It's a pretty October day

It's a beautiful fall October day in the Mid West. Too nice to be inside an office! I have a new granddaughter expected any day. Her name is going to be Kloe Rae Louise. I'm flying down south in November to see her.

On November 4th, General Election Day, I will be elected to a position in County Government; it's almost a certain bet as I have no one running against me. You never know though, some one may mount a huge write-in campaign and in our rural county, where the population is low, write-ins can often win the vote!

Kids (not the human kind!)

This past weekend our nanny goats had 4 more kids. We now have 7 kids. They are so cute, bouncing all over and playing with each other. I actually got to see twins being born. It was awesome! The mother didn't have the second one until she had licked the first one dry, which took a good 30 minutes. She had 2 little boys, (billies).

My husband will keep all the new little nanny kids to build up his herd and will sell the little billies when they are old enough.

These are Boar Meat Goats not Dairy goats, so we don't have to mess with milking them.

It is a learning experience for both my husband and I. Especially me, a city girl!

It is 39ºF and sunny here today. We didn't get the bad weather that was forecast for us this past weekend, thank goodness!

My husband wants to go see Eddy Murphey's new movie "Norbit". Eddy seems to have a perchant for playing several different characters in his movies, and although that may prove him to be a talented actor, his movies just don't appeal to me.

I just had an IM conversation with my brother who is in England. My nephew Louis wants him to sing a song named "Something Strong Inside". My brother is a Karaoke DJ, and loves to sing and he is good too. He says this song is a lovely emotional powerful song about racial equality. Rather an odd choice to have sung at wedding when the bride and groom are both the same race, but it must have some meaning for them. Both the bride and groom are police officers.

Phew! It's warm inside the office today, had to open a window even though it is only 39º outside. The furnace room is under our office, so it is always warm in our office.

Snow Storm

We had 5 inches or so of snow during the night (Monday) This morning it has been snowing and blowing. We don't have it any where as near as bad as New York, but driving to work this morning on an ice and snow packed highway was no fun. The county graders had come down the highway, and cleared the snow off, but it was snow packed on parts and very slick.

The sun has come out now, it looks so pretty outside; it is so cold, none of it is melting. It is 12º F but with the wind chill, it feels much colder. Tomorrow the high is only supposed to be 7ºF for Valentine's Day.

My husband had to cancel going to pick up the miniature jenny donkey he had purchased to put in with his meat goats. I was so looking forward to getting home from work last evening to see this little donkey got to wait until Friday now. Donkeys are good protectors, they create a ruckus when a predator is near, and as our goats are getting ready to kid in a month or so, my husband wanted to get a donkey to put in with them, don't want any predators killing the baby goats!

PS...uploaded a photo of Molly the Donkey, after my husband went and got her.

Caramel Rice Krispie Treats

I have given this easy recipe to people so many times, I thought why not post it on my blogspot. For people not fond of plain or peanut butter Rice Krispie Treats these Caramel Rice Krispie Treats are just that! A treat! Kids in particular love them!

3 ozs. butter
25 marshmellows
25 Kraft caramels
6 cups Rice Krispies

Utensils: Large Glass Mixing Bowl
Wooden Spoon
9"x13" pan.

Spray all utensils with Pam or some other vegetable spray.

Melt the butter, marshmellows and caramels in the large glass mixing bowl, microwave for 2 minutes. Stir with a wooden spoon until the ingredients are melted and blended. May need a few more seconds in microwave.

Stir in the 6 cups of Rice Krispies and spread in a 9"x13" pan.
Cool on counter top. Cut into 3"x3" squares.
Do not refridgerate.

Can wrap the individual squares in plastic wrap, if you want to, especially if taking to a potluck or anywhere else.

Life in the Midwest

It's a cold cold day here, just 27ºF. It is supposed to be even colder by Friday, the high is only supposed to be 12ºF and the low -1ºF. Brrrr......

Well, we went to see the movie "Happy Feet". My husband wasn't impressed, but then what man would be impressed with a musical about aminated penguins. I thought it was great, loved it, the music, the dancing, the moral story, the cute penguins. Want to get the sound track.

Bought my first Josh Groban CD, "Awake". A bit too classical but still like it. Might have to buy one of his others to decide if he is going to be one of my favorite singers.

I get to go to England this Spring. Yippee!!!! Got a nephew getting married in an English country castle. It is a beautiful place up in the English Midlands in the Forest of Dean. Click the link to go to Clearwell Castle's website, http://www.brideshead.co.uk/clearwell_main.html

Made a goof up when I booked the flights through Orbitz.com. Got us landing on the wrong day, the day of the wedding at Gatwick Airport, London. No way would be able to get up into the midlands in time for the wedding. Got confused with the time difference, or had a 'senior moment' while booking the flights, I don't really know what I did, but I was panicking, that's for sure.

But do you think Orbitz.com would change our flight by one day without imposing a whopping $200 per ticket change fee for the Airline and a $30 fee per ticket for Orbitz. $460 additional dollars to change our flight by one day. I argued and argued with them, but couldn't get them to budge an inch. I suppose they couldn't waive the $200 flight change fee for the Airline. I was so stressed!

I asked Orbitz to transfer me to Continental Airlines which they did, and I got a wonderful, kind Continental Airline agent. He listened to my story about missing my nephew's wedding and how I was going over to England to see my 83 year old mother and it may be the last time I would get to see her and spend time with her. How I made a genuine accidental booking, that was not my intention. He very sweetly waived the $400 flight change fee and made a reservation for 1 day earlier, thus by-passing Orbitz.com. And good to his word, the next day he emailed me our e-tickets.

I thanked him profusely and feel God sent him to me in my hour of desperation and need. Bless the Lord!

Wintry Day

They are forecasting a wintry weekend, not too bad though, 5 -7" of snow, just hope there will be no freezing rain first, makes for treacherous driving.

Hope to go see the movie 'Happy Feet' this weekend, it looks so cute in the trailers.

Got a gift certificate for Christmas to one of the very few restaurants in town, so will go there and treat my husband to supper.

Our old Ute theater is a sight to see, it is very a old and narrow theater that in the past has had many leaks in the roof and it is only open Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. It closes through the summer months as the movie go-ers in our lowly populated county, tend not to go to the movies in the hot summer months.

We have several brick roads left from yesteryear in town, no, not yellow brick roads, but red brick roads!

Our county is a great place to raise a family. It is safe place for children, but unfortunately not too many job opportunities for parents.

Well time to go.

Anna