Strange Things .....

Ok we grow and sell birds. Every now an then we get calls from someone wanting to buy 1 bird. This time I got a call from a man I have never met wanting to buy a bird that we don't grow. No big deal. He told me where he got my number an I have no idea how in the world we got on that bird grower list. Not a clue.

     I told him I would look up a old buyer I had and send him info by email. The addy he gave me was something about ghost hunting. Well... That started a hour long conversation between the two of us. Telling me what they do as a group an what he does on his own. During this long talk I started feeling strange things in different areas of my body. I started telling him what and where I was feeling it at and he told me about the cold he had and how one of the aches was where he had a bullet go through him and where it was still in him at. 

     Next thing I know he was saying Holy Cow he was in Illinois an I was in Oklahoma never met him before telling him about his aches an pains! 

     He said he was talking to his team members wanting to make room for me on their team!  I told him I have never done anything like that didn't even know if I could . Then he tells me they are going to investigate a sanitarium in Arkansas in the very same town my daughter lives!

    So hummmm.... Here is a invite that not many people get. To do something really different. The thing is I haven't the foggiest idea who this person is! He offered to meet my husband and I somewhere but we don't do those kinds of things. Still.... It is something to think about and consider . We could drive down and meet the team there and participate .  

    Got some heavy thinking to do about this one . 

Ranchmama 

( Ghostbuster in training ? )

     

Turkey Terrors

 

This is Nikki's tom turkey. He is one of 3 turkeys ( 1 Tom and 2 hens) given to her by a couple that had to move and couldn't take them.   I never realized until today when we were loading up a cow at her place to take to market just how totally scary turkeys are! I was down at the back of the trailer directing to line up the gates and low and behold there was this waist tall dang turkey hen standing beside me! She was S-C-A-R-R-R-Y-Y-Y !!! I couldn't shoo her away for nothing! and NOISY! People think guinnies (sp?) are noisy! You get a waist high ugly bird standing beside you making this kind of loud chucking noise and you will see what is noisy! LOL good thing turkeys are dumb. They could be dangerous with real brains.

Ranchmama

(totally needing to get used to a big bird but can't forget the Rooster that pecked my rear in the outhouse when I was just in the 2nd grade or so at my Grandmas house)

Extract Warning!

This is a email my daughter in Arkansas sent me:

I used my homemade vanilla from you yesterday.  Boy - I could taste/smell the vodka in my snow ice cream!  I don't know if that's good or not.  But definite taste was there.

 *******************
Me:
 I imagine the difference was it wasn't cooked.
I think if you had cooked something the vodka would not have been there so much
try it on cookies, cakes or something cooked.


So funny!
You spiked the kids snow ice cream!!! LOL

love mama
******************** 
Daughter:

Yea - I made a funny daiquiri for the kids I guess...

***************************

SOOOoooooooo.........!!!WARNING !!! 

IF you make home made extract using a alcohol base to extract the oils and flavor ...... Do not use it in a uncooked recipe unless you are of legal age!  LOL

Oh my goodness! Such a funny accident!

I bet you after she tasted it the kids didn't get any after all !  LOL

I am still chuckling.....


Ranchmama
(sober but apparently only because I use my homemade vanilla in COOKED recipes!)

Brrrrrr....

We were in prep mode when we heard of the cold weather. It's always better to get as many things as you can done while the weather is pleasant before you get ice and snow.

    Animals always come first on a ranch. So it was time to make sure everybody had enough hay. That was four different stops at four different places . The hay was put behind what wind breaks could be found for about 30 cows or so at most stops. Thank goodness for JD 4 wheel drive cab tractors! 

   Check the alternative electric devises and move into position so we won't have to do it in ice and snow. Got the tires aired up an covered with a tarp everything ready to go. 

   Did what laundry and dish washing needed doing while we have electric. Fridge is stocked. Potato sack ready for some really good potato soup with lots of butter and bacon in it. 

    Cell phones charged and flashlights handy. 

   We were as ready as u could be. Thank goodness the electric stayed on. Other than some really cold wind and wet shoes it's all snug and going smooth ..... At the moment anyway . 

    Poor doggies get kicked out for bathroom breaks and Sassy wobbles out to do her thing. Heidi Ho has no problem and goes out to play. 

    Would love to go to Wally World when roads are better. Even with 4 wheel drive it's still slick. The stores are going to be bombed with all the cabin fever that is being had I am sure. 

Here is the view out my front door. You can't even see the target on the 700 yd range in the top right of the pic on the hill.  Notice the thermometer is around 20* F on the porch. Sure feels a lot colder than that! 

