March 2023

My 67th birthday.  With two of my grandbabies who are so much taller than me now!

with a keto dessert of course

My mom with Annie

More snow for Oceanna!

It was nice enough to sit outside the day that the kids came over for my birthday.  I wish I could say the same for the days since, but it's been cold lately

V with Murphy

 

Another Birthday

66?!?  I somewhat-kiddingly say I'm almost 70 now. Beautiful birthday flowers that made the day and week special, I am thankful for the love in my life, I'm blessed for sure.

The news is full of heartbreaking stories of mothers who are trying to keep their babies and loved ones safe from invaders.  Some of my friends have sons and grandsons in the military and I pray with them too.  Mama and I were just talking this morning, I bet sunflowers are going to be in demand this season.

And Then It's #65

 Betsy & Kyle & Rachel came over for my birthday, so it was a really good day :)

Mark gave me a new topiary for the front pot.  And he's making a new flower bed out back.  Adding new flower beds reminds me of the previous CanadaGarden days :)

My mom sent me Easter bunnies!  So cute!!

That little California girl is busy busy busy!  And she'll be here to see us sometime soon. 

St Pat's front door

Birthday Card

Our Betsy's hand-made drawing of me, Mark and Skye on my birthday card.  I love their cards! You can see she got my hair color just right :)

Another Birthday

We went to Sgt Pepper's for a late lunch on my birthday.   We all miss Judson terribly, but it was good to be together.   I had a call from Isaac who is on his annual Costa Rica adventure, also phone calls and messages and lots of facebook birthday wishes.

 Mother Nature sent snow. 

Mark gave me Ninna Ricci perfume.  I haven't had any in years and I never see it in the stores anymore.  It was Nan's favorite and it makes me think of her.

I can't resist picking up another pot of bulbs every time we go to the grocery!

Keto birthday desserts-cheesecake and chocolate peanut butter pie.  Next time the pie is just going to be peanut butter cups.  Why bother with pie when you can have peanut butter cups?

Some Days I Feel I Have Wings

A Mary Oliver poem I found a while back that spoke to me.   I'm 60 now and even a little more.  This is a very nice birthday and I'm soooo thankful for so many blessings.

 Mama's card made me laugh out loud!  It's perfect :)

Keto at The Apple Barn :)

Rachel and Judson and the kids came over last night for a pre-birthday celebration.  Mark grilled hamburgers, we had green beans, salad, deviled eggs, bacon-wrapped asparagus.  Now that's a plate full!

Love the little house vase and daffodils they brought!  Rachel piped the cupcakes for me. V's tablecloth looks so pretty--her mother, Mark's grandmother, embroidered it. 

60 and Counting

 

Thank you Mark for the birthday flowers!  

I have dreaded the day, but it's here and of course it's all good.  

Hard to believe I'm all of 60; but really, don't we all feel ageless inside?  

I have been blessed beyond all I ever dreamed.  

March!

Mark, also known as TBHITWWW, has struck again.  A new blue bike for my birthday, with a very low "step through" so that I can get on and off  without falling over.  We're looking forward to lots of bike rides this summer :)

Right now, it's still snowing and icing and below zero and windy and altogether winter.  In the meantime, be sure you have some tulip medicine to treat your spring fever!

  

56 Years & Counting

sweet card from my mama

It was a beautiful day in many ways.  Mark and I went to breakfast--it's a weekly routine that I love on Saturdays, having breakfast at Bob Evans or the Crack or Charlie Parker's with the best husband in the whole wide world and my best friend.  V and I went to The Farm and that's always good for the soul. 

As I've gotten older, I've gotten happier, so 56 is okay with me.   I am thankful for so many blessings. I loved these cards that came in the mail.  And so many birthday wishes on facebook--some from really close friends who just made my heart sing. . . and some from online friends whom I've never met but I visit with everyday. 

another sweet card from my dear friend Gail

But I really want for my birthday this year is for our Jeff Powers to get well and strong again.  He's in the hospital where the doctors haven't yet figured out what's going on with his breathing.  Please pray with us. Love love to him and my sis and my mom.

Things My Mama Sent Me

Mama sent me birthday box last week.  A new-found book--Lulu Meets God and Doubts Him--that's gotta be a good read. . .   A felted bag for carrying a bottle of water--love that green!   And one of her special-made pillows that I LoVe. . .   I put it on the shelf with my sweet pea seeds, cause I'm praying for a bumper crop of those little blooms this spring.



I had a great birthday and while I can wait a while til my next one, I decided that I don't mind  being 55 if it feels this good :)

Birthday Weeder

This is my new birthday weeder from  my mama.  Doesn't it look wicked?  It's called a Hooke n Crooke . . . I bet it's going to scare the weeds right out of the garden!

Birthday

Today's my 54th birthday.  V gave me a  new phone, so I can text more, and I love the spiffy new red color.  Mark, TBHITWW, and I took the day off and we're going to breakfast and out to The Farm. 

I am blessed today.  Lots of good wishes from my facebook friends, a day off from  a job I'm thankful to have, the next four days off for flower classes (yay!  the black spirl-y thing in the picture is for a corsage), two sons that I'm so proud of, two beautiful grandchildren, and on and on and on. . . 

So a few aches and pains, a few worries-- those are just life's way of reminding me to focus on my blessings and how good I have it in so many ways. 

Love to Tami and Terry and their families today.

Spring Message

This was in my e-mail box this morning:

Greetings from The Farm!
. . .we are happy to announce that the shop will begin 2009 on Tuesday, March 3rd. Oh, wait til you see – we’ve painted, cleaned, changed, & been stocking up on wonderful new treasures. I am extra committed in these trying times to keep The Farm a trip well worth it – for prices and uniqueness.
Hours – Tue thru Sat, 10-5
Phone – 217-632-2888
Web - www.visit-thefarm.com
Think spring! Gail

Yea!

It was nearly 70 degrees here yesterday and I looked the yard over for any daffs coming through. They weren't there yesterday, but I went out to check this morning, and there they were. (Although I probably shouldn't get too excited--there's a winter storm watch in effect.) These came from Mark's grandparents' farm and no telling how old they are. They were in a field, probably where an old farm house stood in years past.

She's Cute

Okay, this little girl was not one of the chosen works for Art in Bloom, but I just loved her. She represents a "minor Buddhist goddess of beauty and wealth", from 9th century Japan. I realize she's beautiful and valuable and needs to be protected, but don't you think she'd rather be sitting out in the garden? And I wonder what she thought about being considered minor? I didn't think she looked minor at all. . .

First Bloom

A little miniature daffodil--it's about 3 inches tall.