Falling Into Monday

Hello on this first Monday in fall. It was 90 degrees here on Saturday, but the calendar says fall so fall it is. We had a great weekend with (mostly) beautiful weather and lots of birthday celebration. Let's back up to Thursday, aka my birthday, and recap it all. 

The day started with a beautiful sunrise, which is always a favorite. 

I had an early morning appointment with the orthopedist, and I'm just gonna say nothing makes you feel your age like starting your birthday with a trip to the doctor. My ankle is still a problem and he can't figure out why since the fracture appears to be healed. I'm going for a closer look with an MRI next week.

Hubs drove me so we could go to breakfast right after. We met Daughter1 and her little miss at a local spot and had cappuccinos and a bacon/egg/cheese croissant which was delish. She and I could gab because hubs keeps little miss entertained. She's got him so wrapped there aren't enough words to say how much. 

Completely pretty much covers it. 

This time last year she and I were having tea in Cambridge, but coffee in tiny town is fun too. 

We got home close to noon and I opened gifts, then grabbed my book and made myself at home on the comfy couch on the lower patio. I read most of the afternoon and then eventually hubs and I headed into the nearby city for dinner. 

We started at one of our favorite venues for a celebratory cocktail, then moved to a seafood place just a few buildings down the road. 

Dinner was outstanding. We hadn't been to this particular venue before but we'd heard good things, and it did not disappoint. 

They had a special appetizer which was an octopus carpaccio-thinly sliced octopus, roasted tomato chutney, chili garlic crunch, jalapeno, chimichurri oil, cilantro, pickled corn salsa and drop peppers. This dish had so much flavor and we loved every bite. 

Hubs bought me a chocolate cake with raspberry filling because that's what he does every year on my birthday, but we were so full from dinner we decided to save it and have that on Friday. The restaurant couldn't let the day go unmarked though, and I appreciated the gesture. And the chocolate. 

Friday morning situation...

Cake. It's what's for breakfast. 

Hubs ordered me a new iphone for my birthday and it was supposed to arrive at the Verizon store sometime Friday. I had a couple of library books to return and a package to mail so we did that, then came home and I did some laundry and read more of my book until the salesman called about coming in. At this point it was late afternoon and hubs had evening plans so we made our appointment for Saturday morning thinking it would be less crazy. Hometown team had a hometown game so everyone would be there and not in the phone store. 

My son-in-law attends the high school football games most Friday nights as he's the doctor on the field, and this week hubs took the grandboys to the game so they could watch. They had a great time and winning always makes a game more fun. I caught up on the show I've been binging-Bones. Did you watch this when it came out? I loved the books and never watched the show, but am enjoying it now. 

Saturday morning we navigated game day traffic and picked up my new phone. My phone is about nine generations old so yeah, it was time. I thought about getting a 'real' camera but instead opted for an iphone with a quality camera built in because I know it's more practical. 

We came home and watched our Vols win and our hometown team get whooped in an agonizing game interrupted for the second week in a row by lightning.  Hubs grilled steaks for dinner and the whole weekend just felt super relaxing. We were overdue and feel recharged after a busy few weeks, with lots on the calendar still. 

Sunday we went to church, then out to brunch with daughter1 and her family, an extended birthday celebration. We came home and watched the Charlie Kirk memorial service. Wow. Or maybe hallelujah and amen ! would be better words to use. If you missed it I'm sure you can find it online somewhere, and it's so worth watching. Inspiring on so many levels and a testimony to the absolute goodness of God even in the most tragic of circumstances. 

Wishing you all a week filled with the beauty of fall. 

To read more weekend recaps hop over to the Hello Monday link up hosted by Holly (Pink Lady) and Sarah (Sunshine and Books).