Well, it's not tomorrow yet here today, but I've decided to take out my unpacked-for-three-years 'good' dishes for my birthday tea party tomorrow. Thanks, Lorchen for the motivation/inspiration. Oh! And I just thought it's also my sister-in-law's BD tomorrow too! That's 4 - a quadruple birthday party! I'll make buttermilk scones with currants.

Love my birthday fascinator, Rita! But if I turn up wearing that at my son's wedding he'll be so shocked he won't be able to say 'I do!' and make an honest woman of Kerri.

Lorchen, hope you have a wonderful birthday. I will celebrate with you by going to my local quilt guild's quilt show. I did not get my hst quilt entered in time. Life got in the way. I am waiting for DH to get home so we can eat supper. Fish and chips and cole slaw. Of course I had to pick Cocoa Puffs cereal out of the slaw. That was my 3 year old DGS's contribution. The baby is sitting on the floor crying. I couldn't make her happy, and she doesn't want her bottle! Single malt? I'll take a triple!

Thank you very much, Lotti!!

Yes, the party has now officially started. It's well after 01.00am here and the 12th of May.

My colleagues at work pulled all the stops out today. Here is a picture of what I came home with:



There is a bottle of single malt (from my Head of department), a beautiful little trinket box, a pair of earrings, a lovely shawl, a large box of chocolates, two cookbooks (all about cakes!!), some toiletries, flowers, and lots of cards.

I provided chocolate muffins (bought, and much nicer than what I can make) and cappuchino for my department during breaktime.

Every day I do a 35 minute duty stint at lunchtime in a corner of the dining hall where we have a couple of reserved table so that our special needs kids who need a little extra help (or because they are simply too timid to join the big hustle and bustle of 1600 youngsters) can be looked after. I turned up with a large box of chocolate biscuits (homemade!). I think the news spread very quickly. I was incredibly popular ( ). I supported in a French class and in a Spanish class today, and both teachers must have worked out that it was my birthday, and they got the kids to sing 'Happy Birthday' in the foreign language. But don't get me wrong. It was not all party-time. I had to do all my usual duties. It didn't help that the lift had broken down, and Ollie (14) decided to hide under the table in Maths. Nobody could coax him to come out, even at the end of the lesson, and I had to go and 'negotiate' with Ollie so that he could be taken to his next lesson and I could go back to mine.

After school, my colleagues and I went to a local café for a very relaxing couple of hours. Several of us decided to have not just a drink, but also a snack, which meant that we didn't have to cook tonight. I treated myself to toasted ciabatta bread, homemade duck and orange paté, and pickled red cabbage.

Back home I simply flopped in the closest chair after I had fed the cat, and didn't move. I have spent most of the evening reading (one of Kathy Reichs novels) and I'm now toasting myself (Cheers, Lorchen, you ain't half bad for 60!!) with a generous Glenmorangie before started the list for those three little surprises, and then it's off to bed.

Nearly forgot: The postman (6''3, mid-30s, very hunky) delivered 4 bits of birthday mail whilst I was at work. Two cards from close quilting friends, one beautiful little quilted 'thingy' (picture will be sorted out tomorrow) from another quilting buddy, and a birthday card and letter from the only cousin I have got (very, very special). Christian is 6 years younger than me, lives in Berlin, has had a lot of health problems over the years, and contact was very difficult before German Reunification, because I was in the West and he was in the East. But somehow we managed to keep in touch. His birthday card for me is a lino-cut. He has always been an artist at heart, but was never able to follow his dream under the Communists. In a small way he is making up for lost time these days. Unfortunately he is stuck in the 60s, so no computer. All communication has to be by snail mail and/or phone (very expensive). But somehow we manage.

That's it for tonight. I better get some sleep so that we can continue to party tomorrow.

I intend to sleep for as long as possible (no alarm clock for me), and then spend some of the day with some quilting. There are a couple of projects that I really want to get on with. I also expect that a little, and very cute, girl will turn up with a big hug and kiss for her Oma.

Happy, happy birthday, Lorchen!

Lorchen. Have a great day. Happy Birthday and many more.

Margarita in Auburn, California

A very happy birthday to you Lorchen! I have made you a very special Happy Birthday fascinator (Phillip Treacy eat your heart out!)! Hope you like it and I have balanced it on top of what I will be toasting to your very good health and many happy returns today.



I can have it shipped over for the wedding if you think it might go better with your outfit but the Baileys will really add to the postage! Have a great day:mrgreen:

Thank you. I thought I'd give it a rosy pink background - just for Lorchen's favorite 'Thimble' (aka grandaughter)...
Now we need some ribbons, as we know ribbons are greatly loved in that household

Lotti that looks great - much better than anything I could have done.

as it is now officially saturday - HAPPY BIRTHDAY Lorchen!!!!

and i can't wait to see what you folks do with "Lorchen's Prezzie" by the time i get back online in the morning...

good night to all

as rita has had some problems - and can't upload (and hasn't been able to fix it since she conceeded 4 hours or so ago - i've now gone ahead and ...

i've got it!

crocus999 wrote:

I'm off to do some quilting - what a novel idea. This forum is too much fun. And I have a triple birthday party tomorrow.

Reetzbobeetz wrote: Was it saved as a 'jpg' file after your manipulation? sometimes when you play with pictures you need to check what format it is saved as. This forum only likes jpgs - I should know, after I did some editing a while back and saved it, it was saved as a 'bitmap', it took me ages to find out why I couldn't up-load it (& to find out where to change the file type )