63 today

63 today, I've got the key of the door, never been 63 before.

Although that's not strictly true as for much of my last year I thought was 63 so actually becoming 63 today is less of a burden. Not that birthday's are ever a burden. I love my birthday as my family will tell you. I have a tendency to get over-excited.

So my day started with a phone call and a rendition of Happy Birthday from GrandSon1 in Surrey. He was nearly as excited as me and told me of his plans for the cake he would make when we go for a pre-Christmas visit. 'With a chocolate sledge and a chocolate Father Christmas and chocolate reindeers,' I am looking forward to it!

Then it was breakfast in bed: as a special treat a Variety-sized box of Frosties with fresh passion fruit for starters. Then my cards and then Husband led me into the dining-room to open my 'surprise' present. (I knew what I was having but not exactly.) Here it is tastefully concealed in an old dog blanket.

And this is what was hidden inside.

I've had my food processor for thirty-something years and it's beginning to crack so I requested a replacement and after careful research i.e. a visit to the library to study Which reports, Husband ordered this. It looks very wonderful but I am a trifle nervous that my much-acclaimed (by others I should add) cake-making skills may belong to my food processor not to me and when I try to make cakes with my new mixer they may be a complete disaster! Watch this space.

Then it was off to Zac's for women's bible study. Six of us meant great discussion and honesty as we looked at the gospel of peace and what that means for us.

After our pasta bake lunch we ate strawberries and then Evelyn disappeared to return with a cake with candles. How lovely to have a cake not made by me! And super cards and presents too.

Dawn and I appear to be the only ones who took seriously the words 'now a funny face photo!'

Home to a lovely birthday tea, complete with jelly and Malteser cake made by Daughter (and GrandSon2). I am now full to the top of my ears and may struggle to squeeze in even one or two birthday chocolates.

But my birthday's not over yet. Tomorrow Husband is taking me to see The Lady in the Van and then cooking dinner for me. I am a very lucky bunny.

Weekend in Devon

Saturday, Daughter's birthday, dawned bright and clear (that could be a line from a story!) and we set off for a walk on Dartmoor, primarily to wear out the dogs so we could watch the rugby in peace in the afternoon. (Daughter was resigned to the fact that three of us would want to spend her birthday afternoon in front of the television.) It was glorious out on the moor. In the photo above, on the hillside, you can see a circle of stones that would have surrounded a settlement: some of the remains of huts within the village are still standing.
There's not a lot on Dartmoor when you get up out of the wooded hillsides, just peace. But there's always a pub! (See biggest white dot in the picture below.)

Younger Son made this very groovy scarecrow for Daughter for her allotment. They've named him Rocky but fear his smiling face may attract birds rather than scare them.
And I made a cake. Daughter is a big fan of The Good Life - both the television sitcom and living it, so I decided I'd make a cake like the daisy that is part of the title sequence. Of course I didn't check what the daisy looked like before I made it; I didn't have to because I knew what it looked like. It had large white petals and a small middle. Turns out it has medium-sized pink petals and a large middle. Ah well.
We had a lovely weekend. Oh, yes, and Wales beat Scotland.

xx

Birthday dinner

I had already started eating dinner last night when I remembered I was supposed to be taking a photo of it.

Daughter prepared Beef Wellington, layering fillet steak with spinach and mushroom mixtures, with a madeira sauce. To acompany we had Potato (and swede and leek) Anna and broccoli (George's favourite). It was very delicious and especially noble of her to cook it as she is vegetarian. In fact, everything was ready to go in the oven when she said, 'Oh, what am I going to have for dinner?!'

Husband says thank you for all the birthday greetings!

xx

A quite interesting coincidence

It's Husband's birthday today. We are now both the same ages as our heights.

Husband is 5'8" and I am 5'5". (May I add that it was Husband who pointed this out: I am not in the habit of comparing heights and ages.)

And this is Husband's birthday cheesecake.

Daughter is cooking dinner for us tonight; I shall post photos of that later.

Happy Birthday, Younger Son!

Born 22 years ago today, the photo above was taken when he was 2.

Isn't he just a little cherub?