CARO'S BIRTHDAY

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DARLING CARO!!

I HOPE YOU KNOW HOW MUCH YOU’RE LOVED.

And guess what recipe I found in the long-lost recipe box?

I love you so much I’m DANCIN’!

RIPPLES

Yesterday while Caro and I were out and about, we stopped for lunch at one of those Salad-bar places, and she requested an extra takeout container to fill for taking home.   After we’d finished our lunch, I went on out into the lobby to wait for her while she made her selections at the buffet.

The line was sparser, but still going through, and I looked down and across the divider to see the most beautiful child---a little girl of about three, with the most astonishingly-beautiful hair---just a shining waterfall up in a tight band---not a ponytail, somehow, but across the width of her head and cascading down way past her waist.  She reached up, several times, lifting it by the sides and letting it fall sumptuously through her little hands as if she luxuriated in that special gift she carried.   Almost exactly like this, except not in "made" curls---more a luxuriant ripple of small gleaming waves, and the young lady was much tinier.

Pinterest photo

She turned and we smiled at each other.    I said, “You look very pretty today.”    She ducked her head, looked up, smiled again.     Catching a glimpse of the two Disney characters on her tiny shirt, I said, “Oh, do you like Elsa and Anna, too?   We do.”

She held her shirt-front out from her body for a look, and grinned again.   “You know, we like them so much we had a FROZEN birthday party for my granddaughter,” I said.    Her Daddy had been smiling at the interchange, as she and I talked of the movie and the two sisters, and I went on to tell her about the party decorations and how much fun we had had.

He said,   “Her birthday’s tomorrow, and mine was yesterday”---then we got into the Happys and the “Mine was a few days ago, and Caro’s is Friday,”  with good wishes and general congratulations all around, like a bunch of happy Shriners at convention.       Isn’t it a marvel what just a smile among strangers will enkindle?

So, whoever you are, Beautiful Baby Girl----I wish you a Happy Birthday today, one as sweet as your smile.

KITCHEN DEBUT

We had a lovely day for our Kitchen Debut party yesterday---A glorious, Fallish day, with windows and doors open and the dapply sun shining through all the GREEN outdoors.

Moire non when all is set to rights again---right now, Caro and I are taking the day off after all those weeks of KITCHEN stuff.   We’re headed out to the just-refurbished patio with our NOOKS, the new REACHER, and a big pitcher of Lemon Tea.

TRIFLES

Taking a break to get ready for a little Kitchen-Viewing party this weekend.

This is literally the first time our house will be “company-ready” since MARCH, when we started pulling things out of cabinets for the Kitchen Demolition.

I signed on to post, and saw a “draft” titled “TRIFLE.”   Hadn’t planned on having one for the party, but don’t it look FINE??

We’re having Coconut Cake, Brownies, Red Velvet cupcakes, Lemon Cheesecake, Bumpy Road Fudge, a Fruit Tray, and a Cheese Plate with Preserved Figs, but Trifle couldn’t hurt.

See Y’all Next Week!!

LABOR DAY 2015

Thank you to EVERYBODY who does something for anybody else, in any helping capacity---Work, Pray, Teach, Make, Heal, Tend, Feed, Clothe, Extend a Hand, Hold a Hand, Fill a Hand, Intervene, Interpret, Listen, Neighbor, Carry, Lift, Protect, Serve, or anywise Look Out For.

THANK YOU ALL.

A salute from Randy ‘n’ ‘em.

WISTERIA CLOTHESLINE

Down the stream beneath the trees, the fairies wash their clothes with ease;

A tiny spell, a bit of soap, which smells of charms and flowers and hope,

Then to the clothesline draping wide, where all the garments fey are dried.

And scarce a happen-byer knows, that what they’re gazing on is clothes.

Each purple swag holds dresses fine, as tiny blouses, pants entwine,

To pass for flowers or stems of grapes, they fool on-lookers with their shapes

Of fulsome fruitness, flowery blooms, instead of treasures from fey looms,

All stitched with moonbeams, needles gold, and gossen strands too fine to hold.

The wardrobes wee, of fragile cloths, with iridescent dust from moths

And drops from dew and minnow shine, spread gleaming high upon the line.

The purples, royals, and the pinks, of dahlia’s tears and lovers’ inks

In dyepots stirred with spell-whirled spoons, and hung to dry beneath Milk Moons.

The sea and sky lend fairest hues, and rainbow’s BIV spins varied blues,

Whilst trees and arbors, lushest dells contribute to the greening swells

Which spread across the lines for strength, in lush profusion length by length.

And yellow, orange, palest peach, all ride the breeze just out of reach

Of all save those whose provenance enables them to join the dance

Of garments magical and twee, of ribbons pressed on cricket’s knee,

Of robes and circlets, orbs, tiaras, entitling them for all tomorrows,

To wear the magic, shining bright, and yet, still be concealed from sight.

 Thoughts thrown out at midnight, for Janie's inestimable Wisteria Clothesline

And joining in with Beverly’s PINK SATURDAY.

RAY AND WILLIE

Woke up humming this song this  morning---it’s been mind-track background to everything I’ve done today.

Poignant, beautiful, and rendered by two of the absolute Marvels of Music.   You know how I am about WORDS.   These two can put them down, and SEND THEM OUT.

Besides---RAY.   WILLIE.   BOW TIE.