Meatloaf

Dropping by to leave y'all this recipe.

Violet's Frighteningly Amazing (and kind of tangy/spicy) Meatloaf

1 lb ground beef
1 lb mild ground sausage
1 cup bread crumbs
1 cup shredded "italian blend" cheese
1 chopped green pepper
1 chopped onion
2-3 cloves garlic, pressed
2 eggs
salt
pepper
thyme
oregano
sage

Put all of that in a big ol' bowl and moosh the heck out of it.  I wear gloves.  :)

Then put all of that moosh into a pair of lightly oiled 1lb loaf pans.

Preheat your oven to 350*.

While the oven preheats, let's make the sauce:

1 Tablespoon Brown Mustard
1 teaspoon Dry Mustard
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
1/2 cup Ketchup
1/4 cups Cider Vinegar

(or, double the recipe so you have enough for dipping later)

Pour over your meatloaves.
Put 'em in the oven for about 1 hour and 45 minutes.  Cut one open in the middle to make sure it's done.  You'll likely have to drain the sausage fat. 

Serve with mashed potatoes, of course!

Oops....

THIS JUST IN!

Cast iron skillets and dishwashers don't mix.  Derp.

Everything's fine now after a scrub with oil and salt.

Odds 'n' Ends 'n' Guns

from left: My Ruger 10 22, our friend's Saiga AK47,

my WASR AK47, and my Savage .17

The Architect and I had a lovely time on Saturday.

We went with a couple friends down to an outdoor rifle range.  The weather was perfect - unseasonably warm and bright with barely a cloud in the sky.

Since I don't shoot nearly as much as The Architect ever has, it was great practice for me.  I'm not nearly as comfortable with my guns as I want to be, but Saturday certainly helped get me far more comfortable.

The Architect with his "other woman," his CZ .308

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We've been doing inventory on stuff in our house that we don't need or use in hopes of selling it.  We have a large fish tank that we're just too busy to care for properly.  There is a family coming this weekend to look at it.  I hope they buy it.

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When the Architect and I actually have a few calm moments here in the near future, I want to sit down with him and make a list of what we'd like in our garden next year.  I didn't do much this past year, but I kind of saw it as a trial run.  We want to triple the size of what we had, and I plan on learning to can so we won't waste or throw out excess.

I hope everyone is having a great week, and Happy Thanksgiving!  It's sneaking up on me faster than I can handle...

Gonna be busy...

My posts will probably be rather sparse for the next month or two.  The holidays are super busy where I work, but I can't complain!  There's lots of money to be made, and I'm certainly thankful I still have a steady job in this economy.

Hope everyone is doing well.

End of Liberty

Set aside an hour to watch this - it's worth it.

Ugh!

I can't even comment on this, I'm so outraged over it:
http://hartkeisonline.com/2010/10/11/family-farm-ordered-to-destroy-50000-pounds-of-cheese/#more-7430

I did donate some money to help out with their legal expenses at:
http://uncheeseparty.wordpress.com/uncheese-party-how-to-sponsor-an-uncheese/

Someone please tell me what good is our government at this point when they're more likely to destroy people?

Dreamin'...

The Architect and I loaded up the dogs and went for a drive up in the North Georgia mountains today.  I just absolutely adore the beauty and wisdom of autumn.

Seeing all the pretty farms along the roads makes me ache for a farm of my own away from the hustle and bustle of the city and suburban life and away from the obnoxious "thump thump" of some punk's bass as he drives by our road at night.

I know we'll eventually get our farm and I'll have chickens, and rabbits, and goats, and sheep, and horses... but part of me is stomping my feet and crying and whining for it now.

Odds n Ends

In doing some cleaning today, I cleared up some of our empty juice bottles off the counter.  The Architect and I keep them to fill with water and put in the freezer we have downstairs.  I rearranged the bottles already there and counted to see how much water we have.  Looks to be about a week's worth, but that's only for The Architect and myself - I must continue putting some away for the dogs, too.

Logan and Blaze are on our prep list, too.  I know some people may think it's silly to spend time, energy, and space on a pet, but we think the dogs would be valuable in a SHTF situation.

As Akitas, the dogs are large and intimidating.  Logan, especially, would not hesitate to protect me if I needed it.  They are also large enough to carry supplies (we're getting them packs from http://wolfpacks.com/ for Christmas), and pull loads (harnesses from http://www.harnessesbycarol.com/ will come later).  Akitas were bred as bear hunters, and I've seen the way these two handle the backyard wildlife, so I'm confident they'd be capable hunters.

The Architect and I have also begun walking at least three times a week.  It's a prep that, until recently, we have severely overlooked.  If we had to get up and go, we wouldn't get too far, especially if we had to carry a BOB.

On Wednesday, Crash, The Architect, and I went to the Georgia National Fair and had a great time.  We were there more specifically to see the Feathered Horse Classic show which showcased Friesians and Gypsy cobs.

There were many more Gypsies than Friesians on the day we went, but it was a pleasure regardless.  This particular bunch of horse people are super friendly and happy to answer questions about their breed and let you pet their horses.

We don't have horses yet, but hope to in the relatively near future.  We love draft types, and I had a brief stint with a mustang rescue, and I fell in love with  them and their hardiness.

I hope everyone is having a great Sunday.  :)

Chickens!

About two months ago, The Architect and I sat down and dug through local laws to see whether or not we really could have chickens where we live.

Turned out, we couldn't.

I was truly crushed and upset over this.

And then, a month ago, Crash called me and said she saw a flyer in Tractor Supply about a local Board of Commissioners meeting that was hearing motions to change the law so that people COULD own chickens in residential areas.

The meeting was on Tuesday night, and lots of people showed up for it.  No one was opposing the law change, and it PASSED!

http://www.ajc.com/news/cherokee/commissioners-approve-backyard-chickens-662067.html

I'm so excited!  We plan on getting about 3-4 hens in the spring.  Can't wait!

Fall...

Oh, October... I have DESPERATELY missed you.