Cherries

Monday, May 27, 2013

Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Monday and Happy Memorial Day!
 
Friday was my big day, I graduated with my AA-T degree in Communication Studies and I graduated with honors. Dave and Mason cheered me on and then headed out of town to a game convention. I had big plans to clean house, go to the river, attend a pool party with friends, and so much more. Instead, I hit a wall and was simply exhausted! I canceled most of my weekend plans and ended up staying in my pajamas for more than half of my long weekend. With Dave and Mason away, I didn't have any need to feel guilty and Spencer loved it! I did manage to get out of the house on Sunday and visited with friends around the pool. Today, I am enjoying the easy rain and getting ready for the week ahead. I start working at the Real Estate office providing support for our top producing agent. She is paying me to assist her all while I am learning the paperwork and successful processes.  This affords me the flexibility to work with Mason in the kitchen and do his live cooking demos with him.
 
Speaking of Mason, we have a meeting tomorrow with a culinary academy that takes kids. If this is something that looks like a good fit for Mason, he will be able to go through the program over the summer and even when he starts back to school and when he graduates, he will have earned a Jr. Culinary Degree. They have two programs, so he has an opportunity to have a real life education and skill-set before he even finishes the 4th grade! We'll know more tomorrow, but he is really excited to go check it out. Mason is also ramping up his campaign to raise money for his school kitchen. I am attaching the link to donate (if you feel so inclined), but we would love it if you could share the link and your personal connection to Mason so we an hopefully reach more people. Remember, there is no donation too small and thank you, thank you, thank you! DONATE HERE
 
Dave is busy with work and school, too. He is still working toward his Bachelors Degree in Military History online and it is not an easy task to take on while working full time. He also learned that he will be traveling quite a bit more in the coming months so that will add to his challenge of juggling school with work. Mason and I have our systems in place, but Dave traveling two weeks at a time will make it hard for me to do the corporate training I was expecting to be doing this summer. What is it we know for sure? The only constant is change. We just need to do our best to go with the flow and keep making progress toward our goals.
 
Now it's up to me to figure out how to complete my education and get my Bachelors Degree. I will meet with a counselor at Sac State this summer and see what my options are. I'm sure there is a way, even if I don't know how. I'm pretty tenacious that way! I hope you had a lovely long weekend and are working toward making your dreams come true. Trust me when I say, reaching a meaningful goal feels sweeter than words can express!

Monday, May 20, 2013

Last Week Of College

Mason's Gardenia Ice Cream
Happy Monday! Today is a significant Monday for me as it is my last Monday of school - yep, I graduate on Friday! I'm excited to get back to work and I can't honestly say I will miss homework. I will miss my classes, professors, and of course, the amazing people I've met in the last 2 1/2 years. I'm most excited about Mason seeing me in my cap and gown receiving my diploma.
 
Speaking of Mason, his demo on Saturday went well and as usual, he had a blast! The theme for the cooking stage at the home show was "Edible Flowers." Mason and I looked on line to find some recipes and he selected Gardenia Ice Cream. The recipe we found was a cooked-custard ice cream recipe and we didn't have time to make that for a demo, so we modified it to a recipe that he could make right there, on the spot for the audience. He infused the heavy cream the week before the event with fresh gardenia petals. To find the complete recipe with a picture, go to www.masonpartak.com and you will find it right on his homepage. For now, the local demos are done and his next appearance will be at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma in June. After that, he has two days at the State Fair in July. If you want to come to either of these events, let me know and I bet I can get tickets.
 
Now I am off to study for finals. I have a geology lab final tomorrow, a geology lecture final and a comm final on Wednesday, and my last final in Public Speaking on Thursday. It's looking real good that I will graduate with honors. Have a great week, I know I will!
 

Monday, May 13, 2013

Mason the Cooking Machine!

What a wild week it's been! Mr. Mason did 5 cooking demos in 4 days, yes, he is a machine. He started on Thursday with a spot on Good Day Sacramento to promote his two weekend performances at BerryFest in Roseville. He did an amazing job, so much so, he was invited back on Sunday to do a special Mother's Day show. Saturday he did his first appearance at Berryfest, only this time, he had an emcee, local Produce Guy Michael Marks. Sunday morning, we were both up early to be back at the television studio where Mason showed kids how to make "egg in a hole" and then in the next hour, French toast. Finally, we wrapped up the weekend with his final day at BerryFest. You can see his video on his web site at www.Masonpartak.com. Needless to say, we were all pretty tired by Sunday evening. Now that we have rested up, Mason is prepping for another demo this weekend at the spring home show here in Auburn
 
Mother's Day was lovely, even though Mason worked all weekend, he still washed my car. Dave made a lovely dinner of fish tacos and we all went to be early. Laughing! Now I'm immersed in finals, preparing for graduation and gearing up to get back to work. I hope you all had a lovely weekend! Love, Kathy

Monday, May 6, 2013

In the Final Stretch!

With only three weeks left of school, it's hard to imagine that I will actually get a degree. I keep calling it my "starter degree" or "just" an AA when in fact, I really need to acknowledge what an accomplishment this is for me. I have loved being in school and I hope one day I will get my BA, but for now, I am taking the win that I've come this far.

This is going to be a busy week, I have two major speeches and countless other written assignments coming due. Additionally, Mason has a television appearance on Thursday, and live cooking demos on both Saturday and Sunday at the Strawberry Festival.

I hope you have a great week!