Dog - O's

A tribute...to my brother....owner of "The Dog House." And also a taste of Mexico! Yes....I know.....This wouldn't fall into the catagory of "good for you" or something that you would eat weekly...BUT....it is worth it, if and when you choose to indulge;)

ENTER....

DOG - O

Enjoyed on most street corners in Mexico. When the sun goes down...the Dog-O stand shows up. It is a mobile cart with a grill and a load of mexican sodas. You can either sit at the plastic chairs and tables, that have also been set up on the street corner, or you can use the..

"SERVICIO AL BORDO"

which is Mexico's idea of drive through. A worker comes to your window...takes your order...and brings the order to you to take home. Given the level of violence in our area, we do not eat on street corners after dark, so here is our version of the Dog -O

Wrap hotdogs with thin slices of bacon...we only use Oscar Meyer all beef hot dogs (only because The Farmer is pretty picky with hot dogs). After the hot dogs are wrapped with the bacon, cook in a frying pan, on medium heat, until bacon is done and a little crispy. Remove the hotdogs from the pan and keep warm. Next, spread the bun with mayo.....


And cook in the same pan...in the bacon grease...until toasty and brown. I told you....not something you can eat at every meal!

Then....place the hotdog in the yummy bun and begin to add toppings....

avocado

diced onion

diced tomato

mustard

beans

corn

grated cheese

jalapeno

well....basically everything....

DIG IN!!!

*to my brother...."The Wennie Man"

In Case You Were Wondering....

This is where I spend my days now. The Farmer and I have pretty much always run our businesses together, and it has worked out great. I have a cozy office, at the house, that I have worked out of for the last few years. BUT, things have changed a bit lately, good changes. It now requires me to have an office (and be in it) for most of the day.

It is close to home, and for that I am grateful.

It already smells better here in my new office...since I plugged in the Sentsy! Even The Farmer noticed that;) We've cleaned, and we've organized. We have a great staff and we are

looking forward to a great season.

Historic...Yes...The Solution...No

Yes...it is a historic day in the history of the United States. It is an example of all that we believe in....CHOICE. Millions of people exercised their right to choose and that....I respect. I don't like to share my political views...and I certainly don't want to judge others for their views. But this, I would like to say, He was not my choice...and I drove for 3 hours to choose! But I will do my personal best to be supportative. Do I think that he will be able to change the world. NO!! He has professed too much...the world expects too much. No leader has ever been perfect....and he too will certainly disappoint many people...
And I would also like to say....Thank you Mr. President and thank you to your beautiful "grace under pressure" wife. You did a great job. Thank you for dedicating the last several years of your life to public service...and that is just what it was....SERVICE. You led us in prayer when we needed to pray, you defended us when we needed to be defended, you were not perfect...but then again...who is???
You are an amazing man...you have my RESPECT!

The Giving Tree

Have you read this book? It is one of my all time favorites! It is one I read often, and shed tears every time I read it. We are living this story right now. When The Farmer and I moved to Mexico ....years ago....The Farmer's father....who, by the way.... was a "real cowboy" had built a small home for us. He was in the process of building it while we were dating and he would always say..."when you are married and move to Mexico, this will be your house." Anyway, to make it a little more "homey" he cut a branch from a Globe Willow tree that stood in his yard, and planted it in our yard. When we moved in the tree was a stick in the ground and not much more. He actually backed over the "stick" a few times, and we wondered if it would ever amount to anything. But, as the years passed the tree grew and so did our little family. By the time The Boy came along the tree had grown, and actually made a little shade for him to play under. The Boy loved to play outside. From the time he could crawl he would find his way outside to play under our tree, and he often left the hose running, which I am sure was a great benefit to the tree. Somehow I think the tree really loved him too, because it grew and grew and became a beautiful tree that was almost like an umbrella on a sunny day.

Next, came PreShie, and she too loved to be outside under the willow and the same with Rooster. They could always be found under the tree digging, playing in the hose, or playing in the playhouse that also found its' home under the tree. We had many, many dinners and parties under this wonderful tree. Above is a picture of the tree last winter during a snow storm.


The tree became the home of a displaced swarm of bees last summer, and that was quite lovely as well. Had the bees not attacked us everytime we came out of the house....we would have let them stay too! The willow was the home for birdhouses built in cubscouts, it held hummingbird feeders and it supported many climbing children. This tree really became a member of our family! This past year we thought we would begin building a new home....but timing has not been right(given all that is going on in Mexico right now). So we decided that we would add onto our existing home to make it a little more comfortable, but that meant our beloved tree must be removed. And so The Boy, who loved the tree and enjoyed the tree throughout his life, was the one who carefully cut the tree down, and stacked the wood, which we will also use when our new fireplace is completed. The Boy was sad, he said it just wasn't right, but it had to be done.


And so, a chapter in our lives has closed....and another has opened. The building will begin on Monday, and we are so excited!

And....another tree has been planted, that will, in a few years become a beautiful willow, just like the one we have loved and enjoyed for so many years.

