Day 5 ....
Source:Eat yourself skinny via Tumblr
It's my Birthday weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. This is the very first year that I have ever not gotten doomy gloomy, or down trotten about my day approaching...and definitely the very first year on record that I have ever woken up singing "Happy Birthday to me" EVER!. It certainly set the tone for the rest of the day that was just plan fun and full of joy. I hadn't made any plans at all but was happy to just take the day as it came. So I started off my day the best way I know how to start of an absolutely fabulous day and that of course was with a ride. That was then followed by one of my favorite breakfasts eggs and toast. I had made one we meet up plan with my dearest friend Leslie. Our friendship has lasted decades and spans as far back as her and I can actually remember, because frankly we can't remember when it was that we actually met. Leslie arrived around 10 ish and rather than our usual walking date we both decided the furthest we could walk was Starbucks which is 6 minutes from my place. I could tell right away that she had forgotten my birthday; which honestly I didn't mind at all because all I had wanted was to spend time with my close friends and hopefully family for my day. It did come up though as we talked about our children as we walked and my 2nd daughter had just had her birthday. Leslie apologized for forgetting and we continued on chatting. When we reached Starbucks Leslie decided she really wasn't feeling a caffeine boost at all...weird, Leslie is a coffee addict ..fine no problem we left and popped next door to the Running Shop did our usual look see then headed back towards my place again when Leslie said what she really felt like was a pedicure and she was treating..I jumped on the offer. Truth be told I hadn't had my toes professionally done in over a year so it really was a treat...Leslie and I had the best time talking away as we got pampered..
Leslie & I and the 'stash'
Then when we were done we shuffled to my place in those silly flip flops they give you so that you don't smudge the polish before it dries...it was so funny here we were shuffling along in flip flops in the middle of fall; lucky for us it was a glorious sunny day.
Our pretty toes!
That's right, the sun had come out to shine on my birthday after all the torrential rain and storms for over a week it was a beautiful day. We arrived at my place. I thanked Leslie for my pretty toes and for coming, we hugged and she was off...
Time for Lunch...hmm what was I going to have...my neighbour had left some gorgeous spinach at my door so that became part of my lunch. I made a dish I use to make when i was in my 20's and to be honest I haven't made in a very long time..It's a simple dish; usually with spinach angel hair pasta but I made it work with regular spaghetti and it tasted yum...
Cajun Spinach Pasta
After lunch I read some of my book ....
and then it was time for other ride, but this time on the single track....
The 'stash' started to slide a bit during my ride..but it still hung in there...:{
I kept sliding out on the wet roots and seeing as I am still a beginner at MTB I headed right for the shop to check and see ing "The Boys' could help me with some basic questions about my AP.....Tim, Les, and Graeme were on hand and Beibs was hanging out..seeing as he has the most experience in this area I automatically directed my question to him...it was a simple question really would't take much time but Dustin can be funny and his reply was "I'm off work today...are you going to ask me when I'm off work"...um "Yes", I said.. I mean come on it was a silly easy peasy quick question...he was so hesitant and reluctant to give any help but finally did lend his two cents to the situation...The verdict; my tires were at 45 which is fine for the road...but on the track or DH it is way to much. Graeme suggested I knock it down to 35 and if it was still to much give the valve a couple pumps to let a wee bit more air out...Voila. I was excited to go try them out...but before I left Greame had made a few comments about the 'stash'....The first he made when I walked in. He said, "Looks like you got a bit to close to your chain there Donna you have something on your upper lip" <chuckle>...he didn't stop there...he then followed that with a very sincere "Girl you have balls...I give it to you, really"....then Tim chimed in and said. "Of course she has balls..she's wearing a fricken mustache" lol ..ah "The boys" I love them like my family....I was off home to make a bit of dinner and start baking my birthday cake.
I use to have a subscription to 'Sunset' magazine when I lived in Los Angeles. It is a publication that is published 4 times a year; at least back then it was, and focuses on Westcoast living. Everything from our homes, travel, cooking, fashion etc...I loved it. I had kept a few of my issues with me when I moved back to Canada and one of my all time favorite cakes came from one of those issues of 'Sunset'
~'Ginger Molasses Pear Upside-down Cake' it's a mouthful isn't it? Well it truly is a yummy cake.
I hadn't made it in years and had found the recipe a few weeks ago and decided that that would be my cake for my special day. Only when I went to make it the recipe had somehow gone awall...rather than stress myself out...and thanks to the wonderful world we live in now where Google exists I simply did a search and found it quick as a bunny....in to baking heaven I went for the rest of the evening...I love baking. For me it is fun, and relaxing and I am in my own special heaven when I bake. It really isn't about what I am baking, or even if it turns out or tastes any good..I simply love the process....
The cake turned out just as I remembered it ...sweet, spicy and with a kick. Just like me ;)
The cake was still so warm that it melted the candle when I put it in the cake lol *note to self :{
I sang happy birthday to myself once again..blew out the candle; and cut myself a large +, added a spoonful of fresh whip cream and settled in for the evening.
YUm!
I had a lot of cake left over. I mean it was just me...so I wrapped up some pieces for friends.
What a great Birthday!
Here is the recipe for the Ginger Molasses Pear Cake :
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