This morning my friend messaged me and told me to be ready at 9am prompt, because we would be going out for breakfast. Not one to argue about an unexpected breakfast invitation, I quickly got myself together and shortly after nine we were strolling through the park in the direction of the farm shop. It's very Autumnal out there now, my boots are on and leaves are falling down everywhere you look.
This is the view from the top of the hill before descending the steps down to the farm shop footpath - it was cool and overcast today, excellent weather for eating a proper good breakfast with a frothy coffee or two.
With less than three weeks till Halloween there are pumpkins on display everywhere, and the ones at the front of the farm shop looked very seasonal and lovely. But it was the bucket of tulips that caught my eye and stole my heart....oooooo, those frilly orange ones were very flirty indeed and I was extremely tempted by their charming ways.
However, I already have fresh flowers on my table this week......
....these exuberant lilies are lighting up the room, and although they aren't the kind of flowers I would usually buy for myself, they are very lovely indeed. Little Lady bought them for me, knowing that I would love the bright colours (and the scent which is already filling the room), and I came downstairs early this morning to find them on the table waiting for me.
Today is my birthday, fifty-three years of life on planet Earth. The Little People really hit the jackpot with the chocolate-and-salted-caramel theme, and gifted generously to support my addiction....very happy about the current chocolate sitch I have to say.
When you've been eating a healthy diet for a length of time, in particular the restriction of sugary things, it can be difficult to remember how very, very good the sugary things taste. It's like your brain erases the sugary memories so that you adapt to the new low-sugar normal. Then when your friends surprise you with a plate of the most wonderous and extravagantly sugar filled slice of baked goods at your knit and natter sesh, well, the resulting pleasure high is next level. It was utterly delicious, in every way.
I had a great little outing to the supermarket with the Little People this afternoon once they'd returned from school - we went to purchase a collection of party foods for tonights Birthday Tea. I let them choose, and we ended up with all sorts of tasty morsels - baby sausage rolls, a variety of salamis and cured meats, olives, sundried tomatoes and baby mozzarella balls, chorizo and chicken koftas, spinach and feta filo pastry parcels, baby plum tomatoes and a french stick. We also chose a birthday cake (chocolate and salted caramel, of course), and a bottle of pink prosecco. It was absolutely heavenly - all I had to do was heat up a few things on a tray in the oven for ten minutes, and the rest was just plonked on the table so that we could all help ourselves with minimal labour involved. I served up pink prosecco in my vintage champagne saucers (allowing the Little People a small slurp each in their own glasses) and it was a most excellent birthday tea.
Ahhhh, I've had the best day, and I'm so grateful for family and friends, good food and good company and for the easy happiness that fills my days.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
HappyBirthday Lucy🎂🎂🎂
Posted by: Liz | October 13, 2021 at 01:13 PM
Happy Birthday Lucy glad you had a lovely day with friends and family. Thank you for your Blogtober really enjoying your daily blog look forward to reading them every day
Love Marjorie xx
Posted by: Marjorie Sanderson | October 13, 2021 at 12:26 PM
Belated happy birthday for yesterday. Glad you had a lovely day
Posted by: Abby | October 13, 2021 at 12:25 PM
Happy Birthday to you! Thanks for sharing your celebrations with us.
Posted by: Mary H | October 13, 2021 at 12:18 PM
Merry Happy Birthday from Michigan :).
Posted by: Jeanine | October 13, 2021 at 12:17 PM
Happy belated birthday! May you have a wonderful year, and many many more birthdays to come 🎂
Posted by: Zorana | October 13, 2021 at 12:12 PM
Happy Birthday Lucy. Glad you had a lovely day. Your tea sounds fantastic and the addition of chocolate always makes things even better. Wishing you lots of good things in the birthday year ahead x
Posted by: Beverley | October 13, 2021 at 11:46 AM
Happy Birthday Lucy! So happy you had a wonderful day, from morning right through the whole day. So special! Enjoy your chocolates - they look delicious. And....your lovely flowers - so, so pretty.
Posted by: Little Quiltsong | October 13, 2021 at 11:30 AM
Happy birthday for yesterday! It sounds the perfect day! I hope you are able to continue celebrating over the next few days too! Thank you for your daily blogs, full of interest and inspiration. I always look forward to reading it and being able to share your adventures, thoughts and crochet journey. Warmest wishes, J
Posted by: J. Crafter | October 13, 2021 at 11:18 AM
Happy Birthday Lucy! My own birthday not long ago was a very chill affair. We are having a treat dinner soon with my favourite filet steak! Hope you have a great trip around the sun till your next return.
Posted by: Vicky | October 13, 2021 at 10:45 AM
Happy Birthday to you, Lucy! I hope that your lovely day with family and friends is the beginning of a great year ahead. Thank you so much for all your wonderful October posts. They are giving me something to look forward to each day x
Posted by: Jo | October 13, 2021 at 10:19 AM
Happy birthday! Thank you for your lovely posts, you send me a treat every day!sss
Posted by: Suzie | October 13, 2021 at 09:59 AM
Happy birthday Lucy, it sounds like it was a wonderful day, and I love the low maintenance tea. You have reminded me that I haven't been to my local farm shop with my friend for ages. She is too busy with her own shop these days, but I did love going up there, farm shops are brilliant aren't they. CJ xx
Posted by: CJ | October 13, 2021 at 09:57 AM
Happy Birthday Lucy. It sounded like a perfect day xx
Posted by: Norma | October 13, 2021 at 09:43 AM
Happy Birthday Lucy - 53 trips around the Sun. I don’t know if you have a Tesco near you but they do their own salted caramel ‘cornetto’ type ice cream - delicious!
Posted by: Pam | October 13, 2021 at 09:35 AM
Happy Birthday! Isn't it good to know how much you are loved?
Posted by: Charlotte Pountney | October 13, 2021 at 09:29 AM
Happy birthday.
Posted by: Suzan | October 13, 2021 at 09:27 AM
Happy birthday. Glad you had a wonderful day.
Posted by: Kim | October 13, 2021 at 08:54 AM
What a lovely chill day, sounds right up my street especially the yummy chocolates. Having big children is so nice, I love spending time with my two.
Posted by: Heidi Clarke | October 13, 2021 at 08:50 AM
🎈🎈🎈 Happy Birthday 🎈🎈🎈 and many more...🎈🎈🎈
Warm greetings, Carine
Posted by: Carine | October 13, 2021 at 08:35 AM
Happy birthday to you!
Posted by: ange761 | October 13, 2021 at 08:25 AM
Happy birthday Lucy. Sounds like such a wonderful day to spend your birthday, especially the lovely family birthday party.
Posted by: Sue | October 13, 2021 at 08:21 AM
Happy birthday dear Lucy!!!!!
Posted by: Sal | October 13, 2021 at 08:19 AM
Happy birthday it all sounds lovely.
Posted by: sara nixon | October 13, 2021 at 08:17 AM
Happy Belated Birthday! Really enjoying your posts! 😁🥂🎂
Posted by: Denise | October 13, 2021 at 08:15 AM