FOURTEEN!

There's another fourteen-year-old in the world!

To the girl who loves boats....

who loves color....

who loves gardens....

who loves getting fancy....

who doesn't mind getting dirty;

to the girl who is the current Bat Ball Champion of Hollyoaks....

a reader of large books....

a sister who cares and notices and joins in....

a daughter who gives foot massages and warm greetings...

a friend who brings cheer and laughs;

to the girl who "borrows" my socks....

who can make the living room look like an explosion in a craft factory....

who doesn't like to eat a lot of things but could eat her weight in steak....

who downloads pictures of lavender fields in Provence (and cafes in Tuscancy, and boats on exotic rivers, and other dreams of travel) onto my computer;

to the one who stands with me in this house of men...

who loves to make Plans....

who is currently planning Saturday's tea party;


I Love You (a bushel and a peck!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, dear Claire!!!