Birthday

Jeff is creeping closer to the big 3-0! He turned 29 on Saturday. My sister has been in town visiting and she got up early to decorate the table. I decorated the chalkboard as it only seemed fitting!

We grilled chicken with Stubbs marinade and Stubbs BBQ sauce. Oh, how we love Stubbs. If you are ever in Austin, you must, absolutely must stop by Stubbs. Hands down, the best BBQ anywhere! Stubbs is also a live music venue. So, really, you just can't beat a little BBQ and live music. We had BBQ chicken, corn on the cob, baked beans, and potato salad from Red Hot and Blue! Just like Stubbs has the best BBQ, Red Hot and Blue has the best potato salad.

I had the table all set and then,

It was time to eat!!!!

I also tried my hand at baking a very special cake. My mother grew up going over to a friends house and eating strawberry cake after school. It really is a cute little story! So, one day, after she was all married and grown up, she got that special strawberry cake recipe. There was lots of pressure to get this right because my mom has been making it ever since I can remember and when my sister grew up and had Violet, she started making it. So, it was my turn,

Might I say, that was a darn good cake!!



On Sunday, after all the festivities, Jeff and I did yard work.





I finally finished the kitchen window flower bed!

Before:




After:





I took an idea from Our Thyme Garden and put my old San Pellegrino bottles in the dirt as a border along with some tree branches.



I can't wait for the plants to start growing! I just recently planted jumbo jalapeno peppers and bell peppers. Yum!


I have a baby birdie update, they hatched! There are 2 of them. These are the biggest baby birdies I have ever seen! The mama bird is sitting next to them.




They are growing rather quickly and will leave the nest soon!


In other exciting news (for me anyway), I will be leaving for Santa Fe on Saturday!! Stay tuned for the first Santa Fe post of 2009!