Frank’s 32nd birthday was yesterday. As I sit here writing to you, I am enjoying a leftover piece of his Devil’s Food cake with chocolate frosting, raspberries, blackberries and stiffly whipped cream. It wasn’t the most skillful cake I’ve ever baked, but it did not disappoint, just the same!

We had his parents around for dinner, and I served a variation of my grandmother’s Chicken Cacciatore. It was nice to sit and talk and eat good food! I am very thankful for a great set of in-laws who are always fun to have around.  

It was someone else’s birthday yesterday as well! Frank’s sister, Lorraine, had a beautiful 7 lb. baby girl named Chloe at 10:15 a.m. She is truly a model baby – perfectly formed with delicate features and a quiet (so far!) yet independent demeanor. 

This is the first in the next generation of the Kelly family and we are all celebrating! Mother, father and child are doing well and we enjoyed visiting with them just a few hours after the birth. Can’t wait to start babysitting!

Springtime never neglects to inspire me… so even with my mixed gardening results, I can’t help planting a few seeds indoors to try again to have  healthy vegetable and flower beds in our little space. Above are the tender shoots of lettuce that have popped up in the sitting room window, just a few days after planting.

Fingers crossed! I’ve already had one new bed entirely ruined by the cats next door, so I’ll have to start again with that one… I think the only foolproof way to keep them out is by covering everything in chicken wire. Sigh. 

It’s a lovely evening, though, and the days are definitely getting longer and milder. We have birds building nests under the eaves by our bedroom window and the trees around town are beginning to bloom as well. It’s a hopeful time of year, and one can’t help but daydream.