Marketing for Dummies

    We all know that with todays high tech gadgets and Twitter, FaceBook, LinkedIn and so on- That marketing your name and your product have become more challenging. In this age of impersonal, never have to speak to your customers, digital society...The personal touch can make all the difference.
   I happen to be 'Old School'. I was brought up in a family of salesmen that all swore by the "Rules Of Three".~ Three seconds. Three feet. Three days. Three people.~
  I have personally used all these methods to my own advantage. I have also seen them draw a considerable amount of repeat business.
   Three Seconds- is all it takes to introduce yourself and get a plug in for you or your business. " Hi. I'm Katy and I run  Buffalo Gals Bakery & Country Store"
   Three Feet- Any who gets within three feet of you..introduce yourself. Take the opportunity to hand out a business card if you have one.
   Three Days- The absolute longest amount of time that should lapse after you tell someone you will call, and actually doing it. You should always make it a point to do call backs within three days. It conveys that you really are interested.
   Three People- the amount of people you should go out of your way to either introduce yourself to, or mention your product/business to each day.

   Using the Rules of Three makes great sense economically for marketing. It didn't cost you anything to implement! It keeps your name/products in peoples minds. It also builds trust and rapport in a way that an impersonal ad can never do.
   It's a great networking tool. Even if the initial contact does not want/use your product or service, that's an opportunity for you to ask them to pass your card  to, or refer you to someone they know who might. 
   In every situation there is an opportunity to apply at least one of the Rules of Three. The rules are simple, but effective.

Katy
  

Fried Prairie Oysters

   Better know as Rocky Mountain Oysters...

Here is my very own recipe... It's pretty simple, really.....

     Find a bull. Talk to it nice and gentle. Gain it's trust. Do what you gotta do to the bull. Apologize and run like hell! Don't drop anything. Catch your breath.

    Remove the outer membrane covering the oysters. Cut each stone in two or three pieces, depending on the size.
    Do not laugh. You have already caused enough injury. Roll in flour. (Not you! The oysters)

    Heat olive oil or lard in skillet.
    Place oysters in skillet.

    Fry until meat is golden brown. Remove from skillet.
Drain off excess oil.
Feelin' Fancy? Garnish with bacon bits, chopped egg and parsley before serving.

   Eat fast. Keep a sharp eye out. Be ready to move at a moments notice.

Avoid using a red tablecloth.


Katy

Hands down the BEST place ever to get your RMO's is Bruces Bar in Severence CO!
www.brucesbar123.com

   

Just an update on the Pioneer Woman

        A little while back The Center for Technology & Business sent Ree Drumond~ The Pioneer Woman~ a goodie box of North Dakota originals. It was partly to showcase what we can do and partly to invite her to come be a guest speaker here at the annual Womens Business Luncheon.
     One of my princess cut  Vintage Inspired Aprons was included!  Wouldn't she look fabulous in this one?
Unfortunately Ree was unable to make it. But...there's always 'next time'!
    I was looking forward to meeting her. It would seem we live parallel lives. Mine is on a much smaller scale though. HaHa!
       Aprons are available on my Etsy page  www.etsy.com/shop/madeintheprairieair  or by contacting me by email: sales@buffalogalsbakery.com

Katy

Hunting with Elmer (Fudd...that is)

    Once upon a time in a far away land.....

    Opening day of Deer Season is usually cause for great celebration and much rejoicing....A lot of patting each other on the back and swapping of tall tales...
 ~ Not so much on this particular opener!~ This was the year that hubby thought taking ME was a bright idea.
    "Hey babe...why don't you get dressed and we'll head over to dad's to hunt"... So...I put on my long johns, jeans, wool socks, shirt, sweater, bibs, jacket, bubushka... make it to the door and... I have to PEE!!!
   So back in the house I go...Then I get dressed again.
After we got to the Big Farm,  I had to negotiate the fence to the pasture... Mind you, it was some of the deepest snow in almost 50 years here.. and -20 outside!...I managed to get over the fence.. and I am following in Hubby's footprints in the snow.. A very exaggerated goose-stepping on my part as the he's so tall his stride is 2x longer than mine.
    He's about 20 yards ahead of me when WHOMP! Face down in the snow I go... and you know that when you're that bundled up there's no 'give' and you can't get your feet back under you.So now,  I am  rolling around  like a turtle that's been flipped over, trying to get enough 'umph' to get my knees under me....
   Hubby turns around and sees me ~obviously making waaaaaaay to much noise~ and makes a very exaggerated SHHHHHHHHHH at me!
   Over in the shrubs is Cisco the wild horse (aka: the hairy bas***d) rolling his eyes as well...
After I manage to get to my feet, hubby gives me the' I'm watching you' sign and gestures that I should go around to the other side of the pasture and flush the deer towards him...
    I gave him a universal gesture as well and hiked back to the truck.
We did NOT get a deer.

