A Summer of Cupcakes

They're everywhere, aren't they?  There are bakeries that specialize only in cupcakes.  There are TV shows devoted just to cupcakes.  For some reason, cupcakes have become the little darlings of the treat world.

I'm a fan.  To me, few things are as irresistable as a perfectly baked, perfectly iced little single serving cake.
I have been perfectly willing to get on the bandwagon and join the trend, and my family seems to have been willing as well.

While my granddaughter was staying with us, one afternoon was devoted to cupcake baking.  I'm not sure if my motivation was the delicious results, or the photo opportunities.  Either way, they were both very sweet.

What's the perfect thing to do while you're waiting?  Dance Party, of course!

Last week, while all of the family was at the beach, Jackie suggested we have a Cupcake War.  No throwing was involved; just seeking for bragging rights for having baked the best cupcake! 

I was overwhelmed with the creativity, the effort, the teamwork, and the mess!  But mostly I loved the beautiful, yummy results.  Thanks to all for the memorable birthday treats!

We had cupcakes that resembled cups of cocoa, and Titleist golf balls.

We had cupcakes that explored a variety of flavor profiles.

And we had some whose mastery and expertise simply couldn't be denied.  I am hereby declaring Jackie's delectable peanut butter and chocolate masterpiece as the winner.  Sorry, guys.  You know her's were the best!

Yesterday Would Have Been the Day

It was my own special tradition.  It was something I remember doing every Spring.  I never knew exactly when it would happen, but when the time was right, I would know it.

After spending the winter months bundled up in coats and hats and scarves and mittens, one day invariably as I would walk home from school, I would realize that maybe summer was really on its way.  If I had taken a sweater to school in the morning, on the way home it would have been shed as the sun was finally beginning to take away the wintertime chill and showing the promise of warmer days. 

Upon arriving at home, I would make a beeline to my bedroom, open the bottom dresser drawer, determined to find the summertime clothes that had been put away for the season.  With the hope that Summer really was close at hand, I would change out of my school clothes then head out to the shed to uncover the bicycles.  Finding the bicycle pump was usually necessary too.

Then feeling that irrepressible freedom after the restrictive cold months, I would strike out for a bicycle ride around the neighborhood.  How liberating!  I felt as free as a bird.  It felt so good to stretch my legs and feel the breeze on my skin. 

Yesterday, I know it would have been that special day for me.  The long-absent sunshine beckoned me out for a walk around the neighborhood.  Soon the unexpected warmth made me want to shed my hoodie and find the summer clothes that I haven't touched in months.  If I had had a bicycle, I would have pulled it from the shed too.

My body may be getting older, but it was nice to discover that my soul will always be young.

One Tradition I Could Never Grasp

I love Santa Claus.  I love everything about Santa Claus.  I have thrown my entire being into supporting his cause, and promoting the dream and the magic that is uniquely his.

But I never could understand the ridiculousness that is the "Easter Bunny".  C'mon, really?  What is that about?  And WHY?

But what about your poor children, you may be asking.  What a grouchy mother they have!  She has deprived them of the "magic" of an anthropomorphic rabbit that hides gross hard-boiled eggs under the couch never to be found until they start to stink sometime in May.

Well, to my defense, my children have always had their fair share of Easter goodies.  But, as a family, we have chosen to celebrate with those things on the Saturday prior to Easter, preserving the Sabbath for our undistracted worship of the Resurrected Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

So while my children never looked for Easter baskets on Sunday morning, we always had a rousing treasure hunt on Saturday afternoon.  Brian and I would carefully write clues which led our children from hiding place to hiding place, which would then lead to the grand-daddy of them all where elaborate baskets would be waiting for them.  These would contain whatever this "Easter Bunny" thought would delight them.  Including Peeps.  Which I personally hate. 

I have no desire to discount whatever your family traditions are.  Whatever brings you and yours together is the important thing. 

But those "poor" Haws children seem to have managed just fine without a yearly visit from that mythical rabbit.

Back to the Real Deal

Last year I did something I had never done before.  Due to a Christmas trip to Florida for the holidays, my family did not put up a real Christmas tree.  For us, a REAL Christmas tree involves a saw and wood and branches and fragrance and errant needles.  It requires scootching under it every day risking hair and clothes being covered with gold glitter to make sure it remains adequately watered.  It requires risking a mess of fallen needles and dribbled water on one's carpet. 

Our memories of Christmases Past are filled with trips to cut our own tree.  Now before you imagine us tromping through the woods Chevy Chase-style, let me stop you.  We live in the Willamette Valley of Oregon.  This is where Christmas trees are grown, groomed, and then shipped all over the country.  We are surrounded by tree farms on every side.  I can't drive the few blocks to Wal-mart without passing a tree farm.  They are abundant, they are affordable, and they are simply the most beautiful trees to be had.

With all of our children here for the Thanksgiving holiday, we thought it would be wonderful to go get our tree while they were here.  Surely 16-month-old Evelyn would think it a delightful activity.  One problem:  most of the tree farms do not open until the day after Thanksgiving.  We wanted to get it the day before.

After a little research, we found one that was willing to let us come early.  Granted there would be no charming amenities like cocoa and candy canes, but we deemed it worth the sacrifice.

Being used to cutting our tree here in town, it seemed unusual to have to drive too far.  The cooperative tree farm was on the other side of Silverton, half way up the hill to Silver Falls.  And they had snow!  And very slippery roads.  Which was fine for Brian driving his 4WD pickup, not so much for Robert driving my Chrysler.

But that was not the only thing that set this trip apart from other tree-hunts.  Not being ready yet to cater to individuals seeking single trees, the tree farm was in the midst of harvesting and shipping trees for its commercial production.  We found ourselves in the middle of a thrilling adventure.  Helicopters and all!

And to heck with the little handsaws that tree farms usually provide, this owner pulled out his chainsaw and zip, zip, zip, made short order of that tree.  My son Robert did not mind, as it usually falls to him to cut down our tree.

I am glad we made the extra effort to get our tree while our children were here.  I realized how much it has become part of our traditions.  And traditions should be cherished and nurtured. 

It's Up to Me!

We enjoy a pretty good division of duties in my family.  My husband takes care of all our financial, spiritual, and comedic needs, and I try to make life sweet and peaceful.  It works out well.  I am quite sure I have the best arrangement.

There is one responsibility that always seems to fall upon my shoulders though, which presents a little pressure sometimes; I am the Family "Cruise" Director.  All the fun, all the activities, all the entertainment seem to be run through me and my energies.  Part of that includes being the tradition coordinator.  Those traditions that have already been established must be perpetuated by, you guessed it, me!  And when a need for new traditions arises, it becomes my challenge to think of creative, worthwhile additions to our arsenal. Tough job, but someone's gotta do it.....

A couple of years ago I decided to start a Thanksgiving tradition.  We began a family album solely devoted to Thanksgiving Day.  I would like to share what we have so far.  This serves two purposes; to document it as family history on my blog, but also to remind my family that we will be adding to the album again this year.

I love reading the blessings that each person wrote on their personal pages.  Some are obvious; some are not!  I love my family.