SRKindredSpirits

So, this past week, I started milking our Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goat aka 'Jelly Bean'! It actually went very well. She didn't try to kick at all, but she does however try to lay down, while on the milk stand.... (not sure what that's all about!) And speaking of milk stand..... my handsome hubby and daughter spent an evening and built me one.... it is top of the notch and I love it! We are using the 'Once Daily Milking' schedule by The Homestead Prairie So far, I really like this schedule.....  I separate mama and babies at night, milk after morning chores, and then let them be together all day.                                      ........and am planning on sticking with it! . Since our goats are dwarf sized.... there is no need of big buckets or jars! I have a small stainless steel pail that I keep ice water and vodka (yep, you read that right - hubby wasn't too impressed) and keep it in the freezer. (the vodka keeps the ice water from freezing).

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love to cook and bake, but I HATE very much dislike washing dishes! Well I still don't care for dish duty, but there are a few things I've found that help to make clean up easier when it comes to a sink full of dirty dishes! First of all, let me say that if there is one thing to spurge on in your kitchen, you should get a nice set of non-stick pans.  Earlier, this year my hubby bought me   a complete set of The Pampered Chief Executive Cookware  ( both the 7 piece & 5 piece )!! Here is a post with more info and some of my other favorite kitchen items. OK, so I really like my pan set, but sometimes, while cooking, I get expectantly called away from the kitchen. (that's what happens when you have three small kids, home school, run a home biz and try to operate a small homestead!) Occasionally, I come back (quite awhile later) to the stove only to find the inside of my pan looking somewhat like this: (Now, I'm sure non

veggies from the garden.....   I enjoy canning food for my family...... I love to open the pantry doors and know that I did my part to in feeding our family over the winter months!         My canning shelves the hubby built for me.... they are right by the garage door off the kitchen - I love them! Here is a list of some of my homemade canning must-haves.......  Green Beans ready for the canner....... Note: My oldest Daughter does not like cooked green beans...... she likes them raw.....straight from the garden!  Sweet Potatoes -  click here for the reciepe to make the best sweet potato bread you've ever ate ! Sweet Pickels   Squash - If you run out of pumpkin for pumpkin pie - Squash is a great substitute ( acually my hubby likes the squash pies better than pumpkin!) Chicken Broth - Pork Broth - Beef Broth - doen't have MSG in like store bought Shredded Po rk - great for bbq or reg. sandwiches T

I love the smell of fresh herbs and I am slowly learning how to cook with more herbs.........the only problem is that when you live in zone 5, it's quite hard to always have fresh herbs in the garden year round! Thus, you must  preserve them! One of my Herb beds.... Have you ever had trouble keeping fresh herbs fresh? Do your cilantro and parsley go wilty, limpy, or dry after a few days? The trick involves the clever use of a plastic bag. How to Store Parsley, Cilantro, and Other Fresh Herbs: 1 - Snip off the bottom of the stems. 2 - Make sure the leaves are completely dry. Better to hold off rinsing them until you're about to use them. 3 - Fill a jar or a water glass partially with water and place the stem ends of the herbs into the water in the jar. 4 - If you are storing the herbs in the refrigerator, cover loosely with a plastic bag. Cilantro loves cool temperatures and should be stored in the refrigerator.   Parsley can be stored at room temperature or

Disclaimer: The info on this site is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. None of the opinions are meant to diagnose or treat any disease or illness. You should always consult your healthcare provider. Shaklee does not endorse this blog . The following is not in any way a claim - it is only about our personal experience! As a mom to a special needs son, I have tried many things to help him. I wanted to share with you what we are doing and some of the things we have noticed improvement. The following is my opinion only and is not a claim.  The following is how we are using  Shaklee Vitamins to help our son. Our son, QW has been diagnosed with PDD-NOS, dyslexia, dyscalculia, delayed speech and language, and unability to retain and recall info, along with multiple slow learning disabilities and disorders. He is recieving Special Ed, Speach Therapy, and Occupational Therapy .  We are doing an experiment with Shaklee supplements of o

 ~ Chasing Rainbows Iris..... my favorite - they smell so refreshing! ~                                         Well it’s the first of June and although most of the garden is in....but, I still have a few more things to put out.  One - being sweet potatoes. I always forget to start my own during winter. This year, I can't find them anywhere..... I think I may have learned my lesson this time! Our family's favorite quick bread is: Sweet Potato Bread .... and it is scrumptious! 3 c. granulated sugar 1 c. oil 3 eggs 3 c. flour 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. cloves 1 tsp. nutmeg 1 tsp. cinnamon 1 tsp. vanilla 2 c. (I use more) mashed sweet potatoes 1 c. chopped pecans Mix all ingredients together well. Pour into 2 lightly greased loaf pans. Bake at 325* oven for 1 hr. and 15 min. -stick with tester to make sure center is done....may need to bake longer. Makes 2 loaves *Please Leave a comment and

I Love Pampered Chef ..... .......And I am lucky enough to have an Aunt who sells it!  Not only does my Aunt sell Pampered Chef , but she is also an amazing cook!!! Her house always smells so good and everyone feels welcome in her home! You can't go wrong with Pampered Chef!   Here is just a few of my favorite Pampered Chef Products that I use on a daily basis:       My newest Pampered Chef  products were a complete set of TPC Executive Cookware  ( both the 7 piece & 5 piece )!!!  -a Christmas gift from my wonderful husband!!! You see, we had bought a Teflon Pan set as a wedding gift, but after 5 yrs., the coating was coming off in our food and the handles were braking off. I absolutely LOVE my pan set!!! I show them to everyone who comes over for a meal! Some of the things I like about my TPC Executive Cookware : Hard-anodized aluminum reinforced with titanium for superior durability DuPont™ Autograph® 2 nonstick coating inside and out for effortless c

Birthday cakes for little girls: Horse and Rainbow Cake Dora cake Barbie cake  ( I made this cake in a spare moment and didn't have my decorating supplies with me.......) Barney Birthday Cake Princess cake My Little Pony cake Baby's 1st Birthday Bunny Cake Barbie cake  (Faith got her first doll house on this birthday)  My feeble attempt at a horse cake (I realized afterward that the neck is all wrong.....but she liked it!) Butterfly Birthday Cake #1 The wolf cake ..... she totally loved this one! Indian Cake Butterfly Birthday Cake #2 And for big girls, too....... Double Chocolate Fudge Cake My Little Sister's 16 yr. birthday cake...... You can see more of my (SRKindred) cakes here and here

You know, here in America we use cake to celebrate all kinds of special occasion's: Birthday's, Weddings, Bridal Showers, Baby Showers, Graduation, House Warming, Valentines, Easter, sometimes even Christmas. There are so many different kinds of cakes.....choc., vanilla, strawberry, butter pecan, almond, red velvet, lemon, coffee, marble, spice, zucchini, carrot....the list never seems to end! Well, someday, I'd love to take a cake decorators class, but until then, here are just some of my specialty cakes: Easter Cross Cakes:       Graduation Cake: OK, so this isn't cake, but I made these little graduation hats out of reeses cups, squares of chocolate and icing. They were yummy! Birthday Cakes: 20th Birthday Cake Birthday Cake  Birthday Cake for Guys: 30th Birthday Cake 33rd Birthday Cake Little Boys Birthday Cakes  Block Cake Train Cake Backhoe Cake Bulldozer Birthday Cake