May 2020.

Beautiful May. The smell of roses. The red poppies. Those temperatures. That blue sky. Maiglöckchen or Lily of The Valley (what a pretty name) & red reddish (we had that one already… still eating them).

May is also the month of Birthday. Bank holiday(s). Mothers Day. Father’s Day. Long weekends… Plenty of reasons to get together to celebrate the happy moments.

Planning my birthday in corona times is not only difficult but rather a real challenge:

1. Challenge accepted! (at no #5 I almost gave up).

2. Find out about the current rules (they change constantly).

3. Try to understand them. It took me quite a while this time. I even had to ask friends & potential guests for help. WTF! Why so complicated?

4. Think about who you want to invite. And more importantly these days: which county do they come from? (if different ones, go back to 1. and repeat research).

5. Calculate how many people from which households are allowed. Who is considered family? New thoughts: Are we not all sisters & brothers?! (LOL).

6. Do I really want to celebrate my birthday?

7. Yes I do!

8. Ask the guests if they “are willing” to be in contact with other “households” (risk!).

9. It was a “first come, first serve” kind of thing. (Sorry for all the others… 2nd party?).

10. Not planned but happened: celebrating all weekend to be able to see everyone 🙂 (the last guests just left. I needed a little siesta… getting older, you know).

11. Social distancing can be beautiful.

I had a fantastic birthday (weekend)! Surrounded by lovely people: family & friends. Thanks for coming! You made my day & weekend! It was fantastic to see you all again! It’s been a while! And that’s all what matters!

A garden party. Not only because of social distancing. The weather was fabulous (well deserved I think)!

Enjoying brunch:

Romantic and yummy dinner with hubby in a restaurant (our first visit since corona re-opening). So much detail & beautiful work on this plate!

More celebrations with family:

Living in Swabia means Black Forest gateau – of course!

Family portrait May 2020:

A visit in the Wilhelma, Stuttgart’s zoo:

Thanks for all the beautiful gifts! A new bottle of gin (very much needed with the never ending home office days). Macarons (that Wanderlust keeps rising…). Beautiful flowers for the garden & for the table. Tasty things from the homeland. A book for becoming a baking goddess (dear neighbors, your diet has ended, new pies will follow). And so many more…