My Favorite Things

Tuesday, when I got home from work and walked into the mud room it smelled of musty dirty laundry.  We had theatre tickets so we were headed straight back down the mountain but I threw a load of laundry in the washer and let it run while we were gone.  The smell was still there when we got home, but it was almost midnight so we just went to bed.  Wednesday morning, it smelled even stronger. 

Brett had picked up a package for me from the post office.  It was from my friend, Sylvie, in Normandy.  I wondered if something in the package smelled but the customs form she had completed said "savon" and "parfum."  Soap and perfume don't smell like dirty laundry but I went ahead and opened the box.  It is my birthday tomorrow and I wanted to see what she had sent. 

nougat, wine, spices, linens -- all linked to wonderful memories of shared meals

Oh, and not shown?  The Camembert that smelled very ripe.  It's stinking up the refrigerator now.  I'm going to have some with my dinner tonight.  Yum! 

And the mud room?  Smells like clean laundry. 

I'm How Old???

Today was my birthday.  51.  Last year, when I turned 50, I was sad to leave my 40s.  I loved my 40s.  But, so far the 50s are pretty good too.  More aches and pains, more hormonal "fun", but more me time which I'm enjoying. 

Today was sunny and warm, with temperatures in the 70s.  It would have been perfect for a trail ride except that Jackson is gimpy and I'm working.  But, working from home.  So, I got to sneak outside from time to time and visit the animals and my garden.

I made myself an oven pancake for breakfast.  I love these -- drizzled with fresh lemon juice and a dusting of powdered sugar.

 

Jackson was walking pretty well this morning.  I couldn't find any evidence of the abscess breaking so I went ahead and soaked him in epsom salts.  Then I applied a poultice and wrapped him up in a baby diaper.  They make great wraps for hooves.  I always have some on hand. 

 

I spent a few minutes weeding my flower bed and planting a basil plant.  It may be too early for the basil.  We often get frost up until May, but I thought I'd give it a shot.  The compost I mixed into the garden box was full of worms.  Check out the little guy at the base of the plant.

I was planning to make myself a rhubarb pie for my birthday "cake."  It's by far my favorite pie.  It's my favorite dessert.  It's better than chocolate.  I've been to three markets.  No rhubarb.  I planted a rhubarb tuber a few weeks ago so I wouldn't have this problem in future years.  It has sprouted, but I don't think there is enough for a pie...

I wandered outside for awhile with the camera, enjoying the sunshine and my gardens.

Brett's been busy all day.  He was on the ride-on mower all morning.  This afternoon he was weed whacking. 

It will be time to feed and do the evening chores in a short while.  In the meantime, I'm going to take my new book of poetry outside by the pool and read.  I ordered the book a few weeks ago and it arrived today, on my birthday.  How perfect is that!

For dinner tonight we are having steak salad.  Brett is going to BBQ the steak.  I bought berries to go in the salad.  I'm also going to make some warm goat cheese on toasts to put on top.  I pulled a bottle of my dad's cabernet out of the wine cellar...  I don't plan to be in any condition to post about dinner this evening since his wine is exceptional and it is my birthday so I may just have that second glass.