cocoa

it is beginning to be that time of year! 

[ i love a cup of cocoa in the winter ]

1 cup        cocoa powder
2 cups        instant nonfat dry milk
2 cups        powdered sugar
Andes

Sift the cocoa powder, dry milk, and powdered sugar. Combine the ingredients in a bowl. [ I ground Andes and added 1/2 cup to the bowl ] Mix together well. 

Add 1/2 cup of cocoa mix to 1/2 cup of hot water for one serving of cocoa. Enjoy! This cocoa mix also makes a great little gift! Place the cocoa mix into a cute container for a heartwarming gift for friends and family.

farm chick favorite

  grit + grace

This tee. I love this tee from A Thousand Hills! It is perfect. As a woman raising cattle, these are my words... grit and grace.

When I saw this grit + grace tee, I knew I had to have it in my life. I bought two... one in white and one in navy This tee is perfect by itself in the summer or with a cardigan, jean jacket, or blazer in the spring and winter. 

This tee in navy is perfect with a favorite pair of jeans and boots. A great necklace will give it a sweet touch.  

My faux leather leggings and black strappy heels will be so cute with the white tee. Style it with some great jewelry... and it is edgy and adorable!

a barn find

 [  an old rope halter  ]

The absolute best barn find! This halter was something I was hoping to have found. It brought tears to my eyes when I spotted it hanging up in a barn. From the barn to my cozy rustic home... it will be loved. 

This halter has passed through the hands of my grandpa and dad. And, it has adorned heifers that built our cow herd. It was incredible to find. It makes my heart happy. It makes me proud. History of the family farm should be cherished. And, I do.

At first, I was not sure how I was going to style it in my rustic farm home. But, I knew it would be a focal point. I decided to hang it as wreath in my entryway. So, I smile every time I walk into my farm home.

baling cornstalks: 2020

On Friday, my dad mowed cornstalks to prepare for baling them. After a few years of baling cornstalks for our cows, we decided to mow them before baling them this year. Mowing the cornstalks would shred the corn residue. This would also make the cornstalks more useful for bedding and feeding.  

Saturday morning, I raked the cornstalks in the field dad had mowed. Shortly after I finished raking, they were custom baled for us.

Mowing the cornstalks before raking, created more volume to bale. 

Those cornstalks! A nice windrow was made after raking.

80 bales of cornstalks were rolled up on Saturday afternoon. The cornstalks will used as bedding for cows this winter and and for cows and calves this spring during the calving season. 

The cornstalks are also fed in a ration with hay, and corn silage to our cows over the winter. The cows love them.

boo bags

Happy Halloween

It is a tradition of mine to make boo bags every Halloween for my family. I love giving them to my family [ including the dogs ] and friends every year. 

I use a paper lunch bag then decorate it. This year, I spray painted the bag black. And, I used a tan crayon to simply draw on the bag. The open end of the bag was torn off to create a rugged edge. After filling the bag with Halloween treats, I folded over the top of the bag and closed it with a clothes pin. It looks super cute.

have a spooktacular halloween!

corn silage 2020

On October 6, corn was chopped for silage. The silage will be fed to our cows over the winter months.

A sample of silage was collected and sent to Dairyland Laboratories for analysis. The test will provide nutritional value of the feed. It is important to know the quality of the corn silage we are feeding our cows in order to meet their nutritional requirements.  

Two 100' bags were filled with corn silage for 2020. That is 200 tons of feed. Along with the silage, hay and cornstalks will also be fed to our cows.

Our cows will enjoy the corn silage this winter!

farm chick favorite

[  coffee + cows  ] 

 this tumbler! ugh 💜

Me in two words... coffee and cattle.

I absolutely adore this tumbler! It could not be more perfect. This will be filled with iced coffee 💜

farm chick favorite

[ i adore these earrings ]

A great pair of earrings can dress up a basic tee shirt and jeans. And, I love a unique pair of earrings... especially when they are handcrafted. 

I am loving leather earrings. They are a new favorite. And, these! Oh my goodness. My heart is fluttering. I love these earrings from Yondr Made so very much. The teardrop earrings with turquoise are truly beautiful. And, the square earrings with tassels are so much fun!

kitchen shelving: fall style

The sun was starting to set. Walking into my house after a day of working on the farm, I noticed the warm sun soaking into my kitchen. The old wood shelving in my kitchen was glowing. It brightened my styled shelving. 

This past weekend, I rearranged the shelving in my kitchen. Not much changed. But, it looks so different. I am so in love with it! I brought inside the planter with the wire vine and placed it on top of the shelving. And, the antique turquoise canning jar and glass insulator were moved to be used elsewhere. The lightning rod with purple glass brown pottery bowl, ceiling tins, and antique cattle photographs are wonderful with the wire vine. I love the metal, paper, wood, glass, and pottery blended together. It all is perfectly styled together.

apple muffins

Happy National Farmers Day! I baked these apple muffins for two of my favorite farmers to enjoy! 

