Sunday, December 28, 2008

What? A snow picnic?


Yes ,we occasionally have had snow picnics here at farm funnies
here is an idea for what would be good to bring to a breakfast picnic
After all the good holiday meals do you need to wake someone up to go with you on your picnic? Here is how

and please include the "little" ones others don't often notice

Job security for hard times, creative fun ways to earn $$$


Farm funnies, yep not only do I love our critters, but I love coaching people to their full potential..

Snow days give me time to not only go on photo shoots for great snow phot's but to "research" new ideas and concepts for you

I want to share a few of those I just discovered anew: These excellent video's are to help you think in new and creative ways to ways to add income to your budget.

Just watch how simple it can be and how these two plucky gals did it...

How to become a successful candy wrapper on a conveyer belt

Learn tecniques for doing commercials, promoting healthy veggimeatavitamins

Why not unleash talents and become famous with your own band.
Learn how by watch ing the band called hot chicken pickers
Don't let language be a barrier for you, learn how to polish your phone skills
no matter what language you speak, by using a simple book , even a child could do this, these two aliens will help you., unlock the keys to any language..
perhaps you are good at multitasking...These gals found a way to exercise,earn money,have fun dancing,entertaining,and fast efficient food prep , they both demonstrate how to crack enough eggs to make an omlet to feed a crowd in just seconds ALL of this at the same time, talk about using your skills and talents to promote you towards success...you go girls...
It's all in how you view things... is your glass half full or half empty
do you whistle while you work ,or are you a sleepy,dopey, grumpy?
Now roll up those sleeves for the new year, head over to my merryheart blog
or even some of the opportunities for health or your own business that I offer to help you with
can't get much better than that...Whatever you do enjoy your life, and have FUN!



Christmas gift returns, easy as pie, just call this #

So you recieved something that didn't fit, you can't use or didn't like.

Not to worry, perhaps these two brave souls will help you. They figured out a way to have
their salad dressing business have a turn around .

you simply had to call this phone number...who know's perhaps it will 'WORK' for returns?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu_2Hadt-s8

Piano playin chickens..sesame style


My chickens have watched this and watched this and they still aren't this good
If memory serves me correctly , it seems we had a bed like this comfy" one with the Mertz's
you know, those good ol' days when you are young, in love ,no money and backs that can take it.
I'm always on the look out for great recipes and I love to share them with you my dear readers
Today I thought I would share my favorite chef making two favorites of mine.
Chocolate mousse.... yum...
and just in time for our annual snow days donuts and hot chocolate : DONUTS
if you still have snow like we do, perhaps you can make some snow ice cream to use for this next
recipe, wow...ice cream soda's
I hope you enjoy these recipes as much as we do here at farm funnies :-)

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

NOT SO HO HO HO...OH NO , SNOW ! and easy no fail pie crust rescipie





It was just a SIMPLE trip to town with our 4 wheel drive.., That's all...


Change into "town" clothes, smile, yes it will go ... oh no.... vrooooom.......spinnnnn.....sliddddeeee....spewwww.....get stuck,reverse, slidddeeeddd... go into ditch... back into work clothes, grab a shovel,uncover the tractor, get it started , LOOK OUT for the hot wire over the horse gate, lift gates buried in snow to open them, then lift back to close them, close horse gates,reopen them close them , call wife back from her hilarious photo "shoot" , hook suv to tractor, , pull ....only to get the tractor stuck too, tell wife to go away (well not exactly, but I did)

wow ...I got lots of nice snow shots, I also got stuck in the ditch up to my knees when I stepped into a snow bank off of the main road to town , hopefully to be SAFER ? from an oncoming vehicle. Thank goodness I didn't also need the tractor to get out of my snow bank...it was still stuck... Oh I hear it now, oops, photo shoot is over, back to see if I can "help?"

Tractor made it up the hill, and was headed back down ??? I am sludging my way behind yep the snow is over my boot tops, NICE...brrrr........

SUV take 2.... get on your mark get set.......vrooommmmm spinnnnn,sliddddeeee mud, snow and gravel spewing everywhere. AGAIN only worse...our gorgeous snow laden driveway where is it???

Stuck AGAIN...I said it was because of the red survey flag for our new home...after all every time any vehicle reached the FLAG it stopped. dig out SUV again,then drive backwards, hit a tree, hit a buried log alongside the driveway...almost hit gate, well this WAS a fun trip to town,after all....

What about going back up the hill for a video ( I missed the first time, I was so spellbound during the EVENT..)that suggestion came out of my mouth, the same time it dawned on me what a very bad idea it was, but up the hill , went hubby in suv....suv must be related to Thomas the train...I think I can ,I think I can, I know I can...vrooooom......slidddde,spinnn.....vrooooom....snow,gravel flying.....and to the top "she" went. only to get stuck again, shovel if you please ...anyone?

Umm ,,,hubby,,,,I thinketh ...ummm...thou mayest.... shouldest ....letteth... sleeping suv's be. Finally very tired, hubby agreed to try later, WHEW, I was relieved, hubby was beginning to worry me... Good thing this was a "dry" run to town...since we didn't get out of our drive, Snow in our near future? Yep, 4 more inches predicted tonight...I do love snow, but maybe we have enough now, for where we live?

can I bake a cherry pie ,billy boy ,billy boy? yes I can and so I will, I'm still a young thing , and I really left my mother... after all it is Christmas eve tomorrow, we may lose electricity yet, and one of my kids really does enjoy a cherry pie, and of course pumpkin pie for the other "tooths"yum.

Did you know pumpkin is extremely good for dogs indigestion? I often add about 1/4 cup of canned pumpkin to the dogs food ( they do like it better when it is pie form, so I baked the left over filling in a small oven proof bowl to "serve" for a "snack" for the lil pups :-) barky bark...

Easy no fail pie crust recipe : (so easy even a kid can do it)

When I was a young bride, i watched a lot of cooking shows for ideas to become a better cook...this recipe has become a standby, prepared it has "gone" to school pie sales,church bake sales ,pie socials and potlucks,family gatherings,and potlucks,to homes in pain or struggles. May it serve you well too.

for a two crust pie, 2 1 crust pies or for baked shells.(can double or triple recipe)

2 cups of flour cut in 1 cup of (originally called for shortening) I use butter or lard 1/2 cup of cold water , this will be a shade dough, gather and turn out on a well floured board, knead a few times (about 10) divide in half (divide accordingly if you increased the recipe, if you double it you can easily get 2 two crusts and 1 single crust pies out of the dough

pat out your circle of dough ,flour your rolling pin ( I use a marble rolling pin, it is so much nicer) rolling from middle of the circle outwards, roll out your dough when it is the right size kind of roll onto your rolling pin and lift it to your pan and "roll" onto it, slightly press in pan and crimp the edges if it is for a single crust or to be a baked crust (prick with a fork if it is, and set an empty pie dish inside the dough, set a soup can half full with water in the empty pan)

bake 425 degrees 12-15 min

Gift ideas for next year

WATER:If you are stranded like we have been, and haven't finished your shopping you can still give a wonderful gift, check out the link to Abba Stories where you can find how you can give a gift of water....this one would fit my merryheartblog

Goats,Chickens,Heifer: I've been considering this one myself , it seems appropriate for my farmfunnies blog... http://www.heifer.com/ , I shared this idea with client/great new friend ,since she was stranded too. She went a step farther, each of her kids is getting either chickens or a goat in their Christmas stocking (ok, ok a card with a picture of one), what a great idea Carole :-)

Monday, December 22, 2008

A snow day on the farm

For my grandkids, you are welcome to watch too!

Hey kiddo's here is grandma having fun in the snow with our critters FUN FUN FUN.....









storm survial skills& tips...really this time :-) AND easy fudge recipie

Snow and Storm survival, farm style


The snow is deeper than the tops of your cozy snow boots...
(over your floral longies)




The dogs have cabin fever, and since they can't run off their energy they
enjoy a good snow tackle Roo and Kate Tae kwon do style, every time they are let out.


The desert cayuses look depressed everytime they venture out of the barn
WHERE is the SUN???




The water is frozen until mom or dad break up the ice with a hammer...THANKS MOM!!

