Sturgis at the Open A Bar 2 Ranch?

I think the grasshoppers decided to have a rally here at the Open A Bar 2 Ranch
similar to the motorcycle rally held each summer in Sturgis, South Dakota.

Motorcycles lining the main street in Sturgis.

Grasshoppers, or should I say Grasschoppers,
lining the street at the Open A Bar 2 Ranch.

The street was so crowded that some choppers opted to
park on the sides of the buildings.

This local pedestrian was extremely annoyed at all the extra traffic.

eGGNoRMouS!

Big Happenings in the Coop Today!




Every once in a while someone will lay a
gynormous egg like this one!

And you thought you had a hard day a work today!

Wednesday Morning Inspiration: September 1, 2010

^{Isaiah 40:28-31}

²⁸ Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.

²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

³¹ but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

PS. Do yourself a favor and click on the pictures to see a full screen view of them.

They are fantastic if viewed full screen.

At least I think so...

Hit your browser's back button to return to the blog.

Who Knew Cows Were Master Gardeners?!

The other day Dan the Man was checking the cattle down on the creek
and stumbled upon a weird phenomenon.

I know this doesn't seem like a rare occurrence, this squash plant,
but let me go on to explain.

The Squash plant is growing almost 1/2 mile away from the house, and I, nor did anyone else in our family plant it where it is growing.

Not only that, but there are about 6 squash plants down there
growing in the middle of a non-irrigated pasture.

And I have never seen any squash that look like these.
The pictures don't show the true color of the squash.
They are a bright orange, just like a pumpkin.

Then I remembered that last year, when I was cleaning out my garden in the fall, I had thrown several zucchini, yellow crookneck squash and pumpkins over the fence to where the cattle were grazing. I knew that the cows would enjoy the pumpkins. Did you know that cows love to eat pumpkins?

After the cows were done grazing in that pasture behind the garden, we moved them down on the creek.

Apparently, the cows planted the seeds by way of the cow patty planting method. The seeds germinated and produced squash that are a cross between the zucchini, yellow crookneck squash and pumpkins.

Dan the Man picked them and the laying hens are enjoying them now.



Wow, who knew cows are master gardeners too?

RECIPE: Glazed Peach Habenero Grilled Pork Chops

Last night for dinner we had a meal totally comprised of local food purchased at the Farmers' Market. Wow, that makes me feel so good. Not a single ingredient was purchased at Wal-mart or any other store for that fact except for vinegar, sour cream, butter, salt and pepper.

The menu consisted of Glazed Peach Habenero Grilled Pork Chops, Sour Cream Cucumber Salad, Roadside Melon, Corn on the Cob and French Bread (warmed on the grill). I should have taken a picture of the whole meal, but it was late and I was tired.


Here is a list of the Cast of Characters and their producers:

Pork Chops (milk-fed pork) from Victory Hill Farm
Peach Habenero Jam homemade by Nancy Butcher
Fresh Garden Cucumbers from Mitchell Valley Farm
Sweet & Juicy Roadside Melon from Gary's Garden
Tri-colored Sweet Corn from Mitchell Valley Farm
Homemade French Bread from FlowerField Farms



And the recipe for the pork chops:




Glazed Peach Habenero Grilled Pork Chops

Ingredients

4 Pork Chops from Victory Hill Farm
1 jar Peach Habenero Jam from Nancy Butcher

Directions

1. Preheat Grill to 350 degrees.
2. Rub grill grate with oil. Use your tongs and dip a wadded-up paper towel in oil. Easy!
3. Grill chops for around 5 minutes per side. Brush a generous amount of jam on both sides of the chops while you are grilling.
4. Heat extra jam in a small sauce pan and serve with the chops for extra sauce!!
   

Try it! You'll like it!!

