Batter Up!

Pretty much spent the past four days preparing two cakes for this past Saturday. The first, a pirate cake for my nephew's 3rd birthday party. Finished it Friday night, party was at 4 p.m. the next day on the mountain. Above is a side view. The "beach" is light brown sugar.

The black "thingies" in the "water" are shark fins out of a semi-sweet chocolate bar. The ship top black section and sails were found at Hobby Lobby for $2 and the pirates came from a cake decorating store. The bottom of the ship was baked in a loaf pan and iced in chocolate buttercream icing, first time I made it. Was so freakin' simple, what we have missed over the past many years!!! The cake is chocolate with buttercream icing.

The next cake was finished Saturday around noon. It was to be for a casual engagement party Saturday night for one of my niece's second marriage. It was a 10' and 6' double layer each of white cake with buttercream frosting which is more of an ivory since I use butter in the icing. The initials are in tiffany blue. The couple were having an engagement party then getting married on a cruise......surprise......they actually got married at the party, to everyone's surprise except for a few. My dear eldest niece gave me the scoop just the day before since I would be party hopping Saturday....so I did get there in time! I went to the "engagement" party alone since VolleyGirl had a team sleepover to attend and Mr. U had sports events he wanted to attend. Upon seeing all the cars at the party upon rounding the curve.....I said aloud, "I didn't make enough cake!" She told me to make enough for 50.....it didn't matter, but all was eaten. This has been all the art I have summoned in weeks, though my thoughts are that more will be done this week. Not the edible kind. Okay, I take that back. BigBoy's birthday is next Thursday but he has requested lemon bars. Pfffft, must have at least a little birthday cake........

Hopefully I can get around to leaving comments.....been slammed hard (pun intended) with the start of volleyball. First weekend tournament was 3 hours out of town and had to spend the night followed by a 2 1/2 hour trip for a game the following Monday. Games are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday this week capped off with a tournament on Saturday. I'm in charge of the food table so I get to carry alot of things and food to set up....but it is fun, just tiring. I do hope to work on my time management to get back to regular visits.

Dogs On Thursday

Above is the poster my best buddy designed for dad for Father's Day....the white reflections, etc, are not part of his design....that's the crafty photography work of my secretary, ahem, so on top of things with sharing! Naturally, this hangs in dad's study, where he may look up above his desk and admire me.....or, he could just look behind him if I'm sleeping under the little desk......OR, just to his right in my leather throne. Either way, it's all about me, why would anyone want it any other way.

Last night I was waiting at the door and decided that probably I could just take myself out. The royal lead hangs on a doorknob to the right. Let's see, should hold one end by the paw......
That was terribly exhausting. Thus I must retire atop my royal pillow......Dear friends of fur, don't wait for the pokey two-legged buddies, take matters into your own paws! Til next week my buds Snuffles, Annie, Emma, Luna, Snickers, Buddy, Dizzy, Penney, Tonka, Hope, Trixie, Bella, Zoe, Chief and Sophie!!!

BigBoy is ENGAGED!!!

high school......
last year.....
this summer.....

Yes....my baby boy is engaged as of a week ago today! It was not a surprise to me, especially since he took my engagement ring and gave it to her. It was given to my mother-in-law for her engagement, handed down to my husband to give to me and now I do the same. Yes, my mother-in-law and I both had a replacement beforehand! They are both graduate next spring and the nuptials will not be before the spring after that, so a long engagement. I wouldn't change a thing about her, she's beautiful, kind, thoughtful, fun, intelligent, hardworking and he loves her as she is so why would I want to? Hmmmmm, what shall her blog name be....I'm thinking "BigGirl" is not going to be the choice!!!!! Back on that one later!

Tuesday's Bloom

The 2010 volleyball teams, before the spandex shorts are applied.....VolleyGirl, in the cream dress and long mane is in the middle, just right of center.

Yes, another busy summer, filled with a few tasks, performed for the last time: volleyball photos, senior pictures, still learning to drive.....Pictured above are the seniors on this year's varsity volleyball team. These girls have been friends since first grade, they get along so well. I had a good time helping pose all the girls for photos and giving efforts towards making them smile! They are used to my goofiness.

It was sooooooo hot out there that day, we were in the Botanical Gardens. Yep, she's number 10. I told her she looked like a "Breck Girl", but she didn't get it, thoses commercial were before her timeMy BigBoy did the artwork for the front cover of the team's program, the seniors had some action shots taken at the gym. This is one of my favorites.
Last but certainly, not the least, the Senior portrait. Thank goodness there was one she liked! All these photos and not one did she have her hair in natural curls. Having casual ones made in October by a friend cause she wanted to wear more wintry clothing. She is finally driving to school this year, so this makes the first year in sixteen years that I haven't been dropping a kid off at school....I won't lie.....feels pretty good.....well, after I receive her text announcing she has arrived safely! The bloom on Tuesday? It's Rose, VG's middle name, just as mine, after my mother. It's our favorite flower.

Dogs On Thursday

Thank goodness for bone chewing.....awesome stress release. Hear those snorting sounds? Yeah, that's stress, releasing from my aura. I must get mom a bone. She's been stressed.....something about VolleyGirl's school began yesterday and she started driving on her on for the first time......oh well....doesn't affect me, still getting my royal way!!!!!!

Want to take a moment to express my sincere sympathy to Suki on the loss of her precious kitty, Miss Em. To love and be loved, awesome gift but often comes with pain. Love your buddies my friends Snuffles, Annie, Emma, Luna, Snickers, Buddy, Dizzy, Penney, Tonka, Hope, Trixie, Bella, Zoe, Chief and Sophie.