My Country Boy's

I thought I would give you a look at the "Country Boys" in my life.



The "Grown" Country Boy
My Grandaddy Kenneth



Pickin' Blackberries with
my Grandad this year.
 



Dad (Kelly) and Uncle Kraig checking out his
new toy.
 



My oldest Cody, Dad & Grandaddy(in the boat)
working on the pier.
 



My husband Quinten & our youngest son Garrett in Oklahoma this summer at Grandma's house
 




Cody playing in the mud at Grandma's in Oklahoma



Dalton, my middle son, enjoying some of the rodeo festivities at the Waynoka, OK rodeo in August 2013.
 



Cody (a few years ago) killed these two chicken snakes in my chicken coop.  He skinned them and still has the skins.  A guy thing I guess.




Garrett (left), Dalton (right) and I enjoyed a day of fishing at my Grandparent's lake.










Black Beans

Every year I try to grow something different in my garden.  I can't say that it always turns out to be something that we actually like, except for this year.  My "something new" this year is black beans.  I bought a couple small packages of seed at the feed store that I typically shop at.  Of course I had spring fever as usual and that was just one of the many different seed varieties that came home with me on that trip.  There were several.  What can I say, I get a little excited when it comes to my garden.  Anyway, back to the beans.  The boys and I planted them a while back and really didn't know what to expect from them.  Oh but we have been watching and waiting and waiting and finally got to pick our first little batch the other day.  I shelled them, washed them up and put them in the crockpot overnight.  I have to say, we will be growing our own black beans every year now.  They are so much better than the dry ones you buy in the store.  I paired them with some homemade "Dirty Rice" and had one happy family.

The Garden and Pickled Jalapeno Peppers

Corn before the rain.

The last few days have been nothing but busy.  Garrett had basketball camp Monday through Wednesday.  We had rain on Monday (2.5 inches) then rain again on Wednesday (1.25 inches).  Mondays rain made all my corn fall over.  My feelings were really hurt about that.  Quinten, aka "The Hubby",  Dalton and I all had to go stake it up so it didn't just lay there all over the ground.  I have happy corn again, thank goodness. 

We picked half a bushel basket of squash that I put up yesterday.  It made seven quart bags blanched in the freezer and 54 squash patties that I froze for later use.
 

Garrett and I went out and picked jalapenos, banana peppers, cucumbers and okra before the rain came yesterday morning.  After all that was said and done it came out to 4.5 pints of sliced japapeno peppers (see recipe below), 6 pints dill pickles, 1 pint pickled okra, and 3 pints hot banana pepper rings.  I do so love my garden. 


 
Easy Pickled Jalapeno Peppers

Yield: Approximately 2 1/2 Pints

Ingredients
1 pound of jalapeno peppers, sliced
2 cups white vinegar
2 cups water
2 tablespoons pickling salt

Instructions
Pack clean, hot jars with peppers. Pour hot brine over top. Remove stubborn bubbles. (I use a butter knife).  Wipe rims (i use vinegar on a paper towel), apply lids and bands.
Process in a boiling water canner for 10 minutes. Store in cool, dark place for up to a year.

Notes

This technique can be used for just about any small, hot pepper. Measurements are for 1 pound of peppers and yield approximately 2 1/2 pints. Recipe can be doubled.






 

Canning Apricots

This year we were lucky enough that the last few cold snaps didn't cause any harm to the Lone Apricot Tree in the back yard.  I am so glad especially since the apricot jam was such a big hit in our family last year.  We were down to the last jar on the shelf.

 

After my fill of eating more than my fair share off that wonderful old tree I decided I had better get to work and put some in jars.  My middle son, Dalton, volunteered to help me out.  We picked, washed and pitted the fruit.

I decided to make some apricots in light syrup. (And yes, I put the date on the lid)  We used the recipe at the following link www.simplycanning.com/canning-apricots.html which was very helpful.  We found the info at www.gopresto.com/recipes/canning/fruits.php to be very informative as well.  I don't think we could have gone wrong either way. After all was said and done we canned 10 pints in light syrup and 10 half pints of Jalapeno Apricot Jam.

We followed the Apricot Jam recipe from the Ball Blue Book guide to preserving and I just added a few jalapenos from the garden for a sweet and spicy twist.  It went great with our farm fresh eggs, bacon and biscuits this morning. 

We have only picked half the apricots so far and thank goodness, I don't know if we would have ever gotten to bed that night since we didn't start until 7:30 pm anyway.  Dalton and I both agree that we will start in the A.M. on the next batch.

