Spring Has Sprung…and So Has the Mud.

Rain, Rain, Go Away,

Come Again Another Day...

I've been singing that song every day for the past week. The worst thing about Spring (and Fall) in Kentucky? The fact that it rains alllllllll the time. Guess we know why the grass is always so green now, huh?

Oh and not to mention the random Hail we saw the other day. Luckily it was tiny, the pickup and trailer were very thankful for that. Even if they haven't sent out their thank you notes to Mother Nature yet.

When Things Go Wrong, Bake. Then They Might Go Wrong Again...

I've been in a bit of a slump for awhile. I mean it gets old doing things alone, especially when it comes to making food for yourself.

But the industrious bug hit me this weekend...so much so I felt like myself again!

I did not have a good Friday. It was every farmer's nightmare...I had a sow unexpectedly die. While in the farrowing crate. 4 days before I was going to wean her pigs. And she was fine the night before she died.

So after having a difficult day Friday, I did what every normal human does and baked and cooked.

I've never made bread by hand before. I've tried easy bread recipes that didn't require rising, like this Amish Cinnamon Bread, but never ones that needed to rise.

I decided I wanted sloppy joes for dinner, so I thought I would try a hamburger bun recipe I had found on Pinterest. Let's just say it didn't turn out quite as well as it was supposed to...

I definitely did something wrong...hahaha. Consistency is a problem.

 While I was waiting for the hamburger buns to rise one of the billion times it needed to, I decided to make some bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwiches to stick in the freezer for the days I am in a hurry (which is every morning) and want something other than cereal.

The recipe called for 12 of everything: 12 eggs, 12 muffins, 12 slices of cheese, 12 slices of bacon. Well when I was counting the muffins at the store somehow I equated 6 muffins in a package to 12 muffins total...I know, what is wrong with me right? Then of course when I got home I stuck the muffins on the cookie sheet to toast in the oven while I made bacon and eggs. And once again I counted 12 muffins...I think my math skills are a little rusty?! So of course I went ahead and made 12 slices of bacon and 12 eggs...then FINALLY realized I had too many eggs and not enough sandwiches...but NEVER FEAR! I simply made 6 double decker sandwiches :) Those are going to be great mornings full of double bacon, double eggs, and double cheese...that may be my one meal for the day but oh it will be delicious!

 By about 3:30 in the afternoon, my buns were finally done. They don't look very good but they tasted alright so I figured I would go ahead and make sloppy joes for an early dinner.

When I tried to open the Manwich can with my can opener I couldn't get the lid to come off. I decided it would be OK anyway and simply poured as much of it out of the can as I could.

Then I made a fatal mistake.

I started pushing on the can lid...and I bet you can imagine what happened next.

Yep. The lid came loose and the sauce went EVERYWHERE.

Down my shirt. Down the stove. And of course ALL OVER the floor.

Not my finest moment in life. It required me to clean up the floor. And wash my clothes sooner than I had anticipated. 

Unfortunately I could not give up on my day at this point because I had more bread dough rising. That's right, I was trying something else. But this time it was a recipe that was on the back of my Whole Wheat Flour bag. This one required another billion risings but it turned out better than the hamburger buns did. 

Maybe not perfect, but not too bad for a first time!

OK, so they were a little deformed from where I rolled them up but it didn't affect the taste!

After spending my Saturday with this adventure I gave up on the baking for the day. But I had one more trick up my sleeve for the weekend...chocolate chip and chocolate chip M&M cookies. I figured I better make something for the guys who helped me get my poor sow out of the crates on Friday. And what better way to thank them than these delicious cookies?? 

Everybody has their favorite recipes for baked goods. Most of mine come from my mom. I'm sure everyone elses do as well! But we have always made the cookies off the back of the Nestle chocolate chip bags and they are still my favorite chocolate chip cookies. 

Doesn't this look like heaven on tin foil?

Now that I have overwhelmed you with my weekend baking adventures...I think I will go do something else productive. Like watch Disney movies and sew on my quilt ;)

Happy Sunday!

*To find the first 2 recipes, click on the links above or right here: hamburger bun recipe & breakfast sandwiches*

**Wheat Bread**

 Ingredients

2 packages active dry yeast

1 cup warm milk

2 eggs

2 tsp salt

1 cup warm water

1/3 cup honey

5-1/4 to 5-1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1/4 cup shortening (I used butter)

Directions

In a mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. To the dissolved yeast, add the warm milk, honey, eggs, and 3 cups flour. Beat 3 minutes on medium speed. Cover and allow to rest 30 minutes. 