Here are some basic survival tips and skills.
Musts: candles,water jugs and all stock water containers FILLED
hoses drained and BLOWN through AND both ends hanging over something
so you can find them if it snows (wow... this much snow and we will have to search
for the hanging ends this time)
a hammer and a strong pole to break ice in tanks
canned food items, (beans and cornbread can give you good nutrition for
quite some time, batteries, flashlights, a battery powered radio,
some type of emergency heating heating . Hand sanitizer
Water filled bathtub(unless you are needing to keep water running a bit to
keep your water pipes from freezing), this will allow you to flush the toilet,
Greatly appreciated if your storm lasts more than a day. (a bag for tissue wipes
to spare the need for flushing, not the most pleasant "idea" but it sure can help during the no water times
sleeping bags, blankets to partition off one area that you LIVE in (towels along bottom of doors)
Conserved (minimal, opening) of your fridge and freezer...
Before it starts to get real cold ( on the farm) I start putting out rat/mouse bait bars
I like to feed them well before they settle in for the winter...
Helpful:
old broom to sweep snow off of boots, clothes ,steps and porch entry way
bucket warmers, stock tank warmers and pet dish warmers,
The pet dishes only take 12o volts and the birds,cats and dogs will love you
plus it will save you lots of work (as long as you have electricity)
Bucket warmers can be found that take 220 volts(or there abouts)
the alpacas, larger birds,(or dogs) of course your horses or cows,goats will love you
again less work for you, we are limited with how much electricity we can use
until we get our replacement home on here, for now we still break ice for the horses.
I intend to check out a water system for the horses and alpacas that if it works as
it says will be great, sorry I can't recall what is is called just now.
A camping porta potty, paper towels, plates,bowls and eating utensils.
A hot water bottle can be a relished item,
gloves,hats ,socks ,snow boots ,insulated underwear
we enjoy our replacement meals ,as they provide nutrition and are convenient.
Granola bars or instant oatmeal's ,soups etc. would work too.
If you are not worried about weight, then make a big pan of cornbread,
and pot of beans . The protein in the two eaten together, combines to make
a nearly complete protein, some canned veggies and you are GOOD...this will warm
fill and nourish you as well as be good for your spirits. Here at farm funnies, I
would use my pot of beans for making a good chili, my group was not fond of
"just beans"
food needs for the four footed or feathered family members :
add some corn oil (up to 1/2 cup) to your horses grain, and 1/3 cup of flax seed (1x a day for each), hopefully, you've slowly built up to this amount, remember any changes to
horses feed must be gradual or you risk colic or founder.
Flax seed for your alpacas, we currently are adding some dry cob (watch for choke)
corn oil and lard (the real stuff,not shortening) I add about 1/2 tsp of lard and 1/4 tsp of
corn oil 1 x per day for each dog or cat, (unless they are overweight)
cracked corn for chickens, smaller fowl, little outside birds ( I have so many little hungry wild birds, I put out crumbled chicken food and suet blocks , bread chunks peanut butter,birdseed too
rolled corn for geese,swans turkeys and peafowl
(corn fed to critters helps keep them warm)
keep extra an bag of each critters food , just in case you can't get to town, canned foods for the
furry ones is enjoyed immensely ( I am sparing with such and use one can to make a
"gravy" with the lard and oil..to add to the dry food (we feed lamb and rice nutra nuggets to dogs we feed dogs .cats and horses 2 x'x per day
we use a kirkland maintenance dry for cats, we have had good healthy results with both
I give crushed or ground baked egg shells and cod liver oil daily to anyone under
a year, then occasional as i think of it to those fully grown.
Tigger our Irish wolfhound/Dane cross lived in excellent health to 17 years old,
an extraordinary accomplishment for such a big dog. We've had cats live
that long too, sadly farm life: coyote/owl/eagle dangers ,as well as a nearby road
isn't the best for longevity for our cats.
Trash bags,
Especially nice, a working generator, camping gear(burners,oven ..yep I even finished cooking a cut up turkey in one , when the power went out one long ago holiday. I believe that was the Thanksgiving we had the door open for a bit, as the stove had been loaded with wood to finish cooking our meal. Just as we were saying grace, Ethel
( one very THANKFUL turkey came onto the porch and gobbled her gratitude and proptly went back to the barn yard..She had never done that before nor ever did it again, we all roared..
I miss my wood stove with the cooking surface.
Now for THAT fast fudge recipe from my dear friend Miss Fess, you know who you are...
she says its the best, now only make this if you can afford the luxury of the extra calories, don't do this for 'comfort" read a good book instead...or go to my upcoming give a heifer post (inspired by Carole, and you know who you are too :-) OR ??
Fast easy FUDGE
1 can of any flavor frosting, warm in microwave,
16 oz of complimentary candy chips ( choc,pb,butterscotch?) melt
nuts if you choose
mix all and spread in a pan or drop by spoonfuls
you can even get fancy...stick these in the fridge to chill then dip in melted chocolate or vanilla chips...use a spoon with melted chips to drizzle stripes over the treat...
sounds yummy, I heard a whole group of teens declared this was the best fudge ever.






