Going back home

Well, I'm human, and I changed my mind. I am going to school. And I am excited.

I have plenty to plan. Goals included!

I'm working on it all.

Orchids for a wedding cake

Before I took a week off work for the Nicholas Lodge class, I had learned that Sucré had an order for a wedding cake with orchids. I asked if I could make them. When I got back I volunteered again, and was given permission to make the orchids. I was super-excited, especially since I had just learned to make three different types of orchids in the class.
I asked my co-worker how many, what type, color, and size. I spread the work out over five nights. I was volunteering to make these, so I wasn't getting paid for my time or materials.

1st evening) I made the gum paste,
2nd evening) made centers and started a few petals,
3rd evening) finished petals,
4th evening) attached the throats,
5th evening) assembled and dusted with color.

I think they look beautiful!

Well, I brought the orchids into work the day before the cake was due and found out that the couple had canceled the cake order. Talk about a way to completely bum you out. I spent all that time and money and the flowers would not be used. It's easy to understand why a bakery should require deposits on special order cakes. And the deposit should not be refundable once work is begun.
The good thing is that I got good practice even if they are not being put on a cake. But the flowers would have been beautiful on top of a wedding cake.

Nicholas Lodge's 5-Day Ultimate Gumpaste Flowers Class

The last five days my mother and I attend Nicholas Lodge's 5 Day Ultimate Gumpast Flowers Class. We had a lot of fun. This is my second class with Nicholas (see blog from previous class). Below are the flowers I learned to make this time. The first picture is of all the flowers together.

Below are: left - Cymbidium Orchid, right - Cattleya Orchid

Below are: left - Gerber Daisy, right - Calla Lily

Below are: left - The Ultimate Rose and rose bud, right - Lisianthus

Below are: back - Dendrobium Orchid, middle - Sweet Pea, front - Carnation

Below are: back left - Hydrangea, back middle - Daisy, right - Stephanotis, front left - Lily of the Valley

Below are: back left - Fern, back center - Eucalyptus, right - Fern, front center - Variegated Ivy, front left - Birds Foot Ivy

Below are: Gardenia

Below are: Stargazer Lily

Sad but Good News

Well, after the two weeks of working two jobs, I reached my limit. It was too many hours and too much stress. Don't get me wrong I could do either job well, but either is the operative word. I was getting better at Commander's Palace each day. But, it was just not for me. So it is sad news in a way, but it is good news because I'm learning and narrowing my goals toward my profession.

I have learned a lot about myself in the last few weeks;

· I can get a job all by myself. Just like at Sucré.
· I am a fast learner.
· Speed is of course needed but takes time to build up.
· That most likely, working in a restaurant is not for me.
· I can do anything I set my mind to do.
· That no matter what you are doing you can't under perform at any job.
· Finally, communication is the absolute way to make life a little easier and work better.

So, it’s back to working at Sucré only, and my little world of chocolate. I enjoyed my learning experience at Commander's Palace even if it was a brief period of time.I know have to reevaluate my goals and decide whether or not going back to school for culinary degree is really what I want to do. Now that I have discovered how I feel after working a Commander's Palace, I have more experience to help in my decision. If I decide not to go back to school, then I will need to figure out what, where, and how to go from here. As the saying goes, life's not always easy.Next week, I'm traveling back to Atlanta to take the 5-Day Ultimate Gumpaste Flowers Class from Nicholas Lodge. This will be my second class with him and I'm so excited! :)