by Shari | Desserts, Musings, Recipes, Shari_T
Life is about perspective.
All the cakes are made, marked and in the freezer ready to be filled, glazed, iced, etc. I even squeezed in a second round of the Red Velvet cake to test it with less oil.
No problems there.
Largely, all the cakes were relatively easy to do, but the last 2 actually took both mixers, gobs of bowls and one a double boiler. The first 2 cakes are posted on the blog, with detailed photos.
When I started this process, I switched to Daniel’s camera because he never uses it. I don’t like using mine because I am afraid of getting food, oil, flour dust, etc., into it.
While it was a Christmas gift, I know it was in the neighborhood of $1,000, whereas Daniel’s was in the neighborhood of $150. I’d rather ruin that one if I’m dropping it in some batter or a pan of boiling water.
Now, with no worries about ruining my camera, I diligently pressed forward taking photos and baking the remainder of the cakes. I even enlisted Daniel for the last 2 cakes because I’m still new at this (cooking/baking and photo taking), and what should have been a few minutes of time from mixer to oven, was taking up to 2 hours.
So, Daniel took the photos of the last 2 days of cakes. The cakes went together quickly even with some additional steps, like melting chocolate and whipping egg whites.
I had time to put the first 2 days of photos on my computer, but thereafter, I just was too busy. I spent all day today catching up on the blogs, and was working to try to get at least a day ahead.
Then, it came time to add the photos to blog 3. Photos – you know, all those hundreds we took using Daniel’s camera.
THERE ARE NONE!!!
The last photo on his camera was taken the first evening after I cooked the first 2 cakes. We have photos of Spirit sitting on a blanket on his luggage. Cute, but not steps for making cakes.
Daniel has just informed me that photo was taken on my camera, not his. That means no photos were actually recorded to the SD card.
At first, I was in shock; I just couldn’t believe there were absolutely no photos. Panic began to set in at the thought of this series.
I started laughing.
It is after all, just cakes. Right?
I can recreate the photos by simply baking more cakes. It’s not like I’ve lost photos of loved one’s no longer with us.
This is what life is all about: mishaps with sisters chasing you and you trip, shoving your teeth back into your gums, or sticking a crayon up your nose, for whatever reason, and getting it stuck.
I’m not sure this is even as bad as making a cake and finding the dog has eaten a third of it moments before your party guests arrive.
Since this moment was destined to become one of those funny stories we will tell later and laugh, why not just laugh about it now?
The greater issue was how to proceed with the blog at this point. The decision was unanimous to post what I have and add the photos when I have the chance to bake them again.
So, for now, the cake recipes and details will be posted without photos.
The next time something doesn’t go according to “the plan,” ask yourself this: “In a year, will this be funny? In 6 months? After a good night’s sleep?”
If the answer to any of those is “Yes,” then go ahead and laugh now!
Love,
Shari
by Shari | Musings, Our Art, Shari_T
On August 14, 1958, a bouncing baby boy entered the world, and likely cried, “Mother! Where’s my coffee?”
Okay, I jest but only a bit. That is actually what his Grandfather Sparks said every morning to his Grandmother Sparks when he woke up. She would dutifully hop out of bed and go get it for him. Every morning. No matter what.
Occasionally, Clay tries that with me (only in fun, though), to which I reply, “Out in the kitchen, so go get it yourself.”
Then I paddle off and go make him coffee.
Especially today; it’s his birthday. Or, I would, but he’s still in Georgia.
Clay, because it’s your birthday, I’ll send you a cup of coffee.
Thankfully, he was home last week, so we celebrated then with chocolate cake and a game of Shanghai Rummy. Clay had the highest score, so we declared him the official winner, despite the fact that Daniel actually had the lowest score. Daniel always seems to win our card games; think I best check up his sleeve next time.
Still, I wanted to do something special for Clay today; for without that fateful day in 1958, I’d never have found my one, true love.
