Birthday This and That

I am a whole year older now, Whoopee!  It was a very nice weekend and birthday all in all.  Except we decided to stay in town the past weekend because I had a meeting on Saturday.  Well, the meeting was pushed to the next weekend because the dear lady, Dian, who's house it was to be was in the ER.  Dian is a gem of a sweet person, in her early 80's, even though you would never know it.  Found out yesterday that her spleen had RUPTURED!  OMG, how does that happen unless you are in a car accident or fall.  Poor thing.  Sure hope she recovers.  Scary.

Birthday weekend started with a drive to south Tulsa to see an old cabinite friend.  I had not seen Peggy's new house that she and Tom had moved too.  She was having some lighting issues and of course Robert was on call to help.  Peggy lost her hubby, Tom, our friend a few months ago to cancer and we told her we were there for her if needed.  True to his word we went to help.  Turns out it was a switch she didn't know about...LOL! Happens.  It was a wonderful visit (love her house and little pool!)  Then, since we had nothing else to do he took me for a cheeseburger (my fav).  We also went to dinner for sushi, another fav, all for my birthday.  Saturday I hung at home and painted some watercolor and Sunday too.  Later in the evening girl two brought her family over for some grandkiddo kisses.  

Happy Birthday to me.

Next week this little guy is to have a heart cath to determine his lung function, open the aortic arch...the lung function hopefully shows he is ready for surgery #2 (if not then he will be put on a heart transplant list.)

Last night I went to my "birthday club" .  The birthday club is four friends (includes me).  We have known each other for over 35 years and gotten together for our respective birthdays and more for those 35 years.  They are my closet friends and we are dear friends who are all of the same mindset.  That is so refreshing.  We first met at church so long ago, they still go, I do not.  I love them dearly and they mean the world to me.  It's not about the birthday or gifts, it's about the thoughtfulness of their love as a friend, their compassion, their caring, our caring for each other.  They are my true best friends.  I have surrounded myself with true friends and distanced myself from those who do not feed my soul.  I am rich with friends.  

One more thing, I did cook my own birthday dinner and I'm so okay with that since we had gone out on Friday evening and lunch that day.  Even had a friend text me that they were going to make my meal!  

Chicken thighs

new potatoes

marinated olives (Whole Foods olive bar)

Olive oil

Lemon juice and slices

Rosemary ( from my garden)

Salt & Pepper

Toss all on the olive oil and bake about 350-400 degrees for 45-60 minutes till chicken is done.

Man, it was so yummy. Had roasted asparagus too. Almost forgot the drumsticks for dessert.

The Many Faces of 40 Years

40 years ago today our lives changed completely when this sweet baby girl came into our lives. We celebrate Briana's 40th birthday today and the joy she has given us. She is strong, smart, beautiful, intelligent, a shaker and mover. So very proud of what she has accomplished in her life and can't wait to see what she has to offer in the future. Love you my sweet blue-eyed blonde baby girl.

9 Things I Love About Winter

Mama Kat's writing prompts this week had this little jewel in the list so I thought I would TRY it.

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9 THINGS I LOVE ABOUT WINTER

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1.  I love hot soups and a big pot of beans in the winter

2.  I love a fire in the fireplace, the smells and toasty warmth it gives off.  There is just NOTHING better than sitting in my chair at the cabin next to the fire with a good book.  

3.  I love, love, love Christmas.  I love decorating my house and the tree and seeing everyone elses decor.  

4.  I love the baking that goes along with Christmas during the winter months.  The smell of fresh baked anything is just wonderful!

5.  I sort of like warm sweaters and the layering to cover up the extra poundage that comes along with the Christmas baking!

6.  I love...

7.  blank

8.  blank

9.  blank

Well that kind of sucks.  Let's try this...

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9 THINGS I HATE ABOUT WINTER

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As many know when I write here, I really do hate winter most of the time.  

1.  I hate the cold.  I hate the cold.  I hate the cold.  My bones and joints and fingers and toes and ENTIRE body hate the cold.  Always have.  

2.  I hate what the winter does to the landscape.  The desolation of leaves off of the trees is so depressing for me.  It's sad but deep in my soul I know that spring is just around the corner and the trees need a rest.  

3.  I hate the wet, cold, dreary days and gray skies.

4.  I hate that I can't sit outside and feel the warmth of the sun.  I need the light.

5.  I hate the poundage I do put on because my body basically wants to hibernate and not move much but yes EAT!

6.  I hate the short days when it's dark when I leave for the office and dark when I head off.  (The good side of that is now I have windows in my office to see the dreary days.)

7.  I hate that tax season is just around the corner so the few months of stuck inside is spent getting my taxes together.

8.  I hate making New Year's Resolutions!

9.  I hate failing in completing my New Year's Resolutions!

Good Morning

Yes, it is Monday and I am posting.  There may not be much here but I am posting.  The weekend is done and a quiet one it was.  We ventured to the cabin Saturday afternoon and I ended up in bed under the electric blanket for 3 hours snoozing even though it was quite sunny outside.  I just could not get my inner core warm.  We had dinner at J&S's Saturday night and had a most wonderful time.  Harrie and Jimbo went home earlier in the day as they have the crud and didn't want to give it to us...thank you!  I hope they are better today.  This flu thing is awful and I pray I don't get it even though I had my flu shot too.  Back home Sunday I went to see Daddy.  I tried to visit him last Sunday but he was off at his friend, Jay's, and I got tired of waiting.  Jay is his best friend from high school, 60 years ago, and Jay has a twin sister that I guess is Daddy's girlfriend.  So when he visits Jay he visits her too. Yesterday, again he was gone but I just kicked back in the chair and napped along with his sweet kitty, Susie.  She has become such a darling addition to his household.  What a lover she is.  Daddy finally came home after an hour and a half of me waiting, but that was okay as I got my cat fix.  I told The Hubby yesterday that if something happened to Daddy that she would probably come live with us!  He didn't say a thing.  Oh, did I tell you that I found a home for the zebra finches!  Yes, I was in Southern Agriculture the other day and noticed they had zebra finches and talked to a girl about them taking my birds.  I don't know if you remember but I took them in after a lady that they were given to as a gift HATED them and was going to "set them free".  They would have died here in Oklahoma.  I've had them about 3-4 years now and was tired of taking care but would have continued till they died if I had too.  I was committed.  Anyway, there were four, two boys and two girls and one of the girls died this summer.  The girl at SoAg said they would take them!  SCORE!  So last Tuesday afternoon I boxed them up and took.  I was just giving them away but I received a $15 check in the mail for them!  Again, SCORE!  Now I know they may find another good home, not mine.  Bird seed can now stay outside, at least for awhile until I get the desire for a parakeet or canary again.  Bird cages are in the attic!  

Leaf Play

Thanksgiving is now done and so we rush into Christmas.  Afton is heading home, her home in LA and her love Nick this morning and it is truly sad to see her go.  Saying that I know she is looking forward to being at HER home with her Nick.  The visit has been awesome, especially her getting to spend time with her niece, our granddaughter, Rio.  They had a wonderful time yesterday at Woodward Park.

Rio LOVED playing in the leaves. 

My BEAUTIFUL girls... 

The innocence of a child. 

Now we plan for Christmas.  My tree is up (thank you family) and a good part of my Christmas is bought.  Just need to finish up and bake a bit and I will be READY!  

HO-HO-HO