CATS RULE : basic survival skills down home on da farm, when snow abounds and the mice are scarce

My name is precious treasure, and that is just what I am
mom says so!

I went in the house for a minute, but those rowdy dogs were
not only hogging space in front of the fire, but they are just, well,
to much for me, where ever did they learn their manners, surely not from mom

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My name is Smokey
I'm sure I am moms favorite, she really loves me a lot
I'm going mouse hunting to thank mom for that great breakfast, but
I can't find any mouse tracks anywhere
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Good Morning Black Jewel,
- Did you know mom loves me best? I got to go in the house this morning, it is really cozy
there, we need a plan to get those dogs OUT and us IN...
hey wasn't breakfast great this morning ?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey Orange Sherbet Fire Chief Joe,

What's up ? did you hear a mouse ? we've been looking everywhere,
It's so quiet out here why nothing is stirring, not even a mouse.
AND we've lost our kitten mittens...meow,meow,meow............
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My name is Roo-die, mom calls me her brave hero "little" ROO,
well I did rescue one of her grandsons , and I was little once.
I saved the kid from drowning
when he accidentally fell into water. The water can get deep around here,
especially when this stuff melts.....and back then little kids could move faster
than mom then, boy not now, look at her go, us dogs can hardly keep up with her
sometimes she wears me out now, but I must admit it is fun going on walks and to
the beach with her now.


HEY .............Katie ............where are you ?
Where are those pesky CATS, the mousehunter "wanna" be's
yeah right, they chow down on moms yummy breakfasts, snuggle down in a warm
stack of hay and just lie around all the time....They think they are so GREAT...
Here kitty kitty, ummm hey guys.......hey anybody.............
What gives? I'm all alone outside in the cold, where did everyone go?
KITTY KITTY, ummmm KATIE KATIE......umm M-O-O-O-MMMMMMMMMMM












Sunday, December 21, 2008

barn raising (gingerbread style)


I just finished a draft on how to construct a gingerbread house for dummies SIMPLIFIED,
when it posted it went back in time..wow, I wish I could go back in time that fast

Hope your gingerbread dreams all come true :-)

Snow,snow let it snow





Snow photo's for Grandkids

Since I have a new computer and I haven't figured out how to send photo's either as an attachment or in an e-mail with the new format (windows vista) I am just posting some photo's for family in this post, you are welcome to enjoy them too.


OK kids, here are some photo's and a couple of video clips of Katie and Roo, rescuing some chunks of ice. .


......................................................................................................................................................................

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Time to make the donuts & Cherry Danish to die for


