Its with a heavy heart that we announce that our furry friend Louie passed away today after he was tragically hit by a truck outside our home.

In his short time with us on this earth, he taught us valuable life lessons, made us laugh, drove us batty and with his passing will leave a huge hole in the hearts of those who had the privilege to meet him.

Rest peaceful my gentle giant. You will never be forgotten.

A little exposure

On a frosty November morning.

OMG! And YAY!

Yesterday I noticed an increase in traffic to my Etsy web-shop and started to do some investigating as to what the source/cause was. I was pleased as punch to find out that I was featured in an Etsy Storque article with Eddie Ross.

The article can be viewed here

The trouble with puppies

I was so glad that someone finally put the roll of Canada Post ground stickers to go use.

 

 

 

 

A little Monday morning front page exposure

Always a delightful way to start a day. Well that and a good cup of coffee :)

Introducing Louie!

Saskatchewan Beef Stew and Dumplings

I made this last night and used ingredients that were all grown/raised by me or made in Saskatchewan.

100% Saskatchewan Beef Stew and Dumplings


2 lbs Organic, free range blade steak, deboned and fat removed, cut into cubes
2 tbsp handmilled flour
1 tbsp Saskatchewan Canola Oil

Heat oil in large pot. Toss meat with flour to coat and add to hot oil. Cook until meat is browned.

Add to meat:

1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced

Cook until aromatic.

Add 8 cups of water.

Let simmer 30-45 minutes.

Add to above mixture:

3-4 carrots, peeled and chopped
2-3 ribs of celery, chopped
handfull or two of fresh green beans, cut
3-4 garden fresh potatotes with skins, cubed

Return to a simmer and let cook until vegetables are cooked yet firm. Add 1 cup of fresh or frozen green peas.


Prepare Dumplings

In a bowl combine

1 cup of flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar

Cut in 1 tbsp butter or margarine until crumbly. Add 1/2 cup milk, stir to form soft dough. Drop by spoonful onto hot simmering stew. Cover and simmer 15 minutes. (no peeking)

Serve dumplings with hot stew.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.......

First Day of Grade 2. I don't know who was happier: me, the dog or the kid :)

A glass jar, some green moss and a sunny afternoon

and see what lil miss can come up with. Trying to find ways to occupy the mid afternoon bordom that often hovers over my daughter, we ventured into the great outdoors and i let her creativity flow. This is what she came up with.

Complete with little black house by littlereddoor.

Indonesian Pork Tenderloin

This was the most awesomeist tenderloin I have ever eaten. Lovely flavor, super tender and juicy. YUMMO!

INGREDIENTS

• 3 tablespoons lime juice
• 6 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 6 tablespoons stir-fry sauce
• 1 tbsp fresh grated ginger
• 2 teaspoons chili paste
  
• 6 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 (1 pound) pork tenderloin

DIRECTIONS

1. In a bowl, combine the first six ingredients. Place the pork in a large resealable plastic bag; add half of the marinade. Seal bag and turn to coat; refrigerate for 2 hours, turning occasionally. Cover and refrigerate remaining marinade for basting.
2. Drain and discard marinade. Grill pork, covered, over hot heat for 15-20 minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees F and juices run clear, basting occasionally with reserved marinade.

Baylee's Birthday Party

Well the weather was cooler and kinda grey and the charming management at the water slide park decided to close AFTER they reassured me that the park would remain open, so we went to the park for an impromptu party. The kids braved the puddles and played in the grass and on the playground equipment while us parents managed to get a fire going and cooked some hot dogs. The food was good, the company better. Baylee could not have been happier :)

TransCanada Road Trip Event

On the road with the TRANSCANADA ROAD TRIP EVENT.
Twenty shops from the TransCanada Etsy team are participating in this exciting event.

Purchase from my shop at www.bovinebubbles.etsy.com or other participating shops and you will receive one ballot for every $10 you spend. All ballots will be entered into a prize draw for a fantastic goodie bag, or a fabulous hand-woven T-Shirt rug, made by Pegg over at, fiveforty.etsy.com. Event runs until midnight July 1st (CANADA DAY, YAH!!). Draw will take place on July 2nd.

