Monday, September 19, 2016

Another Birthday In The Books

In case you missed it I had a birthday. Ha! If you're on social media it was pretty hard to miss. But it was fun!


Let's back up to Thursday which for the sake of blogging we'll just go ahead and call my birthday eve's-eve's-eve. I told you I can work a birthday.


A friend who lives on the lake invited me to join her for an outing with her neighborhood day trip group.


They were going to spend the day at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, and since Dale Chihuly currently has an installation there how could I say no?


He is one of my absolute favorites. I went to his exhibit in Seattle in May while visiting my daughter and wrote about that here. Coincidentally I noticed he has a birthday tomorrow, and since I imagine he's reading my blog...happy birthday Dale Chihuly! Your art in cities and gardens all around the world is so very lovely.


And inspiring. There's something about glass in a garden I find inspiring.


I'd never been to the Atlanta gardens and would definitely go back. Workers were in the process of installing holiday lights (I know!!) for the Christmas season, and since there are literally thousands they have to start wrapping tree trunks at the end of summer.


It was a great day and I spent Friday catching up at home. Hubs returned from an out of town business trip that evening, and then I woke up to this on Saturday morning (aka my birthday eve)-


We were going to walk a trail into a nearby town and while I was getting ready to go he ducked out and came home with these gorgeous roses. He wanted to sneak out and back before I noticed, but I noticed and was preparing to be annoyed that he had gone to wash the car before we took our walk, so I popped out to scold him and caught him coming in.


I did not scold him.  He also knows I love these ginormous balloons and got me two for my birthday. He gave me one for Valentine's Day and I might have left it tied to the kitchen chair for months. Those things have some serious staying power. 

We walked a little over three miles to a restaurant one town over (there's a great paved trail, mostly through the woods), had a yummy breakfast, then walked a little over three miles back home. It was cloudy and not too humid so really enjoyable.

I did a little birthday shopping in the afternoon, then we headed downtown for dinner. We started at one of my favorite little venues, a rooftop wine bar overlooking downtown.


The temperature was just right and we toasted another year with a glass of Prosecco before heading a few blocks over for dinner in the park. Al fresco dining is on my list of favorite things, especially on my birthday eve.


Sunday (finally-my actual birthday!) we met Daughter2 and her boyfriend for a noontime brunch and I was spoiled with gifts from my girls. Then hubs and I had to trek out to the lake to give the go-ahead on stain color, because there is no escaping the home build even on your birthday. Since it was beginning to drizzle we pretty much trekked right back home for some football and a nap on the couch. Hubs picked up Chinese food for dinner and we called it a day.


Cheers to birthdays, thoughtful husbands, adorable daughters, friends near and far, and finding beauty wherever a new year takes you.

13 comments:

  1. Well, happy birthday - day after!! You had a wonderful celebration!! Dale Chihuly's outdoor installations are pretty amazing, but my favorites are still his 'ceilings'. We have a piece of his work in our permanent collection where I work. Beautiful glass. Love your photos!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Happy belated birthday. Looks like you were celebrated well!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Happy belated birthday to you. Mine is this Wednesday, and I hope I can squeeze in as much celebrating as you did. On a side note, we are headed to Atlanta for Thanksgiving and might check out those holiday lights. The gardens look amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  4. That sounds like the perfect 4 day birthday celebration! As much as I love the sunshine, I'm also so ready for a cozy football afternoon on the couch!

    ReplyDelete
  5. That sounds like a perfect week-end to me! Happy, happy birthday!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sounds like you had a perfect birthday week. Happy Birthday!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Well, sounds like you were royally celebrated!!! What a great birthday. May the year ahead be filled with God's richest blessings!

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a great way to celebrate a birthday. I have always thought birthdays should last at least a week! Well done you, and thanks for the photo journal of it all for us your dear readers.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sounds like a successful birthday week!!!
    The gardens were very cool!

    ReplyDelete
  10. That was a great extended birthday celebration. Glad you enjoyed it all.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Sending belated birthday wishes your way! It sounds like you had a nice, extended celebration :) I enjoyed your pictures of Atlanta's Botanical Gardens, too. I live less than 4 hours away, and have never heard of it!
    Kathy (Reflections)

    ReplyDelete
  12. What wonderful ways to celebrate your birthday! Happy Birthday :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. L.O.V.E. the Chihuly exhibit! What a special delight for a birthday weekend! May you have many more!

    ReplyDelete