Wintry Weather

We don't get a lot of truly wintry weather here in south central Texas,

but in the past week we've had two separate ice storms.

I had to watch my step heading out to the car

and I had to use the 4 wheel drive on the way in to work.

We didn't miss any school,

but did get two "late start" days. :-)

I would like to present the following pictures taken during our wintry weather.

I believe they display two chicken "truths" -

#1 Chickens are very hardy animals.

#2 Chickens are not very smart.

This is what happened when Taylor Swift decided to roost "on top" 

of the hen house instead of "inside" the hen house during an ice storm. ;-)

Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop #143

PB & J Muffins

PB and J Muffins

12 servings

1 3/4 cups flour

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup milk

1/4 cup half and half

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/3 cup peanut butter

2 tablespoon butter, softened

grape jelly

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.  

Stir in milk, half and half, egg, and vanilla.  

Stir in peanut butter and butter.  

Fill each muffin tin 1/2 way with batter.  

Top with 1 teaspoon of jelly.  

Add the rest of the batter to cover jelly.  

Bake at 400° for 20 minutes or until muffins test done.  

Enjoy!  

Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop #143

Ducks Day Out

Over the weekend the ducks learned how to fly out of the 8 foot pen they live in.

I headed outside with my camera to see how they would react.

I was a bit worried that the cats might try to get them.

But, exactly the opposite happened...

Donald charged at Chupa and Chiclet and,

the CATS were scared of the DUCKS!

Chupa went and "hid" under the shed. :-)

And Chiclet sat high up on the lawn mower and didn't take his eyes off the ducks.

Donald and Daffy waddled around.

They tried some new foods.

And did some exploring.

And this, THIS, was hysterical.

Mr. H. started quacking like a duck and Donald tilted his head 

one way and then the other, just like our dogs do.  It was SO funny!

The ducks enjoyed themselves for quite awhile.

And then Daisy came out side!

She started chasing them,

and Donald and Daffy ran 

STRAIGHT

back into their pen.

The ducks day out

was over! :-)

Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop #143

Menu Plan

Supper Menus
January 26th-February 1st

Sunday
sandwich supper after evening worship - taking party sandwiches and tortilla pinwheels

Monday
baked potato soup

Tuesday
chicken and dumplings

Wednesday
texas chili

Thursday
out for supper

Friday
breakfast for supper

Saturday
invited to friend's house for supper - taking ?

Menu Plan

Supper Menus

January 19th-25th

Sunday

out for supper

Monday

supper at the ranch - hotdogs, baked beans, chips, potato salad, s'mores

Tuesday

toscana soup, olive garden salad, garlic breadsticks

Wednesday

out for sandwiches

Thursday

red beans and rice, jalapeño cheese cornbread

Friday

out for supper

Saturday

out for supper

Menu Plan

Supper Menus
January 12th - 18th

Sunday dinner

fellowship luncheon after worship

taking - pot roast, macaroni and cheese, chocolate chip cookies

Monday

spicy romano chicken, caesar salad, garlic breadsticks

Tuesday

kung pao chicken, spicy green beans, rice

Wednesday

mexican pizza, guacamole, tortilla chips

Thursday

leftovers

Friday

out for supper

Saturday

out of town

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY

 ~January 7, 2014~

Outside my window…it is dark.  The animals have been fed, the heat lamps are on, and all is quiet.

Praising God…for the life of a sweet child at my school and the courage and calmness a co-worker displayed today in a time of panic.

In prayer for…the family of a dear friend of mine that passed away last month.

I am thinking…about spring!

I am thankful…for each new day.

In the kitchen…I'm making wintertime comfort food.

I am wearing…my flannel owl pjs.

I am creating…knit boot cuffs that are suddenly all the rage. :-)

I am going…to bed early tonight.

I am wondering…how many more students I will register tomorrow at work?  This first week back after the break has been very busy.

I am reading…not much right now.  Not a lot of extra time. 

I am hoping…to be in bed before nine tonight.  I am tired!

I am looking forward to…the weekend.  Of course. ;-)

I am learning…to persevere when my heart is heavy.

Around the house…it's not as picked up as usual because I tend to be a little on the lazy side when Mr. H. is out of town. 

I am pondering…this new year.

A favorite quote for today…"Everyone smiles in the same language."  I want to get this printed for my office at work.  I often register foreign students and I try to remember that even if they don't understand me, they will understand a smile. :-)

One of my favorite things…is life!  Everyday, no matter good or bad, is a blessing. 

A few plans for the rest of the week…are to pick up the house ;-) and make it till Friday!

A peek into my day…the view from my computer desk.

This was my Christmas present this year. 

The "unique" people that built this house 

put in a fireplace...

without a chimney.  

 Yep.

So we couldn't burn real logs...without a chimney,

and when we used the ceramic logs that were in the fireplace

with our propane (no natural gas line out here) 

it would make us sick within 10 minutes... 

without a chimney.

So, Mr. H. got me this electric fireplace insert.

Now don't judge! ;-)

It's warm.  It's pretty.  You turn it on with remote control for pete's sake! Ha!

And I have LOVED it!

Hey, you do what ya gotta do. :-)

You can read other day books here.

Menu Plan

Supper Menus

January 5th-11th

Sunday dinner

meatballs, mashed potatoes, green beans, macaroni and cheese, dinner rolls

Monday

baked potato soup, biscuits

Tuesday

chicken and dumplings

Wednesday

lasagna, ceasar salad, garlic breadsticks

Thursday

leftovers

Friday

out for supper

Saturday
leftovers

New Year's Cinnamon Rolls

It's become a sweet tradition of mine to make

The Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Rolls

for  the New Year.

This year we were traveling over New Years, but I made them 

as soon as we were home and all unpacked. ;-)

I  make the dough the night before.

The next morning all I have to do is roll out the dough, fill it, 

and then let the rolls rise by the fire.

The recipe makes six pans,

so I always give a few pans away.

If you've never tried this recipe...

I highly recommend it!

It is probably the Pioneer Woman's

 most famous recipe.

And for good reason. :-)

Happy New Year!

Margaret Mitchell House

The hotel we stayed at while in Georgia was directly across the street from one of Atlanta's historic sites.

The Margaret Mitchell House.

This is where the author lived while she wrote the Pulitzer-Prize winning novel

Gone with the Wind. 

I wasn't able to tour the house during our brief stay in Atlanta,

but since we've been home I have found myself wanting to 

read the book and watch the movie for the umpteenth time.  :-)

in front of the Margaret Mitchell house

January 1, 2014 

midtown Atlanta, Georgia