Parcheesi -- Janine's inspiring original (finished, foreground) and my interpretation (the unfinished, sort of pinned together, jumbled mess in the background).

 
The highlight of my California trip last month was... well, there were no lowlights.  We did something new (to me), fun, and interesting each and every day.  I even met The Parents -- so charming!

One of the many highlights came on Sunday evening.  Sunday was sort of a lay-low day during which we talked about and shared the photos we'd taken the previous days.  We stepped out on Sunday afternoon to go shopping (hello, fresh pasta/ravioli department!) for a wonderful dinner we made to share and enjoy with Janine, Rachael and Lala, Pamela, and The Girlie.  Check out Celia's photos!

After we licked clean cleared away the dessert plates -- Lemon Cakes with Basil Lemon Syrup made by The Girlie, using lemons plucked from the trees in the yard and basil from the garden, and so amazingly delicious -- we brought out, chatted up, and photographed some knitting.

I finally started the sewing-up of my Parcheesi blanket last night -- and now that's all I want to do!  I'm hoping to have it finished by Thanksgiving.

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I had a great birthday weekend!  There was the singing and the cake and plenty of help blowing out the candles.  Maddy's mandatory meeting was over by noon on Saturday, so she and her girlfriend Andi ended up coming home after all -- and it's always fun to have them around!  I did a little shopping and running around with Ali & Kate yesterday, and then I made dinner -- Chef Michael Symon's Wisconsin Parmesan (& Ricotta) Gnocchi with Brown Butter & Sage -- to enjoy with all the girls before they scattered again!

And then, in true Cheesehead fashion, I watched the Packers trounce the Cowboys!