Monday, May 1, 2023

First Of May


We had planned to all meet up as a family this evening at El Patron for Jessie's birthday but she woke up feeling very much under the weather and was running a little fever. When I called her this morning she said that she'd see how she felt as the day progressed. No fair to be sick on your birthday. 
I went ahead with my cake-making plans. At first I thought I'd make her a delicious prune cake which is truly one of the best cakes ever. Sort of unbelievably good. 
But then I started thinking that I'd like to make something more party-ish. With fluffy icing. So I made her Granny Matthew's 1-2-3-4 cake which is a very fine cake and which I have not made in forever. It's an old traditional recipe and I am sure that many thousands of people have blown out birthday candles standing proud and upright on a 1-2-3-4 cake that their mama or grandmama made them. It's called that because the recipe calls for 1 cup of butter, 2 cups of sugar, 3 cups of flour, and 4 eggs. 
One cannot even pretend it is healthy. 
I flavored this one with lemon and almond and it turned out to be a very nice cake. 



When Jessie texted the group later this afternoon to say that she just wasn't up for a birthday celebration, I decided to go ahead and take her the cake if for no other reason than to let the boys have something special and sweet to celebrate their special and sweet mama. They've been so excited that her birthday was coming. And I took the family cake decorations for the boys to make it all pretty. 
August decided that that he would like to do the honors and so he did. 


He used EVERY decoration. We are nothing if not tasteful around here. 

We sang Happy Birthday to Jessie and it was a very fine jazzy rendition and then because Jessie didn't want to blow her germs all over the cake, each person got a candle to make a wish on and blow out. Levon wished that tomorrow will be his birthday. 
Hmmmm....




The entire family had a slice and I had a nibble and then cut a piece to bring home for Mr. Moon and here's what the cake looked like when I left. 


While I was there I got to meet the new kittens. You can see them in the picture above. My feet are for scale. 
They are really too dang cute. 


There's Rachel holding them. 
They remind me so much of the manx cats we had when Jessie and Lily were little. I've already said this but it's so true. Maxi and Bob. When I met them today I told them thank you for coming back to earth. Maxi came as a boy this time around though.

And so that's mostly what I did today. I struggled with some anxiety and sadness. Just free-floating stuff and it's to be expected. Not only is today Jessie's birthday, it is my mother's birthday too. 

But I feel better now and I really enjoyed telling August and Levon the story of when their mama was born and how my friend Lynn decorated the house and made food and all my brothers were there and friends. And it was a party. A beautiful party to welcome Jessie Moon to this side of it all. 

I am sure that Lynn must have said what she always said on the first of May
First of May, First of May
Outdoor fucking begins today.

And now I always say it and it always makes me smile. 
I hope it made you smile too. 

Love...Ms. Moon


36 comments:

  1. So sorry Jessie not feeling up to snuff today to really celebrate....but that cake is gorgeous, and the love that went into it, from the day of her birth and now the boys decorations....and the love in whole, made her day, I'm certain. Happy Birthday to Jessie! Kittens are TOO cute....... and yes....every momentous day does bring with it some sadness and joy, it seems, doesn't it?
    Susan M

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    1. Well, I suppose balance is always in order.
      It was so not fair for Jessie to be sick on her birthday.

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  2. Kittens and cake. What a wonderful combination.
    I hope Jessie feels better soon.
    Outdoor fucking is the last thing happening on the first of May in this part of the world. Bits might freeze off!

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    1. You're right- Perhaps for you all it should be, "First of May, First of May, Outdoor fucking will end today."

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  3. First of May, First of May
    Outdoor fucking begins today.

    It didn't make me smile. It made me laugh out loud. I will have to tell Shirley to get out the picnic blanket. Sorry to hear that Jessie wasn't up to a proper birthday celebration.

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    1. Good idea, Mr. P.! Woo your lady under the beautiful blue sky.

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  4. Your cake takes the cake1 what is the icing? Lovely whippy peaks of wonderful sugar! The decorating - well over the top! A wish for everyone is such a grand idea.
    The kittens look like slippers.
    May the month of outdoor - nope not here,

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    1. The icing is like a seven minute frosting. You can google it. But when you have a stand mixture, the process is a little different. It's very easy and very dramatic.
      The kittens do look like slippers!
      Are you speaking of the weather there or the inclination?

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  5. The cake and kittens were heaven! Sorry Jessie wasn't feeling well. I'm sure the cake, kittens and Mom made a big difference. First of May, First
    of May...well it would be near drowning rather than fucking in Ohio. This damn rain hasn't stopped in days!
    Paranormal John

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    1. Oh that would put a damper on things. Quite literally.

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  6. 1-2-3-4 cake certainly was in my grandmother's and mother's repertoire. I always made 7 minute icing for it.
    Hope Jessie feels better tomorrow and can celebrate with the left-overs.

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    1. That's what this icing is essentially although as I told Linda Sue, when you use a stand mixer, the process is a little different.

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  7. Sorry Jessie wasn't up for her own birthday party. But her cake looks great. Kittens too? What a day! Happy birthday to her and I hope the cake cures what ails her.

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    1. It was SO not fair for Jessie to be sick on her birthday. The cake was not so bad. I hope it has curative powers. At least it is fun to eat.

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  8. That cake! It looks so pretty with all the decorations and looks so delicious too. 3 layers of yumminess :)
    Happy Birthday Jessie.

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  9. It's not fair being sick on your birthday, but I hope Jessie feels better today!

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  10. Oh my...those kittens look just like the brother and sister I had many years ago. The brown tabby I called Holly and the white and tabby ( the boy) I called Berry.....Hollyberry....get it? Berry had a long happy life, but sadly little Holly got run over when she was about 5. They were my 2nd and 3rd cats.

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    1. Hollyberry- yes. I get it! I'm sorry that Holly's life was cut short. Cars and cats are not a good combination, are they?

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  11. Susan Z from OhioMay 2, 2023 at 7:01 AM

    Oh, my goodness. That's the first time I've heard the first of May rhyme. I can't stop giggling. Mary Moon, you are a wonder.

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  12. kittens are so much fun! I was thinking about getting a kitten from the animal rescue group here and then Cat showed up and never left. not a kitten by any means but not yet a year old. anyway, Cat it is. I ask her all the time where she came from and why did she come here.

    first of May, first of May, outdoor fucking begins today. yep made me laugh. outdoor fucking is the best.

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    1. I should ask Maurice and Jack where they came from and why they've chosen to stay here. I think if I did, Maurice would say, "I have no idea. I don't really like you and the food you buy sucks."
      Oh my. Remember outdoor fucking?

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  13. Adorable kittens, a fabulous cake and happy birthday wishes. I hope you and Jessie both feel better soon.

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    1. I'm feeling pretty good today, e. Thank you!

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  14. That rhyme cracked me up!

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  15. No fair being sick on one's birthday! Poor Jessie! Hope that sweet cake will give her the energy she needs to get better quickly!

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  16. Alternate verse of your Rhyme " Hooray Hooray for the 8th of May, for outdoor intercourse starts that day" :) That cake looks wonderful.

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    1. Hmmm...
      Same-same except Lynn's rhyme (I think it came from James Taylor) gives you an extra week.

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  17. I'm a bit late due to work overload yesterday, but i'd still like to wish your beautiful daughter many happy returns of the day.

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  18. NOW I remember the "First of May" song, reading those lyrics. (Which, as I think you mentioned in your subsequent post, you've blogged before.)

    Those kittens look like furry bedroom slippers, next to your feet! Glad Jessie had such an attractive cake. Apparently everyone found it more than appetizing. :)

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