Tonight it went like this. Matt got off work at 4:00 and picked Rafe up from school because he stayed late to work on his art project. Olivia’s been battling hip issues so wasn’t able to run track this spring. So she was home after school, but Madeline was at track practice. So once they had the trailer hooked up and ready to go I wrapped up my work day and the 4 of us loaded the chicks into the trailer.

About that time Olivia had to leave for softball practice and Rafe had to get ready for his band concert. But Madeline was just coming down the road on the way home from track practice, so she just kept driving and met us at the pasture. The 3 of us unloaded the chicks into the shed for the night. Then Madeline left again to go to her boyfriend’s house, Matt went back to the house to clean up the now-empty brooder, and I took Rafe to his band concert.

There was still laughing, not nearly as much complaining, and we’ve got the process so down pat that load up and load out only took about an hour. Kids grow, things change, but mostly I’m just feeling grateful that the three of them still make the time for this.

We have a new email address: sugarcreekfarm@outlook.com

I tried out a couple of new recipes this week, both utilizing that wonderful tool of the lazy cook – the crockpot – and both utilizing that underappreciated cut – beef stew meat. And according to the family, both were a hit!

The first recipe was from the Country Cook website. I won’t repeat it, you can check it out here:

Slow Cooker Beef Tips with Gravy

I did use beef stew meat instead of beef tips, and the family loved it! I also doubled the recipe – we love leftovers! We ate it over mashed potatoes, yummy! If you’d like to avoid canned soup, see my post here on how to make your own. Very quick and easy, without the extra preservatives! I also make my own onion soup mix using this recipe – just mix up a big batch of it and keep in a ziplock bag.

The second recipe was from the Who Needs a Cape website. Again, I’ll just give you the link to check out:

Easy Crockpot Mongolian Beef

I would have doubled this recipe, too, but I only had the exact amount of hoisin sauce the recipe called for. Next time I’ll definitely double it, because everyone loved this one, too! Matt made a really awesome Chinese soup to go with it, something he makes that’s similar to egg drop soup but with lots of veggies.

I followed the recipe exactly except that I didn’t freeze it first. I just dumped it all in the crockpot, gave it good stir, and let the crockpot do all the heavy lifting! This recipe I do think I’d try a different cut with next time, perhaps sirloin steak or a cubed sirloin tip roast. Or maybe if I didn’t cut the stew meat pieces into smaller pieces it would have been better. The meat seemed a tad overcooked in this recipe after only 5 hours. In the gravy recipe I left the pieces whole and they were perfect.

Since it appears I’m batting a thousand this week, I think I should quit while I’m ahead and not cook the rest of the week. No?

I know, I know. I barely posted in 2012. Won’t promise anything for 2013, won’t wax poetic about how I’d really like to be here more often (I would!) But wanted to let anyone that’s still around these parts know that we are indeed still kicking around on our little square of the planet.

So what do we spend our time on, since it’s obviously not writing blog posts? Well there’s our day jobs (Matt’s still doing his lineman thing, I’m still doing my software development thing.) And of course there’s the farm. There are parts of it that are going well, and parts that are sucking the life out of the parts that are going well. (Ahem! I’m talking to you, pigs!) And then there’s the offspring. We now have a senior, a freshman, and a 5th grader. Between volleyball, football, basketball, cheerleading, track, softball, church, 4-H, band, and chorus activities they keep us well entertained.

I’m planning/hoping to do a Project Life album this year, and planning/hoping to do more picture taking than I have in a while. So I’m planning/hoping to have more to share with you here even if it means I go off-topic and ramble about whatever comes to mind, farm and non-farm related alike.

So that’s the update. If you have any burning questions, any detailed updates you’d like to hear, anything at all… just leave a comment! I promise to post again before 2014 rolls in!

Our Olivia… you woke up this morning and all of a sudden you’re 15. It doesn’t seem right. You’re the baby sister. Baby sisters are not 15 years old.

You’re so quiet most of the time in public that people can’t quite believe that at home you’re our goofy, loud middle child. I hope in the coming years you’ll let more people see that side of you, because it’s pretty awesome.

I love watching you play volleyball…

… and pitching softball. You have such a quiet confidence, and a natural “knowing” of how to play those 2 sports.

Of course, like most sisters, you & yours have your fighty moments. But I’m seeing the two of you getting closer now that you’re both in high school.

And at the same time I see you starting to come out of your sister’s shadow and come into your own. I’m really excited about that

You’ve made some hard choices this past year about what path you want your life to take. Your dad & I are extremely proud of that and the way you’ve handled things.

Happy One-Five, Liver Quinn.

Love,
Yo Mama