Archive for March, 2010

Congratulations to Marcia Baptiste, the reigning 2010 Miss Dominica, who has been crowned the 2010 Miss Caribbean World, in Tortola.

Winning the crown is an achievement for Marcia and Dominica as a whole.  For all the young ladies who dare to dream, Marcia’s achievement is a perfect example that when you persevere, the desired results can become a possibility.  Good luck to Marcia as she embarks upon her journey, while wearing both shoes….. the reigning 2010 Miss Dominica, and the 2010 Miss Caribbean World.   Congratulations once again, Marcia! You are very beautiful, elegant and intelligent, you have worked diligently, and you have taken home the crown. Dominica is currently on the map, let’s keep it there!

Photos compliment Dominica News on Line (DNO)

UPDATED

We would like to express our sincere condolences to the Musgrave family on the passing of 18-year old Brandon Musgrave, the son of Roger “Ruff” Musgrave, in Canada. Brandon is also the brother of Rebecca “Becky” Musgrave, my niece.

The death of a family member is always devastating, especially when that person is young and has so much to look forward to.  We would like the family to know that our thoughts and prayers are with them, at this very sad time of bereavement.

According to Ruff, his son, Brandon Musgrave was shot in the head while attending a party on Friday, March 12th, 2010.  At sometime during the party, someone became upset about the music which was being played, then the shooting began.  Apparently, Brandon was not the intended victim, but just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Brandon later died at the hospital.

I have  been informed that funeral services for Brandon Musgrave, will be held in Canada, on Saturday, March 27th, 2010.  May his soul rest in peace.

Congratulations to Alvin Alexander of Marigot, for being part of the media team that is covering this historical event on the Island of Dominica. Brilliant and articulate, Alvin Alexander is currently the youngest reporter in Dominica.  He is also a talk show host, and is a staff member of the Kairi FM Radio Station….. the most popular listening station among Dominicans at home and abroad.  This is undoubtedly a field well befitting of Alvin’s brilliant and innate talent.

Alvin is seen here interviewing one of the UWP Parliamentary Representatives during the demonstration on Thursday afternoon.  According to DNO, a crowd of approximately 100 demonstrators including, Ron Green, Leader of the UWP and Hector John, Parliamentary Representative from Salisbury gathered in front of the Fort Young Hotel, on Thursday 11th March, where the 21st Intercessional Conference of heads of the caribbean community (CARICOM) was being held.  Noticeably absent was the former chairman of CARICOM, former prime minister, the Honorable Edison James.

According to DNO, Ron Green wanted Dominicans to be aware of the alleged fraudulent elections on the 18th of December 2009, and be aware that the people of Dominica are extremely concerned that Democracy is under threat.  While Hector John, the Parliamentary Representative for the Salisbury Constituency sought to get the attention of the CARICOM heads of governments regarding the concerns on the alleged irregulations in the general elections.  Both men can be seen holding placards displaying their messages and said to have been satisfied with the results of their efforts. 

Once again, congratulations to Alvin Alexander who also represented the Caribbean Youth and Empowerment Forum, in covering such an extraordinary, memorable and historical event on the nature island of Dominica.  We wish you continued success in all your momentous and important undertakings.  If anyone can master that position, it will be you, Alvin.

Photographs compliment of DNO.

I am beginning a four-week cake decorating class today, Tuesday 9th, March, which ends on Tuesday 30th, March.  I am very excited about this course and look forward to using my experience to further enhance my cake decorating abilities.  The four-week course is expected to demonstrate new techniques, which will better assist me with decorating cakes, during my many functions at Classique.

The outline for this course which is being offered at Michael’s Craft Store, teaches:  the essentials of cake decorating; the use of cake decorating tools; how to make buttercream icing for future tools, and how to fill and frost a cake.  This is Lesson #1. Lessons 2, 3, & 4 are also available for those students who wish to take their decorating skills to a higher level.  I would like to advance my techniques but need to get through Lesson #1 before making that decision.  Lesson #1 mostly teaches the art of working with buttercream frosting and demonstrates the use of  royal icing, which is taught more thoroughly in the advance classes.

Although I currently decorate my own cakes and enjoy the art of cake decorating, I have never had the opportunity to take a professional course.  While I might not be taught all that I need to learn during the four weeks, I hope to grasp valuable techniques necessary for producing beautifully, decorated cakes, by the end of the four-week session.  Ultimately, this course will be very essential to my line of business, where a wedding cake, for example, is often admired for the uniqueness of its decorations, before its delicious taste.  Nicely decorated cup cakes are also a big plus, especially with children.  Simply put, I need to familiarize myself with the right decorating tools, and learn the art of great cake decorating, from the professionals.

3/9/10 First class went well.  A fun group and great teacher.  I learned a few new techniques, which will be very valuable to my cake decorating skills.

(The teacher spoke of the importance of using confectioner’s sugar (powdered sugar). She gave the example of a student who used regular white sugar and ended up with a very rough icing decoration….. the reason why we should never use regular sugar.  I explained that as a child, I never knew about powdered sugar.  I remembered using regular sugar, adding a small amount of water to the sugar, then placing it over the heat so that the sugar emulsified.  The beaten egg white, lime juice and vanilla essence or any other ingredients would be added to the sugar. The icing sugar came out nice and smooth — as far as I can remember — wedding cakes were decorated using the same method.  The icing decorations looked and tasted great, as well as lasted for a very long time.)  However, those were the days.  Today, using powdered sugar is far more convenient for making the icing.  It is much easier to mix and allows greater flexibility with color and designs.

