A&P grocery store, corner Cheapside & Adelaide, London, Ontario, Friday afternoon, on the way home from work.
Initially, I was just going to take a picture of the black forest cake through the front of the cake display section. But as I approached the glass case, a friendly employee named Laura approached from behind the counter and asked me if she could help.
I thought she'd likely want to boot me from the store if I told her the truth, but I figured honesty was the best policy. So I took my camera out of its case, held it in plain view, and spilled my guts to her about my obsession with grocery store photography.
Amazingly, she seemed cool with it. She asked if she could bring out some of her nicest creations for me. Instead of wanting to kick me out of the place, she was inviting me in for a cake photo shoot. Bonus!
She brought a number of cakes out, and we chatted about how neat her work is - she does things with cake that make me sad that these lovely creations ultimately end up eaten and shmushed onto disposable plates by little people - and how cool it is that I take pictures of 'em.
This is my favorite image of the bunch. Her paw prints came out delovely, don't you think?
It was one of those little moments in life where you're thankful that you took the time to chat with someone. And you're thankful you crossed paths with someone who, like you, loves what she does and isn't afraid to let total strangers in on her secret. Neat.
Your turn: When's the last time you were pleasantly surprised by a stranger? Oh, and Laura says she's going to visit this blog sometime, so please say hi to her and let her know you like her work. And if you're Laura, please drop us a line to let us know you're here. We all look forward to more creations from you.
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24 comments:
MmMmmmmmm cake. mmmmmmmm
Hi Carmi, Here from Michele's this time.
That's pretty awesome. Cake decorating is an art form, I wish I could do it! Hello from Michele
What a story to tell about taking a cake picture.
Michele sent me here.
dribble.
The cake looks amazing. I'd love to see a picture of the BFG too!
I used to live next door to a Konditorei in Boeblingen, Germany and the Schwartzwaelderkirschetorte there was the finest. If I am ever within 50 kms I go back for a refill.
Ach Ja, und hier durch Michele - Gruesse!
Wow that cake looks great! Drool!
Via Michele's.
Hey Carmi! Considering I have puppies on the brain right now, this cake ROCKS! Strangers surprise me every day. Especially now that I have my adorable puppy. I talk to people every time I go outside! Michele sent me over last night, but I fell asleep, so I'm here now!
Nice cake!
They are artists in their own right, just because it gets eaten by kids doesn't change that!
I get pleasantly surprised every day - people are generally really nice:-) i guess today's would be my mother-law turning up & cleaning my dining room for me - spotlessly!
Here from Micheles today. It's been a while, so i'm off to check out your archives now....
I love the little paws...that would make a good cake for our house!
Hi Laura....beautiful treat!
Sadly I am usually more disappointed with strangers but this past week visiting Missoula, Montana we are always pleasantly surprised at how nice they are to strangers (us). I always feel right at home and very safe.
omg, i am soooooo wanting a piece of that cake NOW!!!!! it looks so yummy! and you crack me up admitting to her that you have a grocery store photography obsession! i think you need PA = photographers annonymous!
and now... you have me thinking... should I be taking my camera to the store too? and if so, i wonder what kind of reactions i would get.... i bet people would look at me really really weird... i may get daring enough sometime to try it out...
oh and speaking of cake decorating... it's so much harder than it looks! i attempted to decorate kids and hubby's cakes this year and wowza... i suck at it! :) thanks for another wonderful, insightful carmi pix...
Thats a great looking cake,yummy too, i bet.
The last time i was surprised was with the one single guy at the end of our row at a ballgame. He was so understanding about all the up and downs we had. You know 4 kids all having to go to the restroom at once just won't happen,ever.
and go ahead and update your blogroll, guilt is taking over my heart *sigh*
Hi Carmi, hi Laura!
I love those paw-prints!! :-)
The next instalment of the Palace staff crisis is up, Carmi.....
cq
Anything with paw prints makes me think of kitties, and kitties always make me smile. Well, unless those are real paw prints on MY cake, and then the shouting shall commence...
:::waves at Laura::: Awesome design!
Carmi! Awesome photo of the cake. You managed to capture the yumminess quotient quite well.
I think the most recent time I was surprised by a stranger was today at the Apple store at our local mall. An exceptionally nice young man patiently explained the joys of owning a Mac and was ever so careful not to denigrate my old PC. Thoughtful, eh?
Here from Michele.
What a great cake! What was on the top? Cats or Dogs.
My mom talks to strangers as if she had known them for years, and does it much better than I do. But if I find we have something in common, it changes everything. Cats, kids, other interests; it breaks the ice.
Hi Laura :) I love the pawprints :)
Carmi~ how cool are you! I don't think I'd have the guts to do what you did :)
As for the last time a stranger surprised me? Well unfortunatly it wasn't very pleasant. * there was a man at the campground we were at... he looked just like "santa" or so did my 2 year old think... and he'd give her a sweet smile and a wave. Well what do I see "santa" do the next day! Throw rocks at geese to stop them from coming ashore! Sheesh! I mean really... we're in THEIR territory... let them be.
Great cake! As I'm the "stranger" in Japan...I think I'm the one doing the "surprising" ;)
hey carmi
The last time I was pleasantly surprised by a stranger was a week and a half ago, when our town was overrun with firefighters and hot shot crews busy saving our National Forest. I was behind a group of them at the Safeway checkout line, and a woman not only paid for everything they were buying, but bought them all coffees at the Starbucks kiosk as well. Michele says hi!
The cake looks delicious. I'm trying to figure out what the colored candies are.
A vendor at a sf convention warned me to always ask before taking pictures of retail products. A lot of artisans are concerned over competitiors stealing designs.
Wow, that's so cool! I was sitting with my boy at the mall and having a snack when I decided to get out my cell phone, take a quick picture of him and email it to his auntie. Immediately, I was approached by a security guard who told me that no photography is allowed in the mall. Considering the circumstances, I think he really overreacted. (But maybe that's just how we are post 9/11, I don't know.) The cake sure looks yummy!
That cake looks delish.
HI LAURA!!! YOU HAVE AN AWESOME JOB!!! How about starting a blog on cake decorating?! :D
I was pleasantly surprised by a stranger just a couple of minutes ago. I'm not feeling so well today, and it really shows, so I kinda look pretty ratty right now. So anyway, walking to the net cafe, I was prepared for the staff to look at me from head to toe but they didn't. They welcomed me with big smiles.
Gah, I'm so hard on myself sometimes. Thank goodness for kind people.
Laura, i've loved the art of cake decorating since art class many years ago when i was in year 10 i think, and we got to design and create our own little master pieces with white iceing and dye... loved it... so if your ever in Adelaide, Australia, and want to be shouted a meal in return for a bit of teaching, drop me a line!!!
last time i was pleasantly surprised was yesterday. I was out to lunch with a few friends, and there was this huge table of oldies to my right. When my Chicken Snitty Burger arrived, i suddenly felt eyes on me. i turned to see them all smiling and one even waved, thinking that someone was behind i turned but no one was there, so i joked that i was looking away, then i turned back and one asked if that was my main and i said yes. Then they all giggled, and with smiles and stares continuing, i started to eat, thinking the WHOLE time, 'where do i know them from?'
turns out, they just thought i was goodlooking and were mesmirised by my beauty - or so we joked at my table :D
But just to have them smile and say hello was lovely...!!!
The cake is truly a work of art. And you have an awesome talent to be able to capture it as you did to share with us . I will never look at another decorated cake and not think of this one.
Hi Carmi, Hi Laura
Cake decorating is not as easy as it looks, good job btw.
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