This is What I’m Talking About

THIS is what I’m talking about.  We went North again yesterday to look at land so we can get the ball rolling on “Operation Get The Hell Out Of Dodge”.  There are many horse ranches in this area and numerous cattle ranches and it’s about an hour and 15 minutes from our house.

The weather was beautiful, just a little chilly with clear blue sky’s.  We looked at several properties but none of them were “the one”.  We are headed back out today to look at a couple more.  One property on the list for today is 17 acres with a creek and trees and the other is 9 acres with a pond, trees, fences, septic and water.  Hopefully one of them will be as beautiful as these are.

   

I hope all of you have a beautiful sunshine filled day.

Cowtown History

This post is my 100th post on Howdy From Cowtown.  Thank you to all my blogland friends for listening to my dribble and I hope that I have not bored you too much.  Having said that I thought I would honor my birthplace today with a little history.  After all, if it weren't for Cowtown my blog might be named Howdy from Dallas or something lame like that (in case you are not from Texas you should know that there is a friendly rivalry between Dallas and Ft. Worth).  No offense to my Dallas friends but life really is too short to live in Dallas!  Amen.
Here goes--
Indians. Cattle. Railroads. Oil. The Western History of Fort Worth reads like the history of the American West.
Did you know that...?
Fort Worth Western History began as an army outpost in 1849, established to protect settlers from Indian attacks.

Soon, Fort Worth became the last major stop on the legendary Chisholm Trail, the dusty path where millions of cattle were driven North to market.

The Western History of Fort Worth was the wild era of "Hell's Half Acre," an area of town filled with gambling parlors, saloons, and dance halls. Later, the railroad transformed the Fort Worth Stockyards into a premier livestock center. And when oil began to gush in West Texas, Fort Worth was at the center of the wheeling and dealing.
Known as "Cowtown" for its rough-and-rowdy roots, Fort Worth still celebrates its colorful Western history and heritage today.
I may start posting random Fort Worth facts/places.  Cowtown really has a lot to offer and quite a colorful past.
Thanks to everyone that follows my blog.  Your friendship means the world to me.  Yeehaw!

Chicken Noodle Soup

As part of my New Year’s Resolution’s I was supposed to start cooking from the Cooking Light recipe book and try to stay away from Paula Deen.  It’s just not happening.  It’s Paula Deen all the way.  The recipe below is what I use when we are in the mood for Chicken Noodle Soup.  It’s good for what ails you and delicious.

The Lady’s Chicken Noodle Soup

Ingredients:

4   bay leaves
3   chicken bouillon cubes
1   onion, peeled and diced
1   tsp Paula Deen Lemon Pepper Seasoning
3   cloves garlic, minced
1   2 1/2 to 3-pound fryer (chicken) or 4 chicken breasts, cut up
1 1/2 to 2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
3 1/2 quart water
kosher salt and pepper to taste
For Step 2:
2 cups sliced carrots
2 cups sliced celery, with leafy green tops
2 1/2 cups uncooked egg noodles
3 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
3/4 cup heavy cream (optional)
1/3 cup cooking sherry ( I don’t use this)
1 cup sliced mushrooms (I don’t use this)
Fresh parsley
2 tsp chopped fresh rosemary (I don’t use this)
Paula Deen Seasoned Salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper to taste
crusty french bread or crackers, for serving

Directions:

For the stock: add all ingredients to a soup pot. Cook until chicken is tender, about 35 to 45 minutes. Remove chicken from pot and set aside to cool. Remove and discard bay leaves and onion. You should have approximately 3 quarts of stock. When chicken is cool enough to touch, pick bones clean, discarding bones, skin, and cartilage if you used a whole chicken.  Set chicken aside. 
For the soup: bring stock back to a boil, add carrots, and cook for 3 minutes. Add celery and continue to cook for 5 to 10 minutes. Add egg noodles and cook according to directions on package. When noodles are done, add chicken, mushrooms, parsley, sherry and rosemary. Add Parmesan and cream, if using. Cook for another 2 minutes. Adjust seasoning, if needed, by adding seasoning salt and pepper. Enjoy along with a nice hot crusty loaf of French bread.

