Part 1 - What Keeps me Organized

I recently saw a Pinterest link for a diy family planner. After trying three other calendar systems this year, I resorted to a three ring binder and have made my own planner. Before I share that, and since this binder came first, I want to introduce my house binder.

This is part one of how I stay organized. Many years ago I decided the traditional recipe card method was not for me. I typed recipes, cut out and taped others and added them to this binder. I call it my house binder, bevause it is not just a recipe book.

It is a place to store ideas. Maybe I tore out a quilt from a picture in a magazine that we would love to have made. Secretly I want to make it myself. There may also be a necklace design or two, and maybe a book title. In a moment of weakness this week I was searching for beef crockpot recipes. Once I consulted the binder, I found plenty that I had cut out already. I also love to use and weekly menu and grocery list.

We each have a different way of staying organized, no one system works for everyone, and it may take years to perfect.

Head on over to the Good Eats page and I will tell you what was in the crockpot today.

Travelling without Kids or Cows

What an exciting day, we are travelling without kids or cows, just Ryan and me. It feels so odd. I think I left a suitcase full of things at home. My purse is twice as empty too. Things are missing....like the snack basket, trash can for car sickness and 50 cords powering every device to keep the kids entertained.

I thought it would be fun to have Ryan's input as we go down the highway. He is very excited that I am blogging again so that our distant family and friends can stay updated. He also reminded me that while we have come a long way on building things, there are a lot of future projects. With warmer weather here we will be finishing concrete work on our front drive, a feeder pen with fence work and begin the baby steps to a barn for the working facility and show cattle. We are mid way through calving season and have several good ones that we will keep and some that will find new homes!

And what a difference a year makes...we have grass coming up and if we ever get any rain we might get to mow.

Deep Thinking

It has come time for a serious update. We are no longer the little house or red barn on the horizon. We've become a growing operation and built a house. I've updated about us and made a few changes to become passionate about blogging again.


Many days we burn the midnight oil in ranch projects, feeding, homework, laundry and playing catchup, but the stories and daily trials continue. I have a lot of pictures and stories that I intend to share about our life, some good eats or deep thinking.


Speaking of deep thinking or breathing, I think they go hand in hand. Several weeks ago I travelled to my home outside of Bryan, TX, for a family wedding shower. While there I planned to visit a school friend of mine who operates her own yoga studio: Om Grown Yoga and Tea Bar. My first thought was, hey, I'm in pretty good shape and I've done a little piyo, surely I can handle this. Then fear set in of what do I wear. I'm pretty sure these people won't appreciate my usual gym attire in the middle of the day. The few and far between trips to the gym in the wee morning consist of cloths that double as appropriate to feed in. I purchased real yoga capris if that's what you call them just for this visit. And then I even got seen in public before and after. Talk about stepping out of my comfort zone. I prepared for this day for weeks.


It started with a hair appointment to find a style for a future wedding, then to yoga where I'd meet the newest addition to our family for some girl time. What a great way to spend some quiet time together, trying not to laugh at each other or ourselves. Let's just say Lexi is an amazing yoga instructor. The class was a challenge, encouraged deep breathing and let me take a break from the crazy world we live in. I instantly fell in love with yoga. We then enjoyed brunch in downtown with a Texas Mimosa, Lone Star Beer always reminds me of my daddy.


Last event for that day was ice skating with Tana. I wasted a few dollars for skates on myself, and after going half way in the rink with two large road cones and then back to the end, I was done. Between yoga and figuring out I'm too old to want to fall, it was much more exciting to watch Tana meet new friends and gain a lot of confidence on the ice. This one day was unlike any other I've had and provided a refreshing, renewing feeling that will hold me over for a while.