~Katy~

The Grandest Lady in the Land ( The history of my Biscotti)

  ....was my Grammy. ~ Helen Louise Baldini-Bragdon
       That's where my Biscotti recipe came from.
                               
                   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
           *The Viking legend of Grammy starts like this....She came over on the Nina...Christopher Columbus is her 'il nipote' (grandson).... KIDDING!!!
     
                                                    ~~~~~~~~~~~~
                            Grammy was First Generation American/Italian

                 Biscotti is the plural form of Biscotto...It means Twice Cooked/Baked. .The correct name is Biscotti di Pratto. It is also called Cantuccini. (coffee bread)

Grammy Helen

          * Interesting fact*...Twice baked breads were a staple of the Roman Legions.
Biscotti, if kept airtight, can last for centuries. It was staple for long journeys and on ships. It was treated much the way pioneers treated Hard Tack.
   Biscotti is usually a very hard, very dry biscuit/cookie. To soften up the biscotti, it is usually dipped in Coffee or Tea or Wine. Many people use biscotti with Soups and Sauces.

    The history of MY Biscotti recipe:
          When we were little, my Grammy made Biscotti for us. Grammy told me that her Mama told her how to make it....That makes my recipe nearly 100 years old!  Grammy also said plain (country) folks had more traditional Biscotti while 'City Folk' had  fancy Biscotti. 


Grammy is 2nd from the left

      Grammy made ours as smaller Biscotti.Usually about 3-4" long, vs  the more traditional Long biscotti. Why, you ask? "Because a LADY (as she's staring me down) would NEVER be caught in public with an 8" long anything hanging out her mouth"...Now that I am older and infinitely wiser, I think it was twofold. 1) it was much easier for little hands to hold and dunk, and 2) to teach her heathen granddaughter some manners.
     I make ours at Buffalo Gals in both the shorter 2paks or the single long biscotti. The 2paks are great... One for now. One for Later!
     As I got older, she didn't make it as often.
Many, many years went by..... my Mom gave me a set of handwritten cookbooks. Tucked into the back were a few loose recipes on scraps of paper. Among them, was the Biscotti recipe!
                                                             Lucky me!
   Now I get to share my history and my Yummy Biscotti with you!...and while I will NOT share my recipe, I do have some hints and tricks...
      * For a higher, fluffier Biscotti~ use the mixer and whip it good.
      * When sending through the oven the second time~ bake 5 min on each side and then stand up for 3-5 more minutes. They will bake better like this and the bottoms wont scorch.
      * Using Cocoa Powder? ~ for every 1/2 Cup cocoa, decrease flour by 1/4- 1/2 cup.

Ciao! ~

My Cinna-Mocha Biscotti

Katy

   

  

Kate's Amazing Kar Factz

           In light of hubby buying me a new Jeep this weekend...I will regale you with some entertaining stories about me and Karz...


Not the jeep I got...but the Jeep of my dreams!

