I’m truthfully so thankful that Speak Your Piece came in the mail today. I wanted to write something and could not think of the right jumping off point for the life of me. There has been a fabulous book club dinner on behalf of my friend Lisa for the book All Fours by Miranda July. A fascinating conversation. The best one yet I think. I thought my book club that I hosted went well, but then again, there was no book and I plied everyone knee deep in margaritas. So, Lisa may achieve best success here for actually riveting book talk.
Otherwise, i’ve been delving into past cake and sugar flower work on my Instagram. So, i’d say that then limited my thoughts on what to write here. It’s like a see-saw all the time in my brain.
Ok, ok. Speak Your Piece.
I love when they are hateful. I know i’m awful. 🤣 But I have determined that I think the only obligation you owe the world is to be your truest self. I meant this, of course, when I first thought it from a deep and meaningful perspective and not from one about being hateful, but that works too.
Other bits:
Watching the babes for my friend Jon.
Eating some of the leftover Yankee Stew he had made in the fridge along with his cornbread.
Some fires and ginger root tea too. A good rule of thumb is to use an inch of fresh ginger ( no need to peel) just thin slices per cup of boiling water. But I used way more than than and did about 3 of water cups at a time. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 10 minutes.
Some sugar flower reflection:
Sugar orchids. ^ you can see what a difference the painting makes when you view the not yet painted ones in the background.
Moth orchids are by far one of my least favorite flowers to make in sugar. They are very precise and the spacing of every little thing has to be perfect. So, they drive my up the wall 🤣.
A sugar orchid center ^
^ the color inspiration for the sugar flower painting.
Sugar succulents^
Me arranging flowers on this Great Dixter exotic garden and Egypt inspired sugar flower wedding cake ^
A sugar ranunculus ^
Pasta via Patrick and Katelynn . I love a cream sauce.
Book club at Lisa’s ^
a stew (whose name always escapes me) made by Denise. Mahi mahi, shrimp, mussels I believe ! Delicious .
Hot fudge sundaes for dessert.
Snowdrops coming up in my front lawn ^
Another favorite sugar flower cake ^
Otherwise, Mom seems to have been busy in the greenhouse. I miss being closer, because much like keeping the dogs for Jon, the greenhouse can be healing. Or rather she’s been using the windowsills and not the greenhouse as the cover she bought 8 months ago is still not back on!
I apologize that this week is mainly pictorial, but I didn’t gather many recipes at the last two dinners to be able to share them with you. There is an article i’d like to write at some point about straight bourbon pours (neat!) , but on the whole I have just been shuffling around from one thing to the next. Maybe, you’ll find some ideas here in spurts. One of my tasks this weekend is to come up with a trashy dip for Sunday to take to a Super Bowl party. I have a few ideas, but want to come up with something. What are you making ?
Alex