M

y birthday is officially today but the celebration began yesterday because there was just so much I wanted to do.

The day began with my finishing the prep work for painting upstairs in the barn.  I’m going to paint the rafters, roof deck and end walls white just to brighten things up a bit.

Note: Click on the images for a larger view!

I also spent some time having some fun making a self portrait.  I got the roller work done on the roof deck and I was satisfied with that for the day.  As I was cleaning up the roller and paint bucket it began to pour and I got completely soaked.  It was nice because it was one of those times when you get so drenched you just don’t care.

After lunch I made myself a birthday cake.  I used Betty Crocker Super Moist Devil’s Food mix for the cake but, I made the chocolate filling and white icing from scratch using this recipe.  I’ve never split cake layers before so that was fun.  I inserted 8 toothpicks around the layer then rested dental floss on the toothpicks.  When I pulled the floss tight it split the layer quite nicely. Thank you, Wiki-How.  Once the cake was done Lynda and I sat together in the living room and enjoyed a couple of glasses of a nice Chateauneuf du Pape while watching the rain.  Then it was time to cook dinner.

I broiled lobster tails for the first time ever.  Splitting the shell and pulling up the meat was a lot easier than I expected.  Thank you, E-How.  I’ve never before gone to the trouble of clarifying butter before so that was a new experience as well.  The pretty little side presentation in the photo is a teepee made from a hash brown patty housing sautéed Brussels sprouts with Roma tomato and baby spinach leaves.  I really enjoy presentation.

The champagne was 2006 Raventós I Blanc.  Very nice!

We sat in the living room and talked some more while finishing up the champagne.

Lynda was SO nice to do the kitchen cleanup.  That is something I rarely ask of her since it is I who made the mess but, it’s muh birthday!  We then went upstairs and watched the Daily Show and Futurama which I missed most of because I fell asleep in my chair.