Playing Post Catch Up

Kodi Kesey asked me to make this Power T cake for her and her new husband. Kodi said that her new hubby was one of the biggest UT Fans around. This is an official Power T. The cake pan came straight from the University of TN's Book Store.
This is one of the two beautiful cakes that my friend Jayme Jaco asked for me to make for her daughter Emily and her friend Olivia Newby. They had a "Joint" birthday party and Jayme asked me to make them identical cakes with their initials on them.

These are some of the goodies that I made for Rae Clark-Boutte' Bridal tea. Susan Grandey asked me to make them two large cakes in my Classic White recipe with pale yellow icing trimmed in white. She wanted it decorated simple and classic. The delicate pearls added just the right touch. The white satin ribbon that is tied on the Sterling "B" was a bow that was on Rae's wedding gown. Rae wanted fresh flowers on the cake as well. Rae and Scott were so sweet with all of their compliments! I love you guys!!!! (Scott graduated Ft. Walton Beach High School, where my husband John's Uncle Robert Greene was principal for over 30 years)
Patty Clarke had asked me to make some of my wonderful Chicken Salad on Cocktail Croissants for the Tea and Susan had also asked for me to make some of my Hand-Pressed Cream Cheese Mints in Pale Yellow and White. They are the perfect compliment at the end of all of the goodies!

Jayme Jaco and her family have partied all weekend! With Emily and Monty's birthday's just a couple of days apart, they have eaten cake all weekend! Jayme said that Monty was a HUGE Titan's fan and he would love a Titan's cake. Classic White Cake with my delicious Buttercream Icing. PERFECT!

These are the two cakes that Jayme ordered. She was so excited about them! She wanted them to be similar to Emily Newman's cake but in a different color scheme. When Jayme called me after I delivered them to Hickory Creek, she was SOOOOO EXCITED!

Happy Birthday Emily, Olivia, and Monty!

Welcoming In 2009 & Happy New Year

Happy New Year To Everyone! I wanted to "Welcome" to all of my faithful readers and to all of the new readers who will see this first post for 2009. When John and I went to visit our friends Mona and Gordon in Hawaii a couple of years ago, I learned alot from her (being a native of Hawaii, growing up at Pearl City) about the meaning of the pineapple. This year, Katie gave her teacher Ms. Wright at Centertown one with a beautiful bow tied around the green leaves. Katie asked me what does the pineapple mean....I told her just like Mona told us....."Some know it to be as Welcome, some as Hospitality, but the real meaning of the pineapple is Family". You Welcome people into your family.

In 2009, I hope to welcome more "cousins" as Mona would say (when you bond with people on the islands, they call everyone cousin) into my family.

I have been very blessed this year by making all sorts of friends, through the Weddings, Birthday's, Anniversaries, Bridal Tea's, Baby Showers, and for everyone who just needed a little "Something Fantastic For No Reason"

I think that these are quite a few pictures that I have posted from some of my Christmas work since Thanksgiving. I know that I have left some out, I am sorry, I will get all posted as I find all of the pictures. (I am the photographer in the family and took about 500 ish pictures during the holiday)

So here goes.......

John's cousin Debbie Pearsall called me and asked for me to make for her SIL Dathan Todd some birthday goodies including cupcakes and some of my fabulous pretzels dipped in "my secret" white chocolate with cinnamon sugar sprinkled all over for just the right touch. I got so tickled at Debbie, she said that she wasn't going to share with Paige (her daughter who is expecting), but I guarantee....Paige won. lol

I had tons of Coconut Cakes that went out, I lost count after the first dozen.

These beautiful Coconut cakes went to three very special people that Mary Jane McGiboney (one of my newest and great friends and SIL of Joyce Britton) and her sister Ann. She asked me to make these for some of my favorite people in McMinnville. I just absolutely LOVE Hubert and Billy Gray Boyd! The first one was for them. When I delivered it, I know that I have to stay and visit with them, just because I enjoy them and love them sooooooo much! Mary Jane and her sister Ann had asked me to make lots of goodies for family members for special occasions all through 2008. The second one went to their Aunt Ruth who is a resident of Riverview Terrace. The third one went to Larry and Janice Boyd. They are the most sweet family. I met them several years ago when I was an umpire in high school fast pitch. Their grand-daughter Anastasia played. I really do think alot of these people. Matter of fact, last night at church Mr. Larry came over to me and told me that he said that my Coconut Cake was the best one he had ever eaten. I was so humbled. I do try to put all of my heart and love into every job that I do. Compliments from my recipients really do mean so much to me!



