Baking Bread On Top of a ................. WOOD BURNING STOVE

When I bought my "Steamer" for my wood burning stove, the salesman told me that 'they' used to bake Artisan bread in these cast iron pots on top of the stove.  So, I wanted to give it a try.

  I don't care much for Artisan bread, so I wanted to try normal yeast bread.  I needed to keep a good hot fire going, so I needed to do it on a cold day, which wasn't really hard to come by.

I made a 2 loaf batch of bread, greased and floured my pan and put it to the test.  The lid has decorative holes in it.  He told me that 'they' put a damp cloth on top, while baking.  I was really apprehensive, but I wanted to at least try it.

After 45 minutes, I didn't feel the cloth was dong the trick, it would dry out and the bread kept raising... and raising.  I replaced the cloth with foil in hopes of creating a  more oven effect. 

After a total of 2 hours and 15 minutes baking, (I knew it would take around 2 hours to bake) I took it out of the pan.

I was pleasantly surprised.  It looked great! Tasted great!   It worked!  So it is possible! I have also seen it baked in a dutch oven.  I'll have to give that a try, next year!

~EASTER~

I had the opportunity to speak to a youth group and in a sacrament meeting on the atonement, which fed me spiritually for this wonderful Easter season.
I know He lives!

The buffet, the center of my holiday décor.

I love how the g-kids always love looking to see what is there!

Easter tree and décor.

* Should I feel guilty that I didn't do a big-to-do Easter gathering with the family this year?  Well, I do, but I just felt I couldn't physically or emotionally do it...... 

The word "simplify" comes to mind.

♥ Connie

New Stove

We were so excited to get a new wood burning stove for the house and the old one is headed to the shop.  I love having a glass door to see the fire.  It's amazing what excites Rick and I these days! 

I have heard that you can bake bread on top of this stove, so I'm going to give it a try! 

♥ Connie

Bowl of SUNSHINE

Here is a fun bowl of SUNSHINE I put together for someone who needed something to brighten their day!  I had seen it on Pinterest as a box, but couldn't find just the right box, so I put the fun goodies in a yellow bowl.... you know, the ones you find at Target for a steal.  

 

After I had delivered the SUNSHINE, I received a message from this sweet sister saying that a few years earlier she had lost her daughter to a brain tumor, which I didn't know, and she called her, 'her SUNSHINE.' She was so grateful for the thought. Sometimes we never know how our acts of kindness effects those we serve.

St. Patty's Day ~ LUCKY or BLESSED

I have come to like this "Green Day!"  Shocking, I know!

This is EXACTLY the way I feel.

The G-kids treat!  Green Chocolate Chip Cookies and some Gold!

♥ Connie

WHOOO Loves you- Valentine Party

I love to decorate for differnet holidays and my buffet is the perfect center point!

The buffet decorated with goodies, prizes and gift bags!

Owls come out at night.......

The piano decorations!

Valentine heart tree.  I had fun with this one!

Had these great girls over for a "OWL" themed Valentine Party.  They all wore a white shirt and when they came they were given a tank top to put on.... it's always fun to match!  Kassidy, Pema; family friend, Lexi, Kennedy, Adi, Kena and Mckenzie; family friend.

We played a lot of games:  Minute to Win It, Valentine Bingo, and Truth or Dare!All the girls got prizes to put in their gift bag.
 They were so much FUN!

They all choose a owl off the banner and put it on "their" bag.

After eating pizza and bread sticks,
they enjoyed their Cherry 7-UP floats!
Then they were in for the night.

The next morning they loved the pancakes for breakfast.
 They also made valentines for each other.

Along with many goodies -which I did not get pictures of,
we made Rice Crispy Heart Shaped Pizzas!

They all took one home to their families to enjoy!

 

"OWL" always love these girls!

Party # 2 with the little girls!

They needed a party too!  They are so darn cute!

They LOVED the musical stuffed animals.  I really thought the batteries would wear out, but they didn't.  Good to go for another year!

They had a painting craft, that they just loved!  They also made a valentine necklace.

Here they are playing Minute to Win It.  Love them!
I am so very BLESSED!

♥ Connie

Blessing of Rigdon Jake Hobbs

Rigdon Jake Hobbs was blessed by this father, Jake Del Hobbs.  Two of Rigdon's g-fathers, and many uncles were in the circle.  He received a beautiful blessing! 

