ahhhh - relief....

Sunday, 24 December 2006

I just finished my last batch of cupcakes for a Christmas order and I am going to bask in at least 6 days of non-compulsary baking. In particular I'm going to enjoy not making cupcakes as I recon I've churned out over 500 in the last few weeks for thankyous to creche people, actual christmas cupcake orders, weddings and Breast Cancer fundraising.  I will have to do a bit of pre-baking for the January orders but there's not a cupcake amongst them thank goodness.

Here are two of yesterday's wedding cakes...  The figurines aren't mine - they were supplied by a Brisbane person as I told the bride I could do her last minute cake order but not the figurines (no time).  They are pretty cool and I got to check out someone else's style nice and close up!!

Gingerbread Workshop

Saturday, 23 December 2006

Today I delivered the last of the wedding cakes (pictures to follow) and then took advantage of a simultaneous household nap (jon, zali & jett) and went down to BigW to do my xmas shopping. Unfortunately in my excitement I forgot about the child-free GingerBread House workshop Denny had arranged (weeks ago) with Suzanne which was taking place in our house. Luckily although I arrived an hour late it turned out I hadn't missed anything - the Ikea gingerbread house kits were still in pieces waiting for assembly. Unfortunately they were in a lot more pieces than they were supposed to be in.  Still - we managed to assemble them (ok, so they don't have walls) and get them up to such a point where we would be proud to enter them into the craft section of the Huonville show (in the under 3's category anyway)

ahhh...

Friday, 22 December 2006

And here's another photo of Jett just because he is so cute (with the sound turned down anyway)..

In late breaking news we are looking after a kitten for a few days  - Denny and I decided the least stressfull place was here - but only by a whisker so to speak. It was a tossup between 2 young boys and a territorial cat,  verses  a  toddler,  a 3 yearold, and a balcony with a long drop. If the kitten makes it to christmas day we'll consider it a victory.
 

Cute Little Cupcakes

Friday, 22 December 2006

Jett came home from creche on Tuesday with a  book filled with  photos of activities he'd been doing  there during the year. Much to my surprise these included pictures of him playing happily with  playdough, neat-and-tidy painting, decorating  biscuits with sprinkles etc etc..  So yesterday instead of  waiting until  Jett was asleep before decorating some left-over cupcakes with Zali, I thought I'd give him a go at home too.

So here is a picture of Jett delicately placing blue sprinkles onto a cupcake.  I am beginning to suspect that the creche carers wait until the children are asleep then arrange them in nice contented poses in the middle of craft activities as this was about his most neat and tidy moment during it all. Still - we all had fun. 

I'm still here.

Monday, 18 December 2006


Just a bit exhausted that's all. 5 cakes to go until christmas then a 7 day break until the next 2 are due!    If I write this quickly I can be in bed before midnight for the 2nd time in a week.  One of the major frustrations last week was the problems with this pair of waterski-ing figurines which are supposed to be travelling to Bell Bay - on the North West tip of Tasmania (I think) . Moments after I took this photo the groom's arm broke in half as I tried to get them into a box (he had a stump of a shoulder and the bride had the rest of it stuck to her back - very fetching). I emailed the bride with a few suggestions including that she hack off her fiance's arm just above the elbow to match the figurine but I don't think she thought it was that funny.  Anyway - I'm almost finished reparing them - whilst materials for these two haven't cost much I recon my hourly rate will work out to be about 50c - probably even less. Live and Learn.  This other cake is an improved version of my ribbon cake which I am quite proud of.

In children news, Jett has made a great leap forward and had his first unaccompanied bath since he was about 4 weeks old. He has a fear of water and trembles at the beach. At a large swimming pool he will flatten himself to you like a lizard on a tree, and generally try to be invisible should anyone mistakenly think he might like a swim.  Up until yesterday he'd only go in the bath if he was attached to Jon or I  with the strength of a koala in high winds. So getting in the bath by himself yesterday, and with Zali today is BIG news. Well done Jett.
 

Vrooom

Tuesday, 12 December 2006

Lately our trusty 1989 Toyota Corolla 4wd Station Wagon has been rattling..  Actually it's so loud the whole suburb rattles as we drive through it and people laugh,  point and stare, then rush to protect their children's ears from permanant damage..   Thankfully, due to a bit of encouragement from mum and some financial help from dad we now have a replacement we bought today at a government auction thingy.  We got a dec04 *Magna Station wagon. Very boring but very practical and very good value as it's still got lots of its new car warranty to run and its got all the wizz bang things I've been hankering for since the tragic loss of my beautiful ford *Laser - central locking,  ability to hear the radio over the engine noise...etc etc  Now all I need is my extra point four of a child, or is it point two nowadays. Either way I'd probably rather just have the dog.

