Monday, March 22, 2021

A Celebration and (Art) Challenges

 

 Happy Spring! Finally we are having true spring weather and things are just beginning to bud. We are definitely  about two weeks behind because of the very snowy  and cold January and February, but happily we're catching up.

 The gorgeous bouquet of flowers came from my hubby for my (62nd-yikes!) birthday which was on March 15. This was a complete surprise since my birthday was to be a nice dinner out and a bit of shopping, and I ended up having a three day birthday. I was quite spoiled this year💓

 We had dinner at Prime Steak House on the Saturday before my day which was where we had our son's wedding rehearsal dinner back in October-and this was our first time dining out since then. It was very busy -nice to see- and we were very comfortable with lots of space between tables in various rooms.



 Our waiter was wonderful, and Bill and I both started with a Caesar salad with warm fresh bread along with water and cabernet sauvignon. We chose a seafood special which consisted of a lobster tail, broiled scallops, broiled stuffed flounder, and a choice of a side. I had the rice pilaf. Our waiter surprised me with a complimentary birthday dessert which I tasted then Bill finished😁 Everything from start to finish was perfectly made and delicious!! Cheers to the the T Stands For Tuesday peeps!

 On Sunday, first my Mom stopped by with this:

 
Yes, I got another gorgeous bouquet of flowers, and a card with money in it! Then later my daughter - in - love made dinner for us! We had a spinach lasagne, salad, fresh Tuscan garlic bread, and homemade chocolate mousse. It was amazing (so mad I forgot to take photos-grr)! That girl can cook!!! She and our son also got me new art supplies of my choice from Joggles:


the things on the right-yes, new Dina Wakley stamps and stencils besides a few other things. On the left are goodies Bill allowed me to pick out as a gift while we were in Hobby Lobby-and each item was 40%off 😁

 One more thing before moving on to the art:


 another really lovely surprise I received! This beautiful birthday card on the right (and it had a French theme 💓) along with all this ephemera from Erika. That was so sweet and generous of you Erika. I was truly touched. Thank you SO much!

OK, let's get to the art finally! First up I'll start with a tag:


 This is meant for two new challenges: the Simon Says Monday Challenge (Whatever The Weather), and Tag Tuesday ( Mostly Monochromatic). I used Tim Holtz tissue paper, Paper Dolls, and Chit Chat stickers. The tag is from my stash along with the paper flowers and brads. The fabric washi tape is Recollections. Frayed Burlap Distress Oxide ink was sponged along edges.

Two more pages in my hand made Curvy journal:


 I will join Paint Party Friday, and Try It On Tuesday (theme is use a stencil or two). The stencils on both these pages are Dina Wakley as are the two main images which are from her Collage Collective book. 

 A special thank you to all who left such poignant and loving comments in my last post regarding Eileen's passing. XO 


"Your mind is a garden, your thoughts are the seeds, the harvest can either be flowers or weeds".





33 comments:

  1. I am SO sorry I missed your birthday, Linda. I'm so far behind, I didn't even realize what day it was. Happy belated on the 15th dear. So glad Erika was on the ball and sent you a lovely card.

    You got a TON of flowers for your birthday and your meal is out of this world. I can't believe all the seafood you got on that plate. I'm drooling. And the dessert looks like it was to die for. Too bad you "had" to share it (grin).

    You created some beautiful art this week, too. So nice to see all the lovely pieces you created while being pampered with three days of wonderful goodies (including art supplies). Thanks for sharing your art, your birthday meal, and your wine with us for T this almost Tuesday, dear Linda.

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  2. Gorgeous curvy journal pages and tag. Your meal looks delicious, especially the dessert and the lobster tail. So glad that you had a Happy Birthday. And your treats from Erika look like great fun.
    Happy Tea Day,
    Kate

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  3. Happy belated birthday, sounds like you were treated regally as it should be. Enjoy your wonderful presents. Beautiful flowers, too. Love your Beautiful art, and especially the beautiful tag for Michele's challenge, thanks so much! Have a great week, happy T Day, hugs, Valerie

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  4. Your birthday celebrations and presents sound wonderful... Many happy returns of the day!

    best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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  5. Happy birthday wishes! How wonderful to receive so many goodies and cards - so thoughtful 😁. Looks like you celebrated in style too, your meal looks so delicious! Loving those curvy stencilled journal pages too, so beautiful! Thanks so much for joining in the fun at Try it on Tuesday and sending you Happy T Day wishes! Hugs, Jo x

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  6. Happy belated Birthday wishes! 62nd, oh. And stupid me "fears" the 5-0!
    As a relative just said, it´s but numbers, right? Three days sure makes up for the number, LOL.
    Yay for the dinner, we´re into another hard lockdown and I crave a good steak.

