On Friday, to kickoff the Valentine's Day weekend, the Huntsville Botanical Garden hosted a luncheon for Garden guests at Carrabba’s Italian Grill. When Nancy and I arrived at the restaurant, we spotted our neighbors Janice and Paul and asked them to join us. The food was very good, and the conversation was interesting. As with all fun things, the time passed entirely too quickly. Nancy and I will top off our Valentine weekend Sunday evening at a Huntsville Chamber Music Guild concert featuring violinist Joshua Bell.

January 25 was our grandson Ian's birthday. He didn't have a party then because it would have conflicted with their planned Super Bowl party. So his family and friends celebrated after his actual birthday. Here's Ian with his cake. Melissa says that his cake was his own idea... bottom layer is brownie, then a layer of triple chocolate ice cream.  On top of that is a full cake - two layers of chocolate cake with my oreo cream filling between them.  It's frosted with a thick goopy layer of fudge!  Ian called it "Chocolate, Chocolate and more Chocolate!". My guess is that it'll be mid-March before the sugar-buzz wears off. In any event, HAPPY BIRTHDAY Ian.