My New Favorite Thing

I have discovered a new favorite thing today. I was at Wal-Mart and spotted this reusable bag.... it cost just $1.

According to the label each bag is:

* 100% recyclable

* Made from 85% recycled materials

* Made from approximately 4 plastic soda bottles

* Can replace 50 plastic shopping bags

* Can carry the same weight as 2-3 plastic shopping bags

* Made in China (the only thing about it I don't like)

At first it didn't look like it would hold very many things, but let me tell you, I was pleasantly surprised how much actually does fit into it.
Have any of you see these... or used them? What do you think?

Let the mayhem begin....

I have not canned meat in years... not since living with my parents. So, when *T* came home the other day after being out artery hunting and told me he wanted me to can this one and we'd put the ones we get in rifle season into grinds and roasts, I was thinking "me?" why me, why not "us". I'll admit he knows nothing and I mean nothing about canning, so I knew right then who was going to be doing all of the work. And me trying to teach him is completely out of the question because we do not work well together in the kitchen. He is assuming that just because we both have bonus tags we are going to fill all of them... I hope we do but that isn't always the case.

How do I restore this old Saddle?

I would like to restore my mother's old saddle. It has been stored for several years. I would like to try to bring this saddle back to its shining glory that it used to be. The saddle had layers and layers of dust built up on it when I brought it home (as seen in photo #1) I used my vacuum with the brush attachment to get most of that off (seen in photo#2). I know Mom used neatsfoot oil on the saddle to help keep the leather soft, but that was years ago, when we were still using it to ride. Is there anything that I can get to clean the dirt out of the design work of the leather? Any suggestions would be great.

What is for dinner?

Am I the only one who gets asked this question before he even gets the back door shut or at least by the time he takes his work boots off? he never seems to care what I have cooking... nothing makes him happier then when he opens the oven door and sees this....

looking back at him. I don't know how, but my guy would eat pizza seven days a week if I would let him. Actually it is a toss up between steak and cheese submarine/hoagie sandwiches or pizza that he would live on if he could. I made the steak sandwiches last night for dinner (sorry they didn't last long enough for a picture...lol).

Ginger has a new shadow

This has been the scene in our pasture since Sunday evening when *T* first let Ginger into Lacy's pasture. Lacy is so happy to have another horse here at Seldom Seen Acres. The poor girl probably thought that she was the last living horse on the planet, she has not had an equine companion since the pony died in December of 1998. At times I think I need some alone time, but nine years is a long time to go without seeing another member of your species. Ther are times Ginger looks at Lacy as if to say "will you just leave me alone, already!". I'm glad that they are getting along, I must admit that I was a bit worried because the transaction was rather quick and I had not met Ginger. *T* did all the dealing.

Bbbrrrrrrr....

At 5:30 a.m. the temperature outside was 28 degrees Fahrenheit. Everything was covered in a layer of ice. Here is a picture of one of the rose bushes in the back lawn.

Meet Ginger

Look who was waiting for me when I got home from work on Saturday! This is Ginger. *T* had seen an ad in the paper a couple of months ago for a horse who needed a new home... I don't recall the reason. He had called about her but the owner said that someone had already taken her. We were looking for a companion for Lacy (mom's twenty five year old paint). Then about a week ago a lady called *T* and asked if he was still interested in the horse he had called about. For one reason or another things were not working out with the family that had taken her and they must have talked to the original owner and gotten our phone number. *T* was really excited that we were going to get Ginger after all. They brought her to our farm on Saturday while I was at work, so she was here when I got home. She seems to be a very nice horse, but time will tell.

LOL .... *T* is convinced that we are going to ride her. Yeah, okay. I have not been on a horse in about 16 years and its been longer since he has ridden.... so we'll see.