Dear, Mom -
Today was Holly’s birthday. I made her a delicious cake from scratch. I did a couple things ‘not quite right’, but it still turned out great. For example, the recipe card was a bit hard to read and understand. When it said to melt the butter and stir in vanilla, I did, but it also said to add two eggs. Not really thinking about how a hot liquid would start to cook the eggs, I dumped them in and THEN realized the error of my ways. It ended up there were little bits of cooked yolk in the cake itself. All in all, the cake baked through perfectly and the bits of egg were the only mistake there. The frosting was excellent, but I put it on the cake while it was still too warm, so it had a bit of a melted look to it. A bit more shiny than it should be.
Holly’s Aunt Mary Kay’s Chocolate Sheet Cake with Chocolate Pecan Frosting.
The taste was really nice (even though I don’t generally care for nuts in sweets). For one of my first cakes from scratch, I thought I did pretty good.
Paula next door treated us to breakfast from her shop this morning. We both had breakfast burritos. It was eggs, sharp cheese, bacon, hash browns, and green chilis. Paula is very good to us when it comes to food sharing. I think part of it is I take care of Birgit, her mother. Paula always knows she is in good hands when she has to be at work.
Tonight, we sat down for a movie for Holly’s birthday. We had the windows open so the evening air could breeze through. All of the sudden, Holly said, “Can you smell a...” and then it hit me! The skunk had sprayed somewhere right outside the house. More directly, right outside the bedroom window. The smell was so thick in the house that I could taste it! It was like the time last year that Elsa got sprayed by the skunk. If I wouldn’t have know better, I would have sworn the darn critter had walked in, sprayed, then left. Well, we closed the windows and put on the fans for a bit. Then I realized I needed to take Elsa out for her nightly potty break. I put on her halter and leash, her glow collar, and my strobing flashlight. I read that skunks really don’t like light, but especially strobing light. I carried the strobing flashlight with us across the street so Elsa could do her business. When I first let her out the door, she wanted to rush down the ramp to the side of the house. No way is she going to get sprayed. We are going to avoid that at all costs. Anyway, it was quick and smooth and none of us got skunked. Knock on wood and cross your fingers that we don’t in the future. Man, oh, man, did it reek in here for a full hour.
Other than that, that was my day. We did talk to our friends in Birmingham, England over a video chat. Sonia and Michelle are two gals that Holly went to school with when she lived there. They have always remained fast friends and they called her to wish her a happy birthday. It was really nice. I think it was definitely the highlight of Holly’s day (along with the yummy cake)!
I am sorry we didn’t get to talk today, but I know Sunday’s are a big day for Joy having to handle visitations by people outside and over the video phone. We will talk soon. I promise. You are such a big part of my heart, Mom, and I miss you very much. Hopefully, we will be able to give each other hugs soon.✨❤️✨ I love you!!!! Your Third Daughter, —- Sally✨❤️✨
Trumpet Honeysuckle
Pink Garden Rose with Bud
One of the most beautiful Garden Roses I have seen this year!
Red Garden Rose with just a hint of white
Southern Globethistle
White Phlox
Fragrant Plantain Lily
Common Borage
❤️Take Care, Momma. Talk with You Soon!❤️
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