My First Cake

For the past year and a half or more I've been working with my sister decorating cakes. Jenni bakes and ices the cakes. Once that's done, I add fondant and/or gumpaste decorations. This is something that I never thought I'd be doing. It's strange how that happens. I've always been interested in crafty, creative and artistic things. I just never thought about using edible mediums. I must say, I'm really enjoying myself. It's especially rewarding to see the faces of the recipients of our cakes. There's nothing better than seeing the joy, surprise, and amazement in their expressions. I usually don't get that kind of reaction when I design a brochure or logo.

So, not having a cooking/baking background, I really have no interest in that end of the cake making. But, I believe to do something well, you need to understand each step in the process. I've been in the printing industry for a very long time now. I know what happens from the moment a customer walks in the door until the final product is in their hands. From discerning what the customer needs and/or wants, to quoting, designing, pre-preduction, presswork, bindery and finally to delivery. I may not be skilled in every area, but I know the process and what it takes to get from one step to the next. And so I feel the same with cake decorating. So I signed up to take the first Wilton cake decorating course. I don't expect to be an expert, but I hope to gain a better understanding of what it takes to get the cakes from raw ingredients to an iced cake sitting in front of me.

The first class we went over how to bake a cake and how to make icing. We also learned how to make a simple star with buttercream icing. Our homework: bake a cake and make buttercream icing. I reconfirmed that I have no interest whatsoever in cooking beyond the necessities. However, I had an expert holding my hand (figuratively) during the whole process. Jenni stood by and showed/told me what to do. (She occasionally gave an extra stir here and there). Honestly, I did the work, and I understand better what it takes to bake a cake. But I feel that Jenni really baked that cake. But, the purpose was served and that step is over. She also helped me make the icing. She actually helped a little bit more with this, but as I understand it, buttercream icing can be tricky so I'm fine with that. Again, I know better now what is needed.

So the second class we learned the next step: Leveling and torting then icing and decorating the cakes we baked. For anyone reading that is unfamiliar with those terms, I'll explain. When cakes come out of the oven, they are usually slightly rounded on top. Some more so than others. But, if you've ever noticed in bakeries, cakes are almost always flat on top. So before the cake is iced, the top is "leveled". The rounded part is shaved off to make a flat top. Torting (which, imo, is a fun word to say), means to slice the cake in half horizontally, so you have two shorter cakes. Then you layer them with a filling like a fruit jam/jelly, a mousse or icing between them.

So in class, I finally got the leveling and torting done and it was time to ice my first cake. If you've never iced a cake (I don't mean slapping some canned icing on the 9x13 cake in the pan, anyone can do that), then you can never fully appreciate what it takes to get the icing smooth. There are a myriad of tricks out there to get a cake iced smoothly. I won't share what Jenni does. She'd disown me. It's one of her trade secrets. What I've discovered about this process is that it takes lots of practice and even more patience.

I finally got the cake iced (by that I mean there is icing on the cake, I do not claim, however, that it is smooth). Now it was time for decorating. We had a specific design we were to use and so, the decorating commenced. I didn't get finished in class (it's only 2 hours) so I went home and finished at my own pace. I decided, since this was a practice cake, that it didn't have to be the prettiest so I used it to practice the piping methods we had learned so far. (Piping is using a decorating bag and tip to "pipe" icing in to designs on a cake.)

Since my dad's birthday is in a day or two, I decided to make the cake for him. So, below is my finished cake. My very first cake, I baked, iced and decorated by myself. For my dad. I hope he likes it. What do you think?

Interesting things I saw at the zoo

I love the Cincinnati Zoo. I've only been a handful of times, but I still love the zoo. The last time I went was with my sister, two girls from my Sunday School class and the mother of one of them. This time I had my digital camera and could take as many pictures as I wanted.

This is my most favorite of all the ones I took. The original picture was a long shot. This is a close up. I couldn't see this clearly with my own eyes and did a double take when I saw the shot on the screen.

The longer you look at it the creepier it gets. Go ahead…gaze for a few…

Never been a huge flamingo fan. I think it has something to do with the stigma of the plastic lawn ornaments in front of a trailer with a broken down, tireless, pickup nearby. Was that stereotyping? Sorry. But when you say flamingo, that's what comes to mind. However, the birds at the zoo have changed my mind. This is one of the better shots.


