My Nephews Light the Candles on Their Mother's Birthday Cake

My Nephews Light the Candles on Their Mother's Birthday Cake, originally uploaded by confections.

My sister and her children have been visiting this past week. We started off with a surprise birthday party for her on Saturday when she arrived.

The cake was very special: medovnik (honey cake), a recipe from the Czech Republic, made by Tomasz of Jyoti Bihanga restaurant in San Diego. Sinfully delicious! Here is a recipe I found for medovnik, but have not tried myself yet.

Topping the cake were special "sparkler candles" from Toys 'R Us and mini-paper umbrellas from Daiso/Marukai.

Panoramic Magical Walk

Panoramic Magical Walk, originally uploaded by confections.

One of my favorite spots to walk in San Diego.... This panoramic photo was taken recently by my sister on one of our forays into this magical place. Please click the photo to see it at its original size on flickr.

Stelladanza Sign

Made with My Cool Signs.Net

Confections Sign

Made with My Cool Signs.Net

Wisteria in My Neighborhood

Wisteria in My Neighborhood, originally uploaded by confections.

Lovely harbinger of spring!

Lounging Lovely (Ashton-Drake Gallery) Blythe (two)

Lounging Lovely (Ashton-Drake Gallery) Blythe (two), originally uploaded by confections.

My newest Blythe doll arrived last Friday, the 13th of March. I consider that to be a good omen. She is very sweet. Her hair color is actually lighter than I thought it was going to be and her eyelashes are a tad longer and more curled than my Takara Blythes; and her face is more matte--a feature that I like a lot. She was overjoyed to meet her sisters at Starbucks and join the happy family.

EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) for Healing

My 83-year-old Mother is visiting this month and she has pain issues (as do I sometimes). I happened upon this technique in a Google search last night and I will be using this method and passing the information on to my Mom. I wanted to bring it to as many people's attention as possible. If anyone has any personal experience with this energy medicine technique, please feel free to comment.

Prima Dolly Aubrena & Mademoiselle Rosebud

Prima Dolly Aubrena & Mademoiselle Rosebud, originally uploaded by confections.

Clementine Louisa has a new sister, Mademoiselle Rosebud, as I mentioned last week. Here they are in all of their sisterly glory. I finished knitting a little shrug for them--just have to sew two small seams and it will be ready to wear.

The girls joined us for tea at a good friend's home on Sunday afternoon. Another sister (ADG Lounging Lovely) will arrive to make it a trio any day now....

Art imitates life, as my second sister is due to arrive for a week-long visit near the end of the month. What fun we are going to have!

Sterling Silver Medallion Necklace

Sterling Silver Medallion Necklace, originally uploaded by confections.

This sterling silver medallion necklace was a gift to me from my husband. He sculpted and cast the piece after he had taken a jewelry-making class a few years ago.

Inspired by ancient Greek and Roman coins, the medallion is suspended from a handmade chain. The chain is made from a series of individual links which are shaped and threaded through one another, an ancient technique.

My husband has made other jewelry for me over the 27 years of our marriage. I am documenting them and will be sharing more pieces here.

Mademoiselle Rosebud Meets Clementine Louisa

Mademoiselle Rosebud Meets Clementine Louisa, originally uploaded by confections.

There's a new Blythe doll at my house. My husband found her at our local swap meet on Saturday for $1.00. What an unbelievably wonderful surprise! She is being adopted out to my sister until she gets her very own new Blythe. Thanks, Bob!