Cutest Little Witch Ever

Kaci loves to dance.  She didn't get it from me.  I love to watch and I love to Western Swing but dancing is not my thing.   Kaci Loves it so much she is in 2 dance classed this year and both of them did a little Halloween dance.   The first one was friday nigth.  Since I killed my buck early I was home and could take her.   Dan took the boys hunting and so it was a girls night.   Sometimes that 10 minute ride from Mona to Nephi is a killer and puts her right to sleep.   Tongiht of all nights she fell asleep.   Luckily there was a delay which gave her time to wake up.  I was really worried that she would be grouchy and not dance but as you can see from the pictures she did awesome.   

Bookcliff Buck

This is going to be a bit of a picture overload but I think the pictures tell the story better.  Dan and I after a LONG drive reached a spot to sleep at 2:00 am Wed morning.  I was so tired and new that by six he would be chomping at the bit.  I was not in any hurry because from past stories the hunting is the best the last day.    So at 7:00 am I gave in and we finished driving in to Indian Ridge where we found a spot to camp.  I was so frustrated at the number of camps and hunters in there.   Since my turkey hunting experience this spring turned out to be unsuccessful do to the number of stupid hunters it was not looking good.    We set up the trailer grabbed some lunch and headed to Cooper and the Wolves Den.   Dan is preparing me all the way down the Canyon for the deer I am going to see and not to pull the trigger on the first buck I see.   I had never seen so many bucks.  I  lost count after the first couple and Dan did have to keep me from shooting a few of them.   I did take a little nap when we were in the Wolf Den.   We learned quickly that the 4 wheeler was not the way to hunt.  Number one it was cold and two the deer were afraid and scattered.  They are so use to the oil riggers driving by that they are not afraid of trucks at all.    After driving and seeing some beautiful country and some not so pretty country we saw so many bucks I was getting ok with turning them down.   I saw one die we heard the shot and watch him drop 100 yards from our truck that was pretty weird.  We were stopped by the fish and game.  The secret to the deer is where there is water holes there are deer.  So we stopped by a water hole (the head of McCook)  that we had passed earlier in the day and there was a nice 4 point on the side hill.  We got out of the truck to check him out.   In front of us was a big ravine with deer in it.  Dan said come over here and he stepped to the edge of the ravine.  When he did that a huge 4 point came up out of the ravine at us.  I was so scared I couldn't think he jumped back in the ravine and up the side hill.  He turned broad side and Dan was yell shoot shoot.   I was so scared I ejected two bullets before I even shot and then I missed him 3 times.   Dan grabbed the box of bullets keys to the truck and was up the hill yelling at me to follow and I was still standing there shaking.  So I tried following him and while trying to calm my shaking body.   He finally slowed down enough to tell me what a horrible shot I was.   We got over the side hill and on the next ridge was a group of deer with a nice 4 point laying down After looking him over it wasn't the same 4 point I had just missed but it was a shoot able 4 point.  So I waited and tried to find a good dead rest and then he finally stood up and I shot him.  He did get up over the hill into a wash and I had to finish him off.   The worst part of the deal was that I forgot my camera and all day long I kept saying I wish I had my camera.  So this first picture is with Dan's cell phone.    

These next few are back at camp and we stopped another hunter to take one of both Dan and I. 



The best part of the hunt was the amazing guide and then he gutted and packed it out.  Once we got back to camp he hung it and then he skinned it the next morning.   I helped where I could but Dan was so willing and excited to do all of the work.  In fact before this My dad did all the work.  Sometimes it is great being a GIRL.  I have learned that my husband is part Mountain Goat and Mountain Lion!
The next morning I was the one getting Dan up early I wanted to go take picture of where we had killed and the amazing deer.  I also had such regret over missing the bigger one I wanted to go back and see if he was there.  This is the wash where mine died.
This is the Raven where the big buck come at me.  The does are head up on the hill out of the bottom of the ravine.  If  you are thinking what ravine now you see why we never saw the buck to begin with.  
This is the water hole where they come for water.  While I am taking these pictures I am standing on the other side of the water hole and there is a guy gutting and boning out the 3 point he just killed.   The deer are maybe 30 yards from us and are not concerned.  In this picture there are 3 bucks. 
These are 2 of the bucks that are headed to the water hole.  The big 4 point on the right is the one I think I missed the day before and Dan disagrees.  To make me feel better we are going to say he is and the only difference between mine and this one is the eye guards and he is wider than mine by a few inches.  So really I am ok with mine.  The experience was great and I have to say you can't look back and have regrets.   Dan and I solved a couple of life's problems on the mountain (usually I am on horse back in the mountains.)  We saw some amazing country.  I reminisced back to my childhood hunting the Paunsaugunt with my dad and cousins.  That is where he grew up hunting before they made it a limited entry unit.   The Bookcliffs reminded me of the good old days riding in the back of my uncles truck with the camper shell carpet insert looking for deer.  The deer were not as friendly but there were as many and they were just as big. Thanks Dan I had a great time and now my hunting is done for a few years it is to hard to be the mom and go hunting.  

