2012 Dutch Oven Clinic and Hillbilly Gatherin'...

Well, the opportunity was just too good to pass up.  Our friends Butch (Cee Dub) and his wife Penny will be in town in April and May and asked me to reserve the Hidden Springs Barn for them to do a couple of 2-day Dutch Oven cooking clinics.  My brain started going and so I called Butch this morning and first, told them happy Thanksgiving, then asked if I could encroach on one of their Saturday nights to hold the Hillbilly Gatherin'. 

We'll be raising money for Wish Granters - they grant wishes to local area adults who are terminally ill.  Doug was my old boss at Wishing Star and started this organization just last year.  Being a fledgling non-profit, they really need a boost and we're going to give it to them.  Penny is also a breast cancer survivor and thought this was a great opportunity for she and Butch as well.

This year though, I'm going to try to find help.  If I'm going to do an event to raise money, I want to make sure I raise lots of money.  I'm going to put together some "committees."  Reallly, you can never have too many committees can you?

So, save the date - Saturday night April 14th.  And, if you'd like to sign up for one of Cee Dub's clinics, go here and then click on appearances and clinics.  Down at the bottom of the page are the dates for the Hidden Springs clinics. (Be sure to take a long look at those rolls on his home page - can't you just smell them!)  

YUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMMM!

Casting for Recovery...

Mark your calendars! May 15th is the date for the Second Annual Hillbilly Gatherin' and Warm-Fuzzy Fundraiser. It will be held at the Hidden Springs Barn and will once again benefit Idaho's Casting for Recovery.

This year, the Casting for Recovery retreat will be held in Challis, Idaho on June 4-6. If you or someone you know is going through breast cancer or a survivor, you can apply for this wonderful program here. The retreat is free and it's 3 days that you will never forget. You can read about my experience here!



Each state is responsible for raising their own funds to put on this retreat. Since Idaho's program is so new (this will be our 4th retreat) they have had a difficult time raising money. I have been asked to volunteer as their fundraising chair and our Hillbilly Gatherin' will be our main fundraiser.

While last year's event was really fun, this year it will be bigger and better and much more organized. My old buddy, Dave Victor was the most popular DJ in Idaho for many years back in the 70s when KFXD was THE radio station to listen to. Dave now owns Dave Victor's Sound Entertainment and has agreed to provide the hillbilly music for this year's event. Thanks Dave, you're "far out"! I'm also really excited that The Fire Kittens have agreed to come and do a performance free of charge. They do an awesome show with fire!

The reason for this post is to ask for help. I know times are hard. But in order to raise the funds we need we'll be adding an auction to the event. I have so many crafty neighbors and friends that I'm asking (ok begging) you to consider donating something you might think worthy. I'm hoping to find a cash sponsor to pay for the pig and a few other necessities and I'd love to find some donations for stays at lodges or hotels. Artwork, dinners, just about anything you think we could sell at an auction. If you know someone who owns a local business that you think might be interested in helping out, let me know and I'll contact them with the information about the event and the wonderful cause.

So, if you or someone you know would be willing to donate something wonderful for our auction, please let me know! We will truly appreciate any help we can get.

Casting for Recovery was so helpful to me at a time I really needed it. I want to ensure that every Idaho woman who has gone through this dreadful disease is able to enjoy the support and friendship I was able to find through this wonderful program.

I hope to see you all on May 15th and feel free to invite your friends!

Second Annual Hillbilly Games...

YEE HAW!

Last year we held our First Annual Hillbilly Games here at the Hidden Springs Barn. It started out as a small group of friends and family getting together to have some fun and forget about the bad economy but ended up as a much larger party that benefited the Idaho chapter of "Casting for Recovery".

So, I need your help. Last year, the games were held in April and it turned out to be wonderful weather, but I think we were lucky. Should we plan for May or June this year instead? Possibly May 22 or June 19? I need to get the barn reserved by December (oh crap, this IS December!)

Also, do you have a favorite charity you'd like to see the money go to? I prefer to give the money to a small group that really needs help rather than a large national group who has tons of fundraisers. I've found a group that I love called USAtogether.org. It's not local, but it's small and they definitely need help. (Sheri, I know you've helped them out - you're such a good person!) If you could check them out and let me know what you think? I'm a sucker for kids and soldiers. I'd love to hear some suggestions of other worthy groups!

This year, we'll have either live music or at the very least, a DJ. Last year was so spur of the moment. We raised $1,300 but this year I plan to be more organized and make sure we raise tons of money for our charity.


The frozen t-shirt game...






Pin the mustache on sister...









Let's make the 2010 Games bigger and better and really help out a group that needs us! (side note, if you make a suggestion, you WILL be placed on a committee).