Fall is a favorite season of mine to bake... especially with apple, pumpkin, or oatmeal. 

3 cups        flour
1 1/2 cups        sugar
1 teaspoon        salt
4 teaspoons        baking powder
4 teaspoons        cinnamon
1 1/3 cups        milk
2        eggs
2/3 cup        unsweetened applesauce
3        apples [ peeled, cored, chopped ]

Mix the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon together in a bowl. Mix the milk, eggs, applesauce together in another bowl. Peel, core, and chop the apples. Combine the two bowls together. Fold in the apples. Spray the muffin tin with cooking spray. Spoon in the batter into the muffin tin. Bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes. Remove the muffins from the oven and let cool. 

antique lockers

At an auction, I bought a set of antique lockers. It was the best $35 ever spent. I am absolutely in love with them! Black rusty metal... it is perfect in my farm home 💜

 

[ The lockers were unsold at the auction when I returned to pick up my purchases. I could not understand why someone would not buy it. I fell in love with the lockers at first sight. There was so much possibility! ] 

This set of antique lockers has been repurposed in my rustic farm home. Once I moved the set of lockers into my house, I realized how big it actually was. WOW! It is stunning in my living room. 

The top of the lockers was uneven. To it, I added a cross member from the old corn crib. I love how it looks! It creates contrast and polish. Such a warm feel! And, I adore the knot in the wood. It has so much character  💜

A rustic elegance is the vibe of the lockers. In styling, I used...
black + white photos
clock
antique turquoise canning jars
wood candlestick holder [ Magnolia Market in Waco, TX ] + black taper candle
table lamp
accent chair + frilly black pillow
palm

I framed three of my favorite black + white prints... two 8x10 and one 11x14 lean against the wall. It is pretty great being a photographer... it makes styling my farm home even more special. The framed photos create more height to the lockers. They are at the center of the lockers as the focus. And, I love the layering of the frames. It creates some texture and dimension. The antique canning jars in turquoise add a pop of color for a nice contrast. The wood candlestick holder [ on clearance at Magnolia Market in Waco, TX ] creates height and balance to my framed farm photos. The black taper candle coordinates with the black frames. A lamp on top of the lockers was perfect for this corner of my living room. 

. wood . glass . metal .

The styled lockers add so much coziness to my farm home! The wood, glass, and metal elements created a lot of warmth in the corner of my living room. In love. A plant and an accent chair really completes it.

I then decided to add the vintage bird cage I bought at an antique store while visiting a friend on a road trip to Texas. I had been trying to find the perfect place for it in my home, and I found it... in this corner.  

This corner! So in love 💜 I absolutely adore how it looks!

[ Since posting, I switched out the lamp. I chose a clear glass baluster lamp. I love it. It is even more perfect. ] 

heath coffee cake

This coffee cake is so delicious! It is perfect for a fall morning!

2 cups        flour
1 cup        brown sugar
1/2 cup        sugar
1/4 cup        butter
1 cup        milk [ soured with a splash of lemon ]
1 teaspoon        baking soda
1 teaspoon        vanilla
1        egg

1 cup        Heath
1/4 cup        walnuts

Combine the flour, brown sugar, sugar, and butter. Reserve a 1/2 cup of the mixture and set aside. Add in the baking soda, milk, vanilla, and egg. Mix well. Coat a 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray. Pour the batter into the pan. Add the Heath and walnuts together with the reserved mixture. Sprinkle over the top of the batter. Bake for 28 minutes at 350 degrees. 

a walk at sunset

The sun set on a fall day. 

The colors were incredible... yellow, blue, and black. Incredible. A walk or run on my country road each evening is my time to relax and enjoy the beautiful moments in life. And, this night was a beautiful moment to enjoy. My sweet dog was at my side to make it even better. 

a fall sunset

After work and cattle chores, I hit the road for an evening walk. The sun was setting on a field of corn. And as I walked, I enjoyed the beauty... the pink, orange, and purple hues. Amazing! It was so peaceful and beautiful. Fall sunsets like that are perfect for long walks.

alfalfa blooms

Late one afternoon, I was riding my four-wheeler checking fences. There is a field of hay next to the pasture. And, I noticed the gorgeous purple blooms of alfalfa glowing underneath the warm sun. The pops of purple blossoms among the emerald green leaves were stunning. I took the time to enjoy the simple beauty.

apple butter cookies

These apple butter cookies are so perfect for fall! They are a new fall favorite for harvest 💜

1 cup        sugar
1/4 cup        apple butter
1/4 cup        butter
1        egg
1/2 teaspoon        vanilla
1/2 teaspoon        lemon juice
1 1/2 cups        flour
1/4 teaspoon        baking soda
1 teaspoon        cinnamon

1/2 cup        cinnamon sugar

Cream together the apple butter, butter, and sugar. Mix in the egg, vanilla, and lemon juice until well combined. In another bowl, add together the flour, baking soda, and cinnamon. Mix well. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture. Mix the ingredients together until dough forms. Let the dough chill in the refrigerator.

