A Birthday for Tasha Tudor

April has come to Alaska, but it seems to me that she lost her friend Spring along the way. Perhaps April is rather forgetful, like myself, and simply left Spring down in Washington (where in The Brambles of Bainbridge my mother tells me Spring has been for quite some time). Whatever the reason, Spring has still not graced the cold folk of Juneau with her wonderful presence.

It is on days like today, when the rain is pouring sideways, when there is still frozen snow on the ground, and when I simply don't want to wear my mittens a day longer that I remember August.

But before I get into the pictures and the remembering, let me tell you something silly about myself: Even though I probably don't know you personally (though I wish I did), I have a great fear of letting you down, dear reader. That was the case back in August when these lovely photos were taken and I was so excited to write to you about this particular evening and then. Busyness. I never wrote the story. A week passed by and I told myself I couldn't possibly post this late. That would mean I had let you down in some way! Oh silly me. I'm sure you wouldn't have minded, but I told myself you did and for that I am sorry. Perhaps it was meant to be though, my sillyness, for now I get to bring you a glimpse of Spring even though it may not be Spring-time out your kitchen window. So, let me tell you all about the magical evening we had when we celebrated Tasha Tudor's birthday:

It all started in July, when I read the book 'Becky's Birthday' for the very first time. I had seen the lovely birthday scene in my own copy of Tasha's 'A Time to Keep', but that paled in comparison to the whole story of Becky's amazing birthday. I was inspired! We had celebrated our own little Tasha Tudor Day years before under the apple blossoms one sunny day, but I so wanted to float a cake down a creek, just as Tasha had done. Thankfully, I have a husband who encourages my dreams and soon the two of us were planning a whole party for Tasha - for we were sure she would be with us in spirit!

There were many hours of preparation. First, we had to find a creek that was deep enough for a cake to float down but smooth enough that there was no fear of losing the cake! This wasn't that difficult and two possible locations were chosen. Quinn and I decided we would pick the best one closer to the date of the party (which would be whatever weekend in August looked sunny enough, for if you can predict anything in Juneau it's the rain!).
I had my heart set on a certain creek, for there was a certain spot where a fallen tree - still alive - hung over the rocks, the perfect spot for a picnic I thought. A nice weekend came and Friday we anxiously hiked to the creek to find - oh no! - it was flooded! Quinn tried his best to console me, who knew if we were going to get another nice sunny weekend? We decided to pray and hope that the water would go down by Sunday, the day everyone would be home and free for the party.

Since we didn't know the exact date of the party we had made a menu ahead of time with a shopping list we would use when the time came. The menu was made up of recipes taken directly from my copy of Tasha's cookbook, a dear treasure of mine. We decided on her Vegetable Soup, her yummy Bread Rolls for Special Occasions, and of course her recipe for Becky's Birthday Cake with Boiled White Frosting. (You can find some of the recipes from Tasha's kitchen on her website here.)

When Sunday finally came it was the perfect kind of day, sunny with high clouds and a light breeze to keep away the mosquitoes. Quinn and I had gone back to the creek and were so delighted to see that the water level had gone down! We spent Saturday evening in the last rays of sunset moving big rocks away from the spot that would be our picnic area (and also a few salmon carcasses. Thankfully the salmon run had just started and the creek didn't yet smell of decaying fish!).

"Excuse me Mr. Salmon, do you mind if we float a cake down your stream?"

Sunday was spent cooking and baking and running around getting everything together, apron strings flying! I have also left off the best part, mom and Abigail had no idea! Yes, it was a surprise! Dad knew, for he had helped Quinn fashion the raft of foam to float the cake on (and he also came in handy in transporting our picnic to the creek, including mom and Abby!). 

When a fire had been built and the table - two vintage trunks - had been set, it seemed to me that I could stay right there forever. I had never seen anything quite so beautiful...

The half fallen tree made a perfect roof of evergreen over our picnic table, and Greta was quite happy that we were outside for such a long time. 