Recipe courtesy Paula Deen
Servings: 8 to 10 servings
Prep Time: 25 min
Cook Time: 1 hour
Difficulty: Moderate

Tag I'm It

Misha over at From My Front Porch in the Mountains has tagged me for this game.  To play you must answer each question with one word.  This is harder than it sounds.

Your cell phone? quiet


Your Hair? jacked

Your Mother? close

Your Father? ill

Your Favorite Food? comfort

Your Dream Last Night? none

Your Favorite Drink?  Tea

Your Dream/Goal? country

Where Are You ? garage

Your Hobby? blogging

Your Fear?  rats

Where Do You See Yourself In Six Years? country

Where Were You Last Night? home

Something That You Aren't? satisfied
Muffins? nah

Wish List Item? land

Where Did You Grow Up? Texas

Last Thing You Did? tv

What Are You Wearing? sweats

Your TV? news

Your Pets? none

Friends? few

Your Life? stagnant

Your Mood? good

Missing Someone? definetely

Vehicle? chevy
Something You Aren't Wearing? bra

Your Favorite Store? Lowes

Your Favorite Color? red

When Was The Last Time You Laughed? 6:00

Last Time You Cried? today

Your Best Friend? Hillbilly

One Place You Go To Over And Over Again? work

Facebook? yes

Twitter? No

Favorite Place To Eat? Annamia's

Tag, your it.
Linda at Coastal Charm
Jeanie at Living Consciously
Vickie at Sand Flat Farm
Pix at Rural Rambles
Sheryl at Ain't for City Gals
 
Have fun and thanks for playing.

NATIVE TEXAN AND PROUD OF IT!!!

Vickie over at Sand Flat Farm posted this and asked that all Texan’s pass it along.  So I am.

Somebody sent me this email the other day, and so I can't take credit for it. But if you don't mind reading a long post, you might find out some interesting things about our great state of Texas and why we're so proud!  I know you're all proud of your own states, too, but here goes: 
This is for all those native Texans out there - and you know who you are!!!

