I didn't intend to write another birthday post, but seeing that I have so many lovely photos to share, here are a few sweet highlights from the day.

Pumpkin, a barn cat that we haven't seen since we left for Ireland in September, returned just in time for a morning birthday snuggle! He was looking as grumpy as ever but unexpectedly fat, making us think he's taken up house with a neighbor somewhere and it getting ample food and love desipte wandering off. (He left again the next day. I guess he just wanted to wish Lupine a happy birthday.)

Then there were phone calls from family and friends, a surprise gift from a far-off pen pal, and vintage and homemade gifts from Pete, Sage, and I: flowers and a hand-carved longbow from Pete (the bow made by a friend), homemade caramels and an ingenious batch of "Hagrid's Treacle Fudge" from Sage (we're on a bit of a Harry Potter kick over here), and a vintage typewriter from me, found via scavenger hunt, since it was a bit too cumbersome to wrap.

The rest of her day was spent reading, crafting, typing letters, and baking her own pie – a lemon meringue that would have done my Grandma Katie proud.

And before we knew it it was time to light the birthday spiral, read her birthday story, and tuck into a celebratory treat.

Of course her day, like every birthday, was deeply woven with the many familiar details that form the heart of what a family tradition is.

More than gifts of singing or candles or cake, I think that this what we all look forward to most of all. Those familiar, well-worn traditions that remind us of who we are. 

And now, onward with 11! I can't slow this momentum down, so there's nothing left to do but be present and loving, and to enjoy the honor of being along for the ride.

P.S. Do let me know if you are interested in knowing more about our birthday traditions. I wrote about them ages ago (here and here), but could share a more up-to-speed version if you are interested!