"Skinny" VS "Fat"

Yup, I just went there!

I have a serious question for ya'll - yes it was inspired by another friend's post but is not aimed at anyone in particular, it's something that's been bumping around in my mind for a long while. Do you see a difference between "fat shaming" and "skinny shaming"?

What I mean is, do you think its okay to say cruel/derogatory/mean/hurtful things about someone because they are fat? If not, have you ever turned around and said something similar because a person is skinny? IE: "Wow that fat person needs to lay off the twinkies" (That is fat shaming) and "That skinny twig needs to eat more!" (Skinny shaming). I have found it interesting that many people find "fat shaming" to be inappropriate but will not even think twice about making a comment about someone who is on the opposite end of the weight scale.

In *both* cases, be it an overweight or underweight person, you often have absolutely *no* idea *why* this person is the way they are. It just baffles me that people will say, "Well so-and-so who is overweight might have a thyroid problem!" but turn around and sneer at "so-and-so" who is a "skinny bitch."

You all know I have skin thick as leather and can let it slide off my back. You also might, or might not know, that I am severely underweight. Always have been, probably always will be. I have several medical conditions that prevent me from gaining weight properly.

I have had people ask me if I have eating disorders, or say offhand comments that are rude and quite hurtful. I've had people tell me I'm "lucky" to be so skinny, and I can't help but look at them in befuddlement. If they had any idea what I go through on a daily basis because of this . . . perhaps they would refrain.

Anyhow, I post this, not in an effort to upset anyone or make them feel like I am calling them out for comments they have made, because I do not mean too. I just want to raise awareness. It's not okay to assume. It's not okay to make judgements.

Do we all do it? Yes. Should we? No . . . but all I ask for is that we all work together on these kinds of things. Next time you make an off-hand comment about a "fat" or "skinny" person, stop and think. It is pertinent to the situation? Is it absolutely necessary? Could it be interpreted as hurtful?

We don't always stop and consider anything more than the obvious - that includes myself!

Signed, a skinny bitch!

Recipe Post - Surprise Rice

I really love "Surprise Rice" because it's cheap, easy, and you can put just about anything in it. I prefer rabbit meat or chicken. Being out of rabbit, I used chicken for this dish.

The first thing you'll want to do is cook your meat. I always cook in a stock, or you may choose to buy precooked meat, or cook in tinfoil in the oven. Cook however you like. The chicken below is started in chicken stock with the tops of green onions and a few crushed cloves of garlic.


I usually wait until the chicken is done, removed from the liquid, and covered with tinfoil to rest to start the rest of the meal. It's important to rest your meat. If you cut into it right away, all the juices run out and you are left with dry meat.

From here, I start cooking the rice. While that is going, I take out a good amount of bacon and slice it. Cold bacon is much easier to slice. Slicing into small pieces makes it easier to cook and once cooked, it's the perfect size for mixing into the rice without anymore preparation.


Once the bacon is cut, it's cooked in a pan. I often use the pan I'm going to put the rice into at the end. No point in making new dishes. After it is finished, I remove the bacon from the pan. From there, you have a choice. You can cook some eggs in the bacon fat, or drain it. I like to cook eggs in it. Eggs, onions, mushrooms, all these are optional for your dish. Those are my favorite things to put in it. You can put whatever you like in it. Use your imagination. I also shred the chicken at this step.


By now, your rice should be done. I remove it from the vessel used to cook it and place it in the larger pot. I dump in all the goodies. For seasoning, again, you can use what you like. I use soy sauce, garlic salt, and pepper. Be careful using soy sauce, too much and you'll get way too salty. Add a little at a time, stir, taste, and adjust to your liking.

And there you have it. Surprise Rice! It's filling and quite delicious.

Rodeo

It came to my attention a couple of weeks ago that there are still people out there who believe that "Rodeo", as a sport, is cruel.

