireworks

    Supplies: TP/Paper Towel Rolls, paint, scissors, paper, paper plate, glitter (optional) For a complete tutorial visit Happiness is Homemade

2. Q-Tip Fireworks 

Supplies: Q-Tips, paint, scissors, paper,paper plate, glitter (optional) For a complete tutorial visit Crafty Morning

National Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day!

July 1st is National Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day!

If you follow this blog much, you know that I love "creative" ice cream flavors. With summer being in full swing I want to get my ice cream maker out and get to trying some new flavors. 

Here are a few that I have shared on this blog in the past

The most "creative" which also happens to be my grandma's favorite is Avocado Ice Cream

Buttered Popcorn Ice Cream 

Coffee Ice Cream

With this weekend being a 3 day weekend and holiday, I am hoping to try out some new homemade ice cream recipes.

What are your favorite homemade ice cream flavors?

Not Your Battle

Travel Tuesday: Nickletown, KS

If you know me at all, you know I have a passion for all things Kansas and Rural. I especially, love history and travel. The other day while hauling cattle to grass, CP took me to Nickeltown, he had told me about this town for years, but never had we,  "made the trip"

This is the only remaining building in Nickletown, The Nickeltown School.

When you google Nickeltown, KS the search comes back with usually two topics:  Nickeltown School or Nickeltown Cemetery.

Nickeltown is in Woodson County, KS. Through a little research I found this fun article called Every Man To Get Office in an old newspaper called the Stanstead Journal.

History Lesson:

The locals say that the school was the building that had a phone so if people broke down or needed something they would make their way to this building to make a call. Also, the oil industy and dericks around it are called, "The Nickeltown Development."

County: Woodson

Population: 0

Location:  Northwest Woodson Co, West of Hwy 75. Geographical Coordinates: 37.9964184,-95.8483214

Small exerpt from Chanute Daily Tribune January 21, 1915

A story in the K. C. Star of recent date recalled , old memories in Woodson county. The Star said: "The glory of Nickletown, Kas., is now like the glory that was Rome's gone. Time . was when Nickletown aspired to be the county seat pi Woodson county and 'to be rated .among the flourishing country towns of Kansas. But those aspirations, along with nearly all of Nickletown's population, have departed. Nickletown, however, refuses to relinquish its identity as a real town. It: is going to .hold a town election next spring and elect regular officers. There is one cheerful feature in it for the male residents of Nickletown all of them will get offices. There are now only four families left in the town. T. Q. Allen, Frank Willis, George Cowles and Oscar Mulsow are the men flow remaining. Cowles is at present police judge. He says that office suits him and he wants to keep it. The other three have agreed to let him have his little whim gratified. So the trio all plan to run for mayor and the two losers will constitute the town council. It's up to the women to cast the deciding vote as all three men say they will vote for themselves. Jt is considered likely that the man who treats his wife best in the time between now and election will stand the rosiest chance of getting to sign Mayor after his name. Nickletown is in the northeast part of Woodson county." Commenting on this the Neosho Fajls Post says: "It was probably thirty years ago that the. northwest corner of Woodson county was settled by a colon- of Menonites from Russia. As we remember it they had a town by the name of Nikkle- town. They built sod houses and livel in them until they were able to build more substantial ones.

Strawberries & Cream Overnight Oats

One of my favorite Overnight Oatmeal Recipes is Strawberries & Cream! Its easy, quick and oh so yummy!

STRAWBERries & CREAM  

OVERNIGHT OATS

Serves: 1

INGREDIENTS

• ½ cup Vanilla Almond Milk
• ⅓ cup Vanilla Greek Yogurt
• ⅓ cup old fashioned oats
• 1 teaspoon chia seeds
• 3 strawberries, sliced
• 
  

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Combine ingredients in a  jar and refrigerate overnight.

Simple & Delicious

Overnight Oats Simplified 1-2-3

Overnight Oats seem to be the rage right now. I had been pinning recipes but had avoided making them thinking I might not like them and then I would have wasted  all that time, effort, and ingredients

Well good new, I like them and they are EASY to make AND you probably have the ingredients on hand, I did!

