Happy Birthday to Me and to Nancy

I’ve planned a quiet and relaxed 74th birthday. I’m up at my usual 5:00 AM, made coffee, fed the cat, done my ab exercises. Now time to read magazine articles and learn one more bird order (28 down; 3 to go, unless the ornithology people reconfigure the groups, which they seem to be doing, now that DNA testing is widely available. My next project is to learn the passerine families. Might be possible.)

Breakfast, then some yard work to finish weeding and trimming the west poolside bed. The weather has turned coolish, low 70’s, so I don’t have to be out at o’dark hundred. I’m cutting most of the salvias way back, to encourage more flowering. At the same time, I don’t want to cut back too much because all the bees, wasps, and flies still need places to feed. A delicate balance.

After lunch of the very last of the Thanksgiving leftovers, we’re going to the Garden Theater in Winter Garden for Moonshine and Mistletoe: An Appalachian Christmas Tale. My review will be posted later.

Then ice cream at Steph’s, where we can admire how far they’ve gotten in their Christmas decorating. Yesterday, when we stopped by with a wreath I’d bought at Lowe’s Black Friday sale, 2 for $20, they were knee deep in strings of lights with 1 tree up and boxes of decorations to go.

I’m still in Thanksgiving mode. Thursday, we’d had dinner at our house, with Steph, Kyle, Aiden, and Patten. Clara was with her dad. Ryann’s aunt is in hospice, so she went to Miami to be there. Steph was given a Publix turkey since she is still an associate, working as a cashier Monday evenings. Sunday we picked it up, frozen, and put it in our camping refrigerator. I was sure it would thaw in time for a dry brine Tuesday; Grant was skeptical. He was more right than I was, but with a water rinse, and pulling the giblets, he got it thawed in time. To make room enough in our oven, he roasted it in the grill. I made a baked Brie appetizer with homemade cranberry jam, plain and cornbread dressing (from a bag), gravy which was a little salty from the pan drippings, pumpkin pie, pecan bars, and brownies. Grant made his green beans, mixed up the Mama Steinberg’s cranberry-sour cream-horseradish sauce, and organized a pickle plate which he forgot to put out (in place of the Waldorf salad which traditionally was forgotten). Steph and Kyle brought Brussels sprouts, a delicious corn casserole, and rosemary biscuits. 

For my birthday, Patten gave me a really good check valve for our sprinkler pump, which has lost prime a couple of times. The last time was while we were in California. I had tested the sprinkler system before we left, because the weather was hot and dry. All seemed fine. However, the pump lost its prime while we were gone, which I think was the reason my passion vine has died and the bat plant’s flowers all withered. With this check valve, which Kyle will help us put in, i .e., he will do, that shouldn’t happen again. 

He and Steph gave me a new motion activated light for the boathouse to replace the current one which doesn’t seem to work. It also came with installation as part of the gift. Perfect.

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We had a lovely time at the theater. My parking karma was working well because I got the last space right out front which was especially nice when we left because it was now raining. I hadn’t bought tickets beforehand since there were plenty of seats available and I wanted to see if I could avoid the $4/ticket fee. The theater gives $10 discounts to seniors, active military, etc., but the lady at the box office had even a better deal: $25 rush seats on the side, Row F. The fees were still in force. Still, that was a savings of $80 over what I was looking at online. Yes, please, we’d like those tickets. The theater is so small even the balcony has close views, if we were inclined to climb the stairs.

The play is a mashup of old hymns, mountain music, and songs written for it, to keep the action moving. The story takes place on Christmas Day as an Appalachian coal mining family gathers for their holiday meal. Amid much singing and dancing, the prodigal son and his very pregnant wife appear. They re heartily greeted except by Mom who is mad/hurt he has been gone 2 years with no word home. All is forgiven when the baby is born.

The actors were wonderful singers, especially a prepubescent boy who sang a couple of solos in his high pitched voice. The little girl who played his sister was in her element. I should learn their names so I can say I knew them when. Almost all of the adults played several stringed instruments including guitar, stand up base, mandolin, fiddle and dulcimer. A couple played the accordion, and there were a few numbers where the washboard and spoons came out. A feel good time for sure. A pleasant birthday afternoon.

Upcoming shows are an Elvis review, then something about Patsy Kline. I think I see a country theme, which is surprising, but I guess they know what sells. There are also classic movies on Tuesday evening. Next week’s show is It's a Wonderful Life. I think we will hold out for Casablanca.

Grant made baked salmon, mixed grilled mushrooms, rice, and a radicchio salad for my birthday dinner. The bouquet is his card.