Frijoles

Frijoles, found in every home in the lovely land of Mexico. Served with every meal, including breakfast, in a typical Mexican home. These are pinto beans, what is eaten in Nothern Mexico. We grow them in our area and on our farms most years. It is a gift to be able to cook a great pot of beans. And it is serious business around here. People are quite particular about their beans. We are lucky, because the lady that helps us here in our home, cooks a great pot of beans. And try as I may, I cannot duplicate her beans, even with all the same ingredients. In my opinion, there is nothing that smells better in a home than to have a pot of beans on to cook. After they have soaked all night, she puts them on to cook early in the morning. So the house smells great all day long. And when the darlings come in from school, they usually say something like..."oh beans, oh, they smell so good." We (like I have anything to do with it!) cook a pot of beans each week, near the beginning of the week, so that we may have a "supply" for the week. We always start eating the pot of beans with our all time favoirte....BEAN STACKS.....invented by The Farmer's dear Mother. They are well known around here.

*Side note: these are black beans....not so common in Northern Mexico. This is the bean for Southern Mexico....it is rare to find a Pinto Bean down south. We love Black Beans too.

Now....for the Bean Stack...

Step 1 - fill your bowl with Doritos

Step 2 - Begin to layer with toppings, like avocado

....cheese is a must,

Pour hot beans over your toppings and continue to add, sour cream, diced tomato, onions and your favorite salsa. Then...dig in! A perfect meal, anytime....but on a cold evening....it really hits the spot!

In Mexico....this is called a comal. A cast iron skillet. Again, found in every Mexican home. Something that always sits on your stove, because it is so used.

And this is what it is used for! Warming tortillas. Another staple in a home in Mexico. Eaten with literally every meal, often freshly made for each meal. Tortillas are not only eaten along with the meal, they are used a bit like a utinsil. The Darlings love flour tortillas, and The Farmer likes the corn tortilla.

A double comal...if you are warming tortillas for a several people. My favorite part of this comal, is the lettering on the side...if you look carefully.....HECHO EN MEXICO.....(Made in Mexico).

I have often thought, that during "tough" times, and I know that is relative, you would want to be in Mexico where the vast majority know how to survive on beans and tortillas. And more than just survive....they can make survival taste really good!

VIVA EL FRIJOL!!

Be Inspired

Meet Kim....she is my sister-in-law, and an amazing photographer.

Go HERE, to be

inspired by her amazing pictures of the Arizona Temple.

I so love this blogger! I am inspired everytime I read what she has written,

Go HERE, to be inspired in a new year.

How We Miss Him....

He would be 8 years old today. He would have been baptized today.
Today we will celebrate the time that we had with our special boy, it was too short, but atleast we got to know him and love him for that little time.

Our cemetary is dry and dusty, but it is one of our favoite places to be.

We spend alot of time there.







We often take hot chocolate and doughnuts, and just sit. Our extended family feels just like we do, and they very often are with us. It is always a time of rememberance, but it is

always filled with laughter, visiting, and exploring....it is a wonderful family time.

We love this place so much....that we placed a bench, under a tree, on the edge of our family plot.

That bench has been used alot! It is the perfect place to just sit and think. It is

a very peaceful place.

Our boy is burried a the foot of his grandfather...the exact place The Farmer chose for him.

We love him....We miss him....His absence is felt everyday...Not a day passes that we don't talk about him and thank Heavenly Father for him.

Happy Birthday to our Colton!

Quite Possibly The Best.....

.....Chocolate Chip Cookie....that you have ever eaten! If you are looking for a semi "good for you" cookie that is filled with the yummy stuff too...you have found it! I have been making this cookie for years, begining with a wonderful recipe from a dear friend, I have added and adjusted a few ingreditents until it has become our family favorite. When I was in the hospital having PreShie, my dear friend sent a little bag full of these cookies along with me, after PreShie was born, this was the first thing I ate (I had been fasting because of a c-section) and they really tasted amazing at that moment....and it must have been great....because I remember it to this day! So here you go...

Quite Possibly The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie

You Will Ever Eat!

(makes 9 to 10 dozen)

2 c. brown sugar

2 c. white sugar

1 c. butter

1 c. shortening

4 eggs

2 t. vanilla

1 t. salt

2 t. baking soda

2 t. baking powder

4 c. flour

4 c. oat flour (blend oats to make flour)

1/2 c. ground flax seed

2 c. coconut

12 oz. semi- sweet chocolate chips

12 oz. butterscotch chips

1 1/2 c. pecans, roughly chopped

Cream first four ingredients, add vanilla. Sift together dry ingredients, add to wet ingredients and mix well. Dough will be stiff . Stir in coconut, chips, adn nuts. Bake at 400 degrees for 6 to 8 minutes. I always bake them on parchment and they always turn out great.

(You can substitue whole wheat flour for white flour, just add 1 more egg.)

ENJOY!

*perfect for snacks and expecially for school lunches

Oh What A Year!

What a year 2008 was for us! We had many experiences...some new....some we have had before...and some we wish we hadn't had. But for all....we are very grateful!
(Disclaimer.....LOTS of pictures)

We traveled....

*The Farmer in Italy



*The Fam. in Mazatlan





*We played some football, some basketball and a little track

*We sent a missionary off to Boston, MA (Auntie Beth)


*We were blessed... that The Boy's life was spared....




*We have a constant reminder of a sweet friend who did not survive

*We celebrated 20 years of shear wedded bliss!



*We set some goals.....and saw them achieved

*goals we thought we would NEVER make;)

*We farmed and enjoyed those experiences....well...most of the time

*And with a little luck....and alot of faith...we begin 2009 and know that we will,
"Come what may....and love it!"