Chapter 66

Birthday Scone!

If life is a book, then, today, I started on Chapter 66!  

It began early, with the tree trimmers arriving at the crack of dawn 7:00 a.m., in a big truck with a shredder/mulcher attached and a crew of three:

Tree Trimming In Progress

They had already started trimming the tree by the time I was awake enough to go outside to check on things!  I asked them to reduce the height of the tree as well and they did some, but, not quite as much as I wanted, saying the tree might not continue to grow properly.  They were here until almost 8:30 a.m.

Almost as soon as they left, the gas company technician called to say he was on his way.  When he arrived, I showed him the screen shot and the video my daughter had taken of the furnace shooting out a flame and he agreed with me that it was not normal!  He checked the furnace and adjusted the pilot light flame to increase it a little more.  He had me switch the furnace on and off a few times until he was satisfied that the furnace came on quickly enough.  He was not very happy with the fact that I didn't have a digital thermostat as it didn't show the temperature of the room, but, we have a wall thermometer hanging in the family room which gives a good indication of the general temperature in the house.  We left the furnace on for a little while, afterwards, but, turned it off, mid-morning.  It was a sunny and warm day, with a high of 87F!  Just my kind of weather!

Birthday Lunch

My daughter treated me to Thai food from our favorite Thai food place.  It is not a restaurant as such, although they have a few tables and chairs set out in a patio area.  It was, and remains, a place to order food to go.  A tiny, family owned and operated, hole-in-the-wall type of place, but, they serve the most delicious food and their prices are very reasonable.  We ordered beef fried rice, Thai beef salad, barbecue pork over chow mein, and their spicy seafood combo special (served over steamed rice).   We had some of it for lunch, some for dinner, and there is enough leftover for at least two more meals for the two of us!  

After lunch, I got to open my gifts from my daughter!  They included some of my favorite eau de cologne, lotion, after bath splash, a new pastry sheet, a pastry scraper, and a mini food processor since I didn't have one!

Later, my daughter made me almond scones for my birthday, instead of a birthday cake! 

Birthday Scones!

I feel so blessed to be able to celebrate this birthday with my daughter being here, in person.  In addition, throughout the day, there were phone calls, cards, ecards, and emails from family and friends (both new and old), from here and abroad, to wish me for my birthday; I was very touched and pleased to be remembered.  

All in all, it was a very happy beginning to a new chapter in my life!  Especially since, when I was a child, I always expected my life story to end at Chapter 65!  I don't know why, but, that is what I thought!

Today, I am grateful for:

- Being alive and well enough to celebrate this birthday!

- Having my daughter home with me to help me celebrate!
- Well wishes from family and friends, both near and far
- Birthday presents!
- Special birthday meals!

Today's joyful activity was celebrating my 66th birthday!

Today's decluttering - one birthday candle after I blew it out!