* I like to say these words humourously using Dr Evil's accent (from Austin Powers)  -but it doesn't really translate via text does it. 

Anyway - here it is -  we'll buy a Prius the moment we can afford it - but this will have to do in the meantime.

not waving, drowning.....

Tuesday, 12 December 2006

Unusually for me, I have cake deliveries every day this week until Sunday.  They include 2 orders of christmas themed cupcakes, a 25th wedding anniversary cake, 2 wedding cakes & a 50th birthday cake.  And I am vveeeeery tired.   This is on top of 3 cake orders on the weekend and another 4 to go next week.. It's great I'm busy but gosh I'll be glad to get to bed before midnight sometime sooon. Here are some recent orders..  Actually I had a little heart attack when the duck person rang up to arrange a time to collect her cake the next day when I actually thought it didn't need to be  ready until the end of this week (and hadn't started yet). Luckily they are quick compared to other types of figurines and cakes. phew.

 

getting into festive mode

Tuesday, 12 December 2006

On the weekend we went to the Hawthorne's place and got to cut down our own christmas tree from the selection of various rogue trees growing through their patch of natives.  When we got home we spent almost an hour trying to get it to stand up in our christmas tree stand -   In the end we resorted to the tried and trusted bucket-full-o-sand method.    Zali was excellent at carefully hanging up the decorations, and Jett was excellent at pulling down all the ones within reach and putting them back into the box, then tipping the contents on to the floor and frolicking through the collection.. sigh...  

Arty

Tuesday, 5 December 2006

I've always wanted to be one of those arty, crafty blogs such  as  Not  Martha or  LoobyLu   - but alas and alack. This is the closest I can get and I didn't even knit these two cute dolls myself. They came from the Granny Shop on Kangaroo  Island and  were presents to Zali  &  Jett from  their grandparents. The shop is crammed full of home-made craft stuff at  prices ranging from the rediculously-cheap (mostly) to absolute bargain.  I hope all the slave-grannies are enjoying the process and not attempting to survive on the profits!!

two of four

Monday, 4 December 2006

Here are two of the four "cakes" I had to deliver on the weekend we left.  I left one in Denny's hands and dropped all the others off early with no subsequent problems (that I've heard about anyway)

nice nose

Monday, 4 December 2006

It's worth mentioning that my digital camera doesn't zoom in very well  anymore cos there's so much sand in the lens! There was a stiff on-shore breeze whenever we went to the beach.

Cousins and Cake

Monday, 4 December 2006

Zali  loved catching up with her Adelaide  cousins and  also with  her friend Chelsea, who  she  last spent time with when she was  just one  and at that  awkward  'dipping the washer in the toilet then using it to clean the bathroom floor stage'.

I used the opportunity to test out a new cake style - for Jon's parent's  50th wedding anniversary (the main reason for our trip). I wanted to do something slightly more old fashioned - I was happy with the result but it was interesting to note from the original wedding photographs that the real cake 50 years ago was pretty different to my poppy creation!

Beach Photos - from the beach at Penneshaw on KI

Monday, 4 December 2006




 

it's KI to the locals

Wednesday, 29 November 2006

We're here on Kangaroo Island for a few days, happily avoiding the heat of Adelaide (38 there today)  and enjoying a few days of KI lifestyle, which, at least when staying with Jon's parents, involves being served delicious meals and snacks at all times of the day.  Our SA holiday started out on shakey ground though with Jonno going down with a bout of gastro on the first night, which he kindly shared with the rest of his sister's family just as we were leaving for KI (nice timing by us there). We had a beach day yesterday and today we visited a wildlife park and a honey place and spotted a free-range koala. I've got some good photos but of course I can't upload them.  I don't have any mobile phone reception at the moment which is a little frustrating as I can receive cake enquiries via my message bank but I can't reply.  Also the missing Dish Washer Guy has reappeared via my voicemail but I can't reply to his message either. doh. 

