months...

Whew, the months are flying by!

These photos are all out of order as usual.

We went trolling for King Salmon this last Saturday. It was an awesomely beautiful day. There were a bunch of dolphins playing around the boat. The kids and I had a blast watching them, while Danny and friend Jack bemoaned the fact that they were scaring all the fish away. We didn't get anything, but a slight sunburn!

Note the dolphin jumping in the water behind Aubrey! It was just luck to get him in the photo!

This week is Carson's last week of preschool. I got hand prints of all the kids and made a wall hanging for the teacher. It was her first year teaching and she did a wonderful job. I am excited to be making the cake for the "graduation party" this week.

The best Mother's Day bouquet...


We took the boat to Juneau last weekend since the weather was nice. We lucked out and picked the weekend to get the local rate for the Mt. Robert's Tram! What a neat ride and beautiful view...thanks to the beautiful day! We enjoyed our time at preps and with the friends, though it was a whirl wind of a weekend.

we head back down in a week for Convention! YAY!

Carson was delighted to drive the boat on the way down to Juneau. I am loving this new boat. Bigger and more comfortable! MUCH better than the skiff!

Aubrey likes to hold the shrimp...but won't eat them! Carson likes to pop their heads off to help clean them. He does like to eat them. But neither like crab... what is wrong with them?!?!

Playing with the shrimp..

Danny pulling pots... loves his pot puller... makes it so easy!
Like many others, a few of us in Haines got into the Royal Wedding and had a reception here. It was quite fun! I was super exited to make the cakes for it. I got my ideas from "I am baker" blog. I may have to start a cake making business!

It was a lemon cake with Raspberry jelly in the middle frosted with almond buttercream frosting.

And sprayed with Wilton's color spray..

I think this one turned out the best...

I'd almost have left them without the color sprays, I like the simple creamy color...but many folks liked the colors..

Lady Shannon joined me.. we had fun making hats for the occasion!

Carson has taken over Danny's old hat and boots.. they are a tad big... Before the Royal Wedding, I had a hat making party and had to make a hat cake.. I was playing with homemade fondant. It will take me A LOT more practice to have my fondants look professional. Not sure I really like it.

Carson was delighted to be fishing..

View from the top of Mt. Robert's Tram in Juneau looking south..

Looking north...you can see downtown Juneau and across to Douglass Island..

The kids are enjoying the new boat too!

I got this hat for Aubrey when we were down South last fall and she doesn't wear it much, so I had to get a quick photo of it.

Her Easter outfit from Auntie Jamie..

Enjoying the beach one sunny day..

I made this for my sis-in-law as a Thank you for having us.. I about didn't send it.. I wanted it for myself!

We unexpectedly lost a dear Aunt in March. She lived here in Haines, but was visiting family in CA when she passed away. We were glad to get down for her funeral there. It was wonderful to see all the family. It was quite the trip, with Carson throwing up all night the first night in Juneau. then our flights being delayed in Seattle and having to spend a night there. to Aubrey throwing up as we landed in LA and again at the viewing.. and D getting it that night... Thankfully I didn't get it as bad as the rest of them, but made for a VERY interesting trip. The kids loved playing with their cousins that we hadn't seen since Carson was 11 moths old! We did get to the Aquarium of the Pacific with Auntie Jamie.

Aubrey wasn't too sure about petting the rays and sharks..

But Carson did!

So we are keeping busy. School is wrapping up with lots of field trips. Then next week is Convention! Sure hope we don't get sick like last year! WHew, that was bad! Sure hope the weather stays nice. we have had some rain (which we do need) but we are sure enjoying the sun. We've had a very late spring. Danny has been worrying because we've had to use diesel power because it hasn't melted the snow to run the hydro power.. and they were on full hydro the middle of March last year! Flowers aren't blooming like before because we had such a cold winter with no snow to insulate the ground. My hyasenths haven't even come up! I am really hoping for a nice warm summer... as usual. We'll see what we get! I've noticed most of the picts on this blog are sunny beautiful days... only because those are such wonderful days and so few. Most days aren't worth photos... but maybe I'll get some of our more normal days. Ya'll know how good I am at posting! =-)

I have also gotten some sewing done. I made a ruffle skirt, and a tiered skirt with my new ruffling foot. Such fun! But I need to take picts of those. I also want to get another one sewed before convention.. and maybe a matching one for Aubrey. HA... don't know if that will happen unless I sew all night for a couple nights. Oh well, we really do have plenty of clothes. I just enjoy sewing clothes!

Sew day!

Last December at the sew day I started with 8 fat quarters and ended with the top spiral. This last weekend I got to use my new walking foot and sandwiched it. I was going to quilt it in the ditch when Linda offered to do it with a matallic thread. So she finished it up for me... just in time for spring! =-)

This is a detail of the back, sutable for Xmas or Valentines...

And the back...
close up of the front and the metallic thread quilting...

And the front!

It looks really complicated, but it isn't! There aren't any seams to match so it goes super quick.. the hardest part is cutting and keeping them organized. It uses an wedge ruler. It was fun and fast!