So, Clay, this is for you:
Today is your birthday.
Do something fun for yourself.
Take a grand adventure.
?
Spend time with those you love (or can at least tolerate).
?
Enjoy a delicious meal.
Take time to relax.
And while your years (and gray hair) may say “55,”
You’re still driving in the fast lane, Baby!
?
Here’s hoping it’s your best year ever!
(I must confess that these panels are from a larger card/book Clay actually received in 2011; however, I know he won’t mind my sharing it with you, and the original text was different. It was created using the Cricut Crocs Rule cartridge, and made a wonderful backdrop for the card. You can see the original card, in its entirety, along with the original text here, August 2011 Monthly Challenge: Create a Scene. The coffee cup card was created using the Cricut Winter Frolic cartridge.)
Have a wonderful birthday, Clay!
Love,
Shari
by Shari | Musings, Shari_T
What in the world is the Great Cake Bake?
It’s the selecting, mixing, baking, tasting and judging of an assortment of cakes for the wedding in January. This is not a lesson on how to decorate a wedding cake, but that may indeed be another topic, another day.
It might also be just an excuse to eat too much fat and sugar, but I’ll never tell.
And, it’s another item off my to-do list, which, I admit, is shamelessly missing check marks. No sense in bothering with those strict timelines most weddings require, because let’s face it, I’m more of a “fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants” kind of gal. After all, the wedding isn’t until January and it’s only August.
However, priorities and details must be made. Cake is a detail that is a high priority.
Most of my friends and family know I’m an amateur (barely) cake decorator, so they expect a cake. But, not just any cake. No, that simply won’t do.
Isn’t there some rule that a bride should never bake her own wedding cake? Rules, schmules.
However, in the off chance the wives of old were correct, perhaps I should not tempt fate (again). Besides, as the bride, I’ll be too busy doing other “bridely” things to bake and decorate a cake, right?
Deb and I spent our time together last month playing with fondant. I hear she’s been practicing and has some goodies to share next week when we get together again. (Yes, additional sweets is what we need next week!)
This way, Deb will be able to take care of the cake, and the whole “curse of the bride” thing will be averted. Phew! That was close.
It’s a good thing we are taste testing this month since we are not meeting next month. I believe we’re going to be at Pat’s to do flowers and decorations in October, and who knows where we’ll be in November and December.
So, if my calculations are correct, we will have only 3 working days in October, 2-1/2 days in November and December, giving us a grand total of ‘8 days to prepare for the wedding!
WHAT???? That cant be! I’m not ready!
I need a list.
So, join me for the next week or so as I bake the cakes, and see which one is the big winner.
Checklist, please!
Love,
Shari
P. S. Hey, is that Jennifer?s fingerprint on that piece of cake?
by Jen_F | Jen_F, Musings
These gatherings are great for lots of reasons. One is I get to observe all sorts of things about my sisters that either:
1. I wasn’t around for for 25 years to share in.
2. I never noticed before.
I thought I’d share a few of those observations today. We’ll be in the kitchen(s) since that is where we hang a lot of the time. So, come on with me as we explore and learn.
My kitchen is fairly small. I’ve got a limited amount of cabinet space which means there’s a limited amount of stuff to store in addition to limited amount of space I have to store something in or to lose something in.
On the other hand, Deb’s kitchen has probably 4x the amount of cabinet space I have and probably 10x the amount of stuff in her kitchen than I do.
In between Deb and me, is Shari. She’s probably got 2x the cabinet space I do and probably 4-5x the amount of stuff.
This “stuff” I’m referring to is all the normal things like plates, cups, glasses, bowls, then the cool things like different type cutting boards, various/miscellaneous/extraneous cooking and baking implements and containers…more stuff to lose and at least twice the space to lose it in.
