Category Archives: Birthday

Early and Excited!

~Daffodowndilly” by A.A. Milne.
She wore her yellow sun-bonnet,
She wore her greenest gown;
She turned to the south wind
And curtsied up and down.
She turned to the sunlight
And shook her yellow head,
And whispered to her neighbour:
“Winter is dead.”
I’m just a little early to welcome Spring but it is one of my favorite seasons. The other favorite is Autumn. I’m hoping to find some daffodils while we are on a little overnight or two in our neighboring state. These daffodil photos are from March of 2016. We sisters got together for a couple days of adventuring around La Conner for a nice meal and the Mount Vernon (Skagit Valley) area to enjoy the fields of daffodils. This area would soon (April) be filled with tulips!

I keep harping on my sisters that it is time for another sister weekend. Maybe in Dallas or Arizona??

This week is to be one full week of celebrating the oldest and one of the youngest in our family. Addy will turn 7 this week! All our kids will be arriving the end of the week for a extended weekend of fun. Greg and I are enjoying the first couple of days in Coeur d Alene, Idaho. A lovely destination where we can enjoy nice walks along the lake and also enjoy a variety of restaurants for some good food.

I will be hit and miss online for the next few days.

Are you excited for Spring?

Media Birthday Greetings 2024

My birthday was yesterday and the celebrations will continue for a few days and into next week. I wanted to save the greetings that I enjoyed yesterday on Facebook and Instagram.

From our son, Josh:

Happy Birthday, Mom!!!! I love you so much! Hoping you have a wonderful day! Already looking forward to our next adventure together!!

From our dil, Laura:

Happy birthday, Mom B! So thankful to God for you—who He created you to be, and for all the ways you reflect His love. Praying you know how deeply & dearly loved you are, today & always! I love you, I love you, I love you!

From our niece, Michelle and fam:

Happy Happy Birthday to you, dear Auntie E!! Love this fun memory of adventuring with you (even though we had to fight against being weather whiners🙈😅) and love you dearly!! Hope you’re having a wonderful day full of reminders of how much you’re loved by so many, including the Anthonys!

From my friend, Heidi:

Happy Birthday Ellen! I’m so thankful for our friendship and so blessed to have you in my life all these years! We hold so many precious memories together and I pray for God’s continual blessings in your life! I love you my forever friend!

From my sister Vera:

Happiest of birthdays to my dear sister Ellen. You have always been there for me and I am so thankful that you always spur me on to love the Lord with all my heart. May the Lord pour out His abundant blessings on you throughout this new year.

Thank you, Vera, for the card that came in the mail yesterday, too.

From our niece, Jenna: That’s her in my arms many years ago…

Happy Birthday, Auntie Ellen!! We love you so very much! Have fun celebrating 🥳💜🥳💜

All of our kids sent a video greeting to me early on my birthday. It was so fun to receive those.

Friends and family texted and what’s app’d me, too. I am so grateful for all the kind words and special greetings I received.

Now I look forward to what my 73rd year holds.

Thank you all for making my day!

Doing the Math Hodgepodge

It’s time for Wednesday Hodgepodge. Thank you, Jo, for the questions!

1. Thursday is National Pi Day…are you good at math? What was the last thing you had to calculate? Did you use your head or technology? Last slice of pie you ate? 

I am good at basic math but not in the advanced stuff like algebra, trigonometry, calculus and such. My brain remembers numbers for some reason. I can still remember birthdays of some of my classmates in high school. On Monday I had to make a simple calculation of how long I’ve been blogging so I took 2024, minus 2007 to come up with 17. I used my desk calculator to come up with that. That comes out to Seventeen years of blogging. The last slice of pie was at Thanksgiving.

2. What makes a house a home? 

The easy answer is love. For me, a home is a comfortable peaceful place where I can be real and enjoy loving others and being loved. Cozy furniture helps. Too much formality in decor makes me stiff unless you throw in an overstuffed chair with an ottoman.

3. Your current favorite green thing? 

We bought some new wall art with blue flowers and mossy green leaves for our Master Bedroom and added some mossy green to the bed with pillows. It was nice to freshen up the Master Bedroom. Did you know that it’s not kosher to call a Master Bedroom a Master Bedroom anymore? Oye Vey! It is still the Master Bedroom at our house.

4. How do you define achievement? How does your personal definition look similar to, or different than, society’s definition? What’s something you think is worth achieving in life? 

Achievement is being able to accept who you are and what your talents are and using those talents everyday in big and small ways. Achievement can happen everyday without applause from the world. Society would add fame and money as the benchmark to achievement. If your talents and hard work reap a monetary gain, that is a bonus. As a mom, raising children is a worthwhile achievement.  Contentment is worth achieving in life.

