During February, I celebrated a birthday. My children, husband, and many friends never forget my birthday and of that I am thankful. My daughter-in-law invited us to her house for my birthday dinner.
To my surprise, the table was set in Downton Abbey style. I think the staff had the evening off though. So, Lady Shannon and Lord Brett had to serve. I tried not to frown on that action.

And I am not sure they had balloons back then.

Plus the entertainment may have been more late 1950s.

Ben, Downton heir, was there to wish me a happy birthday. If you don't have a grandson, you don't know what sweetness is.

 Cora postponed her bedtime to celebrate.

If I had known there was a Downton theme, I would have done something jolly with my hair.

Poor Cora, just as the photograph was being taken she heard her mother say, she couldn't have any cake. "WHAAAT", she exclaimed.

It was a grand birthday and there were even presents (although they are all under strict instructions not to get me anything). I will tell you about one particular present later.

Thank you ALL, Everything in the garden was rosy!

My First World Dilemmas

A few weeks ago, I was having lunch with my friend, Becky. I told her that I was going to quit blogging except when we were traveling. Becky asked me why and I replied "How much can one write about themselves?" I shouldn't even be writing about myself, but as you may remember, Barry started taking a little offense that every blog was about him.

Since then, however, I have had a couple of people mention that they enjoy reading my blog. A couple might even be an exaggeration, but I know there is one person out there that said they enjoy it!

In order to make myself feel better about an activity that I have come to feel a little narcissists, I will no longer be emailing the blog to anyone (unless you specifically ask me too.) Yes, in order to get some readers, (like Brett), I had to email my blog to them.

I'm divided about even posting it on Facebook. I have an idea, why don't you just bookmark the blog if you want to read it? I tell you what, I will even post tomorrow about Bookmarking or saving to your home screen on your iPhone or iPad for some of my less tech-y friends. Then, if you wish to read the blog, read it, if you don't...don't.  That will make me happy. If you do read the blog, comments make me even happier.

I would like to thank everyone that has helped me out in the last six weeks after my hand surgery. Barry has been great. He learned where I kept the sheets. I am not sure why those fitted sheets are so hard for him though.  I received many cards and thank everyone for their kind words. My family and friends brought meals and spoiled me rotten. My hand is better everyday. I'm hoping by April I will be as good as new.

Every blog needs a photo and while taking photographs is still difficult to do with my hand, I was able to capture a couple from our recent trip to Houston. While we were there, we took the girls to Edith Moore Bird Sanctuary near Joanie and Jacob's house. We actually did not see too many birds (I knew you would want to know), but we had a great time with the girls.

Ava sported the finest in bird watching attire.

Lucy loves her 'Poppy' as you can tell by her face in this photograph.

and we all enjoyed the beautiful day.

Joanie & Lucy

jb

And the winner is....

NO ONE!

Either you don't need a new tune on your iPod or you don't like birds, but there were only two comments made on the quiz post.  Both of those were from smarty pants family members.  

People are acting like they have something better to do in life than follow this blog and play games that I devise.  I am shocked. 

February ♡ is a busy month, so I will forgive you all. 

Until the next quiz.  

JB 

How About A Quiz?

Click here to read about the Great Backyard Bird Count

It just so happened I was going to have a little quiz that pertained to....BIRDS.  Then I saw that the Great Backyard Bird Count was coming up. How perfect is that?

To participate in this quiz, you must leave a comment on this site or email it to me by Wednesday evening at 11:59pm.  All correct answers will be entered into a drawing for an iTunes gift card.

Here are the rules:  

Name the two birds pictured by their full name.  For example, if it is an eagle, you must say what kind of eagle-Bald Eagle. 

Photo #1-

Photo #2

Now if you want to see some amazing photos click on the button below. These people must not be shooting their photographs through their windows!

Bird Photographs

Media Monday on Friday

I have my new cast on, and I think I am less able to do fine motor tasks then previously with the huge bandage.  So, I won't be too wordy. Good news for you!  

I must comment on a few shows as you all know, television is my love.

The Following-If you are not watching, why not?

Have you been watching this show on FOX?  It is SCARY! I love it.  You know something is coming yet I have almost jumped off the couch every show. There have only been two or three shows so you can catch up.

Smash comes back February 5th.  Broadway talent in your living room.  You can watch past full episodes here.



Downton Abbey-

Oh My!  I don't want to say too much, but when Maggie Smith was walking into Downton and had to stop to collect herself, I lost it. I have seen my mother and grandmother do that exact same thing.  Brokenhearted, yet, they must be strong.

