High Seas Adventure, Baby Shower, 5 Years Cancer Free

A variety of cookies this week........

My kids look forward to vacation bible school every summer.  So do I.  It's fun, lots of activities to keep them occupied, breaks the monotony of the summer boredom that has set in at this time, and most importantly, it has a way of teaching them, on their level, about God's word.  My oldest was excited because he got to be one of the staff helpers this summer.  I volunteer to help out as well, and the organizers so graciously place me in the arts and crafts department!  I wonder why??  That's right up my alley, and I totally LOVE it!! 
Anyway, this year's theme was High Seas Expedition.  The decor, lessons, and crafts were all related to ships, the sea, and adventure at sea.  Of course, I volunteer to make cookies for the culmination on Friday.  We usually have about  30-40 kids.  This year, our numbers grew, a lot!  I think the total I made was 101 cookies.  Doesn't sound too bad, unless unforeseen THINGS prevent you from staying on schedule and you end up decorating 101 cookies in one afternoon/evening (Thursday - when they're needed on FRIDAY), and then have to bag each one early the next morning because your schedule is off and they need time to dry!  Thank goodness for fans and heat lamps for speeding up drying time.

Regardless, the kids loved them, and I did have fun making them even though it was a rush job.

 Also due for Friday, was an order for baby shower cookies.  The gender of the baby is not known, so the theme was  gender neutral baby blocks/animals.  This is my interpretation of the shower invitation.

I decided to spell out the family name of the baby with the blocks:  Baby LEFORT.  I think it came out kind of cute.

One of my son's classmates celebrated his birthday Saturday.  Not only was he celebrating turning the age of 12, but he was also celebrating  reaching the milestone of being cancer free for 5 years!   Nick was diagnosed with a tumor on his kidney at the age of 7.  He courageously went through surgery to remove that kidney and the chemotherapy that followed.  He was going to second grade at the time.  Even though he had to go through all of this, he still managed to keep up with his school work and successfully complete second grade.  He is an inspiration to all who know him, and is such a sweet, loveable child.  I made this bouquet for him.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NICK!!

CONGRATULATIONS ON 5 YEARS OF BEING CANCER FREE!!

May God bless you with many, many more years of freedom from that dang disease!

My Etsy Store is Now Open!!

Rollin' in Dough is expanding!!  I've just opened up an online store at Etsy.  You can find the link, and items that I have listed, on the sidebar.  Come in for a visit.  Thanks for looking!  And, feel free to spread the word! 

"Hogs", Dogs, and Girly Girl Cookies

Have you ever wondered why Harley-Davidson motorcycles are referred to as "Hogs"?
A little research revealed:

Beginning in 1920 a team of farm boys down South that would become known as the "hog boys" consistently won races. The group had a hog, or pig as their mascot. Following a win, they would put the pig (a real one) on the back of their Harley and take a victory lap. In 1983, an organization was formed, taking advantage of the long-standing nickname by turning "hog" into the acronym H.O.G., for Harley Owners Group. Many Harley-Davidson enthusiasts capitalize the word to make "Hog" and consider this term the sole property of H-D.
Harley-Davidson attempted to trademark "hog," but in 1999 ultimately lost the case, with the appellate panel ruling that "hog" had become a generic term for large motorcycles, and is therefore unprotectable as a trademark.

On August 15, 2006, Harley Davidson Inc. had its NYSE ticker symbol changed from HDI to HOG.

Interesting?!  Anyway, I was asked to make a Harley themed birthday bouquet and this is what I came up with:

Here's a closeup.

I was also asked, by a dear friend, to make a birthday bouquet for her sister's birthday.  Her sister is a dog lover, and has quite the "collection" of dogs.  This was my attempt to create the following breeds in cookie form: Boxer, Pit Bull, Chihuahua, and Shih Tzu.

Closeups

                                                    

The Boxer

The Shih Tzu

Difficult name to pronounce!  Looked up the phonetic pronunciation of this little guy and found out it is pronounced "sheet-sue" or "she-zoo".  I've heard it pronounced "sh_t-zoo"!! I don't think that pronunciation is phonetically correct!!  

The Chihuahua

This one came out looking a little sad, and a little drunk!

All of them together in the bouquet.

I also made a few "girly girl" cookies for my good friend's 2 daughters.

