I have decided to get on the blog give away!

I have been thinking about doing a give away for some time now. I went into my office (outside) and realized I have a lot of things that I could give away in a contest.

So now I have to come up with an idea for the give away....thanks to oz girl for her help with this.

Stay tuned for my give away contest!

I finally got pics from last weekend in San Diego posted!

We are at the Sheraton Hotel left is Jo, Stephanie and me! Last time we were all together we were in Aruba!




What an incredible weekend!

We went to San Diego for a family get togeather and boy was it fun!

I arranged to have a FULL weekend of site seeing, golf an overnight stay on a yacht with a cruise of the San Diego Harbor.
Here is the gang, what good sports to wear these fun hats!












This picture was taken as we were leaving the harbor, top is Jo (visiting from Minnesota) me and Gayle. Below is Lance and Andy.

This cruise actually lasted three hours, the sunset was incredible!






Here is the harbor view from our hotel room

I made BREAD in five minutes---Artisan Bread in Five Minutes

Beautiful bread!

I have all but given up on making bread. I live in the mountains at 7,0000 feet elevation. I have tried and tried to make bread, using the bread machine and the traditional methods. I have bought many bread books and even high altitude books trying unsuccessfully in making bread, better yet, I did make yeast bricks!

But in reading different blogs, I have learned many magical things, one of them is to make bread, glorious artisan bread.

What is Artisan Bread? It is the bread that is hard and crusty on the outside with soft and airy on the inside. YUM!!!!

So, after reading Salt and Chocolate's blog, ( I have her saved on my blog) I was tempted and thought ok, let's give this another try, what the heck. I could have gotten the recipe off the internet, but I am a cookbook nut, and ordered the book off of Amazon. The title is called "Artisan Bread in Five Minutes".

Got the cookbook and tried it as soon as I got home, stopped by the store before to pick up yeast, after all, why would I need yeast if I couldn't make anything rise in this altitude?

All I have to say is that it WORKED!!! Andy and Alex said it was the BEST bread that they have every tried! I have to agree, it was the best! Above all, it is just not one loaf, it makes enough for four! Also, it stays in your fridge for up to two weeks, so if you just have the notion to make a loaf of fresh bread for dinner, no problem.

So, take my advise, get this book, it will change your perception of baking bread I promise! Drop me a note and let me know how it comes out!

I will be posting on how to make lemon curd once I tackle that too. I love Salt and Chocolate's blog! It has opened my eyes to being adventurous! I am still wanting to make Bakerella's cake pops, just don't live anywhere that a cake supply or a Micheal's is near by, have to make a date and go and get the stuff, Lesa made it look like fun, check out her blog as well. "It's all about me". She and I have become friends and I really have fun with her!

So off to get the day started, get out there and try something new! Carpe Diem!

I got proposed to yesterday!

Hey everybody!

Life has been crazy here the last couple of weeks, like that is anything new, huh?

Well, I have been volunteering at the elementary school for the kindergarten class a couple days a week. It came about when one of the members of church passed away suddenly and she was he T/A at this class. The kindergarten teacher asked if anyone could help her out the following week due to the sensitive nature of the T/A not being there and if the kids had a hard time with her loss that there would be other people to assist.

I volunteered for one day. I thought that was enough. When she sat with the kids to tell them what happened and asked the kids what they were thinking, well, the things that came out of their little mouths brought tears to my eyes and laughter to my heart. Some kids said "We could write her a letter" and another said "We could draw her a picture" another said "We could cry"
another said "We could bring her a toy". Truly heart warming. Then in the middle of all of this one child raised his hand and said " My turtle died and he's not coming back". That did it! Tears were flowing. Perception of life from a child, priceless.

So three weeks later I am still volunteering now out of selfishness. These kids are a hoot. I brought treats in for them and they screamed with joy! Yea, cookies!!!!! Boy would I love to have that kind of reaction when I cooked dinner! Who hooo dinner, (jumping up and down! can you see it now with Andy and Alex) Not. Anyway....

I was on the floor tying a shoe for a child when arms wrapped around my neck from behind and I hear the words "I love you" from a little boy. I said " I love you too". Then he yells I am going to marry you!! Again, three times he yells that jumping up and down. I asked when are we getting married, he says "SOON!!!" Then I asked him "Where are we going to live?" and with this disgusted voice he huffs "America?!!!" Like I had no clue we were going to live in the US?? What is wrong with me?

