There's an air of expectation around here.

First, I spent some time painting - this was the first day off I've had in 14 days and my paintbrushes had been crying...This is called The Swim Team. I just love these ladies, especially the fat one in the black suit, trying to hide her extra weight by wearing black...I still have some subtle shading to do but so far I'm happy with my girls. (And please notice my poor pitiful easel being held together with duct tape...how sad.)

And then I was cooking all afternoon. This is my special carrot cake recipe with cream cheese frosting and hazelnuts...


Tomorrow is a HUGE family dinner at my son Danny's house. I also made an appetizer: a mixture of cream cheese, scallions, tiny shrimp and fresh crabmeat that will be cooked in tiny puff pastry purses. I made the always required green bean casserole. And the cake is for Matt, whose birthday was last Wednesday.

Now here is a special surprise: Danny and Amanda are having a baby!!! I am ecstatic - they are smart and funny and loving and will make great parents! Poor Amanda has been pretty sick this past week (she had to have fluid therapy at the hospital several times) but she seems to be better on Friday and today after getting some anti-nausea medicine. Most of the rest of us are doing the cooking so we've ordered Amanda to stay on the couch and let us wait on her!

She might as well take advantage of it now - come Thanksgiving, it'll all be over....