Memories of a life time!!!!! Christmas 2010

As I woke up to a very winter day and off to work early today. Wind howled. snow blew but I was blessed by the love of the children today as they were cuddle bugs. We talked about what if I had to stay here over night?

PR picked his pillow and where he would be sleeping rite away and then there was AL who said I will sleep with you and where you are MRS Betty Jo and that melted my heart. I took out a couple of books and read as we were all cuddly. The one was about News Eve and the other was classic called Snow Day ... and that was fun so we decided to draw pictures and talk about what you would do on snow days.

I have not been on here for awhile I has such a blessed Christmas with my family there was twenty of us for Christmas and we have some great news. My daughter got engaged!!!!

My niece had her baby on the 23rd his name is KeShawn Cater and a cutie!!!!

Wow all of these babies it was amazing!!!! Now to go on about Christmas day we go up and passed out gifts and talk amongst our youngest daughter and it was fun to talk about all of the foster children. My parent came in from a small town about twenty five miles away , They arrived with out a turkey and the oil that we were cooking it in. I had ham in the oven and so our daughter Larissa said that she would go to the store ... it was closed... Nick one of our older sons said he would stop at the only store open in the area, so then dad went to get the turkey that was left at there house...foggy and cold...!!!! Then Secret Santa gift exchange came and it was sweet to see all of the nieces here for the first time in a number of years and not to mention the new baby got out of the hospital that day... a real gift!!!!

Lars, Keeley, Mikka

I was soooo blessed that day...We also celebrated my birthday that same day even tho it was early the family was all together and it was fun.....

Oh I for got to mention that we for got to put the salads for dinner ....WOW what day!!!!

CHRISTmas wishes....

Evening Church service is over...chili supper is cooked and ready to eat. My niece had her baby last night weighing in at 6 pounds and 4 oz, Welcome KeShawn Carer he is so sweet and such a precious gift!!! Presents are all wrapped under the tree and ready for the excited children. As we sit to get ready to read the Christmas story from the Bible a tradition that we started a few years back. I have had a real quite day a little under the weather today so its nice to sit blog. I have been sooo blessed with the children that I teach they were so excited with all of the fun party on Wednesday. Icy roads closed many area business so it was nice to have an extra day off as well got lots done yesterday and so today was nice to chill .

I wanted to take a few moments to ask you if you read my blog to please keep JESUS in your giving this year!!!

Merry Christmas to all of you who read this!!!

Smells of Christmas...

The boughs are hung, the cookies are made, the coolness of the freezing snow/ rain mixture that we had yesterday. Gotta love it ... I think that it is so awesome to be able to smell the joy of LIFE....what is life to you is the life you live work.... take care of family..... I think of the movie NATIVITY at this time of year as anyone else would that Celebrates the birth of Jesus. Sacrificed comes to mind while I watch Joesph help Mary and not to mention that gave his food to donkey and the love he shows for Mary was amazing. LIFE here is again the she gave us the one and only SAVIOR.... In my LIFE I have JESUS and it is so amazing that HE loves was sooo much that HE gave his life to me!!!!!

Smells, and Life that is part of my joy today as I sit in church listening to the sermon on Love and we need to renew our minds and always have that JOY and Life and take a deep breath and smell the LIFE of JESUS!. It not about the material things it is what we live for every day and I know that I live for HIM and this holiday season share HIS LOVE with everyone you meet!!!

The wreath that is here is a special on I took and placed pictures of my husband Dan and I when we were small and our children and put them on with some small decoration . I love it is allot of fun!!

The tatted ornament is one I seen and redone it I love it it turned out awesome. I took an old Christmas card and the tatted around it and made hanger. I love it I wished I would of come up with this before now I would of loved to do these for Christmas gifts. Oh well maybe next year!!!

Christmas Tea 2010

This time of year is so exciting I love our pastors wife A.W. when you put this warm atmosphere of her home with all the fixings. I have attended this for now 16 years out of the twenty six years it has been so amazing. As we fellowship with other women of the church and as this is the first year that my daughter and I have enjoyed this by ourselves we have always had other siblings~ or foster children . It is a time that we dress up and look nice I love to see my 13 year old daughter looking forward to this.

