Some garden pictures, taken on Sunday:
We had a lovely low-key celebratory day yesterday. That’s what Don wanted and I was more than happy to comply.
I found a small cake for him from a local bakery – if I was eating sugar, I would have been thrilled because it was chocolate and buttercream and hazlenuts and all things yummy. It was the perfect size, not so big that you feel you have to eat it for days, not so small that it’s all gone in one bite. (I didn’t really even have a craving for it, which is a good sign, as I’ve been off sugar for 3 weeks now.)
I sang Happy Birthday and he blew out the candles and he loved his presents. He had asked for an inexpensive watch because he was sick of checking his phone to get the time of day. I found a rather stylish Timex that I thought he would like and it was a big success. He also was the recipient of two new books.
Don is such an interesting guy. He has a thirst for knowledge that I deeply admire. He never went to college. He’s self-educated and he’s whip smart. In the past year, he has been delving into several subjects – he calls them his ‘courses.’ The non-fiction books he reads are dense – far too dense for me. He reads a lot.
And, though he’s played guitar since he was 12 years old, he is studying online with a well-known guitar player. He practices every day for hours. All of the pieces are complicated and completely instrumental.
He’s so disciplined about his reading and his guitar study. I am not nearly so disciplined about anything!
We also had a FaceTime call with our Little Z, who is not so little anymore. He was having a great birthday, but was yawning because all that celebrating is tiring! He sent a video Happy Birthday message to his Uncle Don in the morning and we sang to him on the phone until he interrupted us to tell us all about his new iPad. I love hearing him talk about pretty much anything, including an iPad.
He’s still young enough that he gives us kisses on the phone. I hope that lasts a bit longer.
A lovely day. Two lovely guys.
I finished 84, Charing Cross Road this morning. Absolutely charming. And now, on to The Diary of a Bookseller.
We’ve got thunderstorms headed our way this afternoon and the rest of the week will have temperatures in the high eighties. I guess it’s summer.
Thank you for all the lovely birthday greetings!
Happy Tuesday.
sounds like don and little z both had great birthdays … hooray!
hope everyone has a great day today.
i am inspired to track down a copy of 84 charing cross road and re-read it. thank you!
kathy in iowa
It’s a pretty quick read – just a slip of book. But so lovely!
It sounds like a perfect celebration!
Have you read “Q’s Legacy” and “Duchess of Bloomsbury Street”? Highly recommended while on our Helene Hanff jag! “Underfoot in Show Business” is fun too — but less books!
But I work in show business. So it’s perfect!
Sounds like the perfect celebration day. Things around here are once again dark and gray, but a little steamy and a little drippy. Ugh. Another day of reading and rug work, with television in the background. And such is life at the lake for the 2019 season.
Steamy and very rainy here. The a/c just got turned on.
I’m so glad you two had such a nice day; the cake sounds drool-worthy!
It was. He’s looking foward to eating the rest of it tonight!
Happy new year for the birthday boys,all the best in every way!!!!!
Thank you, Grace!
Glad the Don and Little Z had great birthdays. Don sounds like my parents. My father did not finish elementary school and my mother had to quit during high school. They both had a quench for higher education. My father learned many things on his own. My mother was a voracious reader and learned a lot by reading. Kudos to Don. I am teaching my self Latin.
Marilyn
Good for you, Marilyn! That’s wonderful!
Do you follow the blog Art and Sand? Just asking, because she is in Paris, blogging about it. Loads of gorgeous photos posted now & in future posts, I thought of you when I read her June 24 post. I placed a hold on the book The Diary of a Bookseller at my public library. thanks
I know of the blog. I follow a lot of people on IG who live in Paris, so I get my fix every day! I’ll check her out, Mary.
I feel like it’s birthday season–my granddaughters and today my grand-niece. Happy Birthday joy to all! Especially your sweetie!
Thanks, Roxie! And to your family members, as well.
We once attended a performance for one of our granddaughters. I was shocked when her ten-year-old brother, our only grandson, came over and sat on my lap in that auditorium of people. I knew, I knew it was the last time that would ever happen, and it was, but since I knew it, I just let myself feel the wonder and grief of that moment. I didn’t exclaim or comment on my surprise–that would have sent him fleeing. I just acted as if it were an everyday occurrence. I will never forget it. Now he hugs me with the appropriate least-contact-possible side hug for a high school senior and his grandmother. He’s involved in his wonderful but busy life. But I have that memory, more cherished because I knew what it represented in that moment.
Oh, what a lovely moment and memory, Linda. Thank you for sharing it with us.