This weekend I made a buttermilk sponge cake with raspberry-cranberry preserve filling and a white chocolate Italian buttercream frosting for my sister’s birthday. I love baking and I love the Sky High cake book. And making cakes for people’s celebrations is incredibly satisfying. This particular project was just that. I put on some Staple Singers, followed by some Aretha and just cooked my little heart out.

This cake marked a couple of firsts: it was the first time that I made preserves on my own. This is also the first time I made a soft ball stage candy. It made for an interesting frosting, which ultimately set up perfectly and tasted delicious.

It also marked a first and last. This was the first and last 30th birthday for my sister. It also might be the last cake I make for someone’s 30th birthday, as now everyone I love who is close enough to eat my cake has passed the finished line.

Lisa had some gripes with turning 30, completely opposite of me. Although, now that she has shared with me her distain for getting older, I can see where she is coming from. I welcomed my 30’s with open arms because I was always told that this is the decade where you figure things out. Everything starts making sense and you are finally able to grasp the big picture. (To be honest, this is kind of true thus far. I am only dipping my toes into the 30’s at this point, but can feel the gelatin of age slowly pouring into the cracks of life.)

Lisa saw her 30’s as a time when our parents were getting older. Until now, they had always appeared ageless to her. Ironically, I now can understand what she means. Dad’s sore back, prior to this year was just that. So he couldn’t walk quite as much. But now, now his back pain might require back surgery.

This weekend was spent with people that I love very much. It was full of memory-making moments that help keep our family close-knit. Did any other SUV full of adults sing a rousing rendition of “America the Beautiful”?? (Including the part where we all didn’t really know the words?) Did anyone else win two out of three rounds of pool because their sister insisted on scratching instead of sinking the 8 ball? Or kick their sister’s ass at shuffle board? How about engage in a really REALLY strange conversation with a guy who wouldn’t stop kissing your fiance? Did anyone else find two delicious white wines at a small local restaurant? I bet not. I bet not.

Lisa and Lam – Come visit us soon and often. I even have more cakes up my sleeve.

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