Saturday, January 3, 2009

Happy New Year and Happy Birthday to Me



YES, today JANUARY 4TH is my MY BIRTHDAY. I am forty thr thr thr three. There I said it.

I always thought that having a birthday ten days after Christmas was just not fair. I always had good birthdays though. My mom and dad were wonderful about planning something fun for my birthday when I was growing up. So no complaints there. But it is still so close to Christmas.

Now that I'm getting a little older, I'm OK with a January birthday. [It's not like I can change it.]
Not only do I get to buy a new unfilled, blank calendar each January, but I also have the opportunity to begin a new year of me each January.

This is the way I chose to celebrated my birthday today. First we went to the 11:00 service at church then...

This is the new house Keith and the girls got me for my Birthday:





JUST KIDDING!


This is the place I requested {forced} my family to take me for my birthday ~ A garden tour of Miss Ima Hogg's 14 acre estate at Bayou Bend in Houston.


The thoughts of touring 14 acres of gardens just thrills them. (not) But it's my birthday and it's the only day out of the year that I get to expose them to things that I enjoy. Mother's Day also works to my advantage :)

As you can see Buster enjoyed the tour of the garden immensely: There's just nothing like flora and fauna to get Buster "RELAXED".


WAKE UP THERE'S MORE GARDENS TO SEE - WE'RE ONLY ON ACRE ONE! Let's go:

I'll give you a quick background on Miss Ima Hogg (1882-1975) if you aren't familiar with her. Her home was built in 1927. She was the only daughter of James Hogg. He was governor of the State of Texas in 1881. She never married, but was known as a collector and philanthropist during her life and she was just flat out stinkin rich!

Here are some pictures of Miss Ima Hogg's beautiful gardens. Keep in mind it is January and in just a couple of months these pictures would be exploding with color, but it is a beautiful place to see no matter what time of year.



[why did I forget to suck in my stomach???] dadgummit




The camellias were blooming and some azaleas:







Paige and Leah finally got Buster up. I'll only post a couple of more pictures....Hang in there with me. Remember it's MY birthday!


One of the corners of Miss Ima's house:




Our tour had come to an end - time to cross that bridge, get back to the car and have lunch:




So we headed off to California Pizza Kitchen where I enjoyed a scrumptious pizza covered in Goat Cheese/Roasted Red Pepper/Grilled Eggplant and caramelized onions. Needless to say I didn't have to share with anyone. hehehe.




THEN, on the way home (No we don't live next door to Miss Ima) we're pretty close to our house when we stop at a red light; then start to go when it turned green and something did not sound right or feel right. WE HAD A FLAT TIRE.


Thankfully we were off the busy interstate and on a street in our community close to a grocery store parking lot. We limped in. While Buster took care of our tire problem, the girls and I went into the grocery store. Paige and Leah snuck into the bakery and bought me the cake that you see at the top of this post. I was off looking at goat cheese or something.

Then we came home and I opened my gift. It is a tortilla press. I've been wanting one for a long time. Now I have to figure out how to use it.


I know this is a long post, but I only turn 43 once. [unless I decide to turn it again a few more times. That is a woman's prerogative] So thanks for hangin in there with me as I chronicled my special day.

18 comments:

Keeper of the Skies Wife said...

Happy Birthday!!!

It looks like it was sunny & warm for you!

The gardens look beautiful!

Tracy P. said...

Happy Birthday, Joy!!

You'll always be a few years younger than me.

And I'll never get sick of garden pictures, especially in the winter. Glad you had a fun day--and also that the flat tire gave the girls time to get you a cake!

Cicero Sings said...

Happy Birthday ... you young thing you! I'll be turning fifteeee fah, fah, fahive come February. I even get to apply for a small company pension ... the application goes in the mail tomorrow. Ooooh, my own money ... I'll be independently wealthy ... LOL ... my pension is only based on 15 years of service so it is only pocket money!

Yes, I'm glad you had a fun day doing something YOU enjoy. Even the flat tire worked to advantage! ... well, probably not to the waistline's advantage ... but you know!

D's mother's birthday is on Tuesday. It is hard having a birthday on the heels of Christmas ... everyone is partied out ... but we are going to make an effort. Soon, I keep saying, we will start "the program"!

Susan said...

Congratulations!!!!! Looks and sounds like you had a fabulous day. Loved all the pictures, especially the one of the bridge.
Susan

Betty said...

Happy Birthday Joy!
You look wonderful and I loved the tour of your special day!

Ridd Rants & Raves said...

Happy Birthday! You totally crack me up. I was laughing so hard! I've never been to Miss Ima Hogg's estate but it looks fun. My boys would totally be doing what your hubby's doing in the pics!

Gombojav Tribe said...

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY!!!!

I just left you some bloggy bling! Consider it a belated birthday gift! Stop by the blog to pick up your award!

BLESSINGS!

Tiffany said...

Happy Birthday! Thank you so much for the lovely comment you left over at my blog. I always love meeting new bloggy friends and finding new blogs to read. I can tell right away, YOU are a girl after my own heart. I love and gravitate towards anything cultural and aesthetically beautiful. Your pictures of the gardens and house are breath taking and make me long for home (the south.) And I am salivating over your pizza! Good times! ~Blessings on your day!

Alicia said...

What a wonderful way to spend a birthday! Wow, it reminds me of the local beauty we have here Hearst Castle. Lovely gardens there and a great specail day get away just 30 min from us!
That pizza looks wonderful and I happen to have some goat cheese left over from Christmas...you got me thinkin!
The kids and I tried to make tortilla's using Maza which is great but someone told me you can do them w/o a press....UM, NO, YOU CAN'T!
So, good thing you have one, I hear they work great.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday

Michele said...

I'll be 43 this year too! Sounds like a great day!

Givinya De Elba said...

Happy Birthday Joy! Was that you, the high shelves thing? It was about 10 people on MY side of the globe too, I'll grant you that! Navermind, it sounded like a commonsense solution to me too, until I realised how things really work.

Love the birthday pictures. Hope it was a wonderful day for you.

Berni said...

Many happy returns. Sounds like you had fun. I will have my birthday this year in Mexico, I hope I can do something special there. I will be 62, time goes so fast enjoy every minute.

HOPE said...

Happy Birthday JOY!

Such a funny, enjoyable post! about YOU!

My birthday is this month too..wonder? mm? if I dare post about mine!

Blessings to you this year! Glad you had such a great Birthday!

HOPE

Louise | Italy said...

Hey! A belated happy birthday. 43 is good!!

Stacey Kay said...

Happy Birthday Joy! Thank you so much for dropping by my post and sharing such an encouraging word.

God bless,

Stacey : )

C. JoyBell C. said...

I love how you use your birthday and mother's day to your own advantage.

Smile.

To my advantage, I use my birthday, mother's day, Christmas, the New Year, St. Patrick's Day, Fourth of July, Groundhog Day, Hannukah, Shabbat... lol...ok, you get the picture...

A belated happy birthday to you, my dear. :)

Allison said...

I love that you said "dadgummit" :)

And how have I never been to this place? I've certainly heard of Ima (love that Texas history...), but was unaware that she had such a lovely house!!