can there be a better birthday?

I doubt it.
Not when you wake up after a spectacular trip to eastern Turkey with your equally spectacular foodie friend Yvonne and find:

a) you can take a shower because the water is running

b) this image in your inbox [with a "happy birthday to you. love from mom and dad" attached]:




That's right.
Le Creuset. Limited Edition Color.
Now proudly owned by one Ayla P.
Booyah.


other birthday highlights included:

1. five (nearly) pristine ginger gums and a very long CVS receipt c/o the Paleobotanist

2. a pretty pretty little sketch from Hum c/o Auntie Andi

3. a lovely card from Grandma and Grandpa

4. a successful dinner [first time I've actually cooked in about two months] and a tasty plate of cookies with tea at the pastahane down the street

5. a totally rockin' postcard from Lindsay D.

6. excellent fresh figs, a perfectly selected watermelon [thanks to training by dear Yvonne], and half a frozen banana

7. finally opening the stash of dried cranberries the Paleobotanist sent months ago

8. 93-degrees rather than 99-degrees

9. water-water-water-water-water-water-water

10. putting up all the printed pictures and maps from recent travels, making my map room one crazy cool photolog

11. realizing all was well and good after having a few moments of incredible, insatiable panic at the thought that all my music and digital photos had been deleted

12. love and wishes from friends and fishes [I was particularly fond of Nan's wish for my day to be a rainy one]--thanks to everyone, it was really nice to hear from you all


a swell birthday, indeed.