The 'Hunter's' Wife

This week is gun season for the deer hunters.

My husband is a deer hunter. I will leave it at that.

I asked him if he realized that the text he sent me this week, and then this photo, while he was hunting, was giving me blog material. He wasn't thrilled because he thought I would rip on him for his lack of *ahem*, deer caught! (Note: I realize the proper term is 'killed', not 'caught', but I like the word 'caught' better! And it drives him nuts)

Anyways, on Monday, while he was hiding in a bush somewhere, I text him a 'well check'. This means I want a response to know if he is alive. You know those hunters - no matter if you are in a blinding orange vest, this is why my horses have to stay inside all week. So, this was the preceeding conversation we had via text:

Allen: Seen big 8 150yrd

Me: Well get it!!!

Allen: Well it went in the pines

Me: Story of your life

So then, a few hours later, I sent another 'well check' text and received the above photo in response.

The sad part of all this is when I get a text such as Seen big 8 150yrd and I KNOW what that means! And I have committed to cooking with the venison if he brings any home - now that's a wife, right!

Happy [Belated] Anniversary

to my Magical Unicorn, Apollo :)

It has been 6 years since I adopted Apollo - 6 years!

My gosh does time fly!

6 years, 3 more horses, a farm & a baby ... to be exact.

But Apollo, I love you just the same! I love you more! And I am so glad you have been here with me through all of it. I couldn't ask for a better mane to bury my thoughts and dreams into.

Here are some of my favorite pictures from the 'early years'!

And to be exact, I think our Anniversary was 11/22 - but cut me some slack.





 

This photo was taken just a few days before I made the final decision to adopt Apollo. Clearly he was still being on his best behavior!

 This photo was taken days after I offically adopted Apollo - I was already tourturing him trying to make him wear a santa hat!

 This was always a favorite of mine...he looks like a magical unicorn, no? :) The sun was setting and I was sitting in the pasture watching the horses graze.

 Taken in the Fall of 2006 - always a favorite of mine

Taken right after his teeth were floated. He was still drugged up and he looked pathetic!

 When a pink bow is tied to Apollo's hair, it has my friend Y's name written all over it! She tied pink ribbons and bows all in his mane and tail and then called me and told me he was acting funny. So I rushed to the barn and this is what I found!

Typical Apollo - out in the rain, the somehow managed to get mud just on the top side of himself!

Love you Apollo - here is to 'many' more!



Making the Most of

...the last nice days!



The horses made sure to make the most out of what was probably the last nice days of 2012 -- weather-wise, that is -- over the weekend!



'Tis the Season

Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall. 

~Larry Wilde, The Merry Book of Christmas

The Annual Tree Hunt

Yesterday was our annual tree hunt. It is tradition every year to go the day after Thanksgiving. Seeing as it was in the 60's, it felt a little odd, but none the less. And it was the babe's very first!!

Buying a real Christmas tree can be a hefty cost when you are on a tight budget :) And we just so happened to discover a place 15 minutes from our house this year that was selling all their trees, u-cut, for $20 -- any tree, any size. How could we pass that up.



Of course, it was a no frills kind of visit! No horse drawn wagon to take us out in the fields!



And no sled to drag the tree back with :)

Ha! Sorry, these pictures make me laugh!

But that is ok. Things like this are what make traditions all the more fun - you never know what will happen. We had the whole tree farm all to ourselves and there was a cute old lady at the house who took our $20 and watched us tie it onto the roof of the car.

Now today, I decorate!

Stuffed Squash Turkey Leftovers

Are you filled from turkey and stuffing and potato's and cranberry sauce.....

Do you still have half a turkey sitting in your fridge? Is your stomach turning at the thought of having to eat one more morsel of it?

I am not one particularly fond of poultry leftovers. It tastes funky to me most of the time. But, I was determined to make use of our leftover turkey...and stuffing...and you get the idea.

Anyways, I came up with a fabulous idea. I'll use some turkey and stuffing and stuff the butternut squash sitting on my counter with it. And it turned out great. Sorry, no photo - but trust me on this one.

Leftover Turkey & Stuffing Stuffed Squash
*amounts of ingredients will vary depending on how large your squash are. Eyeball it.

Leftover Turkey, diced
Leftover stuffing, chopped finely
Cheese of your choice, I used Parmesan
Some Cream
2 Butternut Squash
------
Halve your squash, scoop out the insides and then try to dice out enough of the neck to have room for more of your stuffing. Save the diced out pieces, chop them finely and throw them into a bowl with your diced turkey, stuffing and cheese. Mix it all together and add in some cream to make it a tad moist.

Coat your squash on the inside with a light layer of olive oil, then stuff with your 'stuffing' mixture. Place them open side face down in a casserole dish, or I used a cast iron skillet large enough to accommodate all 4 pieces.

Have your oven preheated to 400* F and bake for 45 minutes to an hour (depending on size of your squash). Once you can pierce through the skin of your squash, they are done.

Scoop out of the pan or dish with a spatula long enough to get underneath a good portion of squash, flip to have stuff side exposed. It should be nicely browned. Serve. Enjoy. It's delicious. And the squash still intact and now be scoop out with your fork when you dig in for the stuffing mix.

And can I tell you one more thing. I had one stuffed squash left over so I scooped it out and threw it in the fridge and ate it the next day, cold, on leftover rolls for lunch. Seriously still delicious!

The options with this recipe are endless - have fun with it and let me know how you stuff yours!
And the more I think about it, a round squash, like acorn squash, might be a heck of a lot easier to do this with, but butternut is what I had on hand!

This post was shared over at The Healthy Home Economist

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

This year, I have so much to be thankful for. It would be silly of me to try and even list it all out, but most importantly, this year, I am so thankful for meeting my son! Truly, it is weird to think I was ever without him!

One thing that did strike a chord with me only just a few weeks ago...

One of my sisters and I were at business lunch with a figure in our community. We were chit-chatting in general about things in life and the lady we were lunching with said "So it sounds like you two are part of a very close-knit family" and we both responded with a 'yes'. My sister then added that we are very close, but all so very different. And she couldn't be more right. But that is what makes it so great. We can be our own person, and still be accepted. And for that, I am ever grateful.