Fourteen on the fifteenth

The writing was on the dessert

In our family, we're always on the lookout for the Golden Birthday.

That's when you turn the age number of the day of the month on which you were born.

For our Allissa, that will be next year, when she will turn fifteen on the fifteenth.

For me, it was when I was seven. My family had never heard of the Golden Birthday.

We didn't have the Golden Ticket either.

Festive floating objects are essential for our birthday parties

For TG, it was his twenty-fifth birthday. For our children, eldest to youngest, it was ages nine, twenty-two, thirty, and twenty-nine.

When was your Golden Birthday? Because although I have readers under the age of thirty-one, I'm pretty sure that everyone who comments on this blog has seen that age come and go.

Anyway, last Friday was the fifteenth, and Allissa turned fourteen, and we all turned up to celebrate her.

As we've done for years, we met on the border of South Carolina, where most of us live, and North Carolina, where Stephanie's family live.

The birthday girl posed with her beloved Papaw

It's a Cracker Barrel (at times in the past we have met at a Culver's one hundred yards away) at Exit 90 off of Interstate 77, in the shadow of Carowinds.

(Carowinds is open for the season! The roller coasters were flinging people against the late-day blue sky when we drove past. I have never been there and have no plans to go.)

The last time we met at this Cracker Barrel was six or so weeks ago, when our little Andrew turned ten.

I told you about that pawty here.

The girls: L to R Audrey, Lissy, Stephanie, Melly

On that occasion, the staff -- including the manager -- were reluctant (in fact, at first they refused) to seat us together in a group (we are twelve).

Then, for no reason that was apparent to us, the manager changed his mind and directed that tables be lined up for us to sit at without being separated.

A server named Essie was assigned to us, and she turned out to be a complete treasure.

She learned the names of all of the children, made a fuss over the birthday boy, and insisted on calling me the Queen.

Little Andrew sat near his dad and Papaw, but he was also next to me

I did not argue that I'm the Pirate; I figured that in that place at that time, Queen would do.

Essie shared that her son serves in the United States Air Force, and since that made us both Blue Star Mothers, we had that bond.

When we left the restaurant that night in February, Essie hugged me and we promised to see one another again.

So it was that last Friday night, TG and I were the first to arrive at the venue. I went to the desk where you check in, and told the young lady there that we were a group of twelve.

Baby Rhett had been traveling and was eager for his dinner

I'm not sure if this would have been the same before the events of spring 2020, but she blanched -- all but fainted, if we are being honest -- and a look clouded her face that could be described as a combination of dubious and terrified.

What in the world? Has no one ever showed up with a large party beore?

She shrank away and soon, a manager approached me. Not the same one from February.

I explained that, at least twice a year and sometimes thrice, we gather at the restaurant for birthday parties. I said we'd been there six weeks previous and had been seated at a long lineup of tables.

Uncle Joel and Baby Rhett ... two sets of blue blue eyes

He was super nice and told me to wait as they got a similar setup ready for us.

Ten or fourteen minutes later, we were placing the presents in a corner and attaching Allissa's birthday balloons to stand-up menus so they could bob over our heads as we celebrated.

Someone approached our table and spoke. We all looked up. Essie!

A collective cheer sounded and even a little bit of applause was offered, as we got reacquainted. She remembered the children's names and still insisted that I was the Queen.

Dagny had been missing her Aunt Erica, who'd been on vacation

We commenced with our beverage order and then everybody said what they wanted for supper. You know how it goes.

Later in the evening, Essie was seen chatting animatedly with TG and our son-in-law Joel.

That's because she has a nephew who, in a few days, is expected to be a second-round NFL draft pick.

There is going to be a party for the announcement, and Essie said she will be there and that it's going to be televised on ESPN.

At any rate we will be watching to try and get a glimpse of Essie on TV, and best of luck to Derion, who is going to need it.

Melanie stuck close to her mama

(Y'all know I don't do anything NFL, having long ago said no to football and yes to black lace, but anyone who has "excellent awareness with soft hands to take it away" has my vote, even if he "could get big-boyed by possession receivers.")

And with Aunt Essie in his corner, even with his unfortunate shortcomings as enumerated on his NFL dot com prospects page, the boy is way ahead.

I regret that I did not get a picture of Essie, either with me or with any or all of us. I don't know when we will meet again but it's an omission I'll correct as soon as possible.

Cherica arrived right on time for the party although they'd been on vacation all week in Virginia, visiting the Chesapeake Bay area and Colonial Williamsburg, and that day had driven all the way from Norfolk where they'd spent three nights.