She always has the famous HOT CRANBERRY TEA as we entered the house with the beauty of the Bear Butte in the back ground the warmth of the love that CHRIST has giving to us and it was really nice. She also makes the best goodies of peanut balls to fudges to artichoke dip and brie and man I cant remember them all it is so awesome.

After we snacks and share with everyone she will read a story and I love it so much I can remember tearing up with some of them. It was amazing and today's was about how a young man went to help his dad as a help to him and how those things are always over looked that sometimes we need to take the time and share with our children about how its not about a gift always it could be the time that we spend with some one that will last a life time. She would always send us home with a wonderful Christmas Ornament that she had made so it has been so awesome to see them over the years. This is this years ornament.

On AW behalf I would love to share her recipe of there famous HOT CRANBERRY TEA .

12 oz can frozen orange juice concentrate

12 oz can frozen apple juice concentrate

12 oz frozen lemonade concentrate

1 1/2 quarts cranberry juice

1 C sugar

12 drops cinnamon oil (found with candy making stuff)

In Large 2 gallon container, mix frozen juices as directed on labels. Add remaining ingredients, heat and serve.

This is so nice to freeze and have on cold winter days!!!!!

Enjoy It!!!

SNOW DAY.........

How did you spend snow days when you were a child or even now??? Here in South Dakota we always have winds and that way school is called off of us today!!! I have got lots done almost all of my cards are done along with some blankets made and sure enough some reading. Gotta love it. I am so blessed to be able to stay in and not have to do chores like when I was a kid we had stock to feed and check on all of the time . I called my dad this morning as he was feeding these yearlings , They were cold and snow on them "he said they don't like this wind at 40 mph with about 4 inches of snow is not good. I love when it brings back memories of the Ranch when we were calving and there was lots of snow and freezing winds. ~Dad you are such a blessing to this heart of mine !!!

If it is making cookies, sewing tatting or some sort of memories today while you have a snow day make them last for a life time.

I love this time of year......

Tummys are full I need a NAP!!!!

After the fun family time yesterday with 13 of us. I had some good memories with my family. I have a couple sisters and a few nieces we sat around the table and did lots of crafts. I took some the idea out of my favorite magazine MaryJane Farm girl they had some ornaments made out of "cutter quilts" we made about fifteen of those and loved it and I took some Dominos that I found at a second hand store and decorated them with snowmen...FUN ..... then I took some vintage CHRISTMAS pictures and made some ornaments out of them as well. Here is some pictures of them as well.

My dear niece who is like one of my very own and VERY dear to my heart when she came to visit yesterday she and her friend brought Huckleberry Cheesecake..... WOW that was so yummy!!!!

The day ended quite and tummies full. OF shopping today trying to make the deals. It was fun and some good time with hubby!!!!

Tree goes up tomarrow and more fun things of the HOLIDAY season time to make some of the fun treats as well.

Happy Thanksgings to you !!!

Wow turkey is cocking house filled with all sorts of yummy scents. It is very cold here on the mid west today!!! I have so many things to be THANKful like all things that are made threw HIM . I am so excited that my family is coming and I few a few that are either working,travel to other areas with family as well!!! I am so blessed that they are safe and sound!!!

When I think of Thanksgiving memories as a child growing up in Wisconsin I think of sleeping in and just the family on the farm---the best ones are once we moved back to SD and shared them with my Aunt Ellen whom is in heaven now and is so price less of the memories that she had put in my life I loved her soooo. We would go to her house and eat the feast with all of the fixings and she would make these scalloped oysters WOW they were awesome and wished I had her recipe for that as well!! Then if we could we would go ride horses for a while and play cribbage oh the days of paying with those adults!!!!

I want to make this short and sweet so I can get ready for the rest of my day!!!! Be Blessed! HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Blessing among us!!!!

