A Very Construction Birthday Party

There was one very excited 5 yr old, waiting to greet us on Sunday as we drove up to his house, but first we were greeted by the proud Daddy birthday surprise. Jason brought the company front-end loader and parked it perfectly to announce there was a special boy about to turn 5.

Big toys charm little boys....

Teddy was a wonderful host as he eagerly welcomed everyone at the door.

He was beyond excited

As I tried to get him to pose for a photo,  he said, "wait, wait, Nana, we have to get my friend, Sidney, too"

Me thinks he is a bit smitten by Sidney!! They stayed together during the whole party.

While Teddy continued to greet all the guests, Alison was busy putting the finishing touches on the "construction" gala, and LM and I helped to set out snacks for the adults. The dining room table is ready to host 17 carpenters.

Dear Woo! (LM)

Sara watching Teddy greet his friends at the door.

A party favor "lunch box" for each of the revelers.

The day before the party, Teddy had helped his Mum to begin Christmas decorating. She always displays her pretty Village houses in the living room transom windows.

Pretty and wintry

More guests arriving...the boys in the blue hats are Mac and Mason, twins, and great friends of Teddy's

Alison begins organizing the crew in a game of construction with marshmallows and straws.

Teddy gazing at Sidney

This project interest lasted for a short time, but Teddy enjoyed his role as crew chief.

Samantha building her marshmallow house

Pensive poses amidst the celebration

More marshmallow creations

Interest waned on that idea and they began to wander....and graze the food.

Construction equipment and vehicles everywhere.

Next up was a game of musical dots. When the music stopped they were to land on a dot and stop.  We did not have too many in compliance and the game became quite hilarious.

A little mid-party meltdown when all the excitement overwhelmed the celebrant. Didn't last long, though.

Time for cake, and quite a cake it was. Alison "constructed" this masterpiece and it was a huge hit.

Rock candy and crushed Oreos were a great idea!

Lighting the candles

The proud Dad, Jason, who worked so hard to make this party come together.

Time for presents just as the Pats game was near the exciting end!

Teddy had  lot of help opening his exciting gifts.

Sidney, ever at his side, Teddy opens a great gift from his great aunt, Eleanor.

Thank you, Aunt Eleanor......

There was so much action that I hardly got a photo of this construction clock with his name on it. A gift from LM and moi.

Soon all the attendees had departed with their wonderful parents, and I looked down at my feet to see this cute little party-buy, inside one of the huge gift bags, rolling around in hilarity.

A delightful time was had by all, and most of all by the cutest little carpenter, ever, our dear Teddy....5 yrs old!

Birthdays, Barking, Breathing

Yes, a lot of breathing is taking place here at Ms Graysea land. There's that automatic breathing and then there is the deliberate breathing used to instill calm, relaxation, and maintain sanity, and right now, it is in high gear as I am house sitting a lot this month, and, we have many birthdays to celebrate, along with Christmas. Because everyone close to us is on different schedules, it is nigh on to impossible to be with everyone at once, so we are having a host of separate celebrations.
Fresh off a night of no sleep due to intense barking by my charges, I am wrestling this Sunday to a start so that we can head over to help Teddy celebrate his 5th birthday. Alison, Teddy's Mom and my dear, dear daughter-in-law, has put so much effort into this day, and I will have festivity photos for you tomorrow. It is a construction themed gala and so far 17 wee ones will be in attendance, along with accompanying adults. I'm bringing appetizer-type foods for the adults, and we'll all be helping with the games, etc. and picking up Sara, Samantha (Teddy has called me several times to remind me not to forget to pick up Samantha!!) and LM along the way, that is after I have fed my canine charges their lunch and played ball outdoors with them for a bit.

As I drove back to my house this morning at dawn, the night's barking still rattling my peace, the sky was amazing, but I missed the photo op, choosing to savor instead. Looking to the east over the ocean there was  heavy gray cloud cover, but dead center an opening of light filled with one huge pink cloud - a gift to soften my exhaustion, lift my spirits and launch what I am sure will be a very joyful day of celebration.  

Happy Sunday everyone.....much love, and may your day float on a pink cloud, too!

Leftover Florida Turkeys -Wacky Wednesday

My Florida grandcats.....Front:  Bella and Tig,  Back: The beautiful Theo!!

Post Thanksgiving

Having the day after Thanksgiving off was such a gift....I rested, and took my car for some quick service and just enjoyed being by myself, as LM was working.  I also managed some cuddle time with Ms G.  When LM arrived home he brought a nice container of fresh sea scallops which we thoroughly enjoyed as dinner that night. We do love seafood, so much and these were perfectly fresh and sweet. Now that I have everyone salivating for some scallops, I will distract you with the photo below....

