It’s a well known fact that I am cautious and a planner. To a fault.
Don is spontaneous. Also, to a fault.
But the wonderful thing about this is that we balance each other. I pull him back when his spontaneity threatens to go haywire and he encourages me to be a bit more spontaneous.
Don’s birthday is on Monday. But Monday is the day he goes to the Berkshires for five weeks. We’d planned to celebrate his birthday today; therefore, my plan yesterday was to go out and find his present.
Friday night, Don and his friend Dan performed in front of an audience and I went along. They were wonderful. One of Don’s friends, Dave, who is a fellow musician, was in the audience – he was there to support Don. So on Saturday morning, Don woke up and said that he wanted to go hear Dave perform that day in Woodstock. And that he didn’t care about a gift, he just wanted to spend a beautiful Saturday with me – a spontaneous day with me. That’s what he wanted for his birthday.
I tried to push for my agenda, but only for a moment. Because it’s his birthday. And so, un-spontaneous Claudia threw caution to the winds and off we went.
Dave and a few other friends of ours were performing at something called Barnfest and their venue was this wonderful old hotel in Woodstock – The Colony. It was built in 1927 and its Moorish architectural style and stucco siding stands out in Woodstock. It thrived for a number of years but then sat empty for decades. The new owners have revived it as a music venue. (There’s lot of music in Woodstock.) This is the original sign – note the room rates!
There is artwork on the walls, a wooden balcony that runs around the room – and the stage is right in front of the stairway.
If walls could talk! There is so much history in this building. The musicians were amazing. I can’t imagine a nicer way to spend an afternoon. And one group performed their own arrangement of one of Don’s songs, Trouble and Joy. That was a lovely surprise. Don was thrilled.
We then walked around lovely Woodstock, stopping in at our favorite independent bookstore.
I could spend hours here. They have books that I never see in Barnes and Noble. Oh right….that’s because this bookseller is not part of a chain. They don’t sell school supplies. Or e-readers. Or stuffed animals. They just sell three-dimensional books that are thoughtfully chosen and ordered. Thank goodness!
Woodstock has a series of wooden guitars that are erected as a sort of sculpture throughout the town. They are in front of most of the storefronts. Don posed with one:
We ate lunch on the outdoor patio of one of our favorite vegetarian cafes.
Don was happy. So was I.
All in all, a beautiful, music-filled, spontaneous day.
By the way, the sound of cicadas fills the air around our cottage. It goes on all day long. The drone sounds just like a spaceship in a fifties science fiction movie. Amazing. If you drive anywhere around here, you can see them flying alongside the road.
I’m loving it.
Happy Sunday.
The Birthday Boy looks relaxed and happy. Sounds like a perfect day for the two of you – great weather, music, food and books! Good for you too Claudia for going along so readily!
Hey, you CAN teach an old dog new tricks!
Claudia- what a sweet story! You two really have something special. I know you treasure it Thanks for sharing your lovely day with us!
suezk
You are very welcome!
Looks like the perfect summer day. I find I don’t care about presents anymore and would ask something similar of my husband. Happy Sunday Claudia :-)
Me too. Every once in a while, I want something specific for my birthday, but most of the time, I just want to do something fun.
Happy Birthday to Don! Sounds like such a nice day, spending relaxing time with the one you love.
It was a perfectly lovely day. I’m so glad we did it!
That’s a high complement, to spend the day with you just doing whatever! How nice that the hotel was redone — it’s really beautiful. And I love the leaf path… and Don’s t-shirt :)
That leaf path is so neat – I’d love to do something like that here.
Sounds like the perfect way to spend a summer day, Cheers to both of you and happy birthday to Don :)
Thank you, Lori!
Now that was a wonderful way to celebrate a birthday! Don looks so happy! Music, friends, good food and his love with him….what more could a man want!
hugs,
Linda
Hopefully…nothing!
Well happy birthday to Don! What a great way to spend time together before he goes away – a birthday celebration with friends and family!
Love the feeling of Woodstock coming through in your photos!
Enjoy your Sunday!
Leann
Woodstock is charming, though a bit crowded on the weekends.
Sounds like a perfect day, Claudia. Thanks for sharing it with us and happy birthday to Don. xo Laura
It was a lovely day, Laura.
Sounds like a perfect day to me, Claudia. Don is too cute, has he lost weight?
Happy Birthday, Don
xo!
Yes, he has. I’m trying to lose some, too!
Such a fun day!! that’s what a birthday is all about :-}}
Yes – having fun and being around friends.
Great pictures of a wonderful day! I also love independent bookstores.
Woodstock looks like an intriguing place.
Happy Birthday Don!
It is, Paula!
What a wonderful birth-day!! I am hoping to be more spontaneous in retirement.
It’s something to strive for.
