Jul 31, 2012 |
Well, we did it. We finished our Wilton Cake Decorating Course. As has been the standard for the last four weeks, Dot’s cake, well, took the cake. She always has the other students and the instructor oohing and ahhing over her gifted artistry.
In the four-week course, we learned
How to properly bake a cake and how to level a cake
How to fill cupcakes and how to fill a layer cake
How to make out own icing in stiff, medium, and thin consistencies and when to use each one. We learned how to color icing
How to ice a cake and how to later smooth it
And we learned how to decorate. Did you see me smile when you read that? Try again:
We learned how to decorate!
We learned tips and icing bags and angled spatulas and piping gel and color and consistencies and flowers and leaves and pom poms and writing and roses and more.
And these are our Final Projects.
Dot had a plan, but when we got to class she scrapped it and went freestyle. Have I mentioned how gifted she is? I couldn’t toss out a plan and come up with something this gorgeous on the spur of the moment!
I thought up a Summer Garden. I’m disappointed that I didn’t color enough icing for the cake; it’s a bit thin in places. But I forgave myself: I’m a beginner. And it turned out well for a beginner.
Dot’s cake was German Chocolate with a coconut-pecan filling
Mine was a lemon cake with a raspberry preserve filling
And we’re not sorry we cut into them.
Not.
One.
Bite.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Jul 30, 2012 |
Blog Badge
Do you trekaroo? It’s a wonderful website designed to give parents and families honest reviews about hotels, restaurants and activities.
Are you afraid to take your young kids on vacation? Are your teens rolling their eyes at the thought of unplugging? Do you bite your nails at the thought of leaving the comfort of your own home?
You can trust trekaroo. The reviews are written by a community of parents and families. The more, the merrier! More popular attractions have many reviews; or you can be the first!
It’s so helpful to read from someone else who’s “been there, done that”. Let’s face it, Captain Hook knows how to steer a ship, but would you want him planning your tea party? Or would you take advice on how to put young children to sleep in a strange bed, from an old maid? Sure, sometimes. But on a regular basis? I’d rather make a well-informed decision.
My friend Naomi introduced me to trekaroo last fall. She won a trip to Las Vegas for her family. Las Vegas! Did you ever think of Vegas as that family-friendly? Well, people on trekaroo do! They know all the in’s and out’s for children of all ages to have fun without being exposed to the adults-only content.
Oh, yeah. And they have great giveaways, too. Like a trip to Vegas. Or bicycle-strollers. Or kids’ backyard wilderness playsets. How fun is that?
So of course I signed on to read the reviews. And last week I started to post my own. The first two were abridged from reviews here on Frankly, My Dear… but earlier today I ventured to be the first to review a local restaurant.
trekaroo has already said I have “superoo” potential. In their own words, “Trekaroo Superoos are parents with unique characteristics who are able to see the humor amidst the challenges of traveling with their offspring. In fact, they thrive best when exploring and trail blazing with their pack. They are our biggest contributors and eager to help. Superoos inspire other family travelers through the stories they tell, the tips they share, and their insightful recommendations.”
They select their Superoos once a year, usually in the spring. I’ve already got my eyes set on that emblem, and they’ve already got their eyes set on me. But even if they didn’t, I’d still want to be an active community member.
Because I obviously enjoy sharing stories. And I like the idea of families helping families have family-friendly experiences.
Do you trekaroo?
Click here to view my trekaroo passport.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Jul 29, 2012 |
“When all else fails, read the directions.”
~Everyone’s Mother.
Often.
Just two days ago, I wrote how I want to learn better photography skills. In the last few days, I’ve worked toward that end: reading the manual that came with my Kodak camera. Trying my hand at photographing anything and everything. Pointing and shooting my Kodak as much as possible.
Okay, not really. Not all of that. But I have been reading the manual, and I must admit I realize I’ve fooled myself. Because while a Point-and-Shoot camera is just that easy, there’s so much more to it. For instance, Smart Capture mode is great for beginners and non-thinkers. Of which I not-so-proudly admit I was one. That little dial on the top of my camera? I’ve been too afraid to turn it, too afraid to see what it has to offer.
On Page 7 of my manual, it describes for me how different tools are available in different modes. So I turned the dial, one click at a time, and saw for myself that it’s true! I didn’t spend time learning each tool, as I know that will come later in the manual. But it certainly whet my whistle.
I’m looking forward to understanding the conversations between my brothers about F-stops and apertures and compensation. I’m really looking forward to the day I can not only understand, but contribute to such discussions!
Today, I discovered that a picture can be taken while filming a video. Imagine that! Two separate actions, at the same time! Just to prove to myself that it could happen (and that I could be the one to cause it to happen!), I gave this theory a test drive. I took the following two photos while recording a short video. The quality is dark and grainy, as it’s late and the lighting isn’t the best. I wasn’t interested in setting a scene; rather, I just needed to test the settings.
These are tonight’s photo results:
I tried uploading the short video, but I haven’t quite figured that out yet. It appears the easiest route will be to set up a YouTube account, but it’s late (after midnight, in fact!), and I’ll work on that later. If anyone has suggestions on sharing my videos, I welcome your advice!
For now, I’m pleased to know that my camera is capable of multi-tasking.
And Frankly, My Dear…
Jul 28, 2012 |
It’s no secret that the Mission Inn in Riverside, CA is one of my family’s favorite destinations. Whether it’s just for an afternoon of strolling or a weekend getaway, this beautiful and historic location has much to offer people of all ages.
Three of my favorite photos were taken by either myself or my daughter during a Three-Generation Stay in April, 2011. It was the first time my mother, myself, and my daughter were on the same vacation.