Yep, it's a snow day here at farmfunnies
That definitely qualifies for homemade donuts..
(scroll to an older post for a yummy donut recipe,
anyone out there want a melt in your mouth Krisp'Krem ' donut recipe?
E-mail and ask me for it. and I will share.
Guess what, I didn't make donuts today!
I have been busy doing some last minute Christmas crafts instead and...
=oh no= looking for those Christmas stockings..
I've been officially told they need to be found...Really I've looked everywhere
I know they are in a good easy to find place, I remember last Christmas putting them where they could be easily found for this year.
Since the snow is piling up and I promised my client Carole,who has become a dear friend
I would share my wonderful Cherry danish recipe with her, I thought I would meander to my farmfunnies blog and would share it with all of you , too! Merry Christmas
Cherry Danish, to die for
I like to make things from scratch
so here is my version:
placed in order in your bread maker
3/4 c 110 degree water
1 tsp salt
1/2 c sug
2 eggs
1/2 c butter (cut in small chunks)
4 c flour (note, be sure your machine can handle this much
if not cut the recipe in half, I have a zojurushi machine that
allows me to make 100% whole wheat (yep I grind it myself) bread
most machines cannot handle a heavy or big load)
2 pkts of yeast
let your machine mix, knead,and rise your dough while you play with the grand kids
or throw a snowball at your husband, or take out some bird food for the little cold birds in
your yard.
This dough is good for dinner rolls, crescent rolls or Ta Da..our danish
(you could do this an easier way if you insist, and purchase 2 tubes of crescent roll dough,but that's cheating :-) )
Butter a 10x15 jelly roll pan ( I use a sheet cake pan)
roll out 1/2 of dough and place in bottom of pan
spread with :
Cheese mixture
Beat 16 oz cream cheese
1/2 c sug
1 egg
2 tsp vanilla
drop Tbsp's of cherry pie filling over cheese mixture ( 2 cans)
carefully spread over cheese mixture
roll out other half of dough and carefully roll onto rolling pin ,lift and roll
over the filling
brush with mixture of 1 egg yolk and 1 tsp of water
bake 30 min 350 degree's
spread glaze over top
1 cup pwd sug,1 tsp vanilla and enough warm water to make a med thick (yet very spreadable)
glaze, let cool
Talk about COOL, my dear hubby just made me a banana creme shake with snow,(about 2 cups of packed snow,dry, less snow if wet..or crushed ice works too..,1/2 to 1 cup of water,and one of our shake pkts)
oh my is it yummy, and it is legal for those of you following the 5&1, if you are in maintenance and like to have a healthy quick snack using one of our meals, add a banana (cut in chunks) mm mm mmm... ,hubby made himself a strawberry one...isn't he sweet, now if he'd used his noodle a tad this eve, he'd made this strawberry,snow loving gal a strawberry one,to be romantic?? WHY??
well ...we met and fell in love working in a strawberry patch over 40 yrs ago :-)
Oh OH Oh talking about snow, I have to share this
I had challenged Carole to a snowball fight, it didn't work out
guess who I heard was throwing snowballs at her Grand kids and even helped
them build a snow fort. Jean, and only 3 months ago she was barely able to walk to her mailbox.. GO JEAN, so proud of this spicy gal, she has lost her weight slower than most people
but she has been been so faithful to continue to do her 5&1 , and now she is reaping the benefits of a better quality of life, hearing this snowball fight story literally made my day.. WOW..
How about you, do you know anyone who would like to enjoy life again? I'm ever so grateful
my hubby had us do the program for a months trial..
I would love to assist someone you love to reach their optimal health goals and my services are FREE..
Merry Christmas, now go make a snowman(or my fabulous Cherry danish,yum...)
(head over to my Merryheart blog if you want to see my clown face :-) I'm head there to write a post now)

Friday, December 12, 2008

Gingerbread house recipe (for dummies) simplified

(recipie below)
I know these cookies are store bought, but they were just too too cute,
I found them at a store called Big Lots (where excess things are sold until they are gone, you never know what you'll discover there)
BESIDES grandma's can do such things for their grand kids, right?


Back to our gingerbread houses for dummies ...

The DUMMY was me ...many years ago,


With kids, critters and of course all the fun fun fun with all that goes on at farmfunnies,
out of necessity I needed and liked things fast,easy,duplicate able and what else SIMPLE...

So simple a child could do it...umm even me :-),
I also wanted and needed a method that could be created with minimum adult hands on , after all the kids were the ones I did this for. I needed something to happen so THEIR project,minus tears shed when the whole structure collapsed before the little budding gingerbread engineers..WOULDN'T happen.


I will go into some antiquated photo albums and look for some photo's of houses(past) which stood the test of time(until eaten, of course) and add them to this post at a later date..


The other evening on our way home from our fortieth annual Christmas shopping trip
I went into our local bin type grocery store, and purchased an arsenal of ginger bread house supplies, for a couple of our grand kids very 1st annual gingerbread home construction.