This critter was staring at me all day Friday....he is one of LM's salt water flies, sitting in the vise, waiting to be finished. He is so amazingly creative with his process.  All the tools, etc, are set up on the living room coffee table and are right in front of my spot on the couch! I'm very surprised that Ms G doesn't try to make off with these things, as they are all over the place and have dangerous hooks attached. So far, she's not the least bit fazed. She would rather annoy the fly creator by trying to get in his lap while he is working. Of course, you, know, that he does stop whatever he is doing and allow her to sit and have a nap.

Saturday morning we woke quite refreshed and I posed the idea of taking a drive to Provincetown for the day to have lunch, shop locally, and watch the Christmas lights come on at sunset. This was our view as we approached P-Town....Pilgrim Lake and the National Seashore dunes on our right. The sky was so beautiful, but it was really cold.

Nearing the dunes. There was an amazing amount of sand on the roads, having blown in with the strong gales we had on the day before Thanksgiving.

We found perfect parking on the town pier, and as we walked toward town the beautiful Pilgrim Monument was straight ahead. You can even see the strings of lights waiting to come on later.

We had lunch at Ross's Grill upstairs in the Whaler's Wharf building.  A wonderful and bustling place. The town was so filled with visitors. So nice to see a lot of local retail shopping taking place, and I did my best to help the cause! Ross's is on the 2nd floor and we loved looking down on their beautiful tree from above.

We like the Vintage store, too.

The sun was shining in so nicely and it made me feel like I was in ancient Europe for a sec.

Happily lunched, my favorite date and I were setting off to shop.

After shopping we were on the road to Herring Cove Beach to catch the sunset...oh, I do love living near the national Seashore. The beauty always leaves me in awe.

Just in time....we got the last parking spot.

Silently we watched, and gave thanks for all we have....

Love and peace to all....

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving day dawned crisp and beautiful after a day of wild wind and heavy rain. We gathered up Sara and Samantha and were on the road to my brother, Sam's house where we were greeted by "Ed Weird", one of their fun and handsome Manx kittens, who led us through the door to this beautiful arrangement of dining tables. With 25 guests expected, Trish had done a spectacular job of accommodating a special place for everyone.

The center table by the fireplace was for all the teen boys who would join us, and was soon filled with lively conversation about cyclocross racing.

This table was where all the beautiful food was to be arranged in heated servers.

The chandelier was so pretty with its Fall decorations and when the sun came around while we enjoyed our dinner, the light danced on us in the prettiest formations.

The dessert table filled up as guests arrived...my cherry pie in the center. I'm continuing Mum's tradition of making Sam a cherry pie every Thanksgiving.

Harley discovered sneaking in a nap before dinner.

Ed Weird practicing his piano solo.

Birdwatching after practice.

Helping Samantha learn to play the piano

Sister Eleanor had flown in from WA .....she enjoyed seeing Samantha after many years...Sara in background preparing the relish tray....great job!

I was so happy to see Mum's beautiful old crockery bowl filled with fruit. It was always on the counter in the kitchen as we grew up....sometimes holding rising dough, others, cookie dough, dill pickles in brine waiting to be canned, and my favorite, watermelon rind soaking in a sweet brine of oil of cinnamon and oil of cloves.

Samantha was really happy to find a piano and LM acquainted her with the fun of chopsticks.

Ed sneaks in a before dinner nap, too.

Each place setting had a lovely hand-lettered placecard.

Meanwhile in the kitchen, Ed was dangerously close to the cat thief and El's son John, as Sam, Trish and I worked on the dinner.

Ed is such a love bug, and he knows who needs love! LM was having an emotional day as he missed his children very much, especially Kristi.

Samantha and I got some love, too.

Sara enjoyed a lovely conversation with family friend, Gerri whose family always joins us for Thanksgiving.  A very large and loving family we are proud to call part of ours. Their boys participate in cyclocross racing with my nephew, Nate.

Our wonderful and very busy hostess, Trish, opening bottles of wine and cider.

El with my nephew, Danny, Sam's son.

This little one had such fun playing with Ed....

Just about ready to serve....

El and John (he is so tall now) serving themselves

Sisters

Blurry but special...LM and moi

Samantha having just been told it was time to eat!

Post-feast conversation was so nice...

So nice to have a visit with Gerri

El, son, Ian, and Trish

Ed Weird enjoys an after dinner nap. 

We really enjoyed the day and I felt so blessed to be surrounded by a lot of love and appreciation for life, and the wonderful family of which I am part.