Where Have I Been

Wow, I just looked at this blog, and I haven't written anything in years. A lot has happened since I last wrote. Both my parents died in 2014 within six weeks of each other. Then Don's dad died a few months after mine. Lots of going back and forth from Colorado to California to handle estates and funerals. However, his mom is still alive and living in Southern California with Don's sister. 

In 2015 we sold Mountain Air Oxygen Service (which put me in the hospital over that deal). I had been doing that business for 28 years. Dealing with the state and federal government programs was impossible. I was so relieved when we finally were able to see. That story is a miracle in itself that I will share sometime later.

In 2016 our daughter, Casey, contracted Hodgkins Lymphoma and had to go through two stem cell transplants. Don was her caregiver, and I took care of the boys. Lots of traveling back and forth to Denver. After her second transplant, Casey got remarried. 

Back in 2010 Don had a terrible bout of diverticulitis which you can see some of the updates in earlier blogs. This almost killed him. But God spared him for me. In 2017 he had an abdominal hernia and had to have that surgery during the same time Casey was getting treatments in Denver. He was pretty sick. I was running between the Blood Cancer Center where Casey was and Swedish which is where Don was. It was crazy and scary, but God is good and brought them both through it all.

We remodeled our home (as if we didn't have anything else on our plate). It turned out beautiful and I was content to live there the rest of my life. However, Don husband retired and wanted to move to a smaller place in a warmer climate. Casey was living in New Mexico teaching so sold our home in 2021 and moved to New Mexico to be close to her and help with the boys. However, two years later our Casey got a job in Nebraska and moved. We are still in NM. We like the weather here and our friends. Not interested in moving again until we have to. Lesson: Don't follow your kids around.

We love our church in Corrales. Sandia View Academy is there, and I found myself teaching music for three years to the high school kids. Then I added an art class. I enjoy the students very much. I love teaching. This leaves me very little time to bake cakes. Plus, my beautiful kitchen in our previous home is not in this house. Our house is quite small now and no room for all the stuff needed for fancy cake making. I don't have a second fridge either which was essential when I did cakes.

Jemez Creek, New Mexico

Since I have been here, I have made two or three cakes. I just did a chocolate cake with strawberry filling and stable whipped cream frosting. I had never done that before. Not sure I like working with it, but I was able to do it. Advantage, it isn't overly sweet, and not greasy. The person I made it for loved it so I guess it was all good. Just go online and find a stable whipped cream frosting recipe. Most come with videos which I always find helpful.

Because of budget cuts at the school, I was furloughed until there is room for me again. Since I am semi-retired, I have gotten my paints out again and am really enjoying it. 

My daughter, Callie, is also an artist. She and I get together and go "painting" somewhere. Fortunately, she still lives in Colorado and plans to stay put. It is only 3 hours from our house so we can get together often. We are making plans to do some painting trips together. I'm looking forward to that and will share our adventures.

I didn't expect my work to sell but I am pleasantly surprised that it has. My most recent painting was from a picture I took on one of our excursions up to Jemez Springs. The drive is beautiful especially in the fall. I whipped out my phone and snapped this picture. I just finished painting last week and it will be in a show tomorrow at the Fall Festival for Sandia View Academy.

New Mexico Road Runner

I love birds. I finished this little guy a couple of weeks ago. He is also in the show. 

I will post more artwork and maybe a cake or two. I plan on decorating cookies with the girl next door. She is excited to learn how to decorate sugar cookies with royal icing. That is always fun and very artsy. I'll post something when I get it done. 

So much more happened during this time but it just gets to be too much to put it all down now. Maybe later. What I am happy about is that we are doing well. Our son, Josh, is going to be a father in December with his beautiful wife, Isa. This is their first child and our 6th grandchild, another boy. We have two boys and three girls right now. God just keeps on blessing us every day.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Make a comment and let me know how you have been doing while I was away. Stay connected. You are loved!

Graduation Cakes for 2021

The above cake was made for an Alamosa High School graduate. I hand painted the logo on a thin sheet of  gum paste. I used food coloring for paint. It took awhile but I did it.  Turned out great.

