A Tribute To Failure

A few of my favorite fails:

BBQ Fail

Easter Basket Fail

More Baby Pics...

Here's the latest photos of little Charlotte. These were taken a few days ago, when she was 9 days old. Can you believe how big she is? She looks more like 2 or 3 months old, rather than 9 days old! She's gonna be a wild one, I know it...

Welcome to the World, Charlotte Victoria!

Charlotte Victoria Riverman was FINALLY born July 1st at around 9:00 am. Whew, what an ordeal my poor sister went through! Here's how the labor went:
1. 8:00 PM--Started out at home with 3 midwives and a birthing pool. Contractions and pushing, but baby would not come out.
2. 2:00 AM--Moved Irina to the bed, hoping that changing positions would allow the baby to come out. No luck, baby got even more stuck.
3. 6:00 AM--After hours and hours of pushing and getting nowhere, midwives became very concerned and decided it was time to go the the hospital. Doctors at hospital gave Irina and epidural and made her push an hour more. Turns out baby's head was completely twisted and stuck, crammed up against Irina's pelvis bone. Instead of coming straight out, the baby got turned and Irina was pushing her at an angle.
4. 9:00 AM--Charlotte Victoria Riverman was born, emergency C-section, 9 lbs 4 oz! A huge butterball of a baby! Her poor little head is very mis-shapen and conical, from Irina trying to push her out her pelvis! Irina was such a trooper, and luckily the baby is soooooo healthy and strong and HUGE! I will post more pictures as I get them!

About to be Auntie Al!

My sister, Irina, is in labor! She will probably have her baby tonight sometime. Here's a picture of her taken about a week ago. She is the most beautiful pregnant person I have ever seen. Her pregnancy has been sooooo easy, she has been lucky. She felt amazing through the entire thing, she has a ton of energy. I talked to my Gramma the other day, and she that Irina was dancing around the living room and even could do the splits, 9 months pregnant! What a crazy girl, that one! She is having the baby at home with a midwife, apparently "water birthing" it? I have no clue about anything to do with babies, birthing, or pregnancy, so GOOD LUCK IRINA AND BABY!!! Oh, and they never did find out the gender of the baby, but if it's a boy it will be Lincoln and if it's a girl it will be Charlotte.

The Art of Cheese Making

I attempted to make another batch of cheese yesterday. Wow, what a TON of work! It takes about 8-10 hours to complete just ONE small wheel of cheese! I don't quite have all the equipment yet, so I am improvising using Lorin's beer brewing stuff. I am worried now that my cheese is going to taste like Bud Light, we'll see, it'll take a few months of aging before I can try it...

I wanted to take pictures of the whole process, but was too busy stirring a vat of curds in a giant brew-pot to think about getting the camera out. So here's what I was hoping for:

That's supposed to be me, in my little white apron and cap, placing nice wheels of cheese on a shelf to age (only my arms aren't that hairy). After that, I was going to put a pot roast in the oven, then bring Lorin his newspaper and a cigar.

But here's what my kitchen looked like instead:


Note: This photo is a simulation of the mess I made in my own kitchen whilst attempting to make cheese

Anyways, it was so much more work than I had realized. When I got home from work today, I removed the cheese from the cheesecloth, and it more closely resembled a character from Pokemon than it did a wheel of cheese. It could have something to do with the recycled sour cream container I jammed the curds into in a fit of impatience. Or the 10 gallon glass beer fermenting apparatus that I placed atop to use as a makeshift cheese-press. Or using bungee cords to strap the whole conglomeration to my kitchen cabinets. I don't know if this will turn into a full time hobby or not, but regardless, I think I will make a trip to Gossner's tomorrow. I can just buy a basketful of cheese for about $20.00, I don't have to clean their kitchen, and their cheese has never tasted like a rolled around on the floor of a liquor store.

Now I must hastily conclude this post, I just realized that my duck escaped it's cage (a large rubbermaid container) and is running around in my basement. I feel a country song coming on called "Duck Poop in my Basement."

Farmer's Market 2009

Whew! It's been a while since I've written anything. Things have been crazy busy here on the farmstead. Here's a power point presentation of the past month:

1. Busy At Farmer's Market
a) Selling organic produce and free-range eggs
b) Sold at market, even in pouring rain
c) Exciting to sell vegetables no other farmer at market has!

2. Spinning Angora Wool into Yarn
a) Busy grooming and caring for 2 angora rabbits (Suki and Jade)
b) Harvest angora fiber for yarn
c) Spin fibers into yarn using small hand spindle
d) Looking at thrift stores, garage sales, DI, and KSL for nice used spinning wheel

3. Making Homemade Cheese
a) Began attempting to make homemade cheese
b) To cheap to buy supplies on internet, decided to make homemade cultures to make cheese
c) Made homemade cultures by fermenting buttermilk
d) A batch of Gouda sits on stove now, will keep posted on outcome

4. Hiked Several Times up Logan Canyon
a) Hiked in lots of snow (still tons of snow up there this time of year)
b) Got lost in woods and panicked, couldn't find husband, started to rain, scary
c) Thought about spending night in woods, then later writing memoir on near death experience
d) Found husband, hiked through more rain and snow, went home, drank

5. Working and weeding in massive garden
a) Started some landscaping projects
b) Endless weeding in garden
c) Working in garden in between rain storms
d) Harvesting organic produce for farmer's market

Yup, that's about it. Here's some pictures of recent farmer's market:

Name the Photo Contest

I really like this family photo and thought it would make a worthy post. I stumbled upon itwhile googling "unique family photos." This one certainly is unique. For the thousands and thousands of people who visit my blog every hour, I am now holding an informal contest to see who can come up with the best caption to go under this photo. The winner will receive this very tasty and attractive hamburger bed. And for those who can come up with a witty and clever caption for the hamburger bed, you will receive this very appealing and entertaining platter of rice cakes. Good Luck!


This very odd post was the direct result of boredom, insomnia, caffeine, ADHD, and quite possibly being dropped on my head as a small child.

Beekeeping Aventures Part II

Lorin went outside and put the camera inside the beehive, this is what it looks like from the inside. They are already building tons of combs and filling them with eggs and honey.

Here's Lorin in his Bee Suit holding up a frame of bees

Here's what the entrance to the hive looks like

More pictures of the inside of the hive, the black bee is the queen

My Sense of Humor...

Lately, I've been neglecting the farm and spending most of my nights surfing you tube for videos that make me laugh. This one made me laugh so hard I almost peed my pants. They took a section of the lord of the rings movie, voiced over it, and slowed it down. I hope you laugh as hard as I did!

To all you mothers...

For all 3.5 of you mothers (sarah, karissa, shawna and pregnant sister) out there that read my blog, this one's for you...Thought you guys would like these pics...

I love the raw meat placed right on the kids face

The "Dish Network" child seat...Nice

I'm going to get all you guys this book for your kids

Blueberry Snack Bars

Got this recipe from allrecipes http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Blueberry-Snack-Bars/Detail.aspx. I love this recipe because it makes a ton, you can cut them up small becuase they are so rich. This recipe fits perfectly in a half-sheet pan. You can also use different kinds of pie filling, not just blueberry.

Blueberry Snack Bars

• 1 (18 ounce) package yellow or butter cake mix
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 3 eggs
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 (21 ounce) can blueberry pie filling
• 3/4 cup flaked coconut
• 3/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

In large mixing bowl, blend cake mix, melted butter and 1 egg. Pat mixture into buttered 15x10 inch jelly roll pan. Beat cream cheese until fluffy; blend in 2 eggs and sugar. Pour over cake mixture, spreading evenly. Spoon pie filling over top, spreading evenly. Sprinkle with coconut and nuts. Bake at 325 degrees for 45-55 minutes until lightly browned. Cool; cut into bars. Refrigerate leftovers.

Bee Keeping Adventures Part 1

I video-taped our first attempt at putting purchased bees into our home-made bee hive. No, we are not drunk, even though it seems like it. Normal people post cute videos of their kids, trips to Lagoon, babies, puppies, etc. I post videos of homemade beehives, getting stung, and screaming in the background. Hope you enjoy...

Rock Climbing in Logan Canyon

A couple of me friends from Montana came down and stayed with me for a few days and took me rock climbing in Logan Canyon. It was a blast, I really need to go more often!

Me and my best friend since 2nd grade, Cayla

Brett way up on top, getting the carabiners I left up there, oops

Just For Fun...

And here's a little something just for the sake of being random...Because people with mullets need to cross the street too! The dude on the right has a mullet + dreadlock. Awesome.