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Yesterday we went up to Simply Country for Sunday Supper, a wonderful weekly tradition. There were two reasons for celebration . . . PD's 43rd birthday. . . plus KL's first time competing in the 4-H Horse Classic.
PD's favorite cake is Boston Cream Pie which we usually purchase. This year I thought I would bake him one and it was well received. I always wondered why it is called a pie when it's actually a cake. So after "googling" the origin I found that this cake was probably called a pie because in the mid-nineteenth century, pie tins were more common than cake pans. The first versions might have been baked in pie tins. Boston Cream Pie is a remake of the early American "Pudding-cake pie." 
Saturday Jen and KL spent the whole day at Reedley College in Reedley, California, while KL participated in a statewide competition as part of the Madera County 4-H team. The 4-H Horse Classic is split into two competitions—the Educational Contests (Saturday's competition) and the Champion Horse Show. KL said it was the most difficult competition she has even been in and she learned what she needs to study more for next year. She was competing with kids who were state champions last year. When the day was over, though, she came home with five ribbons and we couldn't be more proud.
Life is good!
Early this morning, before I was up, Ken noticed a strange movement outside our living room window. He got up to see what it was . . . and was quite surprised. He grabbed the camera and went out to get a picture. I'm not sure I'd have believed him had I not seen it.
A beautiful male Peacock was just strolling down the road as if he owned the place.
And as he passed by, this furry four-legged feline crept down the road in the opposite direction, keeping an eye on that strange feathered friend.
Apparently, after talking with a few friends down at the clubhouse, there are a few Peacocks living in the park. We've just never seen them until this morning! I have no idea where they've come from . . . nor how long they might stay. And I wonder if there are any females wandering around.
Life is good!
We received a great Christmas gift from our mid-western family: tickets to two shows at the Roger Rocka's Dinner Theater, one of which we enjoyed last night. Roger Rocka's is the only dinner theater in Fresno, seats about 254, and has fabulous shows all year round. Last night's presentation was "Oklahoma" and it brought back so many great memories. When Ken and I were in high school, we both belonged to the Youth Choir at church. Our director loved Rogers and Hammerstein and we participated in several productions ourselves, one of which was "Oklahoma" so you can imagine my yearning to belt out each song as the performers were doing their thing on stage. I really had to control myself. We had a great time, and the food was really good too. Thank you, S and M, for a super gift. We look forward to seeing "Sugar Babies" in December!
We sat at table No. 32 right at the edge of the railing and had an unobstructed view of the entire stage.
The actors were all perfect for the parts they played.
Great music, dancing, acting . . . plus a scrumptious buffet that we restrained ourselves from going back for seconds . . . so we had room to split a slice of decadent chocolate cake for dessert!
Life is good!
Today was a picture perfect spring day here in our mountain town. We spent the afternoon up at Simply Country enjoying the fresh air and watching the goats play. Then as the sun set we enjoyed a scrumptious grilled salmon dinner followed by strawberries served on top of angel food cake. Nothing could have been better . . . being surrounded by family enjoying each others' company, being entertained by the kids plus the frolicking animals running this way and that way over the hills, and then topped off with a delicious meal! I mean, there's nothing that could have made this day better!
To start our late afternoon happy hour we enjoyed Ken's homemade grilled tomato/jalapeño salsa that we learned to make on our trip to Puerto Vallarta . . . there was nothing left of it by the time happy hour was over!
Murray gets along pretty well with goats. He'd love to chase them but he's always called back and he lets them go their merry way.
The goats don't hold still for long, so it's hard to get a good picture of them. Notice the "rose bush" at the left of this picture? Last week it had loads of new green leaves on it . . . hmmmm . . . seems the baby goats are learning there's other types of food besides milk in this world! Next week they're going to do their grazing in the upper pasture because Jen has plans on planting some summer flowers in this part of the property.
They just love investigating every inch of the yard . . . and rarely hold still.
After playing all day they finally took a "time out" and climbed up on the chaise lounge.
This little one is Cover Girl's daughter April. She is the most petite of the four baby goats, and she has the sweetest personality too. She let me hold her for the longest time and almost fell asleep on my lap. . . so soft and snugly!
KL is so good at milking the mamas two times a day. Here Cover Girl is finally getting the hang of being milked. She hops right up and settles in to the task at hand.
And Destiny, the queen of Simply Country's dairy goats, gives a couple gallons a day, besides nursing one of her babies.
The day ended with grilled-to-perfection salmon, asparagus, whole grain rice, and strawberry-topped angel food cake.
Life is good!
Yesterday Destiny was in trouble. She was really sick with a high temperature showing signs of an infection. She was listless, unable to stand up, but one good thing was that she still had an appetite. There was no vet available to see her so they were on their own to provide the care necessary to get her back on her feet. I teared up hearing the sad news. (Needless to say we said a bunch of prayers for Destiny last night when we came home.)
Jen has read all the books and is quite knowledgeable but hasn't had the experience as some of her "Goat Friends" have had. She called on a couple of them and together they put a plan together. First they needed to give Destiny electrolytes using an IV bag which they were able to purchase from the vet.
At first Destiny's babies were removed from the stall but Destiny had nothing to do with that. She cried out until they brought back "LuLu" who snuggled right up next to her mama and they both settled down. Jen's friend, Cheryl, showed KL how to insert the IV and hang the bag. Then it was KL's job to stay in the barn with Destiny as the electrolytes dripped into her body, and remove the IV when the procedure was finished. 
Before all the kidding started a week ago, Jen stocked up her "Just in Case Emergency Box" for goats. She was ready should anything come up. Cheryl was there to teach KL how to load the syringe with the appropriate amount of three different medicines/vitamins/supplements. KL listened intently and carried on as if she'd done it a million times before.
Cheryl, Jen, and KL went up to the barn to give Destiny the two injections and one oral medicine, and bed her down for the night.
The best news is that this afternoon Destiny was standing on her own, and KL was able to milk her.
In the meantime, in the stall next to Destiny, is Cover Girl. She's not been able to make enough milk so her babies are in the house being bottle fed. At first Cover Girl cried and cried for her babies, but now has settled in to the routine.
Today KL was able to milk Cover Girl and she got enough to fill the bottles for her babies. After trying in vain to get the babies to nurse from their mama, it was decided to continue to just keep milking her and use her milk to bottle feed the babies . . . "Gunner" and "April."
"April" and "Gunner" who are so fun to watch. They hop around the yard as if there were springs on the bottom of their hooves.
There is a total of three babies being bottle fed. Here is Jen and April.
PD favors "Skylar Boots" . . . Destiny's little boy.
The babies get lots of attention from friends and neighbors who stop by.
Jen and April
KL and Gunner . . . after he was fed she rocked him to sleep . . . too darn cute!
Life is Good!
He's had a hankering for hot dogs, and Von's had Nathan's Beef links on sale this week, buy one get one free! He looked in his recipe book and took a recipe for whole wheat hamburger buns and reshaped them into hot dog buns.
He added flax seeds to make'em even more healthy.
And here one is all decked out with the grilled Nathan's . . . yummo!
Just as soon as the hot dog buns were taken out of the oven, he started in on a loaf of bread. This time he made a Maple Walnut Bran loaf. 
Beautiful!
It made wonderful toast.
And it was delicious for breakfast this morning with sliced bananas.
