Daddy Turns 70! And I’m off to TN or Hippie Las Vegas as Frank calls TN
I got Dad this Ralph Lauren Polo Golf shirt for his birthday. It was supposed to be red, but looked fuscia in real life and purple in photos.
Sofia Casini’s family reunion on the Farm inspired Amy, Theo, and me to join Sofia in Tennessee June 4-8. This is Sofia getting to meet Theo and see Amy for the first time in nine years since Amy moved to London. We are so happy they’ve moved back to the States.
Daddy turned 70 on June 6th, and it was my birthday June 7th, so we had a big Gemini Twins birthday brunch. Dad said it felt like being at his own funeral where all the people he loved were there and they got to tell him how much they love him.
Birthday brunch- Santana family. Brother Anthony, Daddy, Mama, Sister-in-law Ms. Holly Santana, Theo, and me. Theo decided he’s an honorary Santana.
Theo loves Miss Dolly which is what he calls Jude’s wife Holly. Theo knows how to say Holly; however, he insists on calling her Miss Dolly with the most adorable British accent ever. Such a charmer that Little Thelonious.
Mama & Daddy- still crazy in love after all these years.
Birthday cheesecakes and Priya made me the most delicious Strawberry Pavlova, recipe from Nigella Lawson. Thanks Priya!
Jessa and I singing Wheels on the Bus with Theo.
Mama, Holly, me, and Priya.
Mama Rosa and Jessa giving me birthday loving.
Theo and the Ladies- Amy, Holly aka Miss Dolly, me, and Priya.
Sofia and Turner at the birthday brunch sipping mimosas.
Friday evening Priya hosted a dinner at her home in Hohenwald which I call her Bollywood Palace.
Me getting Theo dressed for dinner at Priya’s.
The bridge that goes between the fountain and the lilypad pond with lots of frogs at Priya’s.
Priya’s best friend Megan came from Nashville for the dinner at Priya’s. Megan and Priya know each other from 8th grade boarding school at Sewanee. And that’s Priya’s helper and former nanny Nita who helped at our birthday brunch.
Amy, Theo, and Sofia in the Swimming Hole.
Amy chatting with Sofia’s Aunt Terry and Uncle Jay.
Sadie, Liberty (Charlotte McMurray’s daughter) and Sadie’s middle son Ethan.
Sofia and Amy swinging Theo walking up from Swimming Hole.
Theo asking “Auntie Ida swing me.”
Ramon and Tamami in Japan with Lucas and little Edgar. Tamami’s family had this portrait taken of their family.
Barb bursting with pride showing Ramon and Tamami’s Japanese family portrait to me, Amy, and Sofia.
Nana Joanne reading Neil Gaiman’s book Chu’s Sneeze to Theo in their matching Amish rocking chairs. Mom is delivering Amanda Palmer and Neil Gaiman’s child on the Farm in September, and they sent her a box of their books.
Theo loves Mama’s Baby Doll she had when she was little. He loves that her eyes close when she goes to sleep.
Amy wanted a photo of this sign on Highway 20 because she’s heard about Hohenwald and Summertown forever. I thought she wanted a picture of a road sign with bullet holes. Ahh Tennessee!
The Littlest Casini- Miss Adriana Martinez Casini, Michelle and Fernando’s Bambina.
That’s one sweet baby girl Miss Adriana. Frank immediately made up a song for her that her Mexican name is Consuela.
Father and son- Fernando and Luca.
Me in pure baby bliss with Baby Adriana sleeping on me and melting my heart.
Sofia and Amy- Reunited and it feels so good.
Michelle, Fernando, and Adriana in the sun dress Amy gave Adriana. This is the Gemini birthday party at the Farm store under the Dome.
Holly’s first time on the Farm. Jude is off in Alaska training to climb Denali. Amy and I were Holly’s partners in crime- taking her to the Farm while Jude’s away. When the Cat’s away the Mice will play- or dance and frolic on the table as the saying goes in German. This is the only lick of German Dad remember from his college German class.
Rosa’s Tortilla Espana and Veggie Paella dinner on Saturday on Dad’s actual birthday.
Excitement building for Rosa’s Paella!
Polly is Rosa’s friend in the blue top with the white neckline. Her husband Bill passed away in January, and Rosa wanted to invite Polly to help her socialize and be around people again.
Best conversation at Rosa’s dinner table was:
Polly: Well this is the first time I’m here without Bill.
Polly: I don’t really know where Bill is, but his ashes are in a jar on the mantle in my office.
Daddy thinks to himself: (Open mouth, insert foot!)
Theo & Auntie Ida- I call these ones Drunk on Love. Theo wanted me to take selfies of us after the birthday party.
Rosa showing Theo a trick with his arm that ends with her tickling him.
Barb planting Dad spinach for his birthday in Dad’s garden.
Mama & Pamela, midwives, friends, crones.
Theo’s future’s so bright he’s got to wear shades. He left his sunglasses in a dogwood bush in Mom & Dad’s backyard.
Amy, Hashton, Ida, Theo, Matt, and Cannan.
Barb’s mother M’Lou turned 96 on Friday, June 5th, and Barb’s brother Ken Swift came. Ken is quite possibly the nicest man I’ve ever met. Happy Birthday M’Lou!
Jordana gets back from Florida with Gayla and Jordie’s little sister Angel Rene Gonzalez who just graduated from high school and is going to the University of Denver on scholarships. Go Angel!
This is the first time I had met Angel and that Jordie was together with both of her sisters. I thought Angel looked like Jordie. Angel thought I looked like Jordie.
Theo gets to see Sadie’s baby ducks.
Theo & his Auntie Ida in Mr. McGregor’s garden.
Gina, Jer Lee, and Phil Switzer.
Ezra on the new cedar deck Sadie is building.
Sadie’s clematis are blooming their hearts out.
Eating sweet peas from Mr. McGregor’s garden aka Sadie’s garden. Every garden or backyard is Mr. McGregor’s garden for Theo.
Marissa and Imogene. Marissa kept saying she looks after a “itty bitty baby,” and when I met Imogene, I said “Imogene isn’t itty bitty, she’s a chunky monkey.” Marissa runs a little nursery out of her home.
Theo on the drums, and Evy Boyer and Chris Cheyney’s little man Emmett Wolf or E. Wolf as Emmett calls himself. The boys didn’t really hit it off.
Are you exhausted looking at the photos?! Imagine seeing all these these people in the span of four days. Phew, was I ever glad to be home.
And when I got home Frank had birthday roses and Vosges chocolate truffles waiting for me which is what he always gets me for my birthday. What a mighty good man that Frankie is.
And back at my office I’m admiring the friendship bracelet Ms. Holly got me for my birthday, and the yellow orchid Dan Ryan gave me for my birthday last year is still blooming! #AllBirthdaysAreSelfBirthdays as my hypnotherapist friend Dan Ryan said when he gave me the yellow orchid last year.