Well, I’m now another year older and have a few more wrinkles, which I insist are laughter lines, to prove it! Says I with a stifled sob!
I was rooting through old photo’s the other day and thought I’d show you a pic of me as a child. Practically every one has me clutching some poor animal or other. I’ve included a pic of my mum, and my dad aged 18 in his RAF uniform. Included in his photo is a pic of his father in ww1 uniform. That poor guy had to fight in both wars and had the most awful shrapnel wounds.
I’ve always thought that having a birthday on January 2nd is such a burden to everyone. Seriously, everyone is broke and totally partied out, not to mention full to bursting with all the holiday food.
When I was a child, my father was a teacher and was paid monthly. Every birthday I would get a card in which he wrote, “Present following at the end of the month”, It never did as with four kids money was always tight in January. They did always buy me a tiny trifle though, which they would put a single candle in. Everyone would gather around and sing happy birthday to me, then after blowing the candle out I’d eat the trifle soooooo slowly with my three siblings gathered around, watching me and swallowing each spoonful along with me, drooling like dogs! How horrid was I?
So, the first dilemma! I got a call from my younger sister a few days ago telling me that she was going to get married. Wonderful says I, when?
In two weeks, she said! Yes….. TWO WEEKS! Now my sis lives in Leeds and I’m in Liverpool so I asked her where the venue was. Turns out she’s getting married in the local woods overlooking a lake full of swans. How beautiful is that, not much fuss or bother and no huge expense. Just a few friends and family to enjoy the day with….yes, it all sounded delightful until she asked me if I would choose her bouquet and decorate the walk through the woods to the lake as a wedding present. She added that she had every confidence in me to make it all look lovely, simple and elegant and make sure it was all natural and wouldn’t clash with the environment. PRESSURE!!!
I agreed of course, and then went into a total panic, after all I only had two weeks. Initially I ran around all the local florists and came out none the wiser. It’s a HUGE responsibility choosing a wedding bouquet, especially as chats with sister revealed that she didn’t like most of the flowers I was considering. Then daughter came around to find me sitting amongst a heap of white ribbon and holly with sweat pouring off me….I explained.
“Oh Mother….for God’s sake just go on the internet and let her see what you have in mind or even better, let her pick her own.” At first I felt like this was a bit of a cop out but the relief was too great, so I rang sis who JUMPED at the idea. I think she was secretly beginning to regret asking me to pick her bouquet to be honest. She’s now going for white lilies and roses.
I’m still on wood decorating duty though. I’ve now decided to make huge sweeping white bows with long dangling ribbons, with holly sprigs and little jar lamps with tea lights in….wish me luck!
I may include some ivy in the arrangements too…..
So, in other news I’ve noticed that the daffodil shoots are popping up and buds are beginning to appear on the honeysuckle. Lot’s of other plants are beginning to sprout too, I think it’s because it’s been so mild, albeit wet, which could be fatal if we get a sudden frost. I even saw a blackbird gathering nesting material today….and a BLUEBOTTLE on Curly cat’s food! How crazy is that, it’s still January.
I’m wondering what on earth to do about my lawn……
While these two do this I don’t think the grass will ever grow back…..ideas anyone? Maybe I should just leave it as a little copse as the back garden has so many tall trees….
My other dilemma is what to do about Holly the hedgehog. She’s done brilliantly and is nearly 800 grams. If I released her now she could hibernate but I want to give her the best chance and don’t know what the weather will be like in the next few months. If the garden floods she’d stand little chance, so I was thinking of putting her out in Herbie’s rabbit hutch until spring when Herbie goes out again…..it would accustom her to being outdoors and I could just open the hutch door in spring and let her wander off ….decisions decisions eh?
Haha, glad I could be of assistance! It’s so much pressure having a hand in someone else’s wedding day as you know they want everything to be perfect… so at least she could be in control. The Holly Hedgehog dilema is a difficult one, maybe keep an eye on the weather int he next few days before you decide xx
Yes…..it would be awful to pick the wrong bouquet!