    Ohhh, such nice pressies! (Need to make a lasagna!)

    Cool book again!!!

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  7. Linda, a belated Happy Birthday, your celebration meal sounds and looks delicious and beautiful flowers and crafty items. How lovely that your DIL cooked you a lovely meal too.
    I do love your curvy journal and pretty tag.
    Happy T Day
    Jan S

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  8. You had a super birthday Linda from the looks of it. Your flowers are beautiful and you can't go wrong with art supplies, can you? I'm glad you enjoyed the card and that it got there too. The first thought I had was French themed as you have mentioned it once or twice-smile. I hope your good weather continues and you keep sending some up our way too. Happy T day. Hugs-Erika OH, almost forgot, and thanks for joining us at Try It On Tuesday also.

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  9. So glad you had a happy,happy, happy birthday!!! I love your curvy journal too. Also, your blog is very pretty with that beautiful header. Xo lenna

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  10. The flowers are lovely and the meal looks delicious. What thoughtful family you have :) Happy Belated Birthday! and Happy T Tuesday

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  11. happy birthday (you're younger than I am!) and your stencil art work is beautiful

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  12. Wow! Happy Birthday and what a great one you had ~ love all the creative gifts and great dining out too ~ Xo

    Living moment by moment,

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  13. Lovely tags, Happy Tuesday. Happy belated Birthday

    Much💜love

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  14. Happy Birthday! Looks like quite a haul! Love that mixed bouquet - it's a neat look. That seafood dinner looks amazing, been so long wince I've had any seafood, only fried catfish once. I told my Honey we are eating fried shrimp for our first dinner out. xoxo

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  15. Belated Happy Birthday- it looks as though you had lots of treats and lovely food! I love the colours on your tag! Your journal page looks fantastic! Thanks so much for joining us at Try It On Tuesday. Happy T Day, Chrisx

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  16. What a lovely post. Very nice flowers and a nice dinner. Happy belated birthday.

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  17. Happy Birthday! 🎂💐You were treated royally. The birthday dinners sound fabulous. Love all your art goodies. Use them in good health. Happy T Day

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  18. Happy Belated birthday, looks like you had a lovely time. Love your little journal, just beautiful. Anesha x

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  19. Happy "belated" Birthday Greetings to a wonderful artist!

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  20. Wonderful tag creation and awesome curvy journal page ~ Xo

    Living moment by moment,

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  21. Have a wonderful weekend, happy PPF, hugs, Valerie

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  22. Happy Birthday Linda you were well celebrated. I will be 62 in June God willing. Lovely art.

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  23. Happy belated Birthday, looks like you had a good one. Love your journal and the tag. Thank you for joining us on Tag Tuesday.

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  24. Since I am late, you can celebrate your birthday even longer. Happy Happy 62nd Birthday to you! Your food looks yum, and your flowers gorgeous, and fabulous crafting goodies and cards! Lovely art projects, too. Have a great week-end.

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  25. love your Curvy journal and all the new stamps and stencils you have. You got a lot to play with :)

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  26. Happy belated Birthday Linda looks like you had a great time, beautiful flowers and a great choice of crafty treats. Your artwork is always so uplifting, your self expression really does flow. I really love your curvy journal.
    Happy PPF HUgs Tracey x

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  27. Just stopped by to wish you a Happy Weekend ~ hope the weather is Spring ~ Xo

    Living moment to moment,

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  28. happy belated birthday! i'm so glad you had fun and surprises! your mostly monochrome tag is gorgeous! thanks for linking to tag tuesday! xo

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  29. Happy Belated Birthday wishes! You have been well spoiled by the looks of your photos! I love your artwork today, amazing as always. Thanks for joining us at Tag Tuesday xx
    Pinky

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  30. Birthday girl!
    Your post is full of spring, thank you :)

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  31. I love your tag. Thank you so much for joining us at Tag Tuesday.
    Your curvy book is stunning, so unusual in its shape.

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Thank you so much for your comments; it's a pleasure to connect with you!