Rachael Eliker's Blog, page 94

Doghouse

Our inherited doghouse.Being in the doghouse usually has a negative connotation unless A) you're a dog and B) you're a little kid who enjoys spending time in the doghouse with your dog. Since Raven was meant to be part-time guard dog for our new flock (even though they're well protected behind a fortress), the girls and I decided to fix up the dilapidated doghouse we inherited when we bought the house.  One new wall, new shingles and a fresh coat of paint later, Raven seems to be enj...

Someone Else

A good fifteen inches.While running my first half marathon, I kept thinking how heavy my braid felt.  Fortunately, I had an appointment the following Monday to take care of it.
As short as I could convince myself to go. Maybe someday I'll do a pixie cut...This isn't the first time I've donated hair to Locks of Love and every time I do, I initially feel a little lost, not knowing what to do without all that hair to hide behind. Short hair isn't my best look but I can sacrifice so someone e...

Three Little Birds

So ugly they're cute!The week before a trip is always busy but I decided to go ahead and take Raven out for a run (even though I could have really used the quiet time to finish proofreading my upcoming novel). There's never a dull morning jog: dogs chasing us, Raven slipping from her collar and racing home, curious deer observing from afar and playful foxes are just a few of the experiences we've had.  This morning, it was a nestful of baby birds.
I wouldn't have noticed the three little...

Vanilla Mousse and Berry Parfait

We've had a bounteous year for berries so we decided to use some of our bumper crop in a dessert for some guests.  It had the best of everything: fruit, mousse, chocolate and cookies. Can't go wrong with that combination!
It's a great dessert for the kids to help with too.Vanilla Mousse and Berry Parfait Printable Recipe
Ingredients:
1 instant vanilla pudding, 4 serving size3/4 cups cold milk3 ounces cream cheese8 ounces cool whip, thawed4 cups berries, rinsed and sliced as neededAbout 15 gr...

You Forgot Something

Uh, Snickers? You forgot something!After taking care of a few things outside, I walked to the back door when something caught my eye. I'd know that tuft of calico hair anywhere: Snicker's tail.  My heart skipped a beat, wondering if the fox who'd given us trouble last year had returned (she'd even tried snatching Snickers who smartly jumped onto a garbage can out of the wily fox's jaws). But before I could panic, up trotted Snickers like nothing had happened.  I grabbed her and gave...

Fuel for Fire

The horses always like hanging around when we're working nearby.Now that we've had our first full winter in our big Indiana home, it has been decided that a wood burning stove would be a nice addition, not only to help save on the cost of heating the home but also for the warmth and nostalgia of sitting by a crackling fire.  I love it when sisters help each other.Since we have more than enough trees, it's just a matter of collecting, chopping and splitting the available wood.  It's h...