May 27 2012

It's Brian's birthday! Today is the actual date, and here's Brian at 70 with a table full of lovely plants sent by family and flowers from our garden to cheer his day. The big birthday party was last week, to get a head start on the holiday weekend, and as you can see from these photos (and I won't put ALL of them up!!) we had a wonderful time. The weather cooperated after five or six days of rain, then the sun came out for the weekend and the sky was as bright blue as Brian's eyes.

Lots of lively conversation,
















lots of delicious food,




















lots of shared laughter. And the shot showing Brian with several men include men who were boys at Brian's 7th birthday party. Pretty amazing to have kept in touch all these decades later.
































Hyla and Ayro had the most fun down at the frog pond, where the hunt is always on. Lisa actually did catch a frog in the net, but of course it leapt right back out to continue it's froggy life in the murky depths. But it's fun for the girls, and a real pleasure to watch them watching the frogs.

















































My favorite shot, though, was the two of them running along the upper terracing "grandchildren's path", looking just like little wood sprites.














At the party's end, happy but rather tired, I took this last shot of the table after everyone left and most of the stuff was stowed (please note the cake with colorful sprinkles, Hyla and Ayro made it for grandpa with I suspect a little help from their parents). Everyone including Sadie had such a nice time, we are so appreciative of all the folks who made the effort to help us celebrate, from Rochester, New York City, Connecticut, and elsewhere. Thanks to all!!! Now I just have to get used to the idea that I'm married to someone who's 70!!!