Step 1. Locate jars. I used canning jars and recycled sauce jars I had been saving. 

Tip: I have found prepping for a week makes things so much easier

Step 2. Gather ingredients. I had all of these ingredients, but the Chia/Flax Seed mix, which I happened to find on sale for $4/bag

Tip: I created a " Overnight Oats Shelf" This is where I keep all the dry, non-perishable items. Its handy to have it in one place . 







The perishable/refrigerated items are again something you will probably have on hand. 
 While I love real cow's milk, most Overnight Oat recipes call for Almond milk. There are less calories and I like the vanilla flavor :) Most recipes call for yogurt & a milk of some sort 

Step 3: Mix. I usually mix all the dry ingredients for the recipe and then add the wet ingredients the night before. However, you can mix both and they will stay fresh in the fridge for 3-4days. 


I found this handy dandy spatula like tool a year ago and bought it because it was cool and different. Incase you didn't know. I am slightly obsessed with kitchen gadgets. Its the handiest thing for mixing in the jars. Its my Overnight Oats Tool!

You can find this tool at Chefn.com (man I wish this were a give away post) Beware, they have some cool kitchen gadgets. I am not responsible if you spend $$$$ 

As far as Recipes, they pretty much follow the 1-2-3 rule as well. There are numerous recipes out there and I will be posting my favorite next Monday for "Menu Monday"

And there you have it, Overnight Oats Simplified, 1-2-3!

Travel Tuesday: Castle Rock Badlands

I love Kansas, and fun and unique destination and am constantly trying to visit unique Kansas locations, I have the books, Kansas Curiosities, The Kansas Guidebook, and 8 Wonders of Kansas Guidebook. While coming back from the Stock Show in Denver last month we decided to take a little detour south of Quinter, Kansas to see the Castle Rocks. 


These are large limestone pillar landmarks in Gove County, in the Smoky Hills region of Kansas.
 Even before we arrived at the official Castle Rocks, you started to notice the unique rock formations in pastures. 

We drove about  11 miles south of I-70, and followed the signs. 

This was the "entrance" sign

The site has been designated as a National Natural Landmark, yet is on private range land. It takes you back in time, can you imagine riding a horse and come upon this formation? As you can see there is a simple path (on the left side of this picture). Its rather rough and some of the ruts are pretty deep. Being in a pick up was a plus. 

Taken from atop the major hill

A little history: Castle Rock has been used as a landmark for several hundred years. In the 1800s, the Butterfield Overland Dispatch followed the Smoky Hill Trail which passed just a few hundred yards north of the then larger chalk formation.

Ruts from the Butterfield Overland Dispatch trail can be found a few hundred yards north of Castle Rock. The Rock was named by Lt. Julian Fitch in June, 1865 while he was surveying the trail for David Overland's company. (courtesy of Kansastravel.org)

There are a few different paths to take, it was a cold and windy day so we did our sightseeing from the seat of the pick up. I hope to go back when its nice and be able to get up close and see the sites from angles you can only get from being up close and personal. 

 
This is cattle country, I couldn't resist taking a pictures of this fence that goes right along with the terrain. 

The last formation on our way out. 

Agriculture & Sports: A great combination

I grew up playing sports, and then when I “got old” I started coaching.  I come from an athletic family. 

My great grandpa played on the first baseball team in Manhattan. My dad as an athlete at the University of Nebraska, his dad boxed in the Navy. The list can go on and on.  All of my family appreciates the life lessons sports teach. 

While I grew up in an athletic family I also grew up in one that is deeply rooted in agriculture.  This might be why I value and get kinda excited when sports meet agriculture! 

These two articles are circulating around. 

1. These 7 Professional Athletes are Also Farmers

2. NFL Owner Stan Kroenke Buys Texas Mega-Ranch Listed for $725 Million

I am excited to read about athletes that get their workout in the barn stacking hay or those that value working with their hands in the soil. 

