Birthdays

It's been a weekend with 2 family birthtdays, a niece who's now 16 and a nephew who's 17. We headed out east to Blanchester yesterday afternoon to have some dinner with Margy, Phill and the gang, picking up Mom on the way. I love going to their house - they have several acres with no neighbors in sight and it's always very peaceful. We walked through the vegetable gardens and inspected the grapevines, finding nothing much but the left behind produce since it's the end of the season.

We wandered out to the pond which is full to the brim because of all the recent rain. Calypso the dog ambled along behind us, hoping to get a handful of the fish food that Phill throws into the pond - she thinks it's quite a tasty treat. Calypso (Phill calls her "Boo") is an old girl who's seen better days but she still loves to get into the water and fetch rocks. And does she ever look bad and smell bad after she's done that. There's nothing quite as awful as wet doggie odor, especially one with that much fur. When she shakes off the water, you don't want to be anywhere around! She can't understand why nobody want to be near her after she's gotten all wet - she just wants to be with her people and be loved!

The family cat is named Persephone (from Greek mythology?). She tiptoes quietly around the vegetable gardens, the barn and the field, keeping an eye on everybody and everything.

Then of course, there was food and cake and presents. Happy Birthday, Laura!