Wednesday Morning Inspiration: August 25, 2010

Moon Rise Over Open A Bar 2 Ranch

The other night Dan the Man and I took a walk down on the creek to check on the cattle that we have grazing down there. It is so pretty and peaceful down in the small ravine where the creek flows. It is my favorite place on our property.

Dan the Man and his Country Chicken Girl

Although we spend the majority of our time together working, we often forget to spend quality time together just enjoying the company of one another. When we take walks together, go on purposeless drives through the country or enjoy a meal alone at a restaurant, it helps me to see the man that I married who is not only my husband but my best friend, my soulmate, my partner and my lover.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

⁴Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. ⁸Love never fails.

Ephesians 4:26-27

²⁶"In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷and do not give the devil a foothold.

Bill & Arlene Grassmick, Wildcat Produce and Nita's Catering & Event Planning

Country Chicken Girl here continuing my little ditties about the vendors at the 2010 Scottsbluff Farmers' Market which is held every Saturday from 7-11am downtown at 18th & Broadway.


Meet Bill & Arlene Grassmick of Gering, Nebraska. This is one of the most lovely couples I have ever met. They have been coming to the Farmers' Market ever since it first started.

Bill & Arlene Grassmick

Bill has been building beautiful handcrafted willow furniture for about 20 years. These pieces of art are truly unique and beautiful. Bill creates each piece from green willow branches that have a short working time, since once they become too dry, the branches will split and break. He also uses weeping birch, pine and black walnut. All the woods he uses are found locally.




Arlene will tell you that she has a home filled with Bill's furniture. She'll tell you about each piece they have in their house and where it is situated. I would love a tour sometime so that I can see all the lovely pieces. I can tell you that not only do they have a home filled of Bill's beautiful handiwork, but I believe that they have a home filled with love for each other and the family that they have raised together.


I don't know what time Bill & Arlene show up at the Farmers' Market to set up because Arlene is always set up and ready to go before I arrive at 6:30 am. Last year Arlene told me that they come early, set up and then Bill goes off to the hospital for his dialysis. Bill then returns to the market when he is done at the hospital. This has been their Saturday morning routine for the last 5 years.

Bill & Arlene rest their feet on a foot stool.

You won't believe how sturdy and comfortable these chairs are.
Arlene will be sure to tell you that they are made to sit in!

I bought a chair like this last year,
only mine is made of birch, looks like the foot stool above.

Bill also makes smaller decorative pieces.

Bill and Arlene live in Gering. If you would like more information on Bill's furniture you can call Bill or Arlene at 436-5469.

Tracy & Tegan Rahmig
Wildcat Produce

Meet Tracy & Tegan Rahmig of Wildcat Produce. Tracy has been doing farmers' markets since she was a kid. Her daughter, Tegan who is 10 years old, has been helping Tracy for the past three years now. Tracy says it's their way of spending time together. It's hard to believe how much Tegan grows each year. I have seen her grow and mature each summer and it is amazing how much taller she is each year! Tegan is a great sales person and is just as much as a business woman as Tracy is.

Baby Red Potatoes

Their produce is grown between Melbeta and McGrew. Tracy's dad, Mike Chrisman is the master gardener of their operation. They offer baby red potatoes, yellow & green zucchini, onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, squash, cabbage, hot peppers and gourds. Tracy and Tegan live south of Gering while Tracy's parents are from McGrew.

Cabbage for those Cabbage Burgers!

Beautiful Ripe Tomatoes

Juanita Rodriguez

Meet Juanita Rodriguez of Nita's Catering & Event Planning. Nita offers home style cooking featuring Mexican/American Food. Her specialties are enchiladas and salsa. Nita takes special request weekly. I tried some of Nita's enchiladas last year and I must say they were delicious! She also makes stellar enchilada sauce.

Nita's enchiladas and burritos



Be sure to come visit with these local producers and more at the Scottsbluff Farmers' Market held every Saturday morning from 7-11am on 18th and Broadway. Support your community, BUY LOCAL!!


Thank you and goodbye for now...