Wherein We Celebrate Levon

First of all, that's a sweet potato I'd left behind that I dug up yesterday when I was doing some weeding. I also planted some sugar snap peas but the seeds were pretty old so we shall see if they come up. I did soak them first and they swelled up, but put out no sprouts. Hopefully, they just need more time. 

Secondly, Mr. Moon, told me that I had misnamed dormers as eaves in last night's post. 
Oh, la-di-dah but I went back and think I edited the post to make it correct. He doesn't usually read my blog. He tells me that he considers the blog to be mine and I love that. But last night I told him that I'd written some very sweet things about him and that I wanted him to read the post and he did. 
I think he appreciated it. Well, I know he did. 

All right, dear friends. That is a Yuletide Camellia Sasanqua. It does not even look real, does it? 

Here's another picture of the same sansanquas I showed you a picture of last week. And last year. And the year before, I am sure. 

I believe that these are called "Shishi Gashira" which is a perfect name for them. 

One more yard picture.

The cursed Bradford Pears are just starting to drop leaves and these are the ones I call my Virgin of Guadalupe leaves. 

I think you can see why. 

But I've buried the lede here people, because today was the day for Levon's birthday celebration. He has been looking forward to this for weeks. And that's what he called it- his birthday celebration. 

Jessie and Vergil decided to have this celebration at a new brewery venue not too far from us. It's a brewery and farm and someone has obviously put a lot of money and love into it. A beautiful piece of land. There were many people there, most with folding chairs, a band was playing, kids were running around and playing corn hole and kicking balls and dogs were lying peacefully beside their humans. Just a very nice place. Hank and Rachel had saved us one of picnic tables.

How good it was to see them! Lily had to work. Of course. We can never seem to have an entire family gathering any more. Hopefully, Thanksgiving will give us a chance to all get together. 
But it was sweet and May and Michael were there in all of their glory. I was so glad to see them and get many hugs from my May. 

I looked around at the crowd and I told Michael, "I feel like I'm in Asheville." And then I said, "No. Actually, I feel like I'm still in Tallahassee. Tallahassee just does not have that Asheville hipness. We're not hip, we're just hippies."

And it was true. 

Right when we got there a man came up to me and despite my problem with facial recognition, I knew immediately who he was. He looks just like his mama, who was Chloe, a woman I've talked about many times who died recently. When I met Chloe, she was pregnant with Michael and it was one of the most formative experiences of my life. Chloe was a tall woman with big hands and long legs and she was rubbing her round belly with those hands, already communicating with the baby inside of her and I'd never seen anything like that. Pregnant women in those days just wore cute little dresses with bows centered discretely on the center of the empire waistlines of their maternity dresses, pretending that their bellies weren't even there, and here was this woman wearing an Indian print dress looking like a goddess, loving her baby already. 
It really was an epiphany for me. 
His name too, is Michael and he gave me the sweetest hug. Here's a picture of him and his sister Mona Rose and Hank and May when they were littles. 

I was with Chloe when she had Mona and I was pregnant with May. I remember that I first felt May move inside of me right before Chloe had Mona. 

So that meant a lot. Being able to see and hug Michael. 

Back to the party! Liz Sparks was there and what a pleasure to see her again. God, I love her. And here's Levon looking at his birthday seven-layer pudding and whipped cream delight. 

It took him a little while to figure out the wish he wanted to make when he blew out the candles. I said to him, "I told you to start thinking about this yesterday." And I did. 

I guess he figured it out. 

So it was a very fine celebration and Jessie didn't have to clean her house before or after. We all missed Lily and Lauren and the cousins who were at their dad's but we'll be together on Thanksgiving which is coming so very soon. 

Time to go steam the broccoli. 

Love...Ms. Moon