reason to celebrate

just remembering 13 years ago today i was in labour with a wonderful little girl...that would impact my life in so many unexpected ways. she is...amazing, beautiful, a spitfire, full of life, funny, a dancer, daddy's girl, a healing force, unique, fun to be with, quick witted, dramatic, an animal lover, artistic, creative and the list goes on...happy birthday abbey!

in and out of the garden

what a whirlwind week this has been...there is so much maintenance going on in the garden.
not to much fun to take photos of that.
my usual wednesday lunch with rachel got bumped up to tuesday because of the busy schedule.
rachel and i are always looking for new places to go...well we hit the right spot
with square market & cafe'.

it is in the town square of columbia about 45 minutes for me but just about 15 minutes from her work. we are very happy we drove the extra bit...it might become a favourite haunt.

this little town square is about 45 minutes south of nashville.

the town square is quaint and full of old buildings...

cute little restaurants...

window boxes.

and the food was great at the square market & cafe'.

rachel and i always have a great time with tons to talk about.
it's wonderful to have grown daughters to share your life with.

things are pushing out everywhere...but with the heat comes weeds.

hens and chicks loving the heat.

weeds are not my friends. but i sure have plenty of them.

potted hydrangea flushing out.

my spirea bushes are blooming. i adore flowering bushes.

we had a massive storm...felt like a hurricane...warm air and

super high winds with thunder, lighting, and some hail.

right before the storm a rainbow appeared on our way to

celebrate dh's birthday at rachel's.

also there was this gorgeous sky with a flying balloon over the fields.
there is always the quiet before the storm.

rachel and maday made the best cuban food for daddio's special day.

black forrest cherry cake was made...his favourite.

we laughed and talked and told stories...the best of nights.

dh and our a~# 1 son share their birthdays most years but

they each got their special day this year.

their birthday's are one day apart.

friday night we surprised david at fulin's with sushi and cake.

and a glazed pot full of cooking herbs.

the sunsets this week have been beautiful.

then after the farmer's market this morning....sauteed fresh veggies for brunch.

with some heirloom tomatoes.

life is good and full......full of family, fun and food.
of course working in the garden, too.

birthday celebrations

welcome to abbey's room.

when abbey got home from ballet today i had done some updates to her room...

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in her words....i want my room to be more paris~y.

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changed her pale pink comforter to purple with bright pink and black pillows.

i added touches of black, with wall stickers of chandeliers, chalkboard, and a tree with birds.

some owls, black and white pictures, and an iron eiffel tower.

she really loved it and said it was perfect.

then some friends came over and we played games and had banana bread.

.

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...opened gifts.

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we had a lovely time celebrating.
happy birthday my precious girl.

a few of my favourite things

as you know our family likes to celebrate....so for my birthday

(it's really next week)we did it marmee style.

pj's are a must....then my good friend, maday, agreed to make cuban food...one of my faves.

# 2

having family around me is absolutely necessary. this has to be #1.

what goes better with cuban food than cuban bread...thank goodness they sell it here now.

thanks publix.

#3

our entertainment for the night....slightly off girls doing cabaret.

#5

lots of closeness is on the list.......#?....oh well it's right up there with # 1

okay so drawing on the chalkboard wasn't on my list but

definitely on ellery's.

# 7...squeezing in together.

on the top of the  list....did i mention cuban food.

hot sauce is  a given especially when cuban food is served. #6

# 9  & 13

 candlelight & sons.

laughing, dancing, and generally doing anything that makes you happy. #8

fried chicken....cuban style.

# 4...hugging

i guess this should be # 1 but shhhh i really could bypass the cake as long as there is cuban food.

let them eat cake....homemade by rachel....german chocolate cake. #12

not a bad thing to be made to do.

watching movies # 10 in p.j.'s while cuddling with

your favourite movie buddy.

a touch of homemade sangria....a touch of being silly.

#7 & 11

oh so much fun....and there were presents.....that was all their idea.

# 14 cards with endearing remarks...i love them...gotta have those.

all made together for one of the best celebrations....ever.

there was one thing missing....the rest of my fl family.

we will have to make up for it on our next visit together.

september blessings to all.