My First 39th...

I teasingly tell people that I celebrated my 1st 39th birthday, yesterday. And I had a really great one. Actually, we celebrated a day early, because I planned to work yesterday. So... I played in the flower garden for a couple hours and even hoed some in the vegetable garden- loads of fun- really. Then I showered and we took the kids to see X-Men. I say that we took the kids, but I've been wanting to see that one since it came out. I have a thing for Wolverine. We had the theater to ourselves and Eva said that it was like having our own theater..."sweet," she said. Hmmm... oh, and then we went by the grocery store and picked up 2 big boxes of fried chicken, and a B-day cake. I am a big fan of the homemade variety, but really, one shouldn't have to bake their own, eh? Then we took our goodies out to the lake- again had the whole place to ourselves, and had a great time. It was a gorgeous day- cool, but warm in the sun. Returned home and hung out- while we all came off the sugar high- and opened my present. I had eyed this "china" a year ago at a yard sale and then, this year it was in the same yard sale again- we have an annual one, down the road. (Now, it is a place setting for 12, but they wanted $50 for it. I just don't carry that kinda cash to a yard sale, and I figured it was really too... dressy for me- even though it really isn't china but a type of stoneware. About 75 years old, I guess. This year, with $50 in my pocket, I went back to get it, and noticed these tiny lines in the finish. I don't think they were there last year- maybe stored in a garage. So I walked away thinking it just wasn't meant to be. DH followed behind me later in the afternoon and got it for $40- with a set(14) of teaplates and cups thrown in! He's been hiding them in his van for the past month! Imagine my surprise! I really love the teaplates- have you seen these?- definitely 50's. Right in front of the punch cups are ashtrays!! What a hoot! We are hoping to start work on another addition in the fall that includes a formal dining room, so I'll have a place to show my pretty plates- the scalloped edges are so pretty.) Bill worked some more on the stadium seating in our family room. (He has that all finished except for a few finishing details. Anxious to take it for a spin.) Around the kids' bedtime, Bill and I snuck off for a late dinner and then to the store where we picked up a bench for the flower garden- now I can sit and feel guilty about all the work that needs to be done. All in all, a great day.

The other things in the picture are some fun stuff I picked out for myself at the quiltshop, yesterday. My Aunt Eva had sent a check to the quiltshop for a gift certificate for me. How sweet is that? I can hardly wait to start playing with the paintstiks- oil paint for fabric- it's a creme, so you can do rubbings on the those texture sheets and stencils and all kinds of fun things. I am working on a fabric scrapbook of the children and thought that would be fun to incorporate into it. If it goes well I'd like to buy a set for my Uncle Greg as he loves to paint on fabric and supposedly this paint does not change the hand of the fabric- even when applied liberally. The colors that I choose are all irredescent.

Last, you have to check out my Mom's blog www.teelsidemama.blogspot.com and see the beautiful painting she is doing for me. It is of the barn that used to sit on our property. It was so huge- 4 stories. It fell, due to heavy winds, age and neglect. We always wanted to save it, but all of our resources went into salvaging the house. Her painting looks better than the photo she was using as a model. She is so talented and I have always wanted one of her paintings.

Now wouldn't you agree that I have had a GREAT day?