Marching on

We always say it with balloons ... among other ways

Spring has arrived in the midlands of South Carolina (actually it's old hat by now; we've practically moved on to summer), and along with it our annual parade of family birthdays.

Erica has put a quote on the letter board which hangs in her living room: Never yet was a springtime when the buds forgot to bloom.

In January we had Crock Pot Baked Ziti for TG's birthday

It is attributed to Margaret Elizabeth Sangster, an American author who, as it happens, shared a recent birthday with our little Andrew.

In researching a few things about Margaret Sangster, I found another quote which I found so fitting:

Let every birthday be a festival, a time when the gladness of the house finds expression in flowers, in gifts, in a little fête. Never should a birthday be passed over without note, or as if it were a common day. Never should it cease to be a garlanded milestone in the road of life.

Along with it, we had Mari's Bruschetta recipe

Our first birthday of the year is always TG's, which takes place in late January. Yes! We had a party.

I made Crock Pot Baked Ziti (with penne pasta). With it we served one of Mari's Bruschetta recipes which was so amazing.

For dessert I made Nanny's Black Midnight Cake with Foolproof German Chocolate Frosting.

I made this cake from scratch

In late February each year we celebrate the aforementioned little Andrew ... not so little anymore, as he just turned eleven.

He was born on Two Twenty-Two Twenty-Twelve at Two Thirteen in the afternoon. You may recall that I begged the doctor to put down that he emerged at Two Twelve -- just liking the symmetry of that -- and she refused.

On February twenty-fourth, it was Andrew's turn for a party

Ever since then I think of her as Doctor Killjoy.

So then in early March -- the seventh, to be precise -- it's my turn. You just missed it.

On the twenty-second we celebrate Audrey's birthday, and a week later, on the twenty-ninth, our Andrew's.

Cousins: Allissa with Dagny and Rhett

We'll be headed to Asheville for a big family meetup on March twenty-fifth, to make the most of both of those at the same time.

But on this past February twenty-fourth, we all (minus Andrew and Brittany and Ember) met at the Cracker Barrel on the South Carolina/North Carolina line, for little Andrew's birthday bash.

Our Stephanie, his mother, was mildly frustrated because Andrew does not get excited or enthusiastic about the usual trappings of his birthday. As in, he doesn't really care about a theme the way the girls do.

He seemed pleased with his baseball cleats

He did specify a few things about his cupcake flavors, so she brought an assortment along. 

We had a delicious meal and got all caught up on news -- the girls at one end of the table and the guys at the other, youngest children in the middle.

Generally after the meal is cleared by our server (alas Essie no longer works on Friday evenings but there was an equally wonderful server in her place), we light candles and sing and then watch as the birthday person opens their presents.

Second, third, fourth, and fifth grandchildren ... Melanie (first) not pictured

But this time, before we could do it that way, our server brought Andrew a piece of chocolate cake with a scoop of ice cream beside it, and started the strains of Happy Birthday for us.

We were all so surprised and delighted, and Andrew seemed truly pleased with the attention.

Not to mention the cake and ice cream.

Melly keeps to herself ... I always bring her a cookies 'n' creme chocolate bar

But then the party sort of fizzled and people began wandering away from the table to pay their bill and look around in the general store. He had not opened his gifts yet.

So as it was a nice night weather-wise, we opted to go outside for the presents. Andrew sat in a rocking chair and seemed to enjoy opening each gift.

Before we know it each year, it's March again

Cherica gave him batting gloves and a new baseball. TG and I gave him baseball cleats.

He plays in a youth league each summer.

Then as usual, we talked and talked and talked and were reluctant to leave, but eventually we did.

Erica put this charming quote on her letterboard

It had begun to rain by that time, and had turned substantially cooler. It took us ninety minutes to get home, and by then it was eleven o'clock and pouring rain.

Audrey and Dagny had ridden with us and I convinced them to stay the night rather than drive the fifteen minutes to their house in the rain, tired as they were.

My friend Marsha came by to see me after work

I was surprised when they accepted, and soon everyone was tucked up in bed preparing for a cozy night of sleep.

The next morning -- Saturday -- we had coffee and breakfast together and laughed ourselves silly at old episodes of The Addams Family on YouTube, before they left to continue their day.

As is also usual at the end of February, I begin thinking about what I want to do for my own birthday.

Rhett was more excited for my birthday party than he looks

Last year we were in Oklahoma the first week in March, to see Andrew graduate from pilot training.

This year, since we just took a trip a few weeks ago, we had no long trip planned.

But as last weekend loomed, I cooked up a plan to take a weekend day trip.

Once more it has rolled around

I asked everyone if they were in, and they all agreed that they most definitely were.

Our destination was Walterboro, South Carolina -- site of Colleton County Courthouse, where the trial of Alex Murdaugh had just concluded with his conviction of double murder.

