MY BIRTHDAY

Hello, friends.  I started this post yesterday, but I am having so much trouble with my computer.  It kept crashing over and over and finally locked me out.  I had to wait until today to get in.  And even then I had problems.  But I am here now and I want to tell you about my birthday the end of December.  I promise you I will catch up soon!

It really wasn't much of a birthday.  I wasn't feeling all that great and slept most of the day.  Joe and I were going to go out to Yamato's for lunch, but I was just so tired that I couldn't do it.  Instead, we called out for lunch to our local Chinese food delivery.  I opted to have Egg Foo Yung.  I have not had it in so long.  Years probably.  But I just had a yen for it.  And I'm glad I did.  It was so good!  A great choice.  And here is what my fortune in my cookie said.

In the afternoon there was a knock at the door and a guy handed me a box.  In it was the most adorable bouquet I think I have ever seen.  It was white carnations in the shape of a cat with other colored flowers around it.  It looked just like a cat in a garden.  The holder it was in looked like a wicker cat bed.  So cute!  It lasted a long time too.  Almost two weeks.  Joe certainly got his money out of that.

He also gave me a bottle of Gloria Vanderbilt perfume (my favorite) and two pair of jeans.  Oh, and a new square griddle pan which is wonderful.  Nothing sticks to it.  Also a 9 x 13 pan with a snap on lid, and a set of measuring cups and spoons.  I think he wants me to cook. (ha, ha)

The rest of the day?  Well...  I fell asleep and slept all afternoon.  I didn't feel like cooking dinner, either, so we called out to Dominos and got a pizza for Joe and chicken wings for me.  We also got garlic bread and brownies.  Yum!

Not much of a birthday, huh?  Well, not every year is great.  But hopefully this year will be better because I have a big birthday in 2023.  But you will have to wait a year to hear about that.

I have a video on YouTube about my birthday.  Here's a link to it if you want to see more.

And now it's time for me to make dinner.  Bible study night so I have to have it earlier than we usually do.  Besides, I'm hungry.  Talk to you all later and thanks so much for stopping by.

Kathy

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU!

 This past Wednesday I became older.  Well, every day I'm a day older, but this was my birthday.  I am now officially older than dirt.  Ha, ha!  It was a nice day though. 

I slept in, had a nice breakfast, watched some TV and then got ready to go to the nursing home where Joe was preaching.  I am taking lots of precautions in there and staying 6 feet or more from any of the patients.  Before Covid I used to go up to each of them, hold their hands and talk to and/or pray with them.  Now I stay my distance.

After the service was over, we drove to our favorite Japanese restaurant.  I'm still not feeling terrific, but I wanted to do SOMETHING to celebrate the day.  I figured that Japanese food is very light and wouldn't lay in my stomach and make me sick.  I was right.

Joe ordered a beef bento box.  It came with miso soup and a salad.  In the box was a seasoned beef with onions, shrimp and vegetable tempura, fried potato balls, rice, and sushi.  It looked really good, but I could never eat that much food.  I did steal a broccoli tempura though. Yum.

I ordered vegetable yaki soba.  I have not been eating enough veggies and this just hit the spot.  The noodles are very fine and made out of buckwheat.  It had mushrooms, scallions, carrots, broccoli, onions and green peppers in it.  And best of all it did not upset my stomach.  I ate about half of it and brought the rest home.

We had eaten rather early, so we waited awhile until we were hungry enough for cake.  I finished up the birthday cake my sister had given to me on Christmas.

It was a great day.

Joe gave me four gifts:  a silver and marcasite watch, a beautiful necklace and matching earrings, and what he went into the jewelry store for the other day.  A beautiful turquoise butterfly ring.  Without even knowing my ring size, he got a ring that fits me perfectly.  I love it.

And now it's back to real life and to New Year's Eve.  We have nothing planned for the evening.  I had recorded "The Sound of Music" when it was on a couple of weeks ago and I think we might watch that.  Or "Frozen" which was on last night but we didn't have time to watch.

Before I end this, I want to thank you for being a reader this past year.  Your comments and support mean a great deal to me.  I hope all of you have a wonderful New Year.  Happy 2022 to you all.

