Rachel Ray Cookware!

For those of you who have not read the blog "Nanny Goats in Panties", I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a lighter, more irreverent look at life in general. I find myself looking forward to seeing the updates of the blogs I follow, but this one is near the top of my favorites. Today, I noticed there had been a new blog entry at NGIP and while I listened to Rachel Ray cooking in the background, I noticed there is a giveaway for Ms. Ray's pots and pans set. Now, I know the whole lottery premonition did not turn out that one time, but I think the fact that Rachel was making Chicken Riggies (chicken Rigatoni) on my television at the exact moment I read about this give-away, that is a sign from, well...... at least the people at Food Network that those pans are meant for me to shimmy-shake while making dinner for the dear hubby. I am a fan of both of the women mentioned in my blog today and look forward to posting a blog announcing my win! I do hereby promise that once I win these tools of the godesses, I will make a huge batch of Chicken Riggies, take pictures and post it in a blog along with reviews from family members who would only be too happy to brutally honest with my accomplishment, or lack of for anyone interested in how this prize works out for me! I hope you may get an opportunity to visit NGIP. The address is http://www.nannygoatsinpanties.com
May everyone have a De-lish day! :)

On The Road Again....

Well, first let me mention how much I despise the drive from our town up to the neighboring town 40 miles away, but because we are not "blessed" with numerous shopping opportunities, I find myself on this trek in search of Wal-Mart deals on the essentials of daily living.
I do have to give credit where credit is due as The "Coal-Miner's 500" has drastically improved since passing lanes have been constructed, but caution is advised while traveling at even slightly above the speed limit between the passing zones. The exhilaration felt cannnot be summed up in words when one is suddenly passed on a hill after verifying several times in the rear view mirror that no one is in the near vicinity besides commuters traveling in the opposite direction. The tight squinting of my eyes to avoid watching the head-on collisions not only is inadvisable reaction but also the action I blame for the deep crow's feet around my eyes. Twenty three years of taking my life into my own hands on this highway is something I do not take lightly and debate how badly I need toliet paper and laundry detergent everytime I even consider taking this trip. With all that being said, I was asked if I would like to return to my beloved nursing job in our neighboring town. I left this job because of the drive up and down this "near-hit" highway, but also because last year at this time my Multiple Sclerosis began testing my resolve to not be beaten down by anything. I have missed working but especially relating to real human beings who haven't heard all my stories for the hundredth time. I am looking forward talking about something besides udders and shell thickness on the chicken eggs. So, after much debate, I have chosen to face the chaos of Highway 59 to fulfill my need to relieve some of the bordom I unwittingly burden my family with on a daily basis! Wish me luck and if you need anything from Gillette, let me know, I'll be there every Wednesday and Thursday, because there in no need for both of us to face this obstacle! :)

When good kids go bad!

Well, I have always been a believer in the idea that name given to a child may influence the person he or she becomes. An example of this phenomenon is the name Denise for me. I have known several Denises and for some reason, these women end up being very good friends in my life. I can say the handful of Denises I am thinking of right now are hard-working, sweet and honest people and probably the reason I am drawn to them as friends. Now, as a nurse, when I check back a patient named Tyler, I know, having a Tyler of my own, this kid will give me a run for my money and usually will have something logged in an appendage from a poor choice. There are exceptions to every rule but I do use the name thing as a guide. With all of that being said, yesterday I got a very interesting call from my Mother-in-law asking if I was missing two goats. I stated that I didn't believe I was but after hearing her description of a "black & white" pair of goats with one being a banded male, I knew exactly what she was talking about. I told MIL that they were no longer my goats, that I had sold them to a woman two days ago and did I want to know why she was asking about them? The giggle I heard from her gave me a tiny bit of relief because my mind was working overtime about the possibilities of the question posed about if I was "missing two goats". She responded that these two goats were now impounded at the town Animal Control Shelter because they were wandering through town! I went down to look at the local dog pound and to identify these two "runaways". There was little doubt in my mind about the identity, and, of course, they were the two kids my daughter had named Prince and Princess because of their white crowns.
They were wailing first because they had been housed in a kennel next to a barking dog and second because they wanted to go home! I immediately contacted the people who had bought the goats to let them know these poor kids were now in the "slammer". The man I talked to was horrified that the goats were not only in the pound but found a way to escape the yard. Both of the new goat owners were at work but said they would figure out how to bail the goats out of the "pokey". My curiousity got the best of me and I asked, "Are you still calling them Prince and Princess?" The answer I got led me to laughing hard enough for tears to flow, he said, "Nope, we decided to change their names to Bonnie and Clyde and maybe that was a bad call on our part!" Needless to say, the kids are scheduled to be picked up and returned home. At least this Bonnie and Clyde got pinched and avoided the whole "shoot-out" scenario! They will serve their time and hopefully live a law abided life from this point on!

