I had a busy and fun weekend... with chocolate cake. So thanks to everyone for their good wishes! Carla, Thank you! You are so thoughtful! Who is that lovely rose? Ingrid, I enjoy reading your posts and having you around too :). Olga, Thanks, dear friend! Your roses are so beautiful you inspire me to grow better ones. Paula, I miss my friends in California and I'd love to visit again soon. Maybe this year... Jon, I was a bit younger then... I hope that window remains broken and open for all to look through! Ron, Thank you! Your nursery is gorgeous and I envy all the different varieties you grow. Carol, Is that the Queen of the Violets? Beautiful picture from a lovely lady who posts I always enjoy reading. Florence, I love your big rambling roses and your indomitable spirit to keep gardening. Thank you. Joe, Thank you. Your pictures are always wonderful as your posts are too. Connie, That looks familiar :) It was so much fun to meet you and see your garden develop from pictures. Robert, I'm glad Alice Vena is doing well for you. It was great to meet you and I hope we'll see you again soon. Your garden looks like it's going to be astounding. Carol... Thank you. I miss seeing you too. We had so much fun going around Vintage together! Barbara, Thank you. You're never too late or too early for birthday wishes. I celebrate all week and all year long :).

Hey, ladies....thanks so much for the birthday wishes! I've been enjoying my "birthday weekend" immensely....as a matter of fact, my dh is cleaning our kitchen after having made breakfast burritos for us! lol I may fall over from shock. We went out with family and friends last night for dinner....one of my friends, a girl I've known since high school, has the same birthdate so it was doubly fun. I did get a few presents, many were garden related items. I'll place them and post pics if you'd like to see them. Thanks again....this was my 50th birthday, so I wasn't looking forward to it too much....lol....you've all made it that much nicer.

OH MY GOSH, didn't realize anyone here knew when my Bday was! Thank you all. Things are going pretty well, at least no problems of late. It's a lot of work raising an 11 year old, especially when you're not in your 20's ! LOL I am busy helping with homework, taking him places, having his friends over to our house etc. It's quite different when you're older, but I love him & will push on til I fall flat on my face from exhaustion!!!!

Thank you, everybody! And a special thank you for the email from Lyra this morning letting me know these birthday wishes were here (and the other occasional check-ins), although, truthfully, I do check in here much more often than I used to. The kids are well. Brian, a senior, made All American in indoor track and will be a freshman at Brown University in the fall! Yes, I am beaming. His dad would be so proud. He was state champion, winning the same race his dad won as a HS senior 43 yrs ago. He put his medal at Bob's gravesite. Connor has grown into such a handsome young man (just turned 15) with a heart of gold. He also had a successful track season and is doing well in his freshman year. Mackenzie...she's not my little baby any more. She will be nine in a few weeks. Can you remember my first post after Bob passed? "How do you explain death to a six year old?" We've all come a long way since then. As most of you know, I have found a wonderful man to complete my life. The realtor just called yesterday to say the seller agreed with his offer on 4.5 acres of beautiful waterfront land, and we are finalizing house plans. Seth has promised me my dream kitchen! I'm checking out the kitchen forum, starting that process all over again. The KF brings back fond memories because it's where I first met many of you. So life is good. I am happy. Me...happy! Who knew?? You know those sickening people you see pawing each other, looking all goofy in each other's eyes, and you just want to say, "get a room"? That's us!!! ;) I have found somebody to love who loves me back endlessly. I am head over heels, and we are planning a life together that I can't wait to start. I still don't know why God took Bob away, but he has given me a wonderful gift for the second half of my life. What better birthday present than that?