Down on the Farm

Last weekend for Easter I went out to my uncle's place for some festivities. It is amazing to me that 30 minutes from the busy city, I can be in such a tranquil, beautiful "country" place. I've only been out there three times, but every time I drive out there, it reminds me of my childhood and visiting Grandma and Grandpa. I love the sight of crops being irrigated, John Deere tractors, cattle, and a respite from the hustle and bustle of the city. Not that farming is easy. But it gives me a sense of peace. Happiness. Relaxation.

Talk about festivities. The little ones jumped on the trampoline, played in a huge tire swing, played on a huge dirt pile, hunted for Easter eggs. We grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, had a bonfire, roasted smores, visited with new friends and kinfolk, drove Go Karts around the property, AND....took pictures of these:

Aren't they beautiful? Bluebonnets were EVERYWHERE! It smelled amazing.

Have you ever looked at a bluebonnet up close before?

Pretty, right? I guess I've never looked at them up close before. There were also these purple pretties. I've never seen them before, either.

Last night I made a farm themed birthday cake for a little girl. I started out with a carrot sheet cake and some cupcakes:

I cut the cupcakes down a little, carved one of them into a diamond-type shape, piped some white chocolate ears and snouts, and ended up with this:

I wrote "Happy Birthday ___________" in the sky to mimic the shape of the top of the barn. It turned out OK. I think the idea was better than the execution, but in my baking experience, that seems to be true most of the time.

As I looked at pictures of this cake, I kept thinking, I have GOT to take some cake decorating classes. Or practice more. The inside is good, but the outside needs some polish. Hopefully she liked it.