Just For the Record......

I'm not dealing so well with being 30.

Cake Decorating/Sociological Observations

At my 2nd cake decorating class tonight we had to come prepared with several different things. We had to have an iced cake, three different consistencies of icing, and several tools to work with. It took me several hours over the last few days to get all this stuff ready. All this being said, it was interesting to watch all the people arrive. Watching these people helps me understand how some of my students act the way they do. They inherit all of these traits from their parents. Good and bad.

I sat in between two mother/daughter participants. The pair to my right was there early, prepared with everything they needed, and were very attentive during class. They tried really hard when it was time to decorate cakes. The daughter looked like she'd be a rock star bassoon player. The pair to my left came in late dressed like they were going to the club, had practically nothing prepared, and had no interest in actually getting better at the techniques. The daughter was bored after doting about 20 stars on her cake and spent the last 30 minutes of class texting and whining to her mother about wanting to leave. She would probably play the flute and give up by mid-September when she figured out it took actual work to play. Then there was the cutie pie 11 year old there by herself and wanting to cover her cake with icing clowns. I admired her tenacity and work ethic. She would make an awesome clarinet player.

The Alcocer Art Project

Earlier this week the Alcocers and I embarked on an art project to hang on their awkward wall. I talked Jennifer into making a giant mirror piece that involved 27 square IKEA mirrors, two tubes of liquid nails, a 90 in. x 30 in. piece of plywood, staining, and lots of measuring and drilling. Here's what we did:

Cristian did all of the measuring and drilling. He had to find all the studs and then match the spacing of the hooks on the back of the plywood with what he measured on the wall. Slightly complicated. Good thing he paid attention in high school math class.

Jennifer stained the outer edges of the plywood. We learned too late that we should have just stained the whole thing. We'll know for next time. (Cristian was still inside measuring).

We unwrapped 27 mirrors. (Cristian is still measuring).

We sat in the driveway and glued the mirrors on the plywood. We tried in vain to keep them aligned perfectly, but as most handmade things go, it ended up with a few slight imperfections.

To make sure that all the mirrors adhered to the plywood we clamped the sides and weighted down the rest with lots of bricks. It looked sort of like we were creating a grave for body be had to get rid of.

And alas, the finished product! I think it turned out GREAT considering that this was our first major construction project. Thank you HGTV for giving us the confidence to do it! It's a one-of-kind piece and I hope the Alcocers enjoy it for many years! I'm kinda jealous now and want to make one for myself......