That is why I like going a couple times a week. again priceless!

People ask me if I am nuts to be around 16 little kids. Yes, it is a lot of work but I am truly enjoying it. My hat is off to the teacher, I can't believe she would pick this career to be in, WAY too much work!

If you have the chance to volunteer at a school with little kids, try it for a morning or so, you truly might be surprised how much fun it can be!

Woody at Easter!

MIL with Woody, Oh no he's not on the couch!
This is my favorite picture of him!
What is his puppy doing up his butt?!

Great pictures, I just had to post them, he is such a great dog! Again, what is that puppy doing up his butt?

Easter is over but the ham remains!

How sad is this, After 40 years of giving.

Kim and I at the Daffodil Garden


What a crazy week everyone, it seems as though I haven't taken the time to put down my thoughts and happenings here this past week.

How was everyone's Easter? Mine was great! Had my MIL and FIL with Kim and Daryl over with the boys and just had a great day.

Big Bear did something for Easter Service that was new and what they did is have the Sunday Church service at ONE location then our church had a pancake breakfast afterwards. I can do the 8:30AM breakfast but the 6:30 didn't happen, sure I was up at that time with Woody, made blueberry muffins and enjoyed what the day represented we are truly blessed.

I wanted to post some pictures of my events this week. Here's the deal, last year I received an email from someone back in Kentucky regarding a Daffodil garden. It was beautiful and when I read on it, it says it was located in Running Springs, that is only 10 miles from my house! Unfortunately the time to see this spectacular garden had passed and to my sadness I had to wait another year!

Then I received an email this past Monday from anther friend that sent me the notice and guess what???? After 40 years the garden was closing on Easter Sunday for GOOD!! I had to go and see it, so I called Kim and asked if she wanted to go last Wednesday and the plans were made, only someone didn't tell the weather, it SNOWED! However, on Thursday it was beautiful but cold! We were there! The pictures are gorgeous and I hope you like them as much as I did. What a glorious world we live in!

Weekend pictures of Woody

Here is pictures of Lucie, with Andy and Woody on Woody's Bed. Great pic!

Here is Kim and Woody together with the toy his Auntie Kim got him, she will only be able to pick him just for a little while longer.

Here is Woody being a pupply with Lucie. He says "Just stand there, I'll do all the work"!

Here are the first of the pictures of us letting the pullets out in their new home!

Yard work, chickens Oh my!

We found chickens! We are getting 14 of these lil' darlins! We are picking them up on Saturday afternoon. Hopefully the coop will be done! If not, in the garage! I am sooo looking forward to this feathered friends, they are 3 month old and they will hopfully start laying within the next 2 or three months, Yea!

I'll write later to update you and WHENVER Steve gets here, hum its 11AM No STEVE!










This is where the chicken coop will be












This is where the garden will be (chicken coop to the left)











This is the view from the garden and chicken coop to the garage! It just looks like a lot of dirt! Did I ever say I was tired of DIRT!

April 2nd, 2009

Kind of a sober heading, huh? Well today we are having our chicken coop made! We have been talking about it forever and finally we got in touch with Steve, (this guy does incredible things) We had to tell him up front, "Now Steve, this is just a chicken coop, not an inlaws house". He said OK, within an hour of discussing the plans over the phone here comes the lumber company delivering the materials!

At 4pm the door bell rings and there stands Steve saying well it's delivered let's talk chicken coop! Never mind that I was on the couch with a migraine that had numbed my face, left arm and couldn't speak but drool, I think he got the idea of what I wanted, ha ha.

I am going to order 14 chicks, (peeps) today, keep them warm and dry until they feather out, I will probably put on Craigs List a want for female chicks, however, you really don't know what you are getting until they get older, no Roosters! It's bad enough to have Woody up at 4:45AM!

So ,here are some pictures of the lumber and work that is going on on our side yard, wow, it never seems that we slow down, this weekend we are also starting the garden construction, raised beds, but the view that is there WOW!!!! More pics.

Have an awesome day, when Steve gets here the party is goin to start!