Talking of Holly, I just heard on the news that snow is forecast next week so I’ll keep her indoors until milder weather comes, I suppose if I put her in the hutch outside I can always bring her back in if the weather becomes awful….xxxxxx
What brilliant news about your sister, what a great idea for a wedding, and all your ideas sound lovely! As for the lawn … astroturf??? I love the photos of you and your parents – your Mum looks gorgeous and so lively! I don’t know anything about hedgehogs .. but I’m sure he’ll be loved and you’ll do the right thing!
PS I sooooooooooo love your captchas!
Yes, it’s wonderful that she has finally found the right guy, and yes, how lovely to be married in the woods. I wish I’d done something like that but then I was so young I never thought of alternative weddings.
Astroturf….now there’s a thought!!!
My mum was very lively, and beautiful, the Italian genes! Sadly she died when she was 59, such a shame…I hate being an orphan!
Lol, the captchas are cute aren’t they?xxxxx
Good luck with the wedding preparations – it would have been a lot easier for you if you sister had decided to marry a bit later on – but I am sure you will do a splendid job. As for your lawn – all I can say is – what lawn? Oh dear what happened to it. And the other thing is what is that last photo – it had me completely foxed.
Yes, two weeks doesn’t seem much time so things will be basic… I was wondering how to tie bows quite high up trees, my car is too small for steps…and what if it rains, so ribbons will need to be waterproof….I feel a migraine coming on!
The lawn has been run to death by my dogs who I’ve only had for 15 months. Sam is a doberman cross and churns the lawn as he runs, and the two of them run a lot!!! It’s a mud bath at the moment after all the rain.
Ah, I forgot to say, the last pic is of mist, I was going to ask how one gets a good photo of things in the mist, everytime I take a pic it comes out like that”xxxxx
Winter weather due any half hour soon. That should help you make some decisions. Pray that the weather stays dry-ish for all the woodland ribbon preparations.
As for copse-v-grass…everything is so sodden, I do not think it is worth poring over till you see how the winter and spring pan out.
Thanks Menhir, I have my fingers and toes crossed that it stays dry for the wedding….
Yes, everything is so sodden, let’s hope spring brings some good weather and an end to the endless rain. I just done a home check for a cat and even the coast road is flooded, given it’s a road running through sand dunes you’d think that the water would be absorbed….it is all rather alarming.xxxxx
Happy Belated Birthday: joy and peace to your new year, Snowbird: Blessings on your many good works and fun adventures. Can’t wait to see pics of the wedding; I bet it will be beautiful.
Cannot believe you already have flowers emerging! Wow.
Love to all your sweet animal companions and good luck with Holly’s care.
Thanks Catherine, I’ll post wedding piccies [if my creations look good, lol]
Yes, It’s very early to see the daffodils beginning to emerge and buds appearing, we are due snow in a few days which bodes ill for the tender shoots. We have had a very mild winter so far and I think it’s confusing everything.
I hardly recognise Holly now, she’s as big as Herbie!xxxxx
Belated happy birthday to you! I love those old B&W photos!
Thanks Debi, I really like the old b&w ones too, they always seem to look more dramatic and compelling somehow.xxxxx
Oh my. Two weeks to come up with floral display that’s elegant?? I’m glad you found a solution
My cousin got engaged recently and assigned her mother, aunts, and me to floral duty. Fortunately, the wedding’s not until May. Unfortunately, the aunts and her mother have decided to defer to me. Have I mentioned that I’m a zero at floral arrangements?
Ah well. I’m glad to see spring has arrived a bit earlier for you. Regarding the grass or, rather, the lack of grass…. I’m afraid there’s nothing can be done when you’ve got four-legged types racing through the area. Have you considered weeds? They seem not to mind the most blatant abuse
Two weeks…I KNOW!!!!! I’ll be lucky yo come up with anything, and I have to sort the woods before 12 noon, AND get ready for the wedding…..I’m feeling a little overwhelmed!
Oh my….good luck to you too, maybe get Roomie on board? Two heads are better than one!
Lol, even weeds can’t grow in that mud bath of mine…..I’ve never had a pair of dogs who are so energetic, Annie, the border collie just loves running and when she comes in she looks escatic! xxxxx
Happy, albeit belated, birthday! A most enjoyable post, and terrific photos. I hope that the weather is kind for your sister’s wedding!
