05 September, 2020 - My Dogs are Barking & Baking from Scratch Like You :)

 Dear, Mom -

My goodness sakes. I was on my feet all day today. My “dogs are barkin’ “, as we like to say. I just finished taking my yellow cake out of the oven for Kim’s birthday tomorrow. It smells delicious. Even better, both halves came out of the pans PERFECTLY! This is the first two layer, round cake that I have ever baked to my recollection. I am going to make sure it is nice and cool when I frost it in the morning. I am going to do a thin layer then chill it for a half an hour then a thicker second layer. Paula told me about doing that, as did the recipe. I guess this way the frosting doesn’t ‘crumb’. After I layer it in chocolate, I am going to put some white flowers around the bottom accented with pink dahlias. I will put a couple of the nasturtium flowers I have left on the top (they are edible).  Then I am going to pipe a bit of a design around it and put Happy 50th Birthday, Kim! I sure hope I can channel your skill of cake decorating when I get to this part. I really want for Kim to be excited that I’ve made her such a beautiful cake. She is a very important person in my life and I want her to have the best birthday she’s had in a long time. She has a history of having ‘not so great’ things happen on her birthday and we are definitely trying to alter that pattern to only fantastic things happening on her birthday. Anyway, I will take a picture of her cake when it is done. I am going to put my all into the design. Paula even let me borrow one of her fancy rotating cake stands to display the cake on for the party. I’m pretty excited. The following picture is a piece of the cake that is from the same recipe I used. I want mine to look much fancier!

Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting

I’m going to have to rub some muscle rub on my feet. I was on them doing yard work, mowing, going to the store, more yard work, some foliage trimming, then some more yard work, then I came in and baked the cake. I didn’t even take time to eat dinner tonight. I did have a little cheese, milk, and a bit of cooked egg whites from the two eggs I did not use for the cake. I will probably make up for it tomorrow. We ordered sandwiches from Paula’s shop. She is also going to make us potato salad, which will be a hit I’m sure. She is a fantastic cook. 

I’m sorry I didn’t take any pictures today. I was so busy all day that the time just flew by. I didn’t even walk Elsa the dog today. Holly did. I just didn’t have time. I’m sure there will be plenty of pictures being taken tomorrow so I will have lots to share for tomorrow night’s letter.

I was thinking a lot about you as I was baking. Mom. I really want to make you proud and carry on being an amazing baker like you. I wish I would have started cooking and baking sooner. I realize how much I enjoy it now. It is meditative. I can listen to music and make something and just be in another time and space. I bet with 4 kids you probably loved baking because it took you some where else in your head. It totally makes sense. I will do my best to become the best baker I can!

Okay, Mom. I’m off to bed now. My neck is pretty sore from looking down so much today as I worked on the yard. I need to do some stretches before I actually turn the light off. Big hugs and big kisses. I want you to know I think of you often throughout the day. I’m so grateful that you are my Mother. 

🌸❤️🌸I love you very, very much. Your Daughter, —- Sally Ann🌸❤️🌸