Does anything say 'Happy Birthday" like pavlova??
Especially when it's such an exuberant pav constructed by a budding young masterchef and literally dripping with love...So yes, I turned 36 on saturday and this is the story....
We have a family tradition of waking up the birthday person with cake, tea, pressies and singing on the morning of their birthday, and for me this year, it was genuine! I mean that I was really asleep (as opposed to lying there hanging to go to the loo and smilingly listening to whispering boys trying to find the good cake knife) and came into the day surprised and delighted - a good way to come into any day I must say!
After a rousing rendition of "For She's a Jolly Marshmallow", I was presented with some fabulous gifts ; a funky new wallet and an excellent ceramic mixing bowl to replace the one that had fallen off the roof on our roadtrip down to Melbourne. (Read the archives for that heart warming story!) Thoughtful and groovy.
And the card. We always hand make our cards, and I was given a truly gorgeous one which had a big blank section inside it. I was then handed a 'magic' pen and instructed to 'colour in and reveal the secret message'...fun! (This sense of fun my children displayed makes everything worthwile!!!)
Never has a more poetic piece of prose been invisibly embedded on...anything!
We have a family tradition of waking up the birthday person with cake, tea, pressies and singing on the morning of their birthday, and for me this year, it was genuine! I mean that I was really asleep (as opposed to lying there hanging to go to the loo and smilingly listening to whispering boys trying to find the good cake knife) and came into the day surprised and delighted - a good way to come into any day I must say!
After a rousing rendition of "For She's a Jolly Marshmallow", I was presented with some fabulous gifts ; a funky new wallet and an excellent ceramic mixing bowl to replace the one that had fallen off the roof on our roadtrip down to Melbourne. (Read the archives for that heart warming story!) Thoughtful and groovy.
And the card. We always hand make our cards, and I was given a truly gorgeous one which had a big blank section inside it. I was then handed a 'magic' pen and instructed to 'colour in and reveal the secret message'...fun! (This sense of fun my children displayed makes everything worthwile!!!)
Never has a more poetic piece of prose been invisibly embedded on...anything!
After eating pavlova for breakfast on the balcony and transferring cards from one wallet to another (and discarding about 4 squillion tonnes of old receipts, expired fuel saver dockets, business cards of people I have forgotten and various other crap), we got to work taking tables, chairs and yes a crocheted tablecloth down to the river...and proceeded to spend the rest of the afternoon with friends; swimming, freeboarding, sipping champers, making arty crafty stuff and lots of good, girly conversation. Oh, and eating all sorts of cheese:)
Love my wonderful women - such juicy and joyful gifts in my world!
Love my wonderful women - such juicy and joyful gifts in my world!
I also had the supreme pleasure of watching, for the first time, my still 8 year old son do some pretty stellar stand up freeboarding! His was the epitome of cool as he did a flawless beach start, and then made everyone smile as he took little Annie the dog for a ride on the board. She is definitely a surfer chick!
After all this is was time for a quick spruce up for the event of the year - the Spencer Volunteer Fire Brigade Christmas party!!! I was MCing and my friend Aramati had done an excellent job of jazzing up the tennis court at the community hall for some swanky al fresco dining and entertainment...we had a contortionist, kids doing carols, my Dad playing saxaphone, young local musicians, dancers, Gav, Flex and our Swiss wwoofer Arjan making sweet music and a group Zumba dance-up! Followed by a local duo performing some well chosen covers (well chosen because they were some of my favourites!) and allowing us all to have a goooooooood boogie.
Wow! Spencer rocks!!!
Wow! Spencer rocks!!!
After the party, we went home to sit once again on the balcony and eat cheese....aaaaaaaah cheese.....
One of the best things about entertaining on the freedom farm is that it's far away, and therefore people often stay the night....I always love the 'day after' - we cook up a brekkie feast and loll around just enjoying....being. It's often the second day when people really feel the quiet and beauty that is this gorgeous land.
A great birthday. No expectations - the joy of a bit of community service and of course, lots of cheese.
And I finally got the return on the $60 investment for those 'magic' pens.
One of the best things about entertaining on the freedom farm is that it's far away, and therefore people often stay the night....I always love the 'day after' - we cook up a brekkie feast and loll around just enjoying....being. It's often the second day when people really feel the quiet and beauty that is this gorgeous land.
A great birthday. No expectations - the joy of a bit of community service and of course, lots of cheese.
And I finally got the return on the $60 investment for those 'magic' pens.
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