Here is a photo of their list, following is my how to mix,bake,and construct your own ginger bread house SIMPLIFIED of course.

So just what was on their list you may be wondering.

They wanted gumdrops for a gumdrop garden,

gummy bears to make a chimney

laffy taffy to make window and door sills

candy canes for a fence

a lifesaver for a door wreath for their hershey bar door ( wow, no need to huff and puff to blow this door down,just nibble your way through it)

chocolate chip cookies for the shingles on the roof

ice cream cones to build icing trees with

mike and ikes for , oops I forgot what,

and of course grandma had to add the bear ,penguins and gingerbread man

------------------------------------------

My son just used this recipe and said it did very well and tasted good too.

Since we've had our power "flicker" I won't try to locate my old stand by one.

OLD FASHIONED GINGERBREAD COOKIES

1 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup molasses
5 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground cloves

Mix ingredients together until well combined, wrap in plastic and chill for 3 hours. Roll dough out, cut with floured cookie cutters. Place on lightly greased baking sheet. Heat oven to 375 degrees, bake for 8 minuets, until brown. Decorate and enjoy !

below are my house tips

Thanks to Daughter-in-love for e-mailing this recipe to me.

A true labour of love, for this gingerbread recipe collector.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TIPS: create your pattern: make it a simple rectangle shape out of paper or cardboard

2 4x6 (sides) , 2 4x4 pitched ends, 2 roofs ( I measure the slope of the pitch and add an over hang, and I also have the roof longer than the house sides ( you need a place for frosting icicles to hang)

roll out dough on floured surface, run a spatula under your dough so it isn't sticking to the surface

cut out your house, move to your cookie sheet (you can gently roll it up on your rolling pin to transfer the dough ( or you could gently roll it out on parchment perhaps) be sure to cut out doors and windows (if you want a stained window you can place aluminium foil over your cookie sheet and prepare it as above, then in the window space place some crushed candy's (like life savors, they will melt and become transparent, if you cut a little opening to the floor in back of your house you could even run a Christmas light bulb to add light after your home is assembles and secure)

Bake as above, as soon as your house comes out of the oven place your house stencil over the cookie and trim while it is still warm. let cool before removing from your cookie sheet.

Cover a piece of cardboard with foil and now you are ready to build.

Melt some sugar (about 1/2 cup )in a cast iron skillet (you do have one don't you? well if not a very heavy pan) it will turn dark quickly and it is extremely hot!! Have the kids far away sampling some hot coco or testing the roof shingles, while you do this part.

Hold two sides of house at right angles and with a spoon let the very hot syrup run down the inside corners, it sets almost instantly, repeat until your walls are "raised"

attach the roof, and then poor a bit on your foil to secure the house to your aluminum foundation.

Beat some royal frosting , it will dry to a hard frosting( I use meringue powder, you can find this with cake decorating supplies If you need this recipe ask me)

let the kids frost and decorate as they desire ( be sure to keep a moist paper towel over your bowl of frosting, it dries out quickly)

All I want for Christmas,join me in the HIPPO parade




What's on our Christmas list at farmfunnies ....what else but HIPPO"S , of course.

I follow a couple of blogs and this is what one plucky little gal wants
she's beginning to get a following, her little brother now wants one

Join me in the hippo parade....march on over to A Hippotamus for Christmas? Ackkk!!! Make It Stop!!

Farm funnies offers the hippo dazed mom a couple of solutions :
we really like this one, you can't get much better than decking the halls (or did they sing walls?) with cows and collies....

perhaps little furry rodents singing a Christmas song (wow over 1 million people have gone to utube to watch these little rats :-) wonder the little critters didn't get "stepped" on, in the rush

A song exemplifying words of caution for Christmas wishes. One needs to be careful what you wish for :-)
One of my favorite Christmas greetings (updated for 2008)to those who love the "holidays"...

A song with beautiful backdrop for a grown up Christmas list ...by Amy Grant

then how about a new Christmas movie to put in your stocking ? Based on a true story

of course you may want to scroll to one of my 2007 Christ-mas posts and watch the video links to a couple of popular new songs for Christmas I shared last year...