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and we have so many things to be thankful for. Today we had the 2010 National Christmas Tree pass threw our little town . I was so blessed that my dear hubby went took some pictures while I was at work. It is on its was from Wyoming to DC and it is so exciting to see this. Hubby did an awesome Thanks Dan!!!

It has been an exciting week to start off I started the week off with a cold and some snow on the ground what a way to start the week--- then some of our dear friends who are Amish there son got married and I was sorry to hear that it rained but it was a beautiful wedding I do hear. I sooo wanted to see this but that's OK!!! My heart was there for sure. As the week went on and I received a package from my SS at work that was full of goodies likes pens, postie notes, journals and lots of writing things that will be helpful in the upcoming months for sure!!!! Then today in the mail I I got the most awesome Christmas Swap from a d Kathy I received this lap blanket and homemade soap and an awesome recipe. The tatted stocking is a project that a dear friend tatted for me to be able to try and I have started one but that is all..

To top my week its Friday and we are watching River and he is such a joy to love on him and hear him talk and coo I love it he make my heart just shine.

Thankfulness.................

My little TREADER'S

Wow there are so many things that I can say to be THANKFUL for it is amazing that we don't think of it . I was talking to my pre schoolers one day and asked them to think of what they are thankful for and then I told of them a time I went to Mexico to share the Love of Christ and I told them about people that had little and lived in huts with no floor but dirt and then explained about THANKFULNESS and they were to come back the next day and let some things that they are thankful for and it was amazing so of answers... mom and dads, brothers, air to breath,(love this one) and then I heard from two little three years this YOU because you LOVE me for ME and that was so sweet.

I have had a tough couple weeks with my daughter loosing a sweet friend at the age of twenty one and my older sons grandpa passed away and so we are all healing with the loss and the thing that spoke me the most about the young man funeral HUGE lots of young people and the pastor spoke of HOPE when the tough is tough you need always have HOPE as we were leaving the funeral and seeing this young gentleman just weeping I just turn t him and said you have to believe in that HOPE!!!!

I have been with out a computer for two weeks and so I have pictures and a recipe to share as well // The snow is in the air today and house smelling like Pumpkin spice candle burning my daughter and I went shopping to work on some goodies for the holiday coming up and so I thought this would be a good time to share .

As my daughter and I went to PA this summer and had our favorite Pumpkin Whoopie Pies we looked and found a recipe and love and I want to share it!!!!

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

2 egg yolks

2 C brown sugar

1 C vegetable oil

1 tsp cloves

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp ginger

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp soda

1 tsp vanilla

2 C cooked pumpkin

3 C flour

Beat egg yolks, brown sugar and oil together. Add remaining ingredients. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes. Cool.

Filling

2 tsp vanilla

4 Tbsp flour

2 Tbsp milk

1 1/2 C shortening

2 egg whites unbeaten

1 box powdered sugar

Mix together. Fill cookies to make pies.

The next thing I have to share are some good fall fun pictures I had the privilege to have Sara who is a traveling doll from MaryJane and she spent the week with me and here is a picture of her as well. It was lots of fun!!!!

Check this out

This is such a wonderful song a special friend so some of my photos in this an my granddaughter as well "all of the blessing around" WOW it has touched my heart greatly!!!!

Blessings All Around by Mitchel Jon (Black Hills Version)

A Wonderful Fall week !!

THis is a photo I took with early morning this last week it was awesome!!!



As I called a night last night after a busy day up early doing some spring cleaning in the fall. Gotta love it!!!

Went threw so closets and cubby holes finding lots of things I did not know that I had and trying answer why do I have this ~~~questions anyway it is done and I while I was on a role yesterday dear hubby put the harvest things out in the yard I LOVE THEM they are awesome!!! I did some cute ones in my class room as well and it was lots of fun!!!

We made pumpkins out of old paper back book by folding the every page and then doted paint on them as well as glued a few leaves on them they are very cute. I also took paper towel holders the cardboard middle and cut into 1 inch rings and painted it them orange and stapled three together and cut one opened and put along the bottom and them one on the top to make a pumpkin they turned really cute as well!!!!