My precious Lissy Belle is growing up

Baby Rhett was longing for a night of rest in his crib, and he lasted until the meal was over, but Allissa opened Cherica's gift first so that they could head home early.

Our parties go like this: We eat and we talk and talk and talk and talk and talk. And not just me! Everyone talks the whole time. It's great.

When it's a birthday party, there's always cake and presents after the meal, accompanied by lots more talking.

Once the supper dishes were semi-cleared, Essie wondered if we needed plates for the cake. But Stephanie always brings themed paper plates and napkins, and soon we were enjoying the chocolate sheet cake with whipped buttercream icing.

These cousins could not be any closer

Essie was given a big piece, just like last time. She loves her cake.

The flashing candle numbers from last year when Allissa turned thirteen had been replaced with a chunky gold one and four.

After cake, Allissa opened the rest of her presents. She has recently grown out of her wardrobe, prompting a flood of my-baby-is-growing-up-too-fast tears from her mother and open-wallet support from her father.

We added to her new duds. TG and I gave her two tops and a dress. Cherica contributed a beautiful frock and Audrey gave her clothes too. I had also picked out some age-appropriate makeup, and she got lots of other nice things.

Eventually it was time to go home, but when we get up from the table at one of our Cracker Barrel parties, the party is not in fact over.

Birthdays are a numbers game

We go outside and stand around for at least half an hour, talking some more near our cars. The weather almost always cooperates.

Piper had made the trip and was hanging out in her crate in back of the family van. She was let free (leashed) to romp in the grassy medians of the parking lot.

I held her for a few minutes but she wiggles like a worm in hot ashes while making every attempt to lick your face off, and I had to let go. Still a puppy.

It's sad when we all realize that someone has to make the first move. Get into their vehicle and drive away. But we bit the bullet and did it, and were soon on the road south.

As I told you earlier this week, Dagny came with us to spend the night at our house. She was asleep by the time we'd covered thirty of the ninety miles.

Dagny spent the next day with us. Here, she's all business.

We stayed up late-ish although it was already eleven o'clock when we got home. One must have time to unwind. The next day was set to be rainy anyway, and we had no plans.

Are there any parties in your immediate future, birthday or otherwise?

I've got a big one coming up. You'll never guess what it is, so don't try! You know I'll tell you all about it, pithy pirate-palaver style. With plenty of pictures. I hope it will be worth the wait.

And that is all for now.

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Happy Friday :: Happy Weekend

Of Easter feasts and finery

Bunny art abounds in April

If you've been paying attention, you know that our family celebrate all of the holidays with as much togetherness as we can muster.

The spring holidays are especially happy ones, bringing with them as they do, pretty flowers and nice weather (usually ... I am laughing in the general direction of the Midwest and points north and east, which saw snow this week).

Easter and Mother's Day spring to mind. Pun intended.

It was such a pretty day

In addition, we have our Allissa's birthday. She is a Tax Day baby and she turned fourteen last Friday. With the exception of our loves in Oklahoma, who for obvious reasons could not be there, we all met that evening for supper and a birthday pawty.

I'll tell you all about that and share pictures, later in the week.

But first, Resurrection Sunday. We go to church every week so that was no different, but of course on this day there are special decorations and songs and lots of visitors at church, and Easter gifts and treats.

The purple bunny is new this year

We also make a pretty big deal out of Easter outfits. Yes, we dress up every Sunday for church and yes, we know it's not a fashion show but we like making a special effort on that day. It's exciting.

(And it is not a crime to dress up for church, and it doesn't make you vain or shallow to be extra on Easter. If it does, go ahead and clap me in irons.)

Saturday morning, the day before Easter, was rainy here. I had accomplished my grocery shopping the previous Thursday -- pirate ducks all in a row, as it were -- and had a schedule of household chores plus dishes to make ahead of time.

Audag were decked out in springy togs

Dagny had traveled back home with us from the birthday party the night before, and slept on her bedroll which lives in an upstairs closet but gets toted into our room and laid out on the floor when she overnights. She still won't sleep two floors away in the guest room, haha.

But that's fine.

Let's pull over and park here for a mo. There is something about TG's and my bedroom that encourages long, sound sleep -- any time of the day or night.

This bunny's sweet expression captured my heart many years ago

I think it's because our room is kept very cool year round, and because of blackout curtains and blinds it can be made dark even in bright daylight, and because of its situation in the house, it is unusually quiet.

At any rate, the children always rest for their naps exceptionally well there, which is nice when everyone has gathered together for a whole day and the little ones are wiped out and need a good long sleep.

Dagny always goes to bed late and sleeps in when she's with us. Saturday followed the pattern. In the dark, cool, quiet of our room, she snoozed until nearly ten o'clock.

