silver white winters that melt into springs.

silver white winters that melt into springs.

• 12.29.2015

• Kendallville, IN, USA

In the year that Suz Bakes has been quiet, I've packed up my Kitchen Aid and moved from the Midwest to North Carolina. Everything has stayed in boxes because I haven't settled down just yet, so voilà! Behold, the excuse for my silence!

I've missed baking and decorating like crazy, so a trip home for the holidays equaled some quality time in the kitchen. I'd like to tell you that it was a blissfully cathartic experience and basically the best day ever, but that's not the truth. I threw my third cake in the trash without bothering to photograph it, and there is currently a dusting of powdered sugar on every possible surface in the kitchen.

My mistake came in the whole "I hate unpacking" business. I left nearly half of my tools boxed up because I really, really didn't want to get them out and have to reorganize everything again. It's the holiday season - I'm allowed to be lazy, right? WRONG. But it's too late to inform the ghost of Suz past that it all was a bad idea. Here's to another lesson learned and hopefully one day remembered.

Today's secret revealed: I only decorated the front side of each cake. When there are only a few hours of natural light in the day, you do what's necessary to get a decent photo! This likewise includes sweet-talking the Kroger floral lady into selling leftover Christmas greenery for a song, shoving your backside through the window to get a good angle (sorry, Mr. Neighbor), and squatting over the kitchen table, praying that you don't accidentally sit on or drop your camera on the cake.

As I type this, I'm aware of two painfully obvious habits I've developed when baking:
1. I notoriously wear all-black when flour and powdered sugar are involved. I don't know why.
2. I consume -2,000 calories on baking days: I always, always forget to eat because I get so caught up in what I'm doing. And now you know how it is possible to have skinny bakers. You can trust us - we're dedicated!

I have to admit, even though the cake situation didn't turn out quite as I'd hoped and this El Niño deal killed all dreams of a white Christmas, the rest of the holiday has been seasonally eventful. There were even flurries in the air this morning - I do believe Old Man Winter is giving it his best go despite all odds.

The week-long break from warmer weather has included:

• Ice skating outdoors in temperatures far above freezing. It was the first time I'd ever attempted to stand on ice and PRAISE THE LORD I never fell. I won't deny giving the other skaters a show though in terms of staying upright!
• Tobogganing on a track that was kept running smoothly by use of a watering can. God bless hillbilly little Indiana. And sweet boys who carry sleds for you.
• A freak ice storm that knocked out our electricity and phone service for 7 hours. Baby, it's finally cold outside!
• Knitting. Because it's a classic wintertime activity.

And there you have it. Two cakes, just for kicks! Hopefully in a few months I can get back into the swing of things and start sharing recipes again... until then!