Stir in salt and enough of the remaining flour to form a soft dough. To avoid adding extra flour in the kneading process, gradually knead in shortening (or butter) by hand. If using dough hooks add shortening, knead dough by hand or with hooks for 12-13 minutes or until smooth and elastic. 

Place dough in lightly oiled bowl; turn the dough to coat the top. Cover and place in an 80F environment until the dough has doubled in size. Punch down. 

Cover; let rise again until doubled. 

Punch down, remove from bowl and divide dough in half. 

Cover; let rise for 10 minutes. 

Roll each half into a 14x7 inch rectangle. Starting at the shorter side, roll up tightly. Pinch edges and ends to seal. Place into a 9x5 loaf pan. Cover and let rise until doubled in size. 

Bake for 10 minutes at 400F. Then continue to bake for 25-30 minutes at 375F. Remove and cool.

**Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies**

Ingredients

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 packed brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 large eggs

2 cups (12 oz pkg) of Semi-Sweet chocolate chips (I used one package of semi-sweet and 1 milk chocolate)

Nuts or M&Ms as you choose

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375F

2. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in small bowl. 

3. Beat butter, sugar, brown sugar and vanilla in bowl until creamy. 

4. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

5. Gradually beat in flour mixture. 

6. Stir in chocolate. 

7. Drop onto baking sheets (in whatever size you feel like)

8. Bake for 9-11 minutes. Cool on pan on stove top (allows them to get extra crispy sometimes...just the way we like them!) 

Dreaming Too Big

The closer I get to the end of my Master's Program, the more I wonder what I will do once I am done.

What adventure will I go on then?

How can I do everything I want to do? What will I have to sacrifice? Should I have to sacrifice all my big dreams?

I have many dreams...and they are nothing spectacular or world changing, but dreams none the less. Seeing this video the other day brought me to tears (nothing new there!) because it sums up some of my hopes and dreams.

I can see the future in my head, just not the pathway to it. Maybe I will never be able to fulfill all of my dreams, perhaps it is not in God's plans for me, but I want to start now.

Getting into farming and ranching today can be a difficult task. It's an unfortunate fact that farmers are aging and the young people are leaving rural communities, which means the opportunity for the younger generations to farm is there...but it can be very expensive to start an operation. There are many programs and foundations (like the foundation that made the video above: FarmOn) available and becoming available to help support young farmers and ranchers in their endeavors. But it is still terrifying. But I guess all the important things are terrifying aren't they? It means they matter.

Patience is a virtue. At least that's what we are told. Patience in farmers and ranchers is essential. But how do you develop patience when you are impatient to start something?

I do not feel fulfilled in my life. OK, so I am only 23, but I want to begin working for my dreams now.

I won't share all of my dreams because the list may be overwhelming but I want and need to be part of a community again. I want to foster kids (and animals) and help families in need, give people a place to have events and weddings, farm, and most of all share my love of agriculture with those who are not fortunate enough to be involved.

Is it possible to dream too big?

I don't think so.

But it will be an interesting adventure...and I guess what will be, will be.

So what are some of your dreams?

If Only Reading My Life Away Was An Option

If I had a choice, I would read all day, every day, for the REST of my life. Seriously.

I think I should have been a book editor instead of a future farmer.

Then again, I would probably never go outside. Or cook. Or bake. Or really do anything.

And I hear being a book editor really isn't all that much fun.

So I'm probably where I am supposed to be.

ANYWAY, the school year ends up being a big dry spell for me when it comes to reading because I always seem to be worried about schoolwork and can't afford to get distracted by reading.

This is why when I go home for Christmas I end up reading about 30+ books in a couple weeks time...or really anytime I go home.

Over the years I have voraciously devoured any book that has been bought or any book that looks even remotely interesting from the library.

Then...I got a Kindle Fire for my birthday. I wasn't expecting this at all. I've always been that person that looooooves holding books in her hand. Looooooves rereading them so many times the bindings are permanently broken. So what on Earth was I supposed to do with this Kindle?

It didn't take long for me to fall completely head over heels for my new friend. Not that I don't still devour tangible books, but I devour even more books on my Kindle.

This age of constant motion has one issue. I will literally only buy books that are 3.99 or under. Every month the Kindle store pops up with a list of monthly deals under 3.99.

I think most of this stems from the fact that I'm a poor graduate student...and reading cheap books lets me read a million more books than if I bought those best name sellers. Plus (and I know this is awful), I feel like if I am going to pay full price for a book, I want to hold it in my hand...and I don't mean in my hand, on my Kindle.

You would be surprised at the awesome books you can find in these monthly deals.