Cherica, with the adorable addition of Baby Rhett, were charming as always

I got up at eight and did my usual routine of coffee and reading and sitting with my pets in the sun room.

Eventually Dagny joined me and we got her squared away with something to eat, and began going about our day's tasks.

The first thing I crossed off my list was making a Blender Lemon Pie. This is a fabulous recipe and you should try it. Putting it together is easier than falling off a log, unless you have the need to make your pie crust from scratch, which I most certainly should, but do not. 

Easter cries out for a lemon dessert, so this ticked the box nicely.

I spell spring dessert L-E-M-O-N

Next I made deviled eggs, which is also insanely simple to do now that I have a Dash rapid egg cooker.

I don't know what I ever did without that thing. I try not to dwell on those dark days.

After that I was pretty much done with what could be got out of the way before later that evening, when I would get the spiral-cut ham wrapped tightly in foil and ready to go in its pan, putting it back into the refrigerator until Sunday morning, when I'd slide it into the oven set to switch on while we were at church.

Our Tar Heel darlings sent this family photo

The next morning I was up early to dice the russets and throw them into the Crock Pot where they too would cook for the next several hours. Later they'd be transformed into Slow Cooker Baked Potato Casserole -- a recipe so simple and good that all I have to say is, you are a dumb bunny if you don't hop to and try it.

Once we got home and I'd changed clothes, I took the baked ham out of the oven and added its glaze and put it back under the broiler for a few minutes, then set it aside.

I made my mother's broccoli casserole as well as pineapple casserole -- if you have not tried that yet, you really must -- and pretty soon, it was time to eat.

We rounded out the meal with Sister Schubert's yeast rolls and a nice assortment of ICE drinks.

Where there is ham there is happiness

In addition to the homemade lemon pie, I had bought a Pepperidge Farm coconut cake. Those little square layer cakes are so delicious. Next time I'm getting the yellow one with chocolate icing.

Oh dear. I don't know why this is but it happens every time: when I have taken two or three days to plan and make a meal, I really don't enjoy eating it all that much. I sit and I eat, but somehow I'm not really hungry at that point, and the experience falls flat for me.

I actually feel slightly annoyed that I can't just go to my recliner and rest.

Melanie was overjoyed about something

Can anyone tell me why that is? Because if someone else prepared it, I would be ravenous and devour every bite with great gusto. But when I have done the cooking, eating becomes a chore.

Anyway. I ate and TG and Audrey and Dagny ate, and they all pronounced it delicious. Correction: Dagny ate some and then said she was full, leaving potatoes on her plate, and three and one-half minutes later was inhaling a yeast roll and chocolate candy and a refill of soda pop, and clamoring for dessert.

Typical. She's exactly like I was as a kid. What am I saying? I'm exactly like that now.

Deviled eggs are delightfully de rigueur

Stephanie and her family are never with us on Easter because our son-in-law is a pastor, but they took pictures and shared them with all of us, and I herein share a few of those with you.

I am so grateful for the way my children are rearing their own children. I thank God every day for that. You can tell from the photos how sweet they are. Not perfect, but perfectly precious.

Also the Tar Heel Tootsies have added Piper, a golden retriever and miniature schnauzer mix. She is a handful.

L to R: Piper, Melanie, Andrew, Allissa

Andrew, Brittany, and Ember, as you know, are far far away. I had sent them cards and gifts. Chad and Erica and Baby Rhett traveled to Newberry after church, for Easter dinner with a bunch of his relatives.

After our Easter lunch, we cleaned the kitchen. Nobody except Dagny was ready to eat dessert. That same Dagny was keen to take a walk, which she normally does not like to do "except on Easter," she said. So we three girls struck out for a half-hour stroll.

It was so hot. We were exhausted by the time we got back to the house.

Say it with rabbit raffia

By then, Cherica were on their hour-long trip back from Newberry. Since they live over by our church, we had decided to get together with them after the evening service, for leftovers and dessert.

Baby Rhett had had a long day with only cat-naps in the car, so it was decided that I would sit with him at their house while everyone else went to church.

Audrey joined me because she had worked all day the day before, and had strained her back, and needed some rest. Plus she is addicted to Baby Rhett.

Sparkling ICE drinks make it even more festive

I packed up all of the food and TG took me over there at about five thirty. Those who were going to church left, and I got the vittles out for when they returned an hour or so later.

We had a nice evening noshing on ham and fixings, plus the cake and pie, and a pot of decaf.

Dagny had school on Monday and everyone was more than ready to wind down, so by a little after nine, we had all said our goodbyes and headed for home.

