Lesson Learned

While visiting the Farmer's Wife this morning, I not only learned a new word - afoul - but I also learned about a band that was here in CU not that long ago.

Now that isn't earth-shattering news. This is a fairly large city, a university town, with lots of places to catch some entertainment. What cracked me up was that one of the band members almost got arrested.....for jaywalking! I can't count the number of times I've jaywalked in this town (if you're an officer of the law please don't arrest me). I guess I'll have to be a little more careful from now on!

You should definitely head over to the Farmer's Wife latest entry to hear more about it, but the good stuff is on the band's website with a you tube reenactment.

Classic Bobby

As a fan of college basketball and especially March Madness, I have to say, this is one of my new favorite commercials.

Sunday Stills: Landscapes

The Sunday Stills challenge this week is Landscapes...nothing spectacular this week, although I wish I would have gotten some good photos this morning of the ice we got last night.

There's nothing better than the view from the middle of a cornfield - a landscape that's always changing.




I promise something better for next week...we're swimming in baby calves!

Look Who's Two!

Happy Birthday Maddy!

Little Tikes

We're heading north again this weekend for Madison's birthday. That in itself should be a fun time. She's grown a lot over the last year and its been a blast seeing what she's been learning. In fact, one of her new favorite things is to "call" people on her cell phone. It's pretty darn cute to see her call Jackson and see what he's been doing.

Speaking of Jackson...do to busy schedules and being sick, we haven't had a chance to see the little guy in awhile. The little man is just over 3 months old. With those baby blue eyes, I think he's going to be quite the charmer!

Then...



Now...

...baby girl turns 2 on Sunday!

Not So Wordless Wednesday

After visiting Thoughts from the Road today, I knew I had to share this picture from last weekend. I had almost forgotten about it...

Wordless Wednesday

It's What We Do (Part 2)

Getting back to the last It's What We Do, I promised to explain what this is:


This is a black light trap we use to monitor insect pests with. The black light trap emits an ultraviolet light. Many insects are attracted by short wavelengths of the light spectrum. When its dark, the insects are attracted to the light, fly towards it and are caught at the bottom of the trap. We use this type of trap to monitor agricultural insects to determine the emergence and flight patterns of these pests and assist growers in making informed crop management decisions.

The trap is operated all summer long. Last year, one of the undergraduates working for Ron had the distinct pleasure of collecting trap contents every day, sorting, and identifying the insects. We helped her go through the results and at last week's meeting in St. Louis, she presented a poster of her findings and got first place..congrats Caitlin!



Also bringing home first was Nick who presented a talk on his master's degree research on soybean aphids.

Sunday Stills Leftovers

I had a few photos I took last week that I didn't post for , but wanted to share them anyway-- the first is a photo of the Millenium Hotel

and also a grove of ash trees..

Sunday Stills: Lines

My photos for this week's challenge at Sunday Stills are all of the same thing - the Arch in St. Louis.

Buffalo Chicken Dip

In honor of March Madness and the need for game time snacks, a favorite of some of our friends:

8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup ranch salad dressing
1/2 cup FRANK'S REDHOT® Buffalowing Sauce
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
2 cans chicken, drained (can substitute shredded chicken)

DIRECTIONS:

1.HEAT oven to 350°F. Place cream cheese into deep baking dish. Stir until smooth.
2.MIX in salad dressing, Frank's RedHot Sauce and cheese. Stir in chicken.
3.BAKE 20 min. or until mixture is heated through; stir. Garnish as desired. Serve with crackers or vegetables.

Microwave Directions: Prepare as above. Place in microwave-safe dish. Microwave, uncovered, on HIGH 5 min. until hot, stirring halfway through cooking.

For the birthday girl today...memories of our Chicago trip last summer. Happy Birthday Sondra!

Gateway

Yep, its true, we're in St. Louis. Yesterday afternoon we skipped out of some meetings and headed down to the arch. What a beautiful day!



More news from our 'exciting' meeting later.

Who's Walking Who?

Lucky for us, we've got the the cutest little dog walker to take care of Abbey while we're gone...


I'm not sure where she get's her sense of style, but I guess a farmgirl has to have her carhart jacket, hunting hat, Hello Kitty boots, and Dora sunglasses :)

Where in the World are Ron & Kelly?

