Red Sox Cake!

Just two years ago I was pretty much buying cakes from boxes and sometimes making my own frosting, sometimes not.  Ah, how things have changed.  I always dreamed of being a real cake decorator and am enchanted by beautiful wedding cakes.  I was always intrigued by all of the metal Wilson tips at the store and what shapes they made, the frosting bags, the flower nails, the desire to make the perfect rose!

So I just committed to it!  My own education plan!  I have learned from professional chefs and master decorators.  I am far from knowing it all, but what I did learn is practice makes perfect.  

And by the grace of my friends and putting the word out there that I would be happy to make event cakes for them, I have gotten the opportunity to test my skills through cake orders.  

Because I am relatively new at this, every cake style is a "first" for me.  So this was my first Red Sox Cake, for a 60th birthday party.  

It was very well-received and that is so rewarding!  The truth is that it probably took me about six hours soup to nuts, baking, coloring frosting, decorating.  It's definitely something you've got to love because like everything else, there is always a "muddy middle" where you want to throw in the towel, put your feet up and watch the Real Housewives.  
But then I remind myself that wishes + fortitude + determination = dreams.

40 years of friendship

Every year on a chilly weekend in November we take a trip to Linda's lake house in New Hampshire.  We base it around Christmas shopping, but really it's just all about the food and friendship!

This is the front yard.  Take a deep breath.  It's really that beautiful on Lake Winnepesaukee in New Hampshire.

Most of us all graduated high school together.  Two grew up across the street.   Some years not everyone can be there, but we are all together in spirit!  On Saturday night after a day of shopping we eat Dolly's eggplant parmesan (to die for)...

Kathy's antipasto salad ...

and her famous cocktails, make a big pot of spaghetti and have a wonderful dinner together.

Dessert follows...a more casual affair usually in front of a movie.  We laugh and catch up on life's events.

There are so many bags in various cars and on the floor that we have a hoot going through them all and making sure everyone has the right stuff!
 
Who bought the blue sweater at Gap?  What kind of boots did you get at the Bass Outlet?

Sunday morning usually follows the same comfortable pattern. 
 
 Shopping at local boutiques.

 
But the most important thing about Sunday, the reason to get up in the morning and leave our wonderful scenic vista...is this place.  Sunshine and Pa's has hosted us for Girlfriends' Weekend breakfast for at least four years.

It is this wonderfully homey place with the smell of maple syrup in the walls.  Mmm...This friendly face always greets us and although 364 days have passed since we have seen him, it feels to all of us like yesterday.  We are treated like old friends.
 
We start thinking about what to order on the car ride over, LOL!

Don't miss it if you are ever in Meredith, NH.  4 Stars.



2008

2010
 
 2013
  We have been coming together on these weekends for so long that we used to go into the kids' clothing stores to buy for our own little ones.  Stories of kids' high school graduation have moved to how college is
going, first apartments and jobs.
. 
2012 

     We've weathered and supported each other through illness, divorce, moves, raising kids and the trials and tribulations of life.

***********************
The end of this chapter is that this beautiful lake house is now for sale. So after 10+ years, it's time to find another place to gather.  We'll find it, for truly the place does not matter as long as there's antipasto and wine!

Over before you know it

This is my view backing out of my driveway.  Which I do many, many times in one day.  Back and forth, back and forth.  Errands, dog walk, grocery store, school pick-up, etc.  For about a month we have been blessed with radiant colors.  So much so this Fall that perhaps I took it for granted. I kept driving by saying "how pretty"  or "that would make a nice picture" but unless you keep one in your car, it's just an extra thing to remember to put your camera in your pocketbook.  You know?

But on one trip I did and am glad that I took a minute to capture how magical it really is when the seasons change, one to another.  Every day looks different, leaves are raked up and more fall down.  Soon enough they will dry and turn brown, then white with the snow, then gray with the mud, then green in the Spring, but for now beautiful orange!

All Hallows Eve - Get Yer Fright On!!

When we lived in our former house it was more in the country.  The driveways were very long and when the kids were little they would get winded.  I thought of the idea to bring the candy to the end of the driveway to make things easier.  From that came a few decorations and after that a full on haunted house.