Oh yes, and what would a birthday for Tasha be without our very own dolls in attendance?

And all of them looking quite fine in their best dresses and clothes. 

They were quite content to sit at the head of the table, I imagine. 

Lanterns hung from the tree while jars of fresh cut flowers from Mom's garden decorated the table. Meringue toadstools - stuck together with yummy chocolate sat on the plates, ready to be gobbled up before dinner. 

Here they are, our very fine guests appearing out of the woods to attend the festivities. I'm sure they were all a bit surprised, even I was surprised! I had not imagined that the picnic would turn out so lovely. After everyone was seated Quinn ladled out the soup from the pot over the fire and we enjoyed our wonderful meal among the flowers, the twinkling candle lights, and the sound of the stream around us.

Soon tea was served, from a kettle that had been boiling over the fire, and it was time for the desert to be revealed! Quinn and I ran back down the creek and trail to our car on the pretense that it needed to be kept cold (or some silly story like that). We then grabbed the cakes (for there was one for the dolls as well!) and the raft and carefully made our way back to the creek, trying to hide from the eyes of those still sitting at the picnic table.

Here is Quinn pushing the cake out into the middle of the stream, candles burning brightly. Imagine how surprised those fisherman were when the two of us told them we were about to float a cake down the stream where they were fishing. My, they were so surprised! But once they saw we were quite serious (and they noticed the 'interesting' outfit I was wearing) they wanted to know all about us!

Looking back I realize how terrified I was that the cake would fall off the raft and fall into the water, to be enjoyed by the salmon of the stream. Haha! But through all my fears the cake made it safely down the creek to come to rest next to our picnic. Mom, Abigail and dad were all a mix of joy and wonder as the cake, decorated with flowers and candles, came to sit in the middle of the table.

A resounding cheer of "Happy birthday, Tasha Tudor!" rang from our table and echoed back from the woods as we cut into the delicious cake. (And there was so much cake that I cut two slices and hand-delivered them to the fisherman up the creek, who were very excited and even more curious about who the girl in the red dirndl was.)

Looking at these pictures makes me long for sun filled days, I simply can't wait for Spring to come to our little corner of the world. Tasha was good at enjoying each and every season for the blessings that came with it, so perhaps I shall follow her example and start some seeds for my garden and maybe do a nice cleaning to sweep away the cobwebs and dust of winter until Spring arrives.

Until next time dear reader, I pray the Lord blesses you with Springtime in your heart, even if it's still Winter out your front door.

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven..."

Ecclesiastes 4:11

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Spring Snow

The ground had been bare, the garden looked as though things were starting to grow. All of us were dreaming of a warm and happy Spring.

Then it snowed two feet.

Yes indeed, we may have had a false start to Spring here in Juneau Alaska. And just when I was starting to think that we would have a snow-free Easter, we wake up to find a deep (and I mean deep) layer of snow blocking our door.

Quinn, however, wasn't complaining too much.

Greta loved the snow as well, but she found it quite difficult to traverse the high dunes. Quinn and I ran all around the back yard, making roads for her to run around in.

Can you spot Greta in the photo below? Poor thing, the more we played the more tired she became (after all, hopping through snow that's taller than you are is very draining!).

I can hardly remember a time when it snowed so much. Back when I was in high school we got two snow days off in a row for a little over a foot of snow, but two feet? My goodness! This day will certainly be a day to remember for years to come.













When the deep snow drifts of the yard were adequately plowed through, all of us ran down the driveway and out onto our little sleepy street, where our neighbors were riding around on their four-wheelers having a grand-ole-time. We made our way down to our favorite trail and headed out onto the flats (where, because of the changing tides, there wouldn't be as much snow for Greta to worry about).

Lets play again! Can you spot Greta in the photo below?

There may have been quite a bit of snow on the flats as well...so back on up to the house we went!

Time to start some avalanches with some swinging!

