![Hold Back the Dawn [DVD] Charles Boyer; Olivia de Havilland; Paulette Goddard](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41AkExBJQsL._SL75_.jpg)
Spring and all the things
Friday, April 5, 2024 at 08:44AM 
Jordan Peterson and our Audrey, on her birthday
I checked and it's true: It has been two weeks since Audrey and TG went to Jacksonville to see and hear and meet Jordan Peterson.
It was Audrey's birthday.
TG and Audrey at the venue
They set out mid-morning for the four-hour drive and got to Jacksonville in plenty of time to check into their hotel and have supper before making their way to the venue.
Which was across the street from their hotel, so that was easy.
Audrey told me that the event was everything she had hoped for, and then some.
This will be on display for the foreseeable future
Even a few minutes in the presence of Dr. Peterson was awe-inspiring, she said.
TG enjoyed it too, and now it's a splendid memory for the two of them.
As VIP ticket holders, in addition to their event badges on lanyards, they each brought home a small poster that had been signed by Jordan Peterson.
Grilled chicken ... one of TG's specialties
I'm displaying TG's on the refrigerator until I get tired of looking at it, which won't be any time soon.
Dagny stayed with me while they were gone, and we went shopping. She had some money to spend on her mother for a birthday gift, and we did get that, but we looked at lots of stuff and had a great time.
Wavy and BBQ chips ... Erica said the BBQ ones were super hot
The next morning, we got busy getting ready for Audrey's birthday party, which was set to take place that afternoon.
TG and the birthday girl were back in town by three, and by four we were having a cookout.
Got to have burgers and dogs
I'd made the standard go-withs: baked mac and cheese, deviled eggs, cole slaw with tangy homemade dressing, and celery sticks with ranch dip. Erica brought two kinds of chips.
In addition to hamburgers and hot dogs, we had chicken tenderloins done on the grill. All I do is marinate them for several hours in straight soy sauce. TG grills them and they come out phenomenal.
Best dip: just mix the ranch powder with sour cream
I didn't get any pictures of it -- were were too busy eating it -- but for dessert, in lieu of a birthday cake I did the same thing we did for TG's birthday in late January: a Costco plain cheesecake.
Dagny had helped me slice and macerate four pounds of strawberries, and there was lots of whipped cream to go on top of everything.
Homemade slaw dressing of mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, and sugar
It was heavenly and Audrey said it was exactly what she wanted for her birthday dessert.
She opened her gifts and was happy with everything she received. In addition to giving Audrey a lovely present, Mike brought the balloons.
Kraft Deluxe but add milk and shredded cheddar, and bake
Aren't birthdays grand? We enjoy ours to the fullest, I believe.
Once that festive occasion was concluded, we were cruising towards Easter.
After supper it was time for birthday presents
But first, Baby Elliot turned six months old. Cherica (Chad and Erica) celebrated that happy time by having a special cupcake for him after their family's lunch on the day.
As Easter loomed, it was decided that we would go to Mike's house for Sunday dinner after church.
Audrey received gifts large and small
On the day before (last Saturday), I made all of the food and TG and I took it over to Mike's.
I also took along some decorations for the table, and set all of that up so I wouldn't have to do it the next day.
Baby Elliot turned six months old :: photo courtesy Erica Porter
Mike was game to help with the cooking so I left instructions for him and on Sunday morning, he put the ham in the oven and started up the crock pots after adding to them what I'd told him to add.
Mike's mother joined us for lunch and spent the day, as well as our friend Andrea from church.
Our menu was maple glazed spiral cut ham, apple pie baked beans (if you haven't tried those yet, you really must), pineapple casserole, mashed potatoes, slow cooker creamed corn, seven layer salad, and rolls.
Our Easter table decorations
For dessert, Erica had made a lemon blueberry trifle and we topped our individual servings with whipped cream.
Yowza. Wish you could have been at the table with us.
Erica's dessert trifle was no trifling thing
While still at the church on Sunday morning, we got some pictures of the families and almost-families.
There was TG and me, Cherica with Rhett and Baby Elliot, and Mike with Audrey and Dagny.
I don't remember who I was waving at
Our weather was perfect: sunny and balmy.
It was a tad bit cooler in Western North Carolina where our Stepanie and her family live, but still nice, with sunshine. They sent us a family picture later in the day.
Chad and Erica with Rhett and Elliot
Our son-in-law, Joel, is a pastor in Lenoir, North Carolina, and they had a big day at their church, with more in attendance at a single service than ever before since he became the pastor there in 2007.
Back here in Columbia, Mike's house is on a golf course, so after lunch, when we weren't all sitting on the deck drinking coffee, some of us took a walk onto the links.
Audrey, Dagny, and Mike
There were hardly any golfers on Easter Sunday.
