Cakes 1: Melting Icing

Beverly and I held our first cake decorating challenge last week.  We plan to decorate a cake a month as we work our way through Maratha Stewart's "Cakes and Cupcakes."  90 degree temperatures challenged our technique as we watched our butter cream icing melt - even with 50% Crisco.

We started with Piped Pansy Cupcakes.  Beverly, who continues to remind me of crafty Kelly,  piped perfect pansies.

I decided to use some left-over green for mine.

Next month: The Igloo Cake - at Emily's request.

A Week with Linda and Kevin

We spent the week showing L and K our new hood.  We joined the Frankfurt on Foot tour - though our guide's hair, half shaved and half passed her shoulders, entertained us more then her stories.  We dropped out early to eat at Meyer's - my new favorite restaurant.  We shopped on Goethestrasse - Frankfurt's Fifth Avenue.  (I did buy cute pink rhinestone sneakers.)   I showed off my new cooking skills, and we watched Mad Men while eating peanut butter cookies.

They took the train to Paris for a few days -  Emily kept asking, "Why can't I go too?" - and returned late Thursday night.  We spent their last few days local.  We went to Aschaffenburg, a small town on the Main with a huge Renaissance palace.

At Linda's insistence, we stopped at a playground.

This morning we said, "Cheerio, but be back soon."

The Best Laid Plans....

Linda and Kevin arrived yesterday from JFK.  The kids excitedly repeated, "Linda and Kevin are coming," our entire drive to the airport.  We jumped right into the day, as Linda accompanied Emily on her art tour - the exhibit "Glam!" seemed fitting for my 1970's loving aunt.  We walked through the "America" festival downtown and watched people from outdoor tables at Starbucks.  We ended the day with a walk to our favorite German restaurant.

I planned a day in the "romantic" Rhine Valley to view the storybook castles and a traditional German town.  Beverly, my go-to travel agent, suggested a walk around Bacharach, a boat ride to St. Goar. and a tour of Rheinfels Castle.

As we headed to Bacharach, I realized the boats only ran twice.  If we went there first, we could be stuck for several hours in St. Goar.  So, we redirected and drove to St. Goar and Rhieinfels Castle and dropped the boat tour.

For five centuries, Rheinfels, the unconquerable fortress, remained the biggest castle in the area.  Now, it is considered the best ruins on the Rhine.  We roamed the ruins, climbed a tower, and ate some snacks.

We drove down to Barcharach, a half-timbered village for lunch.  I led the group to several Rick Steve's favorites, but both had just closed thirty minutes before.  We ate (just okay) food at a random German cafe.  At least we made it to Eis Cafe Italia, the original gelato place in town.

Good Bye Primary

On Thursday, Emily's class invited all the parents for the last Show and Tell  - an event the kids organize to show what they have been doing in school.  We enjoyed an indoor picnic lunch followed by a tour of her experiments.

We explored how much water each glass can take.

She showed us "the experiments that I did."

We looked through her portfolio.

Of course, we ate donuts.

We admired the strawberry, lettuce, flower, and tomato plants her class nurtured from seeds.

Finally, we said good-bye to Ms. Natalie's classroom.  Time for First Grade.  (I can't believe it.)

Emily's Last Day of Primary

I have to share this e-mail from one of Emily's teachers:




In class today, Emily and Kaitlyn sang Kumbaya to the others during snack. Shortly after, the whole school gathered downstairs for our final assembly of the year. Emily approached me and asked if the two could sing their song to everyone, and I asked her to go and speak to Mr. Weaver about it. He agreed, and Emily spoke with Mr. Benson about her wishes. In the middle of assembly, Emily asked Kaitlyn to join her on stage, and without any hesitation or nervousness, Kaitlyn did. The two did a beautiful job— I don't think there was a dry eye in the place!

As a teacher, I'm thrilled with how far these young ladies have come this year in terms of academics, but also in terms of their confidence and willingness to take risks. It has been a truly amazing year for them both; thank you for all of your support in their growth! I am so lucky to work with parents like you and children like them. While I'm looking forward to summer vacation, I can honestly say that I would have no problem coming into work to spend more time here.

I apologize for the poor video quality, but it's better than nothing; enjoy!

Thanks for a great year, and enjoy your summer holiday,
Bonnie

Welcome Summer

The unseasonably cold weather passed right into unseasonably hot weather.  We switched from fleeces to tank tops as baseball, girl scouts, and school came to an end.  We welcome a summer of golf, family visits, and well, more traveling.

Endings.....

Last Baseball Game:  They rushed through the game so each kid could bat at least once before the rain started.

Girl Scout Camp:  Emily was the last to go to sleep and the first to get up.

End of the Year Picnic:  Owen's school celebrated the summer with a big BBQ.

Beginnings...

Golf Lessons:  Both kids practice their swing on Saturdays.  Owen needs pancakes to fuel up.

Cooking Club: Our cooking club cooked foods reminiscent of summer and met at our friend's kleine garten.