Booty

Friday, 24 November 2006

This year has been the most lucrative year in my orienteering career since my slightly lame-o 1/2 scholarship from the Tasmanian Institute of Sport way back when we travelled to events in a horse and cart (actually it was dad's Kingswood but the comfort level was about the same and in fact the audio was worse as you never had to listen to 'Australia All Over' in a horse and cart I bet).   Earlier in the year I picked up a cool little backpack in the NSW Stingers Sprint Series (cos I turned up consistantly - I only won once), and I recon since being in Tassie I've won 3 bottles of wine (in spot prizes), and now I can add my latest prize - a pair of Blundstone boots!  I won this in the corporate challenge by getting the maximum of 7 points at each of the 3 lunchtime events. To get the maximum  you either had to win all three races (uh - not me)  or have a finish number in a multiple of 7 as the points were granted from 7 to 1 then from 7 to 1 again all the way through the results list. So 1st, 8th, 15th etc all get 7 points. I think I was something like 23rd, 15th then 8th last week. I have to thank Grace Elson and her employer BBQ's Galore -  for not being able to make it last week as she would have pushed me out to a 6 pointer and I would have had to share a boot each with the person who eventually finished one point behind me.
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2006 Summary
ahhhh - relief.... Sunday, 24 December 2006
Gingerbread Workshop Saturday, 23 December 2006
ahhh... Friday, 22 December 2006
Cute Little Cupcakes Friday, 22 December 2006
I'm still here. Monday, 18 December 2006
Vrooom Tuesday, 12 December 2006
not waving, drowning..... Tuesday, 12 December 2006
getting into festive mode Tuesday, 12 December 2006
Arty Tuesday, 5 December 2006
two of four Monday, 4 December 2006
nice nose Monday, 4 December 2006
Cousins and Cake Monday, 4 December 2006
Beach Photos - from the beach at Penneshaw on KI Monday, 4 December 2006
it's KI to the locals Wednesday, 29 November 2006
Booty Friday, 24 November 2006
Empire Building Wednesday, 22 November 2006
Cupcake Frenzy Wednesday, 22 November 2006
weekday flurry Wednesday, 22 November 2006
60th Huon Show Saturday, 18 November 2006
on the nose Friday, 17 November 2006
numbers... Friday, 17 November 2006
More Appliance Love Tuesday, 14 November 2006
Hair Ponies Tuesday, 14 November 2006
Pasta III Tuesday, 14 November 2006
Cats Cats Cats Monday, 13 November 2006
Fun at the Park Monday, 13 November 2006
Yum Saturday, 11 November 2006
spare me Saturday, 11 November 2006
giddyup. Thursday, 9 November 2006
Whaddaweek. Sunday, 5 November 2006
our hopeless dishwasher Thursday, 2 November 2006
Doofus is also his middle name.. Tuesday, 31 October 2006
Good Grief. Monday, 30 October 2006
Weekend fun Monday, 30 October 2006
A chef and food stylist I am not. Friday, 27 October 2006
Beanbaggers Thursday, 26 October 2006
Growing up Fast. Wednesday, 25 October 2006
Appliance Love (and hate) Monday, 23 October 2006
A Walk on the Mountain Sunday, 22 October 2006
Homework Saturday, 21 October 2006
Zinkerbell. Friday, 20 October 2006
bored bored bored Friday, 20 October 2006
Frogs Tuesday, 17 October 2006
Freycinet Challenge Weekend Monday, 16 October 2006
sun, wind and smoke Thursday, 12 October 2006
My Mona Lisa Tuesday, 10 October 2006
can there ever be too many cupcakes? Monday, 9 October 2006
Cakegirl Sunday, 8 October 2006
All of the people, some of the time! Saturday, 7 October 2006
You can't please 'em all. Saturday, 7 October 2006
Happy 95th Birthday Dad! Thursday, 5 October 2006
Monkey boy Wednesday, 4 October 2006
another day another zillion cupcakes.. Tuesday, 3 October 2006
One big baby buffet Friday, 29 September 2006
What did you do today? Thursday, 28 September 2006
