April 11, Ted's 38th birthday, I celebrated it by flying out of Eleuthera International Airport after having an early send off from our friend/dive master Daryl Miller. If anyone has an interest in scuba diving, this is the man and the place to be, plus what a sweetie to stop by on his day off to come say goodbye. I am going home for 2 weeks to organize and bake the cake for Amelia's 6th birthday celebration; Mermaid cake & Party coming up!
I always appear to be the "lady who has never flown before" as I snap photos over the islands, this was a perfect day for flying with the scattered clouds hanging over that clear water. Unlike my trip back to Eleuthera on April 27th where I told the gentleman next to me "don't mind me if I grab your hand" he responded "I was thinking the same thing" One of the most turbulent flights I can remember. Ah, flight attendant...I WILL take that Bloody Mary now...PLEASE.
I love having he girls overnight when I get home to hear how they have changed and what is on their minds. Amelia wants to be Mother Nature when she grows up, she is extremely sensitive to the environment, had me picking up dirty Kleenex at their marina :( I think Evie Rose will be climbing Yosemite walls with her agility and confidence. 2nd night we had our overnight; the parents called "Let's head to the beach!" This is the first year we can ever remember when the beach has been exposed almost entirely in mid April. We have had the boat in the water this early, but never enjoyed the beach in April.
Amelia showed me her new tricks on the rope swing (wearing her Monster High dress-perfect beach attire), Amelia posing in her birthday dress before school. Next is Evie in my fleece jacket as we were heading to the beach and she didn't want to go home to get her jacket, loved wearing Amelia's sunglasses. Lastly on April 13th, the two adorable ones on the boat heading to the Buckhorn for a day at the beach, was a great welcome home for Grammy as it is my favorite place to be.
Preparations for the mermaid birthday party started with LOTS of frosting! Amelia had to sample it from the beaters to be sure it was acceptable.
Then the creating began, my famous chocolate cake (like a fudge brownie with fudge frosting) as the base surrounded by graham cracker sand, topped with vanilla cake with Ariel floating on top. White chocolate seashells (designed by Amelia..."I want white with ribbons of lavender on them") "So be it" says Teary O'hara my baking partner, he also created the clam shell cookies with white chocolate dyed pink filling and white chocolate pearls. Bubble gum to depict Ariels bubbles from the sea adorned the table as well.
While gathering sand dollars at a Guana Cay beach Bob asked "what are you going to do with all those sand dollars?" "Don't know yet, but I will think of something" They got sprayed with glitter glue and were used as decorations and gifts for the kids to take home after the party!
Sister Janet flew in for the extravaganza and we deserved a glass of wine and a whirlpool at the end of the party.
We held the party at the AmericInn where their party room adjoins the pool area, the girls tried out their mermaid tail swim sets and were pretty good at the dolphin kick.
This is Evie Rose above getting her mermaid tail wet in the bathtub to try it out, the tails have a solid fin and you wear it by putting you feet into the sock like openings in it. Works really well!
While home we had a party to announce the winners of the Best Burger in The Valley contest which has raised over $77,000 for Cystic Fibrosis. This year Lolo's got the prize.
FINALLY a real trophy with my name on it...the traveling trophy for the winner of the pumpkin regatta during our fall Harvest Fest was presented to this years winner; Brines restaurant/bar.
Nice to have a real trophy naming me as a past winner vs that plastic little thing I was presented with 3 years back!
No! I am not bonking my competition over the head with my paddle in order to win....... What was funny is that I was in charge of putting together the group of Realtors to compete; I chose fun Realtors vs thinking about who I would be paddling against. When I got down to the river I took a look at my choices and thought "ooops!" strong, athletic men, I am in trouble. Ah ha moment came when I realized that weight tips pumpkins and the boys were sinking around me as we paddled toward the finish line.
Ted got lucky and was able to secure a ballot box found at an antique show, one friend sent him a text with the photo of it, the other friend (Thank You Richard McDonough) did the negotiating, bought it and delivered it! An important artifact as the first election Ted won was in his own Ward 2 when he ran for City Council. Our local historian thinks it is from the late 1800's.
My most favorite new recipe...garlic knots! I had them for the first time at Supreme Meats in Stuart Florida, so yummy and garlicy that I just had to try to replicate them. No recipes really were similar so I kept messing with it until I finally got it close. Pizza dough is the ticket, plus making them small, folding some of the goodness within the knot then shaking them in a bag with even more garlic & olive oil.
Then there is the cake I made for Daryl, I had nicknamed him Cupcake due to his fondness for my cupcakes, so with his birthday upon us he had to have this giant cupcake that was a mess to create, the leaning tower of chocolate as the layers slid around and almost collapsed. After a couple hours int he fridge it survived the presentation. I really came close to tossing the whole mess over the side of the boat at one time, wish I had a picture of that disastrous moment.
Shark Dive! Not me but our friend Daryl, he takes the photos on his dives and I edit for him. Just my opinion.... but if they are close enough to see their teeth....THEY'RE TOO CLOSE! He says "no worry, the pectoral fins are straight out, if they drop down and his back arches...then you go up!"
The eyes have it; on a drift dive I picked up this conch shell from the bottom and this little conch decided to have a look at me as well.... peek a boo! Now go back to the bottom of the creek!
A typical scene at the Kozlowski home, Rachael on the drums (pots) Evie on her guitar, and Amelia lead singer with the spatula microphone. reminds me of the Heart concert many moons back. Sisters Rock on! They love music and they love to perform....who knows!
I have to say...of all the cakes I have made, this was my crowning glory of all! Spencer and family spent 6 weeks in MN over the holidays, and little Miranda was in MN for her 5th birthday, her wish.... A Frozen theme cake! I made snowflakes from royal icing, my friend Teary made ice shards and pond, we laughed over the leaning towers (rice krispie tubes and ice cream cones) as we struggled to keep them upright, but in the end it was a dream come true cake...and all edible (except Olaf) Pictured are Santi age 7 in a few days, Marcela, Miranda and Spencer. Marcela and I turned our dining room into a Frozen wonderland while Miranda slept, a fun time!
