Hi all,
So with the temperature close to 100 degrees today, I have been seriously contemplating taking a break from making cakes for the summer. I make cakes out of my home, mostly for friends and family. However, with no central air in my house, it never gets cool enough when it's this hot...having the oven on during this time is awful, and I can't get my BC to smooth for the life of me!! I just end up swearing at my cake or my husband I told him I was thinking about taking a break for the summer and he was all for it, since he thinks I do too many cakes as it is (about 2-3 a week, on top of taking care of the kids all day and working five nights a week at my regular job). What do you think? Will people understand, and will they come back to me in the fall when it gets cooler? My husband has offered to clean a space for me in our partially-finished basement, where it's cooler, and that's where I decorated this weekend. I just dread turning our big oven on all summer long!!

What do you think? TIA!!

Really?? No one can feel my pain!??

Okay - so I just posted to this and when I submitted my response I got an error :O

I agree with you -- there is no way I would make cakes if I didn't have central air! I used to live in a house without any and I was miserable just trying to cook dinner!

I think that people will understand -- they may not like it because they love your yummy cakes, but I am sure that they will come back in the Fall!

A summer break can be good as long as it's for the right reason and no a/c can be that!
So DH is gonna make a space in the basement? can that be your summer place and still have you make cakes?
Are you ok without the money if you don't?
Are your customers long standing who will miss you but, come back is only one that you can answer.

Good luck

Thanks, Karen! I've been getting that error message too

Do it!!!! You will be happy you did. Sometimes we just need a break you know! If they really want a cake tell them to bake it and bring it to you and you will decorate it for them Hahaha!!! Enjoy your summer!

I love that!! The money is just "extra" for me (of course, money I have started to rely on a bit!), so I could do without for a few months...and I know there is no way of knowing whether people will come back to me...I just have visions of sitting out on my deck on a Friday night, drinking wine...rather than slaving over a cake in my hot kitchen!!

I also live in CT and don't have central air and what I do in the spring/summer is bake later at night, after 8 or 9. I also used to work nights and I would plan to do all of my upcoming cakes on my nights off and then freeze them.

I don't have central air either and just made two big ol' sheet cakes in 100 degree weather.......I got my DH to help me carry in a window unit but it never got below 85 in here I swear. My bc was melting and I had to add more pow, sugar to make it stiffen up some it was horrible. One of the cakes was a double layer full sheet with raspberry filling, I was literally praying that it wouldn't just all ooze and fall apart because it was soooooo warm in here!!! I totally feel your pain and have no idea what I"m going to do if it continues to be THIS hot !!

This might sound stupid but... why don't you save your profits and buy ac? We got it installed (I never use it though ) for around $2000. I'm saving all of my current profits for an Electrolux stove. This way, I don't have to pay taxes on it because I'm putting it back into the business. Just a thought.

Kate714, I completely understand! I always stop making cakes at the end of May. I don't start back up until the end of September. I hate Texas summers. My a/c is old and I just don't see heating up my house any more than it already is.

Can you put a stove/oven in the basement? That will keep the heat downstairs and might help with the house temp for you?

Oven in the basement...nice idea! KHalstead...I remember that happening all summer last year...I don't want a repeat!! UGH...I feel your pain...

You lie!!! The heated/cooled portion of our house is 1700SF. They plopped a unit next to our house, ran some duct through the garage and viola. My neighbor just had his installed last year and he paid $1600 - smaller house. You can have mine

WOW!! No, I'm serious! I actually got three quotes and they were all in that range. Maybe because they didn't put your duct work throughout the house?? Then again, I live in CT...everything's expensive here

okay, so I sent out an email and told everyone I was taking a break through August. I told them if they already talked to me about a cake or booked one, I would fill their order, and I do have several already booked...so this is really just putting a stop to taking any more orders than I already have. I've received several responses from friends saying they don't blame me!! My husband is so excited we might get to hang out on a Friday night!!

I was thinking the same thing after my disaster last Friday night. Our central air broke and the fondant just MELTED!!!! I posted in Disasters.

I don't know how I could do anything without ac. Luckily it is fixed now, I have a few booked for the summer already and I may do the same thing and just not take any more orders. If anyone calls to ask I will just say I am already booked, then maybe they will think I am sooo popular that no one will call for last minute cakes ever again!! Muuwaahahahahaha!!! *laughing deliriously*

SweetResults - that's what I did when a new person called me tonight for a cake. I just said I was already booked for her date and said I "scale back" my cakes in the summer...without telling her "no way, lady!"

I didn't see your fondant melting disaster....UGH....I had a cake "implode" after it sat out in the heat for eight hours Saturday apparently!

Doesn't it just break your heart? All that hard work? LOVE New England, but boy this 60 to 90 degree stuff is crazy!

I know - my kids (2 and 4) don't get it...one day I'm telling them they need a light coat and the next I'm annoyed that my son wants to wear clothes while he naps!

LOL!! Oh boy do I understand THAT one! My 6 year old wanted the biggest heaviest blanket in the house on him tonight - even with the ac on his room is still 80 degrees!

We compromised on the big heavy blanket that my son wants in this heat...we folded it up and put it on his pillow for him

Ewww! Sweaty little boy head in the morning - LOVE that! LOL! My little guy will be soaked!

oh, he wakes up soaked!! Kids are funny, aren't they?! Enjoy this (hopefully) last day of extreme heat tomorrow!

Ewww! Sweaty little boy head in the morning - LOVE that! LOL! My little guy will be soaked!

There is a place where people dont have ac?!?!?!?!

Just kidding, I am not that dumb lol, but living in Texas I dont know how I would live. It was in the mid 90's here this weekend and I baked, just put down the air condition and went to work. I cant imagine having to do cakes in as hot as an environment as you are talking about! Whatever you choose to do I wish you the best, but dont give it up forever your cakes are great!

~ALicia

Thanks Alicia - yes, there are places w/out AC!! It's crazy living up here....freezing one day, boiling the next!

I just tried making a tiara out of chocolate...didn't work out so well!!

I live in HOTlanta, and trust me, it gets hot! Even with AC, when I make cakes it gets into the 80s in my kitchen. Sometimes my AC freezes up from working too hard!

What about oscillating fans or even box fans? We use those to help cool the place down, works like a charm.

I'm taking it a little easy this summer. I make cakes to pay for my son's preschool, and since school is out, I can slack off.