For full details, please see the TransCanada team blog at: http://transcanadaetsyteam.blogspot.com/

My sexy man

I have no other real reason to post this other then being a royal pain in Mr. Bovines rear end. Payback will be a xxxxx :)

Puffed Wheat Cake

Puffed Wheat Cake (for all the non-believers :o)

2/3 cup butter or margerine
2 cups brown sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1 cup corn syrup
4 tbsp cocoa
12 cups puffed wheat cereal

In a large saucepan, melt butter. Add syrup, sugar and cocoa. Bring to just a boil. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and add puffed wheat. Stir well. Put into greased 9x13 pan, press down with buttered spoon and let cool. Cut into squares.

A little something we have learned

Is that even somedays when things aren't going the way you wish they would...little unexpected things pop up that just make you want to smile.

I was surprised to find myself featured in this wonderful Etsy article.


http://www.etsy.com/storque/spotlight/etsy-finds-a-little-something-weve-learned-4105/

The Spotted Cow

The Spotted Cow is a hand (finger) painted original by Baylee Rose, my 6 and 3/4 year old daughter.

To purchase a card direct, please click here

All profits from the sale of this item go directly to the Prince Albert SPCA.

More information about this shelter can be found at http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/SK05.html

My daughter has an extremely huge heart when it comes to animals and when she was informed that not all pets have homes or families and they live at shelter she wanted to know what she could do to help. She decided, after watching Mommy, to sell her things on Etsy and donate her earnings to the local shelter.

Bovine Bubbles and Hogwash Ltd will also donate 10% of our monthly sales to this wonderful cause.

Rhubarb Juice Concentrate

Just in time for summer and rhubarb season :)

Rhubarb Juice Concentrate

12 cups sliced Rhubarb
4 cups water
1 1/2 cups granulated Sugar

In large saucepan combine rhubarb and water. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce heat and cover and simmer 10 minutes. Remove from heat.

Transfer to dampened jelly bag or a strainer lined with cheesecloth. Let drip undistrurbed for at least 2 hours.

Meanwhile prepare canner and jars. (4 or 5-500 ml jars)

In a large sauce pan combine rhubarb and sugar. Heat to 190 degrees F (88C) over med heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. DO NOT BOIL. Remove from heat and skim off foam.

Ladle into hot jars leaving 1/4 headspace. Wipe rim. Put lids and screw on bands. Fingertip tighten.

Place in canner, Ensure jars are covered with water. Bring to a boil and process for 10 minutes. Remove canner lid. Wait 5 minutes, then remove jars and let cool.

Mix with water to serve

Waste Not, Want not.....my upcycled? recycled? greenhouse built by Mr. Bovine. Salvaged windows from a friend who was renovating no charge, Scrap wood and screws salvaged from jobsites, no charge, Door cut from old door found on property, no charge. Pallets used as shelving, again no charge. Cost for bedding plants $79.02. Still need to paint it up a bit, Im thinking something very bright and summery...lime green perhaps?

New Body Mousses in Orange Vanilla Cupcake, S'Mores and other summery scents have also been added to our site along with a handful of new Udderly Whipped Bath and Shower Fluffs.

Currently available in Coconut Wedding Cake, Sugar High, Banana Brulee, Lime Margarita and Baylee's Blend (a wonderful concoction of Buttercream Icing, Chocolate, Berries, French Vanilla and Milk Chocolate) Yum!

Whats New Around Here?

With spring comes all things new. New life, new beginnings and new spring scents that will be sure to get ur groove back.

We have Bovine Bakery Bath and Shower Doughs to slough away dry skin and get those legs in top shape for shorts, skorts or capris. Available in Lemon Poppyseed Pound Cake


Or how about Cranberry Ginger Mint Martini?

Someone forgot to tell Mother Nature and Old Man Winter that it is May 6th today. Yesterday it was +23, right now at this moment it is 0 degree with a windchill of -6 and this white s**t wont stop coming down. I know we needed the moisture but rain would have sufficed.

I got lucky enough to be featured among a great bunch of talented Canadian artisans in this lovely Treasury and at the Trans Canada Team Etsy Blog



http://transcanadaetsyteam.blogspot.com/2009/05/west-coast-green-treasury.html

Herd of Elk












Mr. Bovine in front of ice on the banks of the river

Evening at the River

Living just a few miles from the Saskatchewan River, I have a great opportunity to get outside and get some fresh air and sunshine. This week has been extremely hectic here at BB&H and needing a break from long list of todo's I needed to get done, The Bovine crew heading to the river for a sanity check.