A review of 2012 and goals for 2013...

Well, 2012 came and went.  As I have said before I don't make resolutions.  I'm more of a goal setter.  I like to see how I did achieving last years goals then set new ones for the upcoming year.   I hope you enjoy my overview.

My many goals for 2012:
 

-To have our cabin filled with the laughter of family and friends. We didn't have as much company as last year, but we did host a rollicking game of kickball and some sad sledding.

-Fence my orchard, so the deer stay out.  The ultimate goal is that my berries will flourish and so will the wine and jam.  We have the orchard 2/3 fenced and I had no deer damage this year.  Just 12 more post holes to go. I can't say I did too bad in the jam and wine making portion of life.  I still sulk at the thought of digging post holes.
-Small adjustments to the greenhouse, with salsa at the final result.  It was a great year for the greenhouse.  I did get sidetracked making some very bad tomato sauce, but still managed to make some jars of salsa and added awesome canned vegetables to my repertoire.

 

-To be able to run 10 miles, in one shot, by 2013.  I'm up to six miles in one shot.  I figure that is ok, because later on (when I got the ice cream maker from my parents for Christmas) I added a goal of gaining 10 pounds.  I gained 6 pounds and can run 6 miles, so if figured I broke even on this one.  To some people that would be a lose/lose, but I'm being optimistic.

-Celebrate my 40th with gusto and appreciate what I have done and have yet to do. I enjoyed my birthday thoroughly.  Age is awesome.  My husband and I also celebrated 18 years of marriage.  I have a good life and look forward to what the future has to offer.

-Teach Ella to roll over.  We didn't achieve this one, but we did take her on her first pheasant hunt, which included taking my nieces on their first pheasant hunt. Ten times better than teaching the dog to roll over. 

 

-Go snowmobiling with my husband (bravery will be needed for this one). Darn, no snow.  I'm heartbroken to not have met this goal;)

 

 -Build a peony bed with Kelly.  The bed is built and I got one peony in.  (Mom I need some peonies.)

-Fill our little pond with fish.  Our pond didn't fill up this year due to the drought, so no fish.

-Make a quilt.  I'm making great progress, but figured out that a quilt every two years is a more reachable goal.

-Finish my rose garden. It is exactly how I want it. (Now if I just don't lose any roses over the winter)

-Keep in touch with my blogging friends and continue to keep my little world a place where people want to come and sit on the porch and share in my adventures.  I'm still here and still getting feedback so I'm happy with this one.

 My goals for 2013

-Visit Christina in Denmark for 2 weeks. and see Hamlet in the actual castle, Elsinore.   I am so excited about seeing my friend and touring her country.

-Finish my quilt and start another for my parents.  Since Mom taught me to quilt, perhaps I should make one for her.

-Plant a Christmas tree, with the goal of posting it on December first 2013 loaded with lights.

-Read 10 books.  (Ten is such a nice round number for such things as jogging, weight, and # of books read.) 

-Get a successful harvest from the expanded vegetable beds.

-Focus on salsa and canned vegetables and try making eggplant soup.  (Any recipes sent my way would be appreciated).

-Finish fencing the orchard (I'm going to keep this one up until it is done.  I don't think Dad will hire me fence his cows in.)

 -Run the half marathon on the Mickelson trail in June, then I'm done running.  (I really hate running, but I keep my promises, so 13 miles it is.) 

-Landscape below the fire pit.  I'm leaning towards an alpine rock garden (If I can get my husband to move the rocks with his tractor)

-Continue to enjoy my life.  I have an incredible husband, wonderful family, and great friends.

I say it over and over, but I am a lucky woman.  I have a wonderful life and it is because of everyone I share it with.  Here is wishing you all a Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous 2013.  Thank you to everyone who has supported me and my blogging habit.

 HAPPY NEW YEAR

Winter fun in the snow...

I was pleasantly surprised when my sister called and told me she and the mob were on their way to the hills.  Yes! Sledding! We managed to fit in quite a few things even though it was a quick trip.   



 As you can see, the sled run was not a fast track.  In fact, we could only go a few feet before getting stalled.  We had better luck on the short track by our garage.  Notice one little one got rides both up and down the hill.  The littlest one thought it was way more fun to just walk up and down the hill. 

There is nothing better than homemade apple cider and a game of Jenga after fun in the snow.  

 

I think they had a good trip.  It was good to see my sister and her family twice in a month.  What a great way to end the year with family fun! 