It looks like a cake but it's really coconut crack

What a day.

Monday dawned gray, rainy, and cold, with high temperatures in the low fifties. I did not venture out.

Today the blue skies and plentiful sun are back, but it remains cool-ish. It will be nice for my walk.

It was indeed a happy day

Our next pawty is set to take place a week from Saturday. It will mark an ultra-special once-in-a-lifetime occasion, but you will have to wait to find out what it is.

I hope everyone had a great Easter holiday with loved ones and good things to eat. Later this week, as promised, I'll tell you all about Allissa's birthday party. So you have that to look forward to.

And that is all for now.

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Happy Tuesday

Go for the Gohl

Before sitting down to lunch, we did that selfie thing

In the same week that we lost our canine buddy Rambo, I was privileged to officially meet a new friend (of the human variety) and fellow blogger.

God is so good.

I speak of Jeanette Gohl, from Plymouth Township, Michigan (a state replete with fantastic bloggers), west of Detroit, northeast of Ann Arbor, who blogs at Net On The Net.

What a sweetheart. She had inquired in a recent comment how close I live to Mauldin, South Carolina (basically Greenville, in the upstate), where she and her husband Rich were going to be, visiting relatives.

We made a plan and ended up meeting yesterday at Cracker Barrel in Simpsonville, South Carlolina, an hour and fifteen-minute drive for me.

It was good to get out of the house on a beautiful, breezy spring day and ride up the road in the pirate mobile to have lunch with another blogger -- especially one who was willing to sit and listen to me yammer for going on three hours.

I'm not sure Jeanette knew she was in for such a talkathon; I mean, if you read me, you know I have a lot to say. But in person I pretty much can't stop talking. Ask anyone.

If they're not too exhausted to answer, they will confirm that this is the case.

My mother used to say of me, She'll talk to a dressed-up dog, to which I would take great umbrage because I will just as readily talk to a dog that's naked as a jaybird. 

(In my own mind, there is a line of earless billy goats stretching to the horizon. I have talked all of their ears off.)

At any rate, Jeanette was able to eat her lunch while most of mine got cold and went back to the kitchen. And I always clean my plate, and I mean clean it clean. Clean clean.

Not this time. My lunch companion is quieter than me, and an excellent listener, and although she was able to share a few things, mostly she was patient as I singlehandedly solved five-eighths of the world's problems.

If Rich hadn't returned to the scene of the crime to negotiate the hostage situation retrieve his wife and continue with their vacation, we may have sat there another three hours. 

(Although in that scenario, chocolate cake would probably have been involved, and there would not have been a crumb left on my plate.)

Jeanette has been a blogger since 2005. She's got me beat by two whole years! We agreed that blogging has added so much to our lives, not the least of which are many wonderful friends from all over.

How I wish I could meet every single person whose blog I read. What a treat that would be!

For me, at least.

(All of y'all would have to accept that you not only have the right to remain silent, but when I'm around, unless I am wearing a muzzle, it's pretty much a foregone conclusion that you won't actually have a choice.)

Rich was pressganged into taking additional shots as we parted ways

Still, Jeanette and I have wonderful memories of our meet-up, with promises to do it again when she is once more in South Carolina and/or I am within striking distance of her neck of the woods.

Rich took more pictures of us as we parted ways, with hugs and fond farewells.

Tell me in the comments which of your blogging buddies you have met or plan to meet! I'd like to hear about it.

And that is all for now.

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Happy Thursday :: Happy Easter

Farewell, faithful friend

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In Loving Memory of Rambo

2008 - 2022

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Six years ago today -- also a Monday -- we watched as our beloved Javier trotted away across the Rainbow Bridge.

Andrew was there that day, to lend moral support and to grieve with us. He drove Erica and me to the vet's office and, later on, helped TG to prepare Javy's grave.

I remember him saying that he could not imagine losing Rambo.

Today, it was Rambo's turn to pass into memory. The date was originally set for this coming Friday, but late last week he took a turn for the worse and the appointment was reset for this morning.

Andrew and Brittany and Ember spent the weekend comforting Rambo and reminiscing about his life. 

Rambo went peacefully and is no longer in pain, but Andrew is suffering. Please pray for him and for Brittany and Ember.

And that is all for now.

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Happy Monday :: Happy Easter Week

Playing Favorites :: World of Solitaire

Crazy Quilt (Relaxed) is probably my favorite

I've been meaning to tell you about this for a while. I had sort of forgotten about it.

Then, the other day, someone (I cannot remember who so if it's you, please shout out) blogged about playing online games. It made me think of this.

