while we were at the cottage a dear friend of my daughter came to spend the day…
they had fun visiting, walking the beach, going in the water and playing with paint…
it was lovely to see them enjoy their time together…
I was reminded of the many times they spent together, and with their friends, when they were much younger, lol…
watching them painting brought back their project when they were in their teens… three of them spent a few days painting the bedroom door of my daughter’s room…
since then the door has moved every time she has…
currently it lives in her hallway…
it is so good to see these young people maintaining longtime friendships…
yesterday we moved the table on the deck to the middle of the space and this morning I put on the tablecloth and runner that I picked up on Saturday…
then my housemate put the umbrella back in its hole and we opened it up…
I folded silverware into napkins and brought out pretty, but unmatched, plates to put around… glasses and mugs followed… everything was upside down so they wouldn’t get dirty…
found bowls, covers, and spoons for the two salads – ham and German potato, as well as the coleslaw…
crackers went onto a wooden tray and the salt and pepper shaker made it onto the table, alongside some lily of the valley flowers from under the deck…
chair covers and cushions went out and umbrellas went up…
friends arrived with other food offerings… there were fresh veggies and hummus, devilled eggs, fresh fruit, whipped cream, chocolate, and custard…
there were flowers for the birthday woman…
we gathered at the table and enjoyed everyone’s delicious offerings… of course there was our usual coffee and tea to go with the fruit, custard and whipped cream, topped with a piece of chocolate and a pistachio, lol…
the bubble machine came out and was on until bubbles started to land on plates… the weather was beautiful as the sun shone with a slight breeze every now and then… conversations were free flowing and stories made us laugh…
we took a group photo, as we always do when we gather for special times;-)…
as everyone began to leave the clouds filled the sky and the temperature went down, but no rain fell…
I had a relaxing time as I cleaned up, filled the dishwasher, put away the cushions, and got the table back into its original location…
read my book as the last of the bubbles flew around the deck…
had a pedicure, which was a real treat as I haven’t had one since covid… the massage portion was bliss…
received cards, gifts, texts, and numerous phone calls… my kids were trying to see how many times they could sing happy birthday to me throughout the day, lol…
enjoyed the technology that let the Ottawa kids send me presents via Amazon…
treats turned up throughout the day, and a gorgeous bouquet arrived in the afternoon;-)…
dinner was barbecued steak and lobster with asparagus, mushrooms and tiny potatoes prepared by my housemate…
and considering the crazy weather – rain, snow, and bits of sunshine – barbecuing was a gift…
a final touch was a small portion of chocolate mousse;-)…
this morning I spent time reading on the deck, in the sunshine… had a blanket and jacket on, but didn’t need gloves…
then a gathering with my cronies… even got a photo of the group with all the snacks… besides the mini eggs, pistachios, almonds, candy hearts, and chocolate mango pieces, hot cross buns and chocolate vanilla pinwheel cookies arrived with the crew;-)…
after everyone left, I enjoyed more time in the sunshine reading in the living room…
sunlight and warm temperatures… and it is supposed to be warm and sunny all week;-)… woohoo…
this month commemorated the twelfth anniversary of my beloved’s passing…
it is always a reminder of how one’s life can change in the blink of an eye… mine certainly did at that time and again when I was diagnosed with cancer, and later diabetes…
the thing I have learned is that we can pivot and move forward, even if in a slightly different direction…
I have spent time remembering what a wonderful life we had together and how blessed I have been been and continue to be…
thinking of those who are at that pivot point in their journey…
often, as I sit in the sunlight here in the living room, I take a moment to celebrate how blessed I am…
a comfortable home, food to eat, family and friends to spend time with, plants and flowers to enjoy, birds and fish to watch, books to read, and good health…
my entire being is replete with gratitude for my life…
then I take a few moments to send thoughts and prayers to so many who are currently not so lucky…
herbiggirlpants 