The Birthday Week

     It's not just the Birthday Week, it's also the Anniversary Week, the part of the year we celebrate most seriously  We were married 11 years ago just a week before our Birthdays.  This year we had a lovely week indeed.  On our Anniversary we ate a nice Stir-fry at home after spending the day out shopping, reading at our favorite Non-lending Library, Barnes and Noble, and having a quick lunch at McDonald's.  On our Birthday we opened presents at breakfast.  Then we had a quiet day reading and went out to Outback for a festive dinner.  There were lots of calls and e-mails and Happy Birthdays on Facebook.  I wore all black with Mother's jade necklace shining on my neck.  Even on Sunday we went to a party, a Christmas event at Elegant Options Antiques.  They were swamped with people, eating their elegant snacks and standing in line to buy Christmas ornaments and presents.  We chatted with friends and acquantances.  Not too early for a Christmas event evidently!
 

 Here are some of the gifts I received.  The little jewel box is reminiscent of Laura's box and I was overcome to get it.  Note the tiny book for Abe Lincoln.  I loved the lazer cut card from Bill and the preying mantis one.  Another favorite is below:

 From my Daughter in Seattle and her Husband.  Who wouldn't want to be addressed as Super-Mom?

Here is how the book looks on Abe's desk.  It is beautifully bound.

You remember how I longed for a fan for Mary.  We found this one at Oolitic Antique Mall.  It was a charm from a necklace.  Bill cut off the little loop.    On Monday we were quite unready to resume normal duties.  But on Tuesday I mopped the floors and straightened up for Eliyah's usual visit.
     We read the last Chapter of The Long Winter on our Birthday.  And neither of us could resist a few tears:

"The table looks some different from what it did a few days ago" Pa said as he heaped Mrs. Boast's plate with turkey and stuffing and potatoes and a large spoonful of cranberries.  And as he went on filling the plates he added, "It has been a long winter."
     "And a hard one," said Mr. Boast.
     "It is a wonder how we all kept well and came through it," Mrs. Boast said.
     While Mr. and Mrs. Boast told how they had worked and contrived through that long winter, all alone in the blizzard-bound shanty on their claim, Ma poured the coffee and Pa's tea.  She passed the bread and the butter and the gravy and reminded Pa to refill the plates.
From "The Long Winter" by Laura Ingalls Wilder