Retirement & Cake

I have two firmly established goals for retirement. One, I plan to bicycle across the United States with my husband. My friend Vonda and I sat enjoying a meal at my favorite restaurant one afternoon when seated several tables down from us was a man resembling Lance Armstrong in all his bicycle gear. I asked him, gazing at his packed-down bike, how far he was traveling. He said, "Across the country." From that moment, I decided I would keep this goal in my heart for my golden years.

My other dream is to one day run a B&B. The spirit of this goal was rekindled last weekend when my husband surprised me with a trip into our wine country and an unforgettable stay at The Hiding Place. It was love. Me. The decor. And this place. As soon as we walked in, My Man said, "Oh yeah. You're gonna love this." Literally, I asked Debbi, the owner, what paint colors she used on the walls. It was perfect from entry to guest bath.

As part of our weekend, we walked through a quaint German town established on the hills of the Missouri River. And there, amidst the grape vines and country stores, stood this. My dream.

Oh, it might not look like much. But I have the whole place planned. On the bottom floor, The Principal's Office. That's where my father-in-law will make and sell his woodworking. Across from his shop, The Cafe. I'll be up late at night perfecting my latest baked good --- festive cakes for the community and coffee cakes for the morning guests. First floor, four rooms to be rented out (First through Fourth Grade, of course. Maybe I'll name them after my teachers...Let's see, that would be Mrs. George's First Grade; Mrs. O'Riley's Second Grade; Mr. Buholt's Third Grade Room; and Mean Mrs. Wohlfard's Fourth Grade Room (maybe that one'll be haunted ---- nah, just kidding. She taught me a ton. She was just REALLY scary to a 9 year-old!). Then, finally, on the top floor, our family's living quarters. The whole thing's for sale for only $395,000. In the scheme of things, that's really not that much money (except for the asbestos removal and $1.4 million necessary to renovate...but who's counting. I just need a really big loan, and I'll cross my fingers behind my back and wink at the loan officer that really, I will pay it off (wait, that's a different soap box for a different day...)

So, alas. Here I am. With the dream of owning a B&B. And maybe even starting a bakery. Until then, come back tomorrow night - I hope to post pictures of some AWESOME cakes I've been working on tonite. Three cakes. Two and three layers apiece. Hope I remembered the vanilla in all of them...

Eye Candy and The K-log

About a year ago, I started writing a K-log. I fashioned it after my husband's equivalent. He told me then about 'blogs' and we started our own non-online version. His was more to document family events. Mine was about this...

August 28, 2007

OK, it’s my time to start the k-log…I’ll have to think of a catchy title. Or not. It’s about the writing. About the learning who I am, what I like, dislike, want to remember. To be a student of life and learn something every day. Here’s something I know. I want to have a network. A friendship circle. Yet, branching out and developing that circle scares the bejeezes out of me.

Tonite, I held S – I’ve decided I don’t do enough ‘just holding.’ With S, Dear One, it is always functional holding – if I hold her, she doesn’t cry. Life is simpler – obviously more peaceful – without a baby crying. So I held her tonite just to hold her and feel that baby love. And I realized how I’ve turned my nights into something just for me. Maybe a drink (Margarita, please), maybe a toffee almond bar (newest obsession – don’t ask how much I spent to make those the first time…and again tonite, for that matter!). Maybe a surf of the web or stamping or a Designed to Sell episode. And one day – not too long from now – I won’t have those times or those things. Because I won’t be this ‘stay-at-home mom.’ I know The Man wants me to return to work when the kids are at school. And I don’t know that I wouldn’t want to do that. But, tonite, it made me sad to think about the future away from today. Today, it’s hard. Believe me, it’s hard. But I’m home and my work is making it through the day with only one cup of caffeine. And honestly, if I want to head to the Bread Co. and blow another XX dollars on soufflés and coffee drinks – I can and I do. There’s freedom in these crazy days.

So, how do I go about making my today – my right now – better? I want to be more patient with my kids. I want to teach them the things they should know – things I was taught and things maybe I wasn’t taught. I want to say the things that my mom would’ve said if someone called me a name. The things that need to be said to make them feel better. To give them steel skin. Confidence. Love. To know, no matter what, my momma loves me. And she’d do absolutely anything to make me feel better. I want to be That Mom.

Today was a good day – we played games together downstairs and I folded a load of laundry while they played together, too. And then the rush of getting everyone dressed, fed, and off to school before the bus missed them. And Meiners and S and I ran errands this afternoon. That Meiners. He is a hoot. I need to carry a book with me and just write down the things he says sometimes. It’s not always just his words, but purely the way he says them. He is something else. Of course, there’s the classic, “when I was a tid [kid]…” because when you’re 3 you’ve lived a whole lifetime already!!!

With my kids, I’m not a flub-up. (Well, I pray not!) They’re these perfect little people that God has given me – mostly perfect *wink*. They’re so different. It’s astounding. And each of them has their thing. And though it’s hard, they challenge me and it’s mostly fun. I love them. I hold S and I realize it all over again. That I hold them for such a little time. And then they’re off and I’m literally chasing them to catch up. And when we slow down to hold them – just for the sake of holding – it’s a whole ‘nother baby that’s in my arms and letting me hold her. For only a little while.

The Man in the Mirror

Edited to add: Did I mention I was feverish when writing this post? Yup, I wasn't feeling well, which added to the desperation I was expressing. And it was more about how I looked that night than the challenge of raising S. Ever look in the mirror and think "Wow! Who is THAT?!"

THANK YOU for your sweet, uplifting responses...


