Dezaree turns 16 and Gracie's Island Snow Girl

Last week, granddaughter Gracie stayed with us for a few days, because it was big sister Dezaree's 16th birthday weekend... (Dezaree is in the center, cute, isn't she?). Oh my gosh how it happen that she's SIXTEEN?? Wow. You think they're going to stay little forever but they keep growing up on you.


While here, Gracie had fun walking on the block wall out back....

And peeking around the corner looking for Papa....

And playing clay with Nana! We had so much fun making this, Miss Gracie is much like her mom April and moves fast as can be. She stuck those ears and the beautiful "blouse" on her Island Snow Girl so fast it was amazing. She had no problem deciding where it all should go, including the smooshed big nose, the large eye, and the off-kilter eyebrow. :) And the fact is that Island Snow Girl is looking over her shoulder instead of facing forward (not part of "my" plan for her creation, heh heh.) But it was Gracie's creation, so of course I resisted the temptation to pick up that head and turn it to the front. LOL!


Claying with kids is always fun and interesting. I recommend it highly.

Fun Things You Can Do While Kayaking

There are so many fun things about kayaking on the lakes in our area. From loading the kayaks into the truck and driving off to the various lakes that are within 2 or 3 hours of where we live, it's really the most fun and healthy thing that we do. It's got some hard work involved.... lifting the kayaks off the truck and carrying them down to the water (and back later on) can be tricky at times, and the winds blowing across the lakes can make your paddling experience brisk, to say the least. But a day spent on a sunny mountain lake is very fulfilling, and we get to see great flora and fauna that we wouldn't otherwise see at close range:



You can play Hide-and-Seek:




You can wonder at a mysterious group of curved trees (not a trick photo!):


You can see snow in August:


You can eat lunch on an island:



You can question the sense of a duck paddling on its back while trying to choke down a fish:


And you can paddle back to the truck tired and happy for all the wonders that you were so blessed to get to see and enjoy:

October Challenge: Make a Polymer Clay Mask

October.... fall leaves and of course the month for MASKS! So the Polymer Clay Artists Guild of Etsy (PCAGOE) decided to have a Mask Challenge this month. The entries are amazing! Take a look at the mosaic of the masks:



But it can't be a challenge without VOTERS... so I urge you all to click on this link and check out the full size photos and pick your favorite 3 masks and VOTE! It's fun and easy.

Voting is open until October 7th. Here is a peek at the prizes you could win just for voting:


Vote here!

Thank you for voting, and may the best mask win!