It is spring - the Skunk Cabbage is in "bloom" - one of my favorite spring things.

 Growing up in Alaska, where there are no skunks (you can even be fined for bringing one into Alaska), I did not know that the scent of the Skunk Cabbage was supposed to be offensive - and so I have always loved it when the first Skunk Cabbage come out in the swampy areas.

#Walkingtoalaska
#Alaskabooks
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Two Books for Christmas!!

So, you are looking for the perfect gift - a book for the sports fan in you life.  Look no more - it is here!

My husband is an excellent writer, and his new book was published this summer and is available at Amazon   Click to order - free two day shipping for Amazon Prime Members.

 You will enjoy the player ratings  in this book, and also the lengthy details of the twenty best pitchers, twenty best regular players, 20 greatest games, as well as the twenty greatest baseball books of all time. If you are a baseball nut, this book is for you and the baseball fans in your life.

And now a book for the whole family - 

This is advertised at the top of my blog page - it is my story of the early years of growing up in Southeast Alaska in the 50s, when my family moved there from California.  It is also available on Amazon  in paperback or kindle.

It is family friendly, a great story for anyone from kids to adults.  Full of adventures and history of a time before Alaska became a state.

We hope you and your family enjoy the books and have a wonderful holiday season, from Don and JoAnn Bayne

Barns

Barns near Stanwood, WA

The Barn Collective

A Good Book and a Pretty Cupcake

My youngest daughter is helping me learn cake decorating.  She's been decorating cakes and cupcakes since she was 12 and is very good  at it after all these years (well, she was good at it the first time she ever tried it).  We were practicing for our family Easter dinner.

 A cup of tea and a cookie go well with cupcake decorating in the spring.  Maybe we should pipe some flowers on that cookie too.

 Two colors of frosting in one piping bag and we came up with pretty  pansies.  I'm getting better at piping leaves.

 Or we could frost cupcakes baked in silicone teacups.

After decorating cupcakes we can drink tea and read a favorite book.

Thanks for stopping by - hope you are enjoying spring with cupcakes and tea.

Christmas List Ideas

Christmas list ideas!

A perfect book for the whole family - my book is the real life adventures that my brothers and I had when our family moved to Alaska in the 1950s.  Bears, whales, boats - and homemade ice cream in the winter because that was the only time we had ice - the nearby waterfall froze and we chipped the ice to make old-fashioned ice cream in our hand cranked ice cream maker.

Happy fans of the book 

 And time to think of gifts for the holidays - "Are We Walking to Alaska?" would appeal to aunts, uncles, cousins, youngsters, moms, dads, grandparents.  Grandparents especially might love the book because they will remember many of the things mentioned as being from their childhoods. And there is lots of Alaska history from that time period too, before Alaska was a state.

Make your list - order from amazon - or an autographed copy can be ordered directly from me - let me know in the comments if you want autographed copies - make sure I have your email to respond, I can also gift wrap and mail the book for you too, now, or at holiday time. 

Autographed book plus shipping is 11.00 (gift wrap free)

 Is someone on your list hard to buy for?  I have the perfect gift.

1. Great Aunt Tildy - Book from Amazon.com - Are We Walking To Alaska? she loves true stories of children from Alaska, as she was a child there a long time ago. And this is a true story.                                          
   

   
2. Bertie and Sally - the twins - they are reading chapter books now  - Are We Walking To Alaska? - from Amazon.com - they will love the adventures in this true story - bears, whales, deer, and a squirrel that comes indoors to play                                                      
3. Dad - Are We Walking To Alaska?   - from Amazon.com -   he fished in Alaska as a young man and will enjoy the fishing stories                
   

   
4. Uncle Stubbs - Are We Walking To Alaska?  -  Uncle Stubbs can tell a story like no on else - and he'll get a big kick out of the stories in this book                                                                   
5. Paper Girl - Lawn Mowing Boy - Are We Walking To Alaska?  - plus a bit of money put in as a bookmark - they both do such a great job all year and now they can relax and go on a true story adventure in the wilds of Alaska in the 1950s                                  
   

   
6. Cousin Sally - Are We Walking To Alaska?  - she's brave and would love to have an adventure in the wilderness, and things that happened in the book will intrigue her.              
   

   
7. Sisters and Brothers -   Are We Walking To Alaska?   - reminders of their time growing up in Alaska - they will pass this book on to their children 
8.                                                             
9. Next Door Neighbor, Mrs. Benson -   Are We Walking To Alaska?  - Sweet neighbor is by herself, she'll enjoy the company of a young girl in Alaska, learning all about the new and different way of life.                                           
   

   
10. Mrs. Stilton -  Are We Walking To Alaska? - a school teacher for years in  Alaska - this true story will remind her of all the wonderful children she has taught.                                                    
11. Mrs. Van Pelt -   Are We Walking To Alaska? - grandson's teacher, she might even want to read the book to her 4th grade class.

And so many others - just think how they'll enjoy this book - available in Kindle and print - makes shopping easy.

Others on your holiday lists  -  -  -  

• Mail Carrier - a break from every day life
• Friends in the Quilting group
• Neighbor who stops by to chat most afternoons
• School Libraries - donate a book in your child or grandchild's name
• Public Libraries
• Convalescent Hospitals - the residents will enjoy the true story of a young girl in Alaska
• Care Homes
• Baby Sitter
• Co-Workers

Hey - I'm not a bookmark!