The inside story

So this was the inside... and the fondant tasted yummy compared to the store bought stuff! I think I'll be trying fondant again.

CAKE!!

We finally are well enough to have company and make my cakes!!

I got my ideas from www.iammomma.typpade.com/i_am_baker/

Mine aren't as good as hers, but they turned out ok.

I tried homemade fondant. But I made it 2 weeks ago, so it was a bit dry. I think if I use it right after I make it, it will be more pliable. But I think I'll use it again.

The inside is vertical layers... I'll have to get photos of that tonight.

It was still snowy 2 weeks ago when I decided to do the snowflakes... it is feeling alot like spring today.. Oh well!

I am not sure if I like the red tinted roses or
just white.. I don't want it to look too much like bakery mass produced cakes..

Anyway, it is easier to spray the red on than to take it off, so I'll leave it for now...

This is one that I started a long time ago... was one of the first blocks that I pieced... then finally finished the rest this last month.. now to quilt it...

My strange son.... decided to wear his jammie top in a new and unique way... He wore it all day this way... No, we didn't let him outside the house this way!

Hope y'all are enjoying spring.. we are going to head to the beach for a bit...

Sickly but better

I recently joined International Friendship Quilters

www.friendshipquilters.com

and signed up for a couple exchanges. The first is a framed hexagone...these are quick and easy! a bit addictive... This one is on it's way to S. Australia and I should be getting one from there soon! I love getting mail! =-)

We've had a round of sickness... so I forgot to post this. A birthday cake I made for a friend's little boy. I used candy melts and a picture from a coloring book... and the main idea came from www.coolest-birthday-cakes.com

I was then sick on my birthday, so didn't finish my cakes. Aubrey was sick...fever off and on for a week, so I still haven't finished them. I am hoping to finish them this weekend. See, I wanted to try 2 different cakes.... one with homemade fondant. So I need everyone well, so we can have company to help eat all that cake! I think I'll take one to our extra sew day on Saturday. It is National Quilt month or week, so we get an extra sew day! I am so glad, since I was sick for the last one!

Anyway, I'll try to post the picts of those cakes once I get them done!

Winter is stubbornly hanging on around here. The north wind continues to blow making it COLD. the sun has warmed things up when it is out, but that wind....BURRR. Kinda hard to enjoy spring break next week, when the weather isn't at all springy! We haven't had much snow this year. I'd much rather have lots of snow that so cold. I do have to admit the sun has been nice, but with the wind bringing temps down to 20 below, we haven't been outside to enjoy the sun.

On a brighter note.. .my plumaria tree ( that we brought back from Hawaii last year) is getting more leaves. I've been babying it this winter... the sunniest place is in the entry way... but also the coldest. So it gets moved by the fire every night! I anxiously await blooms!

Stayin' alive!

We are still here... I have just enjoyed reading other blogs and didn't think we had much that was blog worthy..

But now that I have got some sewing done, I do have some to show..

these are jumbled...as usual... but we took a trip south over Thanksgiving. Sure enjoyed having my whole family together for the holiday.

Aubrey's hair is getting long enough to braid...

Carson has really gotten into Louis L'Amour's Chick Bowdrey...
He's a pretty fast draw! =-)

I finished this dress for Aubrey yesterday. It is a mini cord.. .fully lined with flannel. Super cozy... and since it is a bit big on her I am glad she can wear it again next year.. we've had a mild winter...

And she loves her babies..

While down south, Grammie got out Danny's old legos... and all the guys really enjoyed them..

Aubrey likes to comb hair... and Grandpa was very tolerant..

I like her pout...

For Aubrey's birthday I did a rainbow cake... each layer is a different color of the rainbow.. it took 2 cake mixes and 4 batches of frosting!

She wanted horses on top...

Not much of a smile, but you can see the birthday outfit I made her..

I put her hair in sponge curlers awhile back... Love her curls...but they don't last long...

One evening we had some friends over for some Frogmore Stew...

It was quite deliceous...

cook all the " good stuff" in the "yucky stuff" then strain the "good stuff" out and dump on the table...

we dumped ketchup and etc. on the table then just scooped a pile towards us and started dipping. It was quite fun!


AP&T had a Hawaiin themed Christmas party... complete with grass skirts and all!

I made this set for Carson... he is too cute in it!

I took some picts of the kids at my Grannie Annie's house... we put pennies on the RR tracks...and when we went back to look for them I got the kids to "pose" for me.. It was quite chilly, but I think I got some cute ones!

We have had a weird winter... it has been clear and COLD... windchill of 30 below.. then 2 weeks later up to 40 and rain. We have not had much snow. So we haven't be outside too much. Either too cold or too slick! We've had a hint of spring the last few days and I am anxious for bulbs to start coming up... but I'll have to wait till April! AGG!

I have had fun sewing. I've started some mini quilts that are paper pieced. They are a nice quick project. I really enjoyed our sew day at the Senior Center today... then we took a quick run in the boat since it was a rare day without wind!

So that is the excitement in our lives!!

Not much!!

Carson is loving preschool and Aubrey loves to visit.. so we keep busy with that. And Carson is also loving to play games on the computer, so I have to fight for time on here!