Happy (belated) Birthday To Me!

I realize that might be a bit self indulgent but I only get a birthday once a year so I might as well enjoy it! My birthday was Tuesday and I had a wonderful day. Colin's gift was a restful night and sleeping until 6:45. Ah, how our ideas of good gifts change over the years. My mom took me to lunch at Ashland, Henry Clay's home, where we enjoyed a lovely lunch out in the garden. The weather was absolutely perfect - so perfect in fact that everyone else had the same idea! Or maybe they just all wanted to celebrate my birthday. My friend Joyce made me a wonderful red velvet cake with berries. As most of you probably know, I'm usually the one who makes all the cakes for coworkers, but Joyce was kind enough to make mine so I wouldn't have to make my own! What a pal! I chose a red velvet with berries because I thought it sounded good and I love the addition of the fresh berries. Of course I had to have at least one stipulation, that she not use red food coloring. I am not a fan of random chemicals. So the cake was tan in color but who cares because it was delicious. The berries were such a good addition. Here's the picture off Epicurious as to what the cake was supposed to look like.

Back to my birthday festivities. My mom had originally offered to cook dinner for me on my birthday so that I wouldn't have to. I told her no, I really didn't mind and we weren't having anything fancy. That's why she ended up taking me to lunch instead. So about 4:50, I'm sitting at my desk and I feel the presence of someone beside me. It was Wes and he was dressed up. He was surprising me to take me to dinner. I should have known something was cooking with all the talk of dinner. We went back to Azur (the place we went for Valentine's) and had a lovely dinner out on their patio. He also got me a new digital camera because mine is outdated and I haven't been satisfied with the quality of the pictures. When we got home Mom was there with Colin and she had bought me some kitchen items (big surprise) and some clothes.

What a great birthday! I'm so lucky to have such a wonderful family.