Happy Birthday to Meeeeee

Yes, I had a very Happy 60th Birthday indeed. I must admit that I felt a little overwhelmed at just the thought of turning sixty though. It sounds so old and I don't know how I got to be this age already. My mother was sixty, my grandmother was sixty – not me! This is all happening too fast, goodness, I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up, and sixty means that I had better figure it out soon. But, I have birds to watch, walks to take, books to read, trails to ride, blogs to write and other important things that have to be done first. So, first things first, let's write a blog and post some pictures.

I had a really nice weekend - which started on Wednesday - oh joy - I love weekends like that! We indulged in a picnic lunch in the park on Wednesday; enjoyed dinner and a movie in Ottawa on Thursday; munched a delcious pancake lunch at a delightful family owned restaurant in the sugar bush on Friday; nibbled yummy homemade peanut butter cookies in between visits to studios on the Maple Run Artist's Studio Tour in a little town north of us, and then visited the kids for a birthday dinner on Saturday; and last but not least, enjoyed a family breakfast at a local restaurant on Sunday! Yikes, you could say I ate my way through my 60th birthday. Total fun it was and I made lots of wonderful memories to brighten any cloudy day I might stumble upon in the coming year.

AC has posted a few pics on his blog here, and here but let me share a few more with you.

The presentation of the cake and singing of Happy Birthday. Don't you just love the tiara? It is from Butterfly's wedding and is always brought out for special occassions. I look forward to my turn to wear it on my birthday each year. It is such fun to be Queen for a day!



Pretty new wind chime to hang in the sunporch from Butterfly and The Boy!


Best present of all - little love taps and Happy Birthday kicks from Smudge! Won't be long now until her birthday. How amazing and wonderful is that?



Weather is warming up and the robins have returned so spring and its message of hope and new life is here once again. I look forward to exploring my sixties with enthusiasm and discovering joy around each new corner in my path. Bring it on!!!!!!!

Hope you discover joy hidden in little corners of your life today too.

First Robin

AC is still nursing a sore back, and his laptop is in the repair shop, but we saw our first robin this weekend, so all is right with the world. Fat Mr Redbreast was in the tree outside the bedroom window this morning and again this afternoon, and we rushed to the window with the camera each time we saw him, but kept missing getting a picture. Drat!

Just had to share that bit of joy with you before I toddle off to bed tonight. Hope spring is hopping around in your backyard these days too.
Cheer-up, Cheer-up, Cheer-up!

Spring Picnic

It is the first day of spring, and we celebrated by taking a picnic lunch to the park. And a lovely picnic lunch it was too. The temps are still below freezing, and there is plenty of snow on the ground, but the sunshine made the car toasty and warm so we were very comfy while we munched our lunch, and watched ducks, geese and even one swan playing in the water.

I hope you find a comfy spot to soak up some early spring sunshine today, and it warms your heart and soul. It is so good for what ails you.

Soul Food

"If you have two loaves of bread, sell one and buy a hyacinth to feed your soul."

I know I shared this quote just the other day, but it is worth repeating. I am feasting on the "soul food" today and thought I would share some with you.


This quiet little dynamo adds a touch of colour to my dining room, a splash of brightness to my day, and an ocean of fragrance to the entire house. What a feast!



I can share the colour and brightness with you, but to enjoy the fragrance you will just have to go out and buy one for yourself. Go ahead. Do it!

Fighting the Lion

That old furry guy is back at it today, with a roar that is off the decibel level chart. After enjoying a week full of the soft sounds of spring, we had a rather rude awakening this morning. When we rolled out from under our warm blankets we discovered that thick snow blanketed our little town and thicker blankets yet were being laid down. Not only was fresh snow still falling, but it was being whipped around by rather ferocious winds. Roar, Growl, Snarl! Here it is noon, and the lion's temper tantrum shows no sign of letting up yet. Sigh! My poor ears.

My spring decorations don't seem to be inspiring Mother Nature in her battle with that old lion today, but they are lifting my spirits nonetheless. The hyacinth fills the house with the aroma of spring, and flowers and butterflies brighten corners here and there.



I couldn't resist this little charmer when I saw her in the store the other day. Don't you just love her purse Sare? She looked so cute all decked out in her new spring duds, and I had just the right spot for her in my house, so she came home with me. When I took down my winter decorations I had a bare spot where Benmar's gift had stood all winter and this little gal fills that space perfectly now.



Let the lion roar outside, I have spring bursting out all over here inside, and that is a good thing.

Hope

Cathy posted a picture on her blog this morning that reminded me of a picture and blog AC posted a while back.

Just this past week I hunted up this old blog to give to a friend, and seeing as it ties in so beautifully with Cathy's I thought I would link back to it for us all to have a second look at today. Through the Detritus

Thoughts and prayers are with you Cathy.

Cat Antics

I was reading Laurie's blog the other day A Cat-astrophy in the making and it made me think of a blog I posted a while back about out cat Scutter. Here is a link if you want a chuckle or two. Cat-astrophe

Enjoy

Snow and Hyacinths

We didn't get as much snow as expected yesterday, but it was more than enough for our poor backs to shovel! AC borrowed our neighbours electric snow blower to "shovel" the drive see picture here, and I cleared a path to the door. This pic doesn't really show you how much snow we got, but enough to completely cover the steps leading up to the door. Because of the icy drizzle we had before the snowfall the snow was heavy, heavy, heavy!!! Groan!



Around supper time the sun actually came out so a faint bleating of the lamb was heard after the roar of the lion. We set off for a walk to enjoy the sunshine, but the roads and sidewalks were clogged with the thick, slippery, sloshy snow which made it too difficult to walk. We made it two doors down the street when our neighbour, who was just finishing clearning his drive, offered us the use of his snow blower. It was an offer we couldn't refuse, so we turned around and worked on the walk and drive instead of walking.

No icy rain hitting the window woke us up this morning, but we are getting "snow globe" snowfall right now. Very pretty I must say. This kind of snow will be fun to walk in later. Oh joy!

It is winter outside, but inside the hyacinth is blooming, filling the house with the delicious fragrance of spring. Snow and hyacinths, what a wonderful combination.

Lamb and Lion

Earlier this week AC and I enjoyed a springlike walk in the park. Snow was melting, grass was showing, geese were floating in open water and AC and I didn't need hats or heavy coats. What a treat! We walked leisurely along sipping our cafe mochas while we enjoyed the sunshine and mild temperatures. It looked like March would come in like a Lamb this year for sure.



Nope, not be be. The Lion showed up this morning with an earth shattering roar. We awoke to the sound of icy pellets hitting the bedroom window and news that all school buses were canceled. The icy downpour should end around noon, only to be followed by 10-15cm of snow. Sigh! I hope this is the Lion's swan song and the Lamb is just around the corner. I like winter storms in January and February, but when March arrives it is time for Old Man Winter to take his leave.

I am going to make an extra pot of coffee this afternoon and spend some time changing my house from its winter theme to the spring one. The winter village and snowflakes will be packed away and the tulips, pansies and hyacinths will take their place. Maybe I can pave the way for Fair Maiden Spring to enter and Old Man Winter to exit.

I hope you hear bleating rather than roaring in your corner of the globe today, but think spring whatever you hear and have a great day.

"If you have two loaves of bread, sell one and buy a hyacinth to feed your soul."
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