Once the dough is chilled, roll the dough into one inch balls. Roll the balls of dough in the cinnamon sugar until covered. Place the cookie dough on a baking sheet. Bake the cookies at 365 degrees for 14 minutes.      

farm chick favorite

[  coffee & iced lattes  ]

This sign from Uncommon Groove! It was custom made for me 💜 And, it is beyond my expectations... I am absolutely in love with it! Oh my goodness.

 

The 31 x 6 sign has an ivory background with [ cows & iced lattes ] in black. It has a stained frame for a nice accent. The font is so adorable!! It is perfection. I plan on hanging it above my kitchen cabinets after I refurbish them. It will look super cute!! 

a summer sunset

 

A walk as the sun was setting was good for my soul. Stunning. The colors of the summer sunset were incredibly stunning. It was peaceful. The cool colors were so calming and relaxing.

Friday on the Farm

Wild Bergamot is blooming! It is one of my favorite native prairie plants. Love all of the purple flowers 💜

 

I transplanted Wild Bergamot to my new prairie garden two weeks ago. And, I was so excited to see it blooming! The bees and butterflies are too! When snapping photos of the Wild Bergamot, a hummingbird was fluttering to feed. That made me so happy 💜

farm chick favorite

This keychain 💜

Oh, Burlap Bovine 💜 How I adore this keychain 💜 This is the Hay Sweetie Boho Farmhouse Heifer keychain from Burlap Bovine. Absolutely in love with it!

 

The keychain is of mahogany leather that was distressed and painted in ivory for a boho chic look. So. Dang. cute! Malorie at Burlap Bovine just gets me  💜

taco seasoning

May is BEEF month! Enjoy tacos with this delicious seasoning! 

4 tablespoons      chili powder
2 tablespoons      cumin
1 tablespoon      paprika
1 tablespoon      salt
1 teaspoon      garlic salt
1 teaspoon      onion salt
1 teaspoon      oregano
1 teaspoon      red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon      black pepper 

Combine ingredients together. Mix well. Store the taco seasoning in an air tight container. Brown ground beef. Use a tablespoon per pound of beef.

Friday on the Farm

Two fields were prepared for seeding ground for hay. We use a mixture of alfalfa, red clover, and brome with oats. We seed at a rate of 12 pounds of alfalfa, 4 pounds of red clover, 5 pounds of brome, and 2 bushel of oats per acre. The fields were drilled on April 8 and 9. Favorable weather conditions have been perfect for growth.    

boho bag

Inspiration from Texas...

After seeing so many gorgeous bags on my road trips to Texas, they all inspired me to create my own boho style bag. I have always loved the boho style. It must be my wandering free spirit 💜 And, I love having something unique!

 

I found an antique, leather mail bag. And, I just had to buy it... perfect for my boho bag! It is such a gorgeous old bag. I absolutely love antique and vintage 💜

It was so much fun personalizing. To it, I added a beautiful fox tail I bought waiting to find the perfect bag. Eeek! They look great together! Needing a little bling, I attached a lavender beaded necklace I already had. A vintage silk scarf added more color and texture. The ivory and taupe scarf with a polka dot pattern add a soft touch to the leather bag. Then to complete the boho style of my antique bag, I attached an old brass number tag from our cattle farm. It adds something very special to always carry with me. I found a shop on Etsy that made custom canvas straps. So, I can also use my mail bag a crossbody bag.

I think it looks fantastic! I am truly in love how my boho bag turned out. Ugh. It makes my heart smile 💜

 

a sweet birthday treat

Swedish Dream Cookies ♥

it is my birthday! here is a sweet to celebrate with me!

1 1/2 cups      butter
1 1/2 cups      sugar
1 teaspoon      vanilla
1/3 cup      canola oil
2 cups      flour
1 teaspoon      baking powder

Combine the butter, sugar, and vanilla together in a bowl. Beat until light and fluffy. Slowly stir in the canola oil. In another bowl, add the flour and baking powder. Mix thoroughly. Add slowly to the creamy mixture. Mix until dough forms. Roll the dough into one inch balls. Place them on a cookie sheet. Bake at 315 degrees for 20 minutes.

 

happy adoption day #1

happy adoption day, diesel!
my sweet, sassy, and faithful friend.

It has been a year since I adopted Diesel! So, we celebrated his special day with a PAWTY!

We celebrated his adoption day with new toys, and a homemade pumpkin puppuccino! He thought is was PAWFECT!

 

To prepare the pumpkin puppuccino, I mixed together equal portions of whipped cream and pumpkin. Into a cup, I spooned in the mixture then added a dog bone for a cute little topping. So cute! 

Diesel absolutely loved his pumpkin puppuccino! We will be making this an annual adoption day tradition. Looking forward to many more BARKTACULAR years with D ♥