From Scratch

"A cake is simultaneously refined and down-home, and by its very construction, it towers above all the other desserts. It's no wonder why we put them on pedestals. And it's why cakes- more than cookies, more than pies, more than puddings or cobblers- are the ultimate expression of love and celebration. Cakes mark special occasions. Birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, grand events. My grandmother made a cake nearly every Saturday. For her, all of life was a special occasion. The process, for anyone who cares to take it on, is still the same. Slow. Deliberate. But the result is always a masterpiece."

One summer between my college years I found myself working 2 jobs and baking cakes. I am not sure how I began to sell the cakes I was baking, but by the end of that summer I had made approximately 50 cakes. 3 kinds to choose from...cream cheese poundcake, lemon poundcake, chocolate poundcake. My dad said I was going to have to buy them a new oven with my money I was making because I was going to wear it out and mom was a little worried about her kitchen aid mixer:) But like all supportive parents they encouraged me all the way as I baked into the late hours of the night after I would get home from work. I learned so much that summer in the kitchen. It became my new classroom. Those poundcakes sparked a desire in me to have a bakery / coffee shop one day. My mom and I would dream about how I could decorate it...coffee mugs from various places. I remember going to one of the pottery shops that summer and looking at the coffee cups and thinking about which ones I would like to have in my shop. Just a few months ago I found a box that had been stored away at my parents filled with bundt pans, a sifter, and a card that said...my poundcake baker. All these items my mom had purchased at antique shops that summer and had given them to me for to use in my bakery one day. Well that has been about 10 years ago now and I have made some poundcakes since then...for birthdays and just everyday celebrations,but I haven't pursued the dream of my bakery. Who knows if I ever will? But it seems that everyone else that I read about started out small with just a desire, an idea, a dream, and then when they least expected it, it became a reality. So I might just have to do a little baking soon. Just to see if I still have it in me!

Feeling So Thankful...

It has been a while since I have posted anything and when I look back at the date of my last post I realize I became pregnant soon after that and I guess I just forgot about my ambitions to blog!!! who knows?!?! Oh well, I am back and hope to do a better job of keeping up with memories, thoughts, and journaling about my life with my boys.

Just feeling thankful tonight for these things...

My wonderful husband who loves me so much and works hard at work and at h0me. I am his biggest fan!! So thankful he is on my team!

My sweet Finley...he is growing up so fast and just amazes me at the things he knows and what he is learning.

My precious Cohen...6 months old already...his smile lights up the room!

My parents...who show up at my house with lunch on Sunday and say we will watch the boys, you go take a nap because you have been up all night with a teething baby. Wow! a wonderful surprise!

A crock pot...dinner is ready when I come home from work!
God's great power to heal broken hearts and "restore the years that locust have eaten."

a nephew that is on the way! I can't wait to be Aunt Nena:)

Friends..to share on this journey of life!

"every good and perfect gift is from above." What are you grateful for today?

Surprise Ray!

Ready for our 17 mile bike ride down the Virginia Creeper Trail

Here we come across the bridge!

time for a little stop to play on the rocks!

Finley, Gammy and Poppy at the Daniel Boone Inn in Boone, NC. We enjoyed a delicious lunch! Finley loved the mashed potatoes, green beans, corn and banana pudding!
A beautiful weekend in Blowing Rock. The weather was gorgeous. Finley, you enjoyed playing in the park in Blowing Rock.
Picnic in the park...we picked up supper from the Mellow Mushroom and enjoyed it in the park.
Finley, you are my favorite!!! I love you!

Happy Birthday Ray! This weekend had been planned for a long time and I was so glad that I was able to pull it off without you having a clue where we were going and that your parents were joining us. What a fun memory we made in Blowing Rock for your 28th birthday! I love you so much and so thankful for the wonderful husband God has blessed me with! I love to do things for you that make you happy and I am so glad that we were able to spend this weekend away and with your parents.

more pictures from burlington park

The Burlington Park

Finley,
This was such a fun day with you! We took you to the Burlington Park. This park has been around for many years. In fact, the carousel is 100 yrs old this year! Your aunt Jenna and aunt Valerie and I went to this park when we were little too. You were very excited to ride the choo choo train and the hobby horse...I loved hearing you say those 2 things the whole time we were there. You then decided you wanted to ride the cars around the track. We weren't sure if you would stay in your seat since dad and I couldn't ride with you, but we buckled you in and you did great! We ran out of tickets but you kept saying ride cars, ride cars...so RaRa went and bought some more.I think you rode it 4 times in a row! You are very brave and you like to try new things out. We enjoyed this fun afternoon with you!

Happy Grandparents Day!

September 12...Grandparents Day!
Finley is blessed to have 4 grandparents, 7 great grandparents ( 2 have passed away since he has been born), and 1 great-great grandparent. Wow! What a heritage!
MiMi,RaRa, Poppy, Gammy, Ne Na, Pop, Granny, Grandma, and Papaw....Thank you for loving Finley the way that you do!

Loving this time of year!

I love when the season's change from summer to fall....the crispness in the air, the color of the sky seems more vibrant, and the fun foods that accompany fall! It only takes one night of feeling a tad cooler and I am ready for a smore! I can't count the number of times growing up that we hosted hot dog roast at our home and invited our friends and family over for a fun night around the fire. Anyone that knows me, knows I do not like to eat hot dogs, but I will never pass up a good ole' smore...and I want a burnt marshmallow at that! So this past Sunday night we had our first smore of the season. Finley loves corn on the cob so we had some of that too, just for him:) He doesn't like to be sticky, so the baby wipes stayed near because he had marshmallows everywhere! He sat in his chair around the fire just like the rest of us, of course he didn't stay there long, just enough time for me to get a quick picture. I love times like this! Other than a few mosquito bites, it was a great evening! I hope Finley grows up enjoying simple pleasures like this too.