Out of all the birds though, the eagle has to be my favorite. However, I've never been able to get a good shot of one. There's a nature preserve near my home that has them too. They're always behind the cages or nets. I can't figure out how to set my camera to focus on the background instead of the foreground. So this is what I get, pretty much every time:

I still think it's kind of a neat picture, I just wish the foreground wasn't a cage. Maybe someday I'll figure out how to get a good picture.

This is another of my favorites. I was on the tram passing by and saw this:

I had to get a picture. He was having such a good time and no one was paying attention to him. His family were off to the side talking or something. I have a feeling they are used to his antics. As the tram was ambling away, I heard "Thanks for taking my picture…"

I love that he was having such a good time amusing himself.

What's your favorite animal story?

A Camping We Will Go

I've almost always been a tent camper. Our family had a pop-up when I was a kid, but I don't remember using it very much. I don't think we had it very long either. We got a pontoon at some point and so we spent every summer on the lake. It wasn't until I was out of high school when I really got into camping.

Then I started working at a youth camp. My second or third summer season there, the director took the whole staff camping during our training. I believe it was the second or third day of training in fact. I can't say that was my most pleasant camping experience. We weren't told where we were going, only that we needed to bring what we thought we would need for an overnight trip. We were used to her (the director) playing games and using them as training tools. So none of us really expected to stay anywhere overnight. I stuck my toothbrush and toothpaste in my purse and was ready to go. A few people may have brought a pillow or possibly a blanket. Some didn't bring anything.

So we loaded up the bus and bebopped out to the nearest wilderness. There we spent the day learning to tie knots, build campfires, construct tents, and other campground basics. Imagine our surprise when we were told late in the day that we would be staying the night in the tents we just learned to put up. Needless to say, we were NOT happy campers.

I will have to admit. That experience brought the camp staff, all strangers a few days previous, into a close knit unit. A lot of those friendships that began in such extreme circumstances are still strong today.

To the best of my recollection (which isn't saying much) that was a turning point in my camping methodology. Don't judge. This is my blog. I can make up my own verbiage if I want to. (ver·biage: noun \ˈvər-bē-ij also -bij\ Definition of VERBIAGE: manner of expressing oneself in words : diction )

After that my sister and our good friends Kim Jason would go on camping trips. We would usually go on a Friday night and come home on Saturday. Eventually, we decided setting up the tent, packing bedding, food and other camping paraphernalia was not worth just one night. So we started going for the entire weekend. Over the years other friends have joined us on these little excursions. For the most part, they continue to camp with us. A few times, Jenni and I have made the biannual trip by ourselves.

As our camping experience and equipment grew, we started talking about pop-ups. Most of those conversations happened during a downpour, sitting in a cold, wet tent with puddles of water nearby. Or when we were setting up or taking down camp. We wanted to be able to set up fairly quickly so we could get to enjoying the outdoors and each other's company. Unfortunately these talks were just that. Talk. None of us could swing the cost of a pop-up.

We would watch the yearly camper special, showcasing the latest and greatest in campers. Then one year we saw one of these on the special. Jenni thought it would be perfect for us. I wasn't crazy about it. I thought it was too small. It didn't matter anyway. We couldn't afford one.
And even if we could we didn't have a vehicle to tow it. And for that matter, no dealer within a 400 mile radius sold them. So we continued our tent camping and dreamed of one day owning a pop-up.

Then, one day, the camping powers-that-be, offered a glimmer of hope. Someone just a few miles from us, actually had one for sale in their front yard. We couldn't believe it. We'd never seen one in person. So we stopped and took a look. We fell in love with it. And the price was unbelievable! So we talked with our parents about helping us buy it. A week went by. It was still there. So I called. They sold it the same day they put it out!! I was disappointed. But while I was still on the phone with the owner, he said, "But I have another one. It's just a little bigger. Would you be interested in it?" I couldn't believe my ears. This man had not one, but two of these little darlings! Of course they were asking more for it. And to be honest, it had more amenities than we really wanted or needed. So again, we discussed it. Finally, we decided that another opportunity like this would not present itself to us so we made the call again. We made arrangements to meet the owners and see the camper and ask questions. We knew we wanted to make an offer on it before we went. So we met the owners and after some discussion and just a little bit of haggling, we are proud new owners of this little baby:

We spent a week in October at our favorite campground. We met lots of new people who couldn't help themselves. They all wanted to see the camper. It is so unique and just perfect for the two of us. We absolutely love it! We haven't got all the kinks worked out. I need a new vehicle to be able to tow it. And then lessons on how to tow it. And how to level it. And how to work all the utilities. But I'm confident I will learn and fortunate to have the best dad in the world who helps with that kind of stuff.