Sparkles on her teeth!!!

Kaci hasn't had the best of experiences with the hospital and so going to the dentist was a pretty frightening experience for her.   The fact that the boys had grandpa to do theirs might have helped them not be so afraid.   Charolette was awesome at making her feel better about the experience.  As long as I sat right there with her and she held my hand and her kitty in the other hand she did great. She even had to have some cavities filled. I was nervous and the one was a really big cavity that Dr Peterson wasn't sure he could get without sending her to a specialist but she was so brave that he was able to get it done. She did sleep for 4 hours after the experience. They told her they were putting sparkles on her teeth which was the perfect thing to tell a little princes. Now she tells the boys how lucky she is to have sparkles on her teeth.

I don't remember being afraid of the dentist but I sure do remember going as a kid and knowing that the cold water and air on my sensitive teeth was going to HURT!   I remember going and cowgirling up.  Now for me to go they are much more willing to let me swish with warm water and not use the air.   Even though it is not the most enjoyable experience  a person can have I am grateful for the dentist.  My Grandpa Barnhurst had a tooth disease and couldn't afford the dental work so he lost all of his teeth at an early age.  (I didn't know his with teeth)  He would mash his food up and eat his apple with a spoon.  He cut his meat up tiny tiny.   He never complained but I know that had to be hard on him.   He would always tease us kids and tell us that grandma got mad at him and knocked his teeth out with a rolling pin.  So the moral of the story is brush and floss your teeth and go to the dentist so that your not like Grandpa.

One of those days

The day started out with not a lot of sleep between stressing over friends who are sick, the wind, and then thunder and lightening the alarm came all to soon.   Then I ran to dance class with Kaci we were there by 9:45 only 2hours early.  (to my defense we started out on Wed at 9:45 and switched to tues at 11:45, right day wrong time)  I called and changed the dental appointment, ran a few errands except for the bank because in my haste to leave left the checks home.  I went to check on Ange's house for her and tidy it up a bit then back to dance and then home.  

So today is one of those days.  Even though my list is a mile long I need to blow off some steam and vent a little.   I am watching Kyler for a little while and it is fun to listen to him and Kaci play.   They are having a disagreement about Kyler taking the puzzle and going to work and not letting Kaci play with him.  He is the dad and the dad has to take his work and leave.  Kaci comes in crying and she doesn't want to play with him anymore.  I ask her what she wants to do.   She says,  "something fun."  I said, "what is fun?"  She says,  "like play babies without a dad. "lol  Thinking I am going to teach her something  I tell her, "it is a fact of life in order to play babies you have to have a dad.  The dad's help make the babies so you have to play with them even if they are not playing the way you want."  lol Kaci,  "nuthuh I already made my babies without him they don't need a dad!"  lol What do you say to that?   So I tell her to go play babies and let Kyler go to work.   Pretty soon  I here Kyler say,  "I have a great idea lets Share!" 

How cute is that?   They are playing great now and I am pondering this conversation.  You could take it all kinds of directions.  I am just greatful my kids have a great dad that shares with me.  I worried all night about Kyla Winter and Kyleigh Jo Winn and how to protect my kids from getting sick.  The truth is I guess I can't.  I can teach them, love them, feed them healthy things, give them vitamins, wash their hands, arm them with the gospel, and still I don't have control over much.  Thats why I need the help of my husband, kids, our families, and friends and most important the gospel to make it through this crazy life.  I am greatful to have such wonderful people to share life with.   So, I will go back to vinyl and cleaning with a resolve to have more faith in my Heavenly Father, stress less, and  "Come What May and Love It!"   