        
 Good Advice: When sending your WIFE down the road with a gas can, it is considered impolite to ask her to BRING YOU BACK A BEER!
       Yes...That really happened to me!
     A looooong time ago, we were driving between Nowhere and Nowhere when we ran out of gas in the 'silver bullet'. Hubby turns to me and says something about how it's hot (it was middle summer) and he would stay with the car. And why don't I walk back down to Vaughn's house ~that we passed like 2 miles ago~ WITH THE GAS CAN ... oh, and babe... Why don't you bring me back a couple of beers too....
     So, like the dutiful wife I Was, I DID...I walked down the road with the gas can. And when I got there, I DID get a beer, which I promptly drank. And then I DID the next best thing... I called his mother to come pick me up. Which she DID....
   So the moral of the story is... Don't expect your wife to walk down the road with a gas can and NOT leave you there!
     (said hubby is an EX Hubby....)
                                 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                Speed limits are arbitrary figures, given only as suggestions.
                                 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>                What's so great about being famous if people don't know Who you are?  One year, I was driving back to Colorado from California. It was a complete blizzard on the pass. So I literally got right on some trucks rear-end and stuck there like glue. You couldn't see the end your car hardly...so I blindly followed these tail lights hoping the whole time they knew where they were going...Thankfully, they did!...We pulled into the same truck stop on the other side of the pass...Them on one side of the gas pump. Me on the other. The guy closest to me jumps out and ....this is the gist of our conversation      
       Him:Following a little close, weren't ya?
      Me: It was all I could see.
      Him: (sticks out his hand to shake)  Well...I'm Dale.
      Me: Katy
      Him: D-a-a-a-l-e (real slow, like I'm an idiot)
      Me: K-a-a-a-a-a-a-t-y...(with a trace of sarcasm)
      Him: Dale Earnhardt? (with a question in his voice)
      Me: Uhhhh, Katy Kassian....(now I know HE must be an idiot!)
      Him: Don't you know who I am?
      Me: Should I?
      Him: I'm a famous race car driver?
      Me: Are you any good?
          By this time his companion is standing near by snickering....
      Him: well...I've won lot's of important races.
      Me: Well, maybe if you were REALLY good that that Mario Andretti guy I would have recognised your name....
         His companion was all but rolling in the snow laughing butt off by now...

           I still wasn't sure who he was until I got home and looked him up on the internet.

     ** For the record~ I now know that Dale Earnhardt was a real racecar driver.

Not me!...a re-creation...

     *** The only reason I even know who Mario Andretti is, is beacuse waaaaaaay back we all had little Mario Andretti 'drivers licenses' to the M.A. go-cart track!
                                      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

       Our town was so small....(how small was it?)  that out funeral parlor was a U-Haul!
                                       ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  
           Oh well~ At least I don't dodge car hoods any more! (that one shaved a few years off my passengers life...)

Katy


     

What does being 'BuffaloGals' mean?

 
A heck-of-a-lot!
     So, what does it all mean?
     Being the Buffalo Gal in Buffalo Gals Bakery & Country Store is more than just being a business owner. It's more like being a community.
     My little bakery and country store is my way of helping support our family farm.  It means I can use my domestic and homesteading skills to stay on the land that I love.    We have cattle and grains. And it's a bit like being the Pied Piper for me. My 'girlz' are mostly tame and follow me around like very big dogs.
     Buffalo Gals means self-sufficiency, giving, hard work and more. It's thinking outside the box to find solutions. It's helping others. It's enjoying the land and little play time.

Bohemian Brew Bag

     When somebody buys a  Bohemian Brew Bag , it doesn't just mean that I got paid for something I created. It helps a whole lot of other people. Right off the bat I give a percentage to Dakota Prairie Partners~A philanthropy group. "Hope, Inspiration & Vision"  It also means that the incredible lady from MoJo Roast Inc is doing well, because I am able to get the Coffee Bags from her. In turn, her being able to empty the coffee bags of beans, means that her dollars (and yours by purchasing her coffees) are supporting the Cafe Feminino program which in turn empowers women in Guatemala to be self sufficient. 
    When somebody buys Old Glory sugar cookies they are helping me support our troops. The proceeds from these fabulous soft cookies goes to Wounded Warrior Project. This is important to me, as I have two boys who serve. (Marines and Nat'l Guard)
  I also give to the PBR's Rider Relief Fund....
    Through my business I have met incredibly wonderful people, and had some amazing opportunities come my way. Last year I was able to participate in OSU's "An evening of Art & Fashion" by donating a handmade quilt to the silent auction.  The monies raised were used to help  Deployed Service Women finish their educations long distance.   
   It seems like we are all connected to each other in some way. Through giving, mentoring, donating and more.
   I know many, many other small business owners that give tirelessly of their time and talents outside of their own businesses.
   We ARE part of a Community.  

So~ Thank you!  For supporting my community ...

Katy

    
   
  
    
    

Wow! It's been a while...

Wowsie!
    I didn't realize it had been tis long since I last wrote..Tonite...(Ok, maybe tomorrow) I definately will!
Funny how we have a way getting so caught up in things we forget to take care of other things...

Katy

The business of Small Business

           
           Ever walk in to a store just to be put on ignore by the employee(s)?  Not even so much as a smile, or a simple "Hello"? And if you need help or a special order...sometimes it's almost impossible. Sure makes you want to spend your hard earned dollars, doesn't it?
    Now walk into a small business. Say, your downtown Coffee Shop... You need help selecting the best whole beans for your tastes to take home. NO PROBLEM! Odds are good that the friendly employee there is more than happy to help you..  Do you really think you would that kind of service in a Big Box store consistently?

