The Cake

That felt like a LONG bake.  Here are some bullet points ...

(1)  I LOVE her precise instructions. (CakeByCourtney)

(2)  I didn't have 3 8-inch pans.  I thought I did -- so I baked 2 9-inch (per an option).

(3)  Probably should've done a bundt cake and cupcakes in the baking cups because the layers had some rise in the middle.  They were too thin to shave the top (I thought) so layering and icing them means A LOT of icing on the edges.

(4)  I didn't try even the slightest lick of anything and that's saying something.  VANILLA is my FAVORITE.  I'll have to wait for the cutting to see if I like it.  P.S.  Not trying the cake batter is something related to the "stuff" I'm doing -- a little Brooke Castillo.  I'll write about this soon -- STILL superstitious.

(5)  I thought I had color gel to make abstract sunflowers, but I remembered too late that it was old and tossed when we moved.  I had it for probably 10 years LOL.  So I did baggy "dots" to mimic the cake plate.  Far from perfect because I was OVER the entire project by then and some wonky ones happened on the bottom (I think the icing was getting too warm).

(6)  It was FUN to do a BIG cake bake.  I might start doing this for some of our special occasions.  If this cake is good, I think I'll go for some cake baking supplies.  8-inch good pans, cake mover, cake scraper, etc.  Not so much the decorating stuff -- I like rustic, simple looks, but I need to have tools for evening layers, etc.  BTW -- NOT for hubby because he loves boxed yellow cake with the tub of chocolate icing -- some days his simple taste is awesomely easy (!!)

(7)  My god, the DISHES and the MESS.  It was a cleanup job for the mighty. 

(8)  Here she is in all her glory ...  deceivingly simple, yet it was a DAY!  If this doesn't taste like all the work, then my big cake bake days end here.  I'll stick to the easy, no icing, vintage cakes.

I took my pups back to the park yesterday for an adventure walk out of guilt -- they loved it.  I made the decision for them to stay home today.  I can't handle both of them myself AND be the organizer of the day's activities.  They'll live -- we'll take the grand-dogs.  My youngest son's back is wonky so he's coming to the house and not the fall orchards and that leaves us short two adults to dogs ratio.  There is no way we can have fun with 4 crazy dogs and only 3 people.  My dogs will have everyone over for the afternoon and that will make them happy.  

I woke up with a headache -- hello, Perry.  Hopefully, coffee and a workout will help.  I should be feeling good today -- relieved that timing worked out.  This is going to be a fun day celebrating our DIL.

Shouldn't have to look too far to find the happy today.  Stay well.  Later gators.