Three Wolf Moon T-Shirt, The Truth

The real truth behind the Three Wolf Moon T-Shirt is that marketing really does work. Much like the Slinky, Rubic’s Cube, and the Pet Rock, Three Wolf Moon will go down in “I owned that fad” history.

Of course, a few feeble minded idiots also though CD’s would pass inthe mist, as would cell phones (they are too bulky and expensive) and monster sized televisions. After all, who wants those humongous contraptions taking up all that space in the living room.. geez!

If I were to guess the true meaning of Three Wolf Moon T-Shirt, I would say it means it is gonna be a down right cold night….wasn’t that a song once…oh wait, that was Three Dog Night, name of a group.  Now where did they fade off to? Hm, guess it was a fad too!

So crumpled in the bottom of my closet, next to my pet rock, and foam curlers and moon boot slippers is my Three Wolf Moon T-Shirt. Should put it into a time capsule.

Laters!

Pink Frosting

Friendship is to life like Pink Frosting is to cake. These are the words of a very special lady who lost her battle to cancer.  She lost her battle, but not her life because she will live on forever in our hearts.

Pink Frosting is a wonderful analogy to friendship. Everyone loves Pink Frosting.  For some of us, we budgie up to the front of the line to get that special piece of wedding cake with the most frosting. Hey we even let people go ahead of us, one at a time,  until the next piece is a corner. Twice the frosting, half the cake, yummmiiii!

When one finds that “kindred spirit” , as Ann of Green Gables says, we know we have found that “Pink Frosting” in our lives.

That friend would do anything for you. And even in times of deepest sorrow, is still there to hold you up, hold your hand, clean up the mess, quiet the storms, whisper encouragement and even make you laugh.

Who is your Pink Frosting, share with us…..

Curves On Monroe – Madison, WI

As I have spent most of the last 6 weeks north of the Mason Dixon Line, at Curves On Monroe in Madison, WI, I have learned so much about exercise and health, both of which I usually turn a deaf ear.

First, the machines are MADE for women, which is the big selling point. Then they are designed to work two muscles at a time, not just one, as the traditional weight training does.

Then, at Curves On Monroe, the environment is not traditional either. It is loaded with green plants, a resident bird, and a dog or two spattered in.

This green plants makes Curves On Monroe, truly GREEN. The plants give back the oxygen and cleans the air from the carbon dioxide that the women exhale as they exercise.

Lucy, the resident Cockatiel, chirps and chatters adding to that atrium environment.

I have been working here while the owner goes out in the community and does some markting. I have made some great friends here, and look forward each time I get the chance to come. Of course, it would be soooo much better if it was a paying job, but hey, I am adding it to my resume, if I ever need to get a real job (chuckle)!

So if you are ever in the neighborhood, stop in, bring your dog, chat, workout, and make a memory with me.

Portuguese Water Dog, Gun Hunting Dog

The Portuguese Water Dog is known as a “gun dog” used for hunting water fowl. Maybe some people think water dogs make great surfer dogs.  It’s true they love the water, but they also love the hunt and the discipline it takes to become a professional hunting dog.

Portuguese Water Dogs are very “labor” intesive animals. They need regular vigorous exercise, so they are not for the weak of heart.

Me, when I get my next dog, it’s going to be an old dog with no tricks that like to sit in the sun and not think. Now that’s a pet!!!

Top Hats

CoolestChicOnThePlanet

Designer Top Hats are my favorites. Here is a peek at my newest creation.

Actually it is my daughter’s pet bird, who loves to sit on your head while you work her Curves on Monroe Street in Madison Wisconsin.

I have spent the last week helping out with her Curves Place. Lucy, who is really a male is in mourning for his mate who died over the last weekend.  Maybe I just look like an old bird, or he really likes my shampoo.

Shorthorn Cattle of Southern Wisconsin

The Shorthorn Cattle are an exceptional beef breed, with defined carcass and muscle mass that creates might fine tasty steaks.  Originating in the North East of England in the late 18th century, it was developed and managed for both the meat and milk needs of the England countryside.