Merry Christmas readers...now read my next post and why not make a gingerbread house with or for kids.. (oops, it's half way written,we have a storm warning, the wind is beginning to gain momentum)
Before I can finish it I have to get all water "things" done ASAP...and be "ready".
We often lose power here at farmfunnies, when a storm hits.
Our worst "survival, was in the middle of one of our worst ever floods, com plete with a power pole down across our drive,
Thus no electricity for nearly 2 weeks,and we had just switched to a pellet stove, i.e. no HEAT..of course this was with frozen ground and snow and what else?
We got so cold it was all not even "fun" to snuggle down in a sleeping bag and read a book by candlelight..
I think the high point of warmth was packing water in buckets to our critter family.( we couldn't safely get to our neighbors,,even by walking) due to the high water around us and power poles down on our driveway)
Here at farmfunnies, critter tending is always finis' before the storm hits,
a walkabout to make sure everything is in its place,secure etc.
Every bucket , water barrel,stock tank AND the bathtub FULL of water, plus a couple of canners filled with water for cleaning dishes (yes ,we do use paper plates too)
candles ready? check
propane "
clothes all washed "
dishes all washed "
flashlights found "
some easily prepared meals "
if cold outside, blankets to hang in doors
(basically making one room we can keep warm "...
hey I'd better get moving... all this to say, I'll finish the gingerbread post, when I am finis'
with the storm "watch" readiness, and providing we have power...






















Wednesday, December 10, 2008

some like it (not) so hot...phototonic TORCHING

Did anyone happen to see Dr.McClaren on RFD tv a few years ago as he demonstrated the amazing methods with his phototonic torch?
I mean horses don't fake feeling better, you can't get a much better testimony that a horse, or any critter for that matter.
In a recent post about neck and back pain I shared how much I have benefited with a posture pump, my chiropractor recommended for my (umm not so good neck).

You know how one thing leads to another..right? So-o- I decided to allow a comment to that particular post, one with a link to an amazing video with a DR. Goodman.,

That in turn started me to think about kudos for other Dr.s whom I have been blessed to have received help from. You can read all about them by scrolling to the neck pain post.

Does anyone remember the leave it to Beaver show? Well, in one show Wally told little Beaver how (I think it was Eddie) had been dropped off the roof and bounced across the lawn on his head, ( that was why he was so "dumb") Well I literally was dropped (ok, ok, ok , mom said I fell) off a porch and fell one flight of steps onto concrete landing on my head (duh, no wonder my neck has troubled me "some" ) Of course in saying this, I am "exposed" to my kids humorous?
comments, or complaints...but they are all grown and on their own , so I can "take it" now...

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Poor, poor Mama, have you had enough ?

I was headed outside, you know how it goes, I'll read just one more e-mail
Of course it "linked" me not only to a catastrophic train wreck, but to an idea,
then of course to view how a u-tube would appear in my post,

THEN ....(click on ) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWNhi9B5k2E

the next thing I know I was laughing so hard, with tears running down my cheeks, the dogs even came in to see what was going on.
A flood of memories, raced across my mind.

I'll just share, one of the memories . I certainly identified with poor momma when she tried to spank her nearly grown son. Hey, it's bad enough to have to correct kids you love, but when they are bigger and stronger than you and they laugh, NO FUN...

What can I say, for all those times I had had enough, I wouldn't trade a one, I love my kids
and they each such good parents.

Kudo's to all loving parents (be they your own children, or kids you help others with), raising kids is hard work at times when you are in the trenches with flu,teething,quarrels,terrible two's etc. A few extra kudo's to my own kid's on jobs very well done,thus far)

Ok , Ok, Kate and Roo, the sun is shining, yes I have a couple of outside things to tend to , so I will really go out side this time..

while I'm outside you might enjoy another comedy video , by Mark Lowry
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkID7oBKibw

Have yourself a Merry Little Christ-mas

Head over to my Merry Heart blog , where I have a couple of links to some great great u-tube's
(more will be in an upcoming post)

The Christmas Star, watch it shine brightly this year

In these Mark Lowery is singing, Mary did You Know, in both reditions,

I love this song

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Send a free , REAL Christmas card to someone you love

I will take this photo from my pictures in my outlook, and create a card for my Grand kids
These are ornaments on last years tree, I love horses, can't you tell?