Jett has had a shoe upgrade! Tuesday, 26 September 2006
Enough already.. Tuesday, 26 September 2006
Getting Lost in the Middle Monday, 25 September 2006
she's onto it.. Friday, 22 September 2006
Chalk and Cheese Wednesday, 20 September 2006
yum... Tuesday, 19 September 2006
Splash! Sunday, 17 September 2006
New CakeWoman Website! Sunday, 17 September 2006
Some Cars, by Zali Friday, 15 September 2006
look at me, look at me!! Friday, 15 September 2006
happy 4th anniversary to us! Thursday, 14 September 2006
Everyone has got to start somewhere!! Tuesday, 12 September 2006
the olden days.. Tuesday, 12 September 2006
babies babies... Saturday, 9 September 2006
19 years in the making. Thursday, 7 September 2006
Zali Crayon Hands Wednesday, 6 September 2006
setting the dance floor on fire.. Wednesday, 6 September 2006
Playing second fiddle Wednesday, 6 September 2006
Cupcakes, cupcakes, cupcakes.. Wednesday, 6 September 2006
one year ago today(ish) Friday, 1 September 2006
Dogs or Kids Friday, 1 September 2006
I need spaaace!! Wednesday, 30 August 2006
more bad habits Wednesday, 30 August 2006
is this the future? Sunday, 27 August 2006
Orchids.. Friday, 25 August 2006
clear as mud Friday, 25 August 2006
Short back and side Thursday, 24 August 2006
Z is for Zali Wednesday, 23 August 2006
pink is the new blue Wednesday, 23 August 2006
springing along.. Monday, 21 August 2006
Happy Jett is back! Friday, 18 August 2006
Yay Thursday, 17 August 2006
Desperate Times Monday, 14 August 2006
that other world Monday, 14 August 2006
Fun things.. Thursday, 10 August 2006
Crash Landing Wednesday, 9 August 2006
Catching my breath... Tuesday, 8 August 2006
left to their own devices Saturday, 5 August 2006
Classic. Saturday, 5 August 2006
Oldies but Goodies Saturday, 5 August 2006
This is going to be me.... Saturday, 5 August 2006
Go Hanny! Wednesday, 2 August 2006
CPI Report Tuesday, 1 August 2006
Straight Forward English. Monday, 31 July 2006
Missed it by THAT much.. Friday, 28 July 2006
It's all coffee and scrolls round here... Thursday, 27 July 2006
Holibay! Monday, 24 July 2006
This picture tells a thousand lies. Friday, 21 July 2006
Bad Habits Thursday, 20 July 2006
ho hum Thursday, 20 July 2006
Deja Vu Monday, 17 July 2006
shoe story Saturday, 15 July 2006
happy birthday to me! Friday, 14 July 2006
Hoop-la Thursday, 13 July 2006
Suddenly it's nearly Wednesday Tuesday, 11 July 2006
phew Thursday, 6 July 2006
Blerck Monday, 3 July 2006
Happy Shoppers Friday, 30 June 2006
The Lea II Thursday, 29 June 2006
More about Jett Wednesday, 28 June 2006
Something to look forward to. Wednesday, 28 June 2006
the whole hog Tuesday, 27 June 2006
It's the little things.. Wednesday, 21 June 2006
brrrrrr (not us, you!) Thursday, 15 June 2006
Jett the Amazing Talking Baby Wednesday, 14 June 2006
almost a week already? Wednesday, 14 June 2006
Um.. actually.. I think I want a new job.. Friday, 9 June 2006
Lunch anyone? (not me.. please!) Wednesday, 7 June 2006
Living it up.. Wednesday, 7 June 2006
and there goes the bond Thursday, 1 June 2006
blair witch moment Tuesday, 30 May 2006
typical scene Sunday, 28 May 2006
It's Sunday already! Sunday, 28 May 2006
Poor baby Jett Wednesday, 24 May 2006
Ballet II Tuesday, 23 May 2006
Ballet? Monday, 22 May 2006
Noooooooo ! Saturday, 20 May 2006
Easter Photos Saturday, 20 May 2006
Favourites Saturday, 20 May 2006
My Office Monday, 15 May 2006
the more I see you Friday, 12 May 2006
Chaos Thursday, 11 May 2006
Where are we? Wednesday, 10 May 2006
timing Tuesday, 9 May 2006
Honeymoon is over Friday, 5 May 2006
Come and Visit Us! Wednesday, 3 May 2006
Dollars and Cents Tuesday, 2 May 2006
pretty as a picture Monday, 1 May 2006
We're not in Kansas anymore.. Monday, 1 May 2006
value for money Saturday, 29 April 2006
aargh & ouch! Thursday, 27 April 2006
