Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Photos of my birthday and some ideas

Yes, it is social isolation and my sons prepared a birthday celebration for me, which we celebrated on April 25, the actual day. They planned everything so the cooking etc. would be healthy and we would be outdoors on my backyard patio.
Above is a photo of Lane and me and below are photos of Colt and Lane.








We wore masks and maintained a distance, and stayed outside. The weather was gorgeous, 75 degrees, and it said 80 degrees on my patio. It felt rather hot sitting in the sun so my younger son got out his pop up canvas awning, size about 10 feet by 10 feet. He uses it when camping in his van in the desert. The canvas made it ideal to be outside and now I want a canvas shade for the patio, maybe one that will roll up when not needed. Below shows the canvas awning and patio as seen from the kitchen, and you see Bounce resting. The awning sets up in a few minutes and created a delightful shade.


We had shrimp on skewers, fresh salmon, marinated steak, and zucchini, onions. asparagus and mushrooms, all cooked on our grill by the superchefs, my sons.


My kitchen table is full of flowers, plants and cards. If you look closely you can see a gift of a new orchid, on the left. We agreed this is the best meal we have had since the lockdown. I said it is the best meal I have had this year. This is the first time since the crisis we have enjoyed a meal together and lots of laughter and bonding time. It seemed like normal life. Except for the masks, ha ha. And no hugging.
Here is my purple clematis.


My sons, Zoom meetings and Jesus are keeping me sane, or maintaining a semblance thereof.
It is helpful to remember the words of Jesus: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life ... Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" Matthew 6:25
And James wrote "Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise." James 5:13
Til this crisis passes and we meet again, be safe.

45 comments:

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

Belated Happy Birthday dear Terra ~ It looks like you had a good time and the food sounds delicious! Love, hugs & prayers ~ FlowerLady

Mevely317 said...

I'm sure you know this already … but what exceptional sons you have! Your birthday meal sounds like a feast and has my mouth watering! Happy belated birthday blessings!

Jeanie said...

What a fabulous birthday and probably all the more special considering the circumstances under which we have all been living these days. So special to be with your guys and having a wonderful dinner. Being safe now means more hugs later!

Marilyn Miller said...

How lovely that your sons made your day special.

Saimi said...

Awww, Happy, Happy Belated Birthday!!! What a wonderful celebration, Family, Food and Fun sounds like the perfect way to ring in another birthday. We certainly are living in a crazy time right now but I couldn't agree more with those scriptures. We've started getting together as a family for church via FaceTime its been really great. Thank heavens for technology! I'm thinking you need an early next year birthday present or belated birthday present and treat yourself to an awning. What a perfect way to enjoy being outside without the heat.
Take Care!!
Saimi

Michelle said...

Glad to hear/see that you are doing well. Your birthday meal sounds delicious!

oldgreymareprimitives said...

It sounds like a lovely day. Good men you've got there. Your Birthday meal sounds wonderful. I miss my son's cooking also and during all this he is cooking up a storm. Some day...maybe?

Betsy said...

I'm so glad you were able to have such a wonderful birthday celebration with your sons. How sweet of them to plan all of that for you and the shade canopy is perfect. We have a cover on our deck and we enjoy it daily in the summertime. We sit out there often in the evenings and I have breakfast and lunch there most days too.
WIshing you a lovely day my friend. Thank you for sharing your day with us and the wonderful scripture too.
Blessings,
Betsy

Lauren @ My Wonderfully Made said...

Oh Happy Birthday! How lovely that you were able to celebrate together! I'd sure love to be at the point where WE can be outside visiting but it's still cool and very rainy here so that will have to wait. That pop up really created a lovely haven from the sun! I have a steel gazebo frame mounted on a deck in my yard and I'm just itching to put on the roof and screened sides but again, that won't happen for at least a few more weeks. Wonderful verses and so true - grateful nothing about this has taken the Lord by surprise.

Rita said...

What a happy birthday!! :)

Pamela M. Steiner said...

Happy Birthday, Terra! Looks like a wonderful time, and the menu sounds VERY good indeed! I love the flowers, and that clematis is gorgeous. I like that they put up the awning over the patio. We need something like that over our deck. We try umbrellas, but they just don't cover enough and we get a LOT of hot sun on our deck as it reflects off the pond. That was a great idea, and it looks like you had a wonderful birthday. Your sons are very thoughtful. And even the masks look great!

Cynthia said...

Happy birthday! What a wonderful celebrations with your sons, especially under the circumstances. You patio looks like a lovely place for enjoying the outdoors and an awning would make it even more useable. I hope you find one that works for you.

Granny Marigold said...

Your sons made your birthday so special! I'm thinking that we could also benefit from having such a shade shelter. Our family grows all the time and we need more space to gather outside ( well, we need more space inside as well but that's another story).

Wanda said...

Oh Terra ~ What a delightful and lovely Birthday Party. Your sons are very handsome even behind the masks. The dinner menu has me drooling all over my keyboard.

The flowers are so lovely as is your back yard.