And of course, in Deb’s house, she’s got the high tech Mr. Gadget Guy, so she’s probably got 5 different devices to unscrew caps off bottles, 10 different spatula’s for flipping eggs, wooden spoons in a variety of sizes and shapes, good silverware. plastic silverware, cheap A## forks, chop sticks, a variety of temperature devices, at least 4 different chopper. grinder, processor devices, etc.
Sometimes when I go to Deb’s, I cruise the cabinets and drawers just to see what’s new in kitchen gadgetry. And of course with all those cools spaces to store, and the multitude of things to store, there’s PLENTY of room to lose things in.
On the downside of this fascination I have with checking out my sister’s kitchen stuff, since I’ve been designated as official cleaner up’er, Ive gotten myself in trouble in the past for putting things up where I thought they belonged (meaning it seemed logical to me), but not where they REALLY belonged.
Over time I’ve worked to cure myself of the compulsion to put away the things I wash. However, the more frequent the visits, the more I get to think I know my way around and start to get a knack for what goes where.
But… that doesn’t mean everything always gets put back where it should. AND in my own defense, I’m not always the only one putting stuff up. AND I’ve also noticed that I do more and more things without thinking about them (on auto-pilot, so to speak), which I suspect my sisters do too… sooooooooooooooo
All this is leading up to the most recent mystery Where’s the glass lid for the blue pot. I had to chuckle when I received the email from Shari a few days ago with a “call out.”
I have been unable to find the glass lid to my small blue pot since our last get-together. Do either of you recall putting it away?
Which, by the way, I thought was totally hilarious. Neither Deb nor Shari let me use too many pots and pans, so I’m not even sure what it looks like, this small blue pot. But evidently Deb used it when she made caramel for the donuts which also means I got to have a lick out of the pot and probably washed it too.
YIKES!/ None of us are just too sure when the lid was last seen.
It’s somewhat critical, I gather, since Clay is home this week. When I spoke with Shari this morning, she said he’s finding it challenging to make his oatmeal without the lid to the [evidently] favorite/perfect oatmeal cooking pot.
Even though both Deb and I had already responded via emails to say we neither one knew where the mysterious, missing lid might be, I confessed this morning on the phone.
I’m obviously a kleptomaniac with a poor memory and brought the lid home as a keepsake to remind me of her.
Have a lid?.. any lid ?
XOXOXOXOXO
Til the next time!
PS: there’s a bigger lesson here. We should be doing these gatherings at my house where there’s little room to lose stuff.
You’re never too young or too old !! So…
Live Every Moment,
Love Beyond Words,
Laugh Everyday,
~Jennifer
by Shari | Musings, Shari_T
I received an email from Jennifer, gently reminding me that I had not posted pictures or any congratulatory words regarding Clay’s recent graduation from law school, let alone that he actually earned TWO degrees in the span of the typical three years of law school. 
I smiled to myself as I thought about writing something and posting photos. You’d 1) need to know that Clay turns 55 in a couple of weeks, and 2) he began taking the bar exam this morning, and 3) well, you’d just need to know Clay. The man never stops.
While most people in their 50’s are seriously putting their thoughts into retirement, Clay began law school, thus fulfilling a lifelong dream of being a “lawyer.” 
As I pondered that thought, I realized that there are some life rules that Clay would want to share with our children and grandchildren (from my keyboard to God’s ears that they’d even figure out what girls are first).
Life Rule #1: It ain’t over until you’re dead.
Every single day you wake up on this side of the grass is a blessing, a gift. Don’t waste any of them. It is never too late to do anything your heart desires. You’ve heard it a million times in your life, but it’s true; try not to wait until your in your 50?s to start living.
Life Rule #2: Your words have power; choose them wisely.
One day, in response to something Clay asked (and who knows what that was), I told him that if there was anything that disappointed me about him, it was that he never went to law school.
Apparently, he took those words to heart.
He said he wanted to pursue whatever steps it took to use his C.P.A. certification to practice in tax court.
Again, me and my big mouth: “Why not just go to law school?”
