Monday, May 7, 2018

#Microblog Mondays: A Beautiful Birthday

Saturday I turned 42, the answer to everything (although I've never read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy so I feel like a poser even saying that, and I probably phrased it wrong to boot). The nice thing is that 42 is a total clean slate -- I am starting this year of life with an office not a nursery, with my new life firmly rooted and growing upwards. There's no more calls to make, no more dreams to dismantle...I did that all between 40-41.

This year Bryce really outdid himself, despite being in the throes of his qualification exam work. I'll share the awesome day in pictures...it's one of my favorite birthdays ever.

It was a GORGEOUS day, and I got out in the garden to weed and visit my flower babies.

Unfurling fiddleheads

My toad friend! No snakes, wasn't that lucky, but this guy was fun.

I offhandedly mentioned this, my favorite TV miniseries EVER, and he GOT IT FOR ME! 

This he "hid" by hanging in another room while I crawled around the floor looking for prizes, but I was so very happy when I found it because we saw this artist's work in Vermont and I LOVED how bright and cheery it was but Bryce wasn't as enthralled (too bright and cheery I guess), but then he surprised me by having it sent here! Love, love, love my happy cows!

Got all dressed up in a gorgeous new dress courtesy of Stitch Fix


When I got out of the shower all fancy and de-gardened, I discovered that Bryce had set up our dining room like a RESTAURANT! Right down to the water carafe.


Cheese plate and bubbly on the verandahhhhh (I mean tiny porch)


World's most delicious scallops

The master at work, making the demiglace for the beef tenderloin

42 and HAPPY AS HELL

Tenderloin with a red wine/rosemary/garlic demiglace, and gruyere-thyme potatoes gratin


My contribution...a spring side salad 

Cupcakes we were way too full to enjoy until Sunday...gluten free of course (outsourced these)

There it is! the end of my 42nd birthday. Happy, content, and absolutely full of food, wine, and love.

Want to read more #Microblog Mondays? Go here and enjoy! 

13 comments:

  1. Happy Belated Birthday! It sounds like an absolutely perfect day! You're gonna rock 42!

    Hubs' birthday was on Sunday and I feel like a slacker after reading what Bryce did for you. I did get him a card (even if it did say "I love you more than a stripper loves glitter) and a new video game, so at least I didn't forget.

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    1. That is THE BEST birthday card EVER. Thank you for your birthday wishes, and happy birthday to your husband, too!

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  2. You look so happy, and beautiful. Beautifully happy!

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  3. Happy belated birthday Jess!!! I love the last photo of you, looking insanely happy. And what a spread that Bryce put together!

    May this 42nd year of life be filled with light, love and peace. And may Bryce kick butt at his quals!

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  4. Belated Happy Birthday! Wow, can your husband give my husband cooking lessons? I'm cheating - this weekend I'm taking my husband out for dinner the night before - but I love the idea of dressing up and having a fancy dinner at home.

    PS. You looked great. Again! lol

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  5. 42 and Happy as Hell! Yesss!!! I love this! I loved your garden, your cheese plate, your meal, and your happiness. Thank you for sharing. Happy happy birthday!

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  6. Happy #42! Dinner looked delicious- isn't it nice to have a husband that cooks? I personally love it. :-) Glad you had such a great day!

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  7. Happy birthday! And now you're 42, and 42 is the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything. Not a bad age to be :-)

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  8. What an amazing husband you have! And how worthy YOU are <3.

    Happy birthday to you! Love Anne of GG, too, and that happy cow pic makes me happy!

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  9. Happy Birthday, Jess!!! Love the fancy in-home restaurant spread Bryce created for you...so amazing! The happy cow pic is everything! And I am very intrigued by the 42 being the age of everything, I need to look up this reference because I am not familiar!! So glad you had a wonderful, happy day! You deserve it!!❤️❤️❤️

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  10. What a spectacular celebration! I’m so happy for you. You have an amazing husband...water carafe????? Wowsers! You look totally radiant and beautiful. In that first photo of the two of you, you bear a striking resemblance to the young and beautiful Grandma Houf. Many happy returns, dear daughter. You deserve them. ❤️

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  11. Happy birthday -- you look fabulous! So glad you had a great day! (Megan Follows is THE definitive Anne of Green Gables!)

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  12. Happy birthday! You look so happy!

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