The falling snow was so beautiful. I loved running around and getting artistic camera shots. Quinn was a willing model for me, and he even offered to get some shots of me as well!

(Mom's barn square that we made her for a birthday, her giant Sitka Rose bush in front.)

Having fun in the snow is all well and good but soon there was work to be done: snowplowing. Dad wouldn't be home for quite a while and we would need to drive the cars at some point...but boy were they buried deep!

"Are you sure there's a car under there?"

Oh dear! Quinn had his work cut out for him! He got out the snowblower and set to work, with myself disappearing to talk with mom and watch Quinn from the warmth of the main house.

I have such an awesome husband! He cleared the driveway in almost no time at all and soon we were peeling off our wet clothes and shoes and all snuggled up and warm back inside the Barn. Thankfully, it wouldn't be till the next day that we would have to brave the roads and make our way to work. 

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So tell me, what's the weather like where you are? It's still snowing off and on here in Juneau with our signature scattered rain showers (making quite the soggy mess outside). Has Spring come to your part of the world yet? I think we have a bit longer to wait here...

...but if it stays this pretty, I'm not sure I mind all that much.

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A Welcome Visit

 Last week we had quiet the wonderful surprise, Abigail and her friend and roommate Emma, came back home for a visit!

Abigail has been going to school since September at Montana Wilderness School of the Bible, a tiny Christian university out in the mountains of Montana. She's loving it there, but we have missed her so much! Her friend Emma had never been to Alaska, and they had fun romping around Juneau.

The last night they were here, Mom and Dad organized a farewell dinner for them both, complete with Quinn's favorite: stuffing! I had just gotten off work, and everyone else had just gotten back from a full day of skiing up on the windswept mountain tops. We were all pretty tired, but the smell of food drew everyone into the kitchen - which meant you got roped in to helping!

Quinn wouldn't give me a proper smile with his little sister right next to him, oh well. And doesn't Emma just look fabulous stirring that gravy? That's the face she gave me when I told her so, haha!

Outside, the sun was sending out it's last rays over the cold snow and frosted evergreens. The thermometer on the porch read 10 degrees, making me thankful for the warm home and beds we would later snuggle into.

Around the table Abigail set out Mom's very best dishes with oil lamps setting a warm glow of light. Dad was busy cutting the roast chicken, which sparked Greta's interest. I had taken her with me to work for the first time, and she was just as tired as those who had gone skiing. The clients at work had played with her for eight hours straight! She loved every second of it, I'm sure.

Dinner, as I'm sure you can imagine, was wonderful. It was so nice to have everyone together again - why - it felt almost like Christmas!

Quinn had been gone all week in Sitka (he has been traveling there every-other week for work), so the home-cooked meal was a treat for him. And Emma had us rolling in our seats with laughter at her funny stories.

Abigail told us all the goings-on at school and told us how excited she was to get back and see all her friends again. I'm sure it will be a sad day come May, when she will say goodbye and graduate (but how she and I talked about all our plans for this summer! There will be something to look forward to!).

As dinner finished Mom got up and started icing a special treat: a homemade angel food cake with puff candy frosting! We had all been eyeing the cake, beautifully set under glass on one of the ovens as dinner was still being prepared, and everyone had made a promise to themselves to leave room for a nice slice.

Dad got a bit too excited and offered to help mom...

I can't really blame him, that cake looked amazing! It looked even more beautiful with pieces of chocolate covered puff candy sprinkled over it, and carefully set on the table (right next to me! Wahoo!).

Mom cut the cake and I heaped sugar-covered strawberries on the plates and passed them around the table. It was divine! I hope we don't have to wait too long before she makes it again...

The rest of the evening was spent in laughter around the table, talking and catching up. In the back of our minds we knew Abigail and Emma would soon be sleepily getting on an early morning flight to go all the way back to their school in the mountains, but for the moment we concentrated on the love we had for them, and how that love would span all the miles from Alaska to Montana. 

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