Wilton Cake Decorating Course 2: Postponed

Alas, only 3 people signed up for the course and the requirement is 4 in order to teach the class. Technically, there were 4 but one was a store employee and they are not allowed to count them toward the class roster. So, the class has been pushed forward a month to June when, hopefully, enough people will be signed up. Therefore, there will not be any cake photos this month unless I decide to practice which I suppose would be a good idea!

A SMART car, a Maserati, a Canon, and a Fire Truck

I have had several missed photo ops in the last couple of weeks. Since I do not have any photos to show, words will have to do. Three of the four opportunities that come to mind, I was driving so really I suppose it would not have been safe to be taking photos anyway! Kendall and I carpool to work, so, I pick him up on the way home each afternoon. In the short distance between our work places, I seem to have a unique siting fairly often. I have seen a blue and white SMART car, a red Maserati (a cousin to the Ferrari), and an SUV. Well, the SUV was not the interesting part but what it was pulling...a trailer! Ok, that's not the interesting part either but what was on the trailer. Imagine driving down the road and someone passing you by when it registers that the thing right beside you on the road is a canon! Now a canon is not an unusual site to see but when it's not at a historic battlefield or at a museum but a mere few feet from you at eye level speeding along, it is a bit surprising! The fourth opportunity is also vehicle related. This morning at work the fire alarm went off! We evacuated but not before grabbing purses, cell phones, and umbrellas. Why is it always raining when there is a fire, fire drill, or fire alarm? Some of us wanted to go get breakfast but alas we stood around under the tree for quite a while wondering if the fire department would ever come. Eventually two fire trucks showed up and at first drove past our building before eventually coming in the back way! It was a bit scary how long it took them to get there and also I was surprised at the number of people that went back inside before we got the all clear. This is not what we learned in school! While we were standing around outside I thought about taking a photo of the fire truck but decided against it as I didn't want people to think I was weird. After walking around and in and out of the building several times we were given the all clear to reenter the building. I thought the all clear would involve a firefighter saying "it's safe for you to all go back in now" but no instead he said "get back to work" then laughed! Apparently, a smoke detector malfunctioned setting the entire system off resulting in us needing to stand outside for nearly an hour this morning. There are a couple office suites around ours that are being renovated and we were blaming the workers for setting it off on accident but guess our hypothesis was incorrect.

Carolina Hurricanes Sandcastle - Side 2

Carolina Hurricanes Sandcastle - Side 1

While at Crabtree Valley Mall getting lunch one day, I saw this sand sculpture dedicated to the local Carolina Hurricanes professional hockey team and the Stanley Cup.

Wilton Cake Decorating Course 1: Class 4

Last night, I went to the last class in the Course 1 series. I did not have time to make a cake before class so I do not have a photo. We completed learning to make the Wilton rose, a sweet pea flower, and a bow. It was probably just as well that I did not make a cake because my icing was not of a proper consistency making it difficult to do anything BUT the instructor said I had the proper technique so that is all I really care about since I can fix the icing later. I see some experimenting in the future! Wilton also sells premade icing at stores so I may give that a try in Course 2. Speaking of Course 2, I signed up to take it, continuing on where we left off. I was only the second person signed up so I'm hoping at least a couple more will so they won't cancel the class. If I make a cake each week, I will continue to take photos and share my experimental masterpieces here. ;-)

Wilton Cake Decorating Course 1: Class 3

This is the cake I decorated during class 3 of 4. We learned how to do shell borders, flowers, and a clown. You're supposed to buy a clown head topper but I was cheap and made up my own with what I had available.

I attempted a 2 layer cake but didn't use enough cake release in the pan so half of it was stuck inside when I dumped the cake out. So, I made a single layer cake instead with cake crumbs for snacking on later as the second layer. First time I tried the chocolate icing as well and it was yummy.

Wilton Cake Decorating Course 1: Class 2

After YEARS of wanting to take cake decorating classes, I have FINALLY signed up for the Wilton Cake Decorating Course 1 at Michael's. It's a 4 week, 2 hour, once a week class. Now, I am learning the proper technique to decorate a cake and it has been very fun so far. The first week was just instruction and demonstration. This photo is from the second week when we got to start decorating. I brought a brownie instead of a cake to decorate and this is what I made! Smile! =)

P.S. Kendall and I started eating it before I got around to taking a picture. Yum!