Jordan Peterson and our Audrey, on her birthday
I checked and it's true: It has been two weeks since Audrey and TG went to Jacksonville to see and hear and meet Jordan Peterson.
It was Audrey's birthday.
TG and Audrey at the venue
They set out mid-morning for the four-hour drive and got to Jacksonville in plenty of time to check into their hotel and have supper before making their way to the venue.
Which was across the street from their hotel, so that was easy.
Audrey told me that the event was everything she had hoped for, and then some.
This will be on display for the foreseeable future
Even a few minutes in the presence of Dr. Peterson was awe-inspiring, she said.
TG enjoyed it too, and now it's a splendid memory for the two of them.
As VIP ticket holders, in addition to their event badges on lanyards, they each brought home a small poster that had been signed by Jordan Peterson.
Grilled chicken ... one of TG's specialties
I'm displaying TG's on the refrigerator until I get tired of looking at it, which won't be any time soon.
Dagny stayed with me while they were gone, and we went shopping. She had some money to spend on her mother for a birthday gift, and we did get that, but we looked at lots of stuff and had a great time.
Wavy and BBQ chips ... Erica said the BBQ ones were super hot
The next morning, we got busy getting ready for Audrey's birthday party, which was set to take place that afternoon.
TG and the birthday girl were back in town by three, and by four we were having a cookout.
Got to have burgers and dogs
I'd made the standard go-withs: baked mac and cheese, deviled eggs, cole slaw with tangy homemade dressing, and celery sticks with ranch dip. Erica brought two kinds of chips.
In addition to hamburgers and hot dogs, we had chicken tenderloins done on the grill. All I do is marinate them for several hours in straight soy sauce. TG grills them and they come out phenomenal.
Best dip: just mix the ranch powder with sour cream
I didn't get any pictures of it -- were were too busy eating it -- but for dessert, in lieu of a birthday cake I did the same thing we did for TG's birthday in late January: a Costco plain cheesecake.
Dagny had helped me slice and macerate four pounds of strawberries, and there was lots of whipped cream to go on top of everything.
Homemade slaw dressing of mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, and sugar
It was heavenly and Audrey said it was exactly what she wanted for her birthday dessert.
She opened her gifts and was happy with everything she received. In addition to giving Audrey a lovely present, Mike brought the balloons.
Kraft Deluxe but add milk and shredded cheddar, and bake
Aren't birthdays grand? We enjoy ours to the fullest, I believe.
Once that festive occasion was concluded, we were cruising towards Easter.
After supper it was time for birthday presents
But first, Baby Elliot turned six months old. Cherica (Chad and Erica) celebrated that happy time by having a special cupcake for him after their family's lunch on the day.
As Easter loomed, it was decided that we would go to Mike's house for Sunday dinner after church.
Audrey received gifts large and small
On the day before (last Saturday), I made all of the food and TG and I took it over to Mike's.
I also took along some decorations for the table, and set all of that up so I wouldn't have to do it the next day.
Baby Elliot turned six months old :: photo courtesy Erica Porter
Mike was game to help with the cooking so I left instructions for him and on Sunday morning, he put the ham in the oven and started up the crock pots after adding to them what I'd told him to add.
Mike's mother joined us for lunch and spent the day, as well as our friend Andrea from church.
Our menu was maple glazed spiral cut ham, apple pie baked beans (if you haven't tried those yet, you really must), pineapple casserole, mashed potatoes, slow cooker creamed corn, seven layer salad, and rolls.
Our Easter table decorations
For dessert, Erica had made a lemon blueberry trifle and we topped our individual servings with whipped cream.
Yowza. Wish you could have been at the table with us.
Erica's dessert trifle was no trifling thing
While still at the church on Sunday morning, we got some pictures of the families and almost-families.
There was TG and me, Cherica with Rhett and Baby Elliot, and Mike with Audrey and Dagny.
I don't remember who I was waving at
Our weather was perfect: sunny and balmy.
It was a tad bit cooler in Western North Carolina where our Stepanie and her family live, but still nice, with sunshine. They sent us a family picture later in the day.
Chad and Erica with Rhett and Elliot
Our son-in-law, Joel, is a pastor in Lenoir, North Carolina, and they had a big day at their church, with more in attendance at a single service than ever before since he became the pastor there in 2007.
Back here in Columbia, Mike's house is on a golf course, so after lunch, when we weren't all sitting on the deck drinking coffee, some of us took a walk onto the links.
Audrey, Dagny, and Mike
There were hardly any golfers on Easter Sunday.
Rhett had a bottle of bubbles and when he wasn't getting into minor skirmishes with Dagny (they behave just like a brother and sister), he busied himself with that.
Stephanie, Joel, Melanie, Allissa, Andrew :: photo courtesy Stephanie Bixler
Mike asked his neighbor if he could borrow his golf cart, and of course the answer was yes, so he took Audrey and Dagny and Chad and Erica for a ride.
Next thing I knew, he had jettisoned Cherica and Dagny, and made off with Audrey by herself.
Rhett busied himself blowing bubbles :: photo courtesy Audrey Weber
Clever chap. Eventually he brought her back.
Back here at home, I am still decorated for spring, but with the exception of a small selection of my many bunnies, I have put the Easter decorations away.
Bunnies will be on display throughout April
Because here we are in April, and Easter is already done. Next stop, Mother's Day -- only five weeks hence. Time to start planning your gifts and get-togethers to honor all the moms.
That holiday will coincide with another pretty spectacular event, but I will not give any of that away just yet.
A bit of bovine levity
All I know is, you will be delighted and amazed and you'll say so. For now though, keep your powder dry and be patient.
TG is already talking about getting the pool ready for opening day, which, if the weather cooperates (as in, if it's not raining), will be Memorial Day.
Sheep dog and sheep
But wait. First we will celebrate our second-eldest granddaughter Allissa's sixteenth birthday next week.
She was born on Tax Day but as is our habit, we'll get together next Friday evening up at the North Carolina / South Carolina line and have a meal at the Cracker Barrel there, and a birthday party for sweet Allissa.
Allissa and Piper :: photo courtesy Stephanie Bixler
How can she be sixteen? Five minutes ago she was five, and then seven, and so on. You know the drill.
We've got special things in store for that momentous birthday in a girl's life, and you know that I will tell you all about it after the fact.
Meanwhile, tell me all about how your Easter went, and your upcoming plans for this glorious springtime.
And that is all for now.
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Happy Friday