Twas a Merry Christmas indeed!

I hope everyone had as wonderful a Christmas as I did.   It was a long drive, but worth it.  It is so fun to see the holiday through the eyes of children.  These photos were taken at the Hayes International Airport on my drive home Christmas Day.  I have driven by it for years and finally stopped to get some photos.  It is one of my favorite Christmas displays.

 

Bonnie's Bumble Berry Pie...

In case you haven't noticed, I love berries.   Needless to say, when my husband, in-laws, and I tried bumble berry pie at the Purple Pie Palace in Custer it wasn't a surprise to anyone I created my own version.  I'm getting ready for my trek across the state to my parents and decided to make it and a few other pies. 

First, I dug through the freezer and found my berries, apples and rhubarb.  It was the perfect day to make pies as we had snow flurries all afternoon. 

  

Bonnie's Bumble Berry Pie

 

2 c. Saskatoons (blueberries will do)

2 c. Raspberries

2 c. Rhubarb

2 c. Strawberries (I didn't have any, but I don't think anyone will notice)

4 c. Apples (peeled, cored, and sliced)

1 t. cinnamon

1/4 t. nutmeg

dash of salt

2 T. butter

2 T. flour

 

Bake at 350 degrees for 60 minutes



While it was baking, I got a few gifts wrapped and rounded up some things to take home.  Now if I can just remember to load everything. 

 

Kelly, Ella, and I wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

 

Christmas Red Velvet Cake...

As the mean old principal, I feel it is my duty to make birthday cakes for my staff.  With some staff it boils down to whatever I feel like making, but some have specific cakes.  Barb's birthday is a few days before Christmas.  For some reason I have had it in my head that she needs a red velvet cake.  The problem is I have found most red velvet cakes to be somewhat tasteless. Sorry, but that is how I felt, until I found this recipe in the December 2009 Southern Living .  It is my favorite and comes out perfect every time. 

 

1 package Red Velvet Cake Mix

1 1/4 c. buttermilk

1/4 c. butter

2 eggs

1 t. vanilla

 

Mix and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.  Enjoy!

 

The frosting recipe comes from my Betty Crocker's New Cookbook

 

Cream Cheese Frosting

 

1 pkg. Cream Cheese

1/4 c. butter

2 t. milk

1 t. vanilla

4 c. powdered sugar. 

 

My staff seem to like it, but of course who is going to complain about free cake? 

 

 

 

 

I love it when a plan comes together...

As I have mentioned on more than one occasion, I quilt for the monotony of it.  I like being focused on lining things up and the repetition calms me.   Picking fabrics has the opposite effect.  I have a hard time looking all the colors and seeing the end result.  I tend to over think pattern combinations and get overwhelmed.  My loving husband comes to my rescue when I start a project.  He is able to find the perfect combinations. This quilt is a great example.  I was so worried that there were too many creams and the circles would get lost.  My husband stayed the course and kept telling me it would be fine.  He was right.  I couldn't wait to piece together these runs.  Lo and behold, there are circles.  If it wasn't for him, I'd probably still be in the fabric store driving the sales people nuts.  Thanks to him I sit in my new quilting nest with the machine humming away, pleased with the results.

  Chains do not hold a marriage together. It is threads, hundreds of tiny threads which sew people together through the years. ~Simone Signoret

 

Something old is new again with a quilting nook...

Funny how things can change in 10 years.  When we first built the cabin this corner of the loft was set up for the computer.  Back when computers were huge.  Now I have a little laptop that is wireless.  I can sit on the couch and click away.   

When I started my quilting project this fall, I took the sewing machine from the guest bedroom to the computer table.  There was still a bunch of computer things up there, but not anymore.  I spent the morning rearranging.  I took the unused computer stuff to the basement.  Then I cleaned everything top to bottom.  I brought in some crates for shelving.  Brought up all of my sewing stuff.  Then I added little things from here and there.   I am very happy with the results.

 

If you look closely above, I can pull the machine forward while I'm sewing and the keyboard table gives me all sorts of room to keep my material.  Below, I can push the machine back and I have plenty of room for cutting. 

The nice thing with this move is if somebody comes to visit (which rarely happens in the winter) I don't have to move all of my sewing stuff out of the guest bedroom.

My little nook is right next to the window.  I get plenty of light and anytime I want I can just look out at that wonderful view.

 All and all, I'm happy with my little weekend project.  It turned an old computer corner into a new quilting nook.