What's going on?

I had a request to share what is going on in our little town, so here goes...

The week leading up to Labor Day weekend is fair week - lots of animals, entries, and good food...

Friday we are taking the kiddos to the fair to see the animals and to go on carnival rides...

Friday is also the day that our company comes...

Every year we host a big BBQ at our home, we invite everyone we know and it's always lots of fun, this will take place on Saturday...the main event is my Hubby BBQ-ing, he is amazing!!!

Sunday is the RODEO! We have a babysitter!!! After the rodeo there is always a concert, this year we decided not to go to the concert. Instead we are going to come back home and start a campfire in the back yard...

Monday there is a breakfast hosted by the local Volunteer Fire Department, you can't miss that!

And to top it all off is the parade...

Tuesday we will be starting homeschool, but that is a different post in itself...:)

Count Down...

Well, it's that time of year again...the time that marks the beginning of FALL...the time that I look forward to every year...the time that I say "where did the time go, I can't believe it's here!"...

Labor Day Weekend
is the biggest event of the year in our little town.

People come from miles around, including a caravan of guests that will be arriving in 9 days; to stay at our home!!!!

This is the time that I start to panic...I know everyone is coming to see us...BUT...something in me decides I need to get all of the projects from the last year (OK maybe more than that...) done!!!

So...I made another list...and another...

My Husband thinks I'm crazy...maybe that's why he married me LOL!

Thinking about it all makes me tired...but I have a game plan...

First things first...

I decided that I can't do the cleaning that I want to do without things being organized first, so I have been purging our home of junk...I've made one drop off so far to the thrift store (it's weird taking stuff to them, instead of from them!)

When I get everything organized, then I will give the whole house a good cleaning, and then I will start on unfinished projects, that way if I don't get everything done I will still have a clean and organized home...

It sounds good on paper, we will see what happens...

Flea Market Style...

OK Girls...Have you seen the "Flea Market Style" magazine? Well, they have a blog... and they are having a giveaway...Just go to their blog and leave a comment.


You could win this awesome prize!!!!

Fall Preview...

I know it's not even September, but I can't help it! I'm craving FALL!!! Here is a preview of some "fall candy" in my kitchen...

After taking the pictures I noticed some "holes" that I need to fill in...oh darn...I have to go shopping!

Huckleberry Muffins

One day, up high in the mountains of nowhere, we found ourselves a huckleberry patch...they were small...and after about 3 hours of picking we had about 2 cups...just enough for some muffins. Yum...



Huckleberry Muffins

Ingredients:

3/4 c butter
1 c white sugar
1 egg
3/4 c milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 3/4 c flour
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c huckleberries


Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Grease 15 muffins cups, or line w/ muffins papers. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Mix in the egg, milk and vanilla until well blended. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; stir into batter until just moistened. Fold huckleberries into batter. Spoon batter into muffin cups, filling at least 2/3 full. Bake for 15 min. or until tops spring back when lightly pressed.


*If you can't find huckleberries, blueberries work well.

Operation Organize...

A while back Teri at the Farm Chicks posted about going through a "detour." Here is my MAJOR "detour." It all started with wanting to get out my fall decorations! But, first I decided that I should wipe out and organize the cabinets in the kitchen (I can't remember the last time I did this? Is that bad?)...


The Before...Yuck!....Can you tell where I keep the toaster?...







The After....now filled with things from the pantry...







Before....So I counted TWO sets of pots and pans...don't ask LOL!







After...I'm getting rid of one set and had room left over to fit stuff from the first cabinet...






So now that I had the pantry door open might as well keep going, right?



I'm not sure why I keep my shoes in the pantry...was a good idea at the time?





...So then I started thinking...I have a lot more room downstairs in the basement storage room...hummmmmmmm......

...So now I'm moving all of my pantry things and then decided to turn the previous pantry into...wait for it...



A Craft Closet!!!!










I might be crazy, but I LOVE it! I not quite done filling it up with all of my stuff, but you get the idea. The books will eventually be moved to a bookcase when we find one...I love being able to see all of my craft books and supplies, that were previously boxed up...there is even a spot for my sewing machine when I'm not using it!

Kitchen...

This is the before:








This is the after...








I don't know if you can tell in the pictures but the walls and ceiling are now all textured and painted. I have 2 cabinet doors I have to repaint (they got ruined in the chaos), and of course decide where I'm going to put everything (decorating stuff). I'm sooooooo happy with the way it turned out, the colors are very fresh and relaxing! And now on to the next project...

Crock Pot Tuesday?

So I know I declared "Crock Pot Tuesday," but my Hubby wants to BBQ tonight and try out a new sauce recipe, Yee-haw!...


Texas Jack Sauce

2 c ketchup
1/4 c Tabasco sauce (must be Tabasco sauce)
1/4 c Dijon mustard
1/4 c Jack Daniel's whiskey (I use this just for cooking LOL)
1/4 c molasses
2 Tablespoons dark brown sugar
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. liquid smoke

Combine all the ingredients in a deep, heavy, nonreactive saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat slightly and simmer the sauce, uncovered, until thick and richly flavored, 15 to 20 min. Correct the seasonings, adding any ingredient you fancy. Use right away or transfer to jars, cover, cool to room temp. and refrigerate. The sauce will keep for several months. Makes about 3 cups.

This baby has quite a kick! The tender of tongue may wish to cut back on the Tabasco sauce!


Note: We will be trying this on BBQ pork chops (both Jason and I like heat). The little ladies will get heat-free sauce!

You could win...

"Giveaway at Apron Girls sponsored by great cookware and beautiful desks!"

For a chance to win these go here! The drawing will end Sunday, August 16th at 11:oo PM MST
Tell them I sent you:)

AWANA

Today AWANA starts! Makaila can hardly stand herself she is sooooo excited! This year she will move up to Sparks. So, I have declared Tuesdays' Crock Pot Day to help with the evening rush. Here is this weeks recipe:

Slow Cooked Chili

2 lbs. ground beef (I use ground elk)
2 16 oz. cans kidney beans
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 8 oz. can tomato sauce (I use a little more)
2 med. onions, chopped
1 can green chilies
1 can corn
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tsp. pepper
Shredded cheese
Sour cream


In a skillet, cook beef over med. heat until no longer pink, drain. Transfer to slow cooker. Add the next 9 ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4 hours. Garnish individual servings with cheese and sour cream if desired.

Monday was a busy day!

Last weekend Jay finished all of the trim up in the kitchen, I got it all stained, it is now all done! Yahoo! Yesterday I started the process of texturing and painting. It's going slow but so worth it! I have the far wall completed and I love to just stand and stare LOL. I have half of the ceiling textured and my plan for today is to finish up in the kitchen and then tomorrow move on into the living room. We have company coming this weekend so that is a huge motivation LOL!! I love the colors we decided on (finally), the kitchen's color is called Misted Silver (a smokie blue) and the living room's color is called Home Range (a dusty taupe) I'm holding back on decorating until it's all textured and painted but I did put a few things up to look at...

They came!

Well on Saturday I didn't get to any yard sales (sniff), but look what came!!!!

I have started reading both books and I can't wait to try some new recipes and make my first apron (I've caught the apron fever)!!!