With their meat and milk quality surpassing those of more moderate breeding, the Shorthorn Cattle quickly became the breed for optimal and dependent performance. With their quick adaptability, the Shorthorn Cattle has become a popular breed on a global market.

This desperate ranchwife is always wondering why a person can’t go to the supermarket and pick up a Shorthorn Cattle Rump Roast for family gatherings. After all, we can choose vegetables from California, or Mexico, Ginsing from China, or even noodles from New York. I know the Angus Beef Marketing board has spent gazillion bucks on making sure we can buy beef that is “Angus”, so come on Shorthorn Cattle Ranchers, shell out the $$ and get your products on our shelves with your name!

One question for you folks out there raising Shorthorn Cattle, are their horns really short? er, or do they even have horns?

Being a “horn” person, I convinced my husband that I would love one of those sets of  “longhorns” for over the fireplace. He must have misunderstood me, cause now I have about 50 Longhorned Cattle roaming these hilly pastures. “Go for it honey” git yur horns for over the fireplace” he says…hm men, you can’t live with them, and you can’t live without them!

Normande Cattle, The Great Steak

Normande Cattle Built Strong

Normande Cattle is a breed that looks like it is all steak! While doing some research recently, I came across this picture of a Normande Cattle breed.

Being a Desperate Ranchwife myself, I was intrigued with this Normande Cattle Breed.  Seems they were originally brought to Normandy by the Viking conquers in the 9th and 10th centuries. Wouldn’t want to be in the bottom of that ship!  In a  span of  a thousand years,  these Normande Cattle were bred and evolved into a dual purpose breed to meet the milk and meat needs of the people of northwestern France.

Of course, by the time the Allied forces invaded Normandy during World War II, the breed had become almost decimated. So much for a great steak with creamy alfredo sauce!

Normande Cattle have since been exported world wide, with South America being the most popular place of growth.

The Normande Cattle Breed, with their sound feet and legs, can travel long distances over rough terrain to very economically graze the forages and native roughages.

Guess this Desparate Ranchwife is going hunting for a great steak to add to this hilly outpost of the ozarks! P.S. Wild hog hunting starts this week! Back to the woods! Um, yum!

Zac Brown Band-Chicken Fried, Song of the South

Zac Brown Band’s  Chicken Fried made a rare appearance last week during High School Algebra 1 class. In harmony even.

I had just finished explaining linear equations to a super hyper-active class of 7th hour Friday pimple poppers. The teacher gave me instructions to make a pot of coffee for the kids, cause the caffeine works reverse with ADHD. And by that time of day…meds are wearing off. So with coffee in hand…

As I gave my last example, I accidentally said…And that’s it kids!

It’s Friday…and the back of the room began in harmony…

“You know I like my chicken fried”….and continued singing, until the whole class was belting it out.

I proceeded into air guitar, while singing along doing my ” happy dance” for 3 more minutes until the bell rang.

Will they remember the linear equation example? Probably not, but they will be the first one to grab me in the hall when I come back and ask for help on the next math issue they have. They’ll come around…..right?And if not, they will always remember that Crazy Fun Sub that sang in class.

And for all you RV Alums at SG,WI and JLR’s friends, who read this blog…..I am way more FUN now as a sub…and someday I’ll make a youtube vid !!!!!

This is for all you Yankees who don’t know “The Song of the South”…….more comonly known as “Chicken Fried”.

Does My Baby Have Infant Trush?

Infant Thrush Symptoms

How do you know if your baby has Infant Oral Thrush? One of the most common symptoms of  Baby Thrush is white pasty inner mouth. Sometimes this looks like cottage cheese, or curdled milk. A quick inspection of the mouth might also show small sores. Gently wipe the inside of  his mouth with a soft cloth to help you see better.

I found good information about Infant Thrush giving some good details, and a good resource for new mothers.

With the price of insurance these days, I cannot imagine having young children. The internet is a good source of information, helping new mothers get some facts in order to make a decision as to whether or not to rush to the emergency room.

With some of the less critical problems infants have, it is good to know about the home remedies that work.

