Last Cake Class

Last weekend was the last cake class for Chicklet #1 and I. We have had so much fun and learned so many wonderful things. This class taught us how to make flowers out of gum paste that were real looking. It is going to take a lot of practice to get them to look real but it is something I have always wanted to do. It has been wonderful to have this time together with my big girl. For our last class, we had Mamaw with us and of course she had to get in on the fun. Leave it to Mamaw to act like one of the kids.

Everyone thought it was cool that my mother would jump right in and have fun. You can tell they did not know her.

For our cakes, we had to incorporate flowers that we had learned how to make.

 

Chicklet #1 decorated hers with vines and different blossoms. It turned out really beautiful. We did learn that you need to put these flowers on fondant covered cakes to keep them from wilting. After a day, all of the flowers on the cake were soft and droopy. Oh well, that is how you learn.

I did a flower pot full of daffodils. I think it turned out good but it was not what I had started out to do. I was going to make a tea pot cake but it ended up looking like a football. Oh well, live and learn.

I am going to miss our Sat. gang but I will keep all of you up to date on our creations. We are not going to stop making cakes just because the class is over.

Easter Kittens

Last Saturday before we went out of town, Chicklet #1 went outside to feed Izzy (the stray that took up residence at our house over the winter) and found that she had had kittens. There were three and they were the cutest things ever. There was 2 calico’s and one tabby. The tabby and one calico had bobbed tails like their mom.

Sadly, when we got home on Sunday, both of the bobbed tail kittens had not made it. The chicklets were sad but Eric explained to them that there was probably something wrong with them and that was Gods way of taking care of them. They were okay after that.

They named the kitten Checkers. It is so sweet. Its eyes are open and it is starting to move around more.

If we leave the front door open too long, Izzy picks the kitten up and takes her into Chicklet #1’s bedroom and puts it on the pillows. It is so funny. We have to be quick or Izzy is in the house before we know it.

Kittens are so cute when they are little. Now we just need to find homes for both Izzy and the kitten.

Happy Easter

This Easter we had a lovely time at the chicklets Nana’s house. They played outside in the lovely sunshine on Saturday. I walked around the yard and took pictures of all of the flowers that were blooming. It was just beautiful.

This tree was alive with bees. There were hundreds of them gathering nectar from the blooms.

The wisteria was covered in bees also. I could not pass up this beautiful shot. I wish the bees wings would have shown up iridescent like they were in real life.    

After church on Sunday we had to stand in front of the tree and have our yearly Easter picture taken. This is a family tradition.

After lunch, we all went outside for the Easter egg hunt. 

Chicklet #1 and I made a cake for Amy’s birthday. She had requested a cake with daisies all over it so that is what we gave her. It turned out beautifully.

 

 I hope all of you had a beautiful Easter too. 

 

Chicklet #1 is 10

On Tuesday, Chicklet #1 turned 10  and made her mommy feel really old. How is my little girl 10? Where did the time go?

We had a cookout on Saturday to celebrate her big day. She had a couple of girl friends over and family for some of Eric’s famous Bar-B-Que. Her birthday also coincided with our final cake in course three of the cake decorating class so we were able to use our cake as her birthday cake.  It was fun to create and even more fun to eat.  I made a yellow butter cake with chocolate butter cream icing on the outside and strawberry butter cream icing between the layers. Yum Yum.

She had lots of fun playing with her friends and we tie dyed shirts which was a big hit with the kids of all ages.

Notice the two big ones in the middle of it all. I was only helping the girls but I enjoyed it.

Amy and I looked real good going to work on Sun. night with colored fingers. The kids loved it so I guess that is the important part. 

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

Chicklets Worst Fear

We have decided that the chicklets need some responsibility around the house and the answer to that was a chore chart. We built one out of sheet metal and molding and put it on the wall by the back door.  Every time the chicklets walk by it, I hear a groan from each of them. I think it turned out great, but that is because it lessens my chores around the house.

Each chicklet has a section that is divided into the days of the week so that we can keep up with the activities if each. They also have sections that are divided into weekly and daily chores. The middle section is for things like the lunch menu, birthday invitations, homework notes, etc. I have to say that I did not come up with this idea on my own. I got it from here.

Lets see how well and long I can get this to work. Wish me luck.

Sugar High, Course Two

We just finished up the second course in the cake decorating classes that Chicklet #1 and I have been taking. Boy was it fun. We learned how to make flowers out of royal icing, which is the icing that hardens. We also made birds out of color flow icing.  They were so pretty.

We ended up making about 30 flowers each to place on our final cake. There were apple blossoms, pansies, Victorian roses, primroses, violets, chrysanthemums, daisies and daffodils. We both loved making the daffodils the most. We had so much fun, we made way more than the required number. Next time we make them, we are going to paint the flowers to add more color and make them look more life like.

I was so proud of Chicklet #1. When we got to class, we added the basket weave to our cakes and all of the flowers we had made. She did really great on her final cake. Hers was better than some of the adults cakes.

  

This is Chicklet #1’s cake. Isn’t it beautiful. We took it to her Nana’s house on Sunday for her Birthday lunch.

This is my cake. I can tell you that after I was done with this one, I feel like I could make anything. This was the hardest course that there is which makes me all the prouder of Chicklet #1. Sure wish all of you were here to enjoy it with us. They sure were good tasting.

Let It Snow, Part Two

These pictures are so pretty and serene, I am just going to let them speak for themselves.

I just love how you can see the sun starting to light the trees in the background. It was such a beautiful way to start the morning. Reminded me of God’s presence everywhere. If it was not so cold,  I would have stayed outside all morning taking pictures. I hope you enjoyed them as much as I do.

Give a girl a good camera and she thinks she is suddenly a photographer.