I MADE HOCKEY PUCKS AND WANDERED AROUND THE RANCH

Since we have hunkered down for the winter, I have time to try different recipes that I have been collecting over the years.

The last couple of weeks I have been interested in baking bread and rolls.

A couple of weeks ago I made a delicious Jalapeno Cheese Loaf, a week ago I made home made hot dog rolls and biscuits.

Today I made home made hamburger rolls.

Well it was a disaster! I should have taken step by step pictures. I got them ready for the second rising and dusted them with flour and covered them loosely with plastic wrap as the directions said.

When they were done with there second rising I went to take the plastic wrap off and the dough really stuck to it. I tried to pull it off gently but the dough was still sticking to it. This pulling caused them to deflate like a flat tire!


Still I put them in the oven hoping for a miracle. But the miracle was not to be.

They came out of the oven and looked like a cross between a hockey puck and a flying saucer made out of cement.

I am not going to give up and I will try them again down the road.

It was a beautiful sunny day. Ralph and I took a walk around the ranch and stopped in to visit Loy.

I love how Loy decorated her porch. You can tell a lot of grand children come to Grandma and Grandpa's home.

This sign is right out side their door. Grandma Loy's home is always full of candy and cookies. I can't keep my hands out of their cookie jar.

This is Hoppy's "Cowboy Cave". It is decorated with all kind of ranch and antique items. Hopefully you can make out the lariats, horse shoes, horse bits, tools, pots, lanterns, window frame and license plates.

As I said the other day on the blog, Hoppy and his children use to rope in rodeo competitions many years ago. Here are pictures of their horse barn and roping arena.

It may be a little hard to explain to folks who are not familiar with roping competitions but I will do my best. 

Here is a chute that a calf or steer goes into. On both sides of this chute there is a 3 sided box made out of pipe and that is called the "roping box". Depending on if the roper is a left handed or right handed roper there is a roping box is on both sides of the chute. The horse and roper back into this box and wait for the chute to open and the calf or steer to take off. There is an electronic timer that tells the roper when to start his run. This is to give the calf or steer a head start and start running. Hopefully the cowboy will rope the calf or steer.


This picture is the alley way where cattle are herded down towards the roping chutes.

Walking back to our rolling home on the "Back 40". 

WYATT GETS HIS HOLSTER AND WE GOT CHILI DOGS!!!

The other day I made Buttermilk biscuits. They turned out very good and I had a good time making them.

As you can tell, one is missing. I just couldn't wait. While still nice and warm, I put a pat of butter on them and watch it melt. Then I added jalapeno jelly! Heat and Sweat!

Wendy's son Wyatt is 5 years old. He has a cap gun but he couldn't carry it. So Ralph made him a holster and gun belt. He showed us some fast quick draw moves too. He really liked it and gave us a big hug.

Now he wants a pony. Oh Oh! It must run in the family. The Herbert's were Team Ropers when their children were growing up. Every weekend all 4 kids and Dad would enter roping competitions at rodeo's.

Hoppy tells a funny story. He said the rodeo roping competitions paid for their kids college tuition. You would think it was from the money they won in rodeo, but no that wasn't it. It was when their kids got into high school, they became very good and big in sports. One day they said they did not want to rope anymore. So Hoppy sold all the horses, the herd of roping calves, saddles, roping equipment, gear, horse trailer and truck. That money sent their kids to college. We always got a chuckle out of that story.

Loy soon whipped up cheese chili dogs on buttery toasted buns with onions and jalapenos! Oh my were they good! Ralph and I love hot dogs!

The Herbert Ranch house is decorated with with western and Native American relics through out. Everything from horse collars, buffalo skulls, tomahawks, to bits, horse shoes and spurs.

I always love spending time in their cozy ranch house.

On the say back to our "Back 40" I caught a glimpse of our rolling ranch house through the mesquite tree.

RANCH LIFE AND ART CLASS

The pictures of these 2 horses are right outside our back door. They are from the next ranch over from Hoppy's and the fence line is just behind our Rolling Ranch House. That rancher also has cattle and several are Brahma crosses.

