Sugarplum-Luddy-Duddy-Nut-Berry Turns THIRTEEN!

I still call Pip "Little Pip" sometimes, but, really, I'm pretty sure she's outgrown the "little" by this point. Since she's turning 14 in a few weeks  turned 14 a month and a half ago (!), I thought I'd better post these pictures from the day she turned 13.

She and Aidan get the short end of the birthday stick because their birthdays fall a couple of days apart right in the thick of Garden Week, when we're trying sow and transplant all the things as fast as we can.

Pippi always gets a birthday breakfast, a birthday supper, and a birthday dessert, though, and last year Luci topped it all off with a birthday skunk mobile. Yes, a birthday skunk mobile! That's the best thing to greet a girl on her birthday morning.

Her whole day spilled over with berries, starting with the blueberry French toast I'd prepped the night before. (Thank goodness for make-ahead breakfasts.) 

The highlight of her 13th birthday arrived with a strange man in a strange truck who pulled into our driveway. John went out to see what he wanted, and we were all surprised when John walked back inside and told Piper that the man was there to give her something.

She returned to the house with this:

Unbeknownst to any of us, our friend Justin*, knowing her love of fruit, had ordered a fancy fruit bouquet delivery for Pippi. It was unexpected, unique, and special. Our family had never experienced this high level of social status (ha!), and everyone flocked around her while she opened it.

She stretched out her enjoyment over a couple of days. 

And labeled her leftovers to ward against familiar robbers. 

I made a hot milk sponge cake with cream filling and drained frozen berries, per her request....

...and slathered the whole thing in flowers in some of her favorite colors.

Of course, we included a Where's Skunko figure. 

At this point, she still had three years before she could pierce her ears, so those are clip-on earrings, but she looks so grown that I'm glad we have a couple of years before she sprouts danglies.

Zeke played the gentleman and pitched in with some hot air.

Happy, happy birthday Piper Joy. You are a joy and a gift to us and are growing into a lovely young woman. We are so proud of you!

*This same Justin shares a genetic heritage with other Purdy members who have shown inordinate amounts of generosity and creativity to our family. It must be something in the DNA!