Be Thankful

I am all for hearing about what people are thankful for on different social media sites but I feel that we only think about it during the month of November. I know that I don't express enough what all I'm thankful for in my life. I tend to take many things for granted. So instead of posting something every day or even once a week I will just come up with one post to share many of the things I am thankful for in my life. I know I'm probably going to miss many but this will cover a majority of them.

1. My Family. I have one of the best families in the world. My parents, sister, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, everyone has supported me over the years and have taught me so much! We may not be perfect but they are the best around!

2. My Faith. I have to say that the past year my faith has grown so much stronger. I joined a campus ministry and have made great friends and have grown in my faith. Also this whole nursing school thing has really tested my faith. I don't think I've prayed so much in my life. I just need to remember everything happens for a reason and I'm on the right path.

3. My Health. I was thinking about how thankful I was for my heath just the other day when I was watching the speech therapist working with my resident at clinicals. My resident had suffered several strokes and the therapist was working with her to regain her speech and strengthen her mouth so she doesn't choke. Just the simple act of puffing her cheeks was difficult and it broke my heart to see her struggle and get frustrated. I wake up every morning, jump out of bed, not a pain or struggle and I take it all for granted!

4. Blogging. I've been following blogs and blogging on this blog for little over a year now. I have learned so much from other people and I have had a great outlet to share my joys and sorrows.

5. Blog Friends!! There are so many people who have come into my life through blogging! There are many amazing women who I have connected with and have formed wonderful friendships with. I feel sometimes that I can connect better with them (most of whom I've never met) than people I've known my whole life.

6. Books. I have shelves, piles, bags, and a nook full of books!! Many I haven't read, yet most I have. I love reading books, it takes you to places all over the world and allows you to forget everything around you!

7. Duke my Corgi! I have been very lucky throughout the years to have grown up on a farm. We have always had pets and animals of all kinds to play with. Duke is one of the best dogs a person could have. Not only can he chase cows but he is always around to lift up your spirits.

8. History/Genealogy. I am so thankful that my parents and family have such an interest in history and genealogy. I know all about my family many generations back. I've seen pictures and visited graves and have been able to connect my personality traits to past generations. It just gives you a sense of belonging and It's great to find out someone several generations back shares the same interests that you do.

9. Antiques. I am an odd duck. Most people my age today want whatever the new technology is today. Not me, I want that old piece of "junk" covered in rust and dust!! The older the things and the more wore out the object is means that it probably has such a great history and story connected with it. I love to buy antiques but it's even better to get them from family.

10. Nursing school. I may be stressed all some of the time and I may have no free time but the stuff that I've learned and the people I've connected with has made it all worth it. Being in the nursing home and connecting with the residents is a great feeling and it lets me know that I am going into the right profession.

Pumpkin Roll

A while ago I posted a picture on Facebook of a pumpkin roll that I had made. I got a few comments about the recipe and how to make it so here it is!! Yesterday the college church group I'm involved with had thing called  a Progressive Thanksgiving Meal. What we did was had a 4 course meal but traveled to different locations to eat the different courses. We started at our building for appetizers, we then walked a few minutes to one of the dorm buildings and had salads. We then hopped in several cars and had a convoy and headed out to one of the board members houses where we feasted on the traditional Thanksgiving meal. After that we headed to our ministers house for desserts. I decided to make a pumpkin roll for that. I brought home an empty plate so I think everyone liked it!!
This recipe I got from a great friend of mine. I actually went to her house a couple weeks ago to learn how to make it!! I am so blessed to have so many great cooks in my life! So here is the recipe!!

Pumpkin Roll

In a small bowl combine:

3/4 cup flour
1/2 tspn baking powder
1/2 tspn baking soda
1 tspn pumpkin pie spice
1/4 tspn salt
1 cup sugar
3 Large eggs
2/3 cups pumpkin (or half the can then you can make 2 it works the same)

 

Take a cookie sheet with sides (not sure the size but probably one that's 9x13x1 or if you have  a jelly roll pan use it) cover it with a sheet of waxed paper/parchment paper and spray it with cooking spray and then dust with flour.

Then pour your batter on to the pan and spread it evenly all over the pan.

Then you bake it for 13-15 minutes in a 375 degree oven.

 

 

Once you take it out of the oven let it cool a few min and then very carefully turn it over on to a powdered sugar covered tea towel. Make sure you put it on one of the edges so that it's easy to roll. 

 

Now you roll the pumpkin roll up tea towel and all and then stick it in the refrigerator for 15 minutes so it can cool.

While it's cooling in the fridge mix up your cream cheese mixture.The recipe for it is...

1 package of cream cheese softened
6 tablespoons softened butter
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

This is where I'm a bad person because I stopped taking pictures :( But now all you do is roll your pumpkin roll back out VERY CAREFULLY!!! If it starts to crack just go very slow. Then you spread the cream cheese mixture and then VERY CAREFULLY roll it back up and place it seam down on a plate and serve!! Keep refrigerated. Top with powdered sugar when you are ready to serve.

 

Oh and a fun tip.... While I was making my pumpkin roll I decided to measure out everything that I would need to make one for our family Thanksgiving. I was going to put it in a zip lock bag all mixed up. Well sitting on the counter was a 32 oz plastic cup from HyVee. It was the perfect size to hold the Ziploc bag open. So while I was measuring the ingredients out for the one I just stuck some in the other and now I have everything ready for Thursday.

 

 

 

Happy 1 year Anniversary!!!