Ok, here we go with the cake I had an absolute ball making for my oldest BFF Angie Newman. She and I go back so far, how far you may ask........I was born on March 11th and she was born on April 25th the same year. My mother and Aunt Christine took me to the hospital to see Angie and visit with my mother's BFF Janice (Angie's Mother). Angie called me and asked me to make a special something for Emily's birthday. She started describing to me the colors, and I "just started letting those wheels turn" she then told me that she had an E that is on Emily's wall and that's the color scheme she wanted except, the sky blue as the solid background color. She needed it Monday for their family party that night. I had PT that morning at 11 a.m., so....I got up and "juned" (that's TN slang) around and make her, the special cake just for the sweetest girl....Emily! Angie had asked me to make my homemade Chocolate cake and just to have fun using Emily's colors. When I delivered it, Angie was so excited! She never dreamed it would look exactly like what she envisioned in her mind. Last night just before we left to go to Church, Angie called me on my cell phone and told me how she, Emily, and everyone were so excited and how that was the best cake ever! Angie has a son Clint, who I absolutely adore! Last night at church, you can bet I got my hug from him like I always do when we see Clint! When a 18 year old, who's in college will come and find you and talk to you and talks to his parents about you...that's a GOOD KID! Happy Birthday Emily!!! We Love You!

This is another cake that I made for Mary Jane McGiboney and her sister Ann. They wanted it to go to Mrs. McGiboney's just "Special" for her to enjoy on Christmas. So.....Mary Jane had asked me to make her a Low Fat Carrot Cake with my "To Die For" Cream Cheese Icing. (It's my friend Bridgett's Secret Recipe that she shared with me a long time ago) (Thank's Bridgett your the "Nitro" in the Bomb!) I got up on Tuesday really early...like 5 a.m.ish and made it fresh just for Mrs. McGiboney. When I talked to Mrs. McGiboney's daughter Joyce at church on Sunday, she said that "It was the best cake ever!!!!!" She also told me how that her Mother loved it and that Mary Jane was in (from NC) and how she LOVED it too.

Thank You Mary Jane and Ann for all of your business this year! I am so blessed by knowing you and loving your family!

I had cookie orders running out my ears. This bunch went to the Brentwood Target store. My friend Krista Kelly ordered these for her Associates. Krista is my BFF Angie's cousin. I remember when her mother Kathy had her and her brother. Matter of fact, I went to their parents wedding, it was a Valentine's wedding.

Krista asked for me to make a few hundred cookies so....here we go.

My sweet "little buddy" Andy Dunn called me and asked me personally to make him some "Twismas Tooties" for his Special Nurses at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital 6th Floor & Staff. Andy has spent most of 2008 there (fighting Stage IV Neuroblastoma Cancer) and they consider the nursing staff, and the doctors there part of their family. Andy told me specifically what he wanted. He said, "I want tandy tanes and nowesmen". When he called me and asked me if I had his "Tookies" ready, he was so excited to get them! Of course, I had to make a few and let my daughter Katie decorate them just for him and Ray to enjoy. I can guarantee Andy had them eaten before he got back home with them. lol

I had so many dozens of cookies......like I said about the cakes....I lost count.

These went to a special friend Dana who lives in Manchester. She met me at River Park's PT wing just to pick them up so Santa would have some "real special goodies" and that was quoting her. She requested heavy icing and lots and lots of sprinkles. Instead of putting icing on their hats, I used sprinkles instead.

The best things in life sometimes are the most simple things. Homemade Cookies always hit the spot!

My friend from Elementary School Ruth Ann Webb called me and asked me to make her son Richie his 21st birthday cake. She said he wanted a Confederate Flag cake. Well...after I thought about it, my Great Nephew Blake would die for this cake for his birthday next month. My mother and Richie's Grandmother are neighbors. Mrs. Webb told my mother that Richie loved his cake and that everyone talked about the detail I had put into his cake. Happy 21st Birthday Richie! I remember when Richie and John Ryan played Rec. baseball many moons ago.

My daughter Katie is friends with my friend Alene Pedigo's daughter Sierra. Sierra's birthday is right at Christmas. Last year she asked me to make her a Hannah Montana cake and this year she asked for me to make her a Classic White cake with white icing with a Pink Peace Symbol on the top. Sierra had seen it in a magazine and specified that she wanted exactly that. Alene didn't have the picture, but.....I think I did pretty well.