Ranchmama ( keeping warm & snug)

Extract Fun

Here are eight different extracts I made the first one is 

Lemon on the left then 

Blackberry 

Raspberry 

Coffee 

Strawberry 

Blueberry 

Coconut 

Lime 

I started with the lemon and lime extract from a recipe I found on the net. After that I wanted to get a more exact formula so I used one cup fruit to 2 cups vodka so I would have a formula to work with in the future.

    I never did see how long to let the extracts brew. I read the longer they brew the better the extract. These extracts have been brewing for four months. I can't decide if brewing four months is too long or not. I do know that the smell is very very strong. Since I don't like to drink vodka I'm not about to taste it. LOL

   Now I need to figure out how much to use in the recipe. Since it seems so strong. Do I use a full measure or maybe a half measure.? So maybe next time I use it I'll use the full strength and go from there.

    See the little strainer in front? I didn't have a small tea strainer so when I went to the grocery store all they had was a strainer for you kitchen sink. Well, that seems to work really good I love it. It fits right in my jar or my glasses I'm using to pour the liquid in and I don't have a handle on the way! 

    Next I'm going to try alcohol extracts you know like rum an other flavors. 

Have fun ya'll

Ranchmama 

20 Ways to Become More Self-Sufficient

20 ways to become more self-sufficient before 'the crunch' arrives

by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor

(NaturalNews) One thing you don't want to be during the coming "crunch" -- a polite word for "collapse" -- is dependent on the system. The more you can take care of yourself, the better off you'll be physically, financially, emotionally and even spiritually. Here are 20 ways to become more self-sufficient while you still can:
  Remember it doesn't have to be some kind of economic crunch or governmental failure. We have many times in our lives when it is good to be able to take care of you and yours. Here in Oklahoma is a perfect example with the tornadoes and earthquakes we are getting now days. Then their is catastrophic illness, or just a good round of flu to deal with. It is so nice to have your stuff all stocked up and having it on hand when you can't wiggle to go to the store. 

I am sure it is never enough but I can check off about 13 1/2 of these.

How many of these can you check off?  

 
1) Get a small solar system that can be used to run a laptop or recharge batteries

2) Drill a water well and install a hand pump or solar-powered DC pump

3) Set up a rainwater collection system or barrel

4) Stash some cash: stock away some green dollar bills and lots of U.S. nickels

5) Own and learn how to use a handgun, rifle and shotgun

6) Store some ammunition

7) Own and know how to use a water filter

8) Start a garden this spring and acquire more food production skills

9) Save garden seeds so you can plant the next generation of food

10) Acquire a wood-burning stove for heat and cooking

11) Possess a large quantity of stored food; enough for at least 90 days

12) Get to know your local farmers and ranchers

13) Store up valuable barter items that are relatively cheap today: Alcohol, coffee, ammo, matches, etc.

14) Safely store extra vehicle fuel (gasoline, diesel) at your home or ranch
Be sure to use fuel stabilizers to extend their life.

15) Learn emergency first aid skills and own first aid supplies
This could save a life or possibly save a trip to the emergency room.

16) Start growing your own medicine
Plant and grow aloe vera, oregano, garlic, cayenne pepper and other medicinal herbs that can replace a surprisingly large number of prescription drugs. Oregano, for example, is a potent antibiotic. Aloe vera treats cuts, scrapes and burns.

17) Own emergency hand-cranked radios so you can tune in to news and announcements
My #1 recommended brand is Freeplay.

18) Boost your immune system with vitamin D and superfoods

19) Increase your level of physical fitness

20) Learn how to raise animals such as rabbits, chickens, goats or cows. 

60# Black Diamond Watermelon Heaven!!

This summer we had some really good watermelon ! This one weighed in at about 60#'s. You can see where one of the hail storms left it's mark but believe me it didn't hurt the taste at all.

   Oh My Goodness!!! It was SOOoooooooo Sweet! Homegrown local watermelon is always so tasty compared to what you buy in the stores. Every year this man has his truck sitting on Hwy 99 in Prague, Ok and he has the very best watermelons and cantaloups your can put on your table. Lots of hard work but I am so thankful he grows these delicious biggies for my table and very happy tummy!

 

And the watermelon was so good I decided to save the seeds for next year to share with my friends and family so we all could enjoy such nice sweet melons! Look at this I got a full cup of seeds from this 60# melon as I took those sweet bites out of the rine and put it into a large container into the fridge. 

Ranchmama 

(now having golden leaves and light freezes to deal with and remembering the summer joys )