As I was sitting last night about dark nice and quite there came a 5 point buck in our yard to eat the apples that had fallen on the ground he was awesome!!!! We always have deer in our yard and it is sort of nice!!!!

I also wanted to mention to that some time and think about all of the love that the Lord has showed you this last week and make sure that you are saying all things out of LOVE HIS LOVE ~~~ be a disciple and spread that word threw out all you do!!!!

Blessing to all that read this!!!!

Monday....

I tried to get this one on here yesterday and lost it and so It thought that I would try again today!!!! This goes on with what went on last week and the photos sorry for the mess up!!


Here it is Sunday and I was so blessed this week by family, friends it was sooooo awesome. I had a great week with the kids at work and home as well !!!

There are a few tings that i have been pondering on over the last few days and it is "THE BLESSING ALL AROUND" take a look at all of the things around us that are special if it is breath you breathe as you wake up every morning, the running water, the smile of an innocent child to the beautiful colors in the fall EVERY LITTLE THING!!! We are so blessed with LIFE ABUNDANTLY. I had a great weekend to see my grand babies and take a drive with my dear hubby and to see the beauty we have in South Dakota. It was so awesome.
I want to share a favorite recipe that I have especially this time of year I love to make these and my children are always asking for them!! I got from a friend of mine Rachelle.

Pumpkin Chip Muffins

4 eggs 2 c sugar
1 can pumpkin 1 1/2 C oil
3 C flour 2 tsp soda
2tsp baking powder 1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt 2 C mini chocolate chips

Beat eggs, sugar,pumpkin and oil until smooth. Combine flour, baking soda, and powder, cinnamon and salt in a separate bowl. Add four mix to pumpkin mixture and mix well. Fold i chocolate chips. Fill muffin cups 3/4 full. Bake at 400 for 16-20 minutes. Cool 10 minute before removing from pan.

I have used apple sauce instead of oil and they are yummy too.

A Blessed Sunday......

Here it is Sunday and I was so blessed this week by family, friends it was sooooo awesome. I had a great week with the kids at work and home as well !!!

There are a few tings that i have been pondering on over the last few days and it is "THE BLESSING ALL AROUND" take a look at all of the things around us that are special if it is breath you breathe as you wake up every morning, the running water, the smile of an innocent child to the beautiful colors in the fall EVERY LITTLE THING!!! We are so blessed with LIFE ABUNDANTLY. I had a great weekend to see my grand babies and take a drive with my dear hubby and to see the beauty we have in South Dakota. It was so awesome.
I want to share a favorite recipe that I have especially this time of year I love to make these and my children are always asking for them!! I got from a friend of mine Rachelle.

Pumpkin Chip Muffins

4 eggs 2 c sugar
1 can pumpkin 1 1/2 C oil
3 C flour 2 tsp soda
2tsp baking powder 1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt 2 C mini chocolate chips

Beat eggs, sugar,pumpkin and oil until smooth. Combine flour, baking soda, and powder, cinnamon and salt in a separate bowl. Add four mix to pumpkin mixture and mix well. Fold i chocolate chips. Fill muffin cups 3/4 full. Bake at 400 for 16-20 minutes. Cool 10 minute before removing from pan.

I have used apple sauce instead of oil and they are yummy too.

Beauty of Fall

Today was such a blessed day for me as I took my camera and left my house early and enjoy the great fall day. As I was leaving the house the spirit touch my heart to open my eyes and really look at my heart and what was inside of it dealing with all of the beauty of fall!!! Colors wow I took a look at those awesome hues of greens from dark to light and then turning to golds. We are so rich in our Heavenly Fathers talents and we are all so blessed if we take a look at them and see how things are done in HIS timing not mine or yours. The reds today we don't have allot of them here touch me while first of all the blood that he shed for all of us on the cross. Wow today was such a great time for me to reflect on HOW HE LOVES ME and it not all about me or our situation it all about HIM.