Audrey had brought a tiny birthday cake

I won't go into this any further right now because I want to tell you about it in my next post, but I will say that we were all fairly obsessed with the trial.

I'll also divulge that our trip was a disappointment, but that'll have to do you for now.

And then it was my birthday -- this past Tuesday.

We had Erica's excellent white chicken chili

The girls wondered whether I wanted to go out to eat, or have a party at home.

I said I'd like for us to gather at Erica's house, and for her to make her famous White Chicken Chili.

(I don't know that that's the exact recipe she follows, but it sounds exactly as she described it to me, as the way she makes it.)

I brought homemade no-knead peasant bread

That way, baby Rhett would be at home when it was his bedtime, making it a little easier on Erica.

She was more than happy to do that, and I offered to bring fresh-baked bread and corn muffins. Audrey said she would contribute the cake.

And I made these corn muffins from Jiffy Mix ... with buttermilk and an extra egg

It was hot that day -- like summer. In fact I wore a summer dress and went shopping. We are getting ready to remodel our last of three bathrooms, and I was hunting for new towels.

I found them at TJ Maxx and also scored a few items at Hobby Lobby.

I wanted a big cookie so the guys went and got us one

Before we left for Cherica's house, my friend Marsha dropped by after work and brought me some balloons and several thoughtful gifts.

(I don't know what I did to deserve my wonderful true friends. You know who you are.)

At Erica's the crock pot was humming with the White Chicken Chili and it smelled so good, and everything had been prepared for a birthday party.

Dagny wanted to pose with me on my birthday

The meal was delicious. It was not technically soup weather but it didn't matter. The bread and rolls were perfect with it, and everyone was satisfied.

The cake was tiny because we don't like to have leftovers, but I wanted a big cookie with frosting so TG and Chad buzzed around the corner to the Food Lion and got me one.

I got so much cool stuff ... including a Queen Elizabeth pillow

Then I opened my gifts and was a trifle overwhelmed with everyone's generosity. It was a good birthday.

The next day, I made TG a vanilla pound cake using this recipe and the Nordic Ware Wildflowers cake pan he bought me as one of my birthday gifts. He was most appreciative.

Now the cooler, more normal weather has settled in and although everything is blooming -- including the dogwoods and wisteria and azaleas -- it's a tad bit chilly. I like it, for as long as it lasts.

Dagny gave me a card with this sentiment written on the envelope

Which -- as the dog said as he sat with his tail on the railroad track -- won't be long now.

After the March birthdays we have Allissa turning fifteen on Tax Day in April -- her golden birthday.

TG gave me a Nordic Ware Wildflowers loaf pan ... so I made him a pound cake

At the beginning of May we celebrate Joel's birthday, and at the end of May, it's Erica's turn.

In June we have Dagny and Chad. In July, baby Rhett will turn two. In late August, Andrew and Brittany are expecting a son.

Erica's front door, garlanded for the season

And on and on and on it goes. And as long as I am on the green side of grass, we will observe each such occasion with the appropriate amount of fuss. We will garland every milestone. We will let every birthday be a festival, never to passed over without note.

And that is all for now.

=0=0=0=

Happy Friday :: Happy Weekend

Comments

[Ginny Hartzler]

It is so good to see you again! I wish you would post more often! This is the most beautiful pound cake I have ever seen. Also the prettiest cookie cake! Andrew is so handsome! The ziti looks so yummy! I would make it if I had a crock pot. Wishing you a belated very happy birthday!!

[Mari]

Wow - you sure do celebrate this time of year! As usual you do it up well! The food looks fabulous. That cake? Yum (Except leave the coconut off my piece) :)
Those grands just get cuter all the time. Just wait till baby Weber arrives and you get another boy in the mix.
I hope my card arrived on time for your birthday. One never knows!
Happy Birthday to all!

[Bijoux]

Happy, Happy Birthday! We also have two birthdays here in March. Middle Child and my husband. I wrote about her birthday in my post scheduled for tomorrow, but at home, she chose to have my famous veggie lasagna, a big salad, and donuts instead of cake.

I enjoyed all your food and gift pictures. Happy Birthday to all.

[Jennifer]

@Ginny ... Oh you could easily make baked ziti in the oven! And I am crazy about the Nordic Ware decorative cake pans. They make everything look as good as it tastes! xoxo

@Mari ... YES I got that darling card -- you can see it on the table with my presents! I laughed and laughed and except for the curlers, yes that is me! Powdered do-nots and a cup of coffee, haaahaha! And yes those babies do get prettier every day. Can't wait to see how the new one turns out! xoxo

@Bijoux ... well that sounds like quite a celebration too! Donuts are always on point, haha! xoxo

[Lori]

It's always so nice to see all of the pictures of beautiful people, food and get togethers. You are so blessed. Happy Belated Birthday to YOU!! I love the quotes on spring and especially the one on Birthdays. I'm writing that down. My Mom would love it. She always taught us to celebrate our special day. Take care and enjoy your Spring!!

