New Years Eve and 12 Grapes

Happy New Year!!
..wait, wait, wait....
Happy New Years Eve!!!
That's better.

What are your plans?
Watch the ball drop?
Go to a partay?
Eat one grape with each chime of the clock at midnight?
-I read that somewhere. You could never be as weird as me.

What am I gonna do?
Hmmmm....I think Chuck and I will go out and party, then get in about the time I have to go feed calves...
I kid.

I'll probably be in bed by ten.
The way I see it, if the sun rises Sunday, then we have ourselves a new year.
If it doesn't, no biggie, all of my affairs are in order;).

Besides, it will be sooooo crowded tonight...sheesh.
Last night it was pretty crowded out too.

We went out to eat around 7, and evidently EVERYone else decided to do the same thing.
I looked at Chuck and was all offended that people stole our idea, and said, "What's the deal?!".
He responded with, "It's the day before New Years Eve", in a very matter-of-fact way.

InWhatWorldDoesTHATMakeSense????!!!!
No.World. That's where.

So I rolled my eyes, gave the ceiling a good "thanks for this" look, and sat down with my friends at the bar.
Saigon joined us, and instead of saying hello, I believe I said somethingtotheeffectof, "I took 25,000 steps today!!!!".

This FitBit, or "Cliff "as I call it,  has become a bit of an enabler.
I decided that since I walked over 2x the "normal human being" amount of steps, that I could have 2 cookies when I got home.

Cliff is rather worldly.
I cannot figure out his nationality, because occasionally he will say "VAMOS BEBE", making me think he is Hispanic.
Then he will turn around and say, "BONJOUR BEBE", seeming rather French.
Maybe he's just a show-off.

One thing's for sure, Cliff loves me.
He says, "ILOVEYOU BEBE",like, allll the time.
AndHeShould!
I make him look like a rockstar.
We meet all but one of our daily goals, by ten AM every day.

ANYway, back to the New Years business...
Are you going to make a resolution?
I probably won't, seeing as I never have.

Are you going to eat the "lucky" foods on New Years day?
Pffffftttt! You should!
I am planning a New Years meal consisting of, pork roast, greens(Kale), and black eyed pea risotto.
...and probably cake...you have to have cake.

I think I will even take some pictures, if Edna is willing to cooperate.
You should come over!!
You don't even have to call, you know I am home when you see my superhero outfit outside the door...

...providing easy access in case of an emergency.
(Looks like someone put clothes on the snowman again....)

Happy New Year!!
Be safe!
See you in 2012!
Love,
TheMuddyCowLady

P.s.  I was thinking about the grape thing...that's like 12 grapes in 12 seconds...can you fit 12 grapes in your mouth? There's no way you could get those suckers chewed up in time.  Just a thought.  Safety first.

P.P.s. I realize now that I should have washed off my boots before I stepped on the rug.  Sorry Heat.

P.P.P.s. I'm getting married next year!!!!!!

P.P.P.P.s. IfTheSunDoesNotRiseRememberILoveYou.

Our 7 Month Romance

7 months is really a long time.

It's soooo much more than half a year.

In terms of high school relationships, it's like, forever.

Then again, it's only 7 months, not even a year.

How are you feeling about this?

Lost?

I'm talking about our relationship, hello.

You and me?

We have this thing, and we have had it since May..ifyoumustknow.

I'm going to act like I'm not hurt, that you don't remember.

But I am.

I don't know about you, but I have learned A LOT in the past 7 months..sheesh!

-Jennifer Lopez is the ONLY person who can make wedding planning look fun.

-Don't use casting material that expired in the late 70's.

-Never underestimate the power of the "high" slow cooker setting.  Read: Volcanic Inferno.

-Check the washer/dryer routinely to be sure that they are working.  (The Hondurans WILL wash their clothes by hand, with soap and a rock, and NOT tell you 'machina no worky'.)

-Teddie will NEVER pass up a chance to throw you under the bus...so don't stand by the road.

-Security cameras are the way to go.

-Hydraulic fluid is NOT blue.

-Never belittle the size of the bun that a relatively normal oven can produce.

-Eddie often puts things other than feed into the feed wagon.

-Cousins are some of the best friends you never knew you had.

-Don't shake off that sudden urge/thought to tell someone that they are important to you.  There is a reason you feel that way.

-It is possible to find your best friend, and get engaged to them.

-Sometimes you must lose your way, to find your family.

I have learned lots more than that, I am certain.