Have you ever looked at a map of the world? Look at Texas with me just for a second. That picture, with the Panhandle and the Gulf Coast , and the Red River and the Rio Grande is as much a part of you as anything ever will be. As soon as anyone anywhere in the world looks at it they know what it is. It's Texas . Pick any kid off the street in Japan and draw him a picture of Texas in the dirt and he'll know what it is. What happens if I show you a picture of any other state? You might get it maybe after a second or two, but who else would? And even if you do, does it ever stir any feelings in you?
In every man, woman and child on this planet, there is a person who wishes just once he could be a real live Texan and get up on a horse or ride off in a pickup. There is a little bit of Texas in everyone.
Texas is the Alamo . Texas is 183 men standing in a church, facing thousands of Mexican nationals, fighting for freedom, who had the chance to walk out and save themselves, but stayed instead to fight and die for the cause of freedom. John Wayne paid to do the movie himself . That is the Spirit of Texas .
We send our kids to schools named William B. Travis and James Bowie and Davy Crockett, and do you know why? Because those men saw a line in the sand and they decided to cross it and be heroes.
Texas is Sam Houston capturing Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana at San Jacinto .
Texas is huge forests of Piney Woods like the Davy Crockett and Sam Houston National Forests .
Texas is breathtaking mountains in the Big Bend .
Texas is the unparalleled beauty of bluebonnet fields in the Texas Hill Country.
Texas is floating the rivers of the Hill Country on a hot summer day.
Texas is the beautiful, warm beaches of the Gulf Coast of South Texas .
Texas is beaches you can drive on and have many memorable bon-fires with close friends.
Texas is that warm feeling you get when someone asks where you're from.
Texas is the shiny skyscrapers in Houston and Dallas.
Texas is world record bass from places like Lake Fork .
Texas is Mexican foods like nowhere else, not even Mexico .
Texas is chicken fried steak and world famous Bar-B-Q.
Texas is the Fort Worth Stockyards, Bass Hall, the Ballpark in Arlington and the Astrodome. (guess now, the Reliant Stadium too)..
Texas is larger-than-life legends, like Michael DeBakey, Ann Richards, Denton Cooley, Willie Nelson, Buddy Holly, Gene Autry, Audie Murphy, Tommy Lee Jones, Waylon Jennings, Farrah Fawcett, Janis Joplin, Sandra Bullock, Kris Kristofferson, Tom Landry, Eva Longoria, Darrell Royal, ZZ Top, Eric Dickerson, Earl Campbell, Nolan Ryan, Sam Rayburn, Howard Hughes, George H.. W. Bush, Lyndon B. Johnson, and let's not forget GEORGE STRAIT- PANTERA, the Big Bopper, Tex Ritter, George Jones, Clay Walker, Mark Chestnut, to name ONLY a few.
Texas is great companies like Dell Computer, Texas Instruments, EDS and Compaq, Whataburger, Southwest Airlines, Bell Helicopter and LOCKHEED MARTIN AEROSPACE, Home of the F-16 Jet Fighter and the JSF Fighter, Valero.
Texas is NASA.
Texas is huge herds of cattle, beautiful horses and miles of crops.
Texas is home to the world famous King Ranch.
Texas is home to the most amazing sunsets of gold over an empty field.
Texas is hundreds of deer running around neighborhoods and fields.
Texas is skies blackened with doves and fields full of deer.
Texas is a place where towns and cities shut down to watch the local high school football game on Friday nights and for the Cowboys on Monday Night Football, and for the night In Old San Antonio River Parade in San Antonio.
To drive across Texas , is to drive 1/3 the way across the United States .
Texas is ocean beaches, deserts, lakes and rivers, mountains and prairies, and modern cities.
If it isn't already in Texas , you probably don't need it.
No one does anything bigger or better than it's done in Texas .
By federal law, Texas is the only state in the U.S. that can fly its flag at the same height as the U.S. Flag. Think about that for a second. You fly the Stars and Stripes at 20 feet in Maryland , California , or Maine , and your state flag, whatever it is, goes at 17 feet. You fly the Stars and Stripes in front of Klein Oak High or anyplace else at 20 feet, the Lone Star flies at the same height - 20 feet. Do you know why? Because it is the only state that was a Republic before it became a state.

source - http://www.wheelmeon.org/capitol.jpg
Also, being a Texan is as high as being an American down here. Our capitol is the only one in the country that is taller than the capitol building in Washington , D.C. And we can divide our state into five states at any time if we wanted to!  We can become a republic again at any time the voters of Texas choose, and we included these things as part of the deal when we came on.
That's the best part, right there.
Texas even has its own power grid!! And don't even lie to yourself... Did I mention Live music capitol of the world?
If you are a REAL TEXAN, you won't even need to be told to pass this on.

Thank God For Cowtown

I was afraid of this… this is what we found across the street from the property that we went to look at today.  I’m pretty sure the Hatfield's lived here at some point.

Or perhaps they lived here, just a little down the road.

They may have lived here…All I know is that I WON’T live anywhere close to this mess.  EVER!  And I mean EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I would rather live in the city the rest of my life.  Hillbilly is getting really mad at me for referencing the Hatfield's.  He is taking it personally.  He says it's like making fun of his own family even though there is no relation.  I'm not doing it to be a biotch (even though I am). 

We did see this cute little donkey on the way.  I feel sorry for him.  Someone needs to clean his pen.  Please.

Pretty little train station in town…I suggest anyone that lives within 30 miles of the property we looked at should take the first train out of town…I’m just sayin…

We stopped at the lake on our way home and found this little fatty.  He posed for me.  The fish must not have been biting because all of the cattle were laying down.  So they say.

Fatty lives here.
I live in Cowtown…and today I’m glad.