My heart has been so blessed this week in my job. friends and family... I was blessed to see some of our military personal got home I was so blessed to see some of the footage of them coming home to see their children that they have not seen in a year and some are new families ~ my spirit was so touched to see the community come together and support them~~~from flags hanging on hay bails. to welcome home signs on tractors we are so blessed. I have two students in my class that there daddy came home and what an honoring thing to walk up to him and say thanks for all of your service that you did!!!!

The other thing that comes to my heart was that every day as we look at our jobs some think man I don't want to work today but I have been so blesses with the children that I help teach this year. We planted a tree this week and enjoy the fall it was such a blessing to the spirit. LIFE I was thinking wow the life that these children will have to see this tree grow .

Leaves are changing

As I drive to work every day and I notice that the fall like temps are hear and the leaves are changing the animals are out looking for winter homes. I love it this time of year the leaves cooler weather and I have more time to curl up in a book and have a cup of tea.

This week has been so of crazy lots of runny noses to wipe and teaching kids to cough in there elbows but all they really need is to love on them a hug and it ok!!!! I take my final for CDA this week as well I cant wait for it to be all done!!!!

I just got so blessed this week by getting one of my favorite authors books THE BRIDGE OF PEACE by Cindy Woodsmall. Then today I got a sweet pick me up from my secret Farmgirl that was some recipes and magnets, wind chimes, a book by Jan Brett and Orange flavored hot cocoa Yummy cant wait to have it~~~not today especially with a scratchy throat and runny nose!!! a journal and note pad and awesome bags and home made card will post pictures later~~~have to get a cup of tea and some awesome blanket to get rid of runny nose and scratchy throat!!!!

September's here

Wow these past weeks have flown by. School started that mean more of a scheduling which I like!!! I have been so blessed to be able to teach children this year in pre-school age and I love it so much!!! In our room I have 15 students and love it!!!! Today sitting here with the morning sun up and the coolness of the fall like air coming threw the doorway. I love this time of year for many reasons from the harvesting of all the goodies to baking more to the coolness of the days and nights and then the COLORS once they start I love to take walks and take pictures as well!!!! I think it is so awesome the beauty that God as made in the nature.

I have been challenged to look at the inside of things and stand on what you believe in. I know that today world seems to throw from here and there and I took at step back and said wait is this what I believe in?? So as we are looking at the holidays that are coming up and the time with family please let Jesus know that you are doing HIS will. Either you ~~ARE IN IT OR YOU ARE NOT!!!! As I am writing this today and knowing that threw JESUS ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE AND I BELIEVE THIS WITH MY HEART AND KNOWING IT IS A COMFORTING.

There is one more thing one of my favorite authors Cindy Woodsmall release a new book called Bridge of Peace please if you have not read any of her book please do they are awesome !!!!

On a personal note I wanted to ask you to pray for our family my dear hubby is unemployed and it is a slow time to find work!!! We have been blessed by sharing time with our grandson River and he is now a month old and is such a joy love it !!! Mikka our grand daughter too!!!

The picture of the waterfalls is of Roughlock Falls in Spearfish SD one of my favorite places to go and enjoy in the Black Hills!

Where has to the summer gone!!!

Today was a full day and I have been so blessed. I was busy at work this week and then we had our sweet little River this weekend.

Busy in the kitchen today made 7 pints of chow chow and then 7 pints of pickled cauliflower yummy!!!! I took so time to make M&M cookies and my friend recipe of blueberry muffins that can be found on Prairie Flower Farm blog check it out and see all of the goodies there !!!! Linda thanks so much for all the blessings you have placed there.

Today was a bitter sweet day as well my dear hubby's step dad passed away. Bob my memories of you were very sweet your best knowledge and wisdom is awesome. Many will miss you!!!!

Monday...... Monday......

As the alarm went off this morning I just did not want to get up and go to work I want to chill at home. I made my self get up so I could at least get the chokecherries cooked into juice so I can make some jelly this week after I get off of work. It was a really busy weekend for us at the HUFF house with baby visiting and freezing some and so yep today as a MONDAY for me. I did get chokecherries made into juice and ready to make this week sometime. I love this time of year the harvest of things for the winter.

