So much to be Thankful for...

The bird is in the oven and this afternoon we will all be feeling as stuffed as Tommy Turkey feels right now. I'm looking forward to having all my kids back home. Traditions are the glue that bind families together. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Trying to capture the Christmas spirit..."it's a GOOD THING"

I know, I know...it's not even Thanksgiving yet...and we definitely need to celebrate all that we are thankful for...The turkey is thawing in the refrigerator, the cranberries and yams and rutabagas have been bought. I even made a little Thanksgiving vignette on my mantel...

But- the Hallmark Channel has been playing Christmas movies all.day.long. I guess one could call it commercialism...I mean, after all, it IS HALLMARK. It's what they do. But the movies are feel good movies of family and Christmas cheer and the true meanings of Christmas. How can anyone fault a channel that is promoting family values and goodness? As Martha Stewart would say, "it's a good thing"... and I decided I'm watching at least one Christmas movie a day. I've been feeling pretty down as of late...and ANYTHING to restore my belief in family values is a "good thing". Oh yes, most of them are predictable and Cheesball U.S.A. but they leave you feeling loving and charitable and believing in the magic of Christmas...

Only 33 days until Christmas. I haven't begun my shopping...after all, it's not even Thanksgiving yet.

Collaborative Cake Creation

My dear friend and walking partner has been planning a surprise 50th anniversary party for her parents for months. Since I have been taking cake decorating classes, she asked me if I would like to make a sheet cake for the party. Oh silly me, I suggested we make a tiered cake instead...of course, you only celebrate your 50th wedding anniversary once, why not make a little fancier cake? (Mind you...I have NOT taken the TALL cakes class, only the Basics and the Flowers and Cake Design classes.)

I asked her what kind of cake she wanted and she thought a chococolate/white marble would be the best option...but then me, being me...I suggested the top cake be white with raspberry filling just to add another flavor option. She decided to give me artistic freedom with the cake and said she'd pick it up on the 13th.

Jordanne offered to come over and help me and of course I welcomed her input and talent. While we worked on this cake until 11:30 last night and gave birth to this beautiful creation of confection, the sense of satisfaction I felt when it was all assembled overwhelmed me. In my heart and mind, I began to ponder that this cake collaboration was analagous to raising children.

As a parent, we provide the ingredients and build the foundation and basic structure with love and hard work, (albeit not without mistakes) She worked with the frosting; I gave her the decorators bag to go ahead and design... although together we decided on a basic idea of what we wanted the end result to be ... but as this cake began to take shape, together we worked, each adding our input and talents, neither one of us completely certain of the outcome, we worked long and hard to bring beauty and life and meaning to this creation.

Thank you so much Jordanne for working with me on this little project. It meant more than you'll ever know.

P.S. She just came to pick up the cake and absolutely loved it. I only charged her the cost of the materials but she insisted on paying us something for our time. I told her I would take Jordy out to lunch...what day are you free, kiddo?