Oh, Mandy!

As her tiny electric piano played a samba in the background, Miranda boogied the night away with Island "boyfriend" Wilson (she's planning to see her beaux in Vancouver in a couple of weeks for another dinner party) and family, showed Nana (who was here for the evening with John) a few fancy dance steps, opened cards and gifts, and dined in style (Steve made a delicious gourmet dinner, and "Exploradora" Carmen & Peter brought her favourite Bumbleberry Pie!)...thoroughly enjoying the festivities. And the fun's not over yet--more birthday-related celebrations are rumoured to be in store in the days (and indeed weeks) to come!

Tea for two

Miranda begins her birthday week (or more) of celebrations with an imaginary "tea party" on the lawn; Grandad is here for a visit and the soon-to-be-two birthday girl couldn't be happier!

King Crab in the spotlight

Here's Steve (45 years young) enjoying his birthday dinner at the Tuscany (in Snug Cove) last night! Miranda had her first taste of crab legs dipped in melted butter...and loved it! I ordered eggplant parmegian--what was I thinking???

Groovy girls (handsome escort not shown)

Ramona (a.k.a. UBC "boss"--now doesn't that sound mafiosa-esque?) treated us to a lovely lunch at Enigma in Vancouver yesterday. Despite the stormy weather, Steve managed to capture photos of all three of us girls looking smiley...Miranda's enrapt expression in the first photo is in response to some beautiful red balloons (which we took home with us); Ramona's enrapt expression in the second photo is as she contemplates her next visit with Don (the Don!), who's arriving soon from Italy; and Deb's enrapt expression in the third photo denotes only a few weeks left until vacation time!!!!

Kinswomen of the world, unite!

Cousin Mary just sent along this photo (of her pre-Christmas visit to Janie's in Vancouver); Mary's back in Taipei now, of course; Janie's in Montreal at present; and Mandy and I are here at the homestead on water-logged Bowen Island...but it's fun to remember our yuletide reunion on this rainy day.

On the eve of the Equinox...

What do you get when you take a box full of bulbs for garden planning (astilbe, calla lilies, canna and the like), some almonds, dried cranberries, morbier cheese (with ash!), a Louis Latour 2005 Pinot Noir, a bottle of Emu Cream, and a box of Stoned Wheat Thins? Why, the season's first outdoor sherry party, of course! This impromptu event was well attended by its only invited guests: the three of us--and the dog!

Can you spot the leprechauns in this photo?

Happy St. Patrick's Day! We all dressed in green to head out for a fondue party this evening with next-door neighbours Jayne and Rob, Jesse and Josh (kitty Pooh-Bear was also a favourite)...


Charming livestock...


An elegant table...









A couple games of "Go"...





And we were all a little starry-eyed and sepia-toned by the end of the evening...

Sunlight on the garden

Miranda had a great visit with "Grandad"; he was here for a visit on the way to Roberts Creek. Steve kindly took this photo of the three of us in the garden, where he's been working all day--beautiful weather (although still a bit nippy) at last!

Look who's coming to dinner

Oh my, whom shall I ask to tea at my quaint Victorian shoebox abode? (actually from WWII England, sent home by Miranda's great-grandfather W. Alfred Seaman, sixty-odd years ago)...



...




Gracious! Who ARE these uncouth interlopers? (sixties-odd...renegades from the Muppet Show, sent to Miranda last year from her Decarie cousins back East)...


We've come a long way, baby!

Happy Birthday Dear Nana

Lorna and John here for Nana's 68th birthday celebration; John brought some of his full-bodied home brew red wine, Steve made his famous ginger prawns and veggies, I served my infamous "rum-drunken" craisin-stuffed baked apples for dessert, and Miranda presented her beloved "Erna" with a framed painting of recent composition. Then we all headed downstairs to watch the Canucks take on the Sharks--nothing like a game of "hockey ball" to round out the perfect evening. Many happy returns, Nana!

The kids are all right tonight!

Great evening at Carmen & Peter's place--Wilson gave Miranda a few quick lessons in the visual and musical arts! After a delicious dinner (a whole roast chicken on the BBQ) & a fun time listening to a CD of Peter's band from his youth, we headed home across the island. Rock on, kids! Tomorrow we're off to the city to see Janie (home from Montreal) and the cousins...