Woodland Carnage

Trees Moaning Under the weight of ice

As the sun came up, the devastation became apparent. It was hard to see our woods coated with thick arms of ice, moaning under the weight of its load.  No shouts of “Timber”, just  “crack”, “snap” and sounds of massive weight falling through the thick underbrush of the woods.

A survey through the binoculars told us there was no roof where our south hay barn sat 1 mile away. We grimaced as we knew underneath the rubble was our stock trailer loaded with fence posts purchased earlier in the week.

As CowboyDoc road his Japanese Quarterhorse out to check on his cattle, I settled into the “pioneer” mindset. Recalling “Little House on the Prairie” I built a fire in the fireplace.

Our Trailer Salesman scoffed at me when I said I wanted the “optional” fireplace. “You want a fireplace? Lady, do you know how warm the winters are down here?” I said “yes I do…put it in!” Our neighbors said it would be an insurance nightmare, but I did my homework. For all you other trailerheads out there, if your home is built on a full basement, your insurance is managable. If you just tie it to the ground, fireplaces are an insurance nightmare…just a heads up.

Although the fireplace is quite a bit smaller than my one north of the MasonDixon, I was sure I could manage campfire cooking out of it.

I now realize after taking stock of the weather hazard outside, that this may be a bit longer than just a day of power outage. Tackling the refrigerator is the next project on the agenda. Take note, the fridge heats up faster than the freezer, so moving things to a cooler with ice packs keeps it cooler longer.  I threw most everything else into a stewpot along with a venison leg to sweeten it up and put it into the fireplace to begin “slow cooking”.

The house temperature was staying fairly livable, although, long johns, heavy duty football sweats, t-shirt, long sleeve shirt, and football hoody help stave off the chill that was beginning to settle in.

By the time Cowboy Doc Came in for breakfast, I had and  entire camp kitchen perched on my family room hearth. Sausage, eggs and Cowboy coffee filled the hunger hole and got him ready to tackle the cattle chores outside.

Camp cooking in the Family Room

He and OldTimer neighbor, chain saws at the hip, headed out to cut the trees up that had fallen and laid in state across our roads hampering us from getting hay to the cattle.  OldTimer had called and asked if we needed hay for our cows, which in fact was the next order of business, after he had purchased them a mere 3 weeks ago. He never dreamt that an ice storm would hit so hard, so fast. Our winter grazing program was working very nicely, with lots of stockpiled grasses for the animals, until now.

And there in the middle of the field were the “Northern” Horses, which we brought with us, jumping, rolling, and having a blast in the frozen tundra. They must have thought they died and went back to heaven. They settled down, into all the snow and ice they broke up…to, right….grazing….After all, they lived all their life in frozen tundra, and knew without a doubt that there was yummy grass under the popsicles. Oh those silly kids!!!

Noon meal and supper will be from the stewpot. Yummy venison stew garnished with sour cream and cheese and hot coffee.

Day two ended sitting by the fire, chatting, playing electronic suduko, and me crocheting by firelight. Throw on another blanket tonight, as the temps will be down to 21 degrees by morning.  Truth be known, I have always wondered what “winter” camping was like, but having never liked camping, dirt, bugs and such….now I know.  Lucky for us, we have Nikken Technology blankets which use far infrared ceramic fibers, like those used on the space shuttle….and yes! They are toasty. It is hard to imagine that even in this cold night there there are still “heat” rays bouncing around us, and these blankets “capture” those heat rays and hold them in the warmth of your body.

Guess I will be relearning a lot in the days to come about conduction, heat, fire and a whole lot of  “energy” class stuff that I slept through in Physical Science class many moons ago.

Watching a movie on my dvd player, that I charged in the car earlier. Ok, so I gave in to my inner need for electronics. Charged the cell phone too, but no need to set the alarm, you get up when the sun comes up, and go to bed when it goes down. We decided that if you want time to slow down in this fast pace lifestye of the century, just shut off the lights, don’t use any electricity, heat water over fire, cook over fire…..and your whole world slows down.

We were both exhausted as we fell into bed praying that somehow our “powered” life would return the next morning.  Tonight I will dream of “things to do in July heat”…….