I will have a Birthday Friday, May 1st. Will hit "79" An interesting year as sit was the age when my mother passed away. Both my sister and I said we wondered if we would reach 79. My sister is now 85, so I guess we both might make it haha. I think my daughter is going to get carry out since we live upstairs in a complex and have no yard. When this is all over...we will have a large family celebration!!

Kathy G said...

Happy Birthday to you! It sounds like a wonderful day.

Ann Thompson said...

Glad you were able to have a nice birthday celebration

Linda said...

Happy belated BIRTHDAY!! It could not have been a better one by the looks of things!!
I'm so happy you got to celebrate with family!
Yes, that pop up awning is perfect! I would like to get one for when we need it - wherever we go!

Pom Pom said...

Oh, what a happy birthday! That DOES sound like a lovely feast!

Lin said...

That looks like a wonderful birthday!! I'm so glad you had that. I'm sure it helped to carry on with more isolation ahead. Ugh.

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

Your day sounded special; how nice of your sons. Looking forward to warmer weather - it's been windy or damp/rainy a lot lately although today was beautiful.

Mari said...

Happy belated birthday! I'm glad you had a nice day in spite of social distancing!

Salty Pumpkin Studio said...

Happy Birthday!
A shaded patio can feel like being at a resort, on vacation.

Barbara said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! It looks like you and your dear ones made the best of it and carried off a most cheery celebration!

Kay said...

Happy Birthday! It sounds like you had a very special unforgettable celebration.

Bonnie said...

Happy Birthday! You have wonderful sons to do all that for you on your special day!

Retired Knitter said...

Happy Birthday to you.

Henny Penny said...

Happy Birthday! Now that looks like a fun day. I am missing my daughters and grandchildren too. Your clematis is so pretty. Mine just has buds right now. Don't know how I've missed your posts lately.

Ramana Rajgopaul said...

Belated birthday greetings and best wishes for many more.

Arkansas Patti said...

Belated Happy Birthday. Your sons (what great names they have) really came through. Not only company, great food but also providing shade. They care so much and that had to be one of the best presents.

Barb said...

Happy birthday. The orchid is beautiful. Difficult to celebrate these days but so.ehow we find ways, yes?

Inger said...

Happy belated birthday! I really enjoyed seeing pictures of you and your sons. It must be wonderful to have two sons to celebrate your birthday with.

LC said...

Lovely birthday celebration, masks and all. Sons who cook are a blessing.

Gardener on Sherlock Street said...

Happy Birthday!

Nellie said...

Belated happy birthday! You and I share a birthday! I've made it to another one that ends in zero! So happy your sons came through for this celebration for you! Our family has to wait awhile for a celebration of the three birthdays we've had in two days here this past week!

kath001 said...

Happy Birthday to you! It sounds like it was a wonderful day.

Diane Writes said...

Hi Terra! Apologies, I can't send anything for you yet. I'm afraid it would just get stuck up in the mail. I'm happy to see you the reunion with your sons. Your garden is looking great. Wishing you good health always. Keep safe and you are always in my prayers. I miss sending postcards.

Judy at GoldCountryCottage said...

Terra, it looks like you had a wonderful birthday celebration, all things considered. Won't it be wonderful when everything goes back to some semblance of "normal"? Take care and stay safe..xxoJudy

Dee said...

Dear Terra, how lovely for you and your sons to be together for your April 25th birthday. I, too, celebrated an April birthday. It was lovely with e-cards and postal cards and calls and texts and gifts. My sister-in-law brought a cake and she and I ate a piece on the screened-in porch. My brother, her husband, also had an April birthday and the family is planning that someday--whenever that may be--we will gather and celebrate the two birthdays and Mother's day, and perhaps, by then, Father's Day!

The canvas awning your son lent to the celebration is a wonderful idea. A friend and I used one during the ten years that we went camping in the northern part of Minnesota.

And finally, "Happy Birthday!" and may the coming year bring you repeatedly the joy that you knew on your actual birthday this year. Peace.

Lark said...

Happy Birthday a few weeks late. Glad you got to celebrate with your family. Aren't those masks fun! ;D

Bless said...

Happy, belated, birthday! The meal your sons prepared for you sounds wonderful! Hope you have a very happy Mother's Day, tomorrow.

Laurel Wood said...

Happy belated birthday. What a nice time for you with your sons! Mildred

Margaret D said...

Happy Birthday to you - sorry I'm rather late.

Red Rose Alley said...

What a wonderful birthday celebration you had with your sons, Terra. The food sounds delicious. I remember our birthdays were close together. I just had one in May. It was so thoughtful of your sons to make your birthday a special day for you.

~Sheri

Red Rose Alley said...

Oh, that purple clematis is beautiful and such a stunning color. : )

dori said...

What a birthday with loving hearts! I see a nice dear dog on the floor beneath the cotton roof! :)

Fine atmosphere!
Happy birthday from Dori from the Bavarian Forest!

I love to read in the Holy Bible, too!