Have a great day Epazota!

Many Happy Returns
I hope you have a wonderful birthday doing all the things you'd like to do
Hugs
Hilary

Thank you Hiliary for your thoughtful wishes.
I had a good day yesterday. I had to be an adult and work and then a work event for my DH. It was a good day. But, looking forward to a day to do what I would like to do after my mother's wedding next weekend. I may have mentioned it is in our backyard. So, need to do some last minute sprucing up.
Thanks again for the birthday wishes.
I hope things are well for you and your family.
How are the girls doing with their French and their new school year? I really enjoyed talking with them.

My brother's birthday was just before yours on the 24th :)

Very best wishes for the wedding. I'm sure it will all go brilliantly
...and enjoy a day for yourself soon too!

Anna and Zoe are settling into their new schools really well. Their accents are superb of course, and their vocabularly is growing daily. They're making lots of friends too. Anna's class went canoeing and rafting on friday and she enjoyed it all very much.
How is your daughter getting on in Spain? Hope she's enjoyed the experience. I can't remember how long she was going for?

I am glad to hear that Anna and Zoe are doing well. It dosn't surprise me. Beth did well in Spain. She loved the country. She had lots of homework for her class, so she was glad when that part was done. A bout of gastroenteritis made the rounds with her classmates. She had to learn to make do with what was culturally available for comfort foods. Normally she loved all the local foods. She has started her "real job." I think she is enjoying it. She is planning her wedding for next summer. So, when we talk about weddings we have to clarify which one.
I hope your mother is also doing well. I think about her when I dead head my flowers. She had such a knack for what I thought was a simple task. When she was finished the form of the group of flowers was beautiful, they were transformed. I used to just pull off the dead flower heads. I didn't get the same effect. But, now when dead heading, I now try to be prepared with shears and follow your mother's example.

Oh that's good that Beth has made herself at home, though sorry to hear of the tummy upsets - that's always difficult to cope with
I didn't realise her wedding was in the offing!! Will that be back in the States?
Good luck for your mum's. Hope all goes smoothly and the weather is kind

LOL yes my mum's the queen of the dead headers :)

Beth has been engaged for a couple years. Her beau is a friend from high school. I am thankful they are waiting until they are done with college. He will be done next June. Then a July wedding. The wedding will be in a near town. Though a shower and a brunch after the wedding will be at our house. It will be a large wedding as dh is from a large family and I have a large extended family that we keep in touch with. Beth's wedding is why we did the huge landscape project this year. I didn't want to be worried about yard projects next year. I didn't realize my mother would ask to get married in our yard this year;-) I think it is a honor that they enjoy our yard and gardens this much. Last year on a beautiful fall October day I took some pictures of the two of them in our yard. I think those pictures validated their relationship. They are great memories.
Where Anna and Zoe went rafting, is it far? Is a calm river?
Do you still your horses and the farmer's cows. Is Vivian making any progress working with the horses?

You certainly have a place to be proud of and it's lovely that all your family obviously feel the same way :)

It was only Anna who went rafting - they go to different schools now. It was in the foothills of the Pyrenees and sounded quite challenging, but she had a wonrderful time. The experience is used as a 'get to know you' between the children and the teachers - for everyone. She did that and came back with a sense of achievement too as she did some things she didn't think she would have the confidence for. I really admire these french schools!

the cows haven't moved on to the mountains yet, although the grass looks a bit sparse. The horses are still here :) and Vivien has been walking Chippie around to try and make her useable in some form. She's very nosy but would appear to have hardly ever been out of her field before and not ridden either. She's 8 so it's a big task, though she's sweet enough. The other 2 are about 30 so in retirement. Both lovely characters :)