Now, let me be clear, today I'll be writing about sanctioned big time Rodeos. There is no doubt in my mind that there ARE small, out of the way, ragtag rodeos that can and possibly do treat their stock in a less than proper fashion.

But for the sake of this blog, I will be talking about "real" Rodeo.

So, you think Rodeo is cruel. Let's start with the bull riding and the bronc riding.

A bull/horse gets a chance to get a human off its back in the quickest way possible. How can that *not* sound fun? If animals understand fun, anyhow, which I believe they do, on some level.

And in many cases, once said human is off, you get a chance to stomp on them! How can you beat that?



People of course go straight to the flank strap and begin spouting off fallacies. There are people that honestly believe the flank strap is wrapped around the animal's testicles, and that is why it bucks. Are you really that ignorant? It's called a FLANK strap. Not a testicle strap. The strap is no where near the testicles. Not to mention all the bucking mares that are pro at their job.

Is the flank strap tight then? Made to irritate? No. In most cases it is quite loose and soft. It's a piece of equipment that *tells* the horse or bull, "Hey, it's time to go to work now." No different than an English bridle swapped out for a Western headstall, letting a horse know which job they will be doing this day. What's so horrible about that?


Then people switch to calf roping. They say it is cruel to jerk a calf by it's neck. This one I waver back and forth on, because they *are* young animals and it's not much like the real ranch work it's based on, as on the ranch, you wouldn't run your calf running all out and then jerked to a stop, for the most part.

However, calves are built very differently than horses. Their necks are short, thick, and powerful. It's considered a bit unsportsmanlike to flip the calf. I believe in some Rodeos, you *must* wait for the calf to be on its feet before hogtying it.

This encourages competitors to *not* jerk the calf hard enough to put it off its feet. Injuries to calves are fairly rare.

In fact, injuries to any rough stock are unusual. The stock gets the best of care, and only have to work for that care around 8 seconds a day, at most. *You* may have to work an eight hour shift to earn *your* keep, so why shouldn't this livestock that humans have developed work for their keep as well? Just because you consider your job as cruel and unusual punishment doesn't mean they do. *wink*

Let me address one last thing. You may have seen shock videos done by PETA or a group called SHARK on Youtube, showing the "horrors" of rodeo. If you dare to come at me with that crap as your "evidence" to the cruelty of rodeo, I will laugh in your face and it will destroy any credibility you have. These organizations visit and video thousands upon thousands of rodeos to capture just *one* accident.

Look people, there are accidents in *every* sport, be it human or animal. Things happen, people/animals get hurt and die. It sucks, but it's a risk that comes along with life itself. A horse can have an aortic event in its stall with a mouthful of the best hay and die. It can step in a hole and break its pastern and have to be put down. It can have an accident during a race, a jumping competition, a rodeo, anything.

There is nothing anymore cruel about rodeos than there is about any sport, including human sports.

These horses sure look like they love their job!
All images used with permission.

A Birthday Experience

Well!

Most of you know that, for once, I had grand plans for my birthday. Well, grand for me, anyhow. I was going to go to the city with my "boys", my husband and brother. We were going to go out to a nice place to eat, to a few places where I wanted to buy some things I needed, and to our favorite stop, the video game store!

So it was with great cheerfulness we loaded up in the truck and drove to the city.

We made it to the city when suddenly the truck rumbled ominously, then downshifted, and drifted. Husband eased it to a stop and tried to get it moving again, only to realize it would no longer catch the gears. The engine was running perfectly, but it could not shift and when we tried to place it into park, there was a horrid grinding of gears.

My heart sunk to my stomach. We scrambled to get it off the road, throwing on the hazard lights, as rude people honked their horn and threw us the finger as they were forced to go around us. Nice. No empathy left in this world! What else can you expect from that city though?

Anyhow, with a little help, we pushed it backwards off the road, hit the e-brake and shut it off. A few frustrated tears later, we called a tow truck and had it towed all the way back to the town where the boys work, to a shop.

