B-Day Prelude

 My dearest Texas galfriend mailed me a hand-made birthday present.  I knew it would be fab, but I didn't expect THIS! 

 *Laura hand painted this charming little dome a la MacKenzie-Childs AND she made those precious charms that dangle from tiny hooks.  I am just so thrilled with this.  It happens that I had my Sis coming to dinner tonight, which calls for cake. 

 I immediately put away the cake stand I was using because the angel cake fits nicely on my new special-for-me stand. 

The rest of dinner consisted of 2 new recipes:  grilled skirt steak using my new smoker box (with hickory chips) and a southwest potato salad with corn and avocado.  Everything was delish.  ps Laura is also known as http://rhinestonearmadillo.typepad.com/my_weblog/