Peaceful Morning
Who I Am [Photo Credit: Hannah Realy]
Tiramisu at the Bella Trattoria
The Miller family bought the Glenwood Cottage in the 1870s. In 1880, young Frank Miller purchased it from his father with the intent to develop it into a fine retreat; an oasis in the middle of the California desert. What originally began as a boarding house would later become the historically renowned Mission Inn, now owned by Duane Roberts who invested much time and money in restoring the Inn.
In the beautiful Riverside area, the Mission Inn has blossomed into an internationally renowned retreat. The list of famous guests continues to this day. Many authors have stayed at, and written about, the Mission Inn. Last year, our stay included the “Of Love and Evil” package, featuring an autographed copy of Anne Rice’s book of the same title. Noted singers, performers, authors, actors, political persons and Presidents have signed their names to the proverbial Guest Book.
Our room was one of the Glenwood Suites on the Third Floor. Tucked into one of the corners, our view encompassed the Clock Tower, Author’s Row, and overlooked the Spanish Patio. [The above photo, “Peaceful Morning”, was taken from our doorway in the early morning.]
View of Author’s Row [Photo Credit: Hannah Realy]
Symbol of Riverside [Photo Credit: Hannah Realy]
Casey’s Cupcakes [Photo Credit: Hannah Realy]
But what I really appreciate about the Mission Inn is that I never feel like a tourist there. I feel valued. It doesn’t matter if I’m reserving the cheapest room or Keeper of the Inn Suite [not that I’ve yet had that privilege… I’m saving that for my Best Seller Celebration]: the Mission Inn staff is always courteous, smiling, friendly, helpful, and appreciative. The grounds are always clean. And the food is always memorable. From a small bite of room service to the Veal Lasagna at the Bella Trattoria on the corner to the sweet desserts of Casey’s Cupcakes to the individual Keurig coffee personally blended in our rooms.
No morsel is mundane. No view is ordinary. No visit is just a memory. Each is an experience to be savored and shared. And, as much as possible, repeated.
Presidential Suite Patio
Architecture
The Turret
Dot on the Fourth Floor
Rooftop Herb Garden
Refreshing Fountains
Rooftop Herbs
Perimeter [Photo Credit: Hannah Realy]
Festival of Lights [Photo Credit: Hannah Realy]
Author’s Row at Evening [Photo Credit: Hannah Realy]
Ambient Fountain
Find the Mission Inn on the web:
MissionInn.com
On Facebook: The Mission Inn
On twitter: @MissionInnHotel
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
This post is linked up with Frankly, My Dear’s… Destination Station!
You may also like:
My Personal History of Coffee (And a Keurig Review)
Invisible Person in a Sea of People: Robin H. and the 99-Cent Sin
Jul 27, 2012 |
It’s no secret that I’ve been wanting to learn better photography tips. My brothers and my daughter are all naturals when it comes to cameras. Me? Notsomuch. But I definitely want to learn.
I have a great camera. You’ve seen it, right? My Kodak Z990 EasyShare Max camera. It is, I’m told, classified as a point-and-click camera. Honestly… I don’t even really know what that means other than “easy to use”. I know (I believe) it’s not an SLR, which stands for Single Lens Reflex. I’m not really sure what that means. But I think it’s more complicated than Point-and-Click.
The first photo I took with my camera was of Lizzie. I’m so in love with this photo, this cat, that I’ve featured it often on my media sites.
Lizzie Cat
I couldn’t believe the clarity and fine detail available… and this was straight out of the box! I hadn’t even read the manual yet! Look at the individual whiskers, the authentic tones of the blanket, and yes, even the reflection of my desert yard in her eye! Simply amazing!
Of course, I started playing with the camera. Learned a few tricks. It helped that I’d bought the exact same model for Dot last summer (which is how I knew I wanted one of my own). As time went on, I found myself asking her for advice. But mostly, just trusting the Point-and-Click mentality. No muss. No fuss.
But something’s missing. I look at photography blogs and I’m amazed at the way they capture what they photograph. The lighting is different. The backgrounds are softer. There’s so much more than just Point-and-Click-and-Be-Done.
My food photos need to be brighter. Better. More appealing. Let’s face it, if my food photos were the ones in The Unemployment Cookbook, there’s a good chance my sales might not be as great as they are. I made a passing comment when talking to one of my brothers last week. His work involves an immense amount of professional photography. I said, “Why do my photos come out orange-y?” He asked what my filter settings were. That’s when I paused. He suggested I review the Manual. That’s when I gulped.
Did I even have a Manual? I mean, yeah. A little start-up booklet came with the camera. But a Manual? Like, something to read and explain and help me get better use out of my easy-to-use Point-and-Click-and-Fuggetaboutit Camera?
A Manual?
It dawned on me, then, that perhaps there’s more to my camera, pardon the pun, than meets the eye. And perhaps, I can be a better Photo Blogger once I learn how to better use my camera.
Let’s face it. I love both of these photos of Fred the Tomato. They were taken about 20 seconds apart, and I made no filter changes. I can’t tell you why one is true color and the other is tinted. But I know I love them both.
A Table Scene
A Sunlit Scene
So tonight I downloaded the PDF Manual for my camera. The first eight pages were the get-to-know-your-camera stuff. You know. The If-You-Didn’t-Know-This-Is-A-Camera-You’re-An-Idiot stuff. But then I turned the page. And something happened. I read something I didn’t quite understand. Not that I’m an idiot. I’m just not a great photographer. Yet.
And I realized that reading the Manual might actually be beneficial. To me. To my Blog. To my future publications.
And that made me happy. The potential to be better. To provide better services to my readers. And to fully know what I’m doing.
Can you picture that?
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