Jake and Bergan with their little family!  We love them!

We love this beautiful little bundle!

♥ Connie

Christmas 2012

We celebrated Christmas early this year so the WHOLE family could be here.  We had a great dinner, gift exchange and the highlight is always the nativity!

This was the first time I had gotten my Christmas City out since we moved to Alaska.  I had forgotten how much I loved it!

Keeping Christ centered in our Christmas activities.
 I love these special g-kids!  Our performance is adding new cast members all the time!  Oh, how we are blessed!
 (baby Rigdon was mia)

The biggest surprise was this.... all the kids got me  a piano!  I know... Can you believe it. I think the g-kids were as excited as I was!!

It was a real chore for the boys to haul this up the stairs, but they did it.  I'm thinking about painting it this summer, possibly a burgundy or teal blue....

♥ Connie

Family Super Saturday Crafts

 We; Lee-Ana, Rosie, Candice, Bergan and I,

had a Family Super Saturday Craft Day in my garage

and made some fun Christmas Season items.

I forgot to get a picture of us in action.

Cute simple nativities. 
I later added a wooden star attached to a small dowel.
 All together we made about 60!

We all made a Snowman Family!
 These were a lot of work but they turned out pretty cute!
These are Bergan's!

We also had a day of making "white stockings." 
We gave them away with a copy of the poem "The White Stocking."

 We also did a Holiday Craft Fair, where were sold many handmade items.

♥ Connie

Boy "Favorite Color" LEGO Party

 I had the 3 Torres boys over for a long awaited
Boy Par - ty! 

 I had Lego candy, suckers and soap. 

Also, their favorite color Lego's, candy light saver,

 m&m's keychains and towels.

The GOODIE piles.... by favorite colors.

Kade is red w/ Iron Man Lego, Kolby is blue w/ Batman Lego and
Keegan is green w/ The Hulk Lego. 
They are 3 HANDSOME Young Men!

I had also bought them tickets to see the Harlem Globe Trotters play against the local Palmer Volunteer Fire Department.  Here they are with Gary Payton, the coach of the HGT team. 
*Thanks to David for taking them so I didn't have too...... ;) 

♥ Connie

#13 Rigdon Jake Hobbs

 

 Jake and Bergan's sweet little Rigdon was born November 30th.

He is our LUCKY #13 G-kid!

Nothing like a kiss and the smell of a new baby!  LOVE HIM!

 

♥ Connie

2012 Halloween

All my 12 G-Kids came to visit me on Halloween to show off their fun costumes. I was the GREAT PUMPKIN! 

The Pitcher Family- 4 Denver Bronco Cheerleaders,
and a Tiger and a Dinosaurs!

The Torres Family + Hobbs- 3 Denver Bronco Cheerleaders,
1 Die Hard Denver Bronco Fan, Indiana Jones and Captain Moroni!

♥ Connie  * Can you tell I'm playing catch-up with my blog... a few more posts and I'll be up to date!!

Big Boy Toys

 Before the snowfall, we were busy cutting trees down, moving some dirt and adding some gravel in our yard! 

It required BIG BOY TOYS to get the job done.

...And this big beast was brought in to the back of the property for electrical supplies. 
IT WILL BE GETTING PAINTED THIS SUMMER!!

♥ Connie

Zebra & Pink ~ Girl and Mom Party

A Special Girl's Night In!

I wanted to have a special all girl's "zebra and pink" party!  I invited all my g-girls, their moms and the Hobbs girls and their moms.  They all received an invitation with a special zebra party dress for the girls.

This was the fabulous treat and gift bag table. 

The girl's table.

Mom's table. 

We had yummy chicken salad sandwiches and salads
with zebra and pink cupcakes!

We had some fun crafts:

decorated magnet clothes pins, made wooden bracelets, and the young ones colored.

I think the highlight was the photo shoot.  These pictures shows each girls different personalities.  I have so many pictures, of the girls.... being girls!  Love them all!

Mom's and daughters!  We were all Diva's for a fun night, and made some great memories!

note:  You might think I spent a lot of money on this party, but let me share with you.  I went to a garage sale of a  person who was a party planner and was getting out of business.  She sold me a tub FULL of zebra and pink stuff for a steal!!  I thought I had struck gold! (I probably did)  I knew this would be the next party!!

 ♥ Connie