http://reddirtinmysoul.comQuick Blogcasthttp://reddirtinmysoul.com/2012/02/22/wordless-wednesday---reflections.aspx?ref=rssWintry reflections compose this week's WW entry.****February 22, 2011 Pretty Stinking CoolFebruary 22, 2010 Petite PartnerFebruary 22, 2009 BobFebruary 22, 2008 Runoff ...RanchlifeWyomingSceneryPhotographyCarol2012-02-23T03:42:57Zhttp://reddirtinmysoul.com/2012/02/21/read-ingredients.aspx?ref=rssI've been going to mention the book discussion I've been participating in the past few weeks. The topic was "Read Ingredients". It is sponsored by the Wyoming Council for the Humanities. They chose the books! We just read them!Tonight was our third meeting and this week's choice was Food Of A Younger Land by Mark Kurlansky. It was all based on the WPA's work done in the 1940's collecting regional food stories and recipes. It was interesting to an extent... though recipes have never been a great interest of mine.I cook because I have ...RanchlifeWyomingCarol2012-02-22T05:48:11Zhttp://reddirtinmysoul.com/2012/02/20/heres-looking-at-you.aspx?ref=rssIn between cleaning and cooking... I browsed my seed catalogs... and made my decisions.Though my garden is non-existent at this point in time... I will get my act together. Even if it means calling in Vernon and his tractors to rip up the spot for me!Back in the day, M. had a wonderful garden here. I think she was probably 85 or older before they seeded it to grass and she had to give up her garden. I usually FAIL at having a great garden... just one good enough. However, since I seem to have ...RanchlifeWyomingHorsesGardenCarol2012-02-21T06:10:29Zhttp://reddirtinmysoul.com/2012/02/19/bag-it-2.aspx?ref=rssIn Bag It! I showed you how to cut out a feed sack in anticipation of making a fun shopping bag. Then, I ran into J., who showed me a quicker and easier way instead of what I WAS doing.I'll show you both ways... and hopefully, you won't get too confused.Go ahead and cut your feed sack into what resembles the bottom half of the letter H. Turn it inside out and wash. Fold in the legs and tape them into place. You can pin them if you want, I just had tape handy! Once ...RanchlifeWyomingCarol2012-02-20T05:50:49Zhttp://reddirtinmysoul.com/2012/02/18/only-fair.aspx?ref=rssI rolled out this morning to help Vernon again.But this time there was a different twist, for it's my Bountiful Basket morning... meaning our food co-op was delivering. I had to disappoint my dogs, telling them, "No. Stay in the yard."What disappointed looks!I drove my Durango to help feed, then took off for Ten Sleep. I was filling my laundry basket with pink oranges and apples and spinach and other such goodies, when a friend of mine waved something in my face."Ha! I beat you by two weeks!" J. said.She showed me her gorgeous bag.A feedsack ...RanchlifeWyomingCarol2012-02-19T05:32:22Zhttp://reddirtinmysoul.com/2012/02/17/i-interrupt-this-lesson-for-ranchlife.aspx?ref=rssOoops.Yeah, the sewing machine never made it out of my basement.Due to the breakdown of some equipment... I was called into action today.We grained the peewee calves...And fed some cows.And chopped some ice.Why, yes, I *DO* live on a ranch... thanks for the reminder!****February 17, 2011 Red Dirt of HomeFebruary 17, 2010 Home (the last photo made it into the English Shepherd calendar!)February 17, 2009 Axe-ident (oh, my! >blushes&ltFebruary 17, 2008 No entry. ...RanchlifeWyomingCattleCarol2012-02-18T05:19:00Zhttp://reddirtinmysoul.com/2012/02/16/bag-it.aspx?ref=rssTo begin your "feed bag", cut off the bottom seam of your feed sack of choice. Make sure you're even with the lettering... stay fairly close to the seam.Create "legs"... leaving the folded edges of your sack alone, just cut up and over, removing a rectangle from the front and back. Hopefully, the image won't be too distorted from this! No slicing through heads of animals. Yuck.Your "legs" must overlap in the middle. I have PLENTY of overlap... I could have backed off a bit and had my legs a little shorter (and shown more ...RanchlifeWyomingProjectsCarol2012-02-17T06:24:17Zhttp://reddirtinmysoul.com/2012/02/15/wordless-wednesday---last-stop-before-home.aspx?ref=rssWW for this week...The last stop before home... the gate is thrown open... ready to drive on in.