Operation Get the Hell Out Of Dodge

You have heard me whine continually about wanting out of the stinking city.  I would like to do this before we are too old to enjoy it (got to hurry).  The first step to Operation Get the Hell Out Of Dodge is to buy some land.   We’re putting on our boots and heading out this morning to take a look at a piece of property that has caught my eye this week as I scanned the land listings on the internet. 

The property is five acres and is located about 60 miles north of where we live now.  Five acres is plenty big for what I want.  I just need a place for a donkey (yes, I still need a donkey) and a couple of calves and a garden.  Oh, and maybe a horse or two and a llama.  Did you know that llama’s protect your livestock?  I think that is SO cool.  They also poop in one spot all the time and their poop is great for the garden and it’s not gross at all.  I have an unlimited wealth of llama knowledge if you have any llama questions.  LOL!  I will also need several dogs to follow me around while I check the cows and a cat for the barn (I really hate mice).  We will need room for a nice barn and I know that Hillbilly will have to have a tractor too, a green one.   Of course there has to be room for a house and a pond with a dock and an orchard.  It would be really cool to have a windmill, I’ve always wanted a windmill.  It just wouldn’t be right not to have some chickens so a spot for a chicken coop would be needed as well.   There I go again getting carried away…maybe I should be looking for 50 acres (not in the budget) instead of 5.  I’m just sayin…

Okay, I was just kidding (about the windmill and the chickens and the llamas but not my llama knowledge).


It does have some hardwood trees.  I wouldn’t want it if it didn’t.  I’m a tree hugger from way back.

There is a shed with a porch.  I believe that all structures should have a porch.  I think that’s written in the constitution but I might be wrong:).  Ever been wrong?  I have.

The listing reads----Property runs long East and West; Rolling terrain with small hay meadows and trees, mostly following along the creek bed that cuts across the property from North to South. Water tap, electric, phone service; Former septic was aerobic. Status of aerobic system unknown since property has been vacant for some time. Ideal home site.

It looks great in these photos from the listing but it doesn’t show what is across the road.  Hopefully the Hatfield’s (please forgive me if your last name is Hatfield) don’t live across the road or even worse would be some kind of junk yard across the road.  We’ll see…

Did you know that the Hatfield's actually lived down the road from my husband when he was a kid?  I'm talking the REAL Hatfield's.  Remember, he is from the hills of Kentucky.  His dad still lives across the hollar from the them.  They just recently got electricity.  Really, I couldn't make this stuff up.  They really say "across the hollar" too.  Really.

I’m taking my camera with me today to look at the land and will post our findings.  Have a boot stomping good weekend!

Commute With the Queen

As much as I would like it, my everyday life does not allow me to post beautiful pictures of mountains or horses or the ocean.    Although I do love to set a pretty table I don’t have the luxury of staying home and changing out my tablescape’s per the season/holidays and blogging about it.  I spend almost 2 hours a day looking at the back of someone’s bumper.  The photo above is my first slow down in my 22 mile commute.  There are some beautiful fields and cows to look at through this area (I should have taken a picture of that while I was playing with the iphone).
 
This is about halfway to work  and my second slowdown.  This is where I cheat every morning and exit off the freeway and get in front of about a 1000 cars.  It saves me about 10 minutes.

Sun in my eyes but I’m so glad to see it!

Third slowdown and merging with another highway.

As much as I would love to show you a picture of the mountains or a beautiful stream that runs through my property  or my cute puppy tromping through a field of wild flowers I cannot.  These are my views, my reality (for now). 
Until I change my reality I will continue to visit your blogs for my change of scenery and my country fix.
Thanks for riding along on the trail to work with me and be sure to keep it between the ditches!

Greatness

Zydeco Pulled Pork

Made this for Super bowl Sunday for the carnivore’s.  I didn’t hear any complaints.

• 4 pounds boneless pork shoulder
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar 
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon red pepper
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1-2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 cup onion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1-2 tablespoons hickory liquid smoke
• 2 cups water

Use a 5-6 quart slow cooker. Mix spices and rub into pork and place in pot. Add liquids and onions.

Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or until meat shreds easily with forks. Turn meat over after 6 hours or so. I had to add a little more season after I shredded the meat and tasted it, I used Tony Chachere's. Serve on toasted buns with provolone or over rice.

Ahhhheeeeee!

Record Breaking Snowfall in Cowtown

You are just going to have to forgive me for posting more snow photo’s.  It’s just SO darn pretty! 

North Texas hasn’t seen a winter this white in 32 years.

The 11.2 inches of snow that had fallen by midnight Thursday at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport topped the previous record for snowfall in one day of 7.8 inches recorded in 1917 and 1964.

The 12.5 inches that had fallen by 4 a.m. Friday also broke the 24-hour record of 12.1 inches Jan. 15-16, 1964.

Thursday’s snow also catapulted seasonal accumulation to 15.7 inches, according to the National Weather Service in Fort Worth.

That ranks as the second snowiest season ever.

Most snowiest was the 17.6 inches that fell in 1977-78 (I remember this year and my mom has pictures of me and sister building a snowman).

That year, 13.5 inches fell in February alone, also a record.

The snow appeared to have finally stopped falling by 6 a.m. Friday.  This is what it looks like this morning. 

 

Amazing and beautiful and it looks like I will be enjoying a  5 day weekend!  God is good.  I’m off to build a snowman.

Snow Day

It is so rare that we get snow here in Cowtown that I just had to post pictures.  I’m sure you get tired of seeing the front of my house but I just don’t have a lot of yard to show you.  This is real powder snow, the kind they get up north.  No sleet, no ice, just fluffy snow.

The love fern in my tiny back yard.

I worked from home today, it was great.  They didn’t close our schools today so it was quiet all day.  No kids to disturb the quiet beauty.  Hillbilly wouldn’t help me build a snowman.  He is spending his snow day sleeping.  I thought about doing snow angels in everyone’s yards but I thought again.  It is still snowing and will freeze tonight so I might work from home tomorrow too.  Life is good.

Creole Crockpot Crustaceans (aka shrimp)

These are THE best shrimp ever!  I made these on Sunday in honor of Mardi Gras and the Saint’s playing in the Super bowl.

• 2 pounds fresh raw shell-on shrimp (I bought big shrimp because that’s the way I roll)
• 1 stick of butter
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup  Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp Tabasco sauce
• 1 tsp ground black pepper
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 3 lemons, juiced
• 1 tbsp Tony Chachere’s seasoning
• 1 tbsp parsley

Rinse the shrimp and place into the crock pot.  Add the stick of butter, olive oil, and Worcestershire sauce. Next, add the Tabasco, salt, pepper, juice of the lemons, Cajun seasoning and parsley.   Gently toss just a bit with a big spoon to incorporate the flavors.

Cover and cook on high for about 2 hours, checking every 30 minutes. You'll know the shrimp is done when it has turned pink.  My crock pot was in use so I just placed in a big Corning ware dish with a lid and put it in the oven on 250 degrees and checked it in about 45 minutes and they looked done but I went ahead and let them cook another 20 minutes just for the heck of it.

Serve with crusty bread to soak up the juice. These are quite messy to peel but completely worth it.  I have a similar recipe where I peel them first and just pop in the oven and cook faster.  Either way is good.

Laissez le Bon temp rouler!
(pronounced Lazay Lay Bon Tom Roulay)
(translation Let the good times roll)

The Queen’s Kingdom

This is the after photo’s of my kingdom (office/Granddaughter room).  Occasionally the grandbabies spend the night and one of them sleeps in this room so I wanted to keep a bed of sorts.  It is so much brighter and much cheerier than it was.  Before it was decorated in a safari theme and I can’t tell you how tired of was of that.  Gag!  The walls are actually much greener (lime sorbet, Behr) than they appear in these pictures.  I’m not the greatest photographer and I don’t have time to keep taking pictures.  You get the idea.

New throne, organizational boxes and shelving.  The room is full of my favorite photo’s.  I plan to purchase a large collage frame and it will be placed to the left of the shelves.

