Today is a very good friend’s birthday and I have to disclaim that I haven’t knit socks for her….yet. But, this yarn, my fair readers, is going to become socks for her just as soon as I find a pattern that suits her…it will have to be a special pattern because she is one special lady.

She’s a fantastic friend…the kind of friend that will listen to your woes without judgement and then calmly come up with a creative solution while making you feel like it was your idea.

She’s beautiful and funny in a way that would make you swear she’s British if she didn’t have the smooth accents of a true Texas girl.

People talk about her superpower (staying calm in times of crisis), and they’re right, it’s amazing, but she’s so much more than that.

She knows how to make the best of any situation (because if nothing else, you can laugh about it later).

She’ll laugh with you. and cry.

She’ll keep a secret.

She’ll inspire you to be a better person.

She’ll pick you up to celebrate your birthday (even if she’s a little under the weather).

She’ll understand where you’re coming from.

She’s proof that blondes can be smart as a whip.

She’s patient and kind and cares about the less fortunate.
….and when you’ve given up on knitting because you’re just too slow, ladies and gentlemen, she’s the person that will tell you, “You should try continental.”

Tags: birthday, friend

There once was a lass called Bonita.
The only cheese she might like is Velveeta.

A more generous person, you never did know.
She’s also funny but won’t steal your show.

Handier in a pinch than most folks hereabouts.
Bonita is wise and does not suffer louts.
She’ll be supportive if zombies you run from.
And if she were a pirate, she’d give you her rum.

She has a sweet soul, is kind-hearted, loves dogs.
I’m pretty sure she’d throw those Highland Games logs.



Her great taste in books and film should get a mention.
She takes fun to another dimension.

She keeps secrets right up there with graves.
I could see her running and dancing with braves.

She’ll tell you what you need to hear, rather than want to.
Sometimes, her ideas are fresh as the dew.

Going to a haunted house with her is highly recommended.
But, you’ll have to find your own Bones, cause this one is friended.
Which I just realized means you’re out of luck.
Cause this lovely lady is a one of a kind duck.

Happy Birthday, Friend! I hope Paris treats you to the most beautiful day of your life.

Tags: birthday

TH is a little bit high maintenance. But the easy part of being married to him is that he’s predictable and asks for exactly what he wants, so, when he asked for a cake from the local grocery store with extra icing for his birthday, that’s what he got.

I attempted to call the grocery store Friday morning, but their phone line was busy…..forever! I had flashbacks of trying to register for college courses and hitting redial for half an hour and eventually gave up.

That evening, I entered the grocery store and patiently waited as two twenty-somethings ordered a purple and gold cake for their grandmother’s “21st” birthday.
When it was my turn, I held out the white cake with buttercream frosting I’d selected and asked if she could just draw a box with icing in the middle and fill the middle in with icing because the birthday boy wanted extra icing. She looked at me as if I had a contagious disease and said, “you want me to just add icing? I don’t know if I can do that. We normally just write the name on them. I might have to charge you extra.” I said that was fine and she took the cake and went off to ask.
At this point, another lady walked up and asked if I’d been helped. I said, “Yes, but she had to go ask a question because my request was out of the norm.” Then we had a lovely chat about how her daughter was having a birthday and she was picking up the cakes but the party was delayed because the birthday girl had broken her arm in a high school softball game. Oh my!

The baker came back with my cake and there was a blank box in the middle of the extra icing. Um, what to do with a blank box….hmmm. I really kind of want his name on it now, errrr, there just might be a reason TH and I are together, cause I’m not what you’d call low maintenance…but I really want to fill in the blank space. Since, I’d already had one turn at the baker and was in no hurry, I took the cake and stepped aside while Broken Arm Birthday Girls’s mom picked up her cake and cookie cake. We joked about how surely cake would make the Birthday girl feel better and off she went.

I said to the baker, “I’m really sorry, but do you mind writing his name on the cake in this blank box?” and she said, “just his name??” like she really expected me to respond, “You know what you’re right, can you please write, ‘Honey, you are the greatest huband in the whole world and I hope you have a wonderful birthday, Love, Pookie'” But, instead I responded, “yes, please, just his name.” She wrote his name and handed me the cake. I asked her name and she told me it was Kay and I said, “Thank you so much, Kay.” And at this point, she finally cracked a smile and said “You’re welcome.” I might be high maintenence, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be nice about it.


The important thing is not how a cake looks, but how much icing it has!

TH decided he wanted to spend his birthday building me a garden box and helping me plant herbs and veggies….and installing some track lighting in the house and THAT ladies and gentlemen is why I am willing to make an arse of myself at the bakery!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TH! You’re the best! :)

Tags: birthday, cake, husband, icing