****February 15, 2011 Smiling HereFebruary 15, 2011 No entry.February 15, 2010 Meanwhile... Back at the RanchFebruary 15, 2009 No entry. ...RanchlifeWyomingSceneryCarol2012-02-16T05:41:21Zhttp://reddirtinmysoul.com/2012/02/14/bag-it-up.aspx?ref=rssHere's an easy peasy craft for you...Got a "plastic" bag that your dog food comes in? (Or chicken feed, horse feed, cow cake, or pig protein?)Maybe you have a big sack of salt for your water softener or potting soil?If it is woven reinforced plastic, not paper, GO GET IT!Here's mine.We're going to create this...A shopping/beach/overnight/work bag!All you need is the bag, scissors, marker, yardstick, and your sewing machine!If you're happy with the angled bottom, you can sew a ribbon right over the paper seal to conceal it! (ha!) Cut it in half (taller would be too tall ...RanchlifeWyomingCarol2012-02-15T06:01:26Zhttp://reddirtinmysoul.com/2012/02/13/as-time-goes-by.aspx?ref=rssBoy.It's difficult to blog without my camera anymore.*I* was ready for my dog walk/heifer checking/craftiness today... but I had a DEAD camera. Absolutely lifeless.No AED was gonna revive it.Sure, I had other cameras AT HOME... but that didn't help out with today's events.I listlessly plugged it into the wall on my return... and moved off to other projects.I accomplished some things... I dehydrated the borderline veggies and fruit in my fridge. I actually enjoy that. Knowing that instead of pitching them in a few days... I've preserved them for later use, not waste! Far from being ...RanchlifeWyomingProjectsCarol2012-02-14T06:29:26Zhttp://reddirtinmysoul.com/2012/02/12/question-and-answer-february-2012-vlog.aspx?ref=rssThis is getting to be fun... Here ya go! **** February 12, 2011 Fever February 12, 2010 No entry. February 12, 2009 Pysanky Monochrome February 12, 2008 Tractors ...VlogWyomingRanchlifeCarol2012-02-13T05:01:29Zhttp://reddirtinmysoul.com/2012/02/11/minute-movie--bull-sale.aspx?ref=rssThe trip back from Nebraska was long... The interstate was agreeable for driving if you were a lone car... unfortunately, that's not the case on I-25, and the blowing snow whiteout condition would envelope you whenever another vehicle was nearby. It stunk. Bleh. I was extremely glad Vernon was driving (as he did heading down... so, NO, I DID NOT TAKE PHOTOS WHILE DRIVING 75 DOWN THE INTERSTATE) Not that I haven't taken photos out my car window... Anyway... I don't know how ...RanchlifeWyomingCattleCarol2012-02-12T06:03:24Zhttp://reddirtinmysoul.com/2012/02/09/heartbeat.aspx?ref=rssI know. I had a plan. Another Vlog answering your questions.Well... Vernon decided to go to a bull sale in Nebraska... So here I sit in a motel in Cheyenne, without the ability to make my Vlog and answer those questions!The Good News is you have another couple of days to submit questions... The Bad News is it might be Sunday or Monday before I get it done!If nothing else, you must be flexible in your plans as a rancher... Depending on animals, weather, or husbands, your agenda can change in a heartbeat!Below is a photo of ...RanchlifeCarol2012-02-10T04:54:45Zhttp://reddirtinmysoul.com/2012/02/08/wordless-wednesday---cloud-kiss.aspx?ref=rssFor this Wordless Wednesday... Clouds kiss the top of Ten Sleep Canyon.