Becky and her friend Patrick added a special dimension to my surprise birthday party yesterday. Here is one of Becky’s original songs she sang for the occasion. It’s titled “I’m a Songwriter,” and she certainly is. A song singer as well. She has sung several of mine!!! Thanks, Becky. HERE is the link to Patrick De Gabriel’s song.
For my birthday, Brad took me to a wonderful new restaurant. When I walked in, who happened to be there but my friend Aurora, who was having lunch with the mayor’s wife and another friend. This was coincidence but a nice addition to the day. Then later another friend came in and sat at an adjoining table. It had been at least 10 years since we had seen each other. She reminded me of her name and asked me to remind her of mine. We never did figure out how we knew each other but both remembered we’d once seen each other often. This happens more and more frequently. It wasn’t until I got home and looked her up on Facebook that I discovered she was celebrating her birthday today as well!
Unfortunately, I was having such a good time that I forgot to take any photos except for the beautiful garden, the lovely center arrangement and this appetizer, which was delicious. Our meals were wonderful, but strangely enough, Brad promptly asked for the bill before dessert. He said he was sorry, but he had other plans, so he drove me home, walked me into the house, opened the door and. . . 
Click on the below photos to see captions.
Go HERE to see my first birthday surprise, HERE to see and hear Patrick singing his song, and HERE to see and hear Becky singing her song.
Independencia is the Mexican Day of Independence, like the U.S. 4th of July!! Lots of parades, flags, a hot air balloon show that lasts for 6 hours, but strangely enough this year, not a single cohete (very loud rocket!!!) There are usually thousands at every celebration. What happened?
Click on photos to enlarge.
Working in my art studio makes me happy, although I haven’t done so for almost a year. I wonder why? Too caught up in blogging, I fear. I need to consider that question in the upcoming months.
What I make in my studio. “Juguetes.”
Trees make me happy. Especially palm trees that provide shade but don’t block the view!!! And create a beautiful view all their own.
I love entertaining friends and family at my house.
(Including those who won’t let me take their pictures as well as those who do.)
Friends who are there to greet me every time I come home.
And their friends, as well.
And, of course, blogging makes me very happy, so if you are reading this right now, you are one of the things that makes me happy, too!
For SOCS: Hap,
Making Felt Cacti with Sharon, For Thursday Trios and couldn’t resist the 3 cent stamps! (Click on photos to enlarge and see details.) The stamps were among ones I took to Mexico 23 years ago and have never used so I brought them up to use on a package I mailed and gave the rest to Sharon to use. The Post Office attendant was a good sport about it and took our word that the stamps added up to the $6 postal fee!!!
Click on photos to enlarge.
Sharon and Linda’s birthdays, reunions after many years, Malanna’s successful job interview, making good use of old stamps, good food, good friends, good cheer, temptations of the Chinese market, spontaneous dance, grandkids and wontons and the birthday cake decoration that wouldn’t die!!!
Clixk on Photos to Enlarge.
Packing all done, we had a fun final night before Christine and I take off for the beach. I was again a bad influence and brought out the Cheetos Torciditos. Even Brad let himself be lured into a bowlful. Christine was busy sketching a photo in one of my books about Africa, and I was busy recording it all. Weather was lovely today so we had two long swims. Also visited the bank to pay my yearly fees for my house and lot. Another item ticked off the list. Next communication will be from La Manzanilla.
For bushboy’s Last on the Card prompt.
Welcome to “The Numbers Game #5” Today’s number is 126. To play along, go to your photos file and type that number into the search bar. Then post a selection of the photos you find under that number and include a link to your blog in my Numbers Game blog of the day. If instead of numbers, you have changed the identifiers of all your photos into words, pick a word or words to use instead, and show us a variety of photos that contain that word in the title.
This prompt will repeat each Monday with a new number. If you want to play along, please put a link to your blog in comments below.
Not all of the Wild Women Writers were present, but Margaret was visiting and Amelia and Leslie were in town, so Harriet and I, who are always here, joined them for a one day retreat at Leslie’s rented house. Amelia posed interesting questions and Harriet and Margaret came up with some fun writing prompts. Leslie organized the lunch which we all contributed to and I snapped photos. A good and enlightening time was had by all. Judy Reeves, it was good to talk to you via the internet. We missed you…The last photo is a picture of the original Wild Women group at a retreat at Quinta San Carlos before Covid changed our plans for further yearly retreats.
Zoe seems to attract friends wherever she goes.
lifelessons - a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown 