Country Time Acres Blog

Sundae and I visit with Daisy troop 984.

This year I visited camps at the local SPCA.

In spite of the 90 degree weather and numerous health issues with my horses, I still had a very productive summer. I did my usual visits to Heartland Equestrian Center in Frederica, Delaware where I talked about horse behavior and did a show with my horses. Cheyenne, my star mini, has been pulled from performing due to Founder. I am still trying to get this under control but, it has been very difficult. After 2 veterinarians and 3 farriers I am still trying to figure out the best course of treatment for her. I am heartbroken that she may not be with me for our Oct. show, Wild West Round-Up but, feel it best to concentrate on her recovery. This year I added the Kent County S.P.C.A. camps to my schedule, teaching about horse behavior, care and sharing some wonderful stories about my favorite animal. Bonnie Keller at Heartland added two camps for little tykes this summer and I helped her with those. My grandson, Makhi got to tag along and had a great time doing horsey stuff and riding of course.  All the pretty little girls were fun too! Wait till he gets a little older, we will have to keep a watchful eye on him. With all of this I still managed to do my 2 hours a week volunteering at the Kent County Library and  spent every Wednesday with my 4-H club, County Time 4-H, cooking, sewing, doing crafts and of course caring for the horses. On our last day the girls were treated to a trail ride at Heartland.  I now have a two week break and will begin organizing my fall events which include Outlaw Days, Wild West Round-Up and numerous craft shows. New to the schedule are hoop classes, I am working on a schedule with the Harrington Parks and Recreation for days and locations. I am very excited about this new adventure. Since retiring the Small World Dance Team I have found that I truely miss working with the kids. Watch my schedule, it’s on the side bar and check me out on Facebook for future events.   Let the beauty of what we love, be what we do. “Rumi”.  Did you visit?  Leave a comment!!!!

This project is simple and elegant.

This week the girls at Country Time 4-H made tissue boxes. This box is one of my camp favorites because it’s simple and elegant. Because glue must dry, each side must be done separately. I like to use Elmers gel glue but the regular white glue is ok, too. Have a selection of noodles and each child does their own design. When all sides are decorated and dry (don’t do the back) the box can be spray painted with gold color.  Did you visit?  Leave a comment!!

Lamb Construction is a proud sponsor of Country Time 4-H.

Peanut Butter Bars, a tasty treat for a rainy day!

What better way to spend a rainy day than baking a yummy dessert?  Today the girls of Country Time 4-H made these awesome peanut butter bars. Here is what you need: In large bowl cream 1/2 cup butter (softened), 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar, and 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter. Beat in 1 egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Combine 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup quick oats, 1 teaspoon baking soda and 1/4 teaspoon salt, gradually add to creamed mixture, add 1 cup chocolate chips to mixture or spread mixture into 13 X 9 pan and sprinkle chips  on top. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes. Cool 10 minutes. For icing combine 1/2 cup confectioners sugar, 2 tablespoons milk and 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter. If to runny add a little more sugar. Drizzle over bars. Cool completely and cut into bars.  Did you visit?  Leave a comment!!!

The girls of Country Time 4-H love spending time in the kitchen!

Need a cool dessert Fast? Grab a cup and some cookie dough!

We all know what it’s like when you suddenly need a cool idea for a special treat and don’t have much time to make it. This recipe uses an 18 ounce roll of refrigerated peanut butter cookie dough, 36 miniature Snickers bars, baking cups and a can of chocolate frosting.

Heat oven to 375. For each cookie cup wrap a heaping teaspoon of cookie dough around  1 candy bar, enclosing it almost completely and forming a ball. Place in a paper baking cup. Place cups on ungreased cookie sheet and bake 8-12 minutes or until golden brown. Centers will sink slightly. Cool 1 minute and remove from cookie sheet, cool 15 minutes. Spoon chocolate frosting into pastry bag  with a star tip and pipe frosting on top of each cup.

I didn’t get any where near 36 cups out of this recipe but, they were so good it didn’t matter. They were gone the minute they hit the table!!!  Did you visit?  Leave a comment!

Members of Country Time 4-H.

Delainey gives Dakota a big hug!

It was a wonderful day for the girls of Country Time 4-H and their special guest, Delainey Parsons.  Delainey is one of six children, four of which are miracle children. Her older brother is a cancer survivor and  younger sister Phoenox, survived cleft palate surgery. Her father is currently not working  due to an injury and mother, Misty  tends to their two year old who has a tracheostomy. The couple could not provide bithday gifts and posted a request in a Yahoo chat room requesting a ride on a horse for their little girl. We wanted to make this  a special birthady indeed so as well as a ride on Dakota, she would get a party complete with cake, candles and presents. The Parsons are a wonderful family. Their hardships with their children’s have made them a close knit family and they appreciate the kindness of others in their time in need. Delainey was all smiles during her ride on Dakota. After, the family was invited to visit with Savannah where little sister, Pheonix and Savannah hit it off immediately. Pheonix will make a great poster child, she is absolutely adorable! Lunch of peanut butter & jelly or turkey and cheese, peaches, grapes, chips and juice was followed by a “horsey cake”. As hot as it was outside, we were unable to light the candles so Delainey just “faked it”. There were plenty of gifts provided by the club members, special guest, Holly Kehler and the Shepherd Place Shelter. Holly took lots of great pictures so we can put together a memory book for Delainey. Delainey and the girls hit it off as if they were best buddies. I hope the Parsons family will visit us again.

For great horse gifts visit Country Time Creations. Did you visit?  Leave a comment!

Makhi and I dyed shirts too. They turned out great!

The girls show off their shirts.

I am a very crafty person but, believe it or not, I have never tye dyed. Last week the girls of Country Time 4-H and I did our first  project.  Tye Dye kits make this project very simple. The hardest part is wrapping the shirt. There are so many ways to wrap a shirt that I decided to have the girls do what ever was easiest for them. We folded the shirt in half (length wise) and then started at one side and bunched the shirt, something like a fan effect. Once we had a long tube we careful started at one end and started rolling it into a circle. It was almost like making a cinnamon roll. After we had a tight circle we took rubber bands and put them around the circle, it looked like a pie when it was done.  The shirt is then soaked in ash water for 20 minutes. Make sure you wear rubber gloves when using ash or dye. Once removed from the water squeeze to remove excess water. Wrap in a towel and squeeze some more. Once the shirt is as dry as you can get it start applying the dye, one triangle at a time. Do not take dye to the center of the pie, it can blend with other colors and make a big brown blob! After dye is applied to all the pie triangles on both sides, place shirt in plastic bag and let sit for 24 hours. Carefully remove shirt and rince dye till shirt rinses clear. Wash  and dry shirt immediately. Our shirts have a line design. Next time I’d like to try the twist method so we can get a spiral design. The girls look great in their shirts!

For great horse jewelry, embroidered towels, handbags, picture frames, figures, toys and more visit Country Time Creations. Did you visit? Leave a comment!

Makhi, my little artist!

It’s cute and so simple even  young children can do it. The horse scene tissue box makes a great gift too. Here is what you’ll need to make your box: tissue box,  can of  light blue spray paint, paint, foam figures, paint brushes.  Spray paint the box and let dry. I like to use the dry brush technique for my painting so, practice on a piece of paper first.  To dry brush, load brush with paint and then wipe most off on a napkin. Tap paint on box to make grass, tree and clouds. Dry brushing gives a nice light and dark effect. Add flowers or other scenery. Place foam figures on last. Let paint dry.

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The kids of Camp Lenape enjoy a hay ride.

Country Time Creations is proud to sponsor Camp Lenape.

This week was my last performance for the summer and I got to entertain the kids from Camp Lenape. Camp Lenape is located in Frederica, Delaware and is a camp for children with Cerebral Palsy. It was a beautiful day and it all started with a hay ride from the camp to Heartland Equestrian Center. My 4-H kids were excited and a bit nervous as they prepared to do the opening number with a hoop routine. Sundae and Cheyenne wowed the crowd with their jumps, spins and tricks. The audience was amazed at all the things Sundae did. All was done at liberty (no ropes). The campers enjoyed the performance and hope to see the horses again.  Each camper received their own horse as a reminder of the day.

Country Time Creations is a proud sponsor of Camp Lenape. Visit us for great horse apparel, toys, books, music, figures, jewelry, handbags and embroidered towels.  Did you visit?  Leave a comment.

Makhi loves cookies!

Hannah and Brittany show off their baking skills.

This week my kitchen had the smell of fresh baked cookies not once, but twice. Tuesday Makhi and I spent time in the kitchen and Thursday afternoon the kids of Country Time 4-H worked on their baking and eating skills. Here is the Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe we used.

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour, 1 tsp. baking soda, 1 tsp. salt, 1 cup ( 2 sticks) butter, softened, 3/4 cup sugar, 3/4 cups brown sugar, 1 tsp. vanilla, 2 large eggs, 2 cups Nestle’ Toll House Chocolate Chips

Preheat oven to 375. Combine flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla in large bowl. Add eggs, slowly add flour mixture and stir till mixed well. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto ungreased cookie sheet and bake for about  9-11 minutes. Cool on baking sheet for two minutes, remove and continue to cool.

Did you know: The Toll House tradition began at the Toll House Inn in the 1930′s when proprietor Ruth Wakefield who was known for her rich desserts was experimenting and cut up a Nestle’ Semi Sweet Chocolate into tiny pieces and put it in her cookie dough. So was born the Toll House cookie! Semi-sweet chocolate morsals are also a natural source of antioxidants. For 1000′s of recipes visit Very Best Baking.

Don’t forget, for great embroidered horse kitchen towels visit   Country Time Creations. Did you visit? Leave a comment!