Marian Gregor ~ Ann Arbor area Real Estate ~

Gifts for my 25 wedding anniversary (to the same man). My beloved horse, Jackpot (it's also his birthday). 'Apple Blossom' Amarillus with their cheerful blooms. Life is good. Sigh.

Financial Sanity!

Dave Ramsey has it going on and he will be discussing the current economy in a free event called Town Hall for Hope. Dave Ramsey is an author of books on personal finance and host of a radio program. Dave was a commercial Realtor who bankrupted himself, almost destroying his marriage in the process. However, he decided to learn from successful millionaires and billionaires about financial success. He discovered that most of them built and kept their wealth gradually, working regular jobs or careers. Nothing spectacular.

Dave developed a course, called Financial Peace University, which is offered at churches around the country. My husband and I have enrolled in Financial Peace University. We are taking the course at the Dexter United Methodist Church. Though taught at a church, there has been no churchiness or proselytizing, which we appreciate. The course is a 13 week study of personal finances aimed at getting participants out of debt, onto a cash purchase basis, and then building wealth.

My husband and I have completed through week nine. We and the facilitators of the class were laughing together about how we wished we had done this class when we were in our twenties (as has one of my nieces). Well, better late than never.

As I said, Dave Ramsey will be discussing (via live video) the current economic crisis. Join hundreds of thousands of people for a nationwide town hall meeting. Dave will discuss today's economy, how we got here, and where we're going. Plus, Dave will field questions. This will be Thursday, April 23, at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. Locations on the west coast have the option of either a 5 or (delayed) 7 p.m. Pacific Time Start. Check Dave’s website for a location near you.

Locally, Town Hall for Hope will be hosted in the sanctuary of Dexter United Methodist Church. The church is at 7643 W. Huron Drive, Dexter, Michigan. They have two huge screens for video displays. This event is open to everyone and is free. I do encourage you to attend.

This is my 25 year old Jade plant. It has finally bloomed! I've waited all these years, not really expecting a bloom at all, let alone a multitude of them. The blooms appeared in the coldest stretch of winter while the earth was blanketed with snow. They lasted for many weeks.

This is a photo of the plant with its sweeping branches. It is about 32" tall. I'm not sure how I will manage to repot it this spring but after the floral display it deserves a bigger pot! The branches are rather delicate so that makes it a two person job.

Ann Arbor’s top pastry chef has again won a major cake competition. Chef Courtney Clark was awarded first place by the judges at the National Area Cake Show. Her cake also won the People’s Choice Award. The theme was “fantasy castles”. The contest was sponsored by the Virginia Chapter of the International Cake Exploration Societe (www.ices.org & www.virginia-ices.com). Who knew there were such societies? Here is a picture of Courtney’s winning cake.

Courtney's previous wins include First Place at the Detroit International Jazz Festival (2006), Winner of Detroit’s Channel 4 The Best (2007) and First Place in The Food Network’s theme of Disney Pixar Cakes for which she was awarded a whopping big check of $10,000!

The Food Network has featured Chef Courtney many times. Her next Food Network appearance is on their “Last Cake Standing Challenge”, which is described as a “grueling, four-round competition”. Round One premiers April 5^th. The winner’s top prize is $50,000.

Chef Courtney is not merely a pastry chef; she is a pastry artist. After graduating Saline High School (Saline, Michigan), Courtney attended The School of the Art Institute in Chicago where she worked with edible art. This inspired her to study with the renowned pastry chef, Jacquy Pfieffer, at The French Pastry School, where she mastered French pastry techniques (and was so certified). Both her passion and training in the field of fine art and pastry making can be seen in her work. See pictures of many of her creations on Cake Nouveau’s website. (www.cakenouveau.com) Courtney designs and bakes cakes for customers’ special occasions.

As wondrous as is her visual artistry, the proof of her baking skills is, as they say, in the tasting. Oh, and what a taste. Courtney’s Chocolate Truffle cupcake is the blackest, most chocolaty cake with a superbly delicate butter cream icing crowned with chocolate truffle bits. The creamy denseness of the cake surprises the mouth and gives the body – ah, uhm, well – the chocolate explosion and texture is that good. I have never had cake as good as this – not anywhere, not ever.

A free cupcake! Buy one, get one free.

At the shop in Ann Arbor, you can always purchase the Chocolate Truffle Cupcake plus one of several other daily specials. Cake slices are also available. Whole cakes must be ordered ahead of time. Busy Moms and Dads often stop by and come away with boxes of cupcakes for all kinds of gatherings and events. Quantities of two dozen or more cupcakes are also best ordered ahead.

Cake Nouveau is at 206 North Fourth Avenue in Ann Arbor, Michigan – just up the block from the Kerrytown Shops, the farmer’s market, and Zingerman’s Deli. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The phone number is 734-994-4033.