Cakes and boxes.
The cake before, looking very unglamorous. The cake after, looking only slightly less so.
So let's get this part out of the way first: I am officially done with my detox. It was 21 days of virtuous eating with G counting down the days until I could join him for a beer at the local pub again. But I did finish just in time for his birthday because well, I'm not cruel. There can be no teetotalling on the man's birthday. And boy it was some night-- a blur of drinks, food and music, with one of our guests passed out on the couch in a sitting up position with his wine glass gripped firmly in his hand. We could not even pry it from his fingers.
The sign of a good night.
The most frustrating part of the evening was this damn birthday cake that seemed to take more than a week to put together. I tested recipes that just seemed to keep failing until finally out of desperation I settled on a plain old yellow cake with a buttery vanilla frosting. I stacked it 3 layers high which was a bit show-offy, but I was hoping that would divert attention from the little butter nubbins that were visible in the icing. But after a few drinks this cake earned great reviews --probably more than it really deserved. The fact is, I am a complete amateur when it comes to cakes. G, in the past, has been forced to blow out his birthday candles on bakery bought cakes.
Poor fella.
So hard done by, right?
In other news, our shipment from the UK finally arrived yesterday.
Yesterday!
After 10 long weeks!
The first thing I did once I managed to find the right box, was unpack the tea pot, and my Mariage Frères teas and got to work on having a cuppa.
And oh it was good.
So our apartment is again drowned in boxes and it feels a bit strange. All these things from our life in Europe suddenly here, in Toronto. I like it. It doesn't feel so much like we left the adventure behind anymore. It's part of our everyday life now, albeit in small ways. And strangely, getting all our stuff back makes it feel like we are finally really here. We've got a full apartment and it's time to settle in.
Let this be the last of the cardboard boxes for a long, long time.
I mean it.
Labels: mariage freres, sweet stuff, toronto
posted by Michèle at 10:00 AM
11 Comments:
A beautiful cake, made with TLC, what more could a boy wish for?
Yay for getting your things finally; 10 weeks was a terribly long time to wait! I am sure once the dust settles and the cardboard is off to recycling, things will settle down and feel even more like home.
Sounds like our man G had a fab birthday; and I think that's a charming cake! Traditionally tempting, and completely the unfussy sort of thing a man of his tastes would enjoy. Perfect! I mean really, could you imagine him digging into some twee little creation with any sort of gusto?
yeah! your things arrived...whew! and yeah! your detox is over :)
happy b-day, G!
Hip Hip Hooray for your long awaited tea! I think that your cake was lovely and no doubt G appreciated it because it was from your own hands.
Glad to hear the detox went well and even happier to hear that the night of drunken debauchery was a smash.
Cheers!
Yay for boxes, cake, and feeling at home. I'm glad you and your tea are reunited at last.
It's absolutely smashing news on your detox round-up, teas coming back home, mouth-watering cake and G's birthday!! Life is good! ;)
Welcome home, then :)
Need to throw ourselves one of those parties, too, I think...
MC, he definitely did not complain--I think he was a happy man!
Tara, you're right--he definitely would not have gone for twee. And I'm happy to report that multiple slices were consumed, so I think it was a success!
Kat, I can't even believe we had to wait that long! But I'm glad it's over!
Olivia, oh the tea. So good to have it back. And I'm glad the detox is over too, we definitely celebrated the end of it in style!
Tea, the reunion was a good one, I have to say. I didn't realize how much I missed my tea until I had my first cup the other day. Oh so good.
Anya, life is good! I whole-heartedly agree with you on that one!
Zarah Maria, yes, definitely throw yourself one of those parties--I would do it every weekend if my liver and pocketbook could stand it ;)
Congrats on your detox and there's definitely no better way to celebrate the end than with a little alcohol... or a lot of alcohol I guess. Goodluck with the boxes. I'm nearly done unpacking mine and it feels good to know that the end is near.
welcome home honey. now stay put for awhile and take a load off. ;) i wish you could mail me some of that cake. mmmm...
Hi! I stumbled across your blog as I was doing a search for Marco Polo Tea.Only 1 place in Tx sells this stuff. I'm located in N.CA (I see you like Chez Panisse). Any hints for where to buy Marco Polo tea? Love it!
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