****February 8, 2011 Feeding Two VideoFebruary 8, 2010 Remember the Mills Place?February 8, 2009 Pysanky ContinuedFebruary 8, 2008 no entry ...RanchlifeWyomingSceneryPhotographyCarol2012-02-09T05:41:34Zhttp://reddirtinmysoul.com/2012/02/07/dreary-and-dangerous.aspx?ref=rssI'm back home!<happy sigh><with happy dogs panting happily by my happy side>I began the day worried slightly about the road... Kaycee to home is about a 2.5 hour drive over Powder River Pass, elevation 9666', and I've been up there with ice and snow and blowing snow. In fact, the drive from Casper to Kaycee last night was a great example of a ground blizzard, with blowing and drifting snow... the kind that reminds you of the scenes in Star Trek... y'know, that leap to warp speed when all the stars go whishing by. The type of snow ...RanchlifeWyomingSceneryPhotographyCarol2012-02-08T06:06:41Zhttp://reddirtinmysoul.com/2012/02/06/library-training.aspx?ref=rssI was chosen to attend a workshop at the Natrona County Library in Casper today. This is the first non-school library I can remember. As a voracious childhood reader, I finally had to expand beyond the confines of the tiny school assortment, and hit The Big Time. As a sixth grader walking into this building, I was in awe. First of all, I knew the statue of Prometheus had its controversy, letters to the editor were split about its beauty and/or appropriateness. At least, that's how I remember it. But walking into a building ...RanchlifeCarol2012-02-07T06:27:05Zhttp://reddirtinmysoul.com/2012/02/04/cloth-diaper-photo-tutorial.aspx?ref=rssI attempted a photo of some cloth diaper styles... I can tell my forte is not marketing photography! But this will have to do. Blogging on my iPad has its limits! The pic I took shows all in one diapers, pocket diapers, and a diaper cover with tri fold diapers.I have an cute navy and light blue artistic pattern around that purple bear on top... You'd be amazed at the variety of cute fabric they use on these things! Ditto for the one below and to the right... Blue denim with polka dot back pockets! ...RanchlifeCarol2012-02-05T05:52:02Zhttp://reddirtinmysoul.com/2012/02/03/my-education.aspx?ref=rssLast time I was here assisting Victoria and Matt with their newborn twins, I fed and burped and changed their disposable diapers... It was like riding a bicycle, it all came back to me. This time it's a bit different, I have a few things to learn. Victoria has become a fan of cloth diapers. I used some back in my day... The old huge ones you'd fold into vague triangles... Held by huge pins that poked either you or your squirming child... And covered by the crackly plastic pants that could no more keep wetness at ...RanchlifeCarol2012-02-04T05:48:20Zhttp://reddirtinmysoul.com/2012/02/02/winners-and-winter-travel.aspx?ref=rssI zipped around my house this morning, trying to get the basics done... A roast in the crock pot... Some printing was completed of my blog entries now that I have both ink and paper at the same time! A few things picked up and put away. A suitcase packed. Yes. I ran away from home.I'm once more in Kaycee, helping with the twins! No more ranch life for a few days... I'm back to diapers and bottles! Unfortunately, the drive wasn't all pleasure... White knuckles did appear at one point!While it had ...RanchlifeCarol2012-02-03T06:18:04Zhttp://reddirtinmysoul.com/2012/02/01/wordless-wednesday---gate-chain.aspx?ref=rssThere's not much time left to win your Very Own Copy of the Red Dirt In My Soul 2012 Calendar... or those spiffy new baseball caps... so... hurryhurry!For today's Wordless Wednesday... A rusty chain holds the gate closed...****February 1, 2011 Feeding One Video (wow... I win on creativity with this title!)February 1, 2010 No entry.February 1, 2009 Wild Calf VideoFebruary 1, 2008 No entry. ...RanchlifeContestWyomingCarol2012-02-02T05:48:34Z