Last Friday we had another progressive dinner, but because M had to work until 5, I got to be in charge of the food this time. Luckily we had dessert and I can bake a cake, well, two to be exact. So since M is such an amazing cook, I couldn't just do an ordinary cake. I felt pressure to create something beautiful. I went to the expense of buying stencils to decorate the top, getting candy flowers, spray on food coloring, powdered sugar, you name it. I used egg whites instead of whole eggs in the recipes to make the cakes fluffier. What I ended up discovering was that although I can bake a mighty tasty cake, I suck at decorating. That gene must have skipped right over me and landed with my daughter. On this chocolate cake you can just see the flower patterns on top I did with the stencil and powdered sugar. They didn't come out well so I tried to doctor the decorating with raspberries.
Next I also make a coconut cake using coconut milk instead of water, and of course, egg whites and coconut in the frosting. I again tried a stencil on top, it didn't work. I used spray on food coloring in an effort to make it look special and added candy flowers. Overall, it was okay, but a little messy looking. Oh well. At least they tasted good. We used up the left over cake at a cookout on Sunday and today when I was at work, coworkers were asking me about my coconut cake and I had to ask how they knew about it when they weren't at the cookout. Apparently it made an impression on one of the guests and she was raving about it. Okay, so one point for taste, I'll have to leave the decorating to my daughter.
On Saturday morning we each did political volunteering for different campaigns and I'm THRILLED to announce that all 3 of our candidates won their seats for City Council. We FINALLY have a majority on the City Council! We also went to see Source Code that afternoon. I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. You could basically figure out the premise of the movie from the movie trailer, but I was surprised at all the additional details that were in the movie. Also, at the end of the movie, you're satisfied because it's a good story with a good ending, but then they leave you with a little something more. I like that. I haven't had a movie do that in awhile. I would recommend this movie for all but the very youngest audiences.
Then on Sunday, after a very long wait to find the right tiles for the kitchen, months waiting on the shipping and then another month trying to work out the schedule for installation, we finally got the subway tiles installed for our backsplash in the kitchen, all while preparing for a spontaneous cookout gathering that M is notorious for springing on me at the last minute. :-) So in this shot you can still see a little of the teal paint on the wall where the tile hasn't been placed yet. We got close to matching the color of the walls with the color of the tiles. The tiles are more a smoky blue teal whereas the walls were more of a green teal. M now says we need to repaint all the teal walls in a nice shade of gray. *sigh*
More going in. We still have to put the covers back over the outlets and wash down the tiles to remove residual mastic. We also have to put up quarter round molding over some edges.
Other than that, it's essentially done. So what do you think? Min came home and saw it and said our kitchen now looked fancy. Amazing what a little glass tiling can do. I do have to admit, it is much prettier than the painted plywood. *grin*
The next thing I have to do is finally get the upper cabinets installed. I'll probably have to leave that for a couple of months until I get some of my legal work behind me and finish teaching. But they should be up within a few months. So that's what we were up to last weekend. How about you?
Last Friday we had another progressive dinner, but because M had to work until 5, I got to be in charge of the food this time. Luckily we had dessert and I can bake a cake, well, two to be exact. So since M is such an amazing cook, I couldn't just do an ordinary cake. I felt pressure to create something beautiful. I went to the expense of buying stencils to decorate the top, getting candy flowers, spray on food coloring, powdered sugar, you name it. I used egg whites instead of whole eggs in the recipes to make the cakes fluffier. What I ended up discovering was that although I can bake a mighty tasty cake, I suck at decorating. That gene must have skipped right over me and landed with my daughter. On this chocolate cake you can just see the flower patterns on top I did with the stencil and powdered sugar. They didn't come out well so I tried to doctor the decorating with raspberries. 
Next I also make a coconut cake using coconut milk instead of water, and of course, egg whites and coconut in the frosting. I again tried a stencil on top, it didn't work. I used spray on food coloring in an effort to make it look special and added candy flowers. Overall, it was okay, but a little messy looking. Oh well. At least they tasted good. We used up the left over cake at a cookout on Sunday and today when I was at work, coworkers were asking me about my coconut cake and I had to ask how they knew about it when they weren't at the cookout. Apparently it made an impression on one of the guests and she was raving about it. Okay, so one point for taste, I'll have to leave the decorating to my daughter. 