Happy Birthday Sierra! Good Luck with this year's Theatre Production! You're a great actor!

I just had to share these cookies. My friend Tammy Smartt had asked me to make these just for her son Will's birthday party for this class at school. Will attends Hickory Creek Elementary and if you don't know that the Smartt family is UT crazy, well...now you do. Will told his mother specifically what he wanted. Snowman cookies and I asked Will if he wanted orange hats and the Power T. He was so excited!!!!! I had my son Dillon to deliver them to Hickory Creek early that morning and Will's class was so excited!

I just remembered, that I did a cake just a few days after my knee surgery for my friend Amanda Priest and forgot to take a picture of it. Amanda, please e-mail me a picture! That cake was too cool! Amanda asked me to make her son's birthday cake with my Classic White Cake with Almond Flavor, white buttercream icing and wanted it to be decorated as a dirt bike race track. It was cute!!!!! I duh....forgot to get a picture. I guess I was looking for my ice pack instead of my camera.

I know that I have left some other things that I did during Christmas off, but....I will get them posted soon.

Most of All......Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

I would like to take this time to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

I will be posting soon pictures of more work that has been completed. Recovery from my knee surgery is slow and I will get them posted asap!

Cookies For Santa

Our friends George and Tammy Smartt called Friday night and asked me if I would make her 10 dozen Christmas Sugar Cookies and "Fru Fru" them up on a pretty tray and festive ribbon. What better to have sitting out waiting for Santa with a big glass of milk Christmas Eve!
I think that they turned out awesome! Snowmen, Christmas Trees, Gingerbread Men, and Candy Canes. I decorated them exactly the way "My Mother" always decorated them when I was a little girl. It brings back memories!

When Tammy and Will picked them up, I didn't know until then that they are for some very important customers of Metal Products. I hope they enjoy their treat trays!
Christmas Cookie orders will be filled through Monday, December 22nd.
Place your orders now!

Gingerbread Cookies

I borrowed this picture to let everyone know that I have finally perfected my Gingerbread Cookie Recipe!!!

I will be taking orders for Gingerbread Cookies as well as my delicious Sugar Cookies until December 21st.

I am really excited about this new recipe, I have been playing around with my Aunt Christine's recipe and came up with this one. They are wonderful! From Gingerbread Men, Christmas Trees, Deer, Wreaths, and Snowmen. They are absolutely to die for!

I will be making some just after my surgery which is Friday in Nashville. I will post pictures of them when I get them finished. I thought that this would be something fun to teach my daughter Katie how to do! Katie has watched me bake and decorate all of my goodies and she is getting pretty good at decorating herself. She's quite the cook as well. She has made several cakes from my recipes from scratch. One day, she hopes to take over her mother's business when I decide to retire. I told her that she would need to finish college first! Education is a MUST!

Cil & Lillian's Thanksgiving Treats

As promised, these are the Pumpkin Pies I made for Cil and John. The Porters are all coming to John and Cil's home for Thanksgiving. When I delivered their goodies, their home was absolutely in the Thanksgiving mode.

Thank You Cil and John! You are great friends!

My sweet friend Lillian Stewart asked me to make her a Pecan Pie for her to have for Thanksgiving. Lillian's children are going to be in from College and from Nashville. Amanda and Erik are her life! Lillian is a wonderful friend!

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Smells of Thanksgiving

Candy Woodlee asked me to make her a Coconut Cake just for Thanksgiving. When I delivered it to her today, she said, "I will have to hide it because it will be eaten before Thanksgiving lunch tomorrow." She also said, "It's too pretty to eat!"

Thank You Candy for your sweet comments. I try to put my heart and soul into my work. It was once said that if you enjoy your job, you'll put everything into it. I really enjoy my catering. I don't consider it a job, it's a passion.

Cil Porter asked me to make her this beautiful Sundrop cake just for her husband John. I just love going to Cil and John's home. They have a beautiful home and the view on the lake is beautiful! Cil asked me to make her two Pumpkin Pie's as well. I will post them just as soon as they come out of the oven.

