I Love This Kid...

I love this kid

He is so stinkin' cute!

Proverbs 31 Lady

The past month has been challenging for my family & I. My dear sweet Grandmother's health started declining. Although she was in her late 80's she was active & appeared healthy. I visited her this summer and she was going strong. Very independent with a busy schedule that included meeting friends for breakfast & lunch, attending church and sunday school, visiting friends, and shopping.

This past weekend I attended her funeral.

In the process of preparing for her funeral we discovered a book my young niece had given to her several years ago. The idea of the book was that my grandmother answer one question per day for a year about her life & childhood. Much to our delight we discovered that she took the challenge.

We discovered things like the worst thing she ever did was each morning on her way to school she would take off black stockings her step mother made her wear & hide them under a bridge. She then picked them up on her way home.

I knew her mother passed away when she was only 4 years old. It broke my heart to read her answer to the question "Tell me a favorite memory of you mother". Her reply... I was only 4 years only when my mother died. I don't remember much about her but I remember enough to know that I still miss her.

Grandma & I sometime in the 1960's

This treasure meant so much to my family. I encourage you to document your life for your family.

A couple of ideas...

• Take Cathy Zielske's Me The Abridged Version at Big Picture Classes - whether you have scrapbooked in the past this class is for you. I have taken it & loved it.
• Order a book like this & give it to a Mother, Father, Grandmother, Favorite Aunt, etc. to complete.

The preacher concluded his sermon with Proverbs 31: 10 - 31

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Proverb 31:30 NIV

I miss you Grandma!

Dama Mama

This morning I was working in my flowerbeds. The temperature was in the low 60's & I was enjoying being outside. When I discovered this....

A baby Dama Gazelle less than an hour old. He (or she) was just learning to walk. When we first started raising them my Father-in-Law called me Dama Mama. They are one of my favorite animals on the ranch.

Below is Proud Papa....

Love,

Dama Mama

Whitetail Birth

Even though I have lots of Whitetail Deer right outside my backdoor, it is still unusual to see the birth of whitetail babies. Somehow I never manage to be home.

Mostly, Whitetails have their babies in May & June. This past June I was lucky enough to be home on the weekend & notice that a Doe was about to give birth.

I waited around a few minutes & things seemed to be moving slow so I decided to jump in the shower then come back outside to watch the birth.

A quick shower later one baby was already born. So I grabbed the camera & headed out to take pictures of Mom & Baby.

Then...

What is this??? Another baby is on the way!!!

Momma removing the sack as sister takes it all in.

Now its time to get cleaned up

An hour later Momma & twins are doing fine.

Dog Days of Summer

A year or so of having a blog named after me & I finally get a picture posted!

10 Random Things about Gypsy

1. My new favorite thing this summer is chasing Rabbits & Frogs.
2. I was touring the country with a homeless man before I moved in at the ranch. Hence the name Gypsy.
3. I have a love hate relationship with Miss Kitty the Cat.
4. I get to visit Browning Trophies & Awards every Wednesday because the cleaning lady comes to my house & I bark at the vacuum cleaner.
5. My best friend at Browning Trophies is Ruben.
6. I am buddies with a whitetail deer named Bonnie who has a brother Clyde.
7. I bark at Thunder.
8. I get excited when Nanny is mentioned. I love for her to visit! She lives a half mile down the road.
9. I love to sneak into the barn and eat deer pellets if my Dad leaves them on the ground.
10. I love peanuts & cashews. Really I love to eat just about anything.

My Buddy Ruben & I

Thanksgiving Favorites

This weekend I started thinking about my Thanksgiving grocery list & preparations.... hard to believe it is almost here. It was in the mid 70's in North Texas today.

As we look forward to Thanksgiving here are a couple of my family favorites.

First is my Grandma Jo's Cherry Pie. I love the fact that my recipe is written in my Mother's handwriting. It is one of my hubby's favorite deserts. As an added bonus it is super easy!

1 cup sugar

2 Tablespoons Flour

2 Tablespoons cornstarch

2 16 oz. cans of Cherries (in water; not heavy syrup) drain & reserve

1 cup cherry juice

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

red food coloring

2 unbaked 9 inch pie shells

Mix sugar, flour, & cornstarch and set aside. Heat cherry juice over medium heat and slowly stir in sugar, flour & cornstarch mixture. Continue cooking over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture thickens and boils. Remove from heat and add drained cherries, almond extract & food coloring. Pour into unbaked pie crust. Place top crust to cover filling & slit to allow for escape of steam. I prefer to add a lattice top. Brush with butter or margarin and sprinkle wit sugar. Bake in 400 degree oven about 30 minutes.

My second recipe, Corn Casserole, is a family favorite. I don't have a picture of it... Pioneer Woman I am not.

1/4 cup butter

1 8 oz. pkg cream cheese

1/4 cup milk

1 4 oz. can chopped green chilies

2 cans of corn, drained

Tobasco Sauce, dash

1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese

Melt butter in saucepan and blend in cream cheese. Add milk and mix together. Add green chilies, corn, and Tabasco sauce. Put mixture in baking dish and top with cheese. Bake at 350 for 30 to 40 minutes.

Important note: The recipe calls for a dash of Tobasco but we are from Texas. This means I use a heck of a lot more than a dash (I use Choulula). But then again we have salsa or hot sauce or jalapeno peppers on the table at almost every meal including breakfast. So bottom line season to your own taste.

Enjoy!

Elephants

More pictures from Tommy's trip.

Lynsey wanted to see Elephant pictures so....

And my favorite of the two....

Goodnight All