Freezer meals

It's been a while... I mean that sincerely... life has completely done a 180 for me! My last post, I was just getting started in the editor's seat at Tri-State Livestock News. Now I find myself relocated (not once, but twice) and with new faces in my life (two kids!). But I've just turned another year older, and I feel the urge to scratch my writing itch so to speak. Here goes...

This week I embarked on a new project - making freezer meals for someone in need. Now, I'll be honest, I'm not a huge fan of freezer meals that someone else has prepared (I mean, what goes in those things... and I can never seem to get them thawed/reheated properly), but when life throws you a curve, a freezer meal is a handy item to have. I began experimenting with some make-ahead meals before my second child was born. Those first few weeks, when I didn't have the energy to do anything more than change diapers of a newborn, nurse and chase after a nimble 19-month old I knew I had dinner covered thanks to those freezer meals.

So I admit that I'm breaking my initial rules. It's funny how your mind tricks you into thinking certain things, and how life reverse that thought. A few examples:
- I used to think baby showers, weddings, bridal showers, etc. were so doopy/sappy. Now I'd flip for a reason to welcome a new baby, pamper a new mom, and encourage a new bride/couple to follow their heart of love. I even find myself making excuses to shop for such occasions! Oh how fickle life can be! Heck, a good wedding reception counts as a romantic getaway now!
- I never used to by store brand canned items/products. It just seemed so... not the same as the big name brand. There is absolutely no scientific basis for my thinking there, it just seemed true. Now that I'm more frugal with my pennies, and more comfortable making dishes, I am drawn to those lesser-known-brands. And with no negative side effects (though to be honest, I do love to clip box tops for education and labels for education, which are often NOT on store-brand products).

And so it comes full circle with freezer meals. This week I embarked on making up 13 freezer meals (I gleaned this recipe link from perusing facebook and decided to give it a try). Why?! Because someone I knew in my circle of mom friends could use some meals. I don't know the full scoop, but let's just say having three kids at home, a husband to feed and bed rest does not equate to supper being made magically. Hopefully these meals will help. Before delving in to this cooking spree, I asked my husband if it would be OK to gift someone these meals. I told him, "I'll make all the meals, and split it with this other family. That way we'll have some, and they'll get some too."

Last night I made the last recipe, and we ate our portion for supper. It was pretty good. But again, I don't know how it will be "from the freezer."

Why is this such a big hub-bub for me? Blame it on my heart. My heart likes to think about other people. It likes to bring them joy, give them something meaningful... it likes to bless others. That's what I want this act to be seen as: a blessing. Even if the food is terrible. Even if they have no need for meals in the freezer. Even if they have food allergies/sensitivities I know nothing about (because I don't even know this family's last name), I hope that it will give another person on this planet hope and encouragement. That someone else is thinking of them. And maybe, just maybe, it will draw us closer together as women/mothers/wives. Who knows what one act of kindness can do for another?

Christmas 2010

Merry Christmas from the Mousels!

 

For Eric, 2010 began with a 3-week trip to South Africa through his involvement with the South Dakota Agricultural & Rural Leadership (SDARL) program. This is a two-year leadership development course that culminates in an international trip. 

 During the trip, the SDARL class toured an alligator farm - here's some of the gators!

 They also went on several game preserves and safaris. This is a sable (bull), which is quite rare to see.

Here's a lion cub Eric spotted while on one of the game tours.

 

Eric had the opportunity to go on a guided safari hunt, where he shot this blesbok after an *exaggerated* 20-mile hike. Here's a recount of the hunting adventure: Eric was using .375 magnum rifle, provided by the guide (next time, he'll bring his own). Eric shot the blesbok through a strand of trees and wounded him, and the blesbok ran off into the brush. The professional tracker was able to find the animal by late afternoon, picking up its hoof prints through numerous other wildlife sign. 

The guide, tracker, Eric and two other SDARL classmates were driving down the road and they spotted a blesbok at about 200 yards in a bush/tree thicket. So Eric took a shot, and they heard the shot hit, but the blesbok turned off and ran into the brush. So the tracker picked up his trail and followed it through several sets of different tracks, but no blood. They followed the tracker for a mile, and the professional hunter split off from the tracker (Eric stuck with the tracker, giving his gun to the professional hunter), and they came across the blesbok after another mile (but Eric was without his gun). They had to backtrack two miles to find the professional hunter, get the gun, and by that time the blesbok had run off again. After it was all said and done, it was probably a 20-mile adventure in 110-degree heat.

In February, Eric graduated from his SDARL program.

 

 

In May we took a trip to Oregon, visiting family and celebrating our first anniversary. We traveled to Portland, OR in May, with Eric's mom, Susie.

 Susie and Eric at the Columbia Gorge River Valley, just east of Portland.

The "Dam" Dam on the Columbia River Gorge. There's a hilarious Mousel-family story about this dam, so of course we had to see it for ourselves.

During our trip, we visited the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, OR. There were many, many airplanes, including the Spruce Goose!

One thing we really liked about Oregon were the vast forests and numerous waterfalls. This photo was snapped in Silver Falls State Park, near Willamette Valley. 

We even spent a day on the coast; our only "sun-filled" day of the 5-day trip. Well worth it.

And we ended our day with a classic lighthouse experience - sunset at Yaquina Head near Newport, OR.