    Small businesses take the time to get to know you. Find out your wants and needs. And if they can't help you, they are usually happy to point you to someone who can. Many of our small businesses have built relationships with each other, which in turn allows us to give YOU a better experience!


Jo Khalifa & Linda Johnson

   Linda at Home Sweet Home is a terrific example of this! Home Sweet Home sells all manner of items- from Buffalo Gals Biscotti to hand painted china to incredible Gift Baskets. HSW has built long term relationships with many of their customers by getting to know them. It makes all the difference between a good experience and a GREAT one.  At Home Sweet Home the employees (as well as the owner) are always happy to help you, cheerful, knowledgeable and genuinely care.
   In my own business, I find I can be more helpful to my own customers. It's a personal experience. I can customize anything I make to suit your specific needs...you want frosted sugar cookies in your wedding colors... not a problem. You need a Bohemian Brew Bag dyed your favorite color? Just ask!
    Often it is easier for a small business to give you more specialized service. We are 'right here, right now' to answer your questions and deliver your product.
                 We entrepreneur's are a prideful lot. We pride our self on our relationships with our customers. You are all unique and special.  We take pride in a job well done. We have pride in knowing we helped you find exactly what you were looking for. We take pride in giving back within our communities.We take pride in knowing our employees are as passionate as we are about our products.
                                    We are in business because of YOU!.
      We do what we do, because we have passion. Because we believe in our products. Because we enjoy seeing YOU, our customers.
   When you support a small business, you don't just support the owner. You support a whole community. Our monies trickle back out into the community...Our employee will get a burger on her way home...her waiter will stop and get gas for his car, the station owner will go to the grocery store that employs the bag boy who will stop by my business for a Mother's Day gift....and so the circle goes. Our monies are more likely to stay right here, keeping our communities strong and vibrant.
                 Small businesses are everywhere! In the city, in the country, on-line...
   So, Take a little 'Me Time' and check out some local small businesses. You'll be pleasantly surprised!

Katy
  

    

P-O-L-K-A!!

          Dick Zavodney~ Marv & The Moonlighters.....


Our friend- Dick Zavodney

Last week hubby surprised me by taking me dancing!
We went to the AmVets for the Polka Festival! It's been SIX (yes...six) years since we've been dancing!. When we moved back up here to that farm he said "Oh, we'll go dancing...". He should have put a SOMEDAY in that sentence.


Me & Papa and James

    Much to my surprise, we were NOT the youngest ones there. There was actually quite a number of couple in our age bracket.
   Years, and years ago... Ok- SIX years ago... we used to go to the Vets in Windsor,Colorado on Sunday afternoons for the dancing. I must admit, I was on the fence the first time he said "Let's go!"
     I used to wait on "Polka Paul" and he was forever extending the invitation to check it out. So we did.
   POLKA is as natural as breathing to my husband, as he is from the North Country and a Ukranian to boot.. Not so much for me. But it didn't take long.
          We even started taking the Boyz. All three of them.

an Older James

It's no secret that you can't teach your kids anything. (That's why animals in the wild eat their young). We turned them loose on the older ladies instead. These ladies had the Boyz whipped into shape in no time!  At the time they hated being drug there. Now two have admited that they gained valuable social skills there. Diplomacy, the art of small talk, and how to dance. Skills that will last them a lifetime!


Jonathan

    A funny story: about this time, two of the boys started lifting weights. Each week the ladies would  squeeze thier muscles as they danced. One week, a particular lady went whole hog and grabbed one of the kids butt. You'd have thought the world ended, the way he bellowed "Daaaaaaaaaaaaad" from the middle of the floor! He left his partner standing there and hightailed it back to us. muttering about sexual harrassment... we sent him right back. Telling him to 'suck it up... it's not harrassment at her age!
                                  
     We danced there for a long time and many lasting friendships.
Well- at least he kept his promise, and took me dancing!

Katy

      

A Tammy Faye moment

NOT my eyes!

AND OTHER MIS-ADVENTURES!