It’s now much colder here, with snow on the way. Being so changeable confuses plants and us doesn’t it! xx
Thanks Flighty. We have know forcast for tonight, where sis is it’s BOUND to snow. I’m hoping it will as nature can take care of the decorating then!
I think the weather is confusing the plants, and the wildlife.xxxxx
We have a couple of daffs sprouting as well. I’d not bother grassing that over. Get a tractor and plough it, grow some barley or something. Maybe a few tonnes of gravel or a tonne of woodbark might sort it out. Belated birthday wishes, I’m still getting younger, I decided at 50 I would wind the clock back. I’m 46.
Lol, thanks Mick….I really like the idea of covering the back with bark, it would be a proper little copse then and the birds could still dig up worms. Thanks for the idea. I’m 50 by your reckoning! xxxxx
The old photo’s are lovely, your mother is a fine looking woman.
Good luck with the floral arrangements and that lawn, or lack of a lawn of yours.
Belated happy birthday.
Thanks Dessie, my mum has Italian blood, and always looked beautiful.
I’m a little worried about the floral arrangements I must say, sis is VERY picky so it’s a great honour to have her trust me.xxxxx
Happy Birthday to you! I hope it was a wonderful day and many blessings for the year. That’s a wonderful pic of your mom and dad. My birthday is December 30th so I’m sure my parents were in the same quandry and following in my footsteps my daughter had the audacity to be born on Christmas day! Yup a broke month for sure
Congratulations to your sis on her upcoming wedding. I’m sure you will do a wonderful job decorating!
Thanks Susanne, I had a lovely birthday, nice and relaxing.
Oh….poor you, your birthday is as bad as mine, and right in the middle.
Your daughter is born on CHRISTMAS DAY?????? Oh nooooooooooo……poor all of you!!!
I hope you and daughter had a wonderful birthday!xxxxx
This sounds like a lot of trouble. Now I understand the strange custom of giving an envelope with money inside as a present. When I give presents, it’s something I want to give. But what can you say if it’s a brother or a sister. My sympathies. Oh, and a belated happy birthday too… I don’t know if I know how you look today… but I have a feeling that if I would see an updated picture, I would really like the way you look.
Thanks Shimon, yes, the pressure is on to not disappoint!
You are such a sweetie! I don’t suppose I look any different from the last pic you saw…..maybe just one more laughter line!!!! xxxxx
What a lovely post about your family…and a belated happy birthday! Enjoy your sister’s wedding. I can see that your dogs don’t share your concerns about your lawn! And good luck with Holly; it sounds as though she will be well prepared for the rest of the winter.
Thanks Wendy. My dogs have NO respect at all…..at least they seem to be getting a little better re digging my plants and bushes up, they totally ruined the garden in their first twelve months here.
Holly has come along beautifully, it’s SUCH a worry releasing animals, a really bitter sweet moment. The weather has turned colder now so I’ll keep her indoors for a while yet.xxxxx
Great post. im sure you’ll have all the arrangements done for sis’s wedding.
Thanks Pete…..floral arrangements still a work in progress.xxxxx
Oh Holly the Hedgehog! Sounds like you’ve got a good idea, keeping her in the hutch and watching how winter weather progresses.
Congrats to your sister. Happy Belated Birthday to you!! I hope this year is wonderful!
Thanks Angela, I was about to put her out when the weather turned bitterly cold so she’s still indoors….hopefully when this passes she can go out.
I hope you have a wonderful year too.xxxxx
I’ve only just seen your post and want to wish you a belated Happy Birthday! Lovely to see you as a sweet child well on her way to cuddling and caring for little creatures
Also wonderful to see your parents. Now…about the wedding…in the woods. Oh, I think if I lived closer I’d be writing stories and poetry all day just keeping up with your experiences. Perhaps a few pieces of mistletoe hanging from the trees 
~ and hearts…hmmm. Now you’ve got me thinking.
As far as covering your back garden with bark ~ it seems you already have enough ‘bark’ in the back yard (2 dogs and all
)
Thanks Glo, I laughed out loud re your comment about writing poetry and stories re my experiences, wouldn’t that be GRAND!!!!
I love the idea of hanging hearts and mistleoe….
Lol….yes I really don’t need any more bark do I???? xxxxx