Cake Tuesday. Flowers and Ranting.

So yes technically it is Fall, but around here that just means it gets sunnier and warmer for the next two months. The holiday weekend brought hordes of tourists to town, so once cake deliveries were finished I just stayed put in the garden with a book and a margarita. Our apples and pears are all ripening deliciously – perfect timing for some pear frangipane tarts and tarte tatins I have on order for next weekend.

I just finished The Language of Flowers, which is a fun read and is fascinating from a wedding industry perspective. In the Victorian era people would give each other flowers to send messages – every flower had a specific meaning. These have been lost over generations, obviously, and people use whatever they like these days – whatever works with their color scheme. But it might give a bride pause to think that the wildly popular hydrangea symbolizes dispassion, cheerful-looking peonies represent anger, or that white roses indicate a “heart that is unaquainted with love”. And one thing that drove me crazy (that ALWAYS drives me crazy) is that the author, who was a student at Stanford University, confuses her pronouns: “… leaving Elizabeth and I completely alone.” Really?? It left *I* completely alone?? No, actually, it did not. If it left US alone, then it left Elizabeth and ME alone; it also left ME alone – you would NEVER say “it left I completely alone.”

The trouble with authors doing this is that then THERE IT IS, in print, looking like it’s legitimate. And young readers see it and the correct usage becomes more diluted and confusing. THIS IS NOT DIFFICULT. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE try to get this right. Especially if you are a writer, but even if you are not.

If you can say “I did it” then you can say “Lily and I did it.” The problem is, intelligent people are being trained that “me” is a bad word, as in, “Never say ‘Lily and me did it.'” But do you see? You wouldn’t say “Me did it.” So if “the money was given to me,” then you can say “The money was given to Lily and ME.” Totally correct. The money was NOT given to Lily and I. That is WRONG. WRONG WRONG WRONG. I can’t even begin to tell you how annoying this is. Well clearly I can begin. But I could spend DAYS on this topic.

I have it.

You and I have it. We have it.

It was given to me.

It was given to you and me. It was given to us.

THIS IS NOT HARD. And stop saying “It was given to Lily and MYSELF” because you are afraid to misuse ME. It is a cowardly move. MYSELF didn’t get anything. ME. It’s a fine word when used correctly. Embrace it. [steps down from soapbox.]

That said, if you’re a florist or like flowers then go read The Language of Flowers.

Here are lots of fun flowers on a cake – ranunculus = “you are radiant with charms”, peach roses mean “modesty”, and pink roses mean “grace”, so – well done! The cake was alternating tiers of hazelnut and lemon, which created a really interesting finish. The fresh ground hazelnuts lent themselves to the natural, woodsy setting, the central tier of lemon kept it on the lighter side, and the beautiful, summery flowers tied it into the rest of the reception.

 

It was the centerpiece on a table filled with mini cupcakes, so there were lots of delicious options for the guests.