My 50th birthday is next Saturday. My sweetie got in touch with my family and a bunch of our friends and they all contributed for me to take a 3 day course in fondant and sugar work with Chef Nicholas Lodge in Atlanta GA!!! This is the foundation course for all his other courses and I am soooo excited. Chef Lodge is one of the premier cake/sugar artists in the country and is also the head judge of the National Gingerbread Competition.
I know I am going to learn SOOOO much from this amazing chef.
Lisa had me open a gift, which was an oven mitt that said "Believe in your dreams!" Then I opened a large envelope that was FILLED with small envelopes. In each was the name or names of everyone who contributed. Some made sense, like the group of friends we were celebrating with, but then I got to people who are scattered all over the country, my extended family and my boss ( who Lisa contacted to arrange the time off from work for me as the original class was scheduled for mid January and I need to request time off 30 days in advance )
Needless to say at that point I was baffled. Then, I opened a calendar that had a sticky note on April 29, 30 and May 1 with 'save the date' written on it. The class had been moved to April as not enough people signed up for the January class. Now I was really intrigued. Then I opened the certificate that had lots of pictures from previous classes and a note from Chef Lodge himself! I burst into tears at that point.
I am so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends and truly truly blessed to have this opportunity to learn an art I love from someone I admire.
I can't wait until April and I am too excited to sleep!!!! ( I got the gift last night and did not sleep much at all!!! )
Linda
I know I am going to learn SOOOO much from this amazing chef.
Lisa had me open a gift, which was an oven mitt that said "Believe in your dreams!" Then I opened a large envelope that was FILLED with small envelopes. In each was the name or names of everyone who contributed. Some made sense, like the group of friends we were celebrating with, but then I got to people who are scattered all over the country, my extended family and my boss ( who Lisa contacted to arrange the time off from work for me as the original class was scheduled for mid January and I need to request time off 30 days in advance )
Needless to say at that point I was baffled. Then, I opened a calendar that had a sticky note on April 29, 30 and May 1 with 'save the date' written on it. The class had been moved to April as not enough people signed up for the January class. Now I was really intrigued. Then I opened the certificate that had lots of pictures from previous classes and a note from Chef Lodge himself! I burst into tears at that point.
I am so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends and truly truly blessed to have this opportunity to learn an art I love from someone I admire.
I can't wait until April and I am too excited to sleep!!!! ( I got the gift last night and did not sleep much at all!!! )
Linda
.
I'd be crying too. As a fellow artist, (clay, not food,) I am absolutely drooling that you have such a wonderful opportunity to study with a pro like that. 
Good for you! 
I know you must be BEYOND excited!!! I can't wait to hear ALL about it!! 
