Weekending, Birthday Style

June 29, 2015 By Carole

As I’m sure many of you suspected, we went away for the weekend to celebrate Dale’s birthday. We are so fortunate to have friends who are very generous and willing to share their cottage on West Island with us. Since we have been to the island last they sold their other place and moved to a new one. We adored their other house so we were very curious to see the new one – we knew something about it had to be really special in order to entice them to make the change.

And we were right. That view is spectacular. Sitting on their deck and watching the sunset play across the water was such a treat.

There were other treats, too. Treats like birthday cupcakes.

And watching a wedding take place across the way. The couple drove back to the reception, which was right down the street from us, in an 1932 roadster, with the bridal party in convertibles and the wedding guests in a school bus. How fun is that?

Other treats including bike rides and beach visits.

Cocktails and lobster rolls and great music at the local watering hole.

Games and music and hikes across the rocks and the wonderful satisfying feeling that comes from spending uninterrupted time with the one you love.

I can’t think of a better way to have celebrated Dale’s birthday.

Happy 64th Birthday, Dale!

June 26, 2015 By Carole

We interrupt our regularly scheduled Eye Candy Friday for this breaking news: It’s Dale’s birthday today. Okay, it’s not really breaking news since I told you about it yesterday but it is an interruption of my usual Friday post.

First, the photo mosaic. All pictures of Dale taken since his last birthday.

And second, the perfect song for today.

When I’m Sixty Four

When I get older losing my hair
Many years from now
Will you still be sending me a valentine
Birthday greetings, bottle of wine?
If I’d been out till quarter to three
Would you lock the door?
Will you still need me, will you still feed me
When I’m sixty-four?

You’ll be older too
And if you say the word
I could stay with you

I could be handy, mending a fuse
When your lights have gone
You can knit a sweater by the fireside
Sunday mornings go for a ride
Doing the garden, digging the weeds
Who could ask for more?
Will you still need me, will you still feed me
When I’m sixty-four?

Every summer we can rent a cottage in the Isle of Wight
If it’s not too dear
We shall scrimp and save
Grandchildren on your knee
Vera, Chuck & Dave

Send me a postcard, drop me a line
Stating point of view
Indicate precisely what you mean to say
Yours sincerely, wasting away
Give me your answer, fill in a form
Mine for evermore
Will you still need me, will you still feed me
When I’m sixty-four?
Ho!

And third, my answer.

YES, I will still need you, feed you, love you and cherish you, forever and always.

Happy Birthday, Dale. And here’s to 64 more!

Throwback Thursday: This One’s For Dale

June 25, 2015 By Carole

In honor of Throwback Thursday and in celebration of Dale’s birthday, which is tomorrow, I’m sharing this picture of Dale’s mom, Ruthie, with her 3 boys. (Okay, she eventually wound up with 4 boys and a girl but these were the children she had at this time. Work with me here.)

It was taken in September 1951 at Kozy Kamp Hideaway Village – not that I have any idea where that is. My mother-in-law, gawd love her, was really good about writing on the back of photos. That’s how I know where this was taken and when. It’s also how I know that Randy, the oldest, is 2 1/2 years, Glen is 20 months, and Dale, the baby, is 2 1/2 months. That’s right. 3 boys in 3 1/2 years. And would you just look at her? She looks happy. And like the picture of health with her big smile and her long legs crossed at the ankles. The boys are clean and dressed and smiling and Dale, well, he looks a little milk drunk, but that’s to be expected given his age. I’d be willing to bet the photo was taken by Dale’s dad, Jack, and that would probably account for the looks of adoration on their faces. Well, except for Dale because he’s oblivious. And milk drunk.

I love this photo for a million reasons but mostly for the glimpse it gives me of Dale’s earliest days. He was blessed to be born into a loving family with amazing and supportive parents. They camped and hiked and traveled. They worked hard and played harder. They loved each other and their kids fiercely and set an example that all 5 of their children strive to live up to every day.

Good people, I tell you, and I’m grateful that they raised Dale to be the man he is. So, on Dale’s almost birthday, I just want to say thanks to Ruthie and Jack. You raised a fine man.

Happy Birthday To My Mom

June 10, 2015 By Carole

Today, June 10th, would have been my mom’s 84th birthday. It’s strange to think of her as 84 since she was only 66 when she died. I mean, I work with people in their 80s all the time at the Council on Aging, so I know what women in their 80s are like, but picturing my mom at that age? Difficult. Then again, I was only 32 when she died and now I’m getting closer to 50 every day. And Hannah? She was 5.

This picture is from Hannah’s 3rd birthday in September, 1995. So, 18 months before my mom died. She was fighting the cancer then and looking and feeling pretty good. Truly, she felt pretty good until about 3 months before she died and then – well, then she tried an experimental treatment at Dana Farber and it took a lot out of her and she just never really bounced back. She got weaker and the fight was just gone. I think she sort of gave up at that point. The doctor had told her 3 years and it had been 3 years and I think she figured, well, I’ve fought long enough and I’m tired and I’m done. I certainly don’t blame her and I’m grateful for every day I had with her.

If she was here today she’d be coming over to celebrate her birthday with us. She’d be demanding and expecting my best effort and probably driving me nuts. I’d be stressed out about making sure her birthday was good enough, that the birthday dinner I’d cooked was up to her standards, that the present I’d picked was something she liked. Those of you with strong willed mothers and challenging relationships with them understand.

And still. I’d be thrilled to have her here. To have her give me a hard time. To have one more chance to please her and show her how much I loved her.

To take a picture of her at 84, me at 49 and Hannah at 22.

Happy Birthday, Mom. I miss you every day.

Jo-Ann’s 50th Birthday Bash

March 9, 2015 By Carole

On Friday I mentioned that I had some fun stuff coming up for the weekend. Something that I said would chase away the winter blahs. I couldn’t be more specific because the thing I was referring to was a surprise 50th birthday party for my dear friend, Jo-Ann. Her husband Shawn contacted me a while back about helping with this party and I was thrilled to not only be in on the secret but to be able to help plan the event and the decorations. Helloooooooo Pinterest.

We decided to go with a tropical theme for the night. Not only did this give us the chance to showcase Jo-Ann’s love of summer and Jimmy Buffett but it also gave us all a break from the nasty winter we’ve been having. A bit of the tropics to celebrate a big birthday? Yes, please.

Anne and I came up with the centerpieces and she did the majority of the leg work on those since SPA was the weekend before the party and that meant I wasn’t around to help for that.

I put together a tub filled with 30 lollipops, 40 gumballs and 50 packets of pop rocks. I also had a jar that said “50 Years of Memories” on it and I made cards that said “My favorite memory of Jo-Ann is . . . ” and we asked guests to fill those out and place them in the jar. I’m sure Jo-Ann will have a great time reading those in the days ahead.

The other things, like the tissue paper floral swags and leis I got on Amazon.

The cake was made by another good friend of ours, Caroline of Buttercup’s Bakery. She decorated this 3 layer cake with tropical flowers and a tiki hut with the words “50 is Hot” wrapped around it. Shawn made an awesome pedestal for the cake that held 50 candles going all the way around.

The Fire Chief may or may not have been standing by with a fire extinguisher once all those candles were lit.

Our friend Tom was the DJ for the night and the music was fun and there was lots of Jimmy Buffett played. The party was held at the Charlie Horse and the staff there could not have been more helpful or attentive. The drinks flowed, the food was hot and plentiful, and everyone had a fantastic time.

Especially the birthday girl!