5. What song is a good soundtrack for your life right now? 

This is hubby and my song for last year and pretty much always. I’ll share a stanza and the refrain…

My Worth is not in What I Own…

My worth is not in what I ownNot in the strength of flesh and boneBut in the costly wounds of loveAt the cross

And I rejoice in my RedeemerGreatest Treasure,Wellspring of my soulAnd I will trust in Him, no other.My soul is satisfied in Him alone.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Not only is tomorrow Pi day but it is my birthday. If I take the current year and subtract my birth year from it, I calculate that I will be 73 on Pi day! A blast from my past for your enjoyment. Sheriff John was a favorite!

Since You Asked…Hodgepodge

 

Getting my Hodgepodge done early on Tuesday. We’ll be busy Tuesday evening with some company around our table.

Welcome again to Wednesday Hodgepodge. Jo From This Side of the Pond asks the questions and we answer them.

1. February is coming to a close. Give us a two-word phrase that tells us something about how yours went.

Slow & Easy

2. If you had to describe how you’re feeling right now as an amusement park ride, what ride are you on? Explain. 

Merry-Go-Round or Carousel. Slow and steady with some ups and downs but mostly calm and content.

3. What’s something on your desk or a nearby wall that cheers you up when you see it or walk past? 

My happy space.

4.  Are you a salad eater? How many salads do you typically eat in a week? Your favorite kind of salad? 

The salad police just caught me and they are taking me in for questioning!  We have moved into the habit of not eating salad. Maybe one salad a week. I like crisp salad greens with cucumber and tomato and a simple Persian dressing. 

5. Without telling us the category give us your top five ______________. 

  1. Tolkien
  2. C.S. Lewis
  3. MacDonald
  4. Montgomery
  5. Beatrix Potter

1, MacArthur 2. Spurgeon 3. Sproul 4. Ryle 5. Piper

  1. Johnson Brothers
  2. Royal Albert
  3. Spode
  4. Tudor
  5. Churchill

1. Cotswolds 2. Oxford 3. York/Yorkshire 4. Windsor 5. Cambridge

  1. Yellowstone
  2. Badlands
  3. Mt. Rushmore
  4. Yosemite
  5. Grand Canyon

I bent the rules and went with 5 fives. I’m sure you can name my category titles.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Tomorrow is our sister Vera’s 19th real birthday day. She was born on Leap Year! Happy 19th Birthday Vera. We’ll have to have a big ‘do’ for your 20th! (Hope we are all alive, then) I’ll be singing ’76 Trombones’ for you tomorrow.

These photos were from her 18th birthday party! Sisters in order of birth and then Vera with her son and daughter.

Family Highlights

Keeping up with some family highlights from before Valentine’s day until now.

Our ‘Coast kids’ celebrated a late birthday brunch for Josh way back on Sunday January 28th.

Katie made these yummy looking marshmallow fluff cream cheese filled chocolate dipped strawberries for Valentine’s Day. Don’t you think these would be a great treat for a tea, also?

These two got a much needed few hours together without their kids last Friday.

These two enjoyed a long President’s weekend in Mexico with two other couples who they’ve been friends with for 25 years.

And drumroll please! Addy completed her Awana book 8 weeks early and is now working through an extra credit book!!

She is able to recite all the books of the Bible!

I couldn’t leave JJ out so here he is with his sister enjoying the great outdoors on their property. He loves to be outside. He has recently mastered riding his bicycle without training wheels. We are all anxious for him to master using the brakes successfully on that bicycle, too!

The weather cooperated and warmed up enough for us to do a little work outside on Thursday afternoon. I was able to clear one large planter of dead growth. Woohoo! Only 10 more planters to go. The nice part of this process was that I spotted new growth under all the dead stuff. Today looks like a good day to tackle another planter. I usually do this in the Fall but those days got away from me.

Here we go into the last weekend of February. Hope it is a nice one for everyone!

Candlelit Dinner

 

It was fun to set this table and a lot more fun to enjoy most of our family around it for a belated birthday dinner. I wanted it sparkly. After I lit all the candles Addy and JJ wanted the other lights off so we could just have the candles give us light. We had a wonderful candlelit dinner.

Monday got away from me because of some further work Greg and our son had to do on our Water Heater. They had to empty the water tank and replace the elements which were in horrible shape. New ones are in so we should be good for a few years or at least we hope for that. Our grands were here during the work on the tank and they kept me very busy. Hoping for a quiet day today so I can catch up!

Hope your week has started well.

