Good Morning Monday

It's Monday, Yay!  I LOVE Mondays!

No sarcasm, I really do have a soft spot for Monday.  It gets a bad wrap.  Too many people look at it as "I have to go back to work" day.  How about we look at it as "I'm thankful for a job" day.  Does that make any sense?  I am grateful for my back to work day.  It gives me a chance to get myself ready for the week and put my house back in order.  Mondays give me a fresh start.  No matter what the previous week held for me, I get to start anew.

In our house, Mondays mean clean sheets on the bed.  It's fresh towels in the bathroom.  It's getting all of the weekend-ness out of the house.  I love weekends.  I just don't always like how things seem to get thrown to the wayside.  I like my home to be dusted, vacuumed...fresh.  Don't get me wrong, it's a household of six right now.  It's most definitely lived in.  I don't have the "magazine ready" house.  I don't really want it.  I have a home where people aren't afraid to come in, sit down, put their feet up and relax.  It makes our weekends so fun.  We enjoy having our friends/family out.

All of that being said, it's time to get off my tookus and get moving.  It doesn't magically happen, contrary to what the children may think.  As a "gift" to you, I am posting a picture in the hopes it brightens your day a bit.  It's one of my favorites.  I sometimes need reminding of why I love it here, esp when it's so darn cold!

A Montana Sunrise

May you have a peaceful Monday.

~Ash

Super Easy Supper

Good Day All.

It's SNOWING!!!  Yay! Maybe not...  It's gonna be a freezing cold weekend here in Montana.  Down in the negatives tonight and single digit/teens for highs.  We'll see just how much snow we get here, looks like we are only in for about 6".  Puts me in the mood for some good comfort foods.  We keep our thermostat set really low (64*F) so I like to take the opportunity to use the oven as often as I can.  So, in keeping with the theme, I have decided to post a quick and easy casserole for my first recipe.  The kiddos and I threw this together one night while the hubby was out of town.  Please excuse the photo quality, or lack thereof.  I just randomly decide to take pictures of meals.  I suppose it's time to learn the art of "beauty" shots.  Know what I mean?  LOL

Pizza Casserole

Ingredients

1 Package of Pasta (we used small shells)

Pizza Sauce (we used leftover spaghetti sauce)

Pepperoni

Ham

Mozzarella Cheese

Italian Bread Crumbs

* Preheat oven to 350 F

Cook pasta according to package, drain.  While pasta is cooking, prep your “toppings” as you wish.  We cut up pepperoni and used leftover diced ham. Mix sauce, toppings and pasta, even a little mozzarella, and place in baking dish.  Top with mozzarella and then bread crumbs.  Cover with foil and cook until bubbly, about 30 min.  Remove foil and brown the top for a few more minutes.  Serve with garlic bread.

**Any pasta/topping could be used and a side salad would go well too**

I hope this helps someone.  I know I am always looking for new ideas.  It's even better when I can use leftovers and clear out the fridge a little.  No one in this house likes leftovers so it's a good cover.  And who can go wrong with pizza, right?

May you all have a joyous day.  Give out a little extra love today, I bet there's someone near you who could use it.  It's a great day for cuddling too.

Comfort Food and Hugs go great together.

~Ash

Wonderful Wednesday

Good Morning.  Here is a view from our front porch.  I wonder why it's called Big Sky Country?  I used panoramic on this and it's still only a little slice of the sky.

You can't even see the wind!  LOL

So, today I will be trying to figure out a little more of this technology.  I am hoping to get some recipes posted.  There just isn't too much excitement outside with all the cold and wind.  I figure maybe some warm and hearty recipes would be good with this weather.  Here's to Hump Day.  Wish me luck.

Have a Wonderful Wednesday.

~Ash

Goodbye 2012

Tonight we will bid farewell to the year 2012.  It's been a year of triumphs and struggles all around.  Here at the 'Ole Homestead we've seen the slow changes of our city life becoming our country life.  We've learned so much along the way.  From water pumps to branding cattle, we've been fortunate to experience these moments in life.  We are settling into our little town and our little farm.

We have strengthened our friendships and neighborliness.  The kids are enjoying school and have become more interested in sports.  It really is amazing how much more we are experiencing.  Having the kids in a smaller school offers them opportunities they weren't so lucky to have in the bigger schools.  The sense of community here is something I've never really witnessed first hand until now.  It's just a great place to live.

We have added to our farm this year.  After the "Massacre of 2012", we have added chickens, bunnies, cats and a horse.  Soon, we should start to get a little more egg production.  We have a lost (she prob doesn't think she's lost) dog, Cora, who is deeply missed.  Just today Lucy woke up crying after having a dream she had returned.  It really stinks.  With the animal additions, we have also added fencing and a new coop/shelter.  It's definitely slow progress but progress none the less.

Looking forward to 2013, we are hoping to continue building up our little area here in Big Sky Country.  We will definitely be setting new goals and continuing to work toward a better life for our family and the world we live in, spiritually, financially and healthily.  I wish everyone a safe and happy new year.  May you all continue to be blessed in the future.

Adieu 2012,
Tchuss, Ciao, BYE BYE

~Ash

15 Years...Who'Da Thought?

Hello everyone.  It's Tuesday, the 4th of December, and only 4 days to go to the Woodsies 15 year anniversary!!!  Holy Smokes!  I know plenty of people who doubted, questioned, scoffed etc. and all I can say is, I am the luckiest, most blessed girl in the world!  I've got my Mr. Right and a wonderful family, awesome friends, amazing memories and so much more to look forward to.  Ain't life grand! :-)

So, on the farming end of things we are moving slowly.  The animals seem to be happy and healthy which is our priority, obviously. We are still keeping our eye out for a companion for Belle, she must get so lonely.  She does get time with us and the birds.  She seems to enjoy her time with the turkeys and ducks.  We also need to get a shelter up for her.  She goes in with the birds if it's really bad out.  Oh, and it looks like two of our "new" chicks are roosters.  That will make three with only four hens...I believe we're gonna need more hens...

 (Our sweet Cora is still missing.  I still find myself getting choked up when I see pictures of her.  She is such a goof.  I continue my prayers knowing each day the chances of seeing her again diminish substantially.  Three weeks is a long time.)  

Being winter, even if the Montana weather says differently, we are focusing our activities inside the home.  We've got quite the "laundry/honey do" lists and they seem to grow faster than a new puppy.  Cleaning the carpets is this week's priority, I've gotten quite a bit done so far.  As I'm always looking to save $$$, one can imagine my pause when facing the cost of steam cleaner cleaner.  It's outrageous and doesn't really work so good anyway.  Pet Lover's or Professional formulas, my fannie.  So, yesterday, I decided enough was enough.  I did a little researching online and decided to go with simple, inexpensive and readily available.  I used my homemade laundry detergent.  Yup, homemade laundry detergent, you read it right.  So far, so good.  I am also using my homemade stain remover on the tough spots.  Not sure how that will work out but the areas I did yesterday look good and, get this, NO PET SMELLS!!!  I detest spending my day laboring over the carpet steam cleaner only to smell the bouquet that can only be created by pets and heavily scented cleaners (cover ups).  I'm actually more than a little excited about it.  Cheap thrills, huh.

Well, I'm off to do some more steaming.  Hoping everyone is having a good day.

~Ash