Photo Credit

A year ago, to the day, I sat down at my computer and created this blog. I never thought of how this little blog could change my life. Through writing on this little blog and following many others I have made connections and friends all over the world and have learned so much about myself and about things I could only dream about. You all have been there through the sad times and the happy times and I can't thank you enough for your feedback and friendships this past year. As of right now 32 people follow my blog on blogger, I have 143 likes on Facebook, and have had over 8000 views. It may not seem like a lot compared to other blogs but this just amazes me and I can't thank you enough!

This brings me to a kind of sad part. A couple of days ago I had every intention of shutting down this blog. But after a couple of talks with some friends I've decided to keep it going. At this point in my life my plate is more than full it's absolutely spilling over. With nursing school, work, and about a million other things I am totally overwhelmed and barely have a single second to breathe. Ever since August I have had no time to put any sort of effort into blogging. I also feel as if I have nothing of any true value to offer anymore. I read so many beautiful blogs and I feel like I can't compete with them. I didn't grow up on a 1,000 acre row crop farm or on the back of a horse on a ranch, I don't travel the country as an advocate for agriculture, I'm not a mom, professional photographer, master crafter, writer, a marathon runner,or really anything special that people seem to want out of a blogger.

Who knows some day down the road I may be one of those things but today is not that day. I'm really at a point in my life where i'm still figuring that stuff out and who I want to be and where I want to go. I will try my hardest to keep this little blog going but don't expect posts every day!! 

So thank you all for sticking with me this past year. It's a year I will never forget. I look forward to seeing where the next year takes us and all the new friends that join in.

God Bless you all and I wish you the very best and again THANK YOU!

Erin 

A Walk Down the Dirt Road with......Elizabeth from Circle the Wagons

Hello everyone, for this "A Walk Down the Dirt Road" I am featuring Elizabeth Martin from Circle the Wagons. She is a fellow AG blogger from the great state of Missouri!! She was one of the first bloggers I followed and one of the first people to follow me! I hope you enjoy learning more about her and then go check out her blog! She takes some great pictures, is an amazingly talented painter, and knows a lot about agriculture!
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Elizabeth and her husband

Photo Credit Elizabeth 

Tell us about yourself, your family, and your farming/agriculture background:

I am the oldest daughter of a family of 6. I grew up on a farm in the Midwest.  My family raises row crops and has a small cow/calf operation.  There was a time when I was little that we raised hogs on dirt from farrow to finish – which is something you don’t find very often.
Currently my husband and I live on a farm where our primary chore is to care for our landlord’s cattle and general upkeep of the place.  This experience has taught us a lot!
We have gotten our toes wet in the world of production agriculture. We own 4 Hereford heifers (soon to be mama cows), 2 horses and 2 Australian Shepherds.  We are quite the motley crew. It is our goal to have our own operation in the future which is something my husband and I are working towards one day and dollar at a time!

Photo Credit Elizabeth

Why did you start your blog?

I have always read blogs and at the time I was living in an apartment in a larger town. One of those places that’s too small to be called a city but too big to be a town.  Not a lot to do after work. What’s a farm kid to do in a place like that? So I began to write about agriculture and my experiences.  I really like the sense of community in the ‘ag’ blog work and frankly I am hooked!

Photo Credit Elizabeth

What do you love most about living in Missouri?

The weather. Just kidding…I really enjoy the people – we are friendly folk.

What are some of your hobbies?

Painting, riding horses, taking photos, cooking, and gardens.  I am learning to rope and have aspirations to train my Aussies to be working dogs.  I am well on my way to be a jack of all trades; master of none.

What is your favorite part of being involved with agriculture?

I like the sense of accomplishment there is a day of hard work on the farm.  I work in an office and sometimes there isn’t a whole lot of satisfaction in pushing papers.  I like getting out and helping work the calves, learning to drive the tractor and getting my hands dirty.

Elizabeth's Husband

Photo Credit Elizabeth

What are the names of some of your favorite blogs to follow?

Heels and Shotgun Shells, Double H Photography, Diaries of the Dirt Road, This Uncharted Rhoade, Buckaroo Barbie, CountryLinked, Faces of Agriculture, Ramblins from a Ranch Wife WestEastern, The Smith Scoop, The Ranch Wife Chronicles and soooo many others. I have a long list I try to keep on with on the side banner on my blog.  So many awesome people out there.

What is the best piece of advice anyone has given you?

Such a good and tough question!!! I have thought long and hard and have yet to come up with a great piece of advice – however I do have a quote I would like to share… “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” ― Mae West

Where has been the coolest place you’ve been to for vacation?


Arizona was Amazing!!!  It was part of our honeymoon roadtrip.  We started in Flagstaff and drove to Tucson taking in sites like San Xavier del Bac – an ol Spanish Misson and finally ending in  Tombstone -we are western movie buffs so it was pretty cool walking down Allen Street and standing under the OK Corral sign. 

Call me Crazy!

 

 

 

For many years I have told people some day I would be famous, for what I don't know that yet but I always wanted to be famous. Hopefully not a bad type of famous where the paparazzi is following me around 24-7 but a famous where people see me on the street and want an autograph! How cool would that be! I remember many times where I would sign my name on a piece of paper and give it to people and tell them "hey one day this will be worth millions of dollars!" Yes they thought I was crazy but that just fueled the fire and now I want to prove them wrong! I think one of my teachers told me that she kept the paper I signed. At least one person has hope in me! Like I said I don't know what I will be famous for yet weather it be Bucking bulls, bees, pies, or who knows what but you watch out I'm out to do great things!!