My Family Knows Me Well

I have recently passed another spin around the sun. Normally, this event goes by with a bevy of birthday wishes on social media and a turkey dinner (a.k.a. Thanksgiving). My baby brudder (who refers to me as My Sister…the Devil) usually does a birthday roast on FB. The Mimi dodges the accusation of favoritism by wishing her favorite girl child a Happy Birthday and mediates the arguments stirred up by the birthday roasting. Myrtle the Elder checks in, as does other family members. All is well with my world.

This year’s birthday has been a little different. Yes, I received many greetings from friends far and wide (heartfelt thanks for all!). Yes, I received my turkey dinner (complete with pumpkin cheesecake!–next time, KB, go for the gingersnap crust). The baby brudder forewent this year’s roast since I helped him and his bum leg move stuff out of his storage unit. Instead of a roast, he offered me a piece of Pi (the mathematical kind, not the tasty, sugary kind–what can I say, he’s weird.) And my friends at my critique group made me a lovely card (with images representing a scene from my novel) and a lemon cake soaked in an orange glaze. Yum!

Nothing terribly out of the ordinary–right?

One might ask, what–if anything–did mi esposo and Myrtle the Younger do for my birthday? Well…apparently they’ve been plotting and planning for months (That never bodes well.). Myrtle the Younger took a day of work to get my birthday dinner fixed up with all of my favorites.

A charcuterie board of cheeses, meats, veggies, figs, strawberries, and an olive mix from my favorite pizza place, all arranged on a coffin shaped serving board (see below). She got a sweet red wine and poured it into an apothecary bottle. She got gingerbread cookies and dark chocolate and made a spice cake with homemade cream cheese icing. So. Freaking. Good. Best. Birthday. Meal. EVER!

But mi esposo and Myrtle the Younger didn’t stop there. Nope. There were GIFTS! A warm and toasty blanket that is very pretty–and it’s got BOOKS on it! See!

A Zen garden. I’ve always been fascinated by Zen gardens–especially the ones shaped like a coffin and comes with a skull and a shovel. Sweet! Myrtle the Younger also located a coffin-shaped agate, a flourite gravestone, and another agate shaped like a gravestone.

I had fun playing in the red sand! Ain’t they cute!

What it this? one might ask. (Well, I did have to ask.) Mi esposo was meandering around doing some online shopping one day and comes across several of these little gems. A mid-19th century bloodletting instrument! You know–the kind that killed George Washington. The two blades are used to poke a vein, then tucked back into the little brass housing until next time. I’m a little disappointed though–mi esposo won’t let me try it out on him (grumble, grumble). The coffin shape is a small slab of wood that I can prop up on my dollhouse. The ghostie is the paper used to wrap the bloodletting instrument. Fun!

Last, but not least, Myrtle the Younger found a guy who makes Renaissance eating utensils. The leather case can be attached to your belt. I can go to the next Ren Faire in style and function!

I know you’re jealous. If you’re nice to me, I’ll let you hold me Zen shovel–just for a moment.

T