Some years are more involved than others.  The heavy lifters are in college but the 7th grader still gets a kick out of it.  So we keep a collection of creepy crawly things and my husband leads the charge to scare the crap of out of the little kids. 

Yup, that's kinda scary if you are five years old.

Ewww.  Who's hand is that?

Nasty rat with his snack.

And here's Mr. Innocent with a perfectly non-scary corn stalk.  But I guarantee he'll tie it to somethin' creepy.  We've got lots of great candy at the end of the brick walkway if you d-a-r-e to walk to through the haunts!

King Richard's Faire - Fashion Edition

My sons have always loved the fair for the music, leather hats, jousting knights and food.  I love this very cool Rennaisance faire for the clothes.  Whether or not you ever thought of playing dress up, I dare you not to peek in the shops selling corsets, capes, crowns and the like.

Costumes are not only worn by the "cast members", nay!  Many come in delightful outfits they have put together just for this day.  And why can't you wear a baseball t-shirt with butterfly wings and sparkle sneaker boots? 

This lass took things more seriously with her weaponry showing!

Sweet little princess in all of her velvet finery.

Get yer kilt on.  Yeah, his other friends just sport their modern day jeans and sneakers.  But who's the cool one?  Whos' the guy you want to talk to?  That's right.  The kilt guy.

Here's one of the costume shops.  The thing is that http://kingrichardsfaire.net/ does such a good job of creating a world inside this wooded glen full of music and food and merriment that you actually do get transported, which I guess is the whole idea!  And you think, I feel good here!  I feel happy here!  I need a swirly dress like the Merida in the movie "Brave" and I shall shoot bow and arrow!

Luckily for this guy, it wasn't too hot outside!

And the sweet Tinkerbell perched right on the tree stump watching the show.

This couple had just exchanged pewter handmade rings bought in the little store I was in.  I noticed the incredible quilted cape, but caught this sweet picture after they kissed.  I have to say it again...SWEET.

A handsomer Knight does not exist in the land for he makes a yearly appearance in the jousting tournament much to the delight of all of the fair young maidens.  And not so young maidens, too ; )

My Street

Most of the day the street looks like this.  Serene and quiet.  But down where that red tree is in the distance is right near the back entry way to the elementary school.  So twice a day, at drop off (8:00 a.m.) and pick up (2:45 p.m.) all heck breaks loose.  The street is filled with cars and kids.  Cars used to park on either side of  the street...with cars trying to drive both ways through the middle! if you can imagine...
until finally the town put up signs saying NO PARKING on left side of street during pick up and drop off.

Although my youngest is in middle school now, I always felt in buying this house that I was giving him a little boost, a little slice of small town life, just rolling out of bed and down the sidewalk to school. 

The Vintage Bazaar

Ok, think of the most beautiful day.  It was warm but not hot.  It had rained in the morning, but by noon it was all sunny skies and for the next five hours we were outside enjoying every second of it.  This was "The Vintage Bazaar", held both in the Spring and Fall on the grounds of beautiful Pettengill Farm in Salisbury, Massachusetts.

Every kind of shabby chic, vintage-y, repurposed, repainted, alternatively used thing you could think of was there.  

My friend Donna fell head over heels for this little trailer.  It was sold by the time we got to it so she didn't have to call home and convince the folks there why it had to be in her backyard.  It was the most charming littlest space in the world. 

Her daughter, Shea, has her own sense of style and was thinking about buying these 70's shades.

Great letters.  EAT for the kitchen?  Perfect.

Row upon row upon row of wonderful things and the crafty people who made them.  So very inspiring.

This country girl (well in my heart, anyway) was going mad for this bench with the back of a rusty Chevy truck in it.  I mean...not everyday you see that.

If heaven exists, it has to look like this place, on this day.  Beauty in every direction.
www.pettengillfarm.com

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so it might take a stretch for this to be your attraction, but certainly some might like it in their home.  Not me, but some ; )

check 'em out!  www.mybazaarlife.com