OK, so really, it's about me - the woman in the mirror. Wow. I love and appreciate each of my kids. I think I've said it before, though, that #4 has taken me places I never dreamed I'd go. I mean, I've been through my fair share of sleepless nights with #2. But #4 takes it to a whole new level. Maybe it's because I'm older now. I think I handled three kids pretty well. I remember mostly being happy. I remember sleep. Even with three. But four? Four kids. I looked at myself, wide awake at 3:00AM this morning, after having rocked Baby S for the umpteenth time in the midst of the misery of her teething, sinus infected, stuffed up toddler state. And the person looking at me. That person in the mirror. That was a grandmother. Not a mid-30's young, happenin', hip, cool mom like I think I used to be. I'm old. And tired. And stressed.

The End.

Well Said

No, I'm not trying to make this a political blogspot. Because, let's face it - if stood before a group as loving and accepting as family, I prefer to leave the room vs. participate in political talk. Nonetheless, I have too much on my plate this month to place well thought-out prose onto a computer screen. So instead, I laughed and cried alongside this well-spoken and gregarious like-minded soul. And I think he's worth a listen.

My 101st Post

Yep. #100 was a discombobulated mess.


Here's what really happened Friday:

• It was Fall Festival at the kids' school Friday evening.


• I made a strawberry cake for the 'cake walk' at the Fall Festival.


• My husband still rocked (after 10 years) and surprised me Friday with a trip - including planning the babysitting, the activities, and the clothes necessary.


• I received the camera of my dreams as a gift.

I think it looked and sounded in my blog like my husband rocked so I baked him a cake and it just happened to be Fall Festival which had nothing to do with anything. But in fact, it had everything to do with the cake! NOT the husband (who rocks).


Got it?


And here's the recipe, because it truly is divine! Seriously, a 12 year-old recently told me it was the best dessert he'd ever eaten. You can't beat that! (AND it's easy to make! We ALL like desserts that look dreamy, taste divine, and fall into the 'easy' category, right?)


Again, this recipe comes from Southern Living (love them!)

Ingredients
1 (18.25-ounce) package white cake mix
1 (3-ounce) package strawberry gelatin
4 large eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh strawberries
1 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup milk
Strawberry Buttercream Frosting
Garnish: whole strawberries
Preparation
Beat the cake mix and next 7 ingredients at low speed with an electric mixer 1 minute. Scrape down the sides, and beat at medium speed 2 more minutes, stopping to scrape down sides, if needed. (Strawberries should be well blended into batter.)
Pour batter into 3 greased and floured 9-inch cakepans.
Bake at 350° for 23 minutes or until cakes spring back when lightly pressed with a finger.
Cool in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Remove from pans; cool completely on wire racks.
Spread Strawberry Buttercream Frosting between layers and on top and sides of cake. Garnish, if desired. Serve immediately, or chill up to 1 week.
Note: For testing purposes only, we used Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe Classic White Cake Mix without pudding.
To make ahead: Place finished cake in the refrigerator, uncovered, and chill for 20 minutes or until the frosting sets. Cover well with wax paper, and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. To freeze, wrap chilled cake with aluminum foil, and freeze up to 6 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Southern Living, MARCH 2004


Strawberry Buttercream Frosting Ingredients
1 cup butter, softened
2 (16-ounce) packages powdered sugar, sifted
1 cup finely chopped fresh strawberries
Preparation
Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer 20 seconds or until fluffy. Add powdered sugar and chopped strawberries, beating at low speed until creamy. (Add more sugar if frosting is too thin, or add strawberries if too thick.)
Southern Living, MARCH 2004



Here's that picture again (now that I make sense and you understand the reason behind the photo):

My Husband Still Rocks!

After 10 years...

Today's the Fall Festival. I baked this piece of Yum inspired by Melissa at A Little Loveliness! I found the recipe on-line and it hails from Southern Living...



Enjoy!







...I'll post the recipe later...Hubby sprung a surprise trip on me --- plus MY NEW CAMERA!!!



WooHoo!

See ya when we return...from who knows where!

Love, The Tooth Fairy

Have I told you lately that my husband rocks? Here's what he does at 10:30 at night when his oldest daughter lost the tooth that gives her an all expense paid ticket to the ROCK Star concert "All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth!"

Keep in mind, he's been teasing her that she needs to be paying him the money the tooth fairy leaves...sorta like taxing her M&Ms...

*********

To: Pookie
From: The Tooth Fairy
Re: Your latest tooth
Date: 10/1/08


Pookie – I got a news flash on the Tooth Fairy News Network (TFNN) tonight telling me that you lost your last big tooth during dinner this evening. I’ve been keeping an eye on that one for a while, and honestly, I was surprised you were able to hold onto it for so long……it’s been hanging by a thread for some time and I’ve been telling Mr. Tooth Fairy that we’d be visiting your house soon.

Well, I was very surprised this evening when I came to pick up your tooth…..when I looked under your pillow, do you know what I found? Nothing! The space under your pillow was empty! I searched your room for a little while and I simply could not find your lost tooth. I finally had to pull out my Automatic Tooth Detector 3000 (it’s the latest model – you can even adjust the settings by tooth type…..grinders, incisors, molars, etc…..it’s great). Well, the Automatic Tooth Detector 3000 found your tooth right away….but you’ll never guess where it was……under your Daddy’s pillow!

Don’t worry – the Tooth Fairy wasn’t born yesterday. I’ve seen that trick lots of times, and I’m not falling for it.

I’ve left you $3 for this tooth. It’s a really nice looking tooth, and it’s pretty clean, so it will make a good addition to my collection.

I’ll see you next tooth, and keep on brushing!


The Tooth Fairy