Outlaw Country

If you guys want to check out some awesome music and videos, visit Sirius XM Outlaw Country's Facebook page. WARNING: It's chock full of goodies, and you will probably waste hours of your life looking at this page. It is seriously one of the only radio stations I listen too, and you should give it a try. It has everything from Lucinda Williams to Johnny Cash to Bob Dylan. The best part is that none of these singers wear sequined jeans and do a hip-hop routine on stage, singing about gettin' drunk in a truck bed. It's REAL country / folk ;)

Life Saver!

Last night was absolutely CRAZY; Definitely not something you'd  expect to happen in the country.


Kevin was super busy at work and didn't leave until around 9:30 P.M. I was waiting up for him, reading The Gravedigger's Daughter, by Joyce Carol Oates (I cannot put it down!), when I looked out and saw an ambulance coming down our usually deserted road. I became very scared, thinking Kevin had gotten tired and run off the road.


His response when I called him was not what I expected.


"I'm performing CPR, I'm o.k. I'l be home when the ambulance gets here."


I got the full story when he got home, and after hearing it, I really want to learn C.P.R.


He was driving home, down the forlorn, wooded road that leads to our house, when he saw a BMW parked in the middle of the road. He slowed down, thinking it was just broken down, and prepared to drive around it. However, he noticed the driver's door was open. Then, he looked down and saw a young man laying on the ground, having a seizure.


The driver had a friend with him, who was standing near him, but had not yet called 911. Kevin, who is a certified CPR instructor through his work, immediately dialed for an ambulance, and gave his phone to the friend.


He then ran over the the seizing man, and found only a faint pulse. The man was not breathing.


Kevin started compressions, and administered CPR to the man, who went into three fits of shallow breaths and seizures before regaining normal breathing. During this time, another man pulled over, and Kevin had him feel for the downed man's pulse.


After about ten minutes, two ambulances arrived, and took over. The EMT told Kevin the young man would have probably went into a coma if CPR had not been administered.


Kevin was really shaken up when he got home, and said he operated on full adrenaline. Prior to this, he had never actually administered CPR to a real patient, so it was a damn good thing he remembered what to do in this emergency. He probably saved this young man's life, it's just amazing he was there at exactly the right time and place.


Only in the boonies...

Gotta Getta Goat!

Kevin's birthday is coming up, and I want to surprise him with a baby goat! He had goats when he was little, and I think he's going to be so excited when he wakes up and finds the little guy waiting in his truck, with a big bow tied around his neck. (He better not eat it!) I found a bottle baby that was born on St. Patty's Day, and I am going to pick him up after class on April 2nd. I'll be sure to get pictures for y'all!

Best Banana Bread EVER (cream -cheese lovers must look!)

The other day my dad gifted me with a bunch of brown bananas, and I could not have been more delighted. I love baking, and made the mistake of bringing a few of my creations to work to share with my dad. Now, I can't walk in the door without hearing,

"What did you bring today?"

I've created a monster! 

I knew the gift was really a hint that he wanted banana bread, so I looked for the best recipe I could find. I thought cream-cheese would be a delicious addition, and luckily there was a recipe that incorporated this delicacy. (I'm obsessed)

You can find the recipe, here, at AllRecipes.com.

I did make a few changes, listed below:

1.) No nuts...instead of putting crushed nuts on top, which I am not a huge fan of, I sprinkled on brown sugar and cinnamon

2.) Replace half of the butter with 1/4 cup of yogurt. I used Stonyfield's organic french vanilla, which not only cut calories, but added a tad of vanilla flavor. (Use banana yogurt for more banana flavor!)

3.) Replace about 1/4 c of white sugar with brown sugar. I just prefer the taste of brown sugar, so I decided to do this. I'd really like to replace all the sugar with honey, but I didn't have enough, and didn't feel like running to the store at 11:30 at night, when the baking urge hit.

I made two loaves, one for Kevin and me, and one for my parents, and I don't think either lasted 30 minutes. I've always had trouble keeping banana bread moist, since I don't like to cook with oils or shortening. The cream cheese was the perfect ingredient, and the result was  moist, not too sweet, and absolutely delicious. 

Hope y'all try it!

Country Wisdom and Know-How

Howdy, y'all! I have something new for you...a book review! This is the greatest collection of country-living information that I have ever seen, and is a must-read for anyone who is even vaguely interested in country life. It has DIY instructions on everything from gardening, to building chicken coops, to canning, to raising livestock and orphaned wildlife. Seriously, it is like a survival guide for living in the boonies. Y'all should run on down to your local Tractor Supply store and buy it right now! Or, it can be found at Amazon right here.
Go buy yourself a copy, brew up a big ol' pitcher of ice-tea, find a cozy spot of sunshine, and start reading! 

Redneck Beverage Holder

Yahhhh buddy! The ultimate gardening accessory

It's Time to Garden!

Thanks to the fantastic weather, we were able to get the garden all plowed, and (almost) fertilized, yesterday. Boy am I sore, but soo excited for some fresh veggies. 

Happiness = Sunshine + Dirt