I can make this card, and it will have a stamp placed on it and be sent to two different homes (or more if I choose) in less time than it takes to say Rumpelstiltskin's (well almost) and it will cost me less than a dollar each for each card, stamp and all. If you would like to try one click http://www.sendoutcards.com/27588 I have a gift account set up , just for you :-), There is a how to video that will help you. Have fun, 'cause at farm funnies we want FUN,FUN, FUN :-)

Just in time for Christmas ,a coffee house gift pack


Pull a chair up to the fire, put up your feet , and sit a spell while you up warm your tootsies , and sip on a yummy hot cup of cappuchino, cocoa, or chai tea for FREE...( Betty's favorite is the Cappuchino, farm funnies hubby , likes the cocoa.

Hmm sounds like Jack sprat could eat no fat ,his wife could eat no lean, so together they licked the platter clean, doesn't it?

Enjoying a yummy hot drink , that provides a quick snack or meal while it helps you safely and quickly lose weight , or saves you time from fixing something to eat AT your goal, it can't get much better than that, well unless you also are reading our traditional Christmas book, by Grace Livingston Hill called the substitute guest, or my latest post :-)
Our Substitute Guest tradition has grown to include many people now, so you may have to look hard to locate a copy of it (it's out of print , you might find a copy at amazon.com )

click Drinks to check out the coffee house gift pack

Then hurry over to http://www.bettyframe.tsfl.com/, and place your order in time for Christmas, or for yourself or someone you love, it is a very nice looking gift package, and it even saves you money. If you do ,let me know you read this post and I will even add coa on your account for a Christmas gift box of meals. Christmas is about giving, so of course I like to give :-)

Neck and back pain? Here's what helps us at farm funnies

Packin' , choppin' ,why even shoppin' can all contribute to neck and back pain.
You can take a nap under your favorite tree, but that doesn't always help, does it?
Here is a link to a item Betty has really benefited from, the video at the site is really interesting, check it out.
http://www.posturepump.com/

After reading a reply and checking out the link to an amazing video with Dr. Goodman, I decided to make an addition to this post, if you have neck or back pain, you do need to check with your physician. I also go to my chiropractor, and he is the one who recommended this posture pump for my neck. Now it looks like it would be a good idea to clone Dr. Goodman AND his equipment :-)

As for other "clones" perhaps Dr. Robert Elliot, who is no longer with us. He was an amazing Chiropractor, his mother was one of the first women Chiropractors, and his brother was the well known missionary killed by the Acua Indians in South America, Jim Elliot.

Other chiropractor kudos, both Dr.Bruce and Tom Pace, Dr.Michael Toby Dr. Daugherty and Dr.
McDonald, of Cascade Health Center, who recommended the posture pump to me.
(www.cascadehealthcenter.com) he also is one of the few chiropractors who uses laser light treatments..WOW...great for soft tissue damage. I first became aware of laser light therapy
while watching Pat Parelli, one of the most amazing horse trainers I've ever seen.
they have laser lights available for horses,dogs and people .
kudos to Dr. McDonald and his amazing methods with the phototonic torch.
Parelli.com - HORSE HEALTH - Equine Photonic Therapy Torch

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Dogs, Ice and Greensleeves , ocarina syle of course

Kate and Casper, intent on finding the source of the frozen ice "king",
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I have always been enchanted by the melody of Greensleeves, Of course I remember it as a Christmas song, titled ,What Child is this.

Since I am busy working on e-mails I won't stay here at farmfunnies long, but I couldn't resist giving you a link to this delightful rendition (it really speeds up for the last half of the song)

Having made over 200 ceramic whistles and numerous ocarinas, most all are in the form of some critter, I guess you could say I have a heart for beautiful ocarinas , I have nearly purchased one of these beautiful handcrafted wood ones myself, the only thing that stopped me was I didn't have the time to sit and learn how to play it.

Funny isn't it? I make whistles and ocarinas but I haven't learned how to play music with them.

enjoy... then why not "run" on "down" to Mountain Ocarina's and pick out an ocarina for Christmas, they don't know me, but you could tell them I sent you there :-)
link to Mountain Ocarina's