Birthday Weekend

I guess my birthday weekend started on Friday when Laura treated me to see Julie and Julia which we both enjoyed. Larry opted out.

Saturday Larry, Laura and I drove to Amy's Lake House and as soon as it warmed up we were in our bathing suits and lounging around. At night we had a delicious dinner with Ann, Amy and Patti too who came down for the day. On Sunday, Richard and Joyce joined us for an overnight. The weather was perfect the whole time.

Ann makes Cranberry Pomegranate Cosmos

Ann's Cran-Pom Cosmo

2 parts vodka
1 part cointreau
2 parts cranberry juice
1 part Pomagranate juice
squirt of Rose's lime juice

All the gals on the porch looking so cute

and enjoying their cosmos

Our token male

Richard (he came the next day)
puts the final touches on his Key Lime Pie

This is a typical morning activity

Then there's kayaking

and floating

even Bailey had her friend Hershey come over for a swim

Coffee & Cream Cake

I brought this cake to the

Lake House for Labor Day/Birthday weekend

It tastes especially good if you nuke a slice

a little to warm up and then top with vanilla ice cream

Coffee & Cream Cake

1 pkg devil's food cake mix

4 eggs

3 oz instant chocolate pudding

3/4 cup vegetable oil

3/4 cup coffee-flavored liqueur or creme de cacao

1 pint sour cream

1 cup chocolate chips

1 cup pecans, chopped (optional)

Chocolate Glaze

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and flour a bundt pan. In large bowl beat together cake mix and eggs. Add pudding, oil, liqueur and sour cream, mixing well. Fold in chocolate chips and pecans (if using). Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 60 minutes, or until done. Drizzle with Chocolate Glaze, or dust cake with powdered sugar.

Serves 10-12

Chocolate Glaze

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp baking cocoa

4-6 teaspoons coffee-flavored liquer, milk or water

Combine ingredients, using enough liquid so the mixture will drizzle.

from Karen (Delicious Developments cookbook)

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We arrived home around 1:00 from the Lake House and did a little grocery shopping. We were planning on stopping at the Outlet Mall on the way home but the traffic just to get in was backed up on the road so we drove right by.

We had a delicious, light, dinner (so we would have room for chocolate cake) out on the deck and then Laura gave me my birthday presents.

She is trying to increase her percentage of pictures in the house.

Laura and I watched Grey Gardens which I recorded last week. Larry opted for football and then we had dessert - leftover chocolate cake YUM!!!

It was a wonderful weekend with wonderful weather and wonderful people.

Almost forgot to mention that Larry gave me a birthday card the morning of my birthday while we were at the Lake House. That meant he planned ahead. I thought for sure he would have to go to the store to buy one after we got home, reminiscent of our Anniversary. I was very impressed and it means he is a fast learner. I love you Larry (in case you ever read this).