If I say CHILI...

what basic ingredients come to your mind? * I've heard that the chili purists' proverb says "If you know beans about chili, you know chili ain't got no beans." * Chili for me must have beans, tomatoes, ground beef, onions, green pepper, and heat. However, I call what I made tonight as CHILI and Mike calls what I made tonight as CHILI BEANS. I grew up in Raleigh, and he grew up here in the Appalachians. The "chili" without beans was the stuff we put on hotdogs; that was the only use for it. After researching, I guess Texans say, "1) chili doesn’t have beans in it and 2) chili doesn’t have ground meat in it; the meat should be chopped." I suppose, in Texas, they've always had amble amounts of beef handy but in Raleigh, when I was growing up, we had to s-t-r-e-t-c-h a meal, so beans were used with a little ground beef. (I used canned beans tonight for a quicky meal but dried beans are very inexpensive). Also, I take after my Grandma, who raised children during the Depression, and throw in any leftovers that's why you see some carrots and broccoli. Chili con carne (often known simply as chili) is a spicy stew. The name of the dish derives from the Spanish chile con carne, "chili pepper with meat."

occupation - goatherding

I sure wish goatherding paid the bills. Yesterday, we had snow flurries and today, we had this.

I put Jack on a leash, and we hiked up to the goat girls, then I let him off leash. BarbaraJean is too young yet for hikes.

Best medicine and therapy for me is watching the goats "pick."

Pixie and Jack match.

I sat on a tree stump, and Jack was laying at my feet watching the goats. He's gonna make a great dog.

Family Photo & Reba Show

Mike's middle sister, Sandy and her dog, Cain * Mike's mother, Mary holding BarbaraJean * Mike holding JackBadger * Daniel holding Corky. Daniel is Mary's Great-Grandson and Mary has two great-grandaughters.

Have you ever seen the TV show, Reba? If not, tune in, it's a hoot. I love the big, blond BarbaraJean, she makes the show. ****************************** biggify the cartoon to see why the chicken crossed the road

BarbaraJean is here!

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We picked her up early this morning.

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She's not peeing on ya this time Mike.

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Just set BarbaraJean down with JackBadger.

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Didn't take long before the wrestling began.

We'd have to reel in Jack at times, because he is quite a bit larger than BJ.

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BarbaraJean has a pink collar.

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I like butt's, big butt's.

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Both puppies have their double dew claws. Double dew claws are one of the trademark traits of the Great Pyrenees. These double dew claws are actually extra toes that the Great Pyr uses to help give them stability and better footing when working in rough country, climbing and fighting.

Jack just wants to play, but we have to give him "timeouts" so BJ can rest, eat, and drink. He wants to play rough and she's not mature enough yet. They're both living in the barn, around the goats. They will be very socialized, livestock-guardian dogs for the goats.

Mike gets outed

Yesterday early evening Mike got home from his daily trucking route. As usual, I was sitting outside with the animals enjoying the evening. Mike sits down in a chair. JackBadger comes bouncing up to Mike to say hello and then puts his nose in Mike's pants pocket and brings out a crumpled candy bar wrapper. [Mike always claims he doesn't eat sweets] While Mike was laughing and saying, "bad dog," I was laughing and saying, "good dog" for outing Mike.

dreamin' of my Sweet BarbaraJean

somebody help me write the next country-hit song -
dreamin'of my Sweet BarbaraJean

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Mike has three sisters, and Aunt Sandy and Cousin Cain stopped by for a visit. [not the Sandy that I have been going on recent road trips with]

Sandy Wilcox and JackBadger Wilcox

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JackBadger is the kinda dog that...

rests his head on Mike's shoe

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Corky

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SweetPea, gets THE-CUTEST-LITTLE-UDDER award. She won't be "in milk" until she has the babies.

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Ginger "in milk," that's the type of udder that the dairy-goat judges like to see, the fore-udder and position of it is great

hay and BJ

We hooked up the utility trailer before the sun came up this morning. Headed to Neva, TN (only about 22 miles away). Mike going to meet BarbaraJean and we were picking up a load of hay. As soon as Mike picked up BJ, she started peeing, note Mike's expression.

JackBadger came from Virginia, he's a "Hokie"
BarbaraJean is coming from Tennessee, she a "Volunteer"
Mike and Joanna live in North Carolina, we're "Mountaineers"
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We'll be bringing BarbaraJean "home" next Saturday.
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Over the next few years, on this blog, you will be witnessing JackBadger and BarbaraJean grow up together and develop into awesome livestock-guardian dogs.
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while unloading hay, Mike always has more "help" than he desires