This week, our friend John Steiner is looking forward to celebrating his birthday, so I’m happy to join the LAPC party.
In some families and in some cultures, birthdays are a reason for huge celebrations.
One summer on a visit to Chicago, I spotted this beautiful young woman being photographed by her friends and family as part of la quinceañera-– marking her passage from childhood to adulthood. When I asked her what was happening after the photos, she told me several hundred family members and friends were gathering for her birthday party. I wish I could have seen it.
In our family, milestone birthdays are reasons for parties big and small. A special one was my father-in-law Marty’s 90th birthday. (See below. Clockwise from top left.) But most birthdays are smaller celebrations–a meal at a restaurant or at a friend’s house. Below you can see my delicious carrot cake from my birthday in January–a gift from our dear friends Alan and Sharon. It was so beautiful that I had to photograph it minutes before we demolished it. I love how the cake was framed by the tablecloth. By the way, you could even eat the decorations on the cake. <grin>
It’s My Party 
Hamish Turns 18 
Celebrating Two Birthdays in Mexico.
Sometimes, we’re lucky enough to be visiting friends on their birthdays, like the time we traveled to Sydney, Australia to see our dear friends, the Marks, and their children, spouses, and grandchildren. One of their grandchildren, Hamish, was turning 18 during our last visit. You can see him angling for the perfect blow-out-all-the-candles wish.
The final image marks the time when my family traveled together in April and we could celebrate two birthdays. Fortunately for me, my son and husband didn’t mind sharing their beautiful and delicious cake. <grin>
This little girl is someone special. She’s Antonia Comi, a very talented, popular Italian artist, who painted this adorable portrait of herself as a little child.
Rich and I don’t exchange gifts very often, but last year, he truly surprised me. Thanks to Rich and Antonia Comi, this painting is now our prized possession. (Click here to see more of Antonia’s work.)
A special thanks to John for inspiring us to celebrate this week. We hope you join us and show us how you celebrate birthdays and other important events. Be sure to link to John’s original post and use the Lens-Artists tag. Thanks also go to Amy for her inspiring and beautiful Earth Story challenge. You all gave us marvelous glimpses of favorite places all over the globe, which were a visual delight and reminders of our Earth’s incredible, yet fragile beauty.
Looking ahead to next week, it’s Sofia’s turn to lead the challenge. Be sure to visit Photografias next Saturday at noon to get all the details. Until then, have a safe and inspiring week!
Categories: LENS-ARTISTS, Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, Photography
P.A. Moed 
Plenty of cake to celebrate with!
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Hi, Sue. I’m getting hungry, though. 😀
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Beautiful, delicious cakes for birthday celebrations! Love the portrait you share!
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Hi, Amy. It’s all about the cake, isn’t it??? 😀. I’m happy you enjoyed them. Isn’t that portrait great? Antonia is very talented. I hope you’re having a good week. We’re emerging from jet lag.
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Wonderful birthday celebrations to take part in Patti. Your photos are great, especially the one of Hamish, a great candid shot. Many more birthday celebrations to you!
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Hi, Anne. He really wanted to blow out ALL the candles at once. Thanks. It was a fun moment. And many more birthdays to you, too! We are celebrating Rich’s birthday this week….at a restaurant. More cake to come!
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We need celebrations more than ever these days. Thanks, Patti!
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Hi, Jane. That’s so true. We need some celebrations today. It’s true. Too much sadness in the world right now. Take care and stay well.
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That painting is beautiful! And that girls quinceanera dress is gorgeous. Lucky girl! (You and the 15 year old hah)
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Hi, Luanne. I’ve been thinking about you. I saw the photo of your daughter on her wedding day. Congratulations, again. 😀. I hope she and her husband are very happy together. And thanks for your thoughts, as always. Yes—the girl’s dress is amazing. I think she said someone in her family made it. And the painting…I love it! Take care and have a good week.
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What wonderful celebrations! My birthday isn’t until June but I want some cake now!
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Hi, Beth. My husband’s birthday is this week. I can’t wait. Cake, again! Happy birthday to you….a bit ahead of time!
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Terrific post Patti – I absolutely love the painting! Lucky you 😊
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Hi, Tina. 😀. Wow. Thanks! I am truly lucky. I love that painting…now I’ve got to find a home to hang it!! Rich’s birthday is this week. More cake ahead. 😀. Take care and have a good week.
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Oh, the birthday cakes! Mmmmmm. An important part of any birthday celebration. 🙂
That painting is truly special. What a special gift!
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Hi, John. Yes…what’s a birthday without cake?? I hope you had a delicious one. My husband’s birthday is this week. More cake! I’m not complaining. 😀😀. Safe travels.
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This is such a good response to the challenge Patti. Such wonderful Birthdays and cakes and photos!
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Hi, Anne. Thanks so much. Rich’s birthday is this week. Cake!!! Take care and have a great week.
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Oh, my, that painting is adorable! What talent! Wonderful photos as always. Carrot cake brings back good memories as we had a delicious carrot wedding cake. People were asking to take home any leftovers. But we didn’t have carrot decorations. 🙂
janet
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Hi, Janet. I love that painting! Now I’ve just got to find a home to hang it. 😀😀😀. Oh, a carrot wedding cake! It sounds delicious. A great idea. Take care and have a great week. Cake anyone??
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Let them eat cake! 😎
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Oh, that’s wonderful, John. You always come up with a great line. Marie Antoinette won’t mind, I’m sure. 😀😀
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The first image and the story behind is something I heard for the first time when I was in Cuba. My post goes online on Thursday and I picked exactly that story 😁
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Hi, Andre. Oh, I’ll be sure to look for your post. I love that idea. We have that in the Jewish religion, too–for boys and now girls. I love these traditions. Take care and have a good week.
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A lovely reminder that, even as we get older and greyer, birthdays can be worth celebrating.
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Yes, Margaret. That’s true. But now I’m not turning grayer, but whiter. 😀😃
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Much more elegant!
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What a wonderful set of stories you tell here. The first photo is lovely, and the associated story is so nice too. And the cakes: I really like the top view of your cake, and its wonderful decoration. The light in the previous photo is also so lovely.
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You just learned something about me and birthdays….it’s all about the cake!! 😀
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The painting by Antonia Comi is absolutely stunning! What a wonderful gift!
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Hi, Aletta. Thanks! It is stunning, isn’t it? I adore it. And yes, my husband really surprised me with a great gift. Take care and have a good week.
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I love it Patti! Have a great week!
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Nice pictures. I really appreciated the portrait of “la quinceañera” (What a beautiful young and shy lady) and the painting of the little girl. Such a beautiful gift! It reminds me of one painting of the romanian painter Grigorescu “peasant woman”.
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Hi, Nicole. I agree with you–she looks shy and she’s beautiful. Her dress was made by someone in her family–I believe she told me that. And the gift, yes, it’s wonderful. I treasure it. I’ll take a look at Grigorescu’s work. Thanks so much for your thoughts!
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What beautiful cakes and what an adorable painting Patti
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What a great post Patti! Your birthday carrot cake looks wonderful, just looking at it makes me hungry for some. (Carrot cake is one of my favorite deserts and it is the best at a popular restaurant in Maine!) The painting of the little girl is special, what a wonderful birthday gift from your husband!
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