Plum from SW Michigan, USA

Many thanks for your warm welcome .I am glad to be back to previous position between all my friends in Sudoku. Infact I am splitting myself to 3 parts as I have my son and my Grand sons in California as well as I have my Daughter and my Grand Daughters in Florida.The last part is my life and my wife and our home in Cairo ,the place I born there and lived most my life (79 Years)there .We like it..Thanks God ..

for the Birthday wishes, Plum!

Happy Birthday in this hemisphere!

Welcome to my birthday party. Here’s a big hug. Thanks for coming. What shall we do?

Over here on the buffet I’ve started us off with brie and crackers, plum coffee cake, and a lemon-poppyseed-almond layer cake I call Society Cake. There’s lemonade near the bouquet of tulips or you can help yourself to something from the bar. Settle yourself in while I get the door ...

What a surprise! My good friend Arlo Guthrie came to sing me one of my favorite songs as we ride the train. Come along for the ride.

https://youtu.be/fF1lqEQFVUo

My friend John Cleese, the Minister of Silly Walks, was in the Ypsilanti, Michigan neighborhood, so he decided to hoof it on over. Let's all take a walk.

https://www.facebook.com/ypsisillywalks/

Well, here I am!

Let's get some serious refreshment going ....

In memory of our friend Greg, founder of the page party, I have brought one of his beloved beavertails.

Oh, and safety first with those birthday candles...

Hi, Kathy! Let's pop the top off the first bottle and drink a toast to Greg's memory. Since Judy's not here yet (probably trying to figure what *not* to wear), it's safe to get out the mallets and Old Bay seasoning out for those crabs on the table in the other room. Yum. Yum!!

Oh, the crab feast brings back memories. Our whole family used to wear these (now vintage) T-shirts. We'd each get a new one each year when we spent the summer in Baltimore.

http://www.defunkd.com/product/FA61654/vintage-1980s-maryland-is-for-crabs-screen-stars-t-shirt

There's a recipe I've been planning to make for chocolate cake, sometimes called war cake, that has no butter and no eggs. I will make it today for your birthday! To watch someone making it:
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86o4gUPqVKU>

and for those that like their wine in its natural state 😂🍷

Mmmm. Sarah, that cake is SO chocolately moist. I like the blue glass cake plate it's on in the video. I'd better go make sure my frig cam is disabled.

Since we are exchanging recipes, here's how I make my Society Cake: (sorry, I don't have a recipe because I cook by eye)

Soak some poppy seeds in milk then add them to a favorite white layer cake recipe. I'll make the cake from scratch and instead of vanilla I'll add a generous amount of almond extract instead. When the layers are cool (I usually make this with three layers in 8' round pans) I spread raspberry jam or pie filling between the layers. Then I ice the cake with a lemon buttercream icing.

I call it a Society Cake because I make it for all my fancy social functions.

Thank you, Amelia! How about we turn this into a party game? You take the bottle on the left; I'll take the bottle on the right. We'll have a glass or two then we'll phone my friend Lucille Ball. We she gets here we can all change into our Italian peasant dresses, throw the grapes in a vat and squish them between our toes!

Happy two day Birthday Plum, it looks like you're having a blast already!

I love the idea of raising a glass in Greg's memory. It's 7:20am in Canberra so perhaps a little early, but I'll have a glass of red in his honour this evening.

Have a wonderful day (or two)!

Thanks, Chris. Circle back around We'll still be here.

Plum

....... Well, You Are Starting A New Year.

A little too much celebrating on day 1, for me.

I'll be back when I get it together..

The door's always open, DorA.

Plum, I was gong to bring some beaver tails (the Killaloe Sunrise is my favourite), but I see Kathy beat me too it! I'll make and Artichoke garlic dip with lots of fresh veggies. And I'll have a glass of your well chilled Pinot Grigio.

That should have been 'make some Artichoke....'

I'm baaack...

Looks like I got back in time to help clear away the debris. Oooo, someone left half a beavertail and most of a glass of wine. In this case I think 'leftovers' are okay. (kinda reminds me of some of the parties in my 'younger days')

It's OK, I avoided the lipstick on the glass.

The party's over.......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV5ynRFzrIM

Yummy dip, Snowbird. Great wine pairing. Amelia and I washed our feet really well. Promise.

Thanks for the clean-up help, DevilOrAngel. Even our good friend Doris noticed that someone popped my balloon. I’ll just go ahead and take the decorations off my front door while she finishes her song.

Good party, good people. Thank you all!

ROFL!!! Snort giggle guffaw!!
I should have said that I had finished my seventh decade!
Thank you for my birthday wishes!!

Wow! Just wow. Your writing today took me away on an unexpected but very pleasant journey of the mind. I believe I've experienced similar to what you so eloquently described, and thank you sincerely for putting it into words.