Need to bake and cover a cake with white icing, in preparation for next week’s cake decorating class.  If I decide to make a character cake, no icing needed.

3/16/10  Completed my second cake decorating class. Learned the right consistency of frosting.  A thin consistency for frosting the cake, medium for making stars and stripes, and a thin consistency for writing letters on the cake.  We were asked to practice on a board and then on the cake.  I did pretty well, but I need to continue practicing so that I can decorate faster and better with less mess.

3/23/10  I have completed my third cake decorating class.  The use of parchment paper with a picture of a car, outlined with piping gel, was used to transfer a pattern onto a cake.  We made roses, star flower, swirl flower, and sea shells.  The art of making a small clown and little people, by using the size 21 star, was also demonstrated. Making the rose was surprisingly quite challenging, but after several tries, I eventually made an acceptable one.  I will continue practicing the art of making a better rose, until I become more proficient at making a faster and better looking rose. Being able to make a great looking rose is one of the cake decorating skills I most admire and desire.  Next week will be the final class of cake decorating Level #1.  No cake necessary for final class.  We will be making flowers, leaves and the basket weave, while working with royal icing.  I might take a cake just for the heck of it, because I can decorate the cake at the end of the class. Making and decorating a third cake will help me compare my cakes for progression made…..  decorating my third cake, compared to decorating my first cake.  I am definitely more knowledgeable about cake decorating and look forward to utilizing my newly acquired skills. 

3/30/10  This was the fourth class of Level #1.  I have successfully completed “The Wilton Method of Cake Decorating” class and have obtained my official Certificate of Merit for Course 1.  I have learned valuable techniques which will help me to decorate my cakes much better and faster.  I will begin Course #2 on Tuesday, April 6th where I hope to further enhance my decorating abilities.  Great teacher, fun group…. we have all become better cake decorators and look forward to beginning Course 2.

The Birthday Party (A Very Colorful Musical)

Father:  Celebrating his 50th birthday party.
Lena:  Very excited to see the fancily decorated fruit cake, made by Mr. Joseph Newton, best cake maker in Marigot…. I kept thinking  how delicious it must taste. 
Father:  Invited his usual friends to the party.
Lena:   Must leave to sleep with adopted grandmother.
Father:   Drinks and food prepared and ready for the evening’s party.
Lena:   Admiring cake, wonders if there’ll be any left, when I return home next day.
Father:   Out of the house at the moment, probably collecting last minute items.
Lena:   Time to leave. Looks at the cake, cuts a slice, then turns the cake around.
Father:  Guests arrive for birthday party.
Lena:   Enjoys eating cake, while walking to grandmother’s house.
Father: Having too much fun to notice a slice of his birthday cake is missing.
Lena: Never heard about the cake and don’t remember telling anyone about it until I was grown.
Father:  Never missed celebrating his birthday.
Lena: Twenty years later, flew to Dominica, on my father’s birthday, with a cake, for a surprise visit.
Father: Sat playing with his island friends.
Lena:  I came all the way here to personally present you with your birthday gift.
Father: Very surprise, but his heart was strong enough to withstand the surprise.
Lena:  Prepared food and drinks for the birthday party.
Father:  Enjoyed his birthday party, drank and danced while having a great time, then he fell into bed.
Lena:  After three days on the island, I returned to the USA.
Father:  Continues celebrating his other birthdays while living in Dominica.
Lena:  Five years after my surprise birthday visit, I returned to the island one month before my father’s 86th birthday.

Lena:  Very upsetting to see how frail and thin my father has become.  Leaves the room in tears.
Father:  Cries when he sees me.  He’s very sick and weak, barely able to walk, uses a wheelchair, which he has mastered around the house.
Lena:  Within the next few days, I planned a birthday party, invited people in the village and gave him his final party.
Father:  Unable to dance, but strong enough to enjoy his birthday party and cut his birthday cake.
Lena:  That was my final birthday celebration with my father.
Father:  He is very sad to see me leave, starts crying. Knows we might not see each other again.
Lena:  Arrive at the airport, checked in too late, missed my flight. Returned home under bright, blue, sunny skies.
Father: Very happy to see me return and perks up a bit.
Lena:  Sat on balcony admiring the beautiful blue sky while enjoying a cold drink. Spending another night in Dominica with my father, made a significant difference, to the both of us….. incidentally, that would have been our last night together, before his passing. 

This incident occurred when I was about ten years old; yet, the memories are as vivid as they were that Saturday afternoon, so many many years ago. My father celebrated all his birthdays, sometimes the guest were many and sometimes just a few. My father counted his birthday by days and could easily tell you how old he was by days and years. His favorite quote was, “if life be long, I’ll be glad, if short, why should I be sad?” A very serious, yet extremely playful man, he easily got along with young and old people alike. He enjoyed playing dominos and was eager to play with just about anyone who could pick up a domino… including my nephew, Jaheil, who was about three years old at the time, but quickly understood my father’s intense, yet childlike love, for the domino game.