     Once upon a time in a far off land, I was baking pies in the cafe we owned...Back them Miss Maybelline and I were best friends...being the essentially lazy wench that I am, instead of pulling out the oven tray to inspect the pies, I leaned into the oven instead for a closer look....
    I BLINKED.
    MY EYELASHES MELTED TOGETHER.
Thankfully there was a customer with a sense of humor and HE came back there and pried my eyes open.....While laughing his butt off......
                                                    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    I saw this picture online....And my Mutha reminded me of an incident....A little history first...for those who don't me...I was a Late Bloomer, One-of-the-Guys, Never wore a dress kinda girl.... So.. I was asked to a DANCE by a boy I had known all my life. Very giddy was I! I got a dress and a pair of Candies high heels. Feathered my hair, put on stockings.....


Me 1982

   The BOY came to get me. He came up to the door, jerked a finger towards his car and went back down the walk. I decided if I was going to look like a lady, I should ACT like a lady. So I waited for him to open the car door. BOY went around to the drivers side. I assumed he was going to open the door from the inside.
                                         HA!
                                         HA!
                                         WRONG!
        He sat in the car. I stood outside the car...Apparently I waited too long.  HE DROVE AWAY!
When he finally came back he asked
          "WHY the heck didn't I get in the car????"
          "Because I thought you'd open the door"
           "I never had to before!"
                                         LESSON LEARNED!
                                                      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

                                                HE's a DayGlo....Not a Dego!!

   We had given our boy some Glo Stix. He asked if he could take them to bed with him. I said YES! Middle of the night in the country s pitch black...He comes screaming down the hall...all we could see is Glow-In-The-Dark mouth and hands!
   He said the more he stared at it, the more it looked like candy.............
                                                      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                                                         Moonlight and Romance

Randy (#1)   1988

         I was doing the dishes one night (by hand) and my hubby comes up and puts his arms around me and says "It's way to nice to be inside doing the dishes. It's a beautiful night for a walk...The stars are shining. the breeze is gentle.Wouldn't you like to go for a walk?" Me, being all giddy... said YES! he goes "GREAT! here's two bucks. Walk over to Sev (7-11) and grab me a pack of smokes"
       And he was ALLOWED to live....But he's NOT my hubby anymore...:))
                           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

   Well- That's it for this installment of my life!
If you have any mis-adventures...I'd like to hear them!

Katy



     


                                              
                                                  




..
~

Bulls and Bananas!!!

Our boy, James

                             Holy Bulls, Batman!

    Bull riders are a special breed. It takes some nerve to get on the back of a bucking, twisting, pissed off animal that weighs as much as your car!
   Bull riding has been around as long as man has been chasing cattle! I am sure as a way to blow off steam, show off and hone skills. The PBR (Professional Bull Riders Association) was founded in 1992 and hosts over 300 events each year. The whopper of them all is the PBR Finals in Las Vegas. The top 30 cowboys compete for the World Title. The energy and excitement is astounding!
                   The object is to get on, and hang on!
                             8 seconds doesn't sound like a long time. But it is.
     In a nut-shell~The bulls get judged on 50% of the score, and the rider gets judged on 50% of the score.
    I've been to the Finals many times. We volunteer down there most years and sometimes in Bismarck for the Rider Relief Foundation...
        We have seen some tremendous accidents. These guys get launched into the air, stomped on, walked on, Rolled on and more.

Me and Hubby

     Which brings us to Banana's.  "Bucking-Bull-Nana's" to be exact. These riders get some incredible injuries. And let's face it, they aren't the most insurable guys! Don't get me wrong- these great athletes are  insured... But it doesn't leave any money left for anything else. Like bills. Or getting a spouse to your side in a hospital. Rider Relief Foundation helps these guys at all levels of competition (both Bull riders and Bull Fighters). Without it, many of these guys would lose everything they have. RRF is a 501c3-non-profit company. (www.riderrelief.com )
     Buffalo Gals Bakery & Country Store makes "Bucking-Bull-Nana" cookies. We give proceeds from these fabulous Oatmeal-Banana cookies to the RRF.  It's our way of saying THANKS. Thanks for the good times. Thanks for the excitement. Just Thanks.
   Do I have a Fave? Not so much this year, yet...But Ryan Dirteater gets me with his youthful exuberance!
  Look for an interview I just had with the RRF! I will be out soon!
Be sure to check out all the PBR has to offer... www.PBR.com ... and Buffalo Gals too!
        www.buffalogalsbakery.com or follow us on FB www.facebook.com/buffalogalsbakery  

See ya there!
Katy

 
 

Just BEET It!!

It's that time...To just BEET it...

