"That Chicken Has a Shiv!"

My sister reposted this blog link on Facebook a few days ago and I have not laughed that hard in a long time. I now want to buy a 5-foot-tall clearance chicken. I just cannot even explain what this post is about, you must read it for yourself. Hilarity will ensue. Do not read this in a public place unless you want people staring at you while you laugh (sorry Katie!) Oh and slight use of some language, so don't read it if language or giant chickens bother you.

"And that's why you should learn to pick your battles" by the blogess

The Hurt Family Baby Farm

The Hurt Family Baby Farm was established in 2002. No actual babies were produced until early 2007. He was a keeper. Another baby was produced in 2010. She's a keeper too. Recently a new product was added to the production line: Homemade Strawberry Jam. It's yummy and delicious with peanut butter on bread. The first two baby farm products wholeheartedly agree and give two thumbs up to my latest product. Unfortunately for you, none of the Hurt Baby Farm products are for sale at this time (check back with me when Steve is TDY and the baby products have the flu--this occurs regularly). You are on your own for baby production but I can help you find a recipe for Strawberry Jam, along with some tips on canning. I used Pioneer Woman's Recipe and tutorial. I've also made her Cinnamon Rolls and they are to die for. The adorable jam labels are free printables from Eat Drink Chic.
"The Hurt Family Baby Farm" Strawberry Jam!

Hi Ho, the Dairy Oh!

Brian and I went on a nice little Mommy/Son date last week to the local dairy farm. My mom had seen this particular farm in a magazine and told me about it. A group of Brian's school mates and their mommies all headed to the dairy with us.

The tour started with a petting zoo and after our experience at Rooster Cogburn's Ostrich Ranch, I knew Brian had no fear whatsoever of animals. He doesn't get the animal bravery from me. I looked away for one second and when I turned back around, Brian was holding this lovely chicken, with a huge smile on his face. The chicken didn't seem to mind at all.

We moved on to feeding a plethora of other farm animals: goats and sheeps and horses and donkeys and calves.

Brian was particularly taken by this lovely baby who reminded him of his baby sister. I don't see the resemblance.

Brian and one of his best school buddies

After we doused ourselves with purell, we hoped aboard the hay ride for our tour. I was surprised to learn that the cows are showered and milked 3 times a day, once every 8 hours. I don't know why but I thought they would only get milked once a day. I should have known better.

Hey, that's alot of hay!

This farm had around 1000 cows, mostly holsteins and some jerseys

Brian enjoyed running and jumping on the hay, even though it was 105 degrees when I took this picture

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!!

By far the highlight of the tour was the fresh from the dairy ice cream at the end. Brian and I tried bubblegum and cookies and cream. Both were yum and I am hard to please in the ice cream department cause I'm not really a fan.

Brian and his buds enjoyed climbing all over this tractor once they got too hot running around in the arizona sun

We are hoping to go to a teddy bear factory next week with the same group of kids/moms!

Our Wild West Adventure~Day Two

We started Day Two of our Wild West Adventure with a delicious and free breakfast at the Holiday Inn Express Tombstone. We are huge fans of HI Express and their free cinnamon rolls. We ate breakfast as we watched bunnies frolic on the lawn of the hotel, I didn't get any pictures of that cause my hands were sticky from the cinnamons rolls. Brian loved watching them romp though, as if we don't see them almost daily in our own yard. Once the bunny watching was complete, we drove down the hill one mile to revisit Tombstone.

The old Cochise courthouse. Funny story, we were standing here in front of the courthouse and Steve says to me "Wow, I wonder when it was built." I didn't even have to answer, I just stared at him thinking "wait for it, wait for it" and after a few seconds, "Oh, there it is, 1882!" Here's your sign!

Big Nose Kate was Wyatt Earp's girlfriend and she owned one of the local saloons. We ate lunch here, the food and atmosphere were great and there was live country music to which the kids were dancing up a storm.

Brian got a kick out of this train in the store window. We went inside the store where the owner turned on a train that went around a track so Brian could see it. He could have stayed there all day watching that train.

Inside our horse-drawn carriage tour of the town

Wyatt, is that you?

Brian sippin on his first ever Sasparilla

Emily dancing to the live music at lunch

The Hurt Family, wild west style

Look at Brian, hand on his gun, serious face, he looks like a little law man.

And here is the dainty princess, wild west style

This is vintage Brian, taken in Gaitlinburg, Tenn in 2007

Our Wild West Adventure~Day One

On Memorial Day weekend we decided to take a trip to Tombstone, AZ and stop at Rooster Cogburn's Ostrich Ranch on the way. We are big fans of Rooster Cogburn and Ostriches so what was not to love? We thought Brian would enjoy seeing the largest bird in the world but we didn't expect him to enjoy all the other animals so much. He jumped right in on the action, feeding deer and goats and donkeys too. We were hoping to get a ride on the monster truck tour of the farm but it pulled away as we were pulling into the parking lot and of course Brian was almost inconsolable. We saw it later on, bouncing around in the desert, the people inside looked like kernels of popcorn popping around so maybe it was a good idea that we missed the tour and the resulting whiplash.

They aren't kidding. We saw a guy who ignored the sign and almost had his hand removed by a hungry bird. He was fighting back the tears. They didn't stay long. My guess is he went back to his car to sob. It was violent.

Feeding the lorikets

We finally made it down to Tombstone and hit the Boothill Graveyard up at sunset. Many of Tombstone's famous residents and/or gunfight victims are buried here.

This was Steve's favorite grave stone, he says he wants that inscription on his grave stone.

Oops! Our bad! It says " He was right, we was wrong, but we strung him and now he's gone."

These were the graves of the famous victims of the gunfight at the OK Corral

This is more likely to be Steve's grave inscription since he recently has become obsessed with finding gold in them there hills.

Brian wanted his picture with this particular grave stone. I'm wondering if I should be worried that he's a fan of 67-year-old dead Chinese opium-dealing prostitutes?!

The grave yard was filled with beautiful desert landscaping, lots of cacti and ocatillos. Very pretty, it's amazing Brian made it out unscathed.

After the graveyard, we attended a dinner-slash-gunfight show which I didn't see any of because as soon as it started Emily decided she was not sitting anymore and was going to tell everyone about it. The boys tell me it was great show and lots of people fake died. I was too busy enjoying the Emily-slash-kicking-and-screaming-to-get-down-and-run-around-show. Such a fun age for traveling. Stay tuned for more Wild West Adventure fun on Day Two.