Sounds like an absolutely perfect day to me. Those are some of my favorite things…music, good books, dining al fresco.
Mine too, Melanie!
A perfect day for your birthday boy.
Yes, it was!
Tell him I said “Hey Don, Happy Birthday.” Has he lost weight? He looks rather thin.
Brenda
Actually, he looks great – he has lost weight, but he had gained quite a bit and it needed to come off. Plus, he got a hair cut. We both need to be rather thin! I’m losing weight as well. Yay!
Happy birthday to Don, he chose a great way to spend his day. Love that (former) hotel, so glad someone saw hope and restored it and now it’s full of life. So very wonderful that his friend sang one of Don’s songs, I love that, what a great gift. How about that bookstore, they are very rare any more, glad you got to spend time in one. Sounds like a perfect day!
Mary
The bookstore is small but wonderful, Mary.
Happy Birthday Don..You are looking quite svelte and handsome there..and happy..You did the right thing by going Claudia..You two are so good for each other..
Thank you, Nancy!
So cool! My husband and I like to hop in the car and explore and we decided to visit both Saugerties and head over to Woodstock one day. Loved it! We didn’t visit many shops while there (it was getting late once we got to Woodstock), but I definitely want to go back to check out that bookstore! Thank you for sharing!
Cheers,
Linda
You are very welcome, Linda.
Claudia, this sounds like
a perfect b-day for a
music lover! Glad that
you let yourself get swept
away in his enthusiasm : )
Sometimes the best days
are those we don’t plan
for!
Happy Sunday,
xo Suzanne
That’s so true, Suzanne!
Yes!!!! independent book stores are sadly going the wayside!!!! So sad:( So many things just aren’t what they used to be. Now, I know why my Grandma used to say that!!!!
Love Don’s shirt!!!
I say that same thing all the time, Addie!
Sounds like you had a spectacular day! Please wish Don a happy birthday…and a safe journey. Now, aren’t you glad you were able to be spontaneous? Enjoy the rest of Sunday! ;)
I am, Donna!
Sounds like a perfect day for you and Don. Happy Birthday Don! J
I was a lovely day, Julie.
Appears to be a perfect birthday! :) Even down to the weather! :)
Weather was gorgeous!
Happy Bithday Don!
God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.
Voltaire
Hugs to both of you from Australia
Beautiful and perfect quote, Wimmera!
Claudia – Happy Birthday to Don!!! It sounds like a great way to spend a birthday!! Cheers to you for just being in the moment and enjoying the spontaneity!! That bookstore looks inviting – I would love to visit…!! Enjoy the rest of this weekend!! Francine
It’s good for me to do that sort of thing, Francine.
Happy birthday to Don! So glad I stopped by to catch up today as this post brought a smile to my face. I am not a spontaneous person either and I can relate to the first hesitation, then the relenting, then the total enjoyment. It sounds like a perfect day spent in an area I’ve always wanted to visit. Ann
You’d like it there, Ann.
What a fascinating place! Looks like you had a fantastic day to remember. A belated happy birthday to your sweet guy.
Thanks for your nice comment on the mini French chairs. They really were fun to do – in fact so much fun I’m about to order a whole bunch of them to play with in all kinds of styles with a view to stocking a trading table at the Sydney minis fair in May next year – how’s that for forward planning! ;)
Good for you, Norma!
What a wonderful way to spend a birthday! Being with the one you love and doing what you love to do!
Happy birthday to Don!
Judy
It was a great day, Judy.
Hi Claudia,
Happy Birthday to Don! May he be blessed with health, love and happiness!:)
You had a spontaneous summer day, full of great fun, good friends and neat finds – NOT surprising, you two being you!!
xo
Poppy
We do have a good time together!
Good Morning Claudia, I have made a note to myself to be more spontaneous, because like you I am in the planner and George is the spontaneous one, he will do anything at the drop of a hat, whereas I have to sit and think about this and that and then decide.
Because you allowed yourself to be spontaneous, look what a fabulous day you had.
Before I carry on, I must say, Happy Birthday Don!
The Colony looks like a place I would enjoy, the overstuffed settees, the hundreds of books to choose from, the Wurlitzer in the corner…. just fabulous.
My daughter, Natasha, used to work for a publishers in London and she said then, that it saddened her because the big chains were going to be the demise of a lot of independent book shops and she was right. There are of course some beautiful bookshops, but not as many as there were.
I am so pleased you had such a wonderful day, with lots of lovely memories.
Best Wishes to you
Daphne
I get very sad about the demise of independent book shops. I vow to buy as many books from them as I am able to.
A Wurlitzer !! WOW !! What a wonderful day you had.. Happy Birthday Don..I’ve never been very spontaneous either,. Must be a guy thing..
That Wurlitzer was pretty cool!