We like Detroit Reds

          I am the first to admit I hated beets as a child. With a purple passion...My dad loved the hateful things. My husband likes Pickled Beets.
    Even after meeting him, I still did not like beets. ( musta been a Ukrainian thing) Finally I broke down and let him force feed me a 'no thank you' bite. And you know something...They were GOOD.
  So now, they are a garden staple every year.
         I grow.
         I Hoe.
         I pluck.
         I can.
         And Can.
         And can some more.
Hubby will eat a few quarts a week...

    Things I have learned~ They stain. And to always make sure I didn't dribble any on the floor to step in. It really was a sad day when I had little red foot prints on the carpet!
   I also know that Kroger Pickling Spice is hands down the BEST pickling spice ever. Not just for beets. But for all your pickling needs. (www.kroger.com just click on cantact and call customer service for help locating the store nearest you)  It has a taste that makes you want to keep on eating. And not nearly as much cloves as McCormicks.
  Unfortunately, it's not a brand that is just carried in ND. (though I did find out I can order it by the case from the local grocery) I have mine sent up from friends in Colo.
   Here is my Hubby's mom's recipe. It is simple, but good!
                                              Best Pickled Beets Ever!
                                Pick, clean and cut tops off of beets.
                                Boil until tender. Put in ice water to cool quickly so skins come off easily.
                                Cut into small pieces.
                                In a large pot mix:
                                              2 Cups Sugar
                                              2 Cups Vinigar
                                              2 Cups Water
                                              Egg size bag of pickling spice
                               Add beats. Simmer until tender or desired tatste

The little soldiers

                               Pack and seal.
                               Water bath can for 30 minutes

Perfect addition to the table! Happy eating!
Katy

                                           
           
 

Make it do, or do without!

Remember the old adage "Use it up,
                                          Wear it Out,
                                          Make it Do,
                                          Or do Without"?
      My grandparents said that. My own parents said it. I even uttered it to my kids. Once.
What were we called? Thrifty. Penny-wise. Tight. Creative....

           Some people have been making do forever...I am one of them. Mine is more a crafty thing. I almost can't pass up a neglected object without thinking "Gee, I can make a......."
     Nowadays there a boodle of fancy names for it. "Green. Up-cycle. Re-cycle. Re-purpose. Salvage.Re-utilize.
      I know it absolutely drives my husband nuts when I drag something home.  I happen to have a pile of projects. In the spare room, in the potting shed, in the barn, in the basement, and sometimes on the kitchen table.
    Currently I have been making Purses and Aprons. I am very lucky to have friends that give me stuff. I have a good amount of Burlap Coffee Bags that I got from my friend Jo Khalifa at MoJo Roast. She is a "Personal Coffee Roaster". Good for me that she gets some killer coffee bags that she passes on!
    This is a Win-Win situation. She buys some of her coffees from the Cafe Feminino project. A portion of those proceeds go to women's causes in coffee producing countries. In turn, I receive the bags and am able to make purses and other items. The money from these not only funds my business, but allows me to give back in return.
    Leftover wood becomes garden trellis's, (usually painted some shocking color) Old jeans become quilts, Any kind of found boxes become planters....and so on.
   For those who know me, they know that found usually involves me tip-toeing cheerfully through some abandoned homestead, willfully plundering...:)  
    As much as I love Flea Markets, I try to stay away....I have found out that's where the Under Stuffed go to get more stuff! Too easy for this girl to get way too much.
   When was the last time you made something? Isn't creating fun?

Katy
  
  

                    

Biscotti, Coffee and Custer & the 7th Calvery

     The other day I had the opportunity to get a first hand look at the Way-it-Was.

The Custer House

I was out at Ft Lincoln and was given 'The Tour' by the fabulous actors Nora and Al. Both were dressed in full costume. She as the Laundress, and Al as a Sargeant  (I think). I had look at the house, the enlisted men's barracks and commissary. I have to say that I was impressed! I have been to a number of Living History Museums around the country and this is among the finest. A must see.
        I really got a sense of Who these people were and What they 
                              were doing there.
                                                   A Little History:
 In 1872 a military post was built on former site of a Mandan Indian village. This became home the Colonel Custer & his wife Libbie (Elizebeth) and the 7th Calvary.
   It was a very busy place! There was barracks for 9 (yes, nine) full Companies, 7 officers quarters, stables for all, an entire section for the camp laundresses, hospital, post office, bakery, storehouse, and much more.

