Another Birthday Post

I have had an absolutely fabulous day! Thank you to everyone who sent birthday wishes – wow! I should be 70 every year!

I started mowing this morning about 10am and by the time I was finishing the trimming at 1:15 Reed arrived. He had these beautiful delphiniums in his hand.

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And not only that – his Grandma Cheryl brought him and they unloaded a tree from her car! It was a Japanese Lilac!!!! I admired those along Main Street in Garner and told him so in passing awhile back. This kid doesn’t forget a thing – he got me one for my birthday! Holy Smokes! I love it!

Look how big it is! We unwrapped it and I took another picture.

So then we went to the house and started baking. When you make an angel food cake with 1-1/2 cups of egg whites, you make a sponge cake with the yolks. (My recipe is from my friend Sherri – thanks so much!)

Here is Reed sifting the flour.

I taught him how to separate the whites and the yolks -he’s such a quick learner. He basically did all the mixing and I lifted the heavy bowls to pour the batter into the pans. He didn’t want frosting so we skipped that step. I sent both cakes home with him. Isn’t this just the cutest picture?

Tonight we met Tom and Becky at the OP in Clear Lake for pizza and our cousin Jill was able to join us. She is home for a family funeral yesterday and we had such a great visit. We laughed and laughed -you can tell by this picture.

And now for some clarification on this picture from this morning.

On the left is my sister Becky who will be 65 next month. Next is her daughter Jenny who will turn 33 in October and me, 70 years old today.

More fun tomorrow!

51 thoughts on “Another Birthday Post”

  1. Kathy Hanson

    What a special friend Reed is and what a sweetheart. You have so much fun with him and he learns so much from you, what a wonderful relationship!! So glad you had such a fabulous birthday – hope you have many more that are just as wonderful! Enjoy your Japanese lilac, they are so pretty now in blossom.

  3. Pam Wakeman

    Well, I really put my foot in it! When will I learn!? What goes around comes around. Someone asked me if I was my brother’s mother…. My apologies. Lovely sister, lovely niece, and lovely aunt!!! Your posts are delights. Do we get your cake recipes? I think I would have had to keep the angel food cake for myself. When ever I make one (a 2-step mix) and share it with anybody, I feel deprived!

    1. Noeleen Taylor

      I do hope you had a wonderful day. Thank you for sharing it with us . I love reading your word works. It’s like a girlfriend next door. Love and blessings, noel.

  4. Jody Irwin

    Happy Birthday Mary , hope your day was great . I look forward to your posts . Always makes me smile thank you .

  5. Martha Engstler

    Beautiful cakes!!! Hope you had at least one piece of cake from somewhere. You are so lucky to have Reed in your life (he’s even more lucky.) I’d love to have a “Reed” in my life.I did have a young girl similar to Reed when I was about 40. They are real treasures.

  8. Jen

    Happy Birthday! 🎊🎂🎁🎉🎈Thanks for sharing your special day with us.

  10. Sherry Whalen

    Oh great, now I am hungry for angel food cake and sponge cake! Happy Birthday Mary – it looks like you had a wonderful day!!

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      I really did, Sherry – and the cakes are both delicious!

  13. Vickie

    Happy Happy Birthday. What wonderful gifts and I love those cakes. On your previous post about the cats, we are voting in an online poll about picking up feral cat, spaying or neutering and then releasing back to their colonies. Studies seem to show that a male cat will keep his colony under control Not sure about that, but it’s better than taking to the shelter and them being euthanized.

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Vickie – I think they should be trapped, neutered or spayed, ear notched and released and pray that someone will help feed them. Communities should help do that!

  16. Patty McDonald

    My computer is so messed up I hope you get this. Happy Birthday!!! Those are great gifts. That Reed sure is a sweet boy. I never knew what to do with the yolks after using loads of egg whites….thank you for telling us. Glad you were able to relax with friends and enjoy pizza. My motto is when it’s your birthday you get to celebrate all month. Have a blessed day. Patty Mc

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Patty – I have another friend who has a birthday month!

