Dahlia cake for a cause

I wanted to try a different kind of flower and these sort of look like dahlias. I donated this cake to the Madagascar School Project for their annual fundraising dinner which features a cake auction.

 The cake apparently had a few admirers!

There were some lovely offerings this year and I'm delighted to report that my cake garnered a $200 bid for a very worthy cause!

Farewell Knowlton Nash

Known fondly as "Mr. Ten O'Clock" because he delivered the CBC newscast at that hour, Knowlton Nash passed away last night. I had the good fortune to work with him in 2001, seen here with my friend and co-worker Brian Smith in a Toronto sound studio. Knowlton was a warm, funny and gentle man who I'm happy to have met and to have shared a few laughs with...

Through the window

 This time of year the birds are in glorious plumage.

 The American goldfinch goes from drab olive colour to bright yellow by the time May comes around.

 I'm so lucky to have Mr. and Mrs. Grosbeak at my feeders. Actually, four pairs of them!

These two photos of the grosbeak were shot through a screen...when I tried through the glass, he flew away. At any rate, you can still see his beauty albeit in soft focus. Lovely, big bird that looks to me like he has a napkin tied around his neck and he's ready to dig in to his dinner.

50th Anniversary cake

It was tricky to get all the requests in for this cake: Blue was a favourite colour. Gold to represent the 50 year milestone. Wedding vows. It's all there and apparently, it was a hit!

Bye Bye Bruins

I've always been a Montreal Canadiens fan and last night they eliminated the Boston Bruins. It put me in mind of an old photo my brother took when he and I went to Dorval airport to greet the conquering heroes...in 1971! I was 10 years old. Someone ahead of us was swinging a poor teddy bear Bruin wearing Bobby Orr's number 4, hanging him in effigy. I remember my mother saying that that was mean. But...I was just happy the Habs beat the Bruins. Felt good in 1971 and felt pretty good in 2014 too! Go Habs go!

Port Theatre

With so many old theatres being pulled down and replaced by modern, multi-plex cinemas, it was a pleasure to attend the inaugural Comedy Festival in Cornwall last Sunday night at the old Port theatre, a relic from a different time. The seats were a tad uncomfortable but it was lovely being inside an old building like that. Ahhh, if only the walls could talk.

Logo cakes

Cakes with logos are always a challenge when you're reproducing them out of fondant but this one for Aspen Wellness Centre was a lot of fun, albeit challenging. The cake was for the centre's spring open house on Friday.

Lettering cut out of fondant for the cafe's opening...all those years of hand lettering classes at art school finally pay off! Fun thing about both these cakes is that the logos were designed by the same graphic artist. She commented that it was fun to see her creations made edible.

Grahame's Bakery

My friend Peggi and I headed to Kemptville yesterday to pick up some little trees and we decided to find the old town of Kemptville and see what it was like. 

 We came across Grahame's Bakery that actually bakes using a wooden oven!

 The place is around the corner from the street...pretty unassuming looking.

 As you round the corner, we noticed lots of wood!

 Loved the old Grahame's Bakery sign, tucked in the corner.

 We opened the door and wow! The smell was amazing!

We were lucky and owner Debbie Wilson showed us the enormous oven that ran along the back wall...

...lined in fire bricks. I forgot to ask Debbie how they regulated the temperature. Gak!

 The baked good were all over the place...donuts galore!

 Peggi got some lemon-filled donuts for her husband.

 I bought an assortment of cookies. (Yummy)!!

 Loves of bread of every description.

 These beauties were baked to be served at The Brigadoon Restaurant, just down the road in Oxford Mills.

 I love this stack of trays of goodies, waiting to be put on the shelves.

 And I had to ask what the heck this contraption was. Seems it takes the dough and separates it out evenly for making rolls. I always wondered how rolls were always the same size!

A great day and a great find. Peggi and I bought bread and scones, donuts and cookies. What a serendipitous bit of luck that we happened upon Grahame's Bakery. Can't wait to go back!

Grahame's Bakery, 115 Clothier St. E., Kemptville, ON
Phone: 613-258-2317
Website: www.grahamesbakery.com

Spring Tea Time

 The weather was sunny and cool and the creek at the back of the property was running making a lovely sound.

Perfect time to take a break from pulling in wood and doing woodsy chores. And best of all? No bugs!

The sun dappled off the creek. Lovely time of year when the land is leaving winter behind and welcoming spring.

Easter baking

 I made Easter-themed cupcakes for a gal last year and she asked me to make them again this year so the challenge was to change it up a bit. I had a blast.

We're heading off for Easter brunch and I offered to bring the cake. It's a lemon sponge with lemon curd filling. Happy Easter!

Spring is sproinging

 It seems to be taking forever but as the snow is receding, the crocuses are popping out of the lawn.

I especially love when the pussy willows start to appear. It's still pretty cool here in these parts, and it even snowed a few days back, but Ol' Man Winter is on his way out...

Naked Oreo cake

Since so-called "naked cakes" seem to be all the rage in the cake world, I thought I'd try my hand at one. I had a potluck dinner to go to so I decided to bring 

a naked Oreo cake with me. Everyone loved it!

Fun with Fondant

 Last week I gave a classed entitled Fun with Fondant at The Quirky Carrot in Alexandria.

 There were 12 very enthusiastic students.

 They all mixed colours and covered (and decorated) their own cakes.

 Lots of icing sugar flying around. Rolling pins too!

 Some gals made zebra-striped cakes.

 Others made them look quilted.

 One gal did a flower power, tribute to the '60s cake.

All the cakes turned out just great. The gals were so creative and 

it showed in their creations.

All in all a great evening with a really fun bunch of creative women.

Flowers for Joan

My friend Joan marked a landmark birthday recently. 

What better way to celebrate than with cake?