Happy Weekend

Josh and Laura arrived to our side of the mountains on Friday afternoon and we enjoyed a belated birthday dinner for Josh in candlelight. After we lit the candles JJ and Addy asked if we could turn off the other lights and just have the candles giving us light. It was a special dinner and weekend together. Friday night after dinner and cake, checkers and Legos and ‘Don’t Break the Ice’ were the entertainment.

On Saturday we gathered on the ‘Mountain’ and had a delicious lunch of Beef Stew with Jamie’s amazing sour dough bread creations. This time she baked regular and one with siracha.

After lunch Addy had her nails done and then wanted to polish our nails, too. She did a fine job.

Saturday late afternoon and early evening it was time for the Awana Grand Prix. Addy was pleased with her car the Silver Star.

We were all there to cheer everyone on. We weren’t winners this year.

On Sunday we filled a row at church. It was good to worship together. We had lunch out and too soon it was time for Josh and Laura to travel back over the mountains home. We love you, We love you, We love you. Thanks for making the trek and spending good times with us!

Thank you, too, for sharing your photos!

Tomorrow I’ll post photos of the Birthday Candlelight Tablescape.

Our weekend was full and I did not spend time on the computer or make any blog visits. I’ll get caught up soon.

Birthday, Snow, Birds and Wally

A very happy birthday to our firstborn son Josh. He is a wonderful son, husband, brother, uncle, cousin, boss and friend. So thankful to God for Josh and all he means to our family. Praying God blesses your new year with joy, strength, courage and more love for Jesus.

We’ve been enjoying the birds showing up for birdseed.

We had another 5 inches of snow this week and when we looked out the window we thought this looked like a walrus so we are calling him, Wally the One Eyed Walrus Snowman.

Have a good weekend everyone.

A ‘Hunny’ of a Hodgepodge

Joyce From This Side of the Pond has questions commemorating the birthday of A.A. Milne for our Hodgepodge this week.

When our boys were infants and toddlers they had those toys above and our favorite jammies for them were the Winnie the Pooh brand from Sears.

This little guy isn’t little anymore and he has a birthday this Friday.

1. On January 18th we commemorate A.A. Milne’s birthday. Milne is the author of the beloved classic Winnie the Pooh. In many ways Pooh represents innocence and simplicity. His optimism reminds us to appreciate the little things. What are three little things you’re appreciating in mid-January? 

  1. Watching the birds at the bird feeders.
  2. Hot soup and good bread.
  3. Working on Jigsaw Puzzles since the weather outside is below freezing.

2. Piglet teaches us even the smallest of individuals can achieve big things with the proper amount of determination. How do your current responsibilities make you feel? 

I am content in my current responsibilities outside the home. I need to be more proactive in bringing on some helpers who could take over for me if needed in these responsibilities.

At home I could be a little more diligent in keeping up the house and making meals so if I’m attaching a feeling it would be feeling behind or unproductive.

3. Tigger is known for his enthusiasm and energy, his boundless joy and love of life. What’s something you’re interested in learning more about in this new year? 

History of the Church ~ Church History by Simonetta Carr

4. Eeyore, while a melancholy character, teaches us the importance of resilience and perseverance. How do you stay motivated and persevere in difficult circumstances?

I have to go to the Word of God for my motivation and encouragement.

I Thessalonians 5:16-18: Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

5. What’s the last thing you ate that was made with honey? 

Toast with peanut butter and honey

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

Currently the only Winnie the Pooh book we have in our country bungalow is this one:

The only authorized Russian-language edition of Winnie-The-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner

In this edition Winnie the Pooh becomes a Russian bear.

I bought it way back in the early 70’s at a bookstore in Westwood, California. It was $4.95.

Thanks to all who stop by here in my little corner of the world.

Birthdays and the Great Freeze

On Friday night we enjoyed an early birthday dinner for Dan and Jamie who have birthdays today and tomorrow. Josh has a birthday this week, too, and Laura sent a couple photos of them enjoying an amazing sunset on the other side of our state.

On Friday we served Lovella’s Arroz Con Pollo which was enjoyed by everyone. It’s a dish that Jamie orders most often at any Mexican restaurant. We enjoyed it with brown rice and both corn and flour tortillas. We also enjoyed Pico de Gallo with added chunks of avocado.  For dessert we had a family favorite, Applesauce Spice Cake.

We have been below freezing here for a few days. We stayed inside all day Saturday and I worked on my latest puzzle. I’m getting close to finishing.

 

On the way to church on Sunday our car was registering -5 degrees F outside.

We had a great Vision Sunday with a ministry fair. Our church theme for the year is Take The Next Step.

Colossians 2:6, Therefore as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him.

We are now heading into another week of very cold temps and snow promised from Tuesday evening through Thursday morning. We always wait and see if the predictions are accurate. We have seen that many folks in many parts of the country are experiencing severe cold. How is it where you live?