(An eleven fashioned from my zinnias, made for the real birth day.)
Iris and Andy's mom share the same birthday, September 22, and as the Vernon County Fair was the weekend before their birthdays, Andy's folks came for that. Iris was showing, for the very first time, her dog, Phinn. Phinn came to their household from Andy's folks, so they wanted to both celebrate the birthdays as well as see Iris show the dog.
Iris, (Andy) and Phinn waiting their turn in the ring.
Iris gets initial instructions.
Iris wanted pizza for the duel birthday celebration, and as it was my 'task' (one of love by the way) to make the pizzas, I decided it was much easier to have them come to my house rather than tote hot pizzas to them. So Iris and family and Andy's folks came to Jug Creek Saturday evening. No cake that night, but Iris' favorite dessert, Raspberry Slices, kind of like a slab pie.
For the past ten years I have made some kind of a 'theme' cake for her birthday, something of her choice, for example a Conestoga Wagon like those used on the prairie. This year, much to my dismay, her request was for a simple mint chocolate cake, another of her favorites.
(The cake in the foreground is a flour-less chocolate cake, at Jonel's request.)
Wanting to do something more than 'simple' I turned it into a heart-shaped cake.
I also like to hand make something for birthdays, and this year Iris said to surprise her. (When I make the birthday girl something, I also make it for the non-birthday girl.) So I made a circle skirt, as the girls wear skirts quite often.
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Here she is 'showing off' her new skirt.
It is hard to believe that this child is now a young lady as it seems only yesterday I held her in my arms with her baby cheek warm on my skin.
I feel a special bond with this child, a young girl who is intelligent, observant, curious, conversant, silly, helpful, talented...to mention only a few of her wonderful traits.