Rhonda's Strawberry Pretzel Salad

Rhonda Ramsey is a wonderful friend. She asked me to make her a Strawberry Pretzel Salad for Thanksgiving. Rhonda is always helping me when I grocery shop. She has become a really great and awesome friend! My recipe was given to me by Judy Woodlee several years ago after a Christmas dinner at Central. I did take the pecans out in the crust because of food allergies with nuts.

Happy Thanksgiving To A Great Friend!

Thanksgiving Catch-Up

Melanie Brock and Debbie Jennings asked me to make them 4 dzn. cupcakes for Bunker & Wesley's Birthday party tomorrow. Bunker and Wesley said that they wanted "Ms. Joy's Cupcakes, They Are Heavenly!" Happy Birthday Boys! We Love You!
Kandice Patrick asked me to make her another dzn. of my awesome Banana Cupcakes with Honey & Cinnamon Buttercream Icing. She plans on taking them to her mother's house for Thanksgiving lunch. I bet they don't make it there. Jerry told me that he only got one out of the last dzn. I made for her.

I will add to this post as soon as I get them completed!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Above All Earthly Blessings....Above All Earthly Joys....I Give Thanks

Today as I was compiling my list and getting ready for Thanksgiving, I stopped and started thinking about what Coy said Sunday morning about what we are blessed with. I want to share with everyone what I am blessed with.

My Blessings and What I am Thankful For:

God, because he loved us so much. The unconditional AGAPE Love, giving his son Jesus to die a cruel death on Calvary.

Jesus, his example, him starting the church, and giving his life for us to have eternal life.

For God sparing Dillon when he almost died just a few months ago and for healing his broken hip when he was in the accident at school and the doctors didn't think he would ever walk again, and I am thankful for Dr. Christofersen for his knowledge in medicine to put Dillon back together.

For God putting his hand on John Ryan when he was in the direct path of the tornado and letting him be spared when the barn was devastated and him in it.

For God being between the tornado and my children in Centertown Elementary School.

For God keeping his hand on me and John when we should have died that terrible day.

For God giving me the strength to move every day after my injury 5 weeks later. Even though it left me handicap and some what disabled, he gives me enough strength to function each day.

For God creating Dr. Rosen, the person who can help me walk without pain again. I am also thankful for my PT Rudie who has been there helping me when I struggle at therapy and cheering me through every painful exercise.

For my daughter Katie, who through all of my pain keeps telling me that God will make it go away.

For my husband, for just being him!

For my Mother...the most wonderful Christian example ever!

For my church family @ Westwood church of Christ....I love you!

My dedicated customers....who I absolutely am thankful for...I have truely enjoyed each and every thing I have made for you!

I know that there are more things that I could list, but....I pray for everyone to have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving!

39th Annual Region's Craft Fair

I just wanted to share a few pictures of the Craft Fair that is going on this weekend at the Civic Center here in McMinnville. I have had more compliments on my booth! Thank You all of my friends who stopped by and bought goodies from me, who placed all of the many, many orders, and the overwhelming response in my booth. I am almost sold out and it's only the first day! My friend Jane Ann Pryor is the Chairman of the Craft Fair this year. Thank You Jane Ann for all of the compliments about my booth and the presentation that I worked so hard on! Your kind words made my day!
I made Red Velvet Cakes from my Aunt Christine's recipe, Sundrop Cake from my MIL's recipe and have sold almost all of them out! I am taking orders for Thanksgiving, items to be ready for pickup for all who didn't get there early today.


My Coconut Cakes are the talk of the Craft Fair. My Aunt Christine made these when I was little and it brings back such wonderful memories of her!

Pumpkin, Pecan, and Fudge Pies are displayed at my booth as well. Fresh, never frozen....orders for Thanksgiving can be made by calling me or shooting me an e-mail!

Any flavor of pie, cake, cookie, or treat can be made!

Regions Annual Craft Fair This Weekend!

I had almost forgotten to remind everyone that I will have a booth again this year at the Regions Craft Fair this Friday & Saturday (Nov. 21st & 22nd) @ the McMinnville Civic Center.

I am going to be on the Main Floor this year in booths #56 & 57. Come by and check out all of the goodies I will have.

You can also place orders for Thanksgiving and Christmas there too!

Kandice's Cupcakes

Kandice Patrick asked me to fix her some goodies for her and drop them off by her store at the 3 Star Mall. She had sent me an e-mail asking me to make her some Homemade Banana Cupcakes with Honey & Cinnamon Buttercream Icing. I had never made them before, but it didn't take me but just a second to let the wheels turn in my head about a recipe. I whipped up a recipe this morning and it is dynamite! Kandice had never eaten Homemade Chicken Salad and wanted to try some of my Chicken Salad on Croissants. I hope you enjoy them! Thank You Kandice!