From there we walked several miles in the dark cold rain. We stopped and spent a little of my hard earned money that I saved for this day to eat, then hid out in a Starbucks, waiting for my brother's girlfriend to come get us.

Turns out, poor girlfriend got a flat tire on her way, and then she missed the exit (she was coming from Houston) and got a bit lost.

Finally, we were able to make it home. We're still waiting back to hear about the truck and I am clutching the cash I had stashed away hoping for a great evening with my boys. I am praying that this is something simple - a new transmission or rebuilt transmission is, quite frankly, out of our budget. We would be unable to fix the truck in that case. And it is our only vehicle and the only way my boys can get to work, 30 miles from home, and back.

This is one of those times where staying positive can be really difficult. And a good chance for me to really work on it. All should practice what they preach, though few do.

A Birthday Treat

Today is my birthday! Instead of boring your senses with another long winded check in post or rant about something obsolete, I have a treat for you!

I received a link to a video. It has recieved over 200,000 hits on Youtube and is on it's way to being a "viral sensation."

The babies featured in it are Gypsy's bucklings. Enjoy!

The Life of a Meat Goat Begins

Welcome to the world, little "Chili."

At 9AM, Monday March 3rd, Seven gave birth to a single healthy buckling. I tell you, I've never seen a goat look more shocked in my life. She didn't know WHAT to think of this new creature. It didn't help that I had to fish out his second leg and help him into the world, which no doubt was painful for poor Seven.

After a while, she warmed up to him. It took them some time to get used to each other, but soon enough I had a happy fed kid, a happy mom. Other than his slightly wrong presentation into the world, the birth went smoothly.


Little Chili here is the first goat born specifically aimed for the freezer. This should not come as a shock to anyone who reads this blog, as it's been talked about for some time. Chili will live a great life, enjoying the fresh grass, sunlight, all the feed he could want, and even love and kisses. He'll stay with his mom until the day comes. What more could anyone ask for?

It might surprise you that I pick up Chili and cuddle with him. Why not? I know what purpose he will serve, but it doesn't stop me from sharing my love with him. How could I deny that to him, when I plan to use his body for my own means.

He will receive just as much preventative health care as the other goats. His feet will stay trimmed, his tummy full. He will not just be "thrown to pasture" and forgotten about until it comes time to process him. He will have buddies around his own age to play with. If I plan to use him, then I plan to give him everything in life he deserves.

When he reaches optimal weight, we will be with him when he is humanely slaughtered. All parts of him will be used, none wasted. His energy will be passed on to us and others. We will thank him for his life.

Welcome to the beginning of the life of a meat goat.

Second Kids of 2012

Welcome to the second set of K-n-S Farm's kids of 2012.

Juliet was terribly uncomfortable for days and days. This silly goat exhibited every sign of labor for at least a week!

Finally, she got down to business this morning. I had the kidding camera running on her - I woke up at 6:00AM on the dot; I could hear her grunting.

I rolled over and looked at my laptop, and sure enough, Juliet was down and pushing.


I only had time to pop my contacts in, grab a towel, and get to the stall before I was catching the first kid.

Perfect presentation for both kids, one black and white, blue eyed doeling, and one cream and white blue eyed buckling. Neither are polled (the sire is polled) but they got mama's eyes. They were cleaned up and nursing within 30 minutes and are feisty little things. I find it funny just how similar to Karma the little doeling is, but it's no surprise after all, since they have the same sire.

I am really pleased with this outcome - you see, last year Juliet had a horrible first birth experience. She kidded early and a breech birth. The kid presented tail first and it took me a while to get him out. He was born dead, his cord broken, and Juliet retained the placenta. I had to check her uterus, administer oxytocin, and flush her out real good.

Thankfully, she recovered perfectly and I bred her this year with some trepidation, worried she had some problem that prevented her from carrying and birthing kids properly.

With this perfect text book birth, those fears are put aside. Juliet has a nice udder and is caring for her kids like a great mom.

We have several more does due to kid this month and the next, so keep an eye out!