Arrived Tuesday, 25 April 2006
Thank You Thank You! Saturday, 22 April 2006
We made it to Melbourne Tuesday, 18 April 2006
yuck yuck yuck Monday, 10 April 2006
Co-Op-Er-A-Shun Sunday, 9 April 2006
are we there yet? Saturday, 8 April 2006
box after box after box Friday, 7 April 2006
busy busy busy Wednesday, 5 April 2006
First and Last Tuesday, 4 April 2006
tick tick and TICK Saturday, 1 April 2006
i'm heeere... Thursday, 30 March 2006
If you go down to the cake cupboard today.. Saturday, 25 March 2006
Happy Birthday Jonno!!! Thursday, 23 March 2006
faking it Monday, 20 March 2006
Zali and Sam Monday, 20 March 2006
My handsome boy (the little one) Sunday, 19 March 2006
Saturday, 18 March 2006
urk Thursday, 16 March 2006
ho hum.. Wednesday, 15 March 2006
unexpected fun Monday, 13 March 2006
Hardys bay Monday, 13 March 2006
gotta love a man who loves his food Thursday, 9 March 2006
squishy Thursday, 9 March 2006
Happy Anniversary! Tuesday, 7 March 2006
We've all been busy Monday, 6 March 2006
Easy Peasy Sunday, 5 March 2006
Would you buy a used car from these two? Sunday, 5 March 2006
WooHoo... Thursday, 2 March 2006
happy 1/2 a birthday!! Wednesday, 1 March 2006
thanks for nothing Tuesday, 28 February 2006
busy busy busy... Tuesday, 28 February 2006
time to breathe.. Monday, 27 February 2006
There were 6 in the flat and the little one said... Friday, 24 February 2006
They're torturing me.. Thursday, 23 February 2006
ok enough already!! Wednesday, 22 February 2006
aaaaargh!!!! Tuesday, 21 February 2006
Shoe-in Tuesday, 21 February 2006
Some work by day... Monday, 20 February 2006
Take me to the water Sunday, 19 February 2006
Wedding Flowers Saturday, 18 February 2006
Five UNcool things about being CakeWoman* Saturday, 18 February 2006
Five cool things about being CakeWoman Saturday, 18 February 2006
It's the getting there that's the real pleasure! Friday, 17 February 2006
can't help myself Friday, 17 February 2006
typical Friday, 17 February 2006
Here I am Monday, 13 February 2006
or.. Saturday, 11 February 2006
A Different Perspective Saturday, 11 February 2006
Is it Friday yet? Thursday, 9 February 2006
whose idea was children anyway? Thursday, 9 February 2006
Summer Series - Riverview Wednesday, 8 February 2006
Sorry no picture today Tuesday, 7 February 2006
2 alcohol units! Sunday, 5 February 2006
Someone send traccies! Sunday, 5 February 2006
3 Favourite cakes Saturday, 4 February 2006
Relax, QUICK!! Friday, 3 February 2006
Wednesday, 1 February 2006
Perfection Wednesday, 1 February 2006
Escapee Tuesday, 31 January 2006
Sydney: 10 things I love about you Sunday, 29 January 2006
Sydney: 10 things I hate about you Sunday, 29 January 2006
Off the list Sunday, 29 January 2006
New Winner Sunday, 29 January 2006
Almost Done Friday, 27 January 2006
All babies look the same Wednesday, 25 January 2006
Quiz Time Monday, 23 January 2006
Eggplant surprise Saturday, 21 January 2006
4 down. Saturday, 21 January 2006
bleary eyes Thursday, 19 January 2006
Home Grown Wednesday, 18 January 2006
2 down. Tuesday, 17 January 2006
Back to Work Monday, 16 January 2006
Another Planet? Monday, 16 January 2006
Still Party Time Saturday, 14 January 2006
Relaxxx Saturday, 14 January 2006
I don't have time for this! Friday, 13 January 2006
Trip Out Thursday, 12 January 2006
Blast from the Past Thursday, 12 January 2006
Batten down the hatches Wednesday, 11 January 2006
Growth Chart Tuesday, 10 January 2006
This is where the action is... Tuesday, 10 January 2006
Chugging Along Monday, 9 January 2006
Travel Companions Monday, 9 January 2006
Our Cuties Sunday, 8 January 2006
Party Time Sunday, 8 January 2006
Important information Saturday, 7 January 2006
Cakes, babies and more cakes Saturday, 7 January 2006
Welcome! Friday, 6 January 2006 Welcome to my new blog. My first blog.