The theme I will continue to live by and take into 2012 with me, is best summed up in this quote by Dr. Seuss;

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who matter don't mind, and those who mind don't matter."

God is always good.

A Little Bit Fit

Remember that little tid bit of info I blessed you with yesterday morning?
About the steps, calories, miles and floors?
Immabout to 'splain that.

But First!
What's your New Years resolution?
Hmmmm?
Don't act like you haven't already thought about it....sheesh!
I know you, so come on, let it out...

Is it to lose weight?
Stay fit?
Avoid the cake?
OR...is it to fold your laundry in a more time-efficient manner, so as to avoid "mount laundry"?
-Not that I would know anyone with that resolution in mind....

Well, if health is your priority then read on! 
(If it's laundry, you may wanna check out a more organized website...)
We keep it real folks.

For Christmas The Heat got me this little thingammajig called a Fitbit..

..and it's awesome!

You already know this, but allow me to remind you that I am abitofan information junkie.
I wanna know!

I just do, I can't help it.
...Please excuse me while I go back and join the nerds in the nerdery...
I kid.

You can find these little magic thingies on the Fitbit website.
My friend Kristy, who is mother to a hi-larious blog herself, introduced me to the Fitbit.

Kristy raved about them, and cried when hers broke...so I knew anything worth tears is worth looking into;).
I did and knew I could not live without the vital information that it provides.
I need to know how many floors I climb in a day!
OK, maybe I don't have to know...but I want to.

Because I was on the "nice" list this year, Santa Heat gifted me with information to feed my soul.
..she's good like that.

Now I know everything!
Plus, I am logging in alllllllll of the food I eat, and sleep I get each day online!
(Even the 6, OK 8, pieces of peanut butter fudge I ate yesterday....it's the guilt.)

This little gem clips onto your clothing, or you can put it in your pocket, or even use the little wrist/arm/ankle band that it comes with.
Very light, very easy.
I clip mine onto the waist band of my Under Armour, and my sports bra when I run...TMI?
My bad.

It gives you basic goals online, and when your wireless tracker updates your account online, it sends you emails telling you "Congratulations on reaching your goal!!"...AWEsome.

My "basic" goals for each day(set for me) include;
-Take10,000 steps
-Climb 10 floors
-Travel 5 miles
-Burn 2,184 calories

Wanna know what my stats were by the end of yesterday?
(It doesn't matter, I'm gonna tell you anyway.)
-I took 21,687 steps
-Climbed 56 floors
-Traveled 10.73 miles
-Burned 2,805 calories.
Beast.

I know what you're thinking..."Rachael, how can it be accurate? You're a sucker...".
Thank you for that.

Saigon and I asked the same question last night.
I held the device in my hand and bounced, swung, shook and jiggled it and...nothing.
It did not add steps or anything.  Hmmm....
So, we noted the amount of steps on it at that time, and I counted my steps to the truck until I reached 100.
Guess what?
It's.Accurate.
For real.

Now I'm sold.

It does this thing that freaks me out a little bit though...
You can "name" it, or choose a word that it will greet you with on the little screen.
There are a limited amount of letters, so I was stumped.
ILOVECOWS, wouldn't fit...
COWLADY wouldn't fit...
SQUEEZINUDDERANDMAKINBUTTER definitely wouldn't fit...
So I settled for BEBE.

Malinda called me Bebe, instead of baby, when I was born. 
After telling Chuck about this, he started calling me that too...'cept like rightnow.

Little did I know that my Fitbit would use this name often...
When I am not active for a hot 5 minutes, it says things like,
"START MOVIN BEBE", "KEEP CLIMBIN BEBE".

It gives me that "you're not alone" feeling.
But that's OK, I have already taken 2,421 steps today!
"KEEP STEPPIN BEBE"!

Love,
NerdyCowLady

He Really Loves Me

But First!
I have taken 2,967 steps since I woke up this morning!
-That's 6 floors climbed...
-1.24 miles...
-554 calories burned..
...We'll talk about that later...

How was Christmas?!
Better yet, how was the food?
Delicious?  I bet it was.

Did your Aunt's cheese slide off her cracker?  My Aunt's did, and she was using squeezy cheese...
...it might be too early for jokes..

Did your BossMan grill 37 steaks?  Mine did.  I felt like a caveman.
..but they were soooo good.

I did work yesterday morning...gasp! The horror!
ACTually it doesn't bother me as much as it bothers everyone else.  For real.
I don't mind working on holidays!  Honestly!

