31.

Felicitations to us on the successful completion of 31 years.

Had a very nice birthday weekend. For the first time in quite a while, we were all together to celebrate our birthdays with Mum. Mum came down on Friday night, Weener and her boyfriend came on Saturday morning, and we ate lots of nice things, poked around an antique shop, and played Rockband. Weener and her boyfriend left early this morning, and Mum stayed a bit later and cooked me Eggs Benedict for breakfast. I am spoiled!

Weener and her boyfriend got me a bottle of Marsala wine, which is now happily ensconced in my liquor cabinet awaiting my next culinary creation. Mum brought me some scaveola, bacopa, geraniums, and petunias to plant up the urns that are on the front porch. It was very cold today otherwise I would have been out there, but I will have to do them tomorrow before I leave on Tuesday. Chris’s mum bought me a purple sandcherry, so I have to decide where I want to plant that now. My first shrub!

Chris bought me a Shakespeare play (Henry V) to add to my collection of antique mini-editions of novels at the antique store, and he also built me a patio in the back yard. It’s a shame I am leaving now because I won’t have a chance to properly break it in until I am back home! I also found a perfect new teacup to add to my collection. This one is white bone china with a really nice softly flared shape.

This year’s cake: Lemon cake contributed by Chris, and I made lemon curd and sandwiched the layers with it. I ate a giant piece smothered in softly-whipped cream for dessert last night. It was absolutely scrumptious.

Dad called from Bogota to wish us a Happy Birthday also, it was nice to hear from him (he usually forgets!).

I spent a good portion of the afternoon finishing a book centreing on the tensions between Meissonnier, Manet, Monet and the other Impressionists, covering the Second Empire. It was really good – it’s The Judgement of Paris, by Ross King. I have his book on Brunelleschi’s Dome, and it was very good as well. He has a way of writing that allows you to remember the bits and pieces in proper chronological order and not be overwhelmed by events. Perfect to curl up with a cup of tea and some cake!

So a low key, quiet birthday, but apparently, exactly what I wanted. I am treating this upcoming trip as a shamelessly decadent present to myself, so I have one more present to anticipate.