Saturday, April 30, 2011

Grits


One of my favorite breakfasts....leftover easter ham with grits and uber-sharp cheddar cheese. Can you tell my Grandpa was from the south?

Friday, April 29, 2011

Royal Wedding Wannabes

Cake and fancy hats!!

The cake I have made before, but because of the nice spring weather the butter cream decided to melt a little much. The cake ended up a little tilted, but with vanilla cake, raspberry filling and vanilla cream frosting, it doesn't really matter!

The hats are Mom's used to be Aunt Opals.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Two New Shirts

I went with Rose Girl Scouts troop on a field trip today. We went to the Borough Animal Shelter to deliver some toys and food as a donation bought with some of the money they earned from cookie sales. Then on to the Fairbanks Rescue mission to drop off all the donated boxes of ordered cookies. A good experience was had at both places, we were met by directors at each venue and given a tour.

Rose has on her new shirt the Easter Bunny brought. And yes, she did her own hair, for some reason she likes to have two different clippies....but it is out of her eyes and makes her happy, so whatever!
This was taken at the animal shelter, I have some other great pics, but I have to wait to see if the other parents mind their kids photo being shown in public. Rose picked out the next dog she wants, a Mastiff! He is very cute and roughly horse sized....I will be interested to see if she gets a big dog when she has to pay for it's care, feeding, pooping and personal space! Most of the other girls were all about the tiny Pomeranian, but she has always wanted a giant dog.

I also wanted to post about my new shirt! I saw a tutorial on how to make a drape neck top online a while ago and I finally made one. The pattern is based of of a well fitting shirt I already own you just add some more in the front....and because I made it, it's actually long enough and my favorite color :)

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Happy Easter


The great basket search, that Easter Bunny gets better at hiding things every year. This year Rose found hers right away (in the laundry hamper!), but Liam took longer and needed help from his sister (his was in the yellow cabinet).

Checking out the loot.

I couldn't resist one picture of our dessert for later, a berry trifle. I made it up last night so I could make one for Kyle to share at work today.

Friday, April 22, 2011

Bertha

After the first hungry thing I sent for Zoe's (my niece!) Christmas gift, I have been thinking about making a BIG one.

So this is Bertha (name subject to change by her new family). She is very hungry...

She at Z O E and the #2!!

Burp! Poor monster, it is a good thing she is from Arnax. I am pretty sure that type of alien can handle a varied and inappropriate diet! I just hope she doesn't eat Bob too often......

Egg time!



Thursday, April 21, 2011

Tikki Tikki Tembo

Wednesday was the end celebration of the Ancestry unit in Rose's class. She studied England, we found several relatives who were born in England and some great facts. Part of the celebration was a potluck and we were all invited! Rose chose to bring hot cross buns as a food to share from her country of study. Made by Mom, they were a hit and very tasty!

Photo credit: Gramma Cindy
The kids also preformed a play based on this book, called Tikki Tikki Tembo. It is a Chinese folk tale, the kids did a great job and it was very cute. Our little actress had fun singing in the chorus. They also made their cool paper hats :)

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

A Brand New Bag

I delivered the first of my pay-it-forward swaps from facebook today. For those not in the know, a status update was floating around allowing you to sign up to receive a handmade gift from someone if you were willing to post the same offer for the first 5 of your friends to sign up on your own status. I signed up on Amy's and she sent me a cool (purple!) scarf and flower clip, I am not so pressed for time so this is my first of five:

I have had a hard time deciding what to make for the people on my list...usually when I am crafting for someone I have a request or at least a recent conversation for inspiration. I decided to use these projects as an opportunity to practice techniques I enjoy or try out a new one. So I have made this style of giant bag several times, but I really like it. This one was made for a friend who is a teacher and volleyball coach at Liam's school (Tanana Junior High). Their colors are black and orange so I wanted to make something school spirit-ish but not plastered all over. So notice the orange 'bubbles', they are actually a lined hole in the main bag fabric, cool huh?
And it is also reversible to this flower side, reclaimed from a very frumpy skirt. As I said it is a GIANT bag, in these shots it is holding the blankie and pillows off our couch! I guess I should mention I also shared the three kinds of baked goods currently hanging around the house and a random small felt hungry thing that was made-up but never sold or given away.

So...hint-hint Megan, you are also on my list, any inspiration for me?

Monday, April 18, 2011

NJHS

Liam was asked to join National Junior Honor Society today!

Blurry picture of Liam receiving his certificate from the Principal.


NJHS is a service organization for young people that also focuses on academics, citizenship, leadership and character. Really they just do cool helping out projects set up by Mrs. Shire (Liam's ELP teacher and the NJHS Advisor). They do have to get invited to join by a panel of teachers who think they have the qualities needed to participate, and they have to maintain at least a 3.0 or better grade point average. Just one more example of how excellent our son is :)

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Dirty


This is the end of my driveway! I also saw pussy willows by CHSR on our way to town today. I think it might really be spring this time :)

Monday, April 11, 2011

Liam's lunch

I often wonder what the other kids think of my kid's lunch. Our kids get to pick what they want to eat for lunch from what is available. Among todays choices: PB sandwich, ham and cheese roll-up on a tortilla, pork chop, chicken fingers (Rose chose the curried variety for her lunch with a cheese stick and crackers) or.....

Pasta Bolognese. Looks like a good lunch to me :)

Saturday, April 9, 2011

New recipe and a preview

I tried this new recipe for potatoes, a hit! See:

No surprise there, they are second cousin to potato chips!
And a preview of a fun-for-me project to my favorite niece:

More on this when Amy and David get this box...it was supposed to be for Zoe's birthday, I am late. I figure it is about the last year I can get away with that :) I think she (and her mama and papa!) will like it so I will keep the surprise for now......

Thursday, April 7, 2011

3rd Quarter Honor roll

Liam was awarded the Honor roll for the third time this year. He was also asked to participate in the National Junior Honor Society, and to be a junior counselor at the summer camp he attended last year with the ADF&G! Gosh! Such an awesome kid!

Goofy face! I forgot my camera, so the photo credit goes to Lorna. :)

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Mosaic

Many of you heard, a couple of weeks ago I spent several days at Weller working on a mural mosaic project with a guest artist (and a school full of kids!). Well it is finished and hung on the wall in the commons!

For those of you who don't know, this is a multi purpose area in the middle of the school on the other side of the wall from the library.


A very cool project and enough for me to want to break some dishes so I can do one for our house! Maybe beside the pizza oven?

Saturday, April 2, 2011

How to make a sandwich

First make some bread.

Next, get a fresh egg and make some olive oil mayo.

Then, make some bacon and fry it gently.

Slice some marginal ripe tomato....

Top with some crisp lettuce and eat!!

Friday, April 1, 2011

I made it!

I had a goal to post every day for 2 months and I made it!! I have some good pics to share with you coming up, but I am too tired today. I went with Zara to help haul hay for the girl-goats on her farm. Not too big a job, but enough for two out of shape ladies for one day! We hauled 20 bales and moved out the old, bad stuff from the barn....so all-in-all about a ton of hay. Literally.