 This cake was done for a high school graduate who is planning to go to Texas Tech.  I hand painted their logo on gum paste as well. 

Sebby’s 8th Grade Graduation Cake

Seb likes Andes mints.  This is a chocolate cake with Andy’s mint filling.  His mascot is a knight and I used mint candies to make it look like a castle.  He loved it.

I used a triple chocolate boxed cake mix.  I soaked it with a bit of sugar water (1 sugar to 3 water) to keep it from drying out as buttercream tends to do that to cakes. I melted the mints and poured them into my buttercream frosting.  I whipped it up pretty and it acted like a mousse.  Tasty!

 

Gracielyn’s 2nd Birthday Cake, Hedge Hog Cake

My little friend is turning 2 and requested a Hedgehog cake.  It is a vanilla cake with strawberry filling and vanilla buttercream frosting. I soaked my cake a little bit with sugar water so that it wouldn’t dry out.  I have to say it was pretty tasty,

I have clients send me a picture of what they like and the colors and flavors.  They found this one on the internet at littlepeachcakery.com. Mine turned out fatter but still really cute.

I used a 2 boxed cake mixes and made my own filling and frosting. Recipe below:

2 sticks of softened butter

2 cups white shortening

1 tsp Wilton butter flavoring

1 tsp Wilton vanilla

1/4 tsp Almond flavoring

1 pound powdered sugar

2 tablespoons of Wilton Meringue powder

1/4 tsp salt if using unsalted butter

3 tablespoons heavy cream (more for softer frosting)

Place softened butter in mixing bowl and beat until smooth and fluffy.  Add a cup of shortening at a time to butter and beat well. Add flavorings and mix well.

In a separate bowl sift a one pound bag of powdered sugar with 2 tablespoons of Wilton Meringue powder (and salt if needed). Add by the spoonful on low or stir at a time until half is added.  Add 3 tablespoons heavy cream and mix well.  Add remaining powdered sugar.  Scrape bowl until blended and then turn up the speed and beat until fluffy.  Make sure you scrape sides and bottom of bowl. 

Frost and fill 8 to 10 inch round two layer cake.

For strawberry filling chop a cup of fresh washed and diced strawberries.  Add to two 1 1/2 cups buttercream.  Add two tablespoons of your favorite strawberry jam.  Mix well and fill cake.

 

Music Box Cake

A neighbor of mine is moving and gave me this cute music box.  She thought I could use it as a cake topper.  You can use anything as a topper.  As you can see from many earlier posts I have used toys for my grandkids cakes so that they have something special to remember their day by.

This particular cake was requested of me by a nine year old friend of mine.  I have lots of kids call me Grammy Sue.  She asked if I would make her cake for her.  She loves horses and has a couple on a small ranch. This music box was perfect.  Unfortunately it is all made of wood not sealed.  I had to figure out a way to set it above the icing so that it would get grease spots on it.  I used a plastic that was the perfect size.

Butter cream frosting has made a big comeback.  Fondant is used less and less.  There are so many creative ideas out there for butter cream.  I wanted to try the multi color look. I took my time to make sure I got the layers even and smooth. Watching YouTube really helps me see the different techniques used to achieve this look. In any case, it turned out adorable and my little friend was ecstatic.

Callie’s POP Up Gallery Birthday Surprise

Callie is an artist and so am I.  She turned 40 this year and her brother and sister wanted to do a Pop-up Gallery for her to display her art work and invite friends. It turned out really nice. I made this artist cake and painted the miniature paintings to put on it to resemble the gallery. The top is lemon with lemon filling and the bottom tier is chocolate cake and chocolate filling. 

Practicing butter cream flowers

 I am learning how to do butter cream flowers.  I watched You Tube videos to learn which is how I learned to make cakes and decorate in the beginning.  Anyone can learn if they have a desire and you don’t have to pay for school or classes.  However, I would like to go to a class or two eventually.

This cake was made from left over cakes I made for a wedding. I took it to our church potluck and it went fast! It is the white cake with raspberry filling.