Happy birthday, Grampa!

We haven't been out, preferring to be safe, until this month. We took a drive to Canoe Lake, and Westport last week. We just had to get out somewhere. I went out to buy spray paint last week. It was the first time I'd not talked to anyone but family in weeks. JB is the shopper. 

I found some swamp for sale, if you are interested!

Grampa turned 71 today. The kids came over yesterday. 

JL made lentil soup for dinner. 

I'd made a cake, and the girls were to decorate it. Momma sent Grampa and JL out for a walk so we could ice the cake. I had bought an icing bag, but not the tips. Poor Isabelle searched the pantry for me in August for Momma's birthday. We couldn't find any. What was I thinking? I ordered them from Lee Valley this month, and the girls went to work. Momma took photos!

I'd made what we call a crazy cake, from the I Hate to Cook cookbook. AKA cockeyed cake, from Peg Bracken's 1960 cookbook: flour, baking soda, sugar, cooking oil, vinegar, vanilla, and water. (No eggs, yeast, or dairy, which hubby cannot have!) The icing was a mistake, water and icing sugar. I'll have to find a better recipe. Isabelle made a '71' with chocolate bar pieces.

I'd ordered a book for Grampa, Aug. 11th, but it didn't arrive. A Canadian book, Amazon sent me a message saying it wasn't available. This is the second time a pre-ordered Canadian book was 'unavailable' the month it was published. I cancelled the order and ordered from the publisher. Lesson learned.

We've the girls for the next week. This will cheer us up, I'm sure.

I did buy him this book, we have book 1, by a local Ottawa artist and storyteller. Andrew King included a signed postcard in the book! 

They did some tree climbing in the afternoon, and Isabelle did a Facetime with a friend, showing her the cats. We had some wonderful conversations and watched the Stark Trek prequel, Star Trek Beyond.