The great thing about getting older
Is that you don't lose all the other ages you've been.
-Madeleine L'Engle
My birthday was wonderful. The day began with heading downtown to visit some homeless friends who've started a bakery out of our local homeless shelter. Oh wow. Their signature cupcake was a Vanilla Honey with local honey drizzle. We supplied the honey, and upon one taste of this mythical, magical cupcake, I began stuttering and promising them all the honey they needed. I think they said okay. My world was kind of fading in and out between bites of that amazing cupcake. Oh my, y'all. These men (and their genius leader, a local baker named Cathy) can BAKE....
In addition to homeless people and their gourmet cupcakes, the birthday celebration also included balloon sculptures, Indian food, antique shopping, plant buying, lunch with a friend who's more like my BFF/older sister, kissing on the nephew, lots of faces I love, strawberry drinks, and a party. With my Mom's from scratch chocolate pie. It was a weekend to remember. (And I think I'm just now coming down off all that sugar. Heh.)
So back to a "normal" routine this week. A new normal. While I was away, I began teaching piano lessons out of the big Front Room of Hedge House. So much fun. My first student, Emma, a super smart 9 year old with endless energy, thinks this house is "PERFECT for Hide and Seek" and has asked to play more than once. It's made me think back to my piano teacher, a firm (and somewhat terrifying to my 10 year old self) woman who expected perfection, no nonsense, and painfully short fingernails. I try to be stern piano teacher Brin, but so far it's not happening. Maybe I just have to hit my stride, though. We'll see.
Enough about me. How are YOU? I hope your April is off to a wonderful start. Anyone planting anything yet? Celebrating anything? Do keep talking back. One of my favorite parts of the day is hearing from you....
Here's to a good week! -Brin
14 comments:
Happy (belated now I guess!) Birthday, Brin!
I am just back from a few days at a Christian conference with some of my best friends...none of them local, so it was lovely to meet and spend time together. God is good.
Now of course it's back to normality time with work and chores and planting, because goodness it's April. When did that happen!?
Happy belated birthday, Brin. I've been here since the early days (2006ish) and I've loved keeping up with your adventures during the past decade or so. Time flies!
Happy belated Birthday! I hope you had a wonderful day.
You took me back in time talking about piano lessons, I was instantly back in my piano teachers studio having to sit up straight and keep my hands in the perfect soap bubble pose. To this day I still hold my hands like that, whether I am playing the piano or typing on the computer! I miss her a great deal, she made a big impression on me and I decided early on I would never cut my hair when I was an older lady. I would wear it pulled back in a low bun with big hair pins sticking out, just like her. I know you are a wonderful piano teacher, I hope you enjoy every minute of teaching!
We have been working out in the yard planting sunflowers, cucumbers, mint, pole beans, you name it we have planted it! Except tomatoes, I can't grow a tomato to save my life. They hate me for some reason. The kids enjoy helping start the seeds and it's always a good lesson for them to learn how the seeds grow and how to take care of the garden.
Have a wonderful week! I can't wait to hear how your garden is doing and the news things you have done to the house.
sounds like a lovely birthday..congrats to your friends on the bakery venture..
i am still knitting blankies and hats and loving every second of it..
Hope you have a beautiful week.
Happy belated birthday beautiful lady! Sounds like you had quite a day for sure!
Sounds like you had the perfect birthday! Sending belated wishes for another year filled with God's best blessings. I loved how your piano student wants to play hide-and-seek in your home. I taught piano lessons for quite a few years and I was not the stern, strict teacher of my youth! I was firm with what needed to happen - in a loving way. Your birthday cupcake sounds fantastic!
~Adrienne~
Happy Birthday Brin! I've been reading here back to your Freeman House days, lost track for a while but so glad to be following again. Wishing you a year of a cup of overflowing blessings from Him. Bee blessed!
Happy Birthday Sweetie!! Glad it was a wonderful, sugared up day. When I was young, we lived in a big city and I took piano lessons at the Conservatory and I had a wonderful young teacher. We moved to a smaller town and I then took lessons with an old (and I mean old) teacher whose home smelled like rubbing alcohol. It was not fun anymore and I only went a couple of years and then I quit. So Emma has a young teacher whose home smells like cookies, lemon oil and potting soil. Don't change a thing.
Happy Birthday Brin! Sounds like you had a wonderful birthday. Time does fly doesn't it, in blogland? I think I've been with you since around 2007 or so. You had just moved into Freeman House I think. I had just ventured into the world of blogging. You were an inspiration to this old girl, to jump on in. I'm planting this week! Tomatoes, cukes, peppers, basil, parsley, and something new I found, called lemon something marigold. The leaves are small and smell very lemony and it has a tiny yellow flower similar to a marigold. I'm still dreaming of bee keeping....and watching others with awe and some sort of weird hesitancy. Have a wonderful 37th year!
Happy birthday, Brin!
I cannot imagine you being a strict piano teacher. I had one like you, which means I quit after a year. I wish I hadn't.
Honey. I love the stuff but haven't found my honey farm yet. I keep looking. The hunt is worth it.
I'm supposed to be writing lesson plans for the college courses I teach. I am so ADD it hurts.
You all make my heart so happy. Thank you, thank you, for being here. I so love reading and "catching up" on you all. I appreciate the birthday wishes so very much! I am grateful for all you; you're blessings to me!
Sounds like you had a lovely birthday. I've been reading your blog for a long time, longer than I thought, I guess. I got married at age 37, had my first child at 38 and a second at age 42! They are both teenagers now - how time flies!
Happy Birthday Brin! Sounds like you enjoyed a wonderful day. I've enjoyed reading along on your blog for many years which I have so enjoyed and many times you have inspired me!
Planting? It is just warming up here so that will be next on my mind. I have started some sweet potatoes indoors and already they have a number of small leaves. Last year I got a pretty good crop considering we are not really known for growing sweet potatoes. What is growing in your garden this summer?
The best to you with giving piano lessons. I really can't imagine you ever being too firm with your students but I'm thinking they get lots of love and patience from you.
hAppy birthday dear brin. :) my 58th was april 23 and i'm almost as old as shakespeare now, whose birthday is celebrated the same day. sobering. haha
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