Thanks, Karen.

Madison Turns "10"

My second child, and only daughter, Madison, just made 10.  In designing her birthday cookies, I wanted to represent those things that are very special to her.  She has a heart a mile wide when it comes to her love of  all things of the animal world.  She is always the one wanting to pick up strays, feed the homeless kitties and doggies, and willing to do whatever it is that God's little creatures may need.  I'm convinced that she is an offshoot of St. Francis of Assisi, and her mission in life is to take over where he left off!  Although we are the proud owners of 16 chickens, 10 cats, 5 rabbits, 2 guinea pigs, 2 Nigerian dwarf goats, 1 dog, 1 fish, and 1 duck who thinks she is another chicken, I limited the "animal" portion of her cookie platter to cats and dogs.

Madison, being the middle child between two brothers, is far from the "dainty" "girly-girl" type.  She is more the "rough and tumble" "bull in a China shop" sort of child.  She has endless energy and is very high-spirited.  Soccer is her favorite sport.  It fits her personality and energy level quite well and she excells on the soccer field.  At the age of 9, she played on her brother's team of 11 and 12 year olds and never missed a beat!  She wasn't the least bit intimidated by boys two and three times her size!  That's where the soccer cookie fits in.  I designed this cookie from one that I saw somewhere on the net.  I wish I could remember where, so that I could give deserving credit!

Of course, I had to add some birthday themed cookies to the mix.

And flowers were added to round out the whole collection.

These are pictures of the whole collection.

Happy "10th" Birthday, Madison!!

Cookies

That Most Famous Mouse

These were for Kyle's First Birthday!  I must admit that when I got this order I was a bit excited for two reasons.  First, it's always special when you're asked

to play a small part of such a big celebration as a baby turning 1.  What can be more special than a "First Birthday"?  Second, this was my first chance to make that "Famous Mouse"!  They were sooo much fun to make!  The big Mickey was made from a cookie cutter that I picked up on vacation last summer at Downtown Disney.  I knew I'd use it someday.  The smaller ears were two cutters that I made using one of those "Make Your Own Cookie Cutter" kits.  I have to say that I was really quite simple to do, and I was pleasantly surprised at the results and how well the cutters worked.  It sure beat having to cut all those ears by hand!  I found a Walt Disney font online and thought that would add a finishing touch to the whole platter. 

Happy First Birthday, Kyle!!!  Hope your big day is very special!  Thanks for letting me play a small part in your special celebration.

A Speedy Recovery Bouquet

This bouquet was made for someone recovering from knee surgery.

Pretty Pink Flowers

Message to BP & the President

Not the best of photos or designs, but it is intended to get the message across.

Having spent all of my life along the Louisiana gulf coast, I have enjoyed countless hours, days, .....years enjoying the fruits of the Gulf of Mexico - be it fishing, eating the seafood, or enjoying the sand and surf - and appreciating the beautiful variety of wildlife that inhabits the land and sea. Having to watch the current devastation taking place in the gulf and along our coast, and the destruction of everything that I hold so dear, is both heartbreaking and personal. As a child, my summers were spent enjoying all that the gulf and the surrounding beaches and marsh so abundantly gave to us. As an adult, I continue to love all of those things associated with living near the coast, and have instilled that love and appreciation into my children. Their summers too, revolve around going to the beach, fishing, crabbing, going shrimping, and enjoying those things that I did in my childhood. To know that this summer, and untold others, will not involve those things that are so much a part of our culture and way of life is unimagineable, and brings much sadness. Not knowing how, or when, this horrific assault on our marshes, beaches, and for many, their livelihoods, will be corrected is sickening. All one can do is put it in the hands of our Creator, and hope that He will be merciful in healing all that ails our world. Please pray that those involved with stopping this leak, and cleaning up the mess, will find the wisdom and knowledge to do so.

Brooklyn's Recital Bouquet and Flower Favors

These were ordered for a little girl's dance recital.  She was selected as the "Covergirl" for the recital program.  These were done in pink, white and purple.  Purple is not too photogenic!  It always appears as blue.

These were cookie favors for Brooklyn's sister, and another participant in the recital.  Congratulations girls, hope everything went well.

Graduation Cookies

Graduation cookies ordered for a senior graduating from South Lafourche High School. Congratulations Class of 2010!