Friday, January 30, 2009

Birthdays and Injuries


Last week was a big one for me. I don’t mention it much in my blog, but I am a runner and avid gym goer (the gym thing has only been the last couple of years – the running has been over 17 years). I exercise pretty much most days and run 40-50km per week (it used to be more before the gym). But, last week, I suffered a stress fracture in my left shin which means 6-8 weeks of no running or even walking and also restricted gym use. It has been awful – but I am trying to look on the bright side – whatever that may be!





The other thing last week was my birthday – incidentally I got a sewing machine (a Bernina!) from my husband – I have never sewed before so I am very excited about that! (I did ask for it in case you are wondering). But with birthdays comes the baking of the cake and I have made myself two birthday cakes this year – I thought it was the perfect excuse to hone some of my cake decorating skills. I will blog about the other cake next week, but this is the cake that I shared with friends after a dinner at our favourite local restaurant. It was a case of more is more with the decorating (I usually try for the less is more approach). I had so much fun decorating this and I was so delighted with the end result. It was a rich chocolate cake and was delicious as well as looking pretty. My birthday was fun as well and a great start to being 35!

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday, Tammy! I am a Capricornean too. The cake is a delight. Mine came in crowned with lit sparklers!
Stephanie X

Snooky doodle said...

Hope you get well soon! This cake looks so cute I like how you decorated it so colourful !

kylee said...

What a GORGEOUS cake. I would be so afraid to cut it, simply because it's so beautiful!

Happy Birthday, and sorry to hear about your left shin.

lauren said...

Happy birthday for last week!! The cake looks fabulous. I hope your shin gets better soon. I was wondering, how do you manage to bake all of these wonderful things each week, be a partner in your firm & run 40-50km? You must be up at the crack of dawn everyday!!! I would love to know how you do it! :)

AmyRuth said...

Your cake is adorable. Very good job? On your own birthday cake? That's just wrong. Either way, Happy Birthday. Glad you had fun with the cake and I'm looking forward to seeing the next cake. he he
AmyRuth

Can you pedal?

Mermaid Sews said...

Happy Birthday, that cake looks gorgeous. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Tammy said...

thanks for your comments - Lauren, I do get up at the crack of dawn! 5.15am if going to the gym and 5.40 if I am going for a run. Amy Ruth, yes, I can pedal whcih is something and i have got a new weights programme which is just upper body

Fit Chick said...

I love your cake! I am a gym rat also, it does help that I'm a personal trainer, LOL. I have sewn with a Bernina since I was 10, they are the cadillac of sewing machines

TeaLady said...

Cute cake. Really good job. Will you do mine. (I am really close by - Deep South USA!!!) Hope you heal quickly. And Happy Birthday.

slush said...

Happy Belated Birthday babe! The cake is absolutely gorgeous, wish I could have you make MY next bday cake. :)

Sorry about the injury. Take it easy and dont push yourself too much.

Much love! xoxo

vibi said...

AH! Darn... I wish I lived closer, and maybe be lucky anough to have the pleasure of getting such beautiful cakes for my b-day! (sigh)
The mix of colors and the array of details is super pretty!
Very nice, Tammy!

Morven said...

I'm so sorry to hear about your injury - you'll have to live vicariously through my journey as a beginning runner.

Happy Happy Birthday - love that cake.

Congrats on the Bernina. My mym was a intermediate school sewing teacher for a zillion years and she swears by Berninas for their reliability and indestructibility.

lauren said...

Wow that is incredibly early but look at all the things you get done in your day - I should do that!! Anyway I hope you feel some improvement in your leg soon. Have a lovely weekend! :)

Cakelaw said...

Your birthday cake is beautiful Tammy - happy belated birthday!!!!! Hope the shin fractute gets better soon so that you can start running again.

Sherry Trifle - Lovely Cats said...

Pretty, pretty, pretty - the cake and decorations look wonderful. Happy Birthday and enjoy the Bernina - it's the BEST.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday Dear Tammy. Happy Birthday to you. So sorry about your fracture but you said too look at the bright side and that is you can spend lots of time sitting recuperating practising with your lovely new play mate "Madam Bernina". Cake is amazing. Hugs Raewyn

Di said...

Happy birthday, Tammy! Your cake is absolutely beautiful--I love the way you decorated it. I hope your leg heals quickly. And have fun sewing. My poor sewing machine has been gathering dust for a while--it's hard to sew with small children underfoot...

Jacque said...

Happy Birthday to you! Here's wishing you your best year yet :)

Your cake is adorable and oh so festive. Nice work!

Lynne Daley said...

Happy Birthday and hope your stress fracture heals at record speed. The cake is gorgeous.

Anonymous said...

I adore your birthday cake Tammy - it has an absolute aire of celebration, happiness and freedom about it. Congratulations!
Dawn B.

Chou said...

Happy belated birthday. The cake is beautiful! I'm so sorry to hear about your stress fracture. I hope that you heal quickly! Can you water run with a flotation belt, or will that cause more damage?

Nancy/n.o.e said...

Looks like a tasty birthday! Your cake decorating skills are fab - the cake is so cute. Sewing is a great creative outlet. We have a Bernina but I don't use it as much as I should. Sorry about that pesky fracture as I'm sure it's a huge challenge.
Nancy

Katrina said...

Hi Tammy Hope you had a wonderful birthday. That cake looks fantastic - my daughter and I both love it. She would like one for her birthday but unfortunately my cake decorating skills are not a patch on yours.
Katrina