Feeling Lazy

Today I am just tired- I have tons to do for my upcoming quilt show, but I just don't feel like doing any of it. So here I sit, surfing around the interweb, but I don't even feel like doing that. My brain just feels foggy, you know?

So I am watching Pride and Prejudice (2005), just love it- the photography, the music, the costumes. Sometimes I think I'd like to have lived during that era, but then I consider the lack of, well, hygiene, indoor plumbing.... I guess I really wouldn't be cut out for that.

If you love romance, fabulous costumes, lovely music, humor, the charm of the 18th century English countryside, and you haven't seen this movie- you must!

Just a Few More Bites...

Just a few more cake photos. Do your teeth hurt yet? I am just awestruck at the workmanship that goes into these works of art. Stunning. I asked one of the bakers if it breaks her heart to cut into one of these beauties after spending so much time on them, she said she's used to it. I just don't think I could do it, I think if I spent that much time on a cake, I'd put it under glass and display it in my living room for at least a few years.

This Mardi Gras themed caked was complete with edible masks.

Is this one fun or what?

OK, just one more.......

Let Them Eat Cake

The name of the event we went to was called Let Them Eat Cake, sponsored by Philadelphia Wedding magazine, and it was a fundraiser for cancer research. In addition to getting to eat cake all night, we also got goodie bags filled with tons of samples, mostly salon products. Really nice stuff!!!
















Of course, all of the flowers are completely edible- and incredible!

Sylvia Wienstock was one of the judges. Here is a picture of her with my daughter.

CAKE!!!

WARNING-VIEWING THE FOLLOWING PICTURES MAY CAUSE CAVITIES, SUDDEN WEIGHT GAIN AND THE NEED FOR AN INSULIN SHOT.

OK...Now that I have your attention...

My daughter, being very creative, loves those Cake Challenge shows on The Food Network (OK, I watch them too.) So as part of her 13th birthday present, I took her to a cake competition in Philadelphia last week. The cakes there rivalled those I had seen on TV. Honestly incredible. I took A LOT of photos.

Oh and by the way- WE GOT TO TASTE EACH ONE!!!! AND THEY HAD TAKE OUT BOXES SO WE COULD BRING CAKE HOME!!! (My pancreas may not recover from this one....)

Needless to say, there will be lots of cake photos over the next few days. Enjoy!!!

This one was modelled after a wedding ring quilt and had "stitching" in the fondant which covered the cake.

This little guy went with the quilt cake as a groom's cake- completely edible! Isn't he cute!

Believe it or not, this cake was in the student competition! Love the flowers and the lustre dust!

Not Edelweiss

These cute little flowers pop up in my front yard at this time every spring. First I thought maybe they were Edelweiss (which would have been perfect, since my daughter will play Maria in The Sound of Music this weekend at her high school), but I looked it up and they are not. Actually, I don't know why I thought they were Edelweiss, I guess they're just how I imagined Edleweiss might look like. Anyway, I have not been able to identify them in my books or wildflower guides (I think they were probably planted there by some previous owner.) They are only a couple of inches tall, and the flowers are shaped kind of like daffodils- 3 petals on the outside with a bell-like flower in the center. If anyone has any ideas what they might be, please let me know! But anyway, every year when they spring up, I know spring's on its way, and that makes me happy!

Happy Birthday!

Today is hubby's birthday, the "big" 42! We have been together well over half our lives now (since we were 19!), I hope we have at least 42 more years together.

He put together a neat collage to celebrate his birthday (by the way, I will be 42 this August, and he is MUCH better about being in his 40's than I am- you won't see me making any collages for my birthday!). He has a lot of great photos on his photoblog, if you want to check it out. He was into photography in high school and college, and has just recently gotten back into it. I'm glad, because he is really good at it. Happy Birthday, Honey!!!

Warm Wishes

I tend to get a lot of ideas in my head, and I've learned over the years that I can't jump on every one, that I have to really think it through before I commit. More importantly, I have learned to think and pray over these things before I mention it to anyone else. Too many times I have opened my mouth only to ask myself a short time later -What was I thinking, I don't have time for this?! I know you all know what I'm talking about!

I had been thinking for a while that the kids in my daughter's class needed to do some sort of service project. I remember when I was a kid we went at least once a month to a local nursing home to sing to the residents, and those old folks [as we used to call them :)] really loved it. I wanted the kids to experience what it feels like to help others-it's a good feeling, a feeling that we are all connected. It also reminds us of how blessed we are, and helps to develop empathy.

Last week, I helped my daughter's 7th grade class make lap blankets for a local nursing home. Yesterday, I took my daughter and a few of her friends and their teacher to deliver them to the residents. And, of course, the residents loved and appreciated them.

To make them, I cut out rectangles from lots of pretty colors of polar fleece. I took them to school, and the kids each picked out 2 pieces, in colors that they liked. We placed the 2 layers together, measured 3" from the edge all the way around, marked with masking tape, and then cut fringe up to the 3" mark and about 1" wide. Then, we just tied the fringes together. The kids had a great time, and were proud of their accomplishment. The local newspaper has agreed to feature photos of the class project.

The reason that I wanted to do a project like this is because I think it's really important to get kids involved in their community. Kids learn by doing, and when they do something nice for someone else, it makes them feel good about themselves. It's easy to get caught up in our lives and all the stuff we have to do, and not have time to go out of our way for others. I can't tell you how many times I thought to myself as I planned and prepped for this project, "I don't have time for this," and really wished I hadn't even mentioned my idea to the teacher. But in the end, doing right always feels right and I'm glad I followed through with that idea.

Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, "Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense? James 2:14-17 (The Message Bible)

More Quilts

A few more quilt photos. The show I mentioned the other day is held at the Continental Inn in Lancaster Pennsylvania. It is actually across the street from another show, the Quilter's Heritage Celebration at the Lancaster Host Resort and Conference Center (sorry, I couldn't find any links for the actual shows, but you can email Sue for more info on the show at the Continental.) The show will be held March 26-30, 2008.

If you have never been to Lancaster PA, I highly recommend it, especially as a family getaway. There is a large Amish population there, lots of great food, tourist attractions, quilt shops, and fabric shops with reasonable prices on cotton fabric. I've been there over a hundred times, can't wait to get back!