I read one this morning about a family whose youngest daughter had disappeared and then was found 2 years later living right down the road. It was a touching, emotional tale of rebuilding a life and a family in the wake of such a haunting journey. I choked up and cried throughout the novel, but especially at the end. I feel like the ends are always the kickers. I'm never sure if it's because of the way the stories ended or because of the way I was impacted by what I read. Probably a bit of both.

If you are looking for a good read, check out Emma's Secret by Steena Holmes. There are actually 3 other books that go along with this one (which I found out AFTER reading this one), but you don't need to read the other 3 to delve into Emma's Secret.

I started another book right away called A Year of Biblical Womanhood by Rachel Held Evans. The title pretty much explains the book. The author, Rachel, spends a year doing all of the things and following all of the standards that women in the Bible are responsible for and held up to. I have a feeling it will definitely be a memorable journey, for her, and for me. So look for an upcoming book review that you probably won't want to miss!!

Happy Sunday!

Whoever Said Grad School Was Fun Lied

Grad School is sucking the life out of me. Melodramatic I know, but it's true.

So I find myself held to a strict schedule of TV shows in order to have something to look forward to. That and Pinterest. Pinterest is an addiction.

My name is Mandy, and I'm a Pinterestholic. 

This statement illustrates my frame of mind these days:  I have things to do but no enthusiasm to do them but I'm so antsy to do something that I end up doing nothing.  (confused yet??)

What this really shows is that I have ADD. I really think ADD comes from not doing manual labor. 

Cuz when you do manual labor you are asleep by 9pm. Every. Night. 

So I'm going to share some random pictures (since grad school has demolished all of my brain power today):

I decided I wanted the dogs pawprints so I could get a tattoo...FAIL!

Notice the blue paint everywhere...and the awful facial expression on Dutch's face...yea she wasn't happy :)

Boo wasn't much happier...

Good thing the DEA didn't show up...good thing this was only Cellulose!

This is what happens when you decide you want to quilt...

My favorite phrase

Hehehe...sleepy child :)

Thanks for squishing my face Cody haha

Kentucky Sunset

Until I rejoin society as a fully contributing member, I guess I will continue to find ways to entertain myself. And dream of the day when I will be busy again...

No Matter What...I Can Never Support the Packers

We all suffer from this problem: wherever we grow up and whoever our parents support, it invariably ends up the same things we support when we get older.

My Dad was your typical sports supporter. After a morning spent at church you could find him snoozing on the couch with Football (or sometimes NASCAR) blaring on the screen. Oh man, those Sunday afternoons were lazy periods of overeating and long naps...and waking up only to find out what the score was. I miss those days.

But anyway, I'm from Northern VA...so take a guess who we supported? Yep, you guessed it, the Redskins. Through thick and thin, to this very day, I defend the Skins even when they are beyond defense. I know you all do the same thing for your respective teams!

What's funny is that after we lost my Dad to a heart attack, football ceased to be played (except for the Super Bowl of course) in our house. With a house full of females that's understandable though. We quickly fell back into soccer games all over God's Green Earth and then Puppy Adoption Events on Sundays.

Not watching football continued into college. Oh when I hung out with Cody and that crew I slept through their Sunday afternoon NASCAR and football games, but I never followed it myself. And for the next 3 years I would be too busy spending time at the cabin in the mountains or snowmobiling or any number of other things to waste time watching football.

I still don't watch football routinely. But you just try and beat on the Skins and I will still fight you til I'm blue in the face...even when I don't have any good reason to defend them so heartily. My defensiveness is further compounded by the fact that I am dating a die-hard Packers fan. I mean you can't blame the poor kid, he never had a chance growing up in Wisconsin ya know?

But to me, the Packers have always been and will always be lumped into that Enemy category that also houses the Eagles and the Cowboys. I know, I know, it doesn't make sense that I dislike the Packers so much. Maybe it's their awful uniform colors? Or their awful choice in players? Either way, I will never like the Packers...and man is it an epic battle when the Packers and Redskins get together. Even though the Skins have not shown up to the game today, I will continue to argue with Cody until I'm blue in the face about how awful the Packers are.

I mean how can you argue with me? Every time I hear the word Packers, this is what I envision...

It's crazy how much your parents and your environment influence your choices in the future. So even though the Skins have sometimes been a depressing enterprise to support, it could always be worse...I could be a Packers fan. And at this point, I would never be a Packers fan simply on principle. One Cheesehead is enough!

What battle lines get drawn in your families? Vehicles, sports teams, toilet seat up/down?? Let me know!