I love our little spot here on the Herbert Ranch. It is peaceful and quiet. It's a 360 degree view of open space with the sounds of horses and cattle, along with coyotes howling, owls hooting through the night and on occassion the squeaking sounds of the oil wells.

Wendy is Hoppy and Loy's youngest. They have 4 children and all there names start with "W".

There is Wade, Will, West and Wendy. They are all grown and have families of their own. Wendy lives near by and has a 4 year old son named Wyatt.

Wendy is a teacher here in town. I think being a teacher is one of the most toughest jobs out there and these last several years certainly one of the most dangerous job.

She invited me to go along with her and take an art class. She said this was her and Wyatt's Christmas present to me. How sweet and what a fun gift it was.

We arrived at a cute cluster of rustic cozy boutique shops. Nestled in the mists of these shops was a brightly colored artists shop. We walked in and it was a good crowd who came to paint. I estimated around 30-35 people.

There I met Wendy's friends Patty and Fallon who are sisters.

We soon found our stools and sat down. There in front of us was our easel, our canvas, a paper plate with blobs of black, yellow, red, blue and white acrylic paint along with 3 different size brushes, a cup of water and paper towels.

After a bit, the instructor went up to the front of the classroom on top of a stage where everyone could see. He stood next to the easel and told us where to put blobs of paint and what to do with it. Yikes, there was no sketching with a pencil!

For the next 2 hours we watched him do each step and than copied what he did. There were a couple of his associates walking around helping us if we needed it.

Soon our "Masterpieces" were done and I think we all should be proud of our accomplishment! It was a lot of fun. Here we are showing them off. Wendy is holding my picture in her right hand as well as hers. Patty is in the middle and Fallon is to the right.

What a fun day, I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Until next time, Happy Trails...............

OUR CHRISTMAS WITH MOM

Gary, Ralph's brother is quite a cook. He did a honey baked ham, homemade beans and his mother's macaroni salad.

Early morning I made a homemade apple pie. I was going to attempt homemade scalloped potatoes, but because I can't multitask I ended up making cheesy mashed potatoes.

This recipe called for boiling the potatoes for 15 minutes, then slicing. Well I forgot to set the timer and while I was in the middle of doing the apple pie the time just got away from me. They were completely done when the light bulb went off in my head.

Gary had picked mom up early that morning from Town and Country Manor. She did very well all afternoon but I can tell over the last 2 months, her mind is drifting off into her own world.

While dinner was cooking she unwrapped some gifts. Mom has gained lots of weight to a point she is now a bit over weight. We need to cut back on the snacks we are bringing her. We bought her a couple pairs of size 16 elastic stretch pants and Gary bought her a nice medium weight jacket.

Soon dinner was ready. I love watching the brother's get everything ready.

Gary is very tentative to his mom, always has been.

She ate well but did not have any room for apple pie, but we sure did.

We had a wonderful day and by late afternoon Ralph and I took Mom back home where we spent a little time with her at Town and Country Manor.

One thing I will say is when we lived in Maryland, it was cold and sometimes there was snow on the ground. This Texas weather is so much better. It was sunny and in the 70's!

SUNSETS AT THE HERBERT RANCH ON CHRISTMAS EVE

Wow, look at these breath taking sunsets. I don't know of anything more beautiful. We so enjoy many evenings like this around the campfire while looking at the sky. You would think these colors could only come from an artist's palette.

Here we are leaving the ranch. This ranch entrance is about 3/8's of a mile from the ranch house. Then about a 1/2 mile on dirt road to the paved road.

To save the UPS, FED EX and other delivery companies for having to open the gate, watch for longhorns, then drive another 3/8's of a mile to the ranch house, Loy has this outhouse at the ranches gate. The delivery company knows to put any packages in the outhouse.

Loy is quite a decorator. She decorates her whole house and big porch and the ranch gate, not only for Christmas, but Thanksgiving, Easter, Valentines Day, Fourth of July and etc.

Mesquite trees are big in these parts. Hoppy pulls up the Mesquite roots with this monstrous apparatus machine called a Mesquite Root Chisel Plow.

