May 25th

First of all, I love this date: it often falls on a holiday weekend, which, in retirement, should have little significance except that we've been taught to believe that this holiday ushers in summer. Many schools end their academic year now, community pools open up for the season, people start grilling. Massively. None of this matters to me. I just like the weather and the state of gardening and, importantly, it is my youngest grandson's birthday. Sandpiper is four today.

Second of all, it is a drop-dead beautiful day. They do not come better than this (unless you love snow). Sunny, mild, good air quality, a high of 70F (21C). It's just one beautiful time to be alive.

(Morning walk)

Because tradition has it that I do birthday dinners at the farmhouse for all Madison based grandkids, I am in need of a cake for tonight. I ordered one from Batch Bakehouse and so first on the to-do list is a trip downtown... 

 

 

 

... to pick up the cake and a few pains au chocolat. For breakfast. For me, because Ed has been on a no breakfast kick for a while now. His standard line -- "just fruit please." I know better than to counsel someone on eating habits.

I feed and water the tubs next. Ed frowns on that because he claims that eventually the plant food leaches into the soil, but honestly, that's being a little to over-the-top for me. The water stays in the pot! Give me a break.

[We are both feeling opinionated lately. For example, after staying at the AirBnB in Mineral Point and feeling their carpet on the steep stairs, I decided that this is what we really need at the farmhouse. Our stairs are just too slippery and though he and I have learned to take great care coming down, we can't guarantee that the kids and distracted or aging guests will be equally safe. Predictably, Ed grumbled at the idea of adding a carpet. He hates acquiring new stuff. I am sympathetic, but as I said, we are feeling stubborn right now. After much discussion, he finally agreed to carpet strips. I found decent enough carpety looking ones on Amazon. He switched that out to "easily removable" clear plastic strips. I told him I dont think walking on plastic in the house is especially fun. Back to my reminder: we are feeling stubborn lately. And he is usually the one that holds out longer!] 

A little weeding, a lot of lilac bush trimming (snipping off spent flowers increases flower production for next year), and I turn my attention to Sandpiper's dinner party. Gifts to wrap, kitchen to decorate, food to prepare. 

Here he is!

(the older two resorted to their preferred activities here...)

 

 

 

 

 

(dinner)

 

 

 

 

At four, you don't quite get the significance of this special day. You don't fully grasp that it wont come around again until May 25th 2026. You just live it in the moment, fully, exuberantly! 

 

 

Happy happy birthday, you happy boy!

With so much love...