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.
                               
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           *The Viking legend of Grammy starts like this....She came over on the Nina...Christopher Columbus is her 'il nipote' (grandson).... KIDDING!!!
     
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                            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....)
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                Speed limits are arbitrary figures, given only as suggestions.
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>                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!
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       Our town was so small....(how small was it?)  that out funeral parlor was a U-Haul!
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           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