Rhett had a bottle of bubbles and when he wasn't getting into minor skirmishes with Dagny (they behave just like a brother and sister), he busied himself with that.
Stephanie, Joel, Melanie, Allissa, Andrew :: photo courtesy Stephanie Bixler
Mike asked his neighbor if he could borrow his golf cart, and of course the answer was yes, so he took Audrey and Dagny and Chad and Erica for a ride.
Next thing I knew, he had jettisoned Cherica and Dagny, and made off with Audrey by herself.
Rhett busied himself blowing bubbles :: photo courtesy Audrey Weber
Clever chap. Eventually he brought her back.
Back here at home, I am still decorated for spring, but with the exception of a small selection of my many bunnies, I have put the Easter decorations away.
Bunnies will be on display throughout April
Because here we are in April, and Easter is already done. Next stop, Mother's Day -- only five weeks hence. Time to start planning your gifts and get-togethers to honor all the moms.
That holiday will coincide with another pretty spectacular event, but I will not give any of that away just yet.
A bit of bovine levity
All I know is, you will be delighted and amazed and you'll say so. For now though, keep your powder dry and be patient.
TG is already talking about getting the pool ready for opening day, which, if the weather cooperates (as in, if it's not raining), will be Memorial Day.
Sheep dog and sheep
But wait. First we will celebrate our second-eldest granddaughter Allissa's sixteenth birthday next week.
She was born on Tax Day but as is our habit, we'll get together next Friday evening up at the North Carolina / South Carolina line and have a meal at the Cracker Barrel there, and a birthday party for sweet Allissa.
Allissa and Piper :: photo courtesy Stephanie Bixler
How can she be sixteen? Five minutes ago she was five, and then seven, and so on. You know the drill.
We've got special things in store for that momentous birthday in a girl's life, and you know that I will tell you all about it after the fact.
Meanwhile, tell me all about how your Easter went, and your upcoming plans for this glorious springtime.
And that is all for now.
=0=0=0=
Happy Friday
Reader Comments (18)
The food, the family all look fabulous!! I've read a couple of Jordan B. Petersons books so I'm sure hearing him speak was a wonderful event. Glad they were able to attend. What a wonderful Birthday for her. Can't wait to hear about your next adventure.
@Lori ... hopping over now to read about your Easter with TBG! xoxo
Well, first, Dagney is growing up so fast!! Alissa is beautiful; is she driving yet? Of course I just love your decorations as I always do; and you give me ideas! I am keeping my bunnies out as well. You, Stephanie and Audrey look so much alike that I thought Audrey was YOU upon first glance!! The lemon trifle looks so good! In our family, some do not like cake, and the ones who do all like different flavors. So I get cheesecake as well. Now to that mac & cheese. Do you put the powdered stuff in with the fresh cheese? Or do you throw the powder away? Oh wait, I think the Deluxe does not come with powder. The dip and celery platter looks pretty! I can't wait to see what is coming up!!
Everyone looked well turned out for Easter and the food always looks plentiful and good.
@Ginny ... Yes Allissa does drive, but not by herself yet! It's nerve wracking for her mother but of course it has to happen eventually, hahaha! And it will be a great help to her folks when Allissa can drive herself and her brother to school and back. OK so the Kraft Deluxe has the creamy cheese packet. You just make it as directed, then add as much grated cheddar and milk as you want, mix that all up, put more cheese on top, and bake! The trick is to just get it hot so that when you take it out, it's still creamy but not dried out. I am enjoying my bunnies throughout April! xoxo
@AC ... I wish I'd thought to show the Easter food but we were too busy eating it, hahaha xoxo
I am keeping note of your birthday menu, for our family August get together. Looks so good.
Family pictures are gorgeous, and Alissa is a beautiful almost 16 year old! Happy Birthday to her!
I have the same sheep and dog set and gave one to my sis, who has an Australian shepherd who looks just like it.
Looking forward to more goings-on, enjoy spring!
I worked on my Easter so I let my pet rock do an Easter egg hunt at home while I was working. He didn't find any and was bummed. I never told him there were only six eggs...all uncooked ones in the 'frig. I'm such a stinker. You and yours look like you had a fabulous Easter.
This is a whole lot of excitement!
What a special thing for TG and Audrey to go to together. A great memory for both... (And she looks beautiful in that pic). I know you and Dagny had a splendid time too and more memories to store away.
Your picnic celebration makes me hungry.
I enjoyed the Easter pics. Everyone looks so nice. Andrew looks handsome in that yellow tie. I missed getting pics of our dressed up because they came over later and had changed clothes. It's nice to see them all dressed up.
Happy Birthday to Alissa. 16! I can hardly believe it.
Laura and Aaron's dog is also named Piper. :)
I'm waiting to hear on the next exciting event!!!