We can't wait to take it out again in the spring.

Do you have a favorite past time? Something you did with your family or friends? Please tell me about it. I'd love to hear it.

Sackcloth

You know how throughout the Bible it talks about people tearing their clothes, wearing sackcloth and covering themselves in ashes? They did it to show grief, like Jacob when he thought poor Joseph was dead. Or for repentance, like the city of Nineveh when they realized they were sinning against God.

I never really understood why they felt they had to go to those extremes. But I kind of do tonight. I feel both grief and the need for repentance. I feel frustration and sadness at my ineptitude, my lack of ability to handle situations and to solve the problem facing me now. The problem isn't mine alone and I'll explain to the best of my abilities in a moment. But this feeling, this great sadness for what's happening, makes me feel like weeping, but that doesn't seem enough. I feel as if I could tear my clothing and sit in ashes, I feel so low.

I love my church family. They are truly wonderful people. But right now, it seems as if there is a lot of bitterness and a general feeling of unrest among us. Things happen, they always do. I've always seemed to be able to hang on and trust God to pull us through. But right now, I'm so spiritually tired, so empty, it is hard to hang on. So many of the people I love are not themselves. Including me. I'm not leaving myself out of this. I don't know if it's because we've all become spiritually empty, or tired, but it seems as if we are allowing satan to work his way into our family. We've lost sight of our purpose. We're floundering around not knowing what we're doing or where we're going. We've lost our focus. And it's causing hurt feelings, bitterness, pride, gossip, and yes, even hatefulness to creep in where love should be. What's made things worse, is that one of my closest friends has decided to leave our fellowship. My heart is sick that things have gotten to that point, that I may have been able to do something to help the situation before it did get to this point. I wish her well, and pray that we will one day worship together again, will one day work together for the Lord.

Oh, Lord. You know what's in my heart. I'm not able to express in these words what is causing this feeling of despair. But you know. You know what is happening. You see where we've turned wrong, where we've gotten off the path You set before us. Father, I pray for your guidance, for strength to persevere. It is in the hard times that You shine. No one else can help us. Only You can control what's before us. Lord, please forgive me for the bitterness I've begun to harbor, for being judgmental, unforgiving and harsh. Please forgive my apathy. I've lost my passion for You, for the task You have given me. Lord, renew me, refresh this weak sinner. Please set my heart back on track and supply me with the will and energy to carry on, to help guide my church family back to Your path.

Bittersweet

Well, another chapter in my life is finished. I worked my last day today at the publishing company I've been with since October.

My life has taken a turn that I never expected. I know it is totally God though because only He could have worked things out so perfectly.

I had been working very long hours that took me away from God, church and my family, the most important things in my life. I've also been working with my sister in her bakery business. It is really starting to take off and she needs all the help she can get. I had been saying for the past couple of months that it would be great if I could work part time and spend the rest of the time working at the church and with Jenni (sister). About a month ago the opportunity presented itself. They were looking for someone to work part time so it was a perfect fit.

I named this post "Bittersweet" because I am leaving behind a great group of people whom I have come to care a great deal about. I've only been there about seven months, but I feel as if I've known most of them for much longer. Well, one of them I have known for nearly 20 years. He and his wife are dear friends of mine that I had lost touch with (mostly my fault. I'm sorry guys). I'm so glad that we were able to reconnect, I pray with all my heart that we won't lose touch again.

These guys are such an eclectic group. (A couple of them may have to look that word up. For them, that means a bunch of people with different backgrounds, beliefs, experiences, etc.) I don't believe I've ever known people quite like them, and I worked at a youth camp for 10 summers! But I love every one of them and will miss them like crazy. I pray I can remain in contact with them. {Edited: That first part sounded mean spirited. It was my feeble attempt at teasing. I didn't mean to offend anyone. Sorry about that. }

I am a very blessed person to have met this crazy, funny, sweet, caring, nutty, sarcastic, chaotic group of folks. I treasure these relationships and I pray for each of them. I pray that God will bless them as much as I feel blessed to have known and worked with them.

There were a lot of laughs today, a few unshed tears (and maybe a couple that got loose), some special moments with each one.

Now I have to look to the future, to an exciting new and scary part of my life. I can't wait to see what God has in store for me.

To all my friends at KPI, I love you guys.