The babies were hungry!
They practically climbed into the car when I drove up wanting to be fed! How funny!
They've gotten really big, but their wings are not fully developed yet and they can't fly.... They are 11 weeks old now and instead of them following mama, she follows them around!

Soon they will be flying and no longer needing my help... does empty nest syndrome apply to duckies?

Mild Mannered Mexi-Bake

‘Mild Mannered Mexi-Bake’

 Recipe by Windy Hamilton

Ingredients

1 cup whole milk

6 cups of shredded Mexican style cheese blend

2 cans of beanless chili (or hot dog chili) 15 oz each

1 package of fajita mix

1 ½ pounds of elbow macaroni

4 tablespoons butter or margarine

Boil macaroni fully (you want it to be large and soft but not falling apart).  Drain, add margarine and stir until fully melted/coated.  In a separate pan bring the milk to simmer, add 2 ¾ to 3 cups of the shredded cheese and remove from heat, stirring until cheese is fully melted, add fajita mix (stir well).  Add mixture to the noodles and stir until fully incorporated (careful not to shred the noodles). 

In large baking dish spread a layer of noodle mixture, spread 1 can of chili (it helps to warm it up a bit before), spread thick layer of cheese, spread a second layer of noodle mix, spread remaining can of chili, spread last of cheese on top. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 mins.  Let cool before cutting it will be very bubbly when you remove from the oven.

Alternative: if so desired you can add diced vegetables to the noodle mix such as diced onions or peppers, but it really changes the flavor and makes is not so mild anymore…If you do wish to add something stick with savory vegetables such as carrots (extremely thinly sliced) or potatoes.  Potatoes soak up a lot of liquid so you may need to add more milk to the mixture when melting the milk and cheese together.

Alternative ways to say "Hello"

(Image by Magnus Manske)

When running in this disheveled rat race we often overlook the fun things that can brighten up a person's day with a single comment.  We need these... lots of these.  The hope of sanity lays in the balance... ok... that was a bit over the top, but seriously.  We need more humor in our lives.  Here are some alternative ways to text or say 'Hi' to those around you:

 

Yop - This comes from the Dr Suess books and if you want to be specific... Urban Dictionary explains it best: "The supreme syllable of primal self-affirmation and/or -acceptance, suitable for shouting from mountaintops, astride a wrassled bear, on the verge of battle against immeasurable odds, in math class, or over the roofs of the world. I too am not a bit tamed, I too am untranslatable, I sound my barbaric yop over the roofs of the world"

Tag, you're it! - This is a reference to a childhood game of either Blind Man's Bluff or Tag... Although some could say it is a reference to labeling and call it racist...but that would be silly.

You say goodbye...I say hello - This is in reference to a Beatles's song and really only goes over well with people who are into music...good music...really good music.

'ello - This is a reference to the tiny English caterpillar in the movie Labyrinth... Which means it really works best when spoken, but if you are speaking to a movie aficionado...it works well in any form.

Who's on first? - This is a reference to the most famous joke set of all time between Bud Abbot and Lou Costello.  They literally banter back and forth (purposefully misunderstanding the other) for about 10 minutes.  Of course the joke is from 1937, but honestly, I don't mind.

Jambo Bwana - It's Swahili for (loosely translated) Greetings Master.  (Accurately translated) It means Hello Sir.  I prefer the first one because it elicits a memory of I dream of Jeanie, but then I digress.

I love the smell of napalm in the morning - From the movie Apocalypse Now.  This goes over well with military types and movie aficionados.  However I can let you in on a secret...I have no idea what napalm smells like.

Foos yer doos - Translation (it's Scottish):  ‘How's your pigeons?’  Loosely means, ‘How's it going?’

Why not Zoidberg? - This is a sassy plea for attention from everyone's favorite doctor on Futurama.

It is a mistake to think you can solve any major problems just with potatoes – If you know where this is from you, my friend, are a very hoopy frood… If you have no idea, then don’t panic.  I suggest you start reading, because you are very far behind every other hitchhiker in the galaxy.

Duckies!

There are duckies on the farm... I've been negligent in updating the farm information so here's the duck update in a nutshell.  Last year we inherited 3 Muscovy ducks, one male and two females.  We had a lot of trouble at first with animals around the farm stealing their eggs and then eventually killing one of the females.  From her last clutch however we rescued two eggs.  Both hatched but only one survived into adulthood.  My guy was reading on the internet that Muscovy meat tastes like steak so he jokingly named her 'Sirloin'!  She's not even a year old but just had her first clutch.  Of the 15 eggs 7 hatched and 5 have survived... She's a great mom.

Here she is when she was little:

She was just learning to float in the sink.

Here she is pulling on my pants let letting me know she wants some food...and me feeding her...

Here she is all grown up and waddling around the farm with her brood.