@Donna ... I cannot resist the salt and pepper shakers at Cracker Barrel! I simply cannot. I have so many of them and when I saw the sheepdog and sheep, I like to died. I simply could not walk away without them! They make me happy just to look at them. YES do copy my menu, hahaha! Or, do a fusion of the birthday menu and the Easter menu. You've just got to try those apple pie baked beans! xoxo
@Mike ... I can't believe you pulled such a rotten trick on Seymour! Tell him I said he got robbed. But then, what would he have done with Easter eggs? It's not like he can eat them. Can he? hahahaha xoxo
@Mari ... I know, right? Almost more than I can stand! Now, I started giving orders the second that church was over, about getting out there under that tree for pictures. I knew that if I waited, everyone would have gone home and changed before coming to Mike's, and of course that's what they did! So I'm glad I cracked the whip, so to speak. Didn't Audrey's picture with Jordan turn out nice? She said the whole thing was practically surreal. And I named the Bixlers' dog, hahaha! They asked me to. I think Piper is an adorable name! xoxo
Oh my word! A "Sweet Sixteen" party...and she's already so gorgeous! In fact, ALL of you are!
Happy Birthday to Audrey!! She doesn't look a day over 20!
All the babies are adorable and what a sweet photo of you and TG...
The look on the furrbaby's face is too cute! And all the food looks yummy....
(The Christmas cookies on my banana pudding had been hidden in the freezer...Larry loves those little cookies and I knew I'd be needing them for future puddings...I only had to keep them hidden from my cookie monster! lolol)
Happy weekend!
hugs
Donna
@Donna ... Oh I figured as much about the Christmas cookies on the banana pudding. I chuckled, wondering if I was the only one scrutinizing that dessert closely enough to notice, haha! Yes our Allissa is a beauty and to think she is sweet sixteen is baffling. Where did those years go? But we'll make the most of it! xoxo
Howdy there Jenny, I've been WAITING on your Easter post, now here it is! Girlfriend......I LOVE YOUR EASTER ENSEMBLE and you, like myself, wore a hat too! Good for us, LOL, so many ladies have abandoned hats anymore except on the beaches, ha ha. You looked GORGEOUS, and looked like you were a 1940s era movie star, waving to the paparazzi.....OR...... a lady embarking on a lovely cruise ship and waving to loved ones! Anyway.....you looked lovely and so DID THE REST of your sweet family. Love seeing the pictures. The girls all so pretty all dressed up and the men all so handsome, even the very young ones! Our Easter was quiet and peaceful this year, but we did enjoy it so much. Looks like yours was busy and fun! All the food looked delicious and also looked like Audrey had a really nice birthday. Cant believe Eliot is ALREADY 6 MONTHS OLD!? and Rhett IS ALREADY SO BIG TOO. Seems like HE was just born yesterday. Every one of your daughters looked so pretty in their Easter finery, like true ladies. Please tell them I said so! Love all their dresses and shoes, and also the granddaughters too! Happy Sweet 16 to Allissa!----she is lovely!
@Debbi ... girl you know I love my hats! And I agree that the girls were lovely and the men so handsome. We enjoyed the day so much. YES baby Elliot already six months old, and Rhett will be three in July! They're our precious treasures. I loved your Easter post too! Have a good week, my friend! xoxo
Hi Jenny,
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, for sharing JBP with us. I would love to sit down with your daughter and hear all about it. Wish I lived closer. ;-)
I love all the smiles, beautiful dresses and suits. So many people do not dress up anymore, I love that about your family, you make an effort to dress up!!! We do to. :-)... everyday we get dressed. :-) Ha!!
To many wearing PJ's at the stores!!!
Thank you for sharing your Easter with us.
Carla
I bet you and Allissa could have been twins at 16. I love that sign with the Holstein in it. Simple, but is made me laugh.
@Carla ... Oh believe me, she would love to talk to you about meeting JBP! They had a grand time. Worth every penny. I couldn't agree more about most people going out in public in their "floordrobe" hahaha! Just put on whatever is on the floor beside your bed? Nooooooo! Never me. I've told my kids, if I ever do that, you know I am ready to be put out to pasture, never to return, hahahahaha! xoxo
@Jim and Barb ... What a charming thing to say! I hope there is something of me in Allissa, although at present she is prettier, smarter, and sweeter than I ever was, hahahaha! Yes I laughed out loud at that cow picture too. Saw it at Cracker Barrel and HAD to have it. I love cows. xoxo
What a lovely birthday celebration and then Easter celebration you have enjoyed with your family, Jenny. I enjoyed hearing all about it and seeing the beautiful pictures that you shared as well.
Oh, your parties! You have the magic touch! I can only imagine that conference! Really inspirational. I need some of your recipes!