A Cool Concert

Cool is a bell ringer. No, I don't mean she volunteers with the Salvation Army at Christmas. She is a longtime member of an outstanding hand bell choir, and on Sunday both j and I attended their concluding concert of the season. The audience was treated to several numbers each by three levels of bell choirs, and a guest organist played four classical selections on our church's spectacular pipe organ. This concert exceeded my expectations of what I knew would be an entertaining and enjoyable event. I admire Cool's dedication to her skill with this group and to the group itself. She is a joy to watch when she is performing. The musical selections were, as usual, varied, and the capper this year  had to be "Stairway to Heaven." Yes, THE "Stairway to Heaven"! I don't know what Robert Plant would have thought, but I was blown away by it. And the closing piece, "Hallelujah," thrilled me on several levels. It was a fitting ending to an afternoon concert that had me enthralled. It was definitely a cool Cool concert.

Non-Spa Day

It was time for our annual BVG Spa Day, but arrangements weren't coming together with our usual massage therapists and, frankly, we were all feeling the financial pinch after our big trips. So, being both nifty and thrifty, we devised a Plan B that suited all of us. April 25 was our first 'Non-Spa Day,' and who knows, it just must end up being our 'First Annual Non-Spa Day.' Our theme this year, as lettered on a sign I put on my front porch to keep j's hubby from walking in on us, was: NO MAKE-UP, NO BRAS, NO GUYS ALLOWED! We were unpainted, untethered and unashamed. (I considered writing 'unundied,' but I was not sure anyone would get it. But then, knowing the BVGs, they would!)

I don't know how I missed taking pictures at Non-Spa Day, but the photo above, taken in retrospect, represents some of our props. Instead of Julene's fingers to massage us, we had j's back massager (not pictured because it's not here) and my scalp massager (pictured above). These two devices sent us into ecstasy, at least the scalp massager did. Quite a bargain at $5, I might add.

The little porcelain cupcake on the stand was a birthday present my friend Ruth sent me. The timing was perfect, because we used it to spear fresh strawberries for our first appetizer of the day, strawberries with sour cream and brown sugar, provided by Elletu. There are four individual picks in the cupcake, perfect for four Sisters. Our morning chef, j, prepared bacon in the oven and hashbrowns on the griddle, while Cool prepared our mimosas. Once we started sipping and nibbling, I'm not sure we ever completely stopped. I don't remember. My mind is a little fuzzy about details. Wow, those sure were good mimosas!!! I do remember the East Indian Pumpkin Soup I prepared and served, and the yummy pizza Elletu provided, and the scrumptious Thai Coconut Rice Pudding Cool concocted with rhubarb from her yard and fresh strawberries. Brought but not served was j's chowder. As I write this, my tummy is growling. Sure would love some of that chowder now! I messed up by not serving it on Non-Spa Day.

Since we began our Non-Spa Day at 10 A.M., we thought 4 P.M. would be a reasonable ending point. As it turned out, though, we extended our time because we just weren't through with relaxing our day away. I am constantly amazed at the lengths to which we Sisters can go just visiting with each other, with nary a cross word in all our decades of friendship. We can truly let our hair----and dare I say boobs???----down with each other. We never got around to watching a movie like we had envisioned, nor did we delve into the stacks of magazines I had on hand. A waste of time? No way! We did take time to celebrate our two April birthdays, j's and mine, both of us now being a young 67...............................................and half way to heaven, as I say!

Heavenly.....that was Non-Spa Day.

Cataract Surgery for j!

Congratulations to j on her successful cataract surgery this past week! She has one more surgery to go, but so far so good. Today is our annual Spa Day, and I just put drops in her eyes for her. Glad to be of service to her. Happy healing, j! Now, back to Spa Day..................

Zoe: A Star Among Us

You weren't thinking I was talking about Zoe McClellan, were you? Forget Hollywood, or in her case, forget New Orleans. I'm talking about OUR Zoe, our one and only BVGD, who I wouldn't be surprised could become a Facebook star after this post on Facebook by her groomers (whose names I will protect---good job with the downcast eyes and sunglasses though, don't you think?). I'm sure Zoe was chosen for this post because of her outstanding good looks and charming demeanor. Shown here with her boyfriend, Zoe is sporting a bright yellow scarf. About the boyfriend---Elletu didn't even know about him, but she tells me we don't have to worry about any future BVGDOs because Zoe has been discreetly 'taken care of.' And Zoe will be eight years old on May 21, and we know that in dog years that makes her 56 and way past her prime to be a mama. Congratulations to Zoe for this photo shoot, and to her Pet Parent, Elletu, who I know is very proud of her girl today.

Pearls of Wisdom From the Vineyard

As seen on signs in a little shop in Poulsbo, WA:

A Hangover is the Wrath of Grapes

WINE=Women in Need of Excitement

Wine a little--it will make you feel better

She's Home-----and She's 67!

                                                          j at Crescent City - age 66

                                                 As j put it, "Last leg of our journey."
                                                                    (and still 66)

Today j turned 67, so she is older than I am, by 20 days. She is older and wiser----and my trusted advisor. And did I mention that I am now younger than she is???

Yesterday she and Mr. j (or should that be mr. j?) returned from their long odyssey, a road trip south, ultimate destination their three grandchildren in Texas. (We BVGs still acknowledge we have children, but frankly, they are adults and have their adult lives. Our grandchildren still NEED us in their lives. We are always happy for j when she is able to go see her three. She is an awesome grandma.)

On their trip they drove on a portion of historic Route 66 and sent me a picture to prove it. Had j put cucumber slices on her eyes when she posed for that photo, I would have posted it on our blog.

But alas, she has come to the end of our Route 66. I'm tempted to say, "Now you're 67 and half way to heaven!" When my own mother turned 47 I made a card for her, and I wrote on it, "Now you're 47 and half way to heaven." I was 15 at the time, and I'm quite sure 47 sounded old to me back then. Now I'm definitely positive 47 is NOT old. But 67, on the other hand...

Oh j, I'll join you soon. We're growing old together. What a privilege. It sure beats the alternative!!!!

Happy birthday, dear friend, not just from me but all three of us, your BVG Sisters. We love you, we are grateful you have returned home safely, and we pray that God will bless you with a wonderful year ahead. May you continue to grow deeper in your faith and in your joy. Welcome home, j. Can't wait to see you!

Homeward Bound

Breakfast, open air...........I don't think this is going to fly in Port Orchard, at least not until summer. Oh Bali, we are sad to say goodbye. It's been wonderful.

After breakfast we both went for a run, came back and showered and dressed, packed up, checked out of Villa Pantai, and we were off to the airport, where we sit now waiting for our flight. Elletu has been a fabulous traveling companion. We'll have to do this again sometime.

And I just keep thinking how much Allison would have enjoyed it here.

But let's keep it happy. It is, after all, April 1.

Aloha!