It’s Ruby’s first Christmas here, so I had to take the obligatory picture in front of the little tree in the den.

There will be 3 more photos coming, as I adopted 4 girls last year – Audrey, the other Little Keiko girl, Gilly – Ruby’s sister, and Myoshi, my Blythe from Japan.

It was a lovely weekend. We have a tradition here in our family. When it’s the day of your birthday, the following week is also  your birthday. I’m on Day 4 of my birthday week and I intend to make the most of it. This year, Thanksgiving falls during my birthday week, so I’ll ge some pumpkin pie in addition to the delicious piece of chocolate cake I had on the actual day.

We’ve had some really cold temps lately and I suspect more of the porch plants have expired – especially the impatiens. Since today is sunny and a bit warmer, I’m going to dispose of some of the plants and store the pots in the shed. So far, the hanging plants are still ‘hanging’ in there, as well as the lobelia. The calibrachoa is almost ready to give up. It’s also time to bring in the cushions from the glider and the chair, and….drape our Christmas lights on the porch railing!

The doll’s cubbies are decorated. I located the deer in a little box here in the den, right before I spent an entire morning pulling things out of the crammed-full closet in the office because I couldn’t find two of the dollhouse Christmas trees. Turns out, I’d put them in a plastic bin to protect them, but I have no recollection of doing that. Yikes. Hopefully, I’ll remember that next year, but these days, it’s a bit of a crap shoot.

Don has to have a shot in his eye today. Poor guy!

I just picked up the newest Thursday Murder Club mystery from the library – “The Impossible Fortune.” This will most definitely get my reading mojo going again. I started it last night. By the way, I didn’t like the movie version of the first book. Not at all. The actors are wonderful of course, but they killed off one of the characters who has not been killed off in the books, and they eliminated all of Joyce’s journal/diary entries, which are absolutely funny and charming. They’re my favorite part of the books and they also advance the plot. I had to keep telling Don that the books were much better than the movie indicates, because he was not impressed.

Okay, my friends. This 73 year old is going to tackle some chores.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Thank you, dear friends, for all the birthday greetings! I seem to spend a big chunk of time on my birthday responding to birthday wishes on social media! Between this blog and instagram and facebook, my cup runneth over. Friends from elementary school, from high school, college, grad school, community theater, various places of employment, theater, theater, theater – the list goes on! I’ve met and worked with a LOT of people over the years – one of the joys of the kind of work I do. To hear from so many people is a blessing that wouldn’t occur without social media. So, even though I curse it occasionally, on my birthday it is simply marvelous.

Yesterday was a simple, easy day. Thanks to Don, it was just what I wanted. I’m not one for a party these days. I am not comfortable being the focus of attention. Besides, our friends and family are truly scattered all over the country. Don made a wonderful birthday dinner. I’d asked for a beginning set of watercolors and some brushes and he delivered. We’ll see how that goes…

Today, I have to run a few errands, as does Don. I set up the little Christmas tree we have in the den yesterday afternoon. Next up will be the porch lights.

Here’s the puzzle I finished a few days ago. “The Romantics” – all about Byron and Shelley and Wordsworth, etc. It’s another of the puzzles from Lawrence King. The quality is top notch. I’ve started another one, but just barely.

Thank you again, my friends.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

This was taken about 5 years ago, so I look older now. But this captures my spirit; my silliness, my way of dressing, my smile. Don will be happy it shows my dimples.

Yes, today is my birthday. There was repeated sneezing during the night last night and some weird dreams, so I woke up feeling tired and edgy. But I’ll shake it off. I’m happy that I’m spending this day quietly with my husband, who will – as always – make this a beautiful day, despite the gray skies.

Thanks so much for being here. For spending some moments of the day on this blog that will be 18 years old in a few months. How can that be?

Praying for peace. For the return of morality and honor to the White House. For the removal of all that’s vile. That’s my birthday wish.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.