Happy Birthday, Ron!

I want to recognize my handsome son on his birthday today. He's been an absolute joy and I'm very proud of him. He's always been able to pull a laugh out of me with his funny antics. He shares a great sense of humor with his two sisters.
The three greatest accomplishments in my life are pictured here. I have every right to brag and I do so very easily and often!

My Birthday Boy has had the honor of working with me for almost 26 years. Well, it wasn't always a honor. He's witnessed my tantrums and I've seen his. Still, he knows he's indispensable to me. Ron is one of the most talented engineers I know. He can design and produce parts that astound our customers. And he has an easy way with everyone we do business with and they all admire him. Not as much as I do, of course.

It was only a few years ago when I first stared at this blond, blue-eyed baby boy and knew instantly that I was in love. Through the years that love has exceeded my own expectations. Happy birthday, Ron. I love you more than life itself.

Words Ending in "ic"

You might think I'm a little eccentric, but I like words that end in ic. Just as an artistic person loves color, a writer can be a fanatic about words. I have found some paragraphs so poetic in their presentation that I go back and read them again. I just enjoy how the English language can be magnetic, drawing so many words together to form a beatific thought.

Although my own writing has been problematic lately and I've tackled the book in progress at a very erratic pace, I still feel ecstatic about completing it. I feel the topic could be very interesting and the characters have very eclectic backgrounds. I hope to become energetic very soon and begin typing away. Maybe an exotic getaway would do the trick. But I don't want to panic over it. The logic I live by is that writing should be fun, not a caustic acid that eats away at me. Still, it might take a sonic boom to wake me from my autistic stupor.

At this point, you are probably thinking I'm manic and need professional help. Perhaps a medic, or a cleric, or a psychic could find a magic or systematic cure for what ails me. But you can't teach an old relic new tricks.

Texas Divas are a Crazy Bunch!

I love this picture. Can't have fun without a little insanity. Our group has that in reserve.

OK, I Promise This is the Last Birthday Post

Until I get my scrapbook, that is. I'll want to share it with all of you.

I had another birthday treat today when my son came over with his homemade ice cream. He received a Cuisinart ice cream maker for Christmas and asked what flavor I wanted for my birthday. Yeah, he's three weeks late, but you have to understand sons.

I opted for peppermint chocolate chip. Ron added the peppermint extract, big chunks of chocolate and a hint of green food coloring to give it a realistic appearance. It was delicious! I had it for breakfast, which is unconventional by some standards. But I'd slept late and hadn't eaten by the time he appeared on my doorstep. You know how it goes, I had to try it.

What was really unique was the card he brought with the ice cream. It had a pretty dessert dish with mounds of ice cream, topped with birthday candles. Inside, a spoon pops up and it says, "It's your birthday. Dig in!" How appropriate is that?

I make homemade ice cream for all the grandchildren birthdays and Ron said it was only right that he make me some on mine. Thank you, Ron, for making my birthday complete and my hips a little broader.

Now, dear daughters, the pressure is on for the finished scrapbook. What wonderful children I have!

Texas Divas Birthdays!

Wow! We celebrated four Diva's birthdays today. Two turned 60 and two are turning 57. A polite person wouldn't even venture a guess which ones they are. The birthday Divas are Deborah, Cathy, Patty and myself, who hasn't tired of all the celebrating.

Feast your eyes on this cake! It was huge! Paula baked this masterpiece carrot cake and it was the best one any of us have ever tasted. The cake pan is so big that she had to bake one layer at a time. We almost forfeited lunch so we could enjoy dessert first. We had some happy husbands when we got home with Hungry Man portions of this delicious cake. Thanks, Paula. You've just been designated Texas Diva Baker of the Year. The title includes supplying rich desserts for each Diva outing. Sorry. You brought it on yourself, girlfriend.

Deborah, Paula - Texas Diva Baker of the Year, and Cathy.

Patty and I are pictured with Trish, Paula's sister, who has officially joined our crazy group. Welcome, Trish! You fit right in.

My beautiful daughter, Allison, and equally beautiful sister, Donna, always add so much humor and fun when we're all together.

Here we are. This picture looks like trouble about to happen. Never a dull moment when the Texas Divas meet for lunch. I'm honored to have each one in my life.

Winter Wonderland

What could be more relaxing than watching the silent beauty of falling snow? It blanketed our yard all day in non-stop quietness. I loved it.

A Cherished Poem by my Sister

As part of my birthday, my daughters are making me a scrapbook. They asked for comments from friends and family. My sister, Donna, wrote me a poem that reduced me to tears. I want to share it here, although I realize that some of it are inside jokes between us, while most is about our relationship during childhood.

Donna and I usually had kitchen duty and we harmonized while doing dishes. It made the chore bearable and faster. We also used to write poems for each other, most of which were tacky but all in fun. Now that I've set the stage, here's her beautiful poem.

A Poem For My Sister, Peggy

How do I start to write a rhyme for someone like my Sis,
As her ability is far better; that talent gene I missed.
Battle of the poets, she would always win.
Making fun of my bra size was to me a sin.

Early in our childhood, we had our standard chores,
Sweeping, dusting, mopping and picking up the floors.
We'd be doing dishes, Peggy washed and I dried,
Singing and telling stories, yes, making this fun, we tried.

My sister Peg is good, but also she is vain,
The rear view mirror episode was really quite insane.
I'd love to know the sacker's thoughts when to you he said goodbye.
That one last look in the mirror, didn't you just want to cry?

I'm so thankful I was blessed with the sister that I got,
She always treated me special though I could be a little snot.
Pretending I was Peggy when the cute young boys would phone,
Begging to go with her and Pat so I wouldn't be alone.

Peggy finds humor in oh so many things,
Though her heart is warm and generous, gives without any strings.
She is a friend of mine and I know to many others,
A wonderful grandma to nine and a kind and loving mother.

I thank God for you, Peggy, you have always shown you cared,
Even with your offspring you were willing with me to share.
I'm looking toward eternity at that heavenly kitchen sink,
Singing Drummer Boy with our Daddy,
He'd like that, don't you think?

I love you, Sissy!

Donna

Isn't that beautiful? Tears were stinging my eyes as I typed it. I will no longer make fun of Donna's poetry after this masterpiece. Well, maybe in fun.

Thank you, Donna, for words I will treasure for a lifetime. I love my Sissy!

My Birthday - Again

These pictures were taken on my actual birthday and before we met up with my three cousins for dinner. If you're having a major event and need it spiced up a bit, invite our group of fun ladies.Angela put her camera on a timer and was able to capture the five of us together.

The Birthday Girl is getting lots of birthday hugs.

Mama and her two beautiful daughters, affectionately known as Mutt and Jeff. I love these girls!

With best friends Patty and Cheryl on each side of me I'm one of the luckiest people alive.

Our waiter graciously snapped this picture of our lunch in what used to be the stables at the Biltmore.

Here we are in front of the Biltmore Estate, picture compliments of our shuttle driver.

My beautiful, perky Allison.

The tour ended and we were headed off for dinner with cousins Linda, Barbara, and Trisha. I left there very thankful that I don't have a house that large to clean!