Take sometime today to thank the Lord and believe in your HEART that all things are done threw HIM!!!!

End of the Roar!!!

The end of the 70th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally!!! I have to say that this is the most calm rally I have seen in a long time ~~~ As my DH and walked down amongst the crowd of people it was not so hot that day and it was so awesome to her the GOOD NEWS out there. Yep to hear the people speak into these lives of the lost . I have been so blessed that I did not work in it I was so amazed at how fast it went for me and my family!!!

As we were out and seen some awesome burn outs at he Broken Spoke and got to see Rick from Orange County Choppers there -- nice bike and really nice guy!!! It was fun and now that they are moving out it is quite and I love it!!!

Have done some corn and it is in the freezer for the winter gotta love the harvest of all the fruits and time. I would like to mention a book that is coming our of one of my favorite authors Cindy Woodsmall that is to be out very soon !!! The Bridge of Peace is the second book in the Ana's House series the first one is Hope of Refuge.. The first one she wrote was when the Heart Cries take a look at her wed site at http://www.cindywoodsmall.com/ and take a look at all of the goodies and I love these books she is one of my TOP three authors!!!!!

The other thing I wanted to mention is how the Lord has blessed me with wonder parents as they were here holding River and helping do corn to get in the freezer . I hope that in my life I can pass on these family traits to my children and loved ones around me --from the family gatherings at the kitchen table to the working on the farm as a child to took my hand led me the life I have today!!! Thanks....

End of the Roar!!!

Motorcycle Rally 2010

Here it is the busiest time of the year for all of us in Sturgis . The 70th annual motorcycle rally has started so everyone that is local is either busy with a second job or the primary job with lots of extra hours it is crazy!!! Our little town of 6,000 went to 600,000 people in a week so it is sort of crazy. That is OK it is only for two weeks and all will cleaned up by Sunday and somewhat of a normal town.



I was able to spend so really good time with Rissa and River the life that is so precious . He is doing good ---Pray for a healed broken collar bone--when he was delivered they said he must of broke it and did not notice it until today!!!!



Farm Girl friends we have all been busy with post cards, trivets and coaster then a dolly made out of two bandanna as well lots of fun things to do when not working and sitting with grand kids gotta love it!!! Here are the ones that I recieved from Marsha --I just have some hand work to add and then off they will be!!





To all my friends who read this thanks and many blessings to you!!!! Remeber that you are always BLESSED!!!!

August Greetings

Thanks to one of my favorite blogs for this awesome picture !!!


Here it is the 5th of August and it is really crazy here in Sturgis, South Dakota we have a famous motor cycle rally that officially starts on Sunday but it is here now and is really crazy. It is like we have a town of 6,000 people and it grows to 75,000 or more for a week and it is CRAZY!!!

On Tuesday August 3 our grand son was born he weighed 6 pounds and 16 ounces. So very cute and mom and baby River is doing awesome!! This sweet little quilt was made by the Aunties at the Quilt and Needle Forum -THANKS TO ALL OF YOU THAT PUT IN ON THIS IT IS SO SWEET!!

I have a few things items to share along with a few special book marks that was shared this week threw Mary Jane Farm girl Forum I received two wonderful bookmarks from Carole and Gail a huge thanks from you two!!!


Here is a recipe I would love to share with you as well that is so yummy!!!!

Zucchini Cake

1 3/4 c. Sugar
1/2 C canola oil
2 eggs
2/3 C applesauce
1 t. vanilla
2 1/2 C flour
1/2 C baking cocoa
1 tsp. soda
1.2 tsp salt
1/2 buttermilk
2C shredded zucchini
1 C mini Chocolate chips
1/2 C chopped pecans
beat sugar and oil on medium speed for 1 minute add the eggs applesauce and vanilla beat one minute longer. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Add to sugar mixture alternating with buttermilk. Stir in zucchini . Place in greased 9 X 13 pan and bake for 20 minutes at 350 and then take out of oven and sprinkle chocolate chips and pecans and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes.

This is a super yummy cake it never lasts very long at our home!!!