Fish pond at the ranch house. There are Coy and Goldfish.



I come up to the house just to sit on the bench
 and watch the fish swim around. It is so peaceful.

As "The Night Before Christmas" song says: "The stockings were hung on the chimney with care". They have 4 grown children and lots of grand kids. Even the deer got decorated.

I BAKED, ATE, BAKED and ATE ALL WEEK LONG!

Since I was unable to do my blog last week because of me making "My Pictures Tab" fly off into "no mans land", I had a good bit of time in my day.

I decided to try my hand at baking bread. I had never baked any type of bread or rolls except for Pillsbury Grands in a can.

I love hot and spicy. I love foods that make the sweat drip of your brow. So while looking at bread recipes, a jalapeno cheddar cheese bread caught my eye. I had all the ingredients. This recipe called for bread flour. I happened to have Bread flour because the last time I was at the grocery store I picked it up by mistake thinking I was reaching for All Purpose flour.

Besides the normal ingredients, it called for sour cream, cheddar cheese and 4 jalapeno peppers, seeded and finely chopped. I left the seeds and membrane in because that is where the heat is!

I had a fun time making it, the kneading, the rising, the rolling and tucking and more rising. The wonderful aroma filled the RV as it baked in the convection oven.

Ralph and I enjoyed watching it rise and get golden brown. The timer went off and I thumbed it for a solid sound as the recipe said to do.

I was so proud of myself. We both looked in amazement at it sat on the counter on cooling racks. It was tough to wait for it to cool down enough to slice it. I could only imagine how it was going to taste with garlic herb butter on it.

When we are home in the afternoon, Ralph and I usually fix a pot of coffee and sit outside enjoying a cup and the beautiful day.

The bread was now ready to slice! Looking at us, you would think that we were kids getting ready to eat a banana split.  We had spread some garlic herb butter on it and it melted perfectly through all the nooks and crannies.

Oh my gosh, was it delish! Ralph said if it had anymore heat in it he could not have eaten it, but he did enjoy it.

By evening this is all that was left and by the next day it was all gone.

A few days later, I saw a recipe for hot dog buns. I watched a video and soon whipped out hot dog buns. I brushed them with butter, sprinkled them with poppy seeds, sesame seeds, caraway seeds and garlic salt.

The recipe made 8 buns. Knowing how we devoured the Jalapeno Bread, I was smart this time, I took a few up to Hoppy and Loy's home to pass the calories around. The rolls did not taste like the bland super market rolls. They were flavorful and delicious. I will make them again.

On raining mornings where we don't have to go anywhere or do anything, Ralph and I relax and watch westerns on TV all day long. We light the fireplace and candles and enjoy the cozy rainy day.

On cozy days like this, sometimes we make breakfast for  dinner, we make either gourmet Belgian waffles or gourmet pancakes from scratch. We have fresh fruit, walnuts, real maple syrup and whipped cream for toppings. This day I added sauteed maple bananas. Oh my gosh was it delish!

Now that my blog is up and running, I hope there will be less baking and eating. But then again maybe not.

Until next time, Happy Trails................

A BIG BOO BOO BUT WITH A HAPPY ENDING!

Don't ask me how I did it because I haven't a clue. But some how I hit a button and the "My Pictures" tab just some how flew off the left side of my screen. I no longer could add pictures to my blog. When I hit the "Choose Files" button, a foreign looking screen showed up, one that I had never seen before. All I know is I was now somewhere between the Twilight's Zone and outer space never to see the "My Pictures" tab again.

So a call went into the Montana ranchers wife, Janna. She taught me how to do a blog when we were visiting their ranch back in Sept. I was a "project" for her for sure, but I did graduate by the skin of my teeth I think. I now must be in need of remedial training!

She installed one of those programs on my computer where she could "take it over". With in a short time all I saw was my "arrow thingy" flying around with the blazing speed of light, going all over the place clicking here and clicking there and different screens popping up. As you can tell I don't know all that proper and correct computer terminology, so for now I make up my own computer lingo of "gibberish and mumbo -jumbo to call things.