[Donna in Texas]

Well, it looks like you had a Wonderful birthday!! All the food looked delicious...especially the German Chocolate cake. Happy Birthday to little Andrew as well. What a doll!
The trial? I couldn't stop watching it! What a monster! Drugs and money!
I seem to be "exclaiming" a bit...lolol
Lastly, I love Dagny's card to you...what a Sweetheart!
Enjoy the week dear lady...
hugs
Donna

[Jennifer]

@Lori ... Yes I thought that birthday quote was perfect! There was not a big deal made of birthdays when I was growing up, but in our house I'm going to see to it that they're a big deal! It's important to me that each person has one day a year when it's all about them. You enjoy your spring too! xoxo

@Donna ... aaaaarrggghhhh I was RIVETED to that trial! Could not stop watching. Wasn't it fascinating? Yes that German Chocolate Cake was, as my mother would say, "a bit of all right" ... haaaha! xoxo

[Jeanette]

Well, Happy Belated Birthday my friend1 Looks like a grand celebration for everyone! All of your grandchildren are precious and that cake looks delicious! I'll have to try that Jiffy corn muffin mix like you described! XO

[Jennifer]

@Jeanette ... if you have not had Jiffy cornbread, you have not had cornbread, haahhaa! You could serve it as cake ... xoxo

[Carla TePaske]

Happy Birthday to all and extra Happy Birthday wishes to my pirate friend named Jenny. :-)
Thank you for sharing the recipes. I always enjoy your photos of your family, the delicious food and decorations.
I am looking forward to your next post!! :-)

[Lux]

Aw, you have a beautiful family. I can't decide which of this food I'd like to sample first because they all look delicious!

[Jennifer]

@Carla ... Thank you my friend! I think you will like my next post! xoxo

@Lux ... Thank you and I think you can start anywhere and not miss ... but I can unreservedly recommend my daughter's excellent white chicken chili!! xoxo

[Debbi]

love this lively post and love the pictures of you with Marsha and with Dagny! Love seeing all your sweet grandgirls and grandboys, but of course Dagny has a special place in my heart because she reminds me so much of our little Fairy Granddaughter. Love all the b/day celebration pictures and seeing the decorations and cake, that German chocolate cake looked so good, and the pound cake is so pretty! When i first saw the baked ziti It thought it was my crock pot lasagne, it looks identical. LOL Glad y'all got together and had fun. I THINK i wished you a happy birthday, but if NOT.....happy happy happy birthday my firend! You look pretty in that black and white dress. Pretty birthday cookie! Your grandkids are growing so QUICKLY!! We havent been to cracker barrel in forever.....we need to go soon! I sure enjoyed browsing their gift shop! You sure got some nice birthday presents! And girlfriend..........what about that Murdaugh trial?????! COLD WEATHER TIME HERE AGAIN.....stay warm!! Hugs

[Jennifer]

@Debbi ... That baked ziti is probably nearly identical to your crock pot lasagne! It was so delicious and fun to make, not having to cook the pasta beforehand. GREAT for a hungry crowd! Yes the grands are growing like little weeds! Such fun. And I love the Cracker Barrel store, and eating there is okay except there is only one thing on the menu I can have: grilled chicken tenders with green beans and Cole slaw, haaahaa! Not exactly a lot of healthy options. But we have fun being together. That trial was riveting! Can't wait to tell you of our experiences in Hampton and Colleton Counties! Yes I have been wearing socks and tights this week for sure! Finally some normal weather! xoxo

[Sally]

Happy Belated Birthday, birthday girl! I'm glad to see that you, like our mother was, delighted in celebrating all of our birthdays. It's funny really, she and I in March, my two brothers in February; all within a month. And then Dad in August. :)

Your grands are growing up and it's wonderful to see their photo's that you post. I can't believe how much Dagny has grown also. She's such a delight as well as the others.

A new grandson soon to be born this year. How exciting. I now have a fourth great grandchild; she was born December 30th, Dallas. Adorable.

xoxo

[Jennifer]

@Sally ... Well hey there, old friend! I know about adorable little Dallas -- how thrilling! Yes it's a constant delight to see the grandchildren grow. They will never know until we are long gone and they experience it for themselves, how much we loved them. But we will try to tell them now, in as many ways as possible. What a great gift from God they are. Have a great first week of spring! xoxo

[Gayla]

Happy belated birthday! I loved seeing all your festivities and hearing about your day! The food sounds delicious. I'm imagining the possibilities for why you foreshadowed your upcoming post about the minitrip... you could work for cliff hangers, inc.!

[Jennifer]

@Gayla ... haaahaha I need to get that post written! There is a lot going on right now. It was an interesting trip, though. I hope you are doing well! xoxo