I rather enjoy wishing the cows, cats, calves and dogs a Merry Christmas every year.
Not to mention by the time I am fairly caught up in the morning, 'normal people' are just waking up.
I am not missing anything.

If I didn't work at least some, I would get antsy and feel guilty for whomever was working for me.
Aren't you glad your not me?
..you don't have to answer, I already know.

OK, so Christmas...
We alllllll know that it is not about the gifts, or who gets the most, it's about The Birth.
That being said, I am not writing this to brag about what I got, or who got me the best gift...duh.

I AM writing this to tell you about a gift that I received, that wasn't HUGE, but had more of a 'supporting cast' role.

First, you must brace yo'self.
What I am about to tell you will be reason #4,312 on the "Why you're glad you're not me" list.
It's embarrassing and scary-true.

I don't wear a lot of jewelry, on a daily basis.
Typically I just wear the same earrings every day, only taking them out to clean them.
BUT I love pretty, sparkly, shiny things.

Chuck has a knack for picking out the perfect "me" pretty things.
He's awesome at it.

When I am not at work, I wear as manyofthemasIcanfitonmyperson at once.
I believe it makes me look very "rock star chic".
Heh.

I lie to myself often, ifyoumustknow.

Anyway, I never gave much thought to buying a jewelry box.  Like.  Ever.
I would just take my pretty things off, and put them in the same spot every time...
...ohhh boy, this is that spot...

OK, wait!
See the liiiittle black box on the left?
That is where I would keep all of my jewelry.
Yep.
Take a goooood look at that hott mess....

Yeowza.

Being that I am obviously oblivious in that loud and proud way, when Christmas rolled around I kept the "I don't need anything" general response in my repertoire.

I even told my honey this.
I wasn't fibbing!  I just couldn't think of anything to ask for..plus no one really wants to ask...
Come on now..

Naturally when gifts, for Edna, started appearing under the tree, I was curious.
Edna was excited...don't let her lie.

I kept asking Chuck what he got me, and he kept NOT telling me.
That strategy wasn't going to work at all.

So I waited, and wondered from time to time.
What could he have gotten me?
I don't need anything! Do I?
Have I mentioned anything?
Even if I did, he doesn't remember anything I said 5 minutes ago, much less 5 days ago...
(That last one is true, he will even admit it.)

Finally, Christmas morning came around, and among the bold and beautiful gifts and "pretty things", was this...

I opened it and laughed.
I am 28 years old, and I keep ALL of my jewelry stuffed in a old, tiny velvet box.

This gift was not the most expensive, or shiniest that I got yesterday...by far.
However, it served as a nice reminder that he does listen, and he does pay attention....and for some reason he keeps me around.

I immediately ran, took a picture of the calamity that was my jewelry case, then proceeded to put alllllll of my pretty things in their new home!

anD, aND, AND!  You know what the best part is????
After seeing all of the empty space still left in my new jewelry home, Chuck sighed and said, "Oh...I though you had more than that...".

To which I quickly responded, "Oh no honey! There's always room for more!".
Heh, heh, heh...

Christmas Story

Christmas on the farm, might just look like any other day.

The cows, they are milking,

The calves are at play.

But if you look closely, you might notice a change.

The animals act differently,

Some may even call it "strange".

The cows, calves, cats, Peacocks even!

They know it's almost time,

They know it's the season.

For when they were born, their mothers taught them well.

They heard of the Angel, the Kings and the star.

Their mothers told them about the baby born, Immanuel.

At first they are shocked, it's unbelievable to hear!

The King of Kings was born in a stable,

Much like right here?

The babies keep the story locked up tight in their heart.

Always remembering,

Never skipping a part.

They will teach it to their babies one day.

A story from their hearts,

One that is sure to light their way.

It is important to remember that Silent Night long ago.

To remember that of all the palaces,

A simple barn is where they would go.

To this day, on that very same night,

The animals all gather, look to the star,

And kneel under it's light.

Merry Christmas!
Love,
CrazyCowLady

Everybody Wants to Be a Cat

...because a cat's the only cat, who knows where it's at:).

I mean really....

Don't you want to do this alllll the live long day?
Sign.me.up.

If I could be any animal, I would be a cat.
A neutered cat....it can be a scary world, trust me.

It doesn't seem like cats ever have to worry about anything.
They sure don't stress.

I stress.
Hi, my name is RachAEL and I stress.
Regularly.

I made a life-altering discovery last night though.
And you bet your buttons Imma gonna tell ya.

See theses?......

