Birthday Party Marble Mountain Style

A wonderful birthday.

Saturday was my birthday and I went to a fabulous birthday party at the Marble Mountain Hall.  These folks really know how to throw a birthday party.  There must have been more than a hundred folks from the village and surrounding area at the party, and there was live music.  A covered dish supper was provided by the women of Marble Mountain.

A lot of people.

Alice sitting on the left at our table.

The food.

Lots of good food brought in by the Marble Mountain neighbors.

The music.

Local musicians provided Cape Breton music.

The cake.

A huge sheet cake that was pretty and delicious. 

Actually you probably have guessed by now that this party was NOT for me but for Russell who lives in the village and who turned 85.  I quietly pretended that it was my birthday party too.

Russell dancing at his birthday party.

It really was a wonderful way to spend my birthday.. And many happy returns to Russell on his 85th.

One of my Talented Cleveland County Cousins

Birthday cake by Debbie Bridges.

Debbie Wilson Bridges is known for her famous cakes, and I finally had an opportunity to savor one.  Oh soooo good.  Debbie is my second cousin, once removed. (Debbie's grandfather and my father were first cousins, so Shelva, Debbie's mother and I are second cousins, and that makes Debbie my second cousin, once removed, if I remember the genealogy correctly.) 

Dan and I were planning a trip to Cleveland County to coincide with my friend, Peggy Rhyne's birthday, so I asked Debbie to make a birthday cake for PJ, and while she was at it, to make another one for Dan and me to bring home. 

Both cakes were a delicious, moist pound cake with chocolate fudge frosting.

Pound cake frosted with chocolate fudge frosting.

Peggy Rhyne enjoyed her cake and later shared it with some of our former classmates at a luncheon.  Rave reviews from all!!!!!

Peggy is happy with her cake.

Peggy's birthday cake. 

The cake that Dan and I brought home was frosted with chocolate fudge frosting and topped with pecans.  It was half gone before we even got home with it, with a little help from friends and family.

Only half of our cake left when we got home. 

A wonder if Debbie made her own wedding cake????

Debbie and Eddie enjoying their wedding cake a few years ago.

When the cakes were delivered, Debbie sent along a beautiful crocheted doily for me.  Not only can she bake, but she creates lovely crocheted things.  The doily has found a new home on the little round side table in our dining room. 

This intricate crocheted doily is perfect on this little round table.

Isn't this lovely? 

Debbie the cakes were beautiful and delicious and the doily is exquisite.  Thank you O Talented Cousin of Mine!

Grandson Tyler's Dinner at the Angus Barn

 My third and youngest grandson, Tyler, turned thirteen last week, and Dan and I finally got around last night to taking him out to a restaurant of his choice to celebrate his birthday.  Tyler chose the Angus Barn, without a doubt one of the finest restaurants in the Triangle. We liked his choice.

Tyler, my third grandson, is as tall as I am, and he's only thirteen.

It had been a long time since Dan and I had been to the Angus Barn, and Tyler had eaten there only once with his family and that was last year.

Rustic decor of the Angus Barn.

 The decor is very rustic and the food delicious.

Tyler perusing the menu.

 Tyler and I each had the 7 oz. filet mignon and it was more than I could eat.  Tyler seemed to have no trouble eating all of his.  Dan chose a NY Strip steak.

Filet mignon with baked sweet potato.

 A birthday pound cake that would feed six people was brought out at the end of the meal.  We were too full to have dessert, but Tyler took it home to share with the rest of his family.

Birthday Cake courtesy of the Angus Barn.

Happy Birthday Tyler!!!!

Klondike Bar Birthday Cake

Michael's birthday cake.

Michael is particularly fond of Klondike Ice Cream Bars, and for his birthday cake this year I made a cake out of those bars.  Michael and his family came over last night for ice cream and cake---well, in this case ice cream and ice cream. (Michael's birthday was actually April 7.)   The ice cream cake kept well in the freezer so it was ready for whenever they could celebrate.

Six Klondike bars ready to refreeze.

I arranged six ice cream bars on a platter and put them back into the freezer to harden in this position.  I softened a carton of Breyer's vanilla ice cream to use as icing.

First layer of vanilla ice cream as icing.

The cake went back into the freezer for the first layer of icing to refreeze before the second and last layer of softened vanilla ice cream was added.  The Happy Birthday message in Carolina Blue cookie icing topped the cake.  I didn't spread the vanilla ice cream all the way down the sides, because I wanted to cut between the bars so that each serving would include one whole ice cream bar. 

Side view of cake after iced.

A serving is one Klondike bar (except most of us had only half of this, even Michael).