Finally the big 80

 I was preceded in celebration by Big Daddy Dave over in Tennessee. That's just fine. I've had more celebrations that I could have imagined possible.

The weekend that I will never forget in the woods near Lake Lure and Old Fort...in the mansion/cabin...and with most of my family! What a treat which I hope they will cherish as much as I do.

Standing Rock Falls...which had upper falls and lower falls. I managed down the stairs and back to upper falls, and let the hiking younger family members go down to lower falls. (As already covered in a previous post!)

Custards setting which became Crème brulee! (fun when the portable flame thrower needed more gas, so they were all put under the boiler and came out great!)

M. at the end of the table had a birthday in Oct...so he raised his hand as the last annual birthday of the group. They each had a birthday card from me to celebrate together by having fun!

Me and the crystals!

The whole gang, when I took the pic. so Kendra is in it...

A fun fast card game of as many players playing double sol as you've got decks! I think it's called Nerts!

One of the fabulous cooks that weekend, as well as the only daughter-in-law who could come. I was so glad to have time with her! My three sons honored my request that I wouldn't prepare any meals. I just bought the groceries, since I lived in the area! I admit they had two more grocery trips after we were found to be missing some of the things I bought and forgot in my fridge. Hey I'm an elder, I can forget things!

My three sons, and my grandkids (most of them). Kendra took this photo.

Today's quote:

You know why trees smell the way they do?” Murphy asked, looking up. “Sap?” Logan guessed. “Chlorophyll?”

Murphy shook her head. “Stars. Trees breathe in starlight year after year, and it goes deep into their bones. So when you cut a tree open, you smell a hundred years worth of light. Ancient starlight that took millions of years to reach Earth. That’s why trees smell so beautiful and old."

—Frances O’Roark Dowell