Day 77

After a busy week of summer camp, I get to slow down a little today and get back into a summer routine. I have lots of plans, that don't really involve slowing down. But since I never finish all I plan, I have learned not to worry about it. One of our dogs found his forever home yesterday and his replace will be on the way once he is neutered. The replacement was called Two Chains at the pound and no one wanted him, go figure. We have already renamed him Touche Amor. He is a 44 pound yellow lab mix. Very dog friendly fortunately. He was supposed to have been put down 2 days ago, but they got the adoption application in on time. The big Laika is lying at my feet right now. I found out she like to chew small metal objects. And electric cords. Guess my project need to be to dogproof my room again. My parents are experiencing another round of medical issues. I am so glad they have excellent health care and are viligant enough to catch problems before they get aweful. Time for more coffee and breakfast before I start running with the chores. I will remember to slow down and enjoy the farm and animals....

Baked pasta

I guess this is becomming a mainstay in my kitchen. But I used up the ricotta so can't make it again this month.

Sautee 1 lb mushrooms in olive oil and butter with salt, garlic and nutmeg
Boil 1 lb green beans, then add orange juice and butter
Boil 1 lb ziti
Mix 1 carton ricotta cheese, 2 small eggs, 1/2 cup yougert, 1/3 c sour creme 1/2 c parmesean cheese and 1./4 c parsley
Combine all together with 1 jar marinea sauce and 1/2 pound grated cheese.
Bake about 20 min.

Day 76

I started to write yesterday morning, but the program locked up and I quit. Summer camp starts again today. I did succeed in doing much of the catch up I wanted to do last week, but as usual, there is more to do. One of the adult riders got kicked by another horse while she was riding. Her calf muscle split. She had to have surgery and was hospitalized for 2 days. Now she is nonweightbearing for 2 weeks until the muscle heals. This is the worst injury I have had here. Although I was unable to stop it, I sure wish I could have. I know it could have been wors, but this is not a 100 days of happy moment.

Laika (big dog) got in a fight with Dixie. Niether has permanent injury. Laika is stressed again and started over on her rehabilation. She doesn't want to walk with anyone but me. Horsepower perscribed a homeopathic remedy for the next 3 days. Hope it works. Dixie seems depressed. She is healing fine though.

All the other dogs and horses and goats and pigs and cats and poultry are well. Hay supply is becomming an issue. I hope this doesn't turn out to be a summer scrambling to find hay.

Here are happy photos....Then I need to get ready for camp and start chores...

Day 74

The thing I was Most happy about is my mom made it through surgery. Her pacemaker is repaired and should be good for 7 years. I sure hope she is done with surgeries for a long time. I also am praying she recovers quickly and her body behaves normally to all the medications they are giving her. I got to spend yesterday with my cousin. She was able to keep up with me all day, but I think I wore her out. Today she is doing a summer reading project. We got a lot of work done and she got to ride Sabor with another rider. The other rider helped me finish chores. So I had an early night. The big Lyka (dog) got to stay in my room with the other dogs. She was in her crate and was fine. It is hard to tell if she is happy, but I think she enjoyed it. The dogs that sleep in my room ignored her, which made her feel more confident. I am not understanding why the dogs we are fostering are not finding homes. No one even shows interest in them. I guess that is why there were set to be euthanized at the pound. But nothing is wrong with them that a little training or good management can't fix. The good thing though is that these guys are into a routine here that makes sense. When they find permanent homes and we get new ones here, we start over with the destress/training/socialization.

Marshmello brownies.

Melt 1 stick butter.
Stir together 1 stick butter, 3 T cocoa powder, 1 T olive oil, 1 c. sugar. 2 eggs (I used 1 peacock egg), and 2 t vanilla. Stir well
Add 3/4 c. flour and mix just til combined.
Pour into baking pan that has been lined with parchment so 2 sides stick up and oiled. (Important)
Tear regular marshmellows in half and place on top of brownie batter so when you cut it there will be 1 marshmello per brownie.
Bake 350 for about 30 min.
You can also bake first then top with 1/2 marshmellos and broil for 1-2 min
Allow to cool.
Use parchment to remove from baking pan. Cut in a stabing motion with a spatula, rocker knife or big chef knife. Do not try to cut regularly, they are sticky.

For real junk food goodness. Place a 1/2 slice of cooked and crunchy bacon on top before you eat them.

Day 73

I am happy that I mostly got a peaceful day. Someone called and told me Jackie was loose, but safe in someone's yard. The lady who is fostering her is out of town. Jackie and the horse she is companion to got out through a gate the neighbor left open. All turned out well. I spent 45 min trying to catch the mini we are fostering. Fortunately the people who were planing to come meet him canceled. Because I didn't catch him. I will have to try harsher measures tomorrow when I have more help if I cannot catch him nicely tomorrow (ie: cornering him, and throwing the leadrope around his neck.) Then he will get to be stalled for a while. I was looking forward to no kids here til Wednesday, then my cousin texted. She wants to come all week to help with chores and ride. Of course I said yes! I also discovered marshmello brownies are great topped with bacon.

Italian mac and cheesea

I made this about a week ago, but forgot to write down the recipe. Here is a rough version of it.

Cook some pene pasta. I used organic. Add fresh green beans and frozen spinach to the pasta water while cooking.

Meanwhile make cheese sauce...
Melt 2 T butter, add 2 T flour (I used brown rice flour), stirr well. Add several cups milk, slowly.
Add 2 T basil and 1 T orgeno and 2 T minced garlic. 1 t salt and 1/2 t pepper.
Add 2 c shredded Italian blend cheese and 1 c ricotta cheese

Drain pasta, green beans, and spinach. Add a small can sliced mushrooms and a small can black olives, both drained. Mix cheese mixture with pasta mixture.

Place in baking dish. Top with parmesian cheese and Italian seasoned Panco bread crumbs. Dot with butter.

Bake 350 for about 20 min.

Day 72

Last day of summer camp went smoothly. We tested out the obstacle course for tomorrow and worked on trotting. The little ones worked on steering. We got to watch a movie in the house because of rain. I will miss the kids next week, but am looking forward to a quieter week. I need to catch up with the dogs. I learned to put marshmellos on brownies. I needed to take a covered dish to an award picnic tomorrow. After our obstacle challange.

Day 71

More summer camp. And I had enough help on the farm that I was able to nearly finish the obstacle challange. I have the paperwork printed, and everything was done they could be done. Today the kids get to test it out. We are buying pizza for 20 people today! My lesson program is so full, I am struggling on where to put everyone in my schedule so I can keep up with keeping the farm they way it should be and maybe rest and enjoy life a little. Well, I am enjoying life a lot. But need to rest a little.