Plant a Garden, Bake Cupcakes and Spread Love

 Today I will take a different approach than cupcakes, sprouts and critters. There are many people in this country rejoicing the death of a man many consider evil. I am just sad. I am sad there is so much hate in this world that people rejoice in death. I saw a billboard yesterday that showed "Battle in the Barn," some UFC style fight. The billboard showed men fighting each other and was covered in blood splatter. I thought to myself, "what is this world coming to when blood and fighting are on a billboard for all to see including small children? Are we so far desensitized that this doesn't bother us anymore?"

We never would have saw such violence 10 years ago. When did we become the Roman Mob? Violence and hate. I try to avoid it. Now that I have children in my life, I am appalled by it. Before I had a family of my own, I thought nothing of it. One of the reasons I started this post is because I really just want the world to be cupcakes, love and plants. I know after the news and all the noise today that the world is not just me. I have hope though, there are many people who are like me and think like me. Martin Luther King was one of them. 

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." —MLK

Tater Turns Twelve!

Ugh! Where does the time go? My little Tater Tot turned twelve on Saturday! We didn't get to spend time with her on her birthday so we are celebrating tonight. There is a special ordered dinner planned, at the request of our beautiful girl, of gnocchi in whitesauce with chicken and caesar salad. It should be delicious! Last night I stayed up making "Funfetti" cupcakes with a homemade white vanilla buttercream. The cupcakes were made from the box but the frosting was a fun and easy adventure, now that I have my handy dandy KitchenAid mixer. I am truly in love with that sexy piece of machinery. I love her so much that I named her Stella Bella Kitty. I adorned the cupckes with some colored hard candy in multiple colors. The bottom layer of cupcakes all had a corresponding color to the larger candy in the middle. The overall effect made them look like flowers. The next two layers of cupcakes were made with multiple colored candies. In addition, the number "12" tops it off for the perfect birthday candles!

In addition to making Tater's cupcakes, my boss turns 70 tomorrow! I made him dark chocolate cupcakes, filled with a rich chocolate mousse, and topped with orange chocolate frosting, infused with dark chilli chocolate chunks... I can't wait to try them...Death by Chocolate anyone?

My first impression of blogging.

I spent a full hour typing and editing my first blog. It was all about the toils and triumphs of gardening I went through during the Spring of 2010. When I went to "publish post" my blog had vanished. How sad it was for me to be so excited to share my adventures with you, only to be crushed that I didn't save it elsewhere first. I will try this one and see if it fares better, although complaining is not how I intended to introduce my blog....