Baking

This weekend I decided to try something new.....

So I baked (this isn't the new part, it's actually becoming a regular activity -- not sure if that is a good thing)

The new part is that I baked CINNAMON ROLLS! I was so excited. Who doesn't love cinnamon rolls? However, what I did not know about these goodies is the amount of work they are...

It ended up being a two-day project, and my kitchen is still suffering the mess. But, Chaney and I ( and a few others -- the recipe makes 6-7 pans worth) are fully enjoying the effort.

Here are a few photos of my messy-but-delicious adventure:

lots of sugar is key!! 

gotta roll it nice and tight

yum yum yum ( I may have eaten a few of these uncooked treats)

first batch in the oven

 

lookin' good...but is missing something....

Hello maple Icing!

I think he liked them....

messy messy messy

gettin ready for winter...

The last couple nights it has reached 27* outside...we feel winter coming on. Usually I am ready for winter, I like the change in season and change in routine....but this is what scares me....

We live like 25 minutes from where this sign is posted....which also happens to be about  2 min from the Continental Divide. 

I've never experienced such cold...but ready or not...it's coming.

Bowen Update/Scattered thoughts

• Chaney is finally done with hay season. This is a big relief for both of us. He was very ready to be done sitting in the tractor and dealing with equipment. (round bales aren't his favorite either) I'm not sure how many bales he ended up with, but I think it was close to 700. And he was outside swathing, raking (Paul -the old man who lives up here helped with this part) baling, loading and stacking hay. This has been about a month long process. Thankful he is done. Now he is on to fixing, building, tearing apart and rebuilding corrals and other fence. 
• Tuesday I fly home to be with my family and hopefully be there when my baby sister decides to enter the world! :) I am so excited to go home and see my family and help out with whatever I can. Hopefully I will get to watch my All-Star brother play some football. He is the starting Quarterback for the Crook County Cowboys and I want to be in the stands whoopin and hollerin for my brother!! He is awesome and I can't wait to see him in action. I am also very much looking forward to spending some much needed time with my crazy sister...we enjoy laughing...A LOT!! And I could use a good tearing jerking laugh with my sissy who is now in high school...she needs help on a paper too! yay for helping my sister learn!! And of course I can't wait to see Roo. That boy is too dang cute. Oh and I can't forget Luke or Esther either. Those two hoodlums are getting so big and they are just too funny...just thinking about them makes me laugh. And I am definitely happy I'll be seeing my mom and dad soon too!! They are the best parents ever!
• Lately I have been in the baking mood....okay....truth is....I am always in the baking mood. It's so much fun. I love it, but sometimes I have to restrain....my hips and thighs DON'T love it...Or maybe they do and that's why they hold on to those goodies.....hmmmm. Anyways, I have made mocha brownies and french breakfast puffs (thanks to pioneer woman - her cook book is THE BEST) I also made Yummy lemon bars (thanks to MarCya Mooney) I never used to be much into cooking or baking but I am starting to enjoy it and it's especially fun when you are married to a man who is ALWAYS hungry and therefore loves to eat! it's much more fun cooking for other people. ( I also cook actual meals, you know the kind with meat and potatoes. just so you know )
• As most of you are already aware, Chaney and I are easily entertained and spend our evenings watching movies, laughing at our dogs and watching our wind monitor...It got up to 29mph yesterday!! New record. We don't have TV or newspaper so that was big news for us. haha

Well I think that is about it. Nothing too exciting going on up here. Just trying to get ready for the cold weather. It was 27* last night....although I am looking forward to seeing big snow, I am not quite ready for the cold it brings with it :(

Oh and I almost forgot, since it's starting to cool off the bears are getting ready for winter and will be coming down off the mountain in preparation for hibernation. Which is why the other night our "neighbor" (he also lives on the ranch) informed us that a big black bear went by his place and was headed our direction. So I am on red alert, always keeping an eye out and a camera handy!! I'll let ya know if I see one!