New comforter and pillow.  See the adorable peace sign trash can?

I took the frames that my elephant and giraffe picture’s were in and framed some of Angel and The Rae’s artwork instead.  Isn’t it sweet?  I also found some stickers with children quote’s and saying’s and included them along with their art.  These framed treasures may not look like much to you but they mean the world to me.  They represent a really fun day I spent with the wee ones.  Notice the wording in the picture on the right.  Did you know that once upon a time was actually spelled Wusopona  time?  Love it!

Advice From the Queen

All good cowgirls keep their calves together.
I’m just sayin…

Note’s to Self

Mini Me and I had a little business to take care of down at the courthouse the other day.  Hanging out at the courthouse is not something that I do very often so I was not aware of the rules for entry.

First of all, you must pay to park and they do NOT take credit cards.  It cost us $16 to park and I only took $5 cash with me  and they don’t take credit cards (note to self…always take at least $30 CASH when handling business at the courthouse).  It’s a good thing Mini Me came prepared. 
Secondly, you must remove your shoes and put them in a tray just as you do at the airport (note to self…wear socks or get pedicure before attending to business at the courthouse).  Let’s just say it was embarrassing at the least.

Last but certainly not least, sharp objects are NOT allowed (note to self…remove pocketknife from pocketbook before visiting court house and insure that purse has been properly organized before attempting to enter said courthouse).  They did not notice my knife the first time my purse went through the x-ray machine but I’m sure they noticed my half painted toes.  LOL!  The second time I re-entered the building they sent my purse through for a second look but let me go on through.  The third time they searched my purse and after pulling out 326 receipts, makeup bag, keys and wallet they pulled out my little antique pocket knife that was my Uncle David’s.  They scolded me and made me take it to the car.  I have carried this little knife in my purse since I was 14 and I always remember to take it out before I fly but never crossed my mind on the day we went to the courthouse.

In posting this I am hoping to save someone else the embarrassment and humiliation that I have endured.  Just remember the next time you are headed to the courthouse…stop at the nail salon and the ATM and whatever you do, leave the weapons in the car.

this has been a  Lone Star Queen public service announcement

Navy Bean Soup & Buttermilk Cornbread

 

This is a quick satisfying soup for days when you are feeling too lazy to cook a real meal. 

Navy Bean Soup

• 4 cans Navy Beans, do not drain
• 3 stalks celery, chopped
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1-2 C chicken broth
• ham cut into bite size pieces
• Stick margarine or butter (1/2 C)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper

Melt butter in dutch oven and sauté the ham and vegetables until the veggies are translucent.  I added the garlic last so that it doesn’t get bitter from cooking too long.

Next add 3 cans of the beans and about a cup of chicken broth, you can add more broth to adjust later if needed.  Season and simmer for about 30 minutes or so.  Take the last can of beans and drain and mash with a potato masher and in and simmer a while longer.  Enjoy with cornbread.  Yum!

The Queen’s Cornbread

1 1/4 cup yellow cornmeal
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1 1/4 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup milk
1 large egg
1/2 tsp. baking soda
3 Tbsp. oil

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
In a bowl, combine dry ingredients and whisk together.
Measure buttermilk and milk in a measuring cup. Stir in the egg  and milk.  Pour into the bowl with the dry ingredients and stir with a fork just until combined.
Preheat the iron skillet and oil.   Pour the batter into the hot skillet and spread to even out the surface. Bake for about 25 minutes.

Winner Winner Cookie Dinner

Oz Girl from City Girl Moves to Oz Land had a contest to name a few of her homemade cookies that she is selling over at her new website, The Lazy G Ranch.  She also makes homemade organic dog treats.    She chose my suggestion to name her Coconut Macadamia White Chocolate Chip cookies which was Cookie of Paradise.  In return she sent me a package of her I Heart You Cookies.  They are delicious and I suggest you scoot on over and get some for yourself.  While your there you could pick up some yummy treats for your pooch.  You  and the pooch will be glad that you did.