Birthday Bulletin

You may have noticed that I've dropped the COVID19 designation from the title of the post. COVID19 is going to be with us from here on out. The United States' response to the virus this time last year was so politicized and intentionally bumbled that the concept of "herd immunity" isn't even an option for us now.

Folks who live their lives by "Fear not," saith the Lord are more afraid of the virus than the vaccine, even though one thing is known to be deadly and the other one isn't. Those same "fear nots" are also the ones cheering the new Tennessee state law allowing anyone who wants to carry a handgun openly to by-God-strap-one-on because they're terrified of whatever might need to be shot and killed, but that's a whole different box of snakes.

I celebrated my 56th birthday on Tuesday the 27th, and I don't feel any older. In fact, I currently feel better than I've felt in a few years. Back in December'ish, Jack and I switched to a healthier diet with lots of vegetables, healthy fats, and almost no fried food ever, and now four months into "improved diet," we both feel physically improved, which at our age is the best gift we can give ourselves.

Bea's birthday was the 23rd, and the family got together for a joint celebration on Sunday afternoon. It was for Bea and myself, but it was truly a celebration of our entire family. This marked the first time we've been together as a family - all of us - since we got vaccinated. Vaccines have still not been approved for children, but surely to goodness they'll be eligible soon since young people are the newest high risk group.

Here are a few pictures from the party:

 

Blooms in the Yard

April is a beautiful month. I want to say it's the most beautiful, but every month has spectacular moments. April just has a whole lot of spectacular moments.

Like Beatrice's birthday, which is today!! (Happy Birthday, Bea!!)

And my birthday, which is Tuesday! (Happy Birthday, Pammy!!)

Aside from those two special days, our April yard is full of some of my favorite perennials, and the last couple of weeks have been delightful.

COVID19: Vaccinated, Easter on the Farm, Photos of the Girls

Even though the COVID19 is still with us and will be for a long time, I'm not going to preface my titles with it any longer. We've been isolating and taking precautions for a year now, and this is our new reality.

Jack and I have received both rounds of the Moderna vaccine, and while we still have about ten days before we have maximum protection, the relief feels sweet. 

That said, there's still no place I want to go and nothing I want to do other than some serious hanging with Sis and the girls. Mom and Dad and I got huggy last week, and the situation feels overall better, but  news of dangerous variants and Canada on lockdown and young people now at increased danger of illness, death, and transmission have me on high alert. All of us really, and all I can do is hope that everyone stays as safe and well as they can. 

We had Easter on the farm last Saturday (the day before Easter) with Sis, Chris, and the girls coming for a longer, visit with inside-time and a more normal feel to it. Because Jack and I are not quite protected, we had to hang back and refrain from hugs, but that time's coming with a couple of birthdays - Bea's and mine - later in April.

I was so excited about seeing everybody and volunteered to make a beautiful and perfect strawberry cake using a recipe from Jack's side of the family. I filled it with strawberry jam and was on Cloud9 about how much everyone was going to love that cake. Until I dropped it putting it into the car. At least it landed right side up, and aside from some grime from the side of the car that scraped off easily enough with a spatula, it was fine and tasted delicious.

Mom posed with the big spruce tree in the yard. It was our first Christmas tree after we moved into the house 1978. Forty two years now! It's huge and beautiful. When I posted the photo on Facebook, my friend Mike commented, "It's a Christmas tree with the angel at the bottom." 

We all love kitties. This is Mom's cat, Bingo.