Freezer and crockpot cooking

I've been spending several hours this week working on organizing recipes and shopping lists so I can spend a day soon preparing a couple week's worth of freezer-to-crockpot meals.  I'm hoping to make dinner time a lot easier especially since working 2nd shift the past 2 years has really inhibited my ability to make quality meals what with the time constraints of my schedule.  A lot of these are new recipes to me so I hope the turn out well! And I hope I can make enough room in my tiny freezer!

Skaggs Family Reunion, SC Chapter

Every year over Labor Day weekend, the Skaggs family reunion is held in Gallipolis, Ohio.  It's hard for those of us down south to make it regularly, so this year we held our own reunion of the local chapter of Skaggs'.  It was great to be able to get together with mom & dad, both my sisters and their families, and my aunt and uncle for a mini family reunion on Labor Day this year.   With all our different work schedules and kids activities, etc. it's becoming a rarity when we can all gather together at the same time! I cherish my family time!

Happy Birthday, Ginger Lou!

Today is Ginger's 2nd birthday!  What a great 2 years it has been!  I remember when she was a puppy and wondered if she would grow up to be as big as her sister, Sabrina. 

Well, now fully grown, Ginger stands about 4 inches taller than Sabrina and weighs about 20 pounds more.  She is a beast!  and I love every pound of her! 

I love the way she spreads her legs out behind her when she lays down...

I love how she gives her daddy a hug every morning by sitting on the bed and putting her front paws on his shoulders.... I love how she and Brina play together... I love how she has favorite words like Woodrow, Squirrel and Light-Maker.  (A light-maker is basically anything that causes a reflection or light spot that she can chase/follow....cell phones are great lightmakers, as well as mirrors, shiny tins, car lights across the walls at night, laser pointers, or even just the sun shining through the window onto the floor in different patterns).

These things are what make Ginger who she is and I wouldn't change a thing!  In fact I could fill a book of all the things I love about Ginger Lou!  She is such a special dog! 

Last year as we approached her 1st birthday, I saw a blog about another dog's birthday party and I thought it would be a fun idea.  So I made Ginger a dog friendly birthday cake and a homemade dog toy, invited my family over and we had a birthday party!

Well the birthday party was such a hit last year, I decided to continue with the tradition this year!  This year dogs got their own individual cakes.

I made birthday bandanas for the canine guestss to wear...Neighbor (and Ginger's husband) Woodrow, the birthday girl, sister Sabrina and cousin Mr. Mack.

Ginger got lots of presents!

Woodrow especially loved playing with her toys!

All in all, it was another great success!  Thankfully it didn't rain so the dogs were able to play outside. 

I look forward to celebrating many more birthday with my girls!

Sewing with the kids

I'm so glad that my nieces and nephew take an interest in the creative arts! I had the opportunity this week to teach them all a little bit about sewing.  I was about their age when my mom and grandmother taught me to sew.  What a precious gift! Michael wanted to make a dog bed for his "Pups."  Nicole wanted a quilt for her American Girl dolls and Jacquelyn wanted a purse.  I think they all turned out great!

Of course Ginger had to have her picture taken! She and Nicole are best buds!