scallops by the sea

 I was yearning for very expensive scallops yesterday, so Mr. and Ms. Blogmaid treated Neti and me to a lavish lunch at Nick's down in Pathetica. Such a wonderful old fashioned restaurant. We had lots of laughs and I tasted my first fried pickle, so you know the day was a success. And may I mention the warm brownie with ice cream? Of course I must. With many, many thanks ~ a delightful Sunday for sure.

this gift of time

 Texts, emails, cards and gifts for my birthday today. I'm enjoying an extra long fireside morning and feeling deep gratitude for so many wonderful people in my life. Dinner with friends tonight and lunch with Mr. and Ms. Blogmaid tomorrow. I am living the good life, no, make that GREAT.

celebrating Dodger Doug

 We went to Woodhouse yesterday, a small fish restaurant on Fillmore Street for Doug's belated birthday and enjoyed the yummy Dungeness crab (top) and shrimp/avocado sandwiches while we caught up on our busy lives because they had been, once again, traveling. A very happy day indeed.

another tea, another birthday

 We gathered at Gini's yesterday to celebrate Helene and I think that does it for August birthdays. Now I am preparing for a tea at my home tomorrow ~ but not a birthday, whoosh. I'm also excited to tell you that Emma and Natalie will be here next weekend and staying in Emma's Room. Hooray!

big dinner party

 Apologies for the two not great photos, but you get the idea about last night's celebration for my wonderful neighbor, Heidi, whose birthday is next Wednesday. Our friend Suze (with the cake) hosted this event and it was a big success. Heidi is just one of the nicest, most giving, friend-to-so-many women ever and if anyone should be celebrated, it should be her. As you guessed, she does not love being the center of attention. 

and we celebrate 21 years!

 Cass (formerly known as RR) returned for college break and today will celebrate their 21st birthday and man, those were wonderful years and they sure sped by. For a long time I saved the answering machine tape when Mr. Blogmaid called from Stanford Hospital to report that mother and child were doing GREAT. Happy Birthday to Cass who is a very talented artist and an extra special human being. 

cat lady gifts

 A new front door mat from Neti and appropriate socks from the Blogmaid. Annabelle was delighted with her new sleep-and-stretch outdoor bed and of course I really like the socks.

a very fine day

 Who knew? How amazing to reach this advanced age and enjoy a birthday with tons of cards and dear friends and great gifts! Heidi (top photo) started the celebration with the delicious birthday cake and gifts. Then a delightful lunch at United Dumplings with Mr. and Ms. Blogmaid and now I am feeling warm and cozy in front of the fireplace. I am filled with gratitude. 

belated birthday lunch

 Neighbor Heidi and I celebrated Gini's birthday yesterday with pizza, salad and Heidi's lemon cake. Granddaughter CC and her Zac joined us (they are going to a concert in Oakland) so that was some last minute fun. Then the World Series last night ~ oooooh, a Grand Salami. 

Happy 2024 and Birthdays too (two)

 Sending love to Leah on the East Coast and the Blogmaid down in Pumpkinville on their birthdays today. The Blogmaid sent me the above ~ true, no?. I did get to an early New Year Party yesterday and will share photos tomorrow. Elaborate and fun plans were made for (and with) the Blogmaid today, but we had to postpone due to Covid. And so we have a new chapter beginning right now with maybe some minor resolutions, after I finish this box of candy.

yesterday and today

 Yikes, I neglected to take a photo of Doug, Barb and me out at the Hard Knox on Clement Street. Ox tails, mac and cheese, sausage/beans/rice, po'boy, corn meal muffins, etc. More birthday toasts and catch-up talk ~ lots of left overs. Thank heavens for Pepcid AC before they picked me up. This morning I'm using the RR coffee mug because she returns from college for a nice long holiday break and there is great joy in Pumpkinville (and SF). 

a worldwide celebration

 With lunch, flowers, balloon, cards and much happiness, Neti, the Blogmaids and I had grilled artichokes and fries and a good old time at Catch on Market Street and managed to avoid all the APEC traffic problems and found pretty good parking thanks to Husbando, as per usual.

my day with gratitude galore

 Nancy, beloved step daughter, sent the flowers and neighbor Heidi brought me a cake for breakfast and what more could a woman want? I'm using Bill's coffee mug and feeling positive and happy. Life is good and I have been blessed. xoxoxoxo

birthday officially over

 This card from my youngest step son is now on the refrigerator. Yesterday was the final celebration at Starbelly with Joe and Pamela. How did I neglect to take a photo? Now full gear getting ready for my sister Jane and nephew Tanner who arrive on Thursday. Hooray!

the next-to-final birthday lunch

 This hermit had quite a week of celebration thanks to friends near and far. Yesterday was dim sum out at Cheung Hing on Geary @ 27th with Jeanine, Pat and Neti. Now we can swing into holiday preparation ~ ready or not. Of course the highlight will be the arrival of my new sister,  Jane,  on Dec.1st. Yippee!

zounds! back to Zut...

 Every year Joe and I travel to Berkeley to celebrate Pamela's birthday at Zut's on 4th Avenue. Wowza, that area has really returned to life and we had an excellent brunch and a good time. Then we raced back home to watch the Warriors win by ONE POINT in yesterday's playoff game against Memphis. Yikes.

happy dim sum to you

Neti, Jeanine and I celebrated Pat's birthday yesterday at Shailai Seafood Restaurant out on Geary Boulevard. Lots of food and VERY reasonable. Restaurants here in the city have become expensive since the pandemic and the much needed staff raises, but this lunch was certainly the exception. A fine time for we four women, especially for Pat, or so I hope.

 

celebration in the nabe

 It was Cristina's birthday yesterday so we gathered amongst her garbage cans to drink champagne. She is a deckhand on the Larkspur-SF ferry and is also a bartender ~ she is in the bottom photo with the yellow bar towel in her pocket. The sweet dog is Lola. 

HIS birthday today

 Yesterday Doug, Barb and I had a pre-celebration with his favorite cake from this tiny bakery in Japantown. It's the famous Blum's crunch cake and man, is it yummy. Today we will go to lunch and revive some old memories and try to find photos on our iPhones. Husbando is sorely missed.

Blogmaid's happy birthday

 It was an honor to join Mr. and Ms. Blogmaid at the Stanford Shopping Mall yesterday. She is an Adult Collector of American Girl dolls and we had a glorious time shopping and poking around. Then lunch and a stop at Macy's for a few essentials like earrings for me and a belt for Mr. B. I have known the Blogmaid for 30 plus years now and she means the world to me. A wonderful day!