My Birthday Part 2

 

 

 It was a perfect birthday today. The sun was out. Mike worked in the morning while I was busy reading many birthday messages

 

 

 

 

 

 talking on the phone with friends and family, receiving flowers from near and far

 

Joce and Vicente

Lynda

Barb and Randy

 finding so many goodies on our porch. 

Isa

 Thanks to everyone for your kind and thoughtful remembrance of my birthday. Mike and I walked by the duck pond at El Dorado park in the afternoon.

 

 

 

He made me a wonderful dinner: 

 

roast beef with carrots and portobello mushrooms, garlic mash potatoes, gravy, peas and salad. 

 

 

 

We zoomed with the family at 4:00 

 

 

 

 

and later had cake and cannolis.

 

 

 

I can truly say it feels great to be “39” (again)! Thank you all for your good birthday wishes. I know it will be a good year ahead.

 

 

The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age. – Lucille Ball

 From a facebook post from my daughter Aria:

 It’s hard to believe but Barb is turning 39 again! Don’t know how she does it! To my mother, who follows her bliss, wears her bling (even when no one is watching), dances in the dark (even just after hip surgery), always sees the glass half full, always refills the cups of others without emptying her own, always finds the best in everyone and everything, and never turns down an adventure … may 2022 bring new travels, joyful reunions, many more memories!

 

 

 

 

 

My Birthday Part 1

 

Gift from Athena, Mat, Jude and Sam

 

 "Being an antique is an honorable accomplishment."

 

This year  

Live in the moment

Start each day with gratitude

Laugh more

Create meaningful connections

Meditate

Focus on the positive

Believe it all will fall into place

Stick to your goals

Be generous 

Choose Happy. 

Some Birthday Prep

 

In getting ready for my birthday I got out my crowns,

 

 and put out some things that fill me with joy: a butterfly to remind me of my mother, a paper umbrella that my father made,

 

 pink roses from the kids and my very favorite ceramic pot that I bought at the Laguna art festival in the 1960’s. I paid $5.00 for it and every time I look at it I feel so happy.

 

 My sister Jocelyn also sent me this picture of her around age 4 with our dog Spotty. She looks sad in this picture because her bossy older sister (me) made her put on this outfit because the aunt that gave it to her was coming over. She always reminds me of that day.

 

Thank you for all your lovely birthday wishes. Your thoughts are warm and received with love. The sun is really shining outside in the garden and in my birthday heart.

First Hike of 2022

 Our first hike of 2022. A beautiful afternoon at the wetlands.

 

One Step At A Time To a Bright New Year

 "The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step."  -Lao Tzu

This traditional Japanese stacking of two mochi (pounded rice cake) with tangerine was made by my sister. This is so beautifully made and photographed . Here is the meaning:

The New Year’s rice cake is another festive item said to contain the spirit of the gods. Its round shape is an homage to one of the holiest items in all of Japan, the mirror of the sun goddess . With its round, mirror-like shape, kagami-mochi symbolizes the renewal of light and energy present at the start of a New Year.

The mandarin always adorns the top of the mochi for good health and longetivity. Well done Joce. Grandma Jingu would be proud of your representation.

Welcome January

 

 

"We spend January 1st walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives...not looking for flaws, but for potential. January is my favorite month, when the light is plainest, least colored."

 

 

How We Spent January 1 , 2022

 First day of the new year 2022. We spent the day indoors painting while all three grandkids went outdoors hiking. We FaceTimed with the kids, watched the Rose parade, and painted. We had our appetizers with drinks at 5:00. Quietly welcoming the new year.

 

Our January 1 Oshogatsu (not really).