that was a birthday, but not for jesus.

Best birthday party ever. I made the entire dinner , yay me, everything was cold but edible.  I made birthday cake from Swedish Gramma's recipe-  covered it with whipped cream and berries. I  used reasonable dinner ware! The roses did not wilt -no one got ill. I think we are OK. Next birthday I hope to be in Bruges with Stella.  That is something I yearn for. We did spend one day there and it was not enough, of course.   A quickie because we were staying in Amsterdam, loved it there so much we didn't want to take time away from it. It is where the cute mice live in a house in the library. 

 -0-

 

 Erik made it ! A very tired man in a christmas sweater- Santa riding a unicorn in sequins.  Flashy, Erik intended to take it home with him, to wear on christmas day when he and his pals  will sit around drinking irish coffee and watching crap movies.  But he left very early this morning and left it on the chair, Bummer.

Grand daughter wore an elf suit, not a great photo of it but you can see that she is cuter than any elf ever anywhere! 

I would trust this elf to fly us to Bruges!

I gave her my Pfaff sewing machine because she bought a back and forth one from good will to make a quilt for her Grand mother, Dennis's first wife.  I call her my sister wife- we are all very friendly.  Anyway Maddy thinks she is going to take up sewing. The Pfaff will change her mind , pretty sure. It is a complicated machine. 

 

It was indeed  a fair  party, Stella came and was  second star - Maddy  always  first star, because she insists... Stella brought a gorgeous bouquet and a present from her vintage book pile at the ass league. 
"Wyoming Cookin'"

It looks like a guide for "Jeffry Daumer's kitchen" some of the recipes are quite  meaty....  this is one- 

GROSS! There is a recipe for stuffed calves hearts and one for ground porcupine. Nightmare in the kitchen!  We did grow up eating a lot of flesh , game , mutton and bovine. I craved vegetables, probably malnourished from so much game.  It wrecked my brain, that is my excuse.
 

The table after. roses still perky but everything else is hung over.  Today I was tired, bone tired. slept for eleven hours, still felt like last years bird's nest, even after a strong cuppa Joe. Emily and the little family came over and boosted electricity into this old  sad sack! Flora was WIRED!  BOING BOING scream BOING! Maybe because it is Christmas, maybe because chocolate, maybe because her mom and dad were here and she had to show them who is boss in this granny house. She was LIT! Delightfully so, mind you. She is Flora Jane!!!

Emmett, sweet as can be played with blocks counting them "One, One, ONE" Such a cool little dude and when he smiles I think I might explode, Ow! my heart!! AND he smiles quite a lot so  - Love hurts!

Exploding Granny!

 Flora found my reading glasses, red to match her outfit, superb. She looks like chief editor of Toddler Fashion And Style Magazine , The  Poo Report. I think she may be on to something!

Her writing skills are also superb. The best birthday card I ever did receive   has been this card from Flora Jane.

Today's gift! 

 

 

She hired her mom to interpret the message-  Flora  read / dictated to Emily  what she had written. Emily is a capital secretary as you can see from her ability to listen carefully and ,in clear penmanship, capture the message.

I see promise  in this four year old's writing! Pure artistry and clarity of purpose. 

Santa Claus is on his way tonight.  Everyone is pretty excited.   I hope that you get what you need. 

Merry happy and bright!

Waiting for Santa....