90th Birthday

90 is a big one! I had a nice cupcake party in the front yard, super windy so masks were relaxed a bit for a few close shots. My brother attended by face time, and gorgeous flowers arrived from my sister and her family , right in the middle of the party. I am alone so much because of covid, so a party was awesome.

There is a certain feeling of "I made it!"

Lovely Granddaughter Sarah who has given me 4 great grands. I have a very large family, only a few here for the birthday visit, but I heard from many of the rest.

Masks off just a minute for a picture with great grandmother. A strong wind was blowing, see our sideways hair.

The man of the hour was here!

 

Same song different verse

 A fresh year is starting off with bright cold beautiful weather here in South central Texas.  Many of the same issues from 2020 will be with us yet a long time, so I am trying to re commit to making my own weather and experience good things as much as possible with friends and family.   This does not mean my head is in the sand over environmental, racial, political and medical issues, I am passionate on all of these!  So much I cannot fix, but that must not ruin what can still be good. So in that spirit I share here the daily pleasantries that hold my life together.  May it be a relief from doom scrolling.

My small space of nature is a joy in every season. Yesterday for a few hours we had snow falling mixed with a much needed rain. Tonight there will be a hard freeze.  With the house still lightly decorated for Christmas, I am enjoying all the sweet cherry tomatoes I can eat. This will be the last for a long while now, as I had drainage problems in the big pots on my sun porch, and the lovely big plants have now given out.  In the kitchen by a bright window there are two green tips in water, which I hope will  be tomato plants by February to plant fresh.  This favorite variety is Husky Cherry Red.

Today I cut the first of my broccoli heads, crisp green and beautiful! Cutting out the head in the center, allows more florets to form on the sides as a secondary gift from the same plant. 

Since I was alone on Christmas, being leery of even the most careful family gathering, decorating was kept to a few bright spots and one small tree.  My newest Izannah Walker doll is compatible with the one that came to me earlier this year and the two little sister dolls are sweet together. I will leave this tree up a few more weeks.

 And Bears just because they make me smile!

I flooded the house with music for the last several weeks. Two favorite Christmas albums of Pavarotti's rich voice rattled the rafters.  My favorite tenor Andrea Bocelli played day and night.  I even tried a little painting of him singing. I did not want to paint from another person's still photo so stopped a frame on a YouTube video to paint from that. 

 My brother and I watched a Christmas special of Bocelli's streaming,  Bro in Austin and me in Fredericksburg but feeling at least somewhat together in the experience..  My computer is my link to people and events.   Now in 2021, my great teacher in Taos plans to teach painting by Zoom.  I can hardly wait!    e