We’ve had a run of warm days since Monday. Warm for November, that is, about 70 F for a few hours around mid-day. For three days now I’ve made a point of eating lunch outside on my deck, because it’ll be months before I’ll want to do that again.

One more thing from my recent visit to Texas: my mother’s birthday cake, ringed with nine candles, one for each decade since 1925.

My nephew Sam and his wife Emily bought the cake at the too-cute named Nothing Bundt Cakes, a chain of bakeries that I’d never heard of before, but which are widespread. I can understand its success, though: the place makes high-quality bundt cakes.