Then I read the article about the Waggoner Ranch selling.  I was a little…what’s the word? hesitant, nervous, apprehensive, or maybe skeptical.  I am not really sure what to say. So, let’s be positive and go for “hopeful” When I read about NFL Owner Stan Kroenke buying the Waggoner Ranch. The Waggoner Ranch has been run by the same family for over 100 years. Let's hope the new owner is a good steward of the ranch and its employees. I hope he sees this place for what it truly is.... one of the truly great western ranches of history. I hope it stays under one fence. Hopefully for the history, heritage, and employees and families of the ranch he keeps it operating as is.

Because when agriculture and sports come together it can be great!

Sore Throat Soother Tea

This winter in Kansas has been a little strange, its 32 degrees and snowing one day and the next its sunny at 60.  With changes like this people tend to get a cold and I couldn't avoid it any longer!

Just this past year I started selling DoTerra Essential Oils and I have been trying to incorporate them more into my life. I am not going all out on this Essential Oil kick, and have no plans to make this a home remedy blog, but I am getting a little more brave about sharing Essential Oils. So here goes the first post :)

Like I said I couldn't fight off the cold that people "everywhere" seem to be getting, but this "tea" seemed to ease the throat discomfort. 

Happy 155th Birthday!

Today is my home state's birthday.... Kansas turns 155! It also happens to be one of my best friends birthday, yet she isn't nearly as old as t155, more like 1/5th as old. Its great having both of those on the same day, if I remember one I usually remember the other!

 This day is the anniversary of the 1861 admission of Kansas into the Union. It was first celebrated in 1877 in Paola, KS. I am sure those students had no clue what they started and where Kansas Day celebrations would go. Today many schools celebrate by taking tours, having guest speakers or making special crafts.  The name Kansas originates from the Kansa or Kaw tribe. Living in the Flint Hills is a little more special since this is the main territory of the Kaw Tribe. Their history is still celebrated yearly in towns such as Council Grove, who hosts Washunga Days.  Our local chamber is having a Kansas Day celebration, so I am going to wrap up this post, and head on over. 

Eat some sunflower seeds and celebrate!

Christmas in the Country 2015- Gift Reveal

I have been in a rut, a "no motivation to blog rut."  I use my few minutes of writing inspiration for work, speaking of work that takes up 90% of my life. When you aren't married or have kids people assume you can spend your "free time" devoted to work. This explains my absence. When I signed up for Christmas in the Country 2015, I hoped this would help me renew my enthusiasm for blogging, I promised the hosts for CITC that I would be back into blogging and the reveal is just what I needed to get me up and going. With this being said, it doesn't mean I will have a new post every day or even every week, but I will have it once a month and hopefully more than that.

My gift came from Stacy, who blogs at The Backroad Life. I am pretty proud of her for being able to pick out such fitting gifts, since I didn't put many helpful hints in my "likes" list when I signed up for CITC. Then when  she went to my blog to research about me she didn't have much to go on for the last few months. BUT....she did great!

Her wrapping skills ..........

Simple, country, and adorable

She included homemade caramels ( she posted her recipe on her blog, so go check it out!)

The main clue or hint on the "likes" list was that I love local, handmade, personal items. I was excited to see that Stacy made some of my gifts. You can check out her shop Sew.Stitch.Create on Etsy.
Look at this fun little pennant garland:

The weather is finally getting cold enough for me to wear the flannel infinity scarf she sewed.

In my limited list, I did put that I loved coffee, so she included a candle that smells AMAZIN= Coffee meets cream brulee.

Didn't I mention she has skills when it comes to packaging and presentation?!

Finally, a rustic picture frame. How did she know I am on a picture frame kick?? My mom absolutely loves the Red Shed brand so she was a little jealous.

My gift was sent to Laurie Link who just happens to be one of the hosts for CITC. I am going to admit, I was a little nervous picking out her gift. I wanted it to be "perfect" I mean, she has a lot of followers and is one of the hosts, so you know everyone will see what I gave her. You can check out her blog Country LINKed.

Thank you to the bloggers who coordinated this year :Jamie from This Uncharted Rhoade, Laurie from COUNTRY LINKed, and Kirby from 15009 Farmhouse, Lara from My Other More Exciting Self