Tuesday 19 May 2009

birthday wishes


This weekend is a busy one in cottage country. On some we may have 1,000,000 travellers on our highway #400 north to cottage country. We, like many retirees, entertained guests. Their first full day was cold but the boys had to bravely say they went for a swim.

My son, Jesse, brought his girlfriend and another couple up for the long w/e. They went swimming on a very cold day. Not as cold as this one, though: Polar Bunny Easter swim (on YouTube)! It doesn't beat this foot racing crowd in San Fran, however, or this shot of a man and his thong in Fort Erie. But we had a good time!

Coincidentally, Jesse and Stacie both have a birthday on Tuesday. What is peculiar is that Stacie's mom's birthday is also Dec. 26th, just like mine!

We planned a communal dinner, the kids happily entertained themselves in our semi-detached cottage. But this day we broke bread, and cracked the odd (3?!) bottle of wine, together.

To that end, I wrote poems for each of the kids, and just for fun we made loot bags for the other two. Another coincidence, both J & S will be doing Shakespeare this summer, both are 'starving' actors. Both received a cheque for fun!

JESSE

Jesse -deeply precious offspring
Our Oberon true trickster king
Celebrating your birthday sweet
Without you life is incomplete
Jesse deeply precious offspring
Your humanity makes me sing
My bliss a blessed ringside seat
Celebrate well a life replete

STACIE

Stacie, our joyful newest friend
A Happy Birthday poem I penned.
A spritely golden marguerite
We welcome you to our retreat.
Our deepest wishes we extend
You should this trifle not misspend
On boring things, I recommend.



Before they left for home, the kids went for a canoe, and then we took the traditional picture rock photo, a long standing tradition.

12 comments:

Sylvia K said...

Wonderful photos! Looks like a great time was had by all! How fun! Birthday wishes to Jesse! Have a great week!

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful time with family breaking bread. You captured great memories and showed us thanks.

Erin said...

so enjoyed your poems and post. what a gracious host you are...
have a wonderful week.

SandyCarlson said...

Looks like a marvelous celebration among some good folks!

Guy D said...

Looks like a fantastic time, thanks for the look into your world.

Have a great week
Guy
Regina In Pictures

Cloudia said...

How Jolly!
Aloha from Waikiki, Jenn ;-)

Arija said...

...and a good time was had by all! You all look so happy.

Carolyn said...

What lovely photos and odes to the young. We do not celebrate the "2-4" weekend in BC the way we do in Ontario....I miss that! I share a cottage at MacTier when I am home and when we are all together we also do the family photo rock, usually on Thanksgiving weekend but lately it has been "catch as catch can"! Thanks for sharing Jenn.
Smiles

Jenn Jilks said...

I agree, Carolyn, we do not celebrate our young people enough.
I applied for a job in MacTier in 2006. Didn't get it, but we've visited.

Thank you, all for your positive comments.

Erin, my mother was the hostess with the mostess. I have never felt like I measured up. She always did things just so. But we all work together. The kids cooked the veggies, and it was a communal affair.

at the cottage said...

What a wonderful weekend. Happy Birthday to Jesse, I hope you have many MANY more wonderful birthdays.

Long weekend, the family cottage and traditions...yes, all part of this wonderful cottage country.

Thanks Jenn

Deb

Gaelyn said...

What a lovely celebration. How wonderful to have family together for special, or any, days. Love your poems. Great post.

Unknown said...

Looks as though you all had a wonderful time !!

You do live in a beautiful part of the world and your photos show this..