Libbie & G. Custer

       Every day the soldiers would drink Gallons of Coffee. Legend says it was so stout you could stand your spoon up in it! Today at the Ft Lincoln Commissary, You can drink a coffee roasted especially for them! "Like It Was! " This is made by MoJo Roast, Inc in Westhope, ND. If you'd like some for your home, it is only available from Ft. Lincoln! Did I mention that today's coffee is fabulous??
      History tells us that the Battle of Little Bighorn, better known as Custer's Last Stand, took place on June 25th and 26th 1876.  I am certain they fought valiantly against the Indians. However the Indians were masters of guerrilla warfare.
  There is also much speculation as to why Custer was NOT scalped. Some say it was because he was not recognised. Some say it was out of respect. One interesting theory I heard a number years ago~ Custer was not scalped because he killed himself. The Cheyenne (they were there too) would not scalp a coward or a madman. I got this from a Cheyenne gentleman who had it handed down through his family lore. It was stated that his direct relative was a participant in the Battle of Little Big Horn.
     Libbie Custer was the 'First Lady' of Ft Lincoln. Beautiful, smart and vivacious, Libbie set the tone for the social events. I myself admire the fact the she followed her man everywhere he was stationed!

My Guide Nora

  An interesting fact is that a Laundress with Army had more 'clout' that any other woman on a frontier post. They were even paid a WAGE by the US Army. The laundresses were considered the unsung heroes. Can you believe that initially there were only 4 laundresses per 100 men? Later that would change to a 1:20 ratio.  These women were also allotted housing and rations.

This is AL

   Along with their Coffee, The soldiers regularly ate HARDTACK. It often meant the difference between life and death on the trail. Hardtack is a biscuit that will hold forever. It is rock solid. To soften it up, it would be soaked in Coffee or water. It would not go bad. It traveled well. Didn't take up any space and had enough nutrients to keep you alive.  AL, the other interpreter at Ft Lincoln, regularly makes Authentic hardtack as part of his demonstration. You can also try a soft tack  version at the Commissary. A real taste of history!
You can also make your own at home with this simple recipe:
                                    2 Cup flour
                                    1 Cup water
                                   =/- 6 pinches of salt
                      That's it! mix together until a stiff dough forms. Roll out to about 1/4" thick. Using a fork, poke holes in the pieces (like a cracker) front and back. Place on cookie sheet. Bake at 350 about 30 minutes. Viola! Your very own piece of history.

    And by now I know you must be wondering What does Biscotti have to do with Ft Lincoln??? I make a number of the goodies for sale in the Commissary. Including the Soft Tack... and Biscotti.
                  Want to know more? Check out www.fortlincoln.com or www.buffalogalsbakery.com or www.mojoroast.com
 Come on down to Ft Lincoln! It's a great Stay-Cation! ...Fishing, camping, history....Memories.

Katy
   
   

Would you read a BOOK? Would read a Nook?

I can FEEL my mom looking to see if any of these are hers!

  Said Sam I am.
Ok, maybe Sam wouldn't have said that. But I did!