Kathy

JOE'S BIRTHDAY

Do any of you have trouble keeping track of the days?  I do.  And I was talking to a friend this morning who said she has the same problem.  Any day can be Friday to me.  But I still think this cartoon is cute.

We started out with celebrating my birthday in the hospital and now we celebrated Joe's birthday on Wednesday in lockdown.  I think his was better.

I had ordered a cake for him from our favorite bakery, Haegele's (pronounced Hay-glee).

Haegele's has been in business since 1930.  I knew the orginial owners since we attended the same church.  They still had their nice German accents even though they had been in the U.S. for so long.

I asked Joe if we wanted to take a ride with me to get it and he did.  I ordered it for pickup at 1:00 p.m. and it was there waiting for us.  Such a pretty cake.  And so delicious too.

When we got back Joe said he wanted to take a nap.  And so he did.  If you can't take a nap on your birthday, when can you?

For dinner I made his favorite -- lamb chops.  I had to ask for them at Shoprite and wait for 20 minutes while they cut them, but it was worth all of that.  I googled how to cook them and they were perfect.  Melt in your mouth good.  I asked Google for the recipe for perfect lamb chops.  I had some olive oil and butter melted in an iron skillet.  Then I put in the chops, added salt and pepper to them and let them cook on the first side for 3 minutes.  Then I flipped them, put on more salt and pepper, and cooked them for 3 1/2 minutes.  Be careful that you don't put too much salt on them.  I used just a pinch on each one.

I also had baked potatoes and Italian green beans.  Dinner was delicious.  Joe is still raving about it.

Then we had the cake for dessert.

I got a two toned cake -- a chocolate top layer and yellow bottom layer -- with buttercream icing.

Even though I got the smallest cake they made, we weren't going to eat an entire cake.  We shared some with our neighbors.  I got a message back saying it was yummy.

I had forgotten to get Joe a card.  While he was taking his nap I went to Rite Aid and got him one.

He got a few cards and I hung them on the bannister.

Even the sunset was so beautiful.  

I have so much to show you and tell you so I hope I have time to blog some more this coming week.  Usually I sit down to do a post and end up falling asleep because it is almost midnight!  But I will make a real effort to catch up with things.

Hope you all have a good evening.

Kathy

JOE'S BIRTHDAY

Hello, friends!  Hope you are having a wonderful day.  The sun is shining and the humidity is low here.  It is supposed to get up to 75*F (24*C) so I am looking forward to getting things done around here.

But first I wanted to tell you about Joe's birthday.  It was on Monday.  When he got up in the morning I made him breakfast.  He asked for scrambled eggs and that's what he got along with a bagel and cream cheese and a nice slice of canteloupe.  I had a slice too and it was so good and sweet.

That afternoon it was Joe's turn to preach at the Nursing Home.  What a time that was!  Not only did we get stuck behind a bus and were 10 minutes late, but it was exactly that time that the lawn guys decided to mow, cut back the bushes and use a leaf blower right outside the room where we were meeting.  No one could hear him.  But he did get through it.  Here's a picture I took of him sitting in the car outside of the home when it was all over.

We stopped at a new 7-11 on the way home.  We hadn't had lunch and were a bit munchy.  But we didn't want to eat too much because we were going out to dinner.  I got an ice cream bar and Joe got a diet soda.  Joe is on a mission to lose weight and he has done so good.

That evening Carole and Walt picked us up and we met Pastor and Carolyn at the Country Club.  They had redone the interior of the restaurant.  It looks really nice.  There is a new salad bar which is so good.  That was a nice change.  The salad they used to serve was always too large for me and filled with things I couldn't eat.

We had such a good time at dinner that I never thought to take pictures.  The only one I got was of Joe in the lobby while we were waiting for everyone to show up.

This birthday certainly wasn't the huge party I gave him last year, but Joe said he had a really great time.

I have to run but hope to be back soon!

Kathy

CATCHING UP -- MY BIRTHDAY

Happy New Year!  I hope that 2019 will be a wonderful year for all of us.

I am so behind with catching you up on what is going on.  I am going to try to be up to date by the end of the week.  Let's see how I do.

Basically I am very tired.  I think everything I've been doing for the last few weeks is catching up with me.  All I want to do is sleep.  And so on my birthday that is just what I did.  I stayed in my nightgown until 2:00 p.m.  Elaine gave me a beautiful warm and soft winter nightgown for Christmas and that is what I wore.  It backfired on me though when I had to answer the door and that was what I was wearing.

