Life is good

Today is my first day of retirement. I don't think it has sunk in yet. I may not feel the full impact until September when everyone else returns to work while I merely yawn and roll over. Someone, peel me a grape. Please. Thanks ever so.

It has been a very busy week, but I am happy to say much of it has been in the form of celebration. One very special celebration took place yesterday morning. But first a little background. For a number of years I did a fund raiser for the school library; it was called the Library Cafe. As with all things, it came to an end. There are a number of reasons why I had to end it, but we all missed it. Well, yesterday morning, when I walked into the library for the last time as a full-time employee, my colleagues had set up the Library Cafe. In addition to coffee, there was a buffet with cakes, muffins, Danish, bagels, croissants, and many other items. It was such a delightful and heartwarming surprise. Many of my colleagues and friends drifted in and out all morning. We sat and reminisced about "the old days" and other wonderful memories...and a few not so good memories that we can now laugh about. It was a perfect last day.

I was stunned by the gifts I received. My house looks like a flower shop. As you all know, my pictures leave a lot to be desired. But now I will have time to improve that skill. I will start tomorrow...or maybe next week.


Here are some of the gifts I received. The pendant is actually a beautiful cushion cut green stone and the earrings have crystals in the center. The watch is also really beautiful. I love the interchangeable straps. Note to my Pink Friends: one of them is PINK. The gift certificate is for my very favorite restaurant. That was given to me by my younger friends. We had a lovely party last Friday at a Mexican restaurant and later adjourned to a friend's nearby apartment. That was also a memorable event and lots of fun. I even forgot that I was old enough to be everyone's mother.





And one of my very favorites was from Carolyn. There is a little story to this one. I will share it with you. One day Carolyn offered me a slice of her home-made lemon pound cake. Oh my goodness! It was lemon heaven in my mouth. So her gift to me was a copy of the recipe with some of the ingredients packed in a bundt cake pan. And a giant Retirement coffee mug. Just perfect for our morning coffee chats.



Oh dear, Buddha's belly is sticking out. I did mention that I was going to start working on the photography thing, didn't I? In a month or two.
Well now, you know two things must happen. First, I will post Carolyn's pound cake recipe.
Second, it's once again time for a giveawy. It's not just a giveawy... it's a RETIREMENT GIVEAWAY. So because retirement means no work for me, my giveaway means no work for you! No quiz, no questions. All you have to do is leave a comment. The fragrance of this month's gift is appropriately, Strawberries and Champagne. Winner will be announced July 3.

Now for Carolyn's Lemon Pound Cake Recipe

Ingredients
1/2 pound of sweet butter
1/2 pound or cream cheese (8 oz.)
2 cups sugar
2 cups Presto Cake Flour
6 eggs
2 Tablespoons of lemon extract

Beat butter, sugar, cream cheese, egg yolks, and lemon extract together. Add flour, beat at medium speed for 4 minutes. Beat egg whites for two minutes at high speed. Fold into batter. Bake in a greased 10-inch tube pan. for 45 minutes at 350 degrees.