The last 2 weeks...

I told you I'd get you caught up on what I've been doing the last couple of weeks. Well, here is it...baking and candy making. I've been up to my ears in cookies, candies, and gift baskets, and more. Rice crispy snowman pops...about 400 or so.

Caramel and white chocolate pretzel rods...almost 500 of the little buggers.I baked cookies for 2 days straight...peanut butter and chocolate chip.

The last thing I did was pumpkin rolls.

Along with the cinnamon rolls I told you about last post, I have baked for right at 2 weeks straight. These were my gifts this year and also sold a few for Timm's office. They were all well received and much appreciated. I'm glad because there were many nights I was up past midnight getting items finished. Here are a few of the gift baskets I completed.

Christmas Day

Well wishes of a Merry Christmas to everyone!

What a day, I love it but I am so glad it has come to a close. There is so much to do and so many to spend time with that it can just be exhausting. We hosted Christmas Eve for my family. Timm smoked a brisket, Mom made sausage balls, I made mashed potatoes, etc. It went well and all had a great time. We even had a fire blazing in the fireplace. I was planning on just preparing for dinner but I ended up making my last deliveries to the office and an order to Boulder City. Cassy made deliveries with me and wore a holiday bow of pretty ribbons on her collar. We spent 2 hours frying up side pork (outside...brrrrr) for Christmas morning too.


Christmas morning is spent with the Martin side of the family. They do a Christmas breakfast. Timm's mom used to make the side pork and gravy, now it is a job that I have taken on. This is our first Christmas with out her and we all really miss her. Another task I have assumed is cinnamon rolls. (Maybe it's the house...or because I spent so much time with her...or maybe it's because...who knows) Mom made the best rolls. I invited Trish to make them with me so we spent Monday at her house (she has a bigger oven) and we baked all day. We had cinnamon rolls coming out of our ears...but made some great memories too. I enjoyed baking with someone instead of just by myself (Ipromise I will show you what I've been up to in a new post)

Anyway, breakfast was delicious...too much food as always. Time is spent sharing with family, and just a small gift exchange (even though there wasn't supposed to be one).

My sister, Carolyn hosted dinner today. Ham, turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and the rest of the spread...yummy. I swear I don't have to eat for a week. Only kidding...there are cinnamon rolls in the freezer. Her mother-in-law lives with them and she cooked up a storm for the big day. There was dessert too but I had to pass.

On a new note, we went to the movies tonight. I've never been on Christmas Day however, 'Marley and Me' was calling our name so Timm and I took our kids to see it. What a great movie, I highly reccomend it, just bring some tissues.

Well that was the last 24 hours or so. Oh, it rained today too. I am so greatful for rain but don't really like it when it has wind and cold temperatures behind it. But hey, we will take it when we can get it around here. Tomorrow, no alarm, I want to sleep late, I swear I'm not cooking anything, maybe just curl up under the blanket and watch the fire. Oh yeah, I promise to catch up on my posting tomorrow for ya.

Anyway, Merry Christmas to you. May you take in and realize the true meaning of the season.

Snow in Las Vegas!

The jet stream changed and Las Vegas has been blessed with SNOW. Last time we had snow was 2 years ago, just a small amount. This is big news around here. Red Rock, Potosi, and of course Mt. Charleston go the most. The west side of town had up to 5" according to the news. We didn't get any at our house...just rain, although Sunrise Mtn has snow on it today when I got up. Here are a few pictures I snagged from the Channel 8 website. Enjoy!

This is on the Red Rock loop. It is always stunning when it snows.

This is on the west side of town somewhere on the outskirts obviously.

Desert trees with snow...lol

This is in Calico Basin just before you get to Red Rock...Gorgeous!

Toay is partly cloudy and chilly. Tomorrows forcast...more snow!

Such a treat...as long as there isn't too much of it. hehe

The Christmas Tree Hunt

Sunday we set out for the annual 'Christmas Tree Hunt'. We only went for the day this year. We used to go for the whole weekend, camp out, explore, and more. Timing just isn't what it used to be, the kids are grown and have their own activities and schedules as does the rest of my family. Normally, my parents, one of my sisters, my brother, and their families all go with us, and sometimes my aunt and her family as well.

This year we went to Utah for our trees, normally we go up around Caliente and Pioche, NV. But now I need a skinnier tree for the new house...so off to Utah we go. I never complain about having to go to Utah, I just love it there. Most places were closed but there was not time to shop anyway. The boys got their wishes...snow. The dogs had a blast romping around in it, making snow angels, and more. We got some beautiful trees, had a wonderful time spending the day together, took some family photos for the Christmas cards, and ate out one of our favorite Mexican restaurants in Cedar before heading home. If you'd like to more details diary of our adventure, check out my other blog: http://TrailhoundAdventures.Blogspot.com

This trip was what I needed this week. Earlier in the week my mom had surgery to remove some kidney stones, doing fine now though. Friday we lost one our dogs, Rosco. He was a unique, awesome dog. Rosco will really be missed around here, he had quite a fan club.

How I spent my Thanksgiving weekend...

Well, like most folks on Thanksgiving, we all feasted on turkey and all the fixin's. Timm deepfried a turkey, that's my dad carving the tasty bird. We had planned to eat outside but had rain. Some of us ate outside anyway. Lots of bodies, and oven going, and my mom hates to be cold...outside was just right. :)

Chris is my gravy mash potato and gravy boy. Notice that half his plate is potatoes...and the gravy lake has to be just right. Scott and Christy take a more balanced approach, although Scott is my stuffing kid. He was freaking out that I wasn't making the stuffing. Gosh wasn't 10 pounds of mashed potatoes enough. I promised him stuffing for a later date.

Friday morning we hit the road at 5:30am to go camping and ATV riding near Tecopa, CA. Stopped at Bass Pro to pick up some jeans, well 8 pair of jeans...what a zoo. I got what I needed and got out of there. We met up with a group of friends for the weekend and had a wonderful time. We tend to camp in the middle of nowhere so we can explore and ride. Only covered about 80-90 miles this time but had lots of fun exploring old mines, mining ruins and more. We even took a night ride to an overlook where we could see Dumont Dunes...it was lit up like Vegas! There must of been 20,000 people there. I just don't see the facination in the dunes in the first place. People are all crowded together, it's noisy, most of the tend to do lots of drinking, heck...they have Flight for Life posted there on holiday weekends. It's just not for me.

The stars were just fabulous out there and so bright! Coyotes were yipping and calling at night and some came very close to camp. We even enjoyed shakes and fresh baked breads and muffins at the China Ranch Date Farm.

Well, that was my weekend, hope yours was just as enjoyable for you no matter how you spent it.