Blue Boar Inn

A few months ago Dan bought me a gift certificate to the Blue Boar Inn.   Life finally gave us a moment to take and use this certificate.   The kids were out of school Wed- Fri so Dan's mom asked to have the kids, Dan had a break in work so we decided now was the time.  We went up Wed night stopped in Provo and used our dinner gift certificates and then went on up to Midway.  This was the entrance WOW!   It was snowing when we got there and it didn't let up all night.  We decided to have dessert since we had dinner in Provo. WOW I had a turtle cake that was full of warm fudge and Dan had the Dark Forest truffle.  They were delicious.   Our room was amazing.   Breakfast was "continent," not the continent we are use to,  it was anything off the breakfast menu.   Swirled cinnamon French Toast - Salmon, Steak and Eggs or Dan's choice the Breakfast Burrito.  The food was amazing and the view was just as amazing.  So next time life gives you a few gift certificates, and a babysitter we highly recommend the Blue Boar Inn

Harvest Blessings

Fresh Strawberry Rhubarb Pie from my strawberry patch and my dads rhubarb

My first crop of raspberries!
Kaci juicing the tomatoes for spaghetti sauce.
Our spaghetti sauce in bottles.
Dan trying to out do me at fresh salsa,  If you like it HOT he did it you are after flavor and freshness you'll like mine.
One weekend while Dan was gone the kids and  I did raspberry jam and corn out of our garden.
My sorry attempt at bottling tomatoes.  I did learn a lot this year and this was my worst attempt so I don't feel to bad but when I pulled the bottles out of the water I wanted to cry.
Salsa,   we Love Salsa and so do our good friends the Williams' we have started a tradition of doing taco night and having fresh salsa once a week as soon as the tomatoes are on.   We usually have to work around soccer which works out since they have 3 kids playing soccer and Jake plays and sometimes we have to work around Young Men's but we still manage to get it in.  Last year Tina and I thought maybe we could try freezing it and it would maintain some freshness.   It was OK in the flavor department but the texture was not good.  I used it for recipes that called for salsa but we decided it wasn't worth doing it again.  We all love when the peaches are on and we can add a peach to the mix.   So I decided to try and bottle it knowing the results will not be fresh but hopefully the flavor it good and we can enjoy salsa throughout the winter.   I used my fresh recipe then added the vinegar and cooked it the least amount possible and then did the water bath.   Hopefully it works. 
My grandma and grandpa Miller have a plum tree and Kaci couldn't eat enough plums.  I think her and Dan had a race to see who could eat the most and then they both had another competition :)  I think they both consumed over 12 in one day enough to make anyone sick.   
Last Saturday while spending some time with my grandma Kaci and I helped her bottle peaches.  This is a fond memory I have of my childhood helping grandma can peaches.  I would peel the peaches and as my mom and grandma would slice them I would sneak a slice off of every peach I could.   I had to make sure they tasted good enough to bottle.   My grandma worked full time and still found satisfaction in bottling spaghetti sauce, peaches, pears, pickles, relish, tomato soup, jam jam jam, carrots, and freezing corn.  My grandpa enjoys and takes pride in his garden.  This is true with my Grandma and Grandpa Barnhurst who have past on.   If you know where Hatch, Utah is you will be amazed that my grandpa could grow such and amazing garden because Hatch has a much shorter growing season than most of us.   He had tall fences all around his garden that helped protect it from the elements.  Because of this tradition my parents also can be found carrying on this tradition.   Dan's mom and dad grow a garden and his mom is very good at bottling.  Dan and I have planted a few gardens in our married life and it was so fun to be able to plant a garden again.  I loved having my strawberry patch and raspberry patch and the breakfast they provided every morning.   I loved weeding early in the morning listening to the birds and animals chatting and being amazed at the miracles around me.   I was excited to watch the enthusiasm of my children watching our garden grow and harvesting it.  I will work on having them be excited about weeding it in the next few years.    I am grateful for the  blessings our family has recieved this year from our garden and for the parents and grandparents who have taught us and continue to teach us.