Busy with BBQ and Wedding Flowers

Spring has been very good to us here at the Martin home.
Trailhound Smokers BBQ has been busy with catering and drop off orders, along with some pick ups. The pit has been more than busy and full.  Thank you's go out to Advanced Pro, Martin Harris, Coronado HS Band, Canyon Ridge Church, First Congregational Church, and more.  We hope y'all have had full bellies of delicious barbecued food when you left your events.

Flowers have also kept me busy...it's wedding season before it gets hot here in Vegas.  

Yes, it's been busy around here...and we truly appreciate all the support.  

We're Grandparents!

 I'm excited to say that Timm and I are now grandparents to this adorable little man!

Alexander Scott Martin

I had my friend from Sara Ford Fotos come over and take a photo session at 5 days old.  Oh my gosh...talk

about cuteness!  I could hardly stand it.

Grandpa and Alex, 7 days old.  

I took a few photos with my phone during the photo shoot.  I love this one. 

So precious!

He was born on July 23 via c-section after a very long day.  I am happy to say Momma and baby are doing well...so is Daddy.  Congrats Chris and Bri...you done good.  

We're 'Cueing for a Cause

Please join us...if you can't make it, consider donating via our event page

http://k9sforwarriors.donorpages.com/MyEvent/TrailhoundBBQ/

But we'd love for you come on over, eat some championship barbecue and donate to K9sforWarriors with us on March 14.

Be sure to check out this great organization and the amazing work they are doing!

www.K9sForWarriors.org

 

Last trip of the year...train ride.

Timm's office closes down between Christmas and New Year's....not a lot going on in the world of construction at that point.  I hate to waste that PTO time doing nothing so we headed to Arizona to ride the Verde Canyon Railroad in Clarkdale.

We saw 3 bald eagles...or the same one three times...lol

The engines unhook and attach to the caboose for the return trip. 

Curved tunnel on the route.

Independence Day

I hope everyone is enjoying their Independence Day.  It's been really hot here in Vegas for the last week so I didn't buy any fireworks or gather the troops (friends and family).  I've been watching pictures on Facebook posted by my friend Liz...they went to Utah (Bryce Canyon area) and wishing I was there enjoying cooler weather

Timm put out the word and we did some smoking for friends and co-workers.  

Eight briskets, 12 racks of ribs, 4 pork butts, chicken and sausage, along with several sides.   

These ABTs were ours and boy were they good.  Timm seasoned the cream cheese and stuffed the jalapeno with shrimp...yummy!

The aerial fireworks have been going for 2 hours now.   I gotta say, folks have spent a fortune on them around here.  Mother Nature even got her share in with a short storm with thunder and lightening.   

Prayers and love to friends Pam and Louie today...they lost their son, Kasey 4 years ago now tonight.  I'm thinking of you.  

Cassy went to the lake to swim this week

She really enjoyed it.  But I gotta say, the water level at the lake is sooooo low. 

Hopefully, they'll start releasing some water from Lake Powell soon.

Anyway, I wish America a very happy birthday.  I pray for our nation and it's people.  I'm thankful for our forefathers, they were wise beyond their time.  I'm thankful for all those who serve and protect. 

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to the dads in my life...my hubby and my dad.   

Dad, on vacation in New York state 2013 

Timm and his boys, along with his brother,John at Chris' wedding Jan 2014 

My dad, Timm and myself...Spring BBQ 2014

Love all you guys!  You're the best!

Happy Birthday Timm

Wishing my hubby a great birthday!  We love to to pieces. 

  

Our 30th

Time flies when you're having fun is what they say.  I don't know how 30 years went so fast, that's for sure.  It's been quite a journey with lots of adventures, fun, struggles and joy along the way. 
We've been blessed with two wonderful boys that we've put our heart and soul into.  So much of our lives have been about them.  I stayed home to raise them and am proud to say they have never spent a day in daycare.  I know that is not possible for many parents, and I need to say we sacrificed a lot to make that happen.  It's not something easy to do that's for sure, and I had the good fortune to have my parents and Timm's parents there to lend a helping hand (and advise) when needed.  Scott married a wonderful gal, Christy 4 1/2 years ago.  Chris has been dating Bri for a year now.  They both have great gals.

We've been through lots of activities and hobbies.  Timm was one ranked 3rd in the state in archery and traveled for several tournaments.  I tried it, I wasn't good at it.  He gave that up when our boys hit Cub Scout age and we gave 17 years, time, money, vacations and vehicles to the Scouting program.   I wouldn't change a bit of it though...good program, good values, good people.  I know we touched countless lives through packs, troops, crews and training. For me, crafting and painting has been a constant through out the years and continues to be a source of income and pleasure for me. 

We've always been outdoor people.  We love camping, hiking, exploring, and more.  We got our first ATVs 10 years ago.  In fact, Timm surprised me with mine for our 20th anniversary.  We've had a great time with them and have met some great people there too.   It looks like we'll be heading to the Moab area in December for our anniversary trip. 
Our immediate plans are tied up in BBQ competitons and will be traveling to Bentonville Arkansas this month for the Sam's Club National Finals. 
Happy anniversary Timm, I love you more than life itself and look forward to growing old with you in a life full of love, family and adventure.

Sam's Club Regional Results

A brief post to let you know we survived the trip to Albuquerque NM just fine.  I gotta say, it's a long drive, and we did all 600 miles in one day.  We had a nasty storm come through on Friday, but it held off Saturday for most of the event.  We had just a bit of rain Saturday.

We had a good cook and were blessed to have the judges like our product enough to earn a 4th in brisket and came in 7th overall!  That is good enough to make it to the Nationals in October...in the home of Sam's Club and Walmart...Bentonville, AR. 

If you'd like more details and photos, stop by our other blog Trailhound Smokers BBQ.

Thanks for everyone's support!

It's our anniversary

I look back and wonder where the time goes.  It's hard to believe that we've been married 28 years now.  We've had our ups and downs just like everyone else but pleased to say a lot more ups full of great memories, accomplishments, and joy. 

We've enjoyed our down to earth lifestyle...after it is the simple things in life that can bring the greatest pleasures.  Memories filled with camping, exploring, Scouting, and family...that is the best. 

I look ahead to the future knowing we will always be together.  We've thankful to both have wonderful families with parents that gave us great examples to live by.  I pray we do the same for our children.  Happy Anniversary honey...I will always love you!

New Blog...Trailhound Smokers BBQ

What have we been up to lately...besides yard work?  Building a BBQ pit, well my hubby and youngest son have been building one.  It's awesome!  Timm came up with the idea and Chris did the welding on the project.  We've tried it once, but we are having a big BBQ with our families to really test it this weekend. 
Timm want to compete in BBQ competitions.  Looks like we may be out to our first one in a month or so.  I've got jitters but he doesn't.  I'm thinking it will be fun, hard work, and costly...but isn't anything that's worth a hoot.  I'm thinkin' we can cook a lot of pig on this monster of BBQ pit (Timm is 6'3") and make some money at some events too.
So anyway, you can check it all out and follow us at our new blog  http://trailhoundsmokersbbq.blogspot.com/. You can also follow us on Facebook.  Please become a fan of Trailhound Smokers BBQ.