Count your age by friends, not years. Count your life by smiles, not tears. ~John Lennon
It is a hard thing to surprise me. My husband never thought he would pull it off. But I am getting ahead of myself. We have a group of neighbors…actually dear friends with whom we get together every Friday, for what we call “Happy Hour” to talk, maybe have a snack and a drink. Time to relax and socialize. We have been doing this since 2020 after we moved here during the pandemic. To meet our new neighbors, we decided to get tother every Friday outside and socialize. There was no other way to socialize in person at the time. And it has become a ritual now after 3 years. One we all look forward to. Some neighbors have moved away, and we have invited new ones into the group. Keeping the connections going.
So, this past Friday, which was my birthday, my neighbors were all going to be away and there wouldn’t be a happy hour. My husband decided to get everyone together on Wednesday instead and keep it a surprise. To say I was overwhelmed is an understatement. My heart was filled with such gratitude that everyone came to celebrate my birthday. I don’t think I have had a more perfect birthday since I was 5 years old.
Of course no presents were necessary. Just their company. But they brought me a new coloring book. Very detailed….a bit overwhelming at first when I saw it, but I am up for the challenge.
Of course I needed new fine-tipped markers for this new coloring book.
Gift certificates to book stores and a beautiful bud vase were perfect for a voracious reader and gardener.
A bowl full of succulents for my table, exactly what I had been planning to get. And a beautiful Gerbera daisy (at the top of the post), from our maintenance man for me to add to my lovely flowers this summer.
Of course my husband brought home a lovely bunch of flowers. At first I plonked them in a vase with no thought.
Then I tried to arrange them. I like the free-for-all look. Very festive!
With this week’s lovely vase, I am linking in to the wonderful meme, In A Vase On Monday, at Rambling in the Garden.
All the pictures shared in this post were taken with my Nikon Coolpix or iPhone camera, and manipulated on my iPhone using the apps, Pixlr and Prisma. You can follow my progress with #the100dayproject in my Instagram and Facebook feed.
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