White Coral Bells, upon a slender stalk
Lilies of the Valley deck my garden walk
Oh don't you wish that you could hear them ring
That will only happen when the fairies sing.
That will happen only when the fairies sing.Peder had a 95th Birthday today, His garden is beautiful and the lilies of the valley do indeed deck his garden walk. One of his daughters is here from The Hague for about two months , to help with tasks and to walk with him around the neighborhood. She made this cake, Mango, raspberry , vanilla cake with butter cream icing.
Piled with vanilla bean ice cream, pistachio, and mango sorbet. One of the best cakes I have ever devoured - and that includes my mother's , who was a champion cake maker. I quit making cakes a few years ago because Dennis can not eat cake and the kids have flown the coop, I was decent cake maker- learned how in 4-H when I was in third grade. There was a contest , I came in second behind a girl named Rebecca, whose mother made her cake - they were just after the prize- I was after making the perfect cake myself just to hear my Dad and brother groan about how delicious it was. CAKE POWER!! I had it! leverage for "negotiating".
Peder's wife , Mary, paints , She just picked up a brush one day - started with water colors, moved on to oils, went back to water colors because oils take too bloody long to dry up here in the octopuses garden. Every wall in the back of the house is covered top to bottom with her paintings, all of them are cheerful. This is her splash area.
So that was Wednesday, Dennis MRI was just fine. He is scheduled for ablation in August sometime. That is a long time to wait!
Oh the KLM houses. So cool he has kept them!
ReplyDeleteAnother neighbor at the party lived in Indonesia for three years, flew KLM all the time and turned down the gift of the houses! ARGH!!
DeleteThe paintings on that wall are all so wonderful and the house collection is so special. i am envious.
ReplyDeleteWhat the heck is ablation?
Ablation is fixing the electronics of the heart by burn freeze and creating scar tissue to prevent fibrillation. sounds terrible but seems to be successful half of the time.
DeleteSounds scary, hope it goes well.
DeleteEllen knows all about that ablation! I love how colorful this post is. Peder sounds like an interesting guy with amazing life experience.
ReplyDeletePeder is such enjoyable company, Peace and Justice center has been one of his passions here- Conscientious family. Very good folks!
DeleteMy mother used to sing that song. I can still hear it in her voice, though she's been gone 24 years now. She learned it in the Girl Guides in Springfield, Missouri while growing up there.
ReplyDeletePeder and Mary sound like wonderful neighbors. Mary's art is beautiful. The cake looks incredibly yummy, and a lovely 95th birthday celebration.
ReplyDeleteGood news about Dennis's MRI.
All is well for the moment. Our neightbors are the best, we a re very lucky , except for that one family down the street, everyone else is superb!
DeleteOh! A round! Those were so much fun to sing when we were kids. Interesting life of Peder.
ReplyDeleteI can not count the times this song was sung on the bus, in the halls, at a slumber party!
DeleteThis post is a feast for the eyes. Dear Peder! Happy birthday!
ReplyDeleteI haven't thought of that round in years and decades and eons. But there it is, right in the jukebox of my mind, spinning endlessly now.
We will sing a round, mentally. Endlessly1 Peder is a dear dear person. I love all of the folks in this family, every one exceptional.
DeleteCakes and 4-H. Me too, but mine was bread. Won a trophy because Carley (who won everything) had moved on to horses. The song brings up memories for me as well. Funny how songs stick in your head for decades but you can't remember why you just came into the room. Yes, oils take way too long to dry! Watercolor is challenging but easy to toss when everything goes south. Handsome friend!
ReplyDeleteWatercolour is forgiving and cheaper than oils for sure! 4-H was life saving for girls, learning any skill that could be helpful.
DeleteWell, aren't Peder and the Mrs. good folk! Happy 95th to him, the cake looks delish.
ReplyDeleteI'm betting blue-ribbon-Rebecca is a sad underachiever.
Google word of the day: ablation.
Rebecca got pregnant in high school and had to move away because those were the times when pregnancy was Slutty! Dear lord that poor girl .
DeletePeder and mary and all of their children are magnificent !
I did not know about the KLM houses. That is so cool, and that they are so nicely displayed. Your neighborhood sounds wonderful, except for that one house. I wish Dennis all the best with the ablation.
ReplyDeleteAblation scheduled for
DeleteAugust, the electricians of the heart are fully booked!! Makes me wonder....our neighborhood is great, quiet, no traffic other than people who live on this little street. Except for that one house it is a fine place to live.
I love lily of the valley. I took my start from my great grandmother's garden and have a bed ever since. Doesn't hurt that they are very invasive.
ReplyDeleteglad to hear that they are hearty, the deer don't seem to like then so that is another plus.
DeleteI love Mary’s description “jukebox of the mind”. Stuck in my jukebox too. I think it’s been about 50 years since I’ve smelled a lily of the valley, they grew under our wild cherry tree in New York. It’s an unforgettable scent. Happy birthday to Peder and I love Mary’s art!
ReplyDeleteGreat news about Dennis!
Xoxo
Barbara