Anyone Need Salt and Pepper Shaker?

I had an afternoon appointment and before I picked up Baylor I stopped by the Salvation Army who was stuffed to the gills with salt and pepper shakers.  Apparently a man had a store and that was all he sold.  He retired and sent all his stock to them.  They told me they had trailers of it and everywhere I went in the store, there were boxes filled with matched sets.  It was crazy.  It was also 50% day and I left with too many!! But I did find some Easter themed shakers and a few for gifts.  Molly would have loved it!  

I picked up Baylor early and we had a nice afternoon taking photos.  

Baylor said he was going to take some photos and I found these on my phone.  

Spring is Peeking Up in the Gardens

Happy Birthday Kartikey

50th Wedding Anniversary

I made a cake for my parents anniversary to take the to the Aunt's meeting.  It was my first attempt at swirls and they were OK.  But the nice part is they are pretty forgiving if they are not quite perfect.  

I had a brownie layer on the bottom, two white cake layers with chocolate frosting and my favorite Italian Buttercream in its natural ivory color.  And gold dragees on the swirls and piped starts. It was delicious!   

I packed the cake in a box in my parent's car along with the 8 x 10 photo I made of their wedding photo. I usually have so much stuff when we go anywhere, Mom and Dad never questioned the huge bag and large box in addition to the other food I had for the party, biscuits and hot Spinach and Artichoke dip.  We passed around the photo and had our family sign the mat in gold pen. Most of us were in the living room at Lauren and Meghon's apartment while Mom and Dad stayed in the kitchen.  The girls have a giant bean bag, called a love sack.  It was sooo comfortable, I loved sitting in it. At one time I think there were five of us on it.  

 I had mentioned I had Easter Crafts and around the time I wanted to serve the cake Aunt Joan and Aunt Betty started cackling about the crafts so I said I would get them out.  The girls cleared off the table for me and I busied myself getting out the plates, napkins, candies and cake.  I made wallet sized copies of their wedding photo and put them in magnetic sleeves. Baylor drew a photo for them with Buddy in his shorts and flannel shirt, Grandma in a colorful top and black pants, their dog Chief with them watching the Weather Channel.  He nailed them.  I had sent a note for everyone to bring a card as well.  

Mom and Dad were surprised as I kept putting items on the table.  She said later that she thought we might do something at the meeting but when I said I was going to get out the craft stuff, she figured we were not.  

I took some photos of Mom and Dad holding their wedding photo but it was hard to get a good one and I did not have the larger photo with me at the time.  

Baylor and Grimm joined them. 

And then of course Chief joined them.  

And after it was all over, I made sure to ask Mom to tell Barb about the party because I did not want her to think we did not celebrate their anniversary.  

The First Day of Spring

Today is the first day of spring but it is also my parents 50th Wedding Anniversary.  They only knew each other for six months when they got married.  They had a small ceremony and my grandma did not go because they had made some judgments against Dad. It took them many years to get past them but in the end they learned he was a good mad and good to their baby daughter. 

 They did not want a big party or anything but I did plan a bit of a celebration at the Aunt's Meeting on Saturday.  

And on the first Day of Spring, we had snow.  Baylor started out with a two hour delay. When I was dropping him off at COF another Mom told me they just called off school for the day.  Since we were already there I left him there and went to work.  The roads were fine, just wet.  But only three of the seven of us made it into work. And honestly, if I had received the call of message before we left, I would have stayed at home as well.  

But Mom and Dad came over in the morning and picked him up from COF before lunch.  They went to Hoss's for lunch and had a good afternoon together,  Mom pulled out some food from the freezer for dinner and we gave then a few anniversary gifts and a picture Baylor drew of them.  Mom's best friend, Barb, called my house looking for Mom and Dad.  She asked me what I had done to celebrate their big anniversary and I had to tell her we really did not do anything for them.  I felt like a major schlep of course but I could not talk about what I had planned for Saturday morning.  Time will tell!  

Fun with the Phone

I caught the fur babies on the bed together and my boy baby joined them for a photo.  

And then Baylor took over the phone for a few interesting shots.  

Happy St Patrick's Day

Of course we wore our green for St Patrick's Day and  a few  necklaces as well.  

Even Eddy changed into a green bandanna.

I walked out to the maple trees and found my grandma's acconites are up.  I love seeing them and remember her patch of them under her copper beech tree.  Having the flowers remind me of my grandparents and their farm.  

And being St Patrick's Day we of course had a nice Jewish meal of corned beef and cabbage. Grimm even asked for some.  He loves to share in our holiday meals.  He is a wonderful kitty!