Don't watch this if you are not caught up.

http://video.pbs.org/video/2329931145

The Old Farts Are Back!

Last October Jennifer and I made our annual pilgrimage to Hot Springs Village, Arkansas.  For the non-golfers out there, Hot Springs Village (HSV) is an out-of-the-way, not well publicized, golfing and boating paradise.  There are nine golf courses and six lakes within the confines of this gated retirement and resort (I use the term "resort" loosely) community.  And, you will not find a friendlier group of residents and visitors anywhere.  I guess that's why we have a timeshare there and look forward to our annual week of golf and total relaxation. 

Since HSV caters to retirees, Jennifer and I thought it would be a great place to gather a little SOOF fodder.  And we were right, as you will see below:

• When we first arrived we made our usual trip to the grocery store to stock up on a week's worth of groceries.  As we walked in we were greeted by a large sign reminding shoppers that annual flu shots are covered by Medicare.  (For the record, I had already taken my flu shot and filed on Medicare.  No need for a reminder.)  Additionally, there was a large sign taped to a near-empty shelf, stating that the store's stock of "Depends" were on sale for a limited time only (No comment.).  (We were off to a good SOOF start!)
• The Village also has a number of good places to eat.  They all seem to have the same thing in common.....they open at 6AM, close at 8PM, and serve breakfast all day.  (This is a good thing!  I can eat bacon, eggs, and pancakes anytime..day or night!) 
• HSV has its own radio station as well, and it may be one of the few places left where it's not uncommon to get phone-in requests for "Big Band" hits from the forties.  Though for the last few years we have been hearing more and more hits from the fifties.  (Reminds me of when I was a kid.)
• It seems that most of the visitors and residents of The Village also spend time in Branson, MO.  A major topic of conversation everywhere we went was the passing of Andy Williams and how the Moon River Theater will never be the same.  (We had a timeshare in Branson before we moved back to Texas.) 
• Jennifer and I were standing on one of the tee boxes of one of HSV's beautiful golf courses checking out the fall colors and the golf course housing, when Jennifer said, "Look at the furniture on the patio of that house.  The 70s just called and they want that sofa back!"  (Personally, I thought it looked kind of nice.)
• Speaking of golf courses, they all have four sets of tee boxes on each course...Championship Tees, Tournament Tees, Senior Tees, and Ladies Tees.  Want to guess which ones get the most play?  (I think the Senior Tees are just as hard as any of the others.  You just have a longer second shot from the first two.) 
• We went out to dinner one evening craving some fried catfish (OBTW:  in addition to breakfast all day, you can also get fried catfish all day at most if not all of The Villages cafes...and I can eat me some fried catfish!)  As we sat outside overlooking a lake, it dawned on me that I had never seen a ski boat on any of The Village's lakes.....just pontoon boats with lawn chairs and beer coolers.  (I'm of the opinion that the only thing ski boats are good for are making big waves and breaking legs.)
• As we walked out of this cafe, I saw a car that looked exactly like ours, drive in and park next to ours.  The couple got out of their car and I struck up a conversation.  Sure enough, their car WAS exactly like ours.  Same make and model, same color, and the same options.  The cars were twins!  AND, we both loved our cars.  But the wife said their daughter was of the opinion her parents should trade the car in for something else.  You see her daughter's generation thinks only old farts drive that kind of car.

As Jennifer and I were driving back to Tyler we were talking about how much we really enjoy HSV.  She likes to read, relax, and go for walks.  I like to play golf, relax, and watch TV.  But, Jennifer thinks the real reason that I like The Village so much is because it really does Smack of Old Fart...just like me.      

           

38 is the Sum of the Squares of the First Three Primes

If you know me, you know we are not going in a math direction even though the title implies as such.

38.  That must be an impressive number because on January 19th that was the number of years Barry and I have been married.  My daughters seem to think that thirty-eight years is a long time.  There were days that were long, but the years have gone by quickly, girls. Thirty-eight years of marriage may be the prime time.

We haven't changed a bit.  There is probably more truth to that statement than I like to admit. 

It is a good thing we were never into big anniversary celebrations, because we would not have been able to do it this year.  

I had surgery on my hand and, Barry had to wait on me hand and foot. He did an excellent job and was aided by family and friends with the cooking. 

Love you, Barry. 

For me, I got to sit in bed or on the coach, watch television, eat, browse the internet, and sleep.  Pretty perfect.  

Here's to another year, Barry.  There should be some prime moments.