A Happy Day

I woke unnaturally cheerful this morning after a wonderful evening, and watered the garden in such cold I can still barely type. Ashraf and Miriam came to dinner with Kristen and William (Jamie is still in Dallas) and somehow it just all went well. Leftovers mean crab-cake for breakfast, but we are shooting for the S.P.C.A. at about 11 so I won't graze all day. I gave William the leftover chocolate cake - the flourless Josceline Dimbleby recipe - to give to Felix, with some of the irresistible praline. Pasta primavera and mache salad in the middle.