TNL Dairy Goats lives again! :)

I am just estatic about my herd name being re-issued to me with my kids' herd name of TNL Dairy Goats. This was the herd name my kids began for their Lamancha dairy herd in 4H back in 1998. This name actually is Tyler 'N Lindsay's Dairy Goats. Even though Lindsay will only be here helping me for another year or so, I felt it was important to honor something they started so long ago, especially when I find myself feeling pretty reminiscent of the "old" days lately. Getting back into the dairy goats has truly breathed new life and excitement into my monotonous daily rituals since I have been unemployed. TNL's was my justification (not that I really needed that with this family) for not looking too vigorously for employment. I love waking up bright and early and heading to the barn. It is a feeling I cannot put words to when I am bringing home goat milk and brown eggs to be used in this household. This lifestyle and my goats make me confident in the belief that they exceed the benefits of any group therapy or sessions with a pyschiatrist that numerous Americans spend so much money for. The cost for my therapy with the goats is my time, and that I give freely, the chin scratches, grain, hay and the occasional Triskets or Wheat Thins are what they would ask for in return for my mental stability. I am so surprised Consumer Reports hasn't caught on to this "BEST BUY" and published it!! As for me and my family, dairy goats get a 5 out of 5 stars, two thumbs up, and this girl's highest recommendations for someone who may be questioning his or her mental health! I questioned mine when I got back into raising these wonderous creatures..........I freely admit it, I AM CRAZY and loving every minute of it! :)

The "Other" Family Members (Part 2)

My goats are truly an addiction for me. I think about them when I close my eyes at night, when the lightening and rain starts, when my eyes open in the morning and usually anytime I am zoning out. It has been such a blessing for me to get back into the dairy goat lifestyle thanks to my dear friend Jami Evans and Holly Rexroat. Both of these people make me strive to be more frugal and self-sufficient although I have so far to go still. With that being said, I would be lost without my dogs. I have always, always been the girl bringing home strays and truly adore all of God's creatures (with the exception of bats) but have a special place in my heart for my dogs. Robert and I have always had at least two dogs and any given time since we were married and currently we are ruled by four dogs. Readers of this blog have already met my Yorkie Gigantus, Bowe-Man who would seem was put on this earth to protect Robert! My second love, Rory was one of the most wonderous gifts ever given to someone, especially to me! In June of 2003 I was very sick, nearly unable to walk and suffering from 6 weeks of extreme vertigo. I spent that time mostly on the bathroom floor vomitting and praying this would go away. At the tail-end of this ordeal, my sister begged me to go look at a Yorkie puppy with her using the excuse she needed her own Bowe-Man. I could never say no to going to see a puppy, especially a Yorkshire puppy so I went with her. This tiny, tiny puppy was adorable and spent a very short time sniffing us and then proceeding to growl at anything that moved. We both fell in love with this little guy and my sister told Susan she wanted to buy him when he was ready. In the two weeks it took for the little guy to be weaned, I was at the doctor's office getting spinal taps and MRI's and then finally the diagnosis. I had Multiple Sclerosis. I was healthy, strong, had plans to finish my nursing degree at the school I had worked so hard to be accepted into........what did I do to deserve this?? I quickly ran through the gammet of emotions finally settling on sheer depression and withdrawl from life. One afternoon, my sister stopped in with who we instantly referred to as "Rory" or "Roar"y due to his love of growling like a lion cub and set him on the couch next to me. He immediately curled up next to me and from that moment on, that tiny puppy stayed beside me morning and night. He still knows when I am under the weather and will immediately come and either lie beside me or put a paw on either side of my neck for what we have termed a "Yorkie Hug". I have been so blessed to have him as my constant companion and I will be eternally grateful to my sister for using a tiny puppy to bring me out of the clouds and back into life.