A Little Bit Goes a Long Way

The boys finally got out of school today for the summer.  I am so glad and so are they.  I think we were all ready for a much needed break.  I know I have a lot of catching up around here at Busy B Acres. 

My boys, Dalton and Garrett, helped me till up the ground and plant the majority of everything this year.  Cody, my oldest, prefers to drive my dads big tractor and plow up the ground. Dads been teaching him how to plow and plant with the big equipment this year over at their place.  The Hubby was still in the process of trying to get transferred closer to home so was busy most of the time during planting time.  I had surgery back in February and Dalton decided that he was going to make sure I didn't do too much and get hurt so he was the main tiller man.  Garrett, still being a little to small to handle the tiller, not from the lack of trying, decided that he would be the seed planter man.  I am so proud of them.  They have really learned a lot and seem to be retaining a lot of it too.  They are learning the difference in the plant leaves and can identify most of them now.  Garrett is mainly concerned with the watermelon and corn as they are his favorite.  Dalton's favorites are the corn, pinto beans and the different varieties of summer peas.  Cody on the other hand.. well, lets just say I haven't figured out how to grow peanut butter or grow a chocolate milk cow yet.

Last week The Hubby and I picked the green beans from the garden.  It was the first picking and I canned nine pints.  We picked again on Monday and only got five and a half pints.  The way I see it, I little bit goes a long way and I am so proud to have 14 1/2 pints in my store room so far.  That's not to mention the 11 half pints of  blackberry syrup that I canned.  It was actually supposed to be jam but the berries and I couldn't see eye to eye this time.  Who doesn't enjoy a little blackberry syrup on some fresh hot pancakes for breakfast or over some vanilla ice cream on a hot day.   Sounds pretty good to me.

Well it's getting late, gotta walk the dog and turn off the sprinkler..

A Quick Peek....

This is the little cuddly creature I've been talking about for the last two days. I thought it was only fair that you know who I am talking about when I refer to Sugar.  She is checking out the compost pile that I plan on using for my raised beds this next year. 

Sugar's kitten friend, Lola, is about eight weeks old too.. Big difference huh..

She met two of the boys, Charlie and Mr. Fluffy while we were checking out the garden.

My nine yr old Holly girl (front) and 3 yr old Bryant aren't too sure what to think of her yet but seem to be ok with her.  They are sweet babies.

These little guys on the other hand, were NOT so ok with her.

With only a few swats to the nose and a lot of bonding with the other four legged babies, I'd say she a had a pretty good day and is all tuckered out.

All Before Noon

Up with the 6:00 a.m. alarm, woke the boys, let the new puppy out to the potty, kids on the bus and off to school.  Thank goodness only two more days left and then they're out for the summer.

Driving up the driveway from the bus stop this morning I decided my jungle of a yard need mowed.  The hubby was still trying to sleep when I started the lawn mower at 6:45 a.m. and thankfully soon after he was out there running the weed eater.  What a trooper.  Love that man of mine.  Now we can walk through the yard without all that darn knee high grass.

As soon as I walked in the door from mowing and walking the dog the phone rang.  It was the school nurse, Garrett was running a little fever and had a sore throat so we had to pick him up.

Sugar is doing great.  She's going potty outside and is already learning to sit and go in her crate for a nap. She is a very vocal little lady and loves to cuddle.  The other four legged babies are getting used to her and she thinks she has to get as small as the kittens.  Too cute.

All this before noon.. Feeling accomplished.

Here Goes Nothing!

I guess everyone has to start somewhere when it comes to a blog, right?  I never in a million years thought I would even attempt this but here goes. 

For starters I am a Texas country girl at heart.  I've lived in New Mexico, Colorado and Oklahoma.  While they are all nice places, there's no place I would rather be than right were I am back home in Texas.  It just took me a minute to figure that out. 

I live here with my wonderful husband Quinten (an Okie), my 17 year old son Cody, and our 12 yr old Dalton and 10 yr old Garrett.  Needless to say, I stay pretty busy just keeping up with them... but... I have my own little projects I like to tinker with, which include my backyard chickens, my garden and raised beds, sewing, and of course the cats and dogs.  We actually added a new member to our family of four legged babies today.  The husband, the two youngest and I went to Canton earlier in the day as it was First Monday weekend and I found the little (or not so little) one I have been looking for.  She is an eight week old, 18 lb Great Pyrenees puppy that we have named Sugar.  I'm sure there will be a lot more to come about our journey.

It's getting late and I guess I should be going for now.. So goodnight and sleep tight my friend.