Days

"Each one is a gift, no doubt,
mysteriously placed in your waking hand
or set upon your forehead
moments before you open your eyes."
  
What a bundle of gift-days I've had lately.  Caroline had a wonderful birthday--loved her new/old yellow bike:

I had to make her birthday cake twice, because it didn't pop out of the bundt cake mold on try #1:

Whoopsie-doodle!

B was here visiting for the weekend, and was kind enough to assist me with party set-up and execution, including discovering that the sweet pinata I bought had no opening for candy-filling.  Who knew?  B cut a hole with a utility knife and then loaded it with candy, do-dads, and in his words, "shrapnel" i.e. glass marbles and  small, hard plastic flowers. (He was also a great help in eating cake-clods from rose cake attempt #1.) We had to decorate the dining room because it rained the morning of the party.  But with the guests, also came the sun, so the outdoor garden party dream was realized:

Then back inside for CAKE time!  

(note the rose cake--looks better this way, yes?)

And then back out for the PINATA!!!  

Later that night, we went down to the park to watch the Duvall Days fireworks.  As darkness fell, B, Jack, Caroline and I were lost in thought and deep anticipation of the sparkly show:

"...Through the calm eye of the window

everything is in its place

but so precariously

this day might be resting somehow

on the one before it,

all the days of the past stacked high

like the impossible tower of dishes

entertainers used to build on stage.

No wonder you find yourself

perched on the top of a tall ladder

hoping to add one more, 

Just another Wednesday

you whisper, 

then holding your breath,

place this cup on yesterday's saucer

without the slightest clink."

    --Billy Collins