Rachael Eliker's Blog, page 79

Cream Cheese Cherry Bars

Since spring has shown up, I've been spring cleaning the pantry in anticipation of gathering fresh fruits and vegetables to preserve. It'd been a while since we'd had anything cherry, so we made this variation of cherry bars, only with cream cheese. They're scrumptious. Not too sweet, not too tart (we may have eaten a few for breakfast even)...they're going fast!

Ingredients:
Crust
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon salt
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
3 cups flour
1 t...

The Last Bale

Winter has transitioned nicely into spring and we've been enjoying the warmer weather, the hens' fresh eggs, thunderstorms and the green grass. Dancer getting some much needed exercise.The last bale we have to use is in decent enough shape but really, when green grass is growing, that's all that's on a horse's mind. Dancer rudely ignoring the neighbor horses to stuff her face.The girls got a lot of entertainment out of the roll of hay. It was a climbing challenge... ...a cat toy... Snickers getti...

Because He Lives

Kate finding her first egg.When the girls realized that Easter was quickly approaching, they began a fervent countdown to Sunday, occasionally tearing up that it wasn't coming fast enough.We kept up with several family traditions, including putting out the Easter baskets in anticipation of the Easter Bunny coming... Finally able to put out the baskets for the Easter Bunny!...and dyeing eggs for the sneaky Bunny to hide. I was going to help them but in the two minutes it took me to finish loadi...

Tea Party

Enjoying a lumberjack-style tea party.It's about time to start the garden and while the girls thoroughly enjoyed their makeshift jungle gym, it was time for it to be chopped up so we could get to the garden beds. That doesn't mean it wasn't fun anymore.
The jungle gym disassembled and ready to be burned for next winter's heat.I was inside making dinner and spied Jack rolling some of the heavier logs over to the leftover stump. At first I wasn't sure what he was doing, but when he gathered all...

Equestrianism

I've felt all of these while riding and I think that's why I enjoy it so much.Equestrianism: What Do You Feel?

No More Guessing

No more guessing which of the old Easter Eggers is laying the egg!

Sledding and Snowmen

Being towed to the hill to go sledding.A few weeks ago, we had a fairly late-season snow storm that canceled church and left a good several inches of snow on the ground.
No one can resist eating fresh snow.Since sledding and snowmen have been favorite pastimes of my childhood, I was eager to share it with my girls, who have never had a chance to sled either because they were too young, it was too cold or there wasn't enough snow.It was the first time for Kate to build a snowman too--Claire and...

Ready, Set, Tile!

Getting started on the mud room tile!I've had stacks and stacks of tile around the house for a few weeks and I finally decided to tackle the mud room. Of course, with any project, preparation is key so I called in the girls to help pull up the smelly, cracking linoleum (reminded me of the shoe room carpet). They'll do just about anything for a quarter and I'm glad of the help.
Claire and Kate are always willing to help if it means a quarter in the piggy bank.Then it was just a matter of laying...

Mani/Pedi

A section of Stoney's hoof. A.K.A. one of Raven's favorite chew toys.While some people like to treat themselves to a mani/pedi, I'm lucky if I go somewhere without grout or paint in my cuticles, much less with filed nails or polish. The horses, however, are on a regular schedule where their hooves are trimmed and filed to perfection.
Dancer being good. Occasionally, she can manage to behave herself.I'd almost think they were spoiled but they don't particularly enjoy it. Stoney's finding it har...

Headed for the Win Review

Another fantastic review for Headed for the Win! Click here to read Equus-Blog's review. Enjoy!

(Thanks Christine!)