Give that lady a hand!

As soon as a person asks the question, 'How do I live my life the best way?' then all other questions are answered.

Leo Tolstoy

Last Friday I began my 59th year, mildly relieved it wasn't my 60th and yet, as I celebrated throughout the day, a peace invaded my day. It remains three days later. I think it was a result of laying my cards on the table and choosing to mine from these many years all I have to be grateful for, and for a Libra, that can't be easy. These are the cards I've been dealt.

One card is labeled my childhood, unfortunately full of abuse and a sense of impermanence. Another I've held in my hand is the card of a long standing relationship of love and respect with Dave for these many 38 years. Next card can trump any sadness I've accumulated because it has the faces of my two beautiful daughters. I can't imagine my life without the family I found in my adulthood. Privileged hours enjoying learning, travel, art, literature, music and nature that have enriched my life is a wild card--one I can use whenever I'm feeling a bit 'temporary.' A healthy future, as much as I can influence that, makes up for earlier losses as well. And there's the 'cupcake' card which means I can do something nice for myself every day and try not feel guilty any more.

Earlier in September I found this birthday card I thought I'd eventually send to a friend. Instead, I've kept it for me! A reminder and a token to get into my 60th year. Thanks for listening!

Angels among us

At the beginning of April for the last 28 years I've been celebrating, baking, frosting, wrapping, blowing up balloons--the whole party routine--because Dave and Erica's birthday are two days apart. Now that our nest is empty with both fledglings living far away it is definitely more low key when April 11th arrives. This year to celebrate his birthday, Dave and I rode the bike to Wabasha MN to visit the National Eagle Center. This new facility sits on the Mississippi River along the nesting area of bald eagles. The Center has four live eagles who are unable to live in the wild. Here we are with Angel, the youngest eagle--read about Angel here. Also see a clip of Harriet, another eagle at the Center, who visited Stephen Colbert on the Colbert Report here.

See more beautiful, whimsical, precious and lovable animals on Misty Dawn's meme, Camera Critters. . .or join in the fun.

Happy Birthday, dear Cakes

She was born on an early Wednesday evening to the soft sway of an easy listening station piped into the operating room. Two doctors helped deliver her into the new world she was reluctant to visit--flipping like a small dolphin and hiding high under my ribs for another two weeks. She was named Vanessa for her sleepy first 24 hours but finally given the name Audrey to make me happy. She grew up to be not only Audrey but Cakes, Chocolate Eyes and now just Aud. Strong, beautiful, funny, generous, hard working, left handed, artistic, ever so stubborn and kind, I'm still reeling when I realize that she's been on this earth for thirty years today!

No sense in asking where the time went. . .I have memories to last a lifetime. Now I am jealous of the time because I want to keep her as a daughter/friend, watching where she goes and with whom. And what I know about her is that she will make a difference in the world--even more than she did in mine.




Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You. Dr. Seuss

Happy Birthday, dear Phyllis!

Today is a special day in blogger-land:

Phyllis at Granny Smith has a birthday!

Anyone who regularly visits her blog would agree that she is a delight to know, inspiring, creative, and loving. She was one of the first bloggers I 'met' when I started this journey, and my life has been all the richer since. Stop by and send her your best today!

Our birthdays are feathers in the broad wing of time.

Jean Paul Richter

Wordless Wednesday helps me celebrate 200th post & Willie's 75th!