We're at meetings this week...based on the view out our hotel window, any guesses out there?

Sunday Stills: Water

I haven't been posting regularly at Sunday Stills, but I'm back this week..

The challenge this week - water. And despite all the rain we got over the last week, this is the photo I chose to use. I just love the little drops of water on the pine needles.

It's What We Do

Busy work week, hence the lack of posting. But here's something to look forward to - I'll soon be sharing what this contraption is...


....and how the stuff we get from it can be used.

Think Spring

Ignore the 30 degree drop in temperature, the windchill, and THINK SPRING..

Sew Crazy ??

I've been feeling the crafty bug lately and had an opportunity to work on the sewing machine this weekend. Behold my first attempt at a baby tag blanket. A couple of our friends are having baby girls this spring and summer, so I thought I'd do a test run. It wasn't too hard -- it only took me a little under 3 hours from start to finish. Once you come up with a game plan, it only takes a little sewing, and I opted to semi-quilt it. This one is 24" x 24" not big enough for a snuggly blanket and maybe a little to large for a baby to hold...mental note to change that.

The pictures aren't great, but I love the brown and pink striped fabric I used for the back and found sound cute little monkeys to tie in with the polka dots on the front. I have lots of flannel baby scraps, so I think I'll use some of those on the next one.

Got this recipe from Stephanie this week. I haven't had a chance to try it, but she assures me its good!

Tortellini Bake

1 1/2 lb. ground hot Italian sausage
1 1/2 tsp. chopped garlic
2 tsp. oregano
2 (15 oz) cans diced tomatoes with mild green chiles
1 (15 oz) can seasoned tomato sauce
16 oz. cheese tortellini
2 large green peppers, sliced in strips
Mozzarella cheese

In large pan, brown Italian sausage; drain excess fat. Return to pan; add garlic, oregano, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and green peppers. Cook until green pepper is crisp-tender; add tortellini. Cook 7 to 10 minutes longer.

Carefully empty hot mixture into lasagna pan. Top with cheese. Bake in oven at 350 degrees until cheese melts and is bubbly. Goes great with salad and breadsticks!

Think we've seen the last of winter? This little girl didn't mind the winter years ago...

Woman Driver

Watch out...there's crazy drivers in town. And they drive small cars and buggies. They are also cartoons and live in my Wii.



Ron got me MarioKart as one of my birthday gifts. I'd played it a couple of times with my sister and at AJ & Sondra's house. Lord knows I'm not good a racing in video games, but it was pretty fun.

We spent last night testing out our skills - I'm not awful, but I may just live up to being called a "woman driver".

Simple Woman's Daybook for March 2

For Today...

Outside my window... sunny but brisk, a hope of spring on the horizon

I am thinking...where did the weekend go?

I am thankful for...wonderful friends and family

From the kitchen...not much, we need to go grocery shopping!

I am wearing... my Sedona Red Rock shirt and jeans

I am reading...Country Sampler... does that count?

I am hoping...

I am creating...the list is long, but a quilted baby book for Maddy and a quilted tag blanket for a friends baby girl are on the top of the list right now (good thing I have a little while yet).

I am hearing... the garbage man coming down the street (good thing we got the trash out early)

Around the house... boxes for goodwill, stacks of farm magazines, and lots of other little things that need to find a corner to call home

One of my favorite things...I'm finding myself drawn to the opera clutch wallets. Two of my friends both have them now and while at first I wasn't sure, they're growing on me. And Stephanie and Angie wouldn't steer me wrong...I just don't know about zebra print

A few plans for the rest of the week...enjoy, enjoy, enjoy

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Not really a picture this week, but a short video clip of my sister and our nephew. There's nothing better to start your Monday with than to hear of a baby's laugh. (Well and for me to hear my sister snorting :0 )

Want to participate in the Simple Woman's Daybook? Find out what others are doing on this Monday morning.

Sunday Stills:Motion

After being gone the last two weekend, I'm back again for Sunday Stills. The challenge this week - motion.

I have two favorite images for this challenge. A photo I took two weekends ago while at the National Farm Machinery Show -



And from the state fair this last year -


I promise next week I'll try to take the photo during the week :)