hark!

valentine-smashing pumpkins

Luke surprised me with a new friend on Valentine's day..

Hi, Bleu!

He said he picked this little one because it was hanging out at the end of a stick, playing with toys. A loner.

Within thirty minutes of meeting I had her hanging out on my finger, a new record!

I've had a few parakeets in my life, an early memory from childhood involves two of them flying right out the door.

She loves flying around in my studio, and listening to music.

"We love music!"

I started telling her this when she was afraid of the strange sounds coming out of the computer..she especially loves songs with whistling and quieter, scratchier voices.

 Mockingbird(Tom Waits) came on..appropriately haha! I whistled along and she clicked her tiny beak, puffed her throat feathers out, and blinked her pretty feathery eyelashes. Such a delicate, beautiful little creature..

I'm smitten. And I know she'll talk to me one day, I can feel it. We're besties.

Valentine's day treats

Strawberry Marshmallows

They taste like yummy melting strawberry ice cream in your hot chocolate, so good.

Enjoying her fave treat too, we're budgie buddies.

Happy Tuesday!

treat : iced wintermint cake

After making too many sweets from scratch for the holiday bakery boxes I wanted something much easier for my wintry cake..box mix and frosting to the rescue. A trimmed doily works perfect as a stencil with the remainder as a pretty base, I knew I would use them for something! I fancied it up a bit with a dusting of powdered sugar(snow drifts?) some pine garland, and my vintage deer family.

the sweetest little faces..

Drops of food coloring(7green,3blue) and mint flavoring(1tsp) made my basic yellow cake a bit more festive.

I'm notorious for using the wrong tools for the job in the kitchen..too small bowls, a spoon instead of the potato masher,etc. It drives Luke bananas. I've yet to get myself some proper cake pans..as shown in the uneven layers. Pyrex works wonders in a pinch though haha

Hope you're having a sweet weekend!