Cain's Toy Box

 I almost forgot to show off the toy box Sam built for Cain's first birthday.  

It's different from the boxes he built for Colt and Isabel's birthdays. 

This one would work for a piece of furniture. 

I looked to see if I had a spot for one like this in the house for the toys the grands play with when they visit. 

But unfortunately, I'd have to get rid of a necessary piece of furniture. Alas...the toys will remain in the basket.

On to Grander Things

Isabel's second birthday cake! She enjoyed eating the frogs...except for the legs. She gave them to me, I handed them to Colt and told him if he ate them that he would turn into a frog. He ate them, turned to his mommy and said, "Me frog." LOL

Daddy feeding Isabel some cake...see the lily pad in her hand? (LOL That lily pad has legs! Must be a frog on a lily pad.)

Isabel in Granny's arms.

The first gift she opened. She saw the netting sticking out of the top of the gift bag and wanted it. Great Aunt Carol helped her pull it out. She grinned from ear to ear while Carol tied it on her. Throughout the afternoon, every so often she would stop, kick out a leg, and watch the netting flutter. Brought a smile to my face every time I saw it.

Colt and Isabel playing kitchen.

Cain got in on the action too!

The tutu above was just "icing on the cake" so to speak. My former sister-in-law told me she still had MY baby doll bed that I had given to my niece, Lacee...did I want it back. WELL YEAH! Sam repainted it for me. I made the soft-sculpture doll, "mattress," and doll quilt. As the gift opening wound down, I pulled the goodies from a trash bag, placed the mattress in the bed, laid the doll down, and covered completely with the doll quilt. The quilt is made from scraps of Isabel's baby quilt. Isabel pulled the quilt off the doll...looked at the doll...put the quilt over her head and walked off. :D

As an aside: Christmas week, Cody and Brook sold their old home and purchased this new home. John gave or loaned them the bed Sam made for the A-frame John did live in. When he and Erin purchased their new home, the bedroom had 9-foot ceilings. The bed just did not work in there so they purchased another. Brook is very excited about the bed.

 I made the quilt for Brook and Cody when they married. It all looks pretty good together, doesn't it?!

Colt's Second Birthday!

Baby brother Cain trying to decide which end of the toy to eat first.

Ah-ha! Success! :D

John and Erin decided to purchase a bounce house instead of renting one. They said that the cost was the same a renting twice. It was used on Colt's birthday, then inflated again on Thanksgiving. Sounds like a good buy to me!

Colt checking out his new jungle gym - er, I mean, picnic table.

What do you mean "Don't touch it?!"

I'm only TWO! I HAVE to touch it!

Isabel and Colt just pretending to be asleep. So cute!

Gorgeous early evening view.

My soap was gummy. I asked Sam if he could take a piece of wood and cut lengthwise grooves on one side and widthwise grooves on the other creating holes for drainage.

It works!

Projects

Colt was two years old this week. We will go to his party on Sunday. Sam made a kid-size picnic table out of cypress.

Isn't it just gorgeous wood?! ...with a simple oil finish... This should be around for a long time.

Short-stuff Erin will be getting a red oak step stool for her kitchen.

 

Colt's and Cain's ABC quilts are complete with a polka dot backing on both.

Isabel's is finished too!

I have some 'rescued' quilt blocks and hope to get three snuggle quilts made in time for Christmas. I also need to make more Christmas stockings.

We've got to start staying home on weekend so I can get some things done around here!

Pizza Peel

I sent Sam a web-link or two and he made this. Slanted edge and all!
I wanted one to slide my risen bread dough into the oven onto the hot pizza stone...
So that I could bake more bread. (This photo is from an earlier baking day.)
Remember the Christmas cactus? Of course you do! Right now a photo of it is in my header. Bernice White from Wadsworth gave me these two cookbooks too. Both books have the Natchitoches Meat Pie recipe. I've eaten them in Natchitoches, but haven't made them yet. These books are so much fun to just read. I have to keep a handkerchief with me so that I can wipe the drool off the pages though. ;o)
PIrates Pantry, 1976, The Junior League of Lake Charles, Incorporated.
Cane River Cuisine, 1974, by The Service League of Natchitoches, Inc.