Now, people relax in different ways. Some take a walk; some read a book. Some watch a show or just sit quietly and close their eyes.

I actually do all of these. But for me, the best relaxation (if I have the energy) is playing a calming online game.

Bear River is challenging and fun

Back in the day, I played Mahjong constantly. It was the Royal Games web site, which was taken down sometime last year and no longer exists.

If you follow the bread crumbs from what used to be Royal Games, you can play similar games at GameDuell, and they do have Mahjong, but it's not the same and I am not interested in getting used to a new version.

I loved the old one! The colors were so pretty, and you could mute the music and hear the clicks of the tiles, and it was timed so that you could try to outdo your own score.

The best part about such a game, to me, is that you can challenge your brain while still having time to just think about stuff.

Sometimes you just want a game of Canfield (Relaxed)

Now, if you are like me, you don't always want to think about stuff. Sometimes the stuff you would think about will only frustrate you, and at a time like that it's best to clean out a closet or go and rough somebody up.

But if you're tired and need both absence of unnecessary noise and time to think, I have just the thing for you: World of Solitaire. 

I don't remember anymore how I found this web site (and it is a site, not an app). Since I am always on my MacBook Pro, this is my ideal format.

World of Solitaire is the brainchild and baby of Robert, who has constructed a site with so many games and so many options, anyone even vaguely interested in solitaire will find a favorite.

La Belle Lucie will keep your fingers on their toes

In fact I wrote to Robert a few months ago, to thank him for his site, and to let him know that someday, I was going to blog about it. He asked me to let him know when I did, so later I'll be sending him a link to this post.

The games Robert offers are all solitaire, but who knew there were dozens of variations of this game? Not the pirate. And the site itself is extraordinarily well done without being fussy or pretentious.

Robert offers over one hundred games if you count the various versions of all the games (some have a strict version and a relaxed version; I always go with relaxed).

When you click on a game, a little video comes up and in it, Robert patiently explains exactly how to play the game. As well, within each game there are helps available as you play.

Montana (Relaxed) is unique and fascinating

One of the things I treasure most about WoS is that, over on the right, when you click on a game to play it, appears the words 'Hide Ad' ... and if you click it, an ad that would have appeared there, goes away.

I always click to hide the ads.

Some of the games are hard. Really hard, so that to me, it's not fun because I like to win at least some of the time. Also because the purpose of playing is to relax, not to stress.

Here are my favorite games right now: Crazy Quilt (Relaxed) and Khedive.

At the moment I am more or less obsessed with Khedive

And although those are my go-tos, I have in the past been known to play my fair share of Bear River, Pyramid (Relaxed) (Easy), Montana, Agnes Bernauer, and Raw Prawn. 

As for my background, I have it set to Wood #4, which is to me the most relaxing color. My deck is Egypt.

I have tried other variations but I always return to these. The fun part is, you can choose what you like.

When you win a game, you get a huge round of applause, and cheers.

Unless you turn that off in the settings. Which I don't.

There are lots of options for customizing your game

Here is my process when I want and need to relax. I climb into my new chair-and-a-half recliner that TG bought for me, for my birthday.

On my left settles Rizzo and, if she is out of her condo, Sweetness lights on my right (on my hip so that I cannot even use my right hand, if I'll let her, but usually down by my knee).

I open two tabs: one for World of Solitaire and one for YouTube. 

You don't have enough relaxation time to learn all of these games

On the YouTube tab I choose a video like this or this. Sometimes it's not music but just this.

I don't watch the video; I go back to my WoS tab and play a game or ten while listening to the music or nature sounds on low volume.

Sometimes I relax in my bedroom, in the leather recliner that used to be my mother's, with my Covered in Cotton throw that my girls gave me for Christmas, over my lap. (My blanket is The Ann; that was my mother's name.)

Rizzo lolls atop his own quilt, on my bed. Sweetness is not allowed into my room.

Covered in Cotton :: Cultivated & Crafted in the Carolinas

When I choose that venue, more often than not I play my music or rain videos on my flat screen so that the ambience fills the whole room.

In the wintertime, I may play this video. Which actually makes me warm.

But whether I'm out in the sun room in one recliner or in my bedroom in another, even if I'm wearing my AirPods and listening to a book, while I play my games, I slow down and think.

Or not. Whichever I feel like doing.

Everybody just relax

I'm not very competitive so this type of setup just suits me.

What games do you play? Do you prefer playing on your phone or your laptop? Would you rather play to win against an opponent, or just be relaxed and play for fun?

Please tell me in the comments. Or if you'd rather be quiet and take it easy, that's okay too.

And that is all for now.

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Happy Friday :: Happy Weekend