I’ll get to today’s song in a minute. 🙂
Yesterday, I was totally wiped out by the time I got home from Georgetown, and didn’t have the energy to post, but the conspiracy was a success! The family and my parents’ next door neighbors managed to pull off our surprise party for my mother’s 75th birthday. It’s been in the works for a month at least, and an astounding number of emails and messages were passed back and forth without her catching on. (Or at least she said she was surprised, and that is probably the best we can hope for.)
Under the guise that we were having a tea party for the Mystery Readers (who usually take August off, but we concocted a reason for the exception), we got the ladies to Catherine’s house. Then, after about 30 minutes of socializing, the rest of the family showed up singing “Happy Birthday.” Mom looked surprised at least.
Here are a few shots from the party:
 
Mother (right) & friends           Menfolk, and Brianna
Our hostess, Catherine
 
 
My sisters — Julie, Donna, and Lauren — and Papa.
 
 
Grandkids — Christa      Keith                   Brianna
  
Byron                    Jamison
And now we get to the reason I picked this song for today. Catherine and Larry have the most amazing backyard, full of wonderful statuary creatures and surprises around all the corners. Here are some of my favorite shots:
   
  
   
   
And, of course, the hummingbirds:
   
Not to be outdone, Jamison commandeered my camera, and took some pictures of her own. Some of these turned out quite well:
   
   
Others, were kind of typical 5 year old…
  
  
But I think she should get her own camera soon!
That’s enough for now. Everyone had a great time, but I am still recuperating today. 😉
And if anyone is keeping track, I decided not to try and force my story to a conclusion for Monday’s deadline. I may finish it later, but I have a thousand other projects to do first!
; 
; 
 (which my friend Glenda once told me is essential in any new medium…it was one of the first CDs I ever bought too…); and a huge 
 collection.
, and highly recommend it. I first heard of this album when I wrote a short story for a contest she was having before it came out. My writing partner, Jim, took Honorable Mention in the same contest, and let me hear the album with the stipulation that if I liked it, I should buy it. So I did.
 will be here sometime tomorrow. Can’t wait! This is a belated birthday present from my sweet husband. It will be fun to play with. 🙂
Rie Sheridan Rose 
8/20/12
Today was a take your husband to work day…
Means not much got done but I did go do some shopping that needed to be done.
Came home to take advantage of our newly worked on computers and play some co-op Orcs Must Die 2. 🙂
Also made some cucumber sandwiches for dinner. Such a lovely light meal. Wheat bread, cucumber, and onion and chive cream cheese. Yum! Newell likes a slice of cheese on his. And I put a slice or two of the fake Morning Star Farms bacon. Fairly light on calories too.
Think that’s about all for me today. Hopefully will get more done tomorrow.