Lounging by the Fire.

It's so nice to be able to lounge by the fire when it's cold and snowing outside.  We've been waiting for the snow and a little tiny bit finally came and visited us, 4 inches or so.  I'm so glad I have some time off of work, but it seems like every moment is taken up with trying to get my X-Mas Presents completed in time.  The good news is I'm nearly done and hopefully by tomorrow I will be done with all of them. I wish everyone a warm and cozy day.  

My interpretation of the Japanese Flower Crochet Wrap

I finally finished my Japanese Flower Crochet Wrap.  Wow, I really love it.  I first saw this wrap on Pinterest and I fell in love with it. http://www.pinterest.com/source/attic24.typepad.com/

I went to Lucy's web site 

http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/2011/03/japanese-flower-scarf-ta-dah.html and saw what she had done.  It was so beautiful.  I read what she did and decided to give it a try.  However, Lucy had purchased some very expensive, yet I'm sure worth every penny given her outcome, yarn.  I wasn't that committed, so I went to Walmart and Joann's and purchased 9 different colors of Caron Simply Soft yarn.  I also wanted to change my color pattern for a more fall look, so I stepped out of my comfort zone and bought more than the primary colors. :0)

Lucy didn't post the flower pattern, so I hunted around until I found one. 

http://revlie.typepad.com/revolution/2011/06/japanese-flower-tutorial-picture-by-picture-you-can-do-this.html  I modified mine a bit, but otherwise it's a very easy pattern.  The hardest part was keeping all 9 skeins of yarn separated! I can't say enough about how much I love this pattern...I think next time, I'm going to splurge on some silk wool yarn and go for the real thing.

What an individual flower looks like.

These are only done to the second color.  You can't add the third color until you are ready to connect the flowers.

Putting it together.

Finished Wrap!

Butter Beer Cupcakes! YUMMY!!

I found this recipe for Butter Beer Cupcakes on line and they looked sooooo good I had to make them. 

http://www.pastryaffair.com/blog/2011/7/14/butterbeer-cupcakes.html

My pictures don't look as good ad Pastry Affair's, but I imagine they tasted just as good, because they were great!

Thank you Pastry Affair for allowing others to enjoy your tasty treats!

 Cup Cakes and Butterbeer Ganache.

 Frosting

 End Result

Mikey enjoying them he said, "phenomenal!"

Chilly Morning...13 degrees Fahrenheit

It was so cold last night, Lexi got to come in and sleep with us.  She didn't get to sleep on the bed with me, Joe, Mickey and Abby, but she did get a comfy pillow with blankets on the floor next to us. I think she liked it :D

Mikayla's Mom's Chocolate Chip Banana Nut Muffin Recipe

I work with Mikayla and she brings in these muffins on a regular basis.  Finally I got to taste one and they are yummy! Thank you Mikayla's Mom for sharing the recipe.

2.5 cups of all-purpose flour

1/2 c. granulated sugar

1/2 c. brown sugar

3.5 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp salt

3 TBLS vegetable oil

1.3 c. milk

1 egg

1 c. choc. chips

1 c. chopped nuts

2-3 ripe medium bananas

heat oven to 350 degrees. pour mix into greased muffin tin, bake for 30 to 35 minutes. loosen sides, remove from pan and cool completely. makes a little more than a dozen.

I saw this vest pattern for sale at Annie's Attic.  It was super simple to make, but I think I need to add some pockets to it.  It's so warm since I made it out of wool.  It's perfect for those day's when there is a light breeze out.

Triangular Crochet Shawl

I just wanted to share my triangular shawl.  I have always wanted one and i finally made one. 

dogs and the first real snow of the season.

tank and lexi

tank...such a good boy.

lexi...my wiley coyote

mickey and abby 

No - Trail - Trail Riding

Another awesome ride with my friend Annie and chief.  They came around 8:30am and picked Beau and I up.  Apparently last year, her husband hiked down this mountain and left some gear behind, because he just couldn't pack it all back up this mountain.  He told Annie where it was and we went to find it.  The ride down was daunting, one of the muddy bogs went up to the horses belly's...not fun...but when we finally made it down to the creek, it was all worth while because Annie actually found the tent/chair.  It was an awesome ride on a beautiful day!

Annie hanging onto her find, even after she discovered spiders had moved in...Yuck!

Creek at the bottom

Creek

Beau and Chief waiting while we searched for the tent/chair

How in the world is she going to get that thing on Chief?

Surrounded by beautiful woods.

Toasty Dogs by the Fire.

Well, I believe the dogs, Abbey and Mickey,  have it better off than Joe.  All snuggled up staying warm by the fire. What a life!

Canning Apples

I just love to can this time of year.  The snow is lightly falling and it makes my kitchen feel warm and cozy.  I've finished one box of apples by canning apple sauce and (my niece Nola's favorite) apple butter. I really want to can pumpkin butter but that will be another day. 

Morning Time Outside

When I wake up and get ready to go feed it is still dark outside...this is what I awoke to this morning. It was breath taking.  

 Soon the sun began to rise.

 Another beautiful day.

Thank You JOE!!!

Thanks Joe for spending this week finishing the lights on the outside of the barn.  I can't tell you how wonderful they are! Thank You Thank You Thank YOU!!!!!

Kisses from Ahni!

Ahni is so happy with her blankets, she's giving everyone kisses!

 For those of you who saw her last winter when I got her you will remember how skinny she was...not this year.  Ahni has brand new blankets to keep her warm and dry and plenty of good food for her tummy!

Dragging Stuff Home...

Yesterday, Joe looks out the kitchen window and asks me,"What is that?"  I calmly tell him it's a mattress.  He asks me, "Where did you get it?" I told him from the side of the road.  He continues questioning, "Why do you drag stuff home from the side of the road?" I tell him, because it's good for the horses.  He shakes his head...

The conversations changes...I tell him thank you for taking my car in and having the oil changed.  He says they washed it and cleaned out the inside...I ask him, "They didn't throw away my bone did they?!" He looks at me with a puzzled look, "I didn't know you had a bone in your car? Why on earth do you have a bone in your car?"  I say, "To hit someone if they get too close to me."  He asks, "What kind of bone is it?"  I say, "I'm not sure, but I'm sure it's a leg bone of an elk or a deer, because it's pretty big."  He asks, "Where did you get this bone?" I said, "From the middle of the road." He places both hands on the side of his face, exasperated and says, "You have got to stop dragging stuff home from the side of the road."  I just laugh...

And now...why the mattress is good for the horses... :0)  My little boy...Kota...he try's so hard.

Winter is peeking around the corner!

Joe and I woke up to our first dusting of snow.  It didn't stay around too long.  After living in Cheyenne Wy. for 9 months I won't say it was windy here...I will say it was breezy and cool. 

Ahni and Kota...hanging out in the crisp morning air.

Psst...let me tell you a secret...

Sun Rise...my favorite time of day.

I love to watch the sun rise over the mountains. 

 

Everything is starting to get ready for winter...grass is dying out, trees are turning color, and the frost covers the cars.  

Check out the fencing that Joe stained...it looks so wonderful! It's amazing what one can accomplish with money and time :0)

Fall is on it's way!

I just love fall.  The days are sunny and warm and the nights are cool and brisk.  It's the colors I love the most, the reds and yellows against the green pine tree background.

  The wind blows and wrestles the leaves from the trees and they look like they are dancing to the ground.  My Japanese Maple is also getting ready for a long winters nap.