Thank you for all of the birthday wishes! I so appreciate them – and you. These days, social media is an extravaganza of Happy Birthdays and I’m here to say I like it!

We had a lovely day; rather low key, by design, and full of peace. It started out with a FaceTime call from my sister and Little Z – he was very talkative and lively. Finally, he said “That’s all the news I have for you” and that was that. He makes me laugh.

Earlier in the day, Don wrote a a piece for acoustic guitar and as I was writing the blog, etc., I kept thinking how hauntingly beautiful it was. Later on, he told me that it was entitled, “Claudia.”  I swooned. When he gets a good recording – he’s still learning it – I’ll share it with you.

Don made a simple comfort food dinner (fries!) and after dinner he presented me with a birthday pie with candles and my presents. A note about the pie – it’s a sugar-free apple pie that he found the recipe for online and he was worried it wouldn’t be good, but it was fabulous! Such a good pie! As you know, I prefer pie to cake and since I’ve gone sugar-free, it’s not always easy to find a good one – especially one that doesn’t have a dicey sugar substitute. I can’t remember the last time I had some pie. This one was perfect and I’ve already insisted that Don make it again for Thanksgiving.

Presents: a copy of The Moonflower Murders  by Anthony Horowitz. It was just published here in the States, and a work table, not unlike our kitchen island, that has yet to be assembled.

This came about because I realized that working on dollhouses would be much easier for me physically if I had a taller surface. Right now, I have to torque my body into strange positions and it hurts my back. Where the heck I’m going to put it is another question!

And this. I sent a link to Don for both this and the book, knowing he might need some gift ideas. This is from Tiny Dollhouse in NYC.

A hand made umbrella stand, made by British artisan Tony Dunham. It came with two canes.

I thought it would be perfect for Dove Cottage and I’ve had it marked as a favorite for a long time.

I need to buy a couple of umbrellas.

Isn’t it lovely?

All in all, a wonderful birthday, with a FaceTime call from Rick and Doug, as well as calls from dear friends.

I am blessed.

Stay safe.

Happy Sunday.

We take a break in our regularly scheduled posts because it’s my birthday today. Hello to little Claudia, waltzing around her childhood living room with her baby carriage. I had the strangest feeling looking at this photo this morning. I found myself wanting to kiss that little girl on the cheeks. I could almost feel that velvety skin that children have. I wanted to hug her and tell her that she is loved.

I’ve never had that kind of reaction before. It was very powerful.

I trust Don has some nice little things planned today, though it won’t be all that different from other birthdays. We usually spend our respective birthdays together and that’s more than enough. I’m glad he’s here with me – that’s all I need. He (all by his lonesome) finished off the shed clearing yesterday! Tomorrow, we’ll clean the floor.

Thanks for being here today and always.

As I said on IG, my request on my birthday is for everyone to wear a mask and stay at home on Thanksgiving. I’ve had several former students contract COVID. The latest is Kate – who was in a sort of bubble with her best friend. Unfortunately, her friend was diagnosed with COVID and now Kate has tested positive. She’s a single parent. Bubbles are not completely trustworthy. They simply aren’t. I’ve heard of too many people who were around only the people in their self-proclaimed bubble, yet came down with the coronavirus.

Be scrupulous. Be careful. We’ll all survive having Thanksgiving without our extended families. And isn’t that what’s important right now?

(I know I’m preaching to the choir, here.)

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

Another find from the shed purge:

I think I bought this when I was living in Cambridge. I collected vintage Fiesta back then and I was drawn to all things with art deco lines. (I still am, that hasn’t changed.) I believe I found this at a shop in Somerville, which is right next door to Cambridge. That little shop was run by two women – I can’t remember how I found it as there was no internet back then – and they often carried vintage Fiesta – the original Fiesta – and I would save my pennies and buy a piece. Slowly but surely, my collection grew bigger. They would often call me to tell me something had come in that they thought I’d like. They had a lot of vintage everything and I found this pitcher, which was made by Universal, there. It’s in great condition, even after being packed away for years. Interestingly, Don is crazy about it. Now, to find a place for it.

We’re going to buy some gray metal shelves, the industrial looking kind you can get at a hardware store. We actually have a set in the shed now, but something corrosive spilled on the shelves and half of the shelves are now rusted and falling apart.

It’s sunny today and wee bit warmer. I think we’re going to hit 58 degrees today. It’s all relative, but that seems positively balmy considering what it’s been like around here for the past two days.

I’m pretty sure we’re going to get our Christmas tree early this year – just as we did last year. That’s not our norm, Last year’s decision to buy one early was spontaneous; due, I think, to a big winter storm coming in. This year, however, I notice more and more people decorating early. I think it’s because we’re desperately in need of some cheer and sparkly lights and ornaments. I know we are.

First, though, Thanksgiving.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.