Soppho

When we had finished eating Y Chrome’s birthday cake, his Dad sat back in his chair, sighed, and declared that I should be the official cake baker for all future birthdays. Maybe he was just trying to save some of his family members from a little work, but I totally took the bait, sat down with my cookbooks, and flagged nearly ever dessert in them. Pumpkin cheesecake is birthday-appropriate, right?

We plucked some of the first apples of the season before the hurricane winds knocked them off the trees.

We had a combined celebration for the birthdays of Y Chrome and his cousin, who were born only 6 days apart. For Y Chrome, I baked a coconut cake. For his cousin, who doesn’t like cake, I bought a carton of Rocky Road ice cream, and stuck some candles in the top. Her ice cream looked better, but I’m still thinking about that cake.

I firmly believe that every once in a while you should buy a piece of clothing or an accessory that falls outside of your comfort zone (something cheap! definitely something cheap!). You may end up loving it. And even if it’s a total wash, and you vow never to wear the thing in public, it’s always fun to parade around the house in your cast-offs.

Matilda is one of my oldest and most beloved books. When I was a kid, I’d finish reading it, then flip it right back over and start at the beginning again. These days, I read it when I need soothing or distracting. When last I picked up the book, a spate of plane tickets from several different trips over several years fell out. Lucky for me, this time I was going nowhere near a plane; I just needed some cheering after a long day.

It still works like a charm.