As I mentioned ,our youngest daughter's birthday is February 21rst..39 years old..
I still remember bringing her home from the hospital..a little heat lamp directed on her bare bottom in her crib at home..she had developed a bad rash and they suggested we not put a diaper on when we got home..but to keep her clean and dry..it was so easy as she slept on her tummy..(back then ..they did..)..w/her tiny feet tucked under her like a tiny little frog..
I remember those days so clearly..
we had two cribs..because Mylène was only 18 months old..and one of my favorite French singers..Michel Delpech (sadly ,recently passed away..) had a song called.. Chez Nous.....I know for certain it was on my LP..but I can only find it by H Pagani..it spoke of home and that it smelled of soup and a baby sleeping..it did..our home had the most divine baby smell..it smelled cozy and wonderful to me.I was 23..and had had a pretty tough 2 yrs 19-20.. but 21 blessed us w/ our eldest daughter..and then 18 months later..another.
There was nowhere else I wanted to be..they were perfect and fun and cute..and I played house w/ them..I made clothes w/ velcro and some of our outfits matched.
I didn't miss university or work..I had all of a sudden no other aspirations than to just be there loving every minute of playing with my dolls:)♥
Now..I play with their dolls:)
So getting back to my post..we celebrated her birthday,yesterday, Valentine's weekend..
you saw the furry friends..the heart cookies..I made linzers..I adore linzers..
I froze one disk for future linzers..
This time I used an old Gourmet magazine recipe..
For her cake I used one of Heather's recipes..Heather has a BEAUTIFUL blog I LOVE..Curly Girl Kitchen..I find myself sometimes looking back to her posts from her early days..I have no clue how I found her..but I never miss a post..her wedding..she did everything herself..the cute things..ideas..her home..her husband..everything..her photography is just spot on perfect.
A cake is a lot for J and I..but for our family..it's great..
I made her vanilla bean latte cake..
I froze my 3 layers and frosted it the day of the celebration.
It was probably - 40 outside w/ the wind chill factor.
The day before I had frosted the kids cupcakes imagining perfect rosettes as I know how..
Eeeeek..nothing was working..the buttercream..I kept adding stuff..oh lala.. nothing worked..
looked like spaguetti when I was done..
I could not figure out what I did wrong..Next morning..I frosted the cake.. I even reduced the butter etc..
as I went on..I knew why..the fireplace was making the great room so nice and warm..but the kitchen was too chilly for buttercream!!
Especially by big bright windows.
EEK again..my butter..would not stay supple.
All I can say is thank Goodness I had made chocolate words..had the cupcakes:) And had bought the banner.
CAMOUFLAGE.
I would have LOVED to make Heather proud..
I did learn an invaluable lesson..do not attempt buttercream on Siberian days.
You can find the recipe for Heather's Vanilla Bean Latte Cake and her beautiful blog and gorgeous creation..here..
The cute card my daughter made..she loves to make her cards now..she finds art she likes..this one is a reproduction of Liana Hee.
She coud easily just do them on her own.
She inherited my mother's talent and hair:)
We had Indian food and their home was beautifully decorated..look at her fireplace..she made all those..and big flowers like that hung over the dining table..fun to make people feel special.
The bookmark/hanging hearts with one of my fave sayings and the vintage Valentine were a special delivery from an overseas friend who bakes and cooks incredibly well;)
I love vintage valentine's,home made art......
tulips in February..and I enjoyed a movie this weekend called..Summer In February.A friend recommended it for the scenery..and right she was..and the ART....the easels..AJ's studio..then Florence's..and seeing Matthew....just a lovely Friday night movie..true,sad story.
Or a Valentine's Day movie.
Bon Dimanche!