There was a delivery man at the door with a beautiful bouquet.  The card said they were from Joe and he wished me a happy birthday and said he loved me.  Aww.  They are so pretty.  I love winter bouquets.  Red roses, red carnations, pine cones and fir branches.

Little silver balls and branches sprayed with white paint to look like snow.

It came in a cute snowman coffee pot.  The lid is stuck in with the flowers.  This will be so cute to use in the future.  You can see Joe's Marine Corp nutcrackers there too.

After that I decided I had better get dressed.  So I hopped into the shower and then picked out my clothes for the day.  It was an easy choice since I had another new outfit from Joe.  I wore a purple plaid top and black pants.  He also gave me another earrings, necklace and ring set.  This time the center stone was purple to match the top.

I had no sooner come downstairs when there was another knock on the door.  Another delivery.  This time from Elaine.  She sent me a fruit and snack basket with a balloon attached to it.

I opened it today and Joe and I had some of it for lunch.  Look what was in this pretty basket.

Apples, pears and oranges.

Cookies, spring onion crackers, summer sausage with garlic, lemon drops, swiss cheese spread, dill mustard, strawberry preserves and a chocolate bar.

Everything was so yummy.

The evening of my birthday we headed for the Country Club for dinner.  Pastor and Carolyn, Rick, and Walt and Carole met us.  Well, Walt and Carole picked us up and the others went on their own.  We had such a good time at dinner.  I had my favorite -- chicken francaise over angel hair pasta.  I was so full that I took a piece of cake for home instead of eating it there.

So now I am 65.  And it's a new year.  I am feeling very positive about this year.  I will be back later with more to tell you and show you. It's going to be a great year for us to go through together.

Until later...

Kathy

JOE'S BIRTHDAY

Sunday was Joe's birthday.  No, really.  Yes, his actual birthday.  I know it seems as if we have been celebrating for weeks, but this was the real day.  I chose this picture for the blog because "Joe Cool" aka "Snoopy" is his favorite cartoon character.  Although he does love "Huckleberry Hound" too.

We started the day by going to church.  But first we stopped at Shop Rite and got a little birthday cake.  I wish I had taken a picture of it.  It was so pretty with blue and purple swirls in the icing and "Happy Birthday, Joe" written in blue on the top.

I stopped outside the church to watch these birds and take a picture.  It was so fun to see these little birds, a sparrow and a robin, take a bath in a puddle in the parking lot.  I always notice things like this and try to share them with whomever I am with.  In this case it was my friend, Kathy.

By the time we got inside everyone had sung "Happy Birthday" to Joe and he asked me to cut the cake.  There was just enough to go around with two slices to take home and enjoy later in the evening.

In the afternoon Walt and Carole came over and we went to Cracker Barrel in New Jersey for a special dinner for Joe.  That is where he wanted to go.  The morning had been beautiful, but now as we crossed the Delaware River it began to cloud up and started to rain.

We got into the restaurant as it was just drizzling, but as we got seated the heavens opened and it was pouring.  But by the time we were ready to leave the sun was out again.

Walt and Carole had breakfast for dinner.  Joe had the Sunday chicken dinner and I had a pork chop.  I love the way they grill their chops.  It's always so moist and juicy.

I took this picture of Joe in the car on the way home.

I was glad he had such a nice birthday.  But I told him this is it until next year.  I'm all birthday'ed out!

Kathy

JOE'S BIRTHDAY PARTY

Hello, friends.  Thanks for stopping by and forgive me for so long between posts.  Last week and the next three are non-stop for me -- something going on every day.  And even though the things are enjoyable, it leaves me little time for anything else.

But I wanted to show you some pictures from Joe's great birthday party last Saturday.  It was an wonderful time.  Everyone told me they had a blast.

Beware, there will be picture overload.

Joe and I were the first to show up and this time we didn't get lost.  There wasn't any street parking, so we went to the lot a block away.  I had to take my cane to walk and Joe had an umbrella because it was pouring when we left the house and even though the rain had let up, we didn't want to be caught at the restaurant.  I was so glad we had taken the cake the day before.  It would have been awkward carrying that along with the favors and the big posterboard I had.