A Book. A precious commodity. In any language.
Reading a book is like talking to an old friend. Sometimes it makes you laugh. Sometimes it makes you cry. Sometimes it takes you on a journey to far away places.  Sometimes it can teach you something.
           Somebody once said "IF you can learn to read, you can teach yourself anything"
   My mom taught me to read very, very young. Thankfully I have always enjoyed it. I know I made her mad a time or two when I would be 'involved' with my book when she was trying to 'talk' to me.~ I would just look up blank and go "were talking to me?" ...I never quite got WHY that annoyed her until my oldest son did it to me.
    It was also difficult in school right from the get go. The other kids would be sounding out words and I would be done or very far ahead when my turn came.
   For some of us reading is as natural as breathing. We read anything...Literally. Everything from Cookbooks to Charmin labels. If it's the printed word, we are just naturally drawn to it.
    When we first moved back to ND, hubby charmingly suggested that I get a LIBRARY CARD! (snicker, snort, giggle). He just didn't get the whole owning the book thing. Still doesn't. But I humored him and went down to the little town near us to get one. I came home without one. Hubby asked me Why?...Because I already OWN most of what they have! (and what I don't my mama does, and it will someday be mine....big smile) Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against going to the library. I have spent many, many hours in them.
  I recently tried to move into the new century (finally). First I downloaded a book on my laptop. Don't get me wrong. It was a good book and I enjoyed it. But I had a very hard time actually reading it....Anyone who knows me, knows that I can sit down with a book, tune out the world, and just READ. 
  (  *this book is "Letters of a Woman Homesteader"  here is the link:         http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/toc/modeng/public/SteHome.html)
   I had a hard time with not being able to just mark, use the flap, or dog ear (Yes, Mom...I said DOG EAR) where I was. Just as hard was not being able to just take the laptop to the kitchen to read while I cooked dinner. Couldn't just leave the laptop outside on the swing, because the dog, garden, cows etc want attention while I am out there.And it might rain, get licked, walked on by a cat or any manner of outdoor things, while my attention is turned for a few moments. 
             NO, Mom...I do NOT take my best books outside for abuse!
 I also borrowed one of those NOOK things. That I can see the merits of. Very nice for plane rides. Fits in carry on nicely. Once again though, I found the negatives outweighed the positives for me. Still couldn't use it in the kitchen to read while kneading bread or frying chicken., ...would still be worried sick I laid it on a bench somewhere and forgot my pricey toy.
   Mostly though, I think for me it's the inability to just have a couple of three, four books going at any given time. ~Without having to bounce around electronically~ And also not being able to just loan my books. I was under the impression, that you can't just 'transfer' your book electronically to your friends device. Maybe that is not true. Don't know. Probably will never know, unless someone tells me otherwise.
   I think I will stay happily ensconced in the past as far as my reading material goes. I like looking at the covers and reading  the flaps (and maybe a chapter or two) before I buy it. I like have a bunch of well loved paperbacks to read while needing a distraction in the kitchen. I like the smoothness of the cover & the texture of the pages as I turn them. I like that at a glance I can pick a book out of my line-up on sight. I like the comfort of having a book tucked in my luggage for later. I like that when my boyz ASK me a question I can say "GO LOOK IT UP!" ....Yes...this person STILL has a full set of encyclopedias!  (They hated that.. They'd ask and we'd say "5 minutes...Go look it up and come back and tell me")
   I find it amusing that now my son circles my books like a little vulture the same way I circle my moms!
    Old books, New books, Funny books, History books, Not so much Sci Fi books, Trashy books, Any books...I love them all.
  Pick one up and enjoy it!
Katy

Down on the Farm

That would be THE FARM (with emphisis) as opposed to the Other Farm. We live on THE FARM, and the rest of our land is at the Other Farm.

        I have cows. They are trained. They all have names.
There's Barbie & Q, Rusty, Bubba, Wheezy, Teriyaki, You're next, ....

    We have a horse...Pricess Di. There were others over the years... Bambii the Amazing Albino Elk, Ebony (Black Irish-hahaha), Mini-Me...
Assorted other animals...Cats 'Faahhhsssaaaah' ( like Mufasa from the Lion King), Smokey, Wild Kitty and more.
The lone dog- Missy.  She is the only animal hubby named.

Rusty and crew

      Hubby says we have Catholic Cowz. I have a bunch of them trained to line up and stick their tounges out for Cheese It's. All in a row. He says it looks" COW-munion".
   My Girlz also know when Mama is in the garden and come running.. They are accustomed to hand outs over the fence when I weed.
   Bambii The Amazing Albino Elk was the favorite horse. We grew older together. When we moved back to ND, I brought her with. And what an ordeal that turned out to be! Up until that point Bambii and I had NEVER been anywhere that I couldn't ride her to.

Bambii the Amazing Albino Elk

  So, hubby bought a very used trailer AND hooked it to HIS pick-up. Now mind you, I had NEVER towed anything. Ever. (except for time we tried to tow the silver-bullet with duct tape and panyhose)
Bambii gets in. The lone goose gets in. The last chicken followed the goose. The dog tried to get in.
       A little bit like Noah's Ark
And we're off. Hubby got a CB radio for the truck. So he could yell at me every couple miles, I presume. In Nebraska it was WINDY & RAINY. And everytime a semi would pass the trailer would move. So I would slow down to a crawl. I was parinoid to say the least. Worried I would wreck and hurt my Bambii. And (a little less) worried I would do something to HIS truck. I was literally in tears on that ride. And when he tried to call me on the CB I was maybe blubbering a bit about my girl. In SD we stopped at a little Chinese joint for lunch. We parked towards the back of the parking lot. I let Bambii out and tied her up. In we go to eat. There was only one other customer the whole time we were there. In retrospect- I'm sure it must have looked pretty funny to have a horse tied up outside the backdoor!
   Eventually we made it here, to THE FARM. I could have kissed the ground. Bambii could have cared less.

That's it from here!
Katy