On Saturday morning we each did political volunteering for different campaigns and I'm THRILLED to announce that all 3 of our candidates won their seats for City Council. We FINALLY have a majority on the City Council! We also went to see Source Code that afternoon. I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. You could basically figure out the premise of the movie from the movie trailer, but I was surprised at all the additional details that were in the movie. Also, at the end of the movie, you're satisfied because it's a good story with a good ending, but then they leave you with a little something more. I like that. I haven't had a movie do that in awhile. I would recommend this movie for all but the very youngest audiences. 
Then on Sunday, after a very long wait to find the right tiles for the kitchen, months waiting on the shipping and then another month trying to work out the schedule for installation, we finally got the subway tiles installed for our backsplash in the kitchen, all while preparing for a spontaneous cookout gathering that M is notorious for springing on me at the last minute. :-) So in this shot you can still see a little of the teal paint on the wall where the tile hasn't been placed yet. We got close to matching the color of the walls with the color of the tiles. The tiles are more a smoky blue teal whereas the walls were more of a green teal. M now says we need to repaint all the teal walls in a nice shade of gray. *sigh*
More going in. We still have to put the covers back over the outlets and wash down the tiles to remove residual mastic. We also have to put up quarter round molding over some edges. 
Other than that, it's essentially done. So what do you think? Min came home and saw it and said our kitchen now looked fancy. Amazing what a little glass tiling can do. I do have to admit, it is much prettier than the painted plywood. *grin*
The next thing I have to do is finally get the upper cabinets installed. I'll probably have to leave that for a couple of months until I get some of my legal work behind me and finish teaching. But they should be up within a few months. So that's what we were up to last weekend. How about you?
11 comments:
I think we'll be seeing Source Code next week. It's Suckerpunch tomorrow as my Birthday movie.
As to the cakes - they looked fine to me and I bet they tasted great!
Great news on your guys getting elected. Personally I'm running out of parties to vote for. The Greens from now on I think.....
CK, let me know how Suckerpunch is. I want to see it but I know M does not. As for elections, it only took us 8 years of working, being attacked and general political nastiness to get here. I'm sure the battle is not over, but at least we've finally made a huge inroad.
Oh d'uh, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
Very nice job way better than I could do. And kitchen looks great.
p
Well, I can't take credit for the tiling. I had a guy come do it.
I dont like coconut but i want some of that chocolate cake..lol..
happy to hear your peeps won there seats.. and cant wait to see the rest of the kitchen after everything settles down for you two.
I love the color. Its amazing what a little touch up can do.
The deserts look fantastic!! And you're redoing the kitchen again?
But I'm most excited about the trip you'll be taking here in 2 years, woot woot!!
We will definitely get together and have a fantastic visit, you bet!
Looking forward to it :)
Hi Michele, we're not "re-doing" the kitchen, the final touches are just coming really far apart. We always wanted to do glass tile but couldn't afford it. Then we found a way to, so now it's getting done a year after we started. And YEAH, I am stoked about returning to Vancouver. That place saved my life, got me centered, and on a new path. It was the place of my epiphany. Now, I have a friend there as well. It doesn't get any better than that. My birthday is July 2, so mark that date on your 2013 calendar, because I'll be there.
Tweets, M is talking about returning home to WI sometime this summer if her job works out so that she can get some time off. We'll likely be in Madison and Appleton for that visit. How far away are you? How far away is Tshsmom?
UM I am 30 minutes from Appleton and about 2 hours from Madison. Tshsmom is about 9 hours North from me. I wish we could make a meeting where she meets us some where in the middle of this. Or she could come this way a bit.. I know money and gas are the killers right now. Its almost 4.00dollars a gallon here.. The last time I looked it was like 3.75. or something like that.. anyway I will keep you posted.. N.
You all have done such a magnificent job of re-doing your now very beaitiful Kitchen....BRAVA to you both!
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