Cake-decorating finale...sort of!

As expected my darling daughter shone like the sun with her creative and artistic little self, I on the other hand...well, not so much!

Here is her work of art:

Photo is too dark, but cake is lovely!  15 years old and only 4 classes.

Myself on the other hand, spent most of the evening trying to make my frosting turn black, took a lot of stirring!

My attempt:

40 something, and looks like a 5 year old did it!

I want to add little spiders down the sides by extending strings of the web, and add a zigzag border of orange and black together around the bottom, but being the chronic procrastinator I am, and the fact that I like my cakes "naked"...don't hold your breath waiting to see a finished photo, as it may never happen...

The next level class is scheduled to begin in November, not sure if we'll take it or not?  Depends on scheduling and whether or not my pride has healed enough to suffer through another round of humiliation!  *wink*

9/11

Can't believe that it's been 10 years since that tragic yet beautiful day.  There wasn't a cloud in the sky here.

I was vacuuming and my husband popped in with an odd expression on his face and told me to turn on the TV...I spent an awful lot of time in front of it for the next few weeks.  I still can not fathom the level of hatred to commit such a heinous act on innocent civilians.  I cried along with the rest of the country and much of the world at each story, each photo of a loved one gone too soon.

I remember the eerie feeling I got looking up into the sky and not being able to see a single jet track for the next few days.

We finally bought our own flag, and noticed so many more popping up around town than I had ever seen before.  Sad that it takes such a tragic experience to make us truly appreciate just how lucky we are to live here in the United States of America.  We have so many blessings that are far too easy for us to take for granted, simply being able to give our children a clean glass of water is a luxury that so much of the world can not even imagine.

Perhaps the best way to honor those who died on 9/11 is to be grateful, every day, for every blessing in our lives...  

September already!

Been busy since school has started, like most everyone I know!  Regular school activities aren't enough for my girl, so in addition to her guitar lessons, now we've signed up for a cake decorating class together!  I personally don't have the patience for that, really missing a certain Aunt and wishing that she had been granted more years with us...sigh.  She would have loved to teach my girl all about making beautiful cakes, and any other beautiful hobbies she might take a shine to...gardening, sewing, quilting, cross stitching, cooking of all kinds, party planning, etc., etc.  I miss her SO much, in so many ways...  Thankful for all of the memories, and fortunate to have so many little reminders of her throughout my home, and in daily experiences.  What I wouldn't give to hear her voice once more, a hug, see her smile, sing Fogelberg's Sweet Magnolia...gotta stop 'cause I'm blubbing too much to see what I'm typing.  Yes, for you and my girl I will try to do well in this class, I can almost hear you giggling in anticipation of watching me struggle through it! 
Love you forever,
One of your many "Ladybugs"