Well after about a half hour zooming around inside the "Black Hole" of my computer, Janna said "I am beside myself and haven't a clue what you did". So she put me in touch with a fella named Rick who lives on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, way up yonder and far away from Texas.

Days later Rick had time to take on this challenge. Rick took over my computer and soon that "arrow thingy" was flying all over the screen clicking on different screens and tabs. I was sure that smoke would start rolling out of my Dell.

1 and a 1/2 hours later, Rick fixed everything. WHEW! He became my hero and Janna always has been. I guess I just know enough to be dangerous and get into trouble. I will be forever grateful for the help and time that Janna and Rick spent with me!

So I am now back in business! YIPPIE YI YAY!

As most of you know, we have left Lake Medina RV Resort at The Leibold-Grothues Ranch just north of San Antonio and now are south of San Antonio on the Herbert Ranch.

We are surrounded by beautiful longhorns. We roped off an area on the Herbert's "Back 40" and this is the view outside our RV's picture window.

I have counted about 15 head and this is "The Big Guy", their bull.

It is very peaceful here. We hear coyotes and owls through the night.

When we are here, I can catch up on new recipes I have saved over the years because I have time to try them out.

When we travel, I don't have time to really do a lot of new and adventurous type recipes because we are so busy traveling and sight seeing. So I do easy, simple and quick type dinners.

Below is a cow with a big beautiful set of horns and a pretty color coat pattern.

This afternoon Janna walked me through again, just to be sure I was comfortable with importing pictures from my camera to Picasa and then putting them on my blog. The refresher course was great.

Before she let me go, Janna said, "I want to see a published blog entry by tonight!". Well the fear of God came over me. So here you are Janna! As I was busy doing my blog as you requested, Ralph cooked a nice dinner and is now doing the dishes so I could finish it by tonight. THANK YOU JANNA!!!

Happy Trails..........

BUNKO AND THE H BAR RANCH

We woke up Tuesday to a beautiful morning. Since there is no one in sight for at least a 1/3 mile, we had coffee outside in our housecoats. We enjoyed the cozy warmth of the sun and the wonderful views.

There we are way off in the distance. I still have a little ways to go til I reach the ranch.

Some of the longhorn herd and the ranches dogs.

I forget this brown dogs name, but the little black Heeler cross dog, I call "Ankle Biter" because he snips at your ankles as you are walking.

Being a cattle dog, they are natural herders and bite at the ankles of cattle in order to herd them to where they need to go. They are very valuable to ranchers.

                                                                                     

On the first Tuesday of the month, the ladies in
the quaint town of Somerset have a Bunko Club. They get together on the first Tuesday of the month. When Ralph and I arrive at Lake Medina RV Resort in November I become the "substitute" until we leave in March. I fill in if one of the regulars can't make it. Usually I am needed every month.

There are 12 players so once a year everyone has a turn to have it at their home.  Everyone lives in a 3 mile radius of each other. The host does the dinner and dessert. Let me tell you, I have never been disappointed these Texas Gals can cook and they are as nice as pie.

Well it was now Loy's turn. She has the December Bunko. Her home is very spacious and cozy and she goes all out with beautiful Christmas decorations.This time I asked her since I am a substitute and don't have a chance to do a dinner, I would like to do it this month. She accepted my offer but said at least let her do the dessert.

I did a Brisket (actually Walmart did it). I have had their Sadler briskets and they are very good, already seasoned and cooked and all you have to do is just warm them through. I did make cole slaw and cowboy beans, a recipe that contained several kinds of beans along with bacon, ground beef, onions, garlic, peppers, liquid smoke and several spices. I also made a delicious potato casserole that consisted of bacon, butter, spring onions, cheese and sour cream. Loy made a several wonderful desserts. 

Soon everyone showed up and we sat down to eat. I got lots of compliments and several requested recipes. 

We played for an hour and took a break for dessert. We then played for another 45 minutes. We totalled up scores and handed out prizes to the winners in several categories. I like Bunko because it requires no skill or thinking and you get to eat fabulous meals. My kind of game.

Unfortunately I got so involved in eating and playing Bunko that it slipped my mine and forgot to take pictures.