Our last full-day in Oregon we toured the International Rose Test Gardens in Portland - here we are getting out of the rain.

And the Portland Japanese Garden was very tranquil and immaculate.

Alaina just liked the peacefulness of the Japanese Garden.

Our Oregon photos end here... let's take a look at what else has kept us busy this year.

Woodworking - Eric

 Eric finished our master bedroom set with this custom-designed King sized bed and end tables. Though the set had been built for a while, we were missing the cowhide-covered panels that insert into the bed. After two cowhides from Tandy Leather, the bed is complete. (Note, the Double-Wedding Ring quilt made by Alaina was Eric's wedding gift).

Since we like to spend much of our summer outside, Eric constructed this garden swing for our evening enjoyment. It's tucked between two trees and faces West. Nearby is a pond/waterfall we built (constructed after our Oregon experience). Unfortunately the mosquitoes this year were astronomical (due to ample amounts of rainfall) that we didn't get to enjoy it very much.

Something that kept us busy (or Eric, anyway), was dismantling an old barn near Elkton, SD, for the barnwood. Eric has the roof just about completely destructed. With the nice barnwood from the endeavor, he's been making furniture and gifts. Here he is with a pantry for our kitchen.

Another barnwood project was this gift Eric built for Justin and Abbey Namken's wedding gift - complete with 4 coat hangers.

 Quilting - Alaina

 Purses have been Alaina's forte this year. Here's a cute example she made for Anna in Kansas.

 This Day-and-Night quilt was a wedding gift for Amanda & Tyler Radke. To see more of Alaina's quilt projects, visit her blog: http://alaina-mamabearquilts.blogspot.com/

Friends, Family and Highlights Throughout the Year

Friends, Becky Detusch and Karie "KP" Geyer visited - here we're welcoming soon-to-be-born Mahree Geyer. In July, KP and Alaina walked the 5K Beef'N'Eggs in 54 minutes!

 In early August, our backyard was home to a migration of Monarch Butterflies. They weathered a South Dakota Thunderstorm in the protection of our maple trees. Though wet (here, early morning), they were swirling and twirling on their way by mid-day.

In August, Alaina traveled to Minneapolis-St. Paul for the Ag Media Summit, where the opening night welcoming party theme was, "Dress Like A Minnesotan."  Alaina chose to dress as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, since the title character, Judy Garland, was born in Grand Rapids, MN - the same place Alaina was born.

Alaina even made her own ruby red slipper for the part. For her efforts, Alaina was third place at the event!

On Aug. 28, Susie Mousel, Eric's mom, celebrated her 65th birthday! All of the Mousel siblings converged in Ayr, NE to celebrate with her. Alaina made a Star Sampler quilt in reproduction fabric for her.

Nick Mousel, Stacy Hilton, Susie, Stephanie and Eric Mousel

Over Labor Day weekend, the Burt family was exhibiting cattle at the MN State Fair Open Show. Here's the crew with their "Burt Jacobson" T-Shirts: Jack Burt (Alaina's dad), Carter "CJ" Burt (Alaina's nephew), Jason and Mandy Burt (Alaina's brother and sister-in-law), and Alaina. Eric is taking the photo. :)

The Burt family also visited us in Brookings for the South Dakota Pheasant Openor weekend. Here Mary (Alaina's mom), Jason, Jack and Eric stand in the backyard.

Alaina and Mary enjoying the swing Eric built (note - no mosquitoes). Mary wants a swing just like this... 

For Halloween, Eric dressed as Paul Bunyan.

And we hosted a pumpkin carving party Oct. 30 where 25-plus pumpkins were carved. Eric, of course, had ulterior motives, as he wanted ALL of the pumpkin seeds roasted.

 Some of the pumpkins that were carved at our house.

Paul Bunyan and Babe, the blue ox. (Originally, Alaina dressed as sock monkey, but thought this might be more fitting for Eric's fantastic costume).

Eric and Alaina participated in the Minnesota Deer Hunting Openor. Eric shot his first MN deer, a 4x4 (or for you Minnesotans, an 8-point buck), that weighed 146-lb. (dressed out). Alaina also shot a 126-lb. doe. Cousins Graig, Justin and Evan also shot two deer. It was a great weekend for MN deer hunting.

 We spent our Thanksgiving in the Twin Cities area. Here, nephew Carter Burt enjoys one of Alaina's Turkey Cookies. For Christmas we're heading south to Nebraska for time with Eric's family.

Afternoon delight

Yesterday, I went out to feed my fish, and walked into a whole new world. No, my backyard had not metamorphosed into a huge swamp-like mosquito haven - that was earlier this summer. Instead, I hit the pinnacle of my gardening career: I walked into a world of butterflies.

I have no idea how many monarch descended in our backyard - but I felt like I walked into the scene of a "Better Homes and Gardens" photo shoot. Floating haphazardly throughout the still air were these peaceful creatures.

All I can say is the caterpillar/cocoon we waited so patiently to hatch all summer must have told his buddies.

I have no idea how long they will stay, but they managed to spend at least one evening at the "Ranch B&B." They tucked up into our maple tree overnight, looking exactly like leaves when dusk set in. We had quite a bit of rain overnight, but this morning when I did chores (read: fed fish, again), they were tucked up in clumps.

Three different branches were covered with these Monach delights.

How lucky of a girl am I?