Playing Catch Up

My sweet friends Kathy Collier and Cil Porter are hosting a Baby Shower for Kaitlyn Darnaby today. Kathy had called me a couple of weeks ago asking me to fix some goodies for the shower. She requested my Classic White Cake just for a sweet baby girl. I couldn't resist making these darling eatable baby booties. She had also requested for me to make some of my wonderful Cream Cheese Mints. Keeping with the theme, I made baby booties as well. Of course, she wanted some of my Chicken Salad on Cocktail Croissants. They are just the perfect size for this occasion.
My sweet friend Michelle Prater asked me a few days ago to make her son Logan a cake celebrating his 4th Birthday. She loved my Strawberry cake I made her SIL April last week. She said I could do any theme that I wanted....I just love this Birthday Champ Pin. This is something that he can enjoy at his party and keep forever.
Happy Birthday Logan!

Playing Weekend Catch Up

Tara Collins called me and asked me to make some goodies for her daughter's birthday which is today. She wanted my Classic White Cake with White Buttercream Icing, Pink and Hot Pink Dots and Lime Green Ribbon. She wanted a beautiful "Blinging C" on top. I really think that it turned out beautiful! She also wanted a smaller version for her daughter to have for herself.
Tara also wanted some cupcakes and cookies with the same theme. I was up early this morning baking the cakes and cookies fresh for her to pick up by 10 a.m. My children love it when they wake up to the smells of my kitchen on their days off from school. They always tell me that it smells like Gatlinburg in our house.

April Kinslow asked me to make this darling Wow Wow Wubbzy cake for her daughter Kaylee's birthday. She asked for me to make it with my Strawberry cake recipe. I had never heard of a Wow Wow Wubbzy, but it didn't take me long to find it on google.com. I decided to hand draw him on the cake. He turned out quite cute! April is very sweet and I really appreciate our friendship!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Neyland Stadium Double Take!

Neyland Stadium Double Take

Laura Carter called me a few days ago and told me that her son was having his birthday today and she wanted a Neyland Stadium cake for him. Then later on that day....I got an e-mail from my friends Regina Woodlee and Linda Blair wanting me to make one of my "beautiful" cakes for the Auction at Centertown Elementary's Fall Festival tonight. So....while I was making one, I decided to make one for the Auction.

With Homecoming tomorrow at Knoxville and with our friend Phil Fulmer's retirement....what a better way to celebrate!

We are saddened to hear that Phil will be leaving UT as their football coach. My husband works with Phil's brother Glenn and the Fulmer's are an AWESOME family! My children were very blessed by meeting all of the Fulmer's and John Ryan made good to Phil when he told him that he would be coming to school there.

Everyone come to the Fall Festival TONIGHT at the new school!

Sweets.....

Kandice Patrick called me and asked me to make her some Old Fashioned Potato Candy. This is my favorite Homemade candy with Martha Washington coming in second. I hope you enjoy this and hope you get to feeling better soon!
I made two of these just out of the oven Fudge Pies.

The first one I delivered to High's Funeral Home for the McGiboney Family. Joyce Britton is a dear friend of mine and her sister-in-law Mary Jane McGiboney is a regular customer. Mary Jane lives out of state and will ask me to make things for her family members. Mr. McGiboney passed away Monday night. I hope that you know that we are praying for you!


The second one I have made for Dean Gay. Dean is my cousin and she was attacked a couple of days ago by a pack of dogs. Dean got to come home this morning from the hospital and I thought she might need a little something to help her feel better! Katie and Elana, her granddaughter are "Special Friends and Cousins". We are praying for Dean and hope she is feeling better soon!

A Cinderella Story

I wanted to share with you these beautiful cakes. I have been meaning to get edited and posted and have been unable to get the time to get them edited. I loved her idea for a "Cinderella Wedding". Each layer was a different flavor. The layers were: French Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry, Carrot, and the Anniversary Layer was French Vanilla and Chocolate. She also wanted Almond Flavored Buttercream Icing.
When you're a Tennessee Volunteer Fan, you gotta have one of my favorite cakes! This Neyland Stadium cake was Rachel's favorite! She asked me to fix this just for her!