Hey Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween Pumpkin

Today is my birthday, my second birthday on the blog.
What a super year this has been, and I can only hope
the coming year will be even better (hard to imagine!).
My day started off with breakfast in bed, French toast
with fruit artfully designed on it, a small white pitcher
of Canadian Maple syrup, a little Japanese anemone
(there are still a few left in a tiny glass) and coffee served
by my sweet husband, Steven. Yum.

Our pumpkins lined up for me for a group
shot. They were adorable.

My family started calling, my mother, sister, brother and
brother to sing Happy Birthday to me. Friends called
from across the country, email cards started coming in.
My son at university emailed me Happy Birthday and I
phoned him to hear him sing. My husband went out and
came home with armloads of my favorite peach pink
gorgeous roses. My sister turned up looking like a fashion
model carrying a pile of wonderful presents.

Stop I need to catch my breath. Then we carved the pumpkins.
Children came to the door as they always do, and we
handed out candy as if our lives depended on it. I love
seeing the kids, little kids dressed as bunnies and lions, and
princesses and older kids as Goths, Vampires, characters from
movies. Then the 12 and 13-year-olds who don't dress up
at all and just stand at the door not knowing what to say.
Adorable.

Halloween candy waits for Trick or Treaters
This year's costumes were fantastic

My son and his fiancée Megan came over for dinner and
helped hand out the candy. My mother-in-law called from
Ottawa. My family in California called to sing to me. More
presents arrived until I started to feel like the Queen of Canada
or something. Then friends dropped by and we had champagne
-- Veuve Cliquot -- what seemed like gallons of it, or should I say
flagons, delicious chocolate cake and coffee. I am still flying high
on my broomstick. Amazing. Before I settle down to watch a
movie, my art tonight is just the pumpkins. I did draw them
and carve one, and Steven cut out my designs on the others.
I do not like any of the scary parts of Halloween, but I love the
chocolate, presents, and children. And friends. And champagne.

Have a loving-each-new-year day.