I have 2 batches of my mother's crescent roll dough rising in the wood shed behind the house.  Covered, of course, to keep the mice out.  They will be lathered with butter and my apple butter.  Yum!

I have one batch of my mother's yeast rolls for cinnamon rolls rising on the woodburning stove in the kitchen.  Her rolls are the best because she baked them in brown sugar and butter instead of icing.

Don't I sound like a  pioneer woman?

I never make my mother's recipe's that she isn't right beside me, still instructing me how to do it properly.  It's  a nice feeling since we are heading into the 3 year mark since her passing.

Thanksgiving is by far, my favorite holiday of the year.  In fact, my entire family would choose this to be number one.  We loved getting together and eating all the traditional foods year after year.  There was no pressure of buying presents or hanging balloons or Mistletoe.  We just were together.  Usually Thanksgiving was spent with my side of the family, and Christmas with Jim's side of the family.

This year brother Tim and Karen are coming from KC.  Their youngest Brad and his new bride Nikki, are coming from Albuquerque.  My children will be joining us also.  Our numbers will be smaller than usual, but all family members will be present in spirit.

As I'm preparing the meal, so many women are with me in the kitchen.  I've already mentioned my mother.  She'll be with me as I roll out her famous noodles... a must for us.  Lucas is the only Bratcher that never cared for Grandma's noodles.  A huge puzzle I must say.

I'll be making my precious Mother-in-law's sweet potatoes.  Their speciality is pancake syrup and marshmallows.  Jim loves them so much.  We'll also have the celery and peanut butter that she always made especially for Lucas.  That seemed to be his favorite.

My sister-in-law that has passed, Sharon, will be with me as I make her famous green rice.   Another sister-in-law, Karen, is bringing her must have apple pie.  No one makes them like Karen.

I'll be rolling dough out on the table I have carted house to house, state to state, for 37 years.  It belonged to my Grandma Bratcher.  I've never been able to use it, but here in this little mountain cabin, I have the perfect spot in the middle of my kitchen.  I remember her almost every time I see the table.  I was blessed to have her live next door to us as I was growing up.

My girls are bringing the vegetables.  They won't be the fresh grown and canned ones from my Grandma Chenoweth's or Jim's Grandma Hall's garden at the farm, but I will think of them.  I usually try and freeze summer corn for our Thanksgiving dinner, but with the move this year, it didn't happen.

I will make pumpkin pie from the recipe of Jim's Aunt Alice.  I always liked it best.

My other sis-in-law, Carolyn would bring Green Bean Casserole and Gaylene usually liked something made from squash.

Yes, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday by far.  The weather promises to be perfect to get outside and enjoy the mountain air. Brad and Nikki are bringing up snow shoes for a hike on the mountain behind us.  Keean can have his ride on "ride the Grandpa" (4 wheeler).  Lucas will have a Bronco game to watch.  There was always the discussion "Shall we go see the Plaza Lights?"  No Plaza lights this year.

It will be a blessed day.  Love to our families on this special day, wherever you are.

Well, we are deep in it again.

SNOW THAT IS!

Denver area has been hit hard.  Even up in the city in some places there is 18 inches of snow.

Up here we easily have over 36 inches.

Still snowing hard and blowing.

Jim has been out plowing for 4 1/2 hours this morning, came in to eat, and is going out again.

Very thankful we haven't lost our power at all like we did last storms.  The snow is light and not weighing down the electricity.  The pantry is stocked and the house is warm.  We are very blessed.

One week ago today, October 13, we happily woke up to a beautiful fall day after such a snowy weekend.  Jim got out his chain saw and began clearing up some of the log trash piles around here (there are many) and clearing the driveway up some.  I was feeling pretty chipper myself and went along for the ride.

When you do your chores, rewards come.  This time Lacy got the reward as Jim found a camp ball while cleaning out along the creekbed.  Lacy was very happy.

We drove on father down the property.  This is the last cabin on this road.  Jim says, "I found a new road yesterday and that is where I am going to dump all this brush.  Go to the last cabin and turn left."

Since I was feeling so chipper, I walked on ahead.  I didn't see this ROAD as Jim called it, but that's where he drove.  Anyone who has gone Jeeping with Jim knows he'll call any space wide enough to get a vehicle in a road.

It was so beautiful up there.  It would be a great place to set up camp.  I will remember this next spring when I'm wanting to see and smell Aspen groves.  The property is mostly pine so this is a treat.

Jim worked steadily as I drank my Diet Coke.  I have a husband that loves doing Paul Bunyan things and he was having a great time.

This was my 6th week anniversary of my back surgery and I was having a great day.  Since I'd been basically confined for 6 weeks, Jim took me on one of the trails around the property after he was done.  This is a fireplace we found along the creek bed.  How I would love to know the story of it.  Obviously there was a cabin around it once upon a time.

Yes, that was a nice day.  Sadly that evening I began feeling sick and 24 hours later was heavy into H1N1 flu.  We couldn't believe it.  I've been really sick, but am on the mend today.  I haven't had a temp for 24 hours.  Seems like this flu is taking the country.  I pray Jim doesn't get sick.  He's never shared one of my illnesses before.  He has his mother's HALL stock in him.  Thankfully my children do too and rarely get ill.