A Milestone Birthday

May seems to be a busy month this year.

Celebrating my birthday on May 15th seemed  like a good time

to look back on those years when I was growing up.

This first photo dates back to when I was about three years' old.

It was certainly taken in a studio and the photo coloured afterwards.

My father liked to ride,

as soon as he thought I was big enough, he sat me on a pony.

Here I am, aged five, sitting on quite a highly-strung little pony

called "Mousie". I remember her well and how she liked to have her own way, 

which wasn't always the same way as her rider!

By the age of twelve, I was a fun-loving schoolgirl.

I still loved riding and had my own pony. A grey called Miss Muffet.

Then came the teenage years.

I was seventeen in this photo and quite dreamy and idealistic

and a tad romantic too.

I loved to read and went to the library a lot.

I kept a diary in my teen years, but kept none of these writings.

I wonder what I would think of them now?

I remember always wanting to see the best in people.

I think I was always striving to becoming someone better,

more compassionate, more understanding, more forgiving.

It became apparent to me, quite early on, that I was simply a work in progress

and that my life, in whatever form it took, would form the person

that I would become.

It isn't only life, and what happens to us, which forms us,

but how we react, digest and rise above it all which counts.

So besides all things philosophical,

there is the reality of how we live each moment,

with or without sunshine,

alone or in good company.

My birthday was not sunny and it was cold with heavy rain showers, 

but I spent it in good company with a breakfast out in a traditional, old-style

tea-room in the town of Lausanne.

Here is the little tea-room

We had a delicious Birchermuesli (they do the best in town)

and an Apple Turnover with coffee.

Look what caught our eye before we left the tea-room!

A Chocolate Truffle Cake

as light as a feather!

This little beauty came home with us for tea.

I was thinking about the important things in life and decided to make a collage

to give my children and grandson.

BE

Be amazed

Be joyful

Be playful

Be kind

Be thoughtful

Be loving

Be content

and most of all...

Be yourself!

Here is the last slice of birthday cake, so good with fresh raspberries.

The lovely peonies I received and three of my beautiful cards. 

The others stand in honour on my sideboard where I admire them every day!

I received very thoughtful and generous gifts from both my children

and a wonderfully detailed drawing from my grandson.

Today, the sun returned.

It feels so wonderfully joyful.

This is the scene that greeted me in my kitchen this morning.

Sunshine and blue skies

Sweet early morning birdsong

To nourish my soul.

All these simple things are so good for the morale, don't you think?