The Times They Are A-Changing

 With the first light snowfall this morning, I figured I'd better put up the photos from our autumn walk two weeks ago.

 We drove  to Mt. Rigaud, just over the Ontario border into Quebec and came upon some sort of bike competition. I particularly liked them all lined up at the washing station. It was a muddy day!

 We climbed up the hill, to the top of the ski lift.

 You can see green fields way in the distance below.

 The leaves were amazing!

 Nice!

 And the bike riders were still going around in circles as we descended.

Hoorah for the full Hunter's Moon, rising over a field of soybeans! 

Sketching Lake of Bays

I've been going up to the cottage for Thanksgiving since 2004
and started sketching the view in 2008.
Fun to see the different colours and sketches of the same view from various years.

Thanksgiving Cake

I had seen these cute turkeys made of peanut butter cups and Oreo cookies on Pinterest last year. My sis and my niece made them and used them as place cards. 

 I loved them so much and decided to make them this year but use them as decorations for my Thanksgiving cake.

The cake was a real hit and it was a lot of fun making these crazy chocolate turkeys!
Hope your Thanksgiving was a happy one!

Fall Wedding Cake

My friend's daughter asked if I could make her wedding cake. She said that since she was little she wanted me to make her her cake. I was touched! And nervous.

She and her mom came over with a bottle of wine and a few ideas and we talked and talked. Her final words were "sophisticated and outdoorsy." 

 In the end both the bride and groom were thrilled with the cake. Phew!

Electric Guitar and Amp cakes

 For Marc's 50th birthday his wife asked me to make him a cake that looked like an amp, to go with his amp collection...

...and a red electric guitar somewhat like the guitar he actually plays.

Happy birthday Marc and wishing you many more days of playing your music.

Whimsical Cake

The birthday girl who got this cake is sunny and very smiley! I was asked to make her a cake that was whimsical and fun. I love making abstract cakes and rarely get the chance. I'm hoping the birthday gal loved her cake as much as I loved making it.

Pumpkin Pie Judging

 Over the weekend, the Glengarry Pioneer Museum in Dunvegan hosted a reenactment of the War of 1812. Participants camped on the grounds in 1812-style camping gear.
For the pumpkin pie contest, they had to make a pie, right from the pumpkin itself and bake it on an open fire. A challenge to be sure.

 My friend Peggi and I were asked to be judges and taste the pies.

There were five in all and they differed somewhat in flavour. Amazing to both of us that you could actually prepare a pie, in the rain, on an open fire. Pretty great results!

Hooked Rug Cake

 My friend Terry celebrated a birthday this past weekend and her husband suggested I do a cake based on one of her hooked rug designs.

It was like rug hooking with buttercream icing. What fun. Terry just loved it too...

Algonquin Park Trails

 Over our holidays a few weeks back...

 ...we headed over to Algonquin Park...

 ...where we spent the day.

 We walked three different trails...

 ...some with cliffs...

 ...some with lakes...

 ...all with magnificent trees.

We loved all three trails and next year intend to try one of the longer circuits.

Barn Raising Cake

 My friend Bev moved a barn and raised it on her property over the summer.

Last weekend she had a celebration for all the good folks who helped her raise the barn.

And guess what? I made the cake for the occasion!

The Quirky Carrot cake

My friend Julia is opening a cafe in Alexandria, Ontario and yesterday there was an event held where the premises were blessed. Here's her terrific logo, designed by Anik Bauer.

And here's the cake I made for 50 or so guests who attended the ceremony. 

Those lettering classes at art school sure came in handy.

Peanut Butter & Jam Cake

This is a fun cake to make! Peanut butter icing slathered with triple berry jam between vanilla cake layers to look like a sandwich. Tasty too!

La Foire Gourmande

 We had a delightful day, last weekend visiting La Foire Gourmande. Two sites boasted tents full of flavourful morsels ready to be tasted.

 One site was on the Ontario side in Lefaivre...

...the other, with a quick hop on a ferry across the Ottawa River,
was in Montebello, Quebec.

 I got a real kick out of this bouncy cow thing for the kids...

 ...and the food was divine. This was a date-wrapped slice of prosciutto with buffalo mozzarella and a squirt of red pepper jelly.

Best of all? I made the front page of one of the local newspapers!

Strange bedfellows?

Saw this in Alexandria, Ontario the other day and just loved the juxtaposition.