let me first say that this is an abbreviated post since I have spent most of my blogging time being frustrated by Typepad. Yesterday I thought I was losing my mind somewhat when I saw my post – I was certain I had added a little sentence or two about it being my birthday and that was the reason for the picture of the fancy pig in pearls. When it didn’t show up on the screen, I figured I had done something wrong. Now this morning, my photos are being eaten. I have been trying to post these all as pop-ups, but it seems that Typepad feels these would be better as embedded images. Who am I to argue?? maybe I should seriously consider whatever our friend Snow has switched to…..

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So here are pictures of my birthday presents. I was a very spoiled birthday girl who’s friends went way overboard! On the left is a package that arrived from Cara! yes, it’s true – presents from Cara as I live and breathe!! this is a piggy sampler pack – those square stacking barnyard creatures actually serenade you with a variety of songs! On the right are felted clogs from Kathleen – she stopped by Granny’s yesterday to drop them off and I wore them for the rest of the day. They are so comfy and cozy! gotta love the job where it is okay to wear slippers! and yes, for all of you who predicted that this job would end up costing me money … you were right, I am in the hole for $36 so far!

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from left to right – a lovely Lantern Moon knitting basket, hand creme and stitch markers from Peggy, a pig platter from Claire and a rooster oil painting from Gail ……

then in things not pictured – a bread cookbook from Ricki, piggy banks from Jean, aroma oils from Lisa, a CD from the daughters and a Woolee Winder from the Boar! and all of this is in addition to being winded and dined!

you would think that with this kind of fanfare that I had turned some significant number ….. but no, I am 43, which is a very good age to be, but nothing to start tossing the confetti over …… I think I am simply spoiled and that is all there is to it.

unless they all caught wind of this bullshit and felt bad for me …..

I spent a glorious weekend being wined and dined. Thrown in was some knitting and baking and watching of ‘Arrested Development’ dvds. Marvelous!

Today I am off to the vet because I have a cat who is not acting in her usual fashion. At the moment she is in our basement, underneath a sofa – definitely something wrong. Ugh. I have been seeing far too much of the vet lately!

What this means is that you all are getting the short end of the stick….. there’s a little less blogging time today. I shall leave you with a picture of my weekend baking escapades. This is a first for me …… bread!

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can you smell it?