Life Rule #3: Be careful what you wish/ask for because you just might get it.
See last sentence in Life Rule #2. Nuff said.
Life Rule #4: There will always be setbacks and obstacles in any endeavor; meet them head on and don’t back down.
Shortly after the required testing for attending law school, our first obstacle came along: I fell quite ill, and no one could figure out what was wrong with me. As the months passed, we continued to make plans for him to attend law school in San Antonio, but when we still didn’t know what was wrong, he offered to pass on law school.
Absolutely not! End of discussion.
Life Rule #5: Failure is not a crime, unless you give into it.
If you get up every single day, you will fail. It’s a fact. Get used to it. It’s not that you fail, but what you do with the failure that will define your life.
Clay’s first semester was not at all what he hoped it would be, and I think he may have considered quitting.? Thankfully, quitting is not in his vocabulary. (After all, he didn’t give up on our getting back together, and that took 25 years!) He stuck with it and things went much smoother after that semester.
Life Rule #6: Alter your plans if necessary.
Clay was already on the fast track to finish a semester ahead of everyone else in his class (no surprise there), but decided that he’d also like to earn an additional degree, the L.L.M., which is the law degree equivalent of a Master’s degree. This would require that he move to Georgia for a year, complete the final 7 hours of law school, plus take an additional 12 hours for the first semester.
Oh, and also continue to run his C.P.A. firm.
I admit this was not one bandwagon I jumped on right away, but in the end, I supported his decision and he moved to Georgia.
I won’t even go into what a fiasco the moved turned out to be, but Clay turned the experience into another law degree, so it ended well.
Life Rule #7: Take time to celebrate your accomplishments with those who supported you and love you.
Sadly, Clay was unable to attend his J.D. graduation in San Antonio in December, so his diploma was mailed to him.
However, for his L.L.M. graduation, the folks, the boys and I drove to Macon to watch him receive his diploma. It was a wonderful day, and we could not be prouder of him and his accomplishments.
Clay honored Bill with a Stole of Gratitude (the orange scarf-looking thing around Bill’s neck). Clay and Bill share a love of all things academic, affording them a special bond.
Clay, we are all so very proud of the things you’ve accomplished, and will continue to be amazed at the things you will accomplish.
We love you!
Love,
Shari
by Jen_F | Jen_F, Musings
If you want to talk about sugar over-intoxication I experienced it this last week with Deb and Shari while they played with 3 layers of cake and 3 different flavors of Fondant. Frankly after layer two, who could even taste layer three? LOL
And though the experience of not wanting to consume any more sugar was shocking, even more shocking was to realize what my part is in this big picture of our get together( s ).
Neither Deb nor Shari will openly ask me to cook; however, to play to my strengths, below is a short pictorial of MY PART:
I’m the creator and maintainer of this website 4TexasSisters. Here I was trying to teach them how to select their featured picture along with the more intricate details of our design, which neither of them paid any attention to. The featured picture part, they got, it’s the finer detail of how this all works that glazed their eyes over.
I’m also the official taster – and in some cases the food painting canvas. I actually didn’t make this mess myself. Shari thought it would be fun to smear chocolate on my face and Deb just happened to be standing there with the camera.
| That’s Shari behind that beater & I got her back even though she was a bit more agreeable and prepared than I had been. |
|
I’m also the official “cleaner-up’er”. Deb was pointing out how the “stuff” had stuck to the pan and I might want to let it “soak.” This is serious business and they are serious about making messes in the kitchen.
And, I keep the table wiped off.
Oh and I guess it might be a good time to mention that Deb had just cut my hair before we got there, so it’s not that I was having a bad hair day It was more like I was having a near-to-no hair day. (LOL Deb, I love you!!!!! AND appreciate your cutting my hair)
Til the next time!
You?re never too young or too old!! So…
Live Every Moment,
Love Beyond Words,
Laugh Everyday,
~Jennifer
