Good morning! The wedding yesterday was a wonderful gathering of family and close friends. Even the blustery weather early in the day didn't diminish the fun and excitement.

I had finished the cake on Friday morning. My four tiered creation had to be reduced because the topper Monika and Bill had picked was too large. I scooped off the little cupcake sized tier and packaged it up and popped it into the freezer so they will have that part of their cake on their first anniversary. We loaded everything into the car at around six p.m. and headed out to Waterford to Bill's house to help set up for the reception. It was cold Friday night, and we remarked that we aren't usually out on the roads at night. The world looks very different in the still cold dark of a Vermont winter night, but there were many places with Christmas lights still decorating them and it was pretty and exciting.

At Bill's, the place was a-buzz. The caterers were there and we were right on time with the centerpieces and favors, and the cake was now safely out of our hands. I think we were there about half an hour - just long enough to chat a bit with Monika's friends from Washington DC who would be helping her in the morning, and get last-minute instructions from the bride and groom and the caterers. Bob and Theresa had been there a little ahead of us to help, and Jamie and Marie would be on hand to help in the morning.

On Saturday morning, the bride was a bit late, and that kept Bill pacing and the rest of us taking turns going to the outside hallway to check if there was any sign of them. Rev. Ann Hockridge was very patient and the organist seemed unfazed. Everyone agreed it's expected the bride will be late. Just as Monika's entourage arrived, the sun came out streaming through the big windows on the south side of the old church, the organist swung into the wedding march on cue, and from then on, the day was absolutely perfect.

I have put a few of the photos we took (less than half) into a slide show for you. I'm pleased to be able to report the cake was a big success, and I want to thank all of you who cheered me on during the process. Your kind thoughts and words surely helped me muster the confidence to see it through, and I can honestly say I enjoyed almost every minute. There were times when I pondered my sanity in tackling the job, but they were few and served to keep me on my toes.

Oh, yes, yesterday someone who had read the blog asked if I had resorted to the Betty Crocker cake mixes I had in reserve, and I'm pleased to tell you the whole cake was definitely "from scratch" - not a masterpiece of professional decoration, but nonetheless, rated an "awsome" from my family, and they have never hesitated in the past to let me know when one of my "creations" went wrong. We still hear the cries of a chocolate disaster cake that years ago was tossed into the swamp at camp . . .