Rachael Eliker's Blog, page 72

Strolling

Checking on the grapes--they're almost ready!With three little kids and another on the way, it's not always easy to find the time (or babysitter budget!) to go out together. Fortunately, that doesn't deter us from having fairly regular date nights. There's plenty to do and see around the property and while the girls play together, Jack and I get some much needed (at least for me!) adult time. He still picks wildflower bouquets for me.After dinner, we stroll around our acreage and assess how th...

Stoney's Friend

Stoney doesn't even mind Raven, which is a far cry from what he thought of dogs when he was younger.Stoney's a pretty likable guy, especially in his old age. He gets along with most people and animals, is pretty laid back and doesn't have many complaints. So, it's not a surprise he makes friends easily. Here's a cowbird he befriended this morning.
A cowbird catching a ride and a meal.Of course, the bird was probably just there for an easy breakfast of flies, but that's the kind of friendship I...

Baby Sprinkle

Creating a onesie for their baby brother.Some friends threw a baby "sprinkle" for our upcoming baby boy and it was a blast. The food was delicious, it was so fun to make some personalized artwork for the baby and to just sit and chat.
It was like Christmas morning for the girls.Thanks for celebrating the newest addition to our family! Some of the fun artwork and puff paint onesies people made!

Partners in Crime

For some reason, they love to sit on top of the truck when they're eating popsicles...Evelyn's been back in school for a few weeks already and though Claire and Kate miss her during the day, they haven't missed a beat. Last year, there were several days of relative silence--Claire and Kate weren't quite sure how they were supposed to play with each other without the direction of their big sister.
Working on their stash of cicada shells.Their friendship has really flourished lately. If they are...

Katie's Tack Trunk Book Review

To purchase Headed for the Win, click here!One of the highlights of being an author is hearing back from readers who enjoy your work. The writer of Katie's Tack Trunk recently read and wrote a review for Headed for the Win and was honest and kind. I loved every word of it! Here's a snippet of what Katie said:

All in all, the plot twist makes for an excellent book. Headed for the Win was a very fun read, and I'm eager to begin reading Road to the Regalia. Rachael Eliker is certainly an aut...

Kermit

I was finishing up the last of the mowing when a little hopping creature caught my eye. Thankfully, I avoided rolling over him and though it took some effort to catch him, he was soon in hand: Kermit came for a visit! Watching the frog take a swim around the pool.It goes without saying that the girls were excited to have a little froggie around. He was promptly taken to the swimming pool where he swam a few laps before settling into the bottom to try and hide. Of course, the girls have a hard...

No Bake Oreo & Nutella Cheesecake

I was in the mood for chocolate and cheesecake and this one fit the bill. It's light but chocolaty and doesn't require the oven to be turned on--perfect for summer!

Ingredients:

12 Oreo cookies + extra for topping
3 Tablespoons butter, melted
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
2/3 cup Nutella
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 (8 ounce) container whipped topping, thawed

For the crust, crush the Oreo cookies and combine with the melted butter. Press firmly into the bottom of a pie or springform pan (or you can di...

Horse Shelter

Done! Now to finish the fence...Though I am a big proponent of having horses live as "naturally" as possible (i.e. minimal stall time, kept on pasture, forage for food, grain only as needed, etc), there's something comforting about having a shed where they can take shelter from the weather. Of course, 99% of the time, they'll choose to stand outside with their backs to the wind, water and hail and never bother to use the shed, but when it's icy, sleeting or incredibly cold, it does occur...

Loaded Chicken Taco Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing

I was craving a salad last night that was different than plain old lettuce, dressing and croutons and this hit the spot! It was a nice change of pace and was filling without being hot or heavy (which isn't appealing to eat on a muggy summer afternoon). Plus, it was ready in less than half an hour. It's a win!

Ingredients:
Salad
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 pound chicken, cubed
1 Tablespoon taco seasoning
About 4 cups lettuce, choped
1 cup cherry tomatoes
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can corn,...

Koi

I'd noticed the pond store in the small town to the south of us but had never stopped in because we have no ponds to speak of on our property but once our neighbors mentioned they have a koi pond where you can feed the fish, stopping by was at the top of our list.
They'd practically crawl out of the water for some food!The koi didn't disappoint. At first, we were just tossing the food in and enjoying the girls' laughter when they'd suck it up with their gaping mouths. Then someone mentioned th...