Birthday #2

This post is kind of backwards! Peter and I went away for the weekend to celebrate his birthday - and partly to take advantage of having an empty house for the weekend (we have family and friends staying over the next few months - which we are VERY excited about) here's the view from and over our little hideaway cabin.

This is some kind of hut that was actually frozen as we walked around it the first morning.

Since I am smiling in this pic, I'm guessing this was a Saturday morning walk - before I twisted my back and spent the rest of the weekend flat out. It was brisk but beautiful.

The edge of the lake had frozen autumn leaves in it - hadn't seen anything like that before.

the view around the lake - stunning!! Almost calming just looking at it.

the cozy wood fire we had burning most of the weekend. Saturday was basically spent reading in front of the fire.

But before we went away, there was cake! This is the oh so decadent Chocolate Peanut Butter cake Sebastian and Peter both like.

The birthday boy with his gorgeous kids - how lucky am I?

This photo's for me - swoon!

I love this one!! Don't count the candles, you'll know Peter's age (yes we did!)

the cake before being devoured

I also made pumpkin homous.

And with Em around there was plenty of champagne drinking to be done!

the cake in bits.

Peter's birthday was next, and I took him away for a quiet weekend, but before we did that, there was, of course, cake!

The week of three cakes - BIrthday #1

Late October/early November is birthday season in the LeBlanc/Surtees home. The celebrations begin with Claire's birthday at the end of October, for which I made a decadent three layer white chocolate cake. It's the prettiest cake I think I've ever made!

New Home

Merlin coming up the stairs from the basement (where the kitty litter is) and chasing something Very Interesting.

The garden bed as a work in progress.

Peter changed our kitchen tap - it's been a busy September!

Our kitchen.

Peter also hung our Sun - on the back wall, facing the garden and the setting actual sun.

Enjoying a meal at the table.
On said weekend in September, Peter hung shelves and our pagan wheel of the year.

The garden bed Peter dug and I planted over a couple of weekend's in September. Underneath the dirt is a bunch of bulbs we'll enjoy in the Spring. To the right is a Juniper bush/tree, second from the right is a yew, both are evergreens and will give us something to look at in the winter. The two plants to the front are rose bushes - one looks a bit sickly but we have faith it'll come good. The front door.

In June, Peter and I settled on our new home. Since I moved to Canada, we'd been renting around town, but were finally ready to buy (and able to qualify for a mortgage!). In Sydney, I'd been an investment property owner, but this was a whole new ball game. We bought what's called a link home, where two homes are built close togehter, like terrace or town houses - no common walls, but they have a shared slab in the foundation. While our basement is totally separate from the house next door, the technically have the same slab of concrete underneath.

Brooke's 30th presents + drinks

Who me? Yes, I'm the birthday girl!

opening pressies

Mark trying to figure out the Thomas Sabo brochure

Em, Megs and Aunt M overseeing the gift opening.

And having a few laughs about it!

The chimes - Kelly W and Peter - watching.

still giggling

Apparently something funny about this one!

Joel and Dad....

Megsy hamming it up with Dad

Brooke's 30th - group shots

Lebanese feasting

Joel making some Very Important Point

Megsy unhappy about something

Cake and baby photos!

lots of reminiscing and lots of eating

BIRTHDAY CAKE!!