  17. Debbie

    Happy Birthday! Love your blog and you are always smiling! I love lilacs. One of the worst spankings I got as a small child was over lilacs. We were visiting my aunt Gert and I picked her a “flowerpot” of lilacs. When I presented them in front of my mother-she reminded me that the lilac bushes belonged to the neighbor and had I asked her permission? Needless to say I had not and I had pruned them pretty badly breaking all the limbs I could reach.
    Gorgeous cakes and where did you find a square tube pan?

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Debbie -my neighbor across the road, Emma, used to bake my birthday cake every year – homemade angel food! When she died I got her square pan which makes it very special to me!

  21. Kate Schloemer

    Happy birthday Mary. The flowers are absolutely beautiful. Reed is such a little gentleman.

  23. Marsha Ransom

    Belated birthday wishes! Glad your day was special! That Reed! Someone is raising him right! And how fortunate you both are to have each other! He is learning so much from you.

  24. Kathy

    What a special day you had. The tree is a perfect gift to remember all the special times Reed has enjoyed your time learning on the farm together. He’s one all American kid and those cakes looked like they would win blue ribbons at the fair. Ending the day with pizza and family just doesn’t get any better.

  25. Maria Honkala

    Happy Belated Birthday Mary, my friend in Iowa! I always talk about you and say, my friend in Iowa! Ha.
    Happy 4th of July! (from your friend in Vermont)
    Maria

  28. Janet anthony

    Happy birthday to an amazing person who inspires us to be creative !!!!!

  32. Sue

    What a great day you had, topped off with pizza for dinner with your sister and cousin. I love that big healthy Japanese Lilac. Maybe it will bloom next spring and we will see photos of it??
    Now on to today…The birthday of our country. I will celebrate with red pie cherry pie. My better half will be excited, as I rarely make pies now.

  33. Kristie M Michalowski

    I always love to see Reed learning from you…what a great experience for you both. Beautiful flowers, tree and memories for you on this day ;o)

  34. Diane M

    Happy birthday, Mary! It looks like it was a wonderful day. If it is as hot there as it is here in Wisconsin, I hop everyone is keeping cool. Have a happy July 4.

  35. Sharon Bennett

    Happy Birthday!!! That Reed is a keeper! 🙂
    Continue on and celebrate the entire month of July!

  36. Paula S.

    Happy belated birthday! Reed is a great neighbor and helper. Kids keep us young for sure. I have to admit I’ve never made a sponge cake that I’m aware of. And I’m lazy anymore and make angel food cake from a box mix. It tastes great with fresh strawberries on it.

  37. Ann Barlament

    I’m in love with Reed!!! How thoughtful, that he not only thought of you on your birthday, but surprised you with something you will enjoy!!!

  38. Judy

    Happy Birthday! It looks like you had a great time on your birthday. I am always so impressed with Reed and how much he helps you but I am sure he learns so much from you. Everyone should have a Reed in their life.

  39. Paula

    Can you share the sponge cake recipe? I make a homemade angel food and this would be a good idea not to waste since I don’t care for yolks!! Paula in KY

  40. Beth Laverty

    Happy Birthday Mary!! I was thinking of you yesterday and again today. We drove to a Blue grass festival out in central Pa and to get there we drove past field after field of corn. Many were Amish farms. Today we visited a flea market in another valley with many more fields of corn. PA may not grow as much corn as Iowa but we sure grow a lot. Easpcially in this area

    .

    Toda

    We went to

  41. Jan B

    Happy bday, again! Looks like you had a great one! Reed is SO adorable! Glad he is such a help to you!

  42. Felicia Hamlin

    Mary, I know I left you a birthday wish, but it must have been afterwards. I had given Bill a Japanese Lilac Tree and the deer ruined it. Nasty things. After reading this I am hungry for cake.

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Felicia – I’m glad I don’t have deer in my yard, I guess!

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