Looks like we made it

Another good Christmas in the bag.  Or box, or tub or whatever we're storing Christmas in between events.  Christmas Eve, we planned a nice, easy dinner that I messed up by not having all the ingredients.  Rob was still putting out Christmas decorations on Christmas Day.  Sydney came and we all had a nice visit and lunch.  Neither of us wanted dinner that night.  The day after Christmas, Rob started taking down decorations and we spent the rest of the day visiting friends, lunch with one couple, cocktails with another and a serious nap between.  Saturday found Rob still taking down decorations and me cleaning the kitchen, putting away dishes...and resting.  Yesterday, I did a lot of cooking for this week and we took down the swag in the living room.  Today, we're both looking forward to lounging in our desk chairs at work.  

I almost named this post 'I knew I could, I knew I could...'  And, I did.  Three layers, white frosting...well, whiter than the white chocolate I used for the flower.  

I actually made two cakes on Tuesday.  I had a recipe picked out and I made it and was putting it in the pans and remembered I hadn't added the food coloring.  And, because it was a chiffon cake, I'd lost my opportunity, if there really ever was one.  How was I going to fold that cake batter enough to get a consistent color without breaking down the beaten egg whites that were the leavening?  So, I baked those two layers and soon as the pans were cool, I started over with another recipe. 

The cake is really something I do for me.  It's the challenge.  Getting better every year.  I don't want to spend a lot of time learning to frost pretty cakes, mostly because we wouldn't eat them.  A big chunk of this cake is going to be tossed because it got really dry before we could eat it all.  I need a plastic cake form to just decorate and enjoy and scrape off and start again.  

Early mornings (and any other time I could sneak off), I worked on this little quilt.  It's all together now.  I think I needed to pour some pre-holiday stress into this quilt as I was piecing it.  I got all worked up over it a couple of times because pieces weren't going together right.  And, I was re-orienting to my Singer 301, which will do what I ask it to every time, but it takes a little practice to figure out what I want to ask it to do.  Anyway, I struggled and picked out seams and picked out seams and did I mention that I picked out seams until I got it all together.  And, I got most of the points.  

The camera angle on that picture isn't doing me any favors.  It's not that wonky.  I swear, it came out square.  And, the few places where there's a little extra fabric will probably quilt out.  Probably.

Everybody have a great New Year's week!  Find a blessing and hold it close.  And, pray that the next year is somehow better than the last.  And, for the strength to withstand whatever comes.  

Lane