The animal adventures we've had so far.

At the beginning of the week we had done the usual animal rounds for the night and were getting ready for bed, when my little sister heard Eris at the back door and noticed Mara frozen between the house and the shed, where they sleep. Our Button kitty had brought the kittens to the house. After we picked them up and brought them in the house, she disappeared under the porch. With Button seeming worried and a bit shaken, my dad went out to see if he could find anything. Button followed and was double checking every were my dad went. We don't know what she was hunting that night, but it was big or scary enough that the shed was not safe for Eris, or Mara. This happened a second time but the cause was the neighbors dogs viciously barking and growling at something. When Martina and I went to check on the cats, the dogs stopped baring, and the Button calmed down.

The following day we let our goats, Honeysuckle and Rose, graze in the field next to the alfalfa field. A few moments after we came inside, my mom yelled for me. When I got outside the goats had gotten lose and were happily grazing on new grass and slowly making their way down the road, now this wouldn't have been a big deal, except for the fact that we don't have a gate yet. So mom and I had to get their attention, then either keep it or grab their collars. We ended up grabbing their collars and walking them back to the pen. Since then we have fixed the ropes and the goats graze happily where we want them now. 

 A few days later, my mom's friend came over with her family, and while she was here Button finally caught the gopher she has been trying to get. She didn't really wound it bad enough to die quickly, she just wounded it enough that he came out of the hole and wondered around and tried to dig more holes. During the weird running and hole digging Button just watched and occasionally hit him. The boys that were visiting couldn't stand it suffering, so they killed it. Button then grabbed it and ran into the shed and did what a cat would normally do with its kill.

New animals!!

We have new kittens to share with you! Our neighbors are moving at the end of the month and are only keepinng the momma cat, so we went and got Eris. 

She is the smallest one. She is calm and curious. So curious that she tried to fight a chicken before she realized how big it was. Then we had her meet Button and that didn't go over very well. So we thought she might need a friend.That's how we got our Mara. 

She is much bigger than Eris, and she is our cautious fighter. She is very careful and cautious about things around her, but she'll fight anything that's not too big.

Oreo cookies and cream Cupcakes

 Today, we made these cupcakes so we thought we would share them with everyone!

Cupcakes

• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup cocoa powder
• 1 ¼ teaspoons baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon Almond Extract
• 1 ½ cups sour cream

Whipped cream:

·        2 pints of heavy Whipping cream
·        6 tablespoons of Granulated sugar
·        1 teaspoon of Vanilla

Topping and filling:

·        1 row of crushed Oreos
·        Oreo cookies and cream instant pudding or *cook and serve

1. Position rack in center of oven and preheat oven to 350°F. Line two 12-cupcake pans with paper cupcake cups.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
3. In a bowl with an electric mixer, beat the butter on medium-high speed until creamy, about 30 seconds. Gradually add the sugar and beat at high speed until light, about 3 minutes. Reduce the speed to medium and add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Mix in the vanilla and almond extract.
4. Reduce the speed to low and add the dry ingredients in three additions, alternating them with the sour cream and mixing just until blended. 
5. Divide the batter among the cupcake cups 1/3 of the way full. Bake for 10-15 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of a cupcake comes out clean. Cool cupcakes on a wire rack for 15 minutes.
6. While the cupcakes are cooling make the cookies and cream pudding. *If you use cook and serve make sure you make it before you start your cupcakes. After you make your pudding start on the whipped cream.  
7. Pour the whipping cream into a medium size bowl; with an electric mixer beat the whipping cream until soft peaks form. After soft peaks form add the vanilla and sugar; then continue beating until stiff peaks form.
8. Once the whipping cream is done, it’s time to take the middle out of the cupcakes. Take the cupcakes one by one and with a melon baller or knife take out the middle of your cupcake. Once that is done pipe in pudding to the top of the cupcakes; now go ahead and pipe the whip cream to cover pudding then add the crushed Oreos to the top.

Sorry!

Hey, sorry I am late with my post. So last weekend my mom, Carter, Clarissa, Talya, and I all went to Wyoming to see my moms friend Tara. We had a blast, well besides th 5 1/2 hour car ride there and back. At Tara's we held baby goats, beheaded 5 roosters, tried goats milk ( I rather like it), made dinner, shot a bow and arrow, we also got to see her spinning wheel. It was a good trip and I had tons of fun!

Animals and pictures

I promised you pictures, but I didn't see a point in posting them on my blog, when they are also on my mother's blog. Our Little Homestead: Our little city homestead has moved to the country. Also I gave my talk yesterday along with my dad. Being the center of attention is not something I enjoy.

Here's an update on the animals, last night Adam brought some comfrey over to put on Chet’s nose. After we washed his face again he didn't seem to mind it. This morning my dad washed it again and put more liquid Band-Aid, this time though, he tried to put it in a small container to put it on, rather than spraying on his nose. Chet still hates it. It doesn't look as bad yesterday, but it still looks gross. Today I believe we are taking him to the vet to see what's wrong. I'll post an update on how it goes. Even though he has a cone on, he is still our happy Chet. I am able to post pictures of his nose but it's rather gross. If you would like me to can, but you'll have to comment so I know.

Yesterday while my dad cleaned the rabbit cage, we let Flynn out in a fenced area to be outside. She didn't really know what to do. This was her second time outside in the Vernon house. In the old house she was able to play in the entire backyard, however, here our backyard is 5 acres and if we let her loose we might never see her again.

We've been walking India around to let her eat some of the unwanted grass or weeds we have. The neighbors have horses as well, and when India is out of her field she likes talk to them as she walks by. Yesterday I had her out for about an hour and when she went back into her field the other horses got out to graze and she had a fit. She was running her fence neighing at them and trying to get them to look at her. Yesterday we had her out to eat the grass in the garden.

My family got back from Wyoming yesterday, and brought back Button. She is the new hunter. We have her mainly for mice and the pocket gophers we have. At the moment she won't go outside. Even though this is the first time she has been in a house in her life. 

She really likes my brother, and will only nap, if you are in his room with her. You don't have to be on the bed or next to her, just in the room. 

Martina will update you on the trip to Wyoming. Have a great day!

An apology, update and more.

Hey guys, sorry for totally not posting for a very long while, we've been moving, unpacking and just getting organized. However during all of the craziness of packing the old house, our Riley-Kitty got lost, it has been weeks and we haven't seen him, we've had our neighbors look for him, but they haven't had much luck, so we came to the conclusion that he left us to be in a better place.

Upon this thought I had my grandmother write something about him, (he really was her cat). And this is what she came up with,

We have said good-bye to our sweet, delicate, independent, best kitty ever there was. We will miss his walking us to the door, we will miss his sleeping on our beds and climbing up our chests and giving us a scratchy massage. Most of all we will miss how much Riley loved us. 

Here's a quick update. We enjoy being here we are boarding my aunts horse, and we take her on walks around the property everyday possible. Something happened to Chet and his face is all gross. We have tried a few things like, a cone of shame, Neosporin, and liquid Band-Aid for dogs. But each time we let him outside he scratches his face and makes it worse, I'd post a picture but its really gross. Yesterday during ballet I hung out with Adam for a few hours. This weekend my mom took some of the family to Wyoming to visit a friend. She is bringing back two new kittens. My dad and Kielee are at the sand dunes, and I am home with some of the little kids. Adam is coming over after work, last time he was here it was raining so we weren't able to take a tour of the property, today it's a great sunny day. 

Again I apologize for not posting for almost a month. Now that we are getting settled We'll post more.

OH! P.s. I'll post pictures of the property when I can. Also my dad and I are talking in sacrament tomorrow. Wish me luck!