I made these last night.
-One the left you have dark chocolate buttercrunch, a King Arthur flour recipe.
-On the right, looking smashing, is a pan of toffee millionaires, recipe courtesy of Martha Stewart.

Need to bake a gift for someone?
Have a sugar/chocolate/amazingness craving?
Make these. For reals.

The discovery I made was that, the more stressed I am at the end of the day=the more I bake.
I baked a lot last night.

I had anther calf yesterday, and I imagine if it were light enough out, I would see yet another one in the field now.
This is not what stressed me.

The calves are great news!
Always a good sign.

However, the fact that my rock didn't come in yesterday works on me.
I made it a point to get things done quickly, in order to work calves in time to set up a new row of hutches for my ELEVEN, currently homeless, babies.

It's hard for me to work calves out of hutches before weaning, because that means I have to feed them milk in a trough...DOTDOTDOT.

Remember....zeeeeessss?

Calves don't discriminate based on what is IN the trough they decide to lay in.
A calf in a trough of milk, would ruin the party for everyone.

So, I wait until they are off milk to work them, and move them out of hutches.

Yesterday I went to lunch smelling of blood, sweat and burnt horns.
...there is NOTHING that covers up the burnt horn smell...nothing.
My "afternoon" load of rock never came, therefore I fed ELEVEN loose calves bottles this morning.
...that's ELEVEN head-butts to the leg, if you're counting.

Trucking seemed to be a Monday issue, as well.
I have a load of wet brew that was supposed to be here LAST FRIDAY, and distillers that needs to come NOW.
As of NOW, neither are here.

When you rely on trucking, for more than Christmas gifts, you learn to roll with the punches.
Things happen.
Trucks break down.
Drivers get lost.
...I'm fairly certain I could have driven a horse-drawn semi to Georgia, picked up the wet brew and made it back in time for supper...last Sunday.

Oh well.

So, how did I deal with no rock, wet brewers, OR distillers grains?
I made a wholebunchofgoodies.
...and worried as I baked.

Make no mistake...
I am NEVER stressed enough to clean;).

On the Sixth Day of Christmas..

BUT FIRST!
..I want to inform you, actually more so warn in an apologetic kind of way, that we might/maybe/possibly won't make the deadline for this here "12 Days of Christmas".
.............
..is that OK?
..are you mad?
..disappointed?
..have you taken my gift back?

I've been busy.
Lame excuse, I know.
But it's true!

Well, that and it's hard to wrangle up the correct number of animals, in the same spot atthesametime!
Listen to me, excuses excuses!
Oh well.

...My true love(who is out of town) gave to me....

SIX freezing felines! ...bombombom...

See that little fella there in the middle?
Smartest one in the pile.

The dark spot on the bottom left is my shadow, thankyouverymuch.
Not a cat.

So...what have I been doing, if not herding animals in preparation for the corresponding Christmas day??
Having babies and baking..oh and working out.
That last one goes without saying considering the amount of butter I have gone through....

Babies, babies, babieses....
I have a million, or so it seems.

Since last Monday I have welcomed eleven into this cold world.
Chump change to those 2,000 cow dairies...but they have more help than me...

This muddy gal was born yesterday morning!

Her mother, who shall remain nameless, decided to have her in the ONLY muddy corner of the field.
It.figures.

Yesterday afternoon I pulled an enormouss bull.
That.figures.aswell.

Chuck helped me...via bluetooth.
(I did NOT add that to the list of things NOT to do while using your bluetooth device..justsayin).
I try to make him a part of everything;).

Now for the baking!!

I made a few gift boxes and filled them with spiced nuts, Gingersnap Palmiers, dark chocolate pistachio bark and Pumpkin Gingerbread cookies(Twopeasandtheirpod.com)!

I think they all turned out pretty good:).

Last week I made my absolute favorite chocolate chip cookies EVER!
I went light and only made like...60.

No biggie.

Last night I cranked out some lemon cookies, which are supposed to be the same Ham'N'Goodys recipe..but I'm not sold on it.

Instead of rolling them out..I despise the thought of rolling things out..I wrapped the dough in parchment paper, shaped them in a log and refrigerated them overnight.
Slice and bake!

Don't get me wrong! They are buttery, lemony and delicious.
But, I dunno...something about them wasn't what I was looking for...

Instead of doing the icing, I combined 1/4 cup softened butter, 1.5 cups powdered sugar and 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice, and made a sandwich out of them!
I can be brilliant sometimes...
Heh.

Maybe I'll find 7 of something..today...