One stop shopping - and if you have Amazon Prime you can have the print books shipped right to each person - or if you order Kindle it will be delivered to their Kindle for instant reading.

If you'd like an autographed copy, there is still time - leave me a message and a way to contact you and we'll work out the details.  I'm always happy to autograph a book.  The autographed books have to come from me, as none at amazon are autographed - I have a good supply handy this holiday season.  If you want it autographed and sent as a gift I'll even include gift wrapping free.

Thanks for shopping




And now that your shopping is done - have a treat and relax.

Find more wonderful shopping ideas at Blog Shop

Christmas Shopping Time

Time for thinking of Christmas gifts - so I thought I would give you a few hints as to lovely things you might buy for those friends, neighbors and loved ones on your list.  Someone hard to buy for?  I have the perfect gift.

1. Great Aunt Tildy - Book from Amazon.com - Are We Walking To Alaska? she loves true stories of children from Alaska, as she was a child there a long time ago. And this is a true story.                                          
   

   
2. Bertie and Sally - the twins - they are reading chapter books now  - Are We Walking To Alaska? - from Amazon.com - they will love the adventures in this true story - bears, whales, deer, and a squirrel that comes indoors to play                                                      
3. Dad - Are We Walking To Alaska?   - from Amazon.com -   he fished in Alaska as a young man and will enjoy the fishing stories                
   

   
4. Uncle Stubbs - Are We Walking To Alaska?  -  Uncle Stubbs can tell a story like no on else - and he'll get a big kick out of the stories in this book                                                                   
5. Paper Girl - Lawn Mowing Boy - Are We Walking To Alaska?  - plus a bit of money put in as a bookmark - they both do such a great job all year and now they can relax and go on a true story adventure in the wilds of Alaska in the 1950s                                  
   

   
6. Cousin Sally - Are We Walking To Alaska?  - she's brave and would love to have an adventure in the wilderness, and things that happened in the book will intrigue her.              
   

   
7. Sisters and Brothers -   Are We Walking To Alaska?   - reminders of their time growing up in Alaska - they will pass this book on to their children                                                             
8. Next Door Neighbor, Mrs. Benson -   Are We Walking To Alaska?  - Sweet neighbor is by herself, she'll enjoy the company of a young girl in Alaska, learning all about the new and different way of life.                                           
   

   
9. Mrs. Stilton -  Are We Walking To Alaska? - a school teacher for years in  Alaska - this true story will remind her of all the wonderful children she has taught.                                                    
10. Mrs. Van Pelt -   Are We Walking To Alaska? - grandson's teacher, she might even want to read the book to her 4th grade class.

And so many others - just think how they'll enjoy this book - available in Kindle and print - makes shopping easy.

Others on your holiday lists  -  -  -  

• Mail Carrier - a break from every day life
• Friends in the Quilting group
• Neighbor who stops by to chat most afternoons
• School Libraries - donate a book in your child or grandchild's name
• Public Libraries
• Convalescent Hospitals - the residents will enjoy the true story of a young girl in Alaska
• Care Homes
• Baby Sitter
• Co-Workers

Hey - I'm not a bookmark!

One stop shopping - and if you have Amazon Prime you can have the print books shipped right to each person - or if you order Kindle it will be delivered to their Kindle for instant reading.

If you'd like an autographed copy, there is still time - leave me a message and a way to contact you and we'll work out the details.  I'm always happy to autograph a book.  The autographed books have to come from me, as none at amazon are autographed - I have a good supply handy this holiday season.  If you want it autographed and sent as a gift I'll even include gift wrapping free.

Thanks for shopping

Book Signing in Bellingham

There will be a book signing - 

Saturday August 23

CozyCorner Books and Coffee

3094 Northwest Ave – across from Yaeger's

10:30 to 2 PM

Purchase an autographed copy of “Are We Walking To Alaska?” - the true story of me and my family moving to Alaska from California in 1952.  

The book has stories of bears, fires, boats, discoveries and adventures of me and my two brothers as we explored our new home. Our family hauled water and ice for washing, cooking and drinking. We shared the hard work of a commercial fishing boat and enjoyed the animals and natural surroundings, including a squirrel who visited through a trap door and kittens that could swim.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Grandmother and Granddaughter

I love it when I meet wonderful people that read my book.  I met Susan a few years ago at a great indoor/outdoor yard sale that they have each summer, one weekend a month.  We enjoy the fun of the yard sale and getting to know Susan and her husband better each time we visit.  She bought my book, Are We Walking To Alaska? and shared it with her granddaughter Madisun, who was featured on this blog last year.

Since that time Madisun has moved to Washington with her mother and lives next door to her grandparents - so this was a perfect chance to get  a photo of both of them with my book.

Susan and Madisun - thank you for reading my book.

If you'd like your own copy - kindle or print - click on the header.  Thanks to all those who have read and will read my book.  I love to get to know my readers - so please leave a comment so I know you've been here.  And photos are always welcome, you too could be featured on my blog.

Happy Reading!!

If you want to visit Susan's giant yard sale with fantastic prices - it is just past milepost 76 on Hiway 20, heading towards Concrete, WA.  There are big yellow signs out on the weekends that they are open - enjoy.

And be sure to click the header for your own copy to enjoy.  Everyone from pre-readers to grandparents will enjoy the adventures my family and I had in Alaska.