The words spoken by our friend Dan Lief to our friend Henry Isaacs as Bruce brought out the birthday cake he made for me, today. The cake was delicious, but it was Bruce’s attention to detail that blew me away. (Yes, Dan, this cake will be a hard act to follow!)
A honey chocolate cake, with honey ganache, decorated with…what else? Bees!
Bruce searched through half a bag of jelly beans to pick out the yellow ones, fitted each one with a pair of almond slice wings, and drew eyes and stripes using a toothpick dipped into the ganache.
Grape hyacinths, freshly picked from our garden, put the finishing touch on the plate.
Almost every year I feel a little “squirrely” about my birthday. I have a weird mix of feelings with expectations about celebrating and a desire not to be the center of attention. I usually like the day after my birthday a whole lot better than the date of my birth. This year, however, everything was low key. Throughout the day there were times I forgot it even was my birthday. I had a nice lunch with my mom, talked to my brother and both of my sons on the phone, and ended the day in the company of good friends with a lovely dinner prepared by my mother-in-law. All in all a most comfortable and happy birthday.
Barbara S Fernald Jewelry 
Happy Birthday, Barb! Sounds like you had a wonderful day! We love Bruce’s bees that he made for your cake! He shares your gift of creativity!
This morning, Angie and I invited six of Mom’s closest friends over for coffee for a special birthday celebration…my Mom’s! We had a great time getting caught up and remembering special times with her. Isn’t that cool! You share the same birthday as my Mom. Two very special people were born on this day!!! Love that! Birthday hugs to you! Hope the year ahead brings you much happiness and joy!
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What a great connection! Not that we weren’t already connected….but I’m happy to share the same birthday as your special mom. The coffee gathering sounds like a perfect way to remember her.
Bruce definitely has activity on the right side of his brain!
Thanks for the special wishes. We can’t wait to see you guys at the end of June.
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Happy birthday to you Barb and sweet memories of your mum Marly. Sounds like you both had a great day. Love the grape hyacinth….haven’t seen them in ages.
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Thanks Ruth. I love the grape hyacinths too. So sturdy and versatile! Early “greeters” finally out to tell us that other stuff will be flowering soon!
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i laughed reading marly’s comment and thought…..”well, of course, doesn’t surprise me a bit!” that is so lovely!
fyi….barb’s and my moms share a birthday, too!
barb…sounds like a PERFECT birthday…love you!
xoxo
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Our moms’ birthdays. Just the comment I was going to make to Angie and Marly, and here you are! That is a fun memory of our first PMC conference and getting to know each other. I hope the plans for Poland are moving along well.
It really was a perfect birthday…and Bruce and the boys gave me a new bike!!
Miss you lots my good friend. xoxo
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i’m think ahead to the summer and am having a hard time imagining a summer going by without seeing you-it’s my summer thing! the poland plans are all set and paid for…so we’re REALLY going! maybe we should think about finding a new learning opportunity in october (the wedding’s in september, right?)
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I know. I will miss you this summer. Wonder what we could do in October….Then again, that’s my time to get ready for holiday trunks shows. We’ll figure out something! xoxox
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Happy Birthday! Wonderful cake! Wonderful friends!
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Hey, Sue. This comment was in my spam filter. Weird…since all your other comments have come through just fine. Glad I check it often. Great cake, great friends, and great new friends. I’m glad we’ve “met.”
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Happy birthday! Sounds like a perfect level of celebration for the birthday girl. Hope the next year is full of all your favorite things. I’m so glad we’ve gotten to know each other.
PS Tell Bruce he outdid himself!
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Oh Nancy, I’m so glad we’ve gotten to know each other too. Even though it’s not your birthday, I hope we both are looking at a year ahead filled with favorite things. Bruce really did a fabulous job on the cake. And I didn’t get to see it until he brought it out with candles lit!
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Happy Birthday! That cake is absolutely amazing. I love the care that went into decorating it. Very special.
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I’m lucky. he’s a pretty special guy!
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OMG! What a guy. Kudos to Bruce for that masterpiece of a cake!
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Yeah. Martha Stewart could do a show on creative lobster fishermen!
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What a beautiful cake! I love the bees – each one with a sweet little expression! Bruce is very talented. Happy Birthday!
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I’m really lucky that Bruce likes to cook so much. The little bees were the best!
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