.....Even if the event is in honor of oneself. You never know what that guest, left to her own devices, might do. She might make off with the silver, or worse, the birthday cake! Luckily, this particular guest was soon relegated to her proper place, and the party began in earnest. 

 The table was beautiful with flowers all from the garden: Gardenias and the palest green Hydrangeas mixed with ferns...so cool on a hot summer evening......

 And the Feast! Butter Lettuce with fresh watermelon, sweet orange honeydew melon, perfect tomatoes and a balsamic vinaigrette.....and a little glass full of Rainer cherries on the side....

 Beautiful wild salmon prepared my favorite way with fresh dill and lemon, crisp green beans and roasted fingerling potatoes with fresh parsley....simple and perfect....

There were candles to blow out....not too many please!

A perfect present is a daughter who can bake a delicious and beautiful lemon cake with lemon curd and lemon custard between the the four layers....with  a few gorgeous blueberries just because....

And, yes! There were presents in wrapping paper as well....

My mother knows me too well....

So does Tim .....( doesn't Silpada make it almost too easy?).... 

It was a beautiful, delicious, evening with many smiles and lots of laughter...

May the year to come be much more of the same.

Thank you so very much to my equally as beautiful and delicious family....

You mean the world to me.