Rachael Eliker's Blog, page 64

Painting Buddies

Keepin' busy with toys and boxes from Christmas.Every day, I try to do a little painting. Heaven knows, this big house needs it--from top to bottom. Consequently, the children have all become my painting buddies. Wherever I set up the ladder or crack open a can of paint, they're sure to be there, playing, watching, asking a million questions, occasionally at each other's throats, but mostly, keeping me in good company. An otherwise tedious task is kept unceasingly interesting.
Testing the new...

Impression

Welcome to our perfect life. Rrrrright.Sometimes, I think I give the wrong impression.
When I write about what project we're in the middle of or what animal or child did what funny/cute/intelligent act or what delicious meal we just ate, I may inadvertently make people think that everything at the farmstead is all sunshine and rainbows and happy, fluffy animals and cheerful, polite, helpful children.
A tree from our forest fell onto the road. Yay.It's not.
Oh, Dancer. You fat, pushy mare...(Just...

Kitty Throne

A perfect perch as far as Hercules is concerned.Don't bend over at our house: you may become a kitty throne.

Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies

Somethin' a little different than a typical chocolate chip cookieThese are the cookies we enjoyed for our "Parisian" picnic to celebrate our ninth wedding anniversary. They're soft, chewy, peanut buttery and sweet...we'll definitely be making them again!
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter1/3 cup creamy peanut butter1 cup light brown sugar1/2 cup sugar1 egg + 1 yolk2 teaspoons vanilla extract1 1/4 cup flour1 cup old-fashioned oats1/2 teaspoon baking soda3/4 cup white chocolate chips1/2 cup peanut...

Number Nine

Yesterday was our wedding anniversary and we celebrated number nine! Married f-o-r-e-v-e-r! Hooray!The day started out like most: I woke up early to get the fire started, trudged through sub-freezing temperatures to slop the animals, collected more firewood, slipped and knocked over the log cart and temporarily pinning myself underneath until I could push enough wood off myself to get up (that doesn't happen every day at least...), then headed inside to get everyone else ready for the day. It...

The Unlucky One

While waiting for Evelyn to get off the bus, I walked out in our new winter wonderland to get the mail and saw this poor little girl frozen on the driveway. No doubt the bees are a little confused about what time of year it really is, after an unseasonably warm December. This bee was the unlucky one who was sent out to scout in the cold.

Poor girl.

Winter's Arrived!

Moseying over to visit the neighbors.It was only a few days ago that we were outside, enjoying the warmer-than-normal weather by climbing the rock wall and visiting the horses... Hi Stoney!...but we should've known that winter can't be put off forever. Everyone having a good time outside.It had been a little too good to be true lately. The wood stove has been keeping us warm enough that the furnace hasn't even turned on for a few weeks, I can go outside with Henry without worrying if he'll free...

Easy Meringues

It was a Friday night, we had some extra egg whites and I just got a new KitchenAid Stand Mixer for Christmas, so there was only one thing to do--make some meringues!

Ingredients:

3 eggs whites
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon white vinegar

Preheat the oven to 200F and line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper. Start by whipping the egg whites until stiff peaks form (tip: the egg whites won't fall out of the bowl if you turn them upside down). Slowly add the sugar, then vanil...

Will Work for Play

Lift!The girls were gifted a set of rock climbing grips and since we've had a mild winter since returning home from our Christmas vacation, we put on our coats and headed out to build the rock wall. Hang on, Evelyn!Generally, the girls are more than willing to help, especially when it comes to working on something for them--let's just say, they'll work for play. They helped haul wood, measure, and hold it while it was being assembled.
Good job, Henry!And Henry did his duty and slept. Rock climbi...

Fullest Potential

With the new year, I am one of those suckers that likes to review old goals and set new ones for things I'd like to do, accomplish or experience (if I didn't write them down, I'd probably forget!). Recently, I've been pondering on a deeper level what I can do to reach my fullest potential. Of course, there are lots of things I'd like to be able to check off my list and in some ways, they'll help direct my life, but there are many more attributes that are less tangible...