We decided to sit at the table nearest the fireplace facing the doorway so we could see people come in.  But in doing so, the window was right there, so some of my pictures came out dark.  Like this first one of Joe.

This is the little tag I had attached to each favor bag.

Carol and Donna came in right after we did and they helped lay out the favors at each place.  We were admiring the room and especially the chandelier.  Isn't this beautiful?

Since they were the first there, we told them to sit across from us.  We saved the other four seats at the table for my brother and sister-in-law and my sister and our friend that came with her.  So here's Carol and Donna.

Carol took a picture of Joe and me.  This is not what I was going to wear, but Joe wanted me to wear my top that says "Celebrate."  You can see the "Happy Birthday" banner and the poster on the fireplace.  We had such a nice waitress that took care of everything for us including the decorations.

I was curious what was in the room behind us and so took a peek.  There was just one table there and several chairs.  I suppose that is where the staff take a break but it reminded me of a secret room from the Revolutionary War.  And who knows, maybe it was since the restaurant has been there since 1681.  I can just see George Washington, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson with their heads together over some secret plans.

Soon some more people came in.  The center table filled up with all people from church and the end table was all miscellaneous friends.

There's nothing better than the sound of people talking and eating to let you know that they are having a good time.

The party started at 1:00 p.m. and about 1:15 p.m. Staci our waitress and another waiter brought out all the food for the buffet.  Joe and I started the line and then everyone went up to get their food.

Everything was delicious.  There was a salad with Ranch or White Balsamic dressing, rolls with rosemary in them, mashed potatoes, green beans, baked ziti, grilled chicken with artichokes and balsamic cherry tomatoes, and the most delicious broiled salmon with a cream sauce and wild rice.  There was no salmon left when we were done.  That was the best thing on the table in my opinion.

Our pastor said grace and everyone dug in.

There was a small table where everyone was putting their gifts and cards for Joe.  This despite the fact we told everyone NO GIFTS!

Here's my brother, Larry, and sister-in-law, Kim.

Another view of the fireplace.

Joe asked me to go to each table and take pictures of the guests.  So I started at the end.  Here are Loretta (girlfriend of Rich), Marion, her husband Rich, and another Rich who went to high school with Joe.

This side is Mike (boyfriend of Chrissy), Chrissy who lives next door to us, Karen and Bud (friends from church).  Strange fact, Bud and Joe's friend Rich used to work together.  What a small world!

The middle table was all church people:  Dorothea, Edward (Pastor & Carolyn's son), Carolyn and Pastor Ralph.

And the other side is Carol and Jim, Walt and Carole and Kathy.

My sister, Elaine, and our friend, Frank.  They drove two hours to be there.

I found this pin at Rite Aid and gave it to Joe.  He wore it all day.

A picture of the birthday boy.

Since some people had to leave early, we cut the cake at 2:30 p.m.  It was very good.

Of course we all sang to him.

And despite his asthma, he blew out the candles in one breath.  Yeah, Joe, that's why I only bought two candles!

The restaurant also supplied a tray of cookies, petite fours, mini lemon bars, and mini cheesecake.  So good!

I had a lemon bar and a chocolate raspberry petite four.

We moved the cards and presents to the windowsill and used that table for the treats.  They were a big hit.

I love this picture of Mike and Chrissy.

Modern technology.  Kim, Larry and Elaine were all on their phones.  Facebooking I think.

Best buds for life.  Joe and Rich have been friends for over 40 years.

After everyone left we were gathering up our things and Staci was clearing up the room.  We asked to take some of the food home and she got us boxes and bags.  This girl took care of 25 people and did an excellent job.  She was so sweet and nothing was too much trouble for her.  I asked if I could get a picture of her with the birthday boy and she said, "Sure!"  I'm writing a letter to her boss to tell him how good she was.  She said we were a great group because we were all polite and no one gave her a bit of trouble.

Are you bored yet?  Well I hope not because this is the end of my photos.  It cost me a bit of money but was so worth it.  Now we are talking about going back for lunch or dinner soon.  But we have to wait until our Social Security checks come in.  We're broke!

I'll be back later in the week with another post for you.  I have a couple of things in mind, so stay tuned.

Have a great day!

Kathy