January. The lean days. The cold, grey days. Penitential days. More austere than Lent. More remorseful than Ash Wednesday.
All those late nights; money spent; wine bottles in the recycle bin; pastries eaten by the light of the refrigerator door; surfaces sticky with candy cane residue.
We purge, cleanse, fast, juice, run, jump, and throw out the white flour, sugar, and caffeine.
But what if you have a birthday in January?
Party and candy tray by sister Maria
What's a girl to do? (No, not me.)
Yep, some people have birthdays in January. Can you imagine? January by itself is gray enough; throw in your birthday, and well, you could just about lock yourself in a closet till May.
And just because you're in your third, fourth, fifth, sixth decade, who's to say you couldn't use some good, old-fashioned corn syrup in pretty shapes?
Huh? Ya got something to say about dat?
It's all good, as long as you don't mind that extra "roll".
And you can still button your clothes.
Besides, we get plenty of exercise walking the dogs.
Play dead.
Just don't forget, even dogs need to hydrate and deserve a few treats.
Just as you do after all this canine work out.
Cause you gotta have yourself a very merry birthday ....even if it is January.
Beautiful sponge cake by sister Maria, also!
Happy Birthday, Mar, a little late!

