My New Double Burner Cook Top

During the recent power outage due to the many days of snow, freezing fog and ice on everything, we had to start cooking creatively. I had 2 large coffee cans, and 2 large peach cans, and a couple large candles, 2 small lids and a metal rack. That is what I did my cooking on for the duration of the storm. Believe it or not, this didn't work too bad. I cooked soup, stew, meatballs, mashed potatoes. Heated water for hot water for coffee, made apple cider. I think it worked pretty good. On Sat, because the temperature outside and inside was getting so much colder , we finally started up the emergency kerosene heater. Then I moved my cooking to the top of that and made a wonderful Turkey stew.

The coldest our home got was 48 degrees inside, we dressed warm, and snuggled in with blankets, warm footie socks which I got for Christmas (thanks Kristin). At one point I had on 4 pair of socks, long johns, flannel pj's (again, thanks Kristin), a t-shirt, long sleeve shirt, and a sweatshirt--nice and cozy! I absolutely have to read each night, so I bent a "snake light" flashlight around my neck and and pointed the light at my book, and enjoyed reading til midnight! I loved it!

Again, thanks to Kristin & Kyle for having a lot of candles at their wedding, we used their candles all around our home to light our way. It looked so pretty, but I don't know how pioneer women got anything done in the evening with that low lighting.
We were without power for about 4 1/2 days, with short intervals 2 evenings with power for a short time. We were able to warm up the house and water all out cattle in that little bit of time. We were up til almost midnight filling water tanks for the cattle, but it was worth it, because the power went out again in a couple hours. I had prepared for the possible power outage by filliing up 5 gallon buckets with water to use for the "plumbing", so we were not without that either. When we lose electricity, we lose everything, heat, water..everything!

Fun Gift

I knew my Stitchin Gals were creative, but this is really a cool gift idea.

Jane got each of us an aluminum drinking bottle, and made coozies for them.

I love the black and white print she chose, it coordinates with the bottle so well.

The neat thing is that she did not have a pattern, she did this on her own.

Great job Jane! I will enjoy using this during my "workouts"

Creative Gift

Yum-Cinnamon Rolls

During the blizzard Chelsee & I kept saying we were going to make cinnamon rolls, well today we finally got around to it, and they are so delicious. The recipe and mixing was easy because we let the bread machine do the mixing and first raising of the dough. The kitchen smelled wonderful while they were baking.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

4 oz Cream Cheese 1/4 cup softened butter

1/2 cup powdered sugar 1 1/2 tsp milk

1/2 tsp vanilla

Mix together well, and spread over warm rolls.

Cinnamon Rolls for 2 pound loaf bread machine

1 1/3 cup warmed milk

2 1/2 tablespoons butter or margarine (softened)

2 eggs

2 2/3 tablespoons sugar

2/3 teaspoon salt

4 cups flour

2 1/2 teaspoons yeast

Place ingredients in your machine in the order recommended by your instruction manual. (I put dry ingredients in first). Use the DOUGH cycle. After the dough cycle is complete, take dough from machine to roll out on very lightly floured surface.

Filling:

1/4 - 1/2 cup brown sugar

4 teaspoons cinnamon

2 1/2 Tablespoons melted butter

Optional: raisins

Combine the sugar and cinnamon. Roll the dough into a rectangle shape. Brush butter evenly over the dough and then sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon on top. OPTION: I add raisins before I roll the dough up. Roll dough jelly roll style and cut into slices about 1 1/4 inch wide. Place in a greased 9 X 13 inch pan. Allow to rise about 30 to 40 minutes. (I have a warming burner on my stove top. I place a metal cookie rack over the warming burner, and place my pan of rolls on top of that to rise.) Bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes.

Big Snow Drifts

We went for a drive on HWY 51---Tall, long snow drifts awaited us.

It has been blocked since Wed night, Thursday morning with the blizzard.

On Saturday afternoon, they finally broke through with a V-plow, which I watched get stuck 3 or 4 times, just in the one drift. There are many, many more along this HWY.

This picture is my view straight outside of our 4 wheel drive pick up...very deep snow drift.

Dejavu' Blizzard Again!

This picture is looking out my front window east. The snow is actually blowing worse than the picture shows. Both Hwys by us, and our gravel road are closed from snow drifts. Over Christmas it took 4 days for the roads to be opened, I hope it doesn't take that long this time.

Riley is amazed at the snow drift in front of our house going across our place.

So am I!

Snow tunnels

Alexa and I in one of the smaller snow dens
Chelsee, Ryan & Alexa were busy in one of the big snow drifts creating 2 snow dens with a tunnel connecting the 2 dens. It was amazing. Ryan's was large inside, and could probably stand up in his. It was amazing how warm it was inside of the dens without the wind on us.

Cooper & Dante

Dante likes to wear bandanas, he could be a show dog with some training!

He is Kristin's shadow, following her everywhere. Sweet thing!

Cooper is such a Happy dog...always ready to greet you! He is always ready for a game to play with Kyle whether its wrestling or chasing something.

He is a large dog, like a miniature pony...he looked so regal by the Christmas tree!

Both dogs were very good while visiting here, it was fun to have them stay.

Snow Dog

Amber's dog Mario enjoyed getting to

run and play in the snow.

He looked so funny frosted up!

All the dogs that visited during the Christmas holiday

seemed to like running at the farm!

Moving Forward

New Years...A time of reflections and looking back

New Years...A time for looking toward the future

Numbers 6:22 - 27

The Lord Bless you and keep you

The Lord let his face shine upon you

and be gracious to you

The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace.