The Curse is Definitely Broken....

Yep.  I do think the 'Birthday Curse' is broken.  Second year in a row I've had a fantastic birthday. Fan-freakin-tastic!!!  I awoke to tons and tons of greetings on Facebook, including this adorable pic of Bill the Fisherman, made by the amazing Eliza.  Bev of Blue Velvet Vincent also made one for me and the other November Vixen birthdays.  

And another of Bill, by Carol Docherty.

It was such a lazy but perfect day.  I got my fave weather for one thing:  Cold and rainy.  I was awakened at 7:30 with a Happy Birthday text from my cousin.  My first thought once I got up was how much I wish I could see my love, but alas, that's life as a trucker's wife.  We exchanged texts and he said some incredibly sweet things with his b-day wishes for me.  Had to do a couple errands in the morning and while I was out, he sent me a text that he was on his way home for a few hours before needing to go back out at night.  Oh my god I GOT MY WISH!  Best. Gift. Ever!!!!!  He was in by 1:30 and surprised me with a card.  It was very unexpected and thoughtful, especially considering he's in a giant truck and can't really shop, plus he works odd hours and when he's awake and driving, it's the middle of the night.  The card itself blew me away; the depth of the feelings in the verses is intense....I know he took his time picking this out.  Every time I read it or think about him going into a store to even buy one & the time it took to pick the right one, I cry and my heart palpitates.  That means more to me than anything.  It still blows my mind and makes me smile to think that all these years later, I am so in love with the 'mean blonde boy' that sat behind me in study hall and yelled at me to quit looking at him if I so much as glanced in his direction.  

Mom & I met for a late lunch/early dinner at the Dan'l Webster Inn, in Sandwich Village.  I used to work there in housekeeping when I was in college.  It used to be one of the town's biggest employers back in the day.  The original Inn from the 1600s burned down in 1971 and was rebuilt in 1973. Some of the tourists think it's still the old Inn.  It used to be called Fessenden's Tavern and was where the patriots would meet when planning how to extricate the colony from British rule, in the 1700s.  Statesman Daniel Webster was a frequent and famous guest, hence the name change.  The DW is all decked out for Christmas and very elegant inside.

Grey & rainy November day.  That used to be a church but was a Doll Museum when I was little and growing up but is now a B&B.

Cozy waiting area inside.

House phone.

In the gift shop.

We ate inside the Tavern part of the restaurant (there are several different rooms), which was also decorated.

This is outside, I'm still not sure what it's supposed to be unless it's Daniel Webster.  When I return to Sandwich to shoot the lights this year, I'll be sure to ask.

After I got home, I spent some quality time with Russell before he headed out on the road again.  It was so great to see him.  I keep reading his card to me over and over.  

Meanwhile, a few days prior to my birthday, I started surfing the internet looking for an old Christmas village that my parents had when I was little.  They are known as Putz houses.  I remember so clearly going with them to buy it.  I was in kindergarten so it would have been December of 1969, and we got it from the old Zayre's store on Main Street in Hyannis.  I loved that village and looked forward to putting it out each year.  When I moved to California, my mom sent me all my decorations and ornaments.  I asked about the village and she said she forgot to send it but would.  She searched high and low and couldn't find it.  For years she and my dad tore that place apart, looking.  I told her the last time I saw it, it was in the closet out in the Coop.  They'd searched every nook and cranny out there, they searched the shed and even the barn, to no avail.  My dad swears he didn't get rid of it, so the only conclusion we came to was that it was stolen.  A lot of things have gone missing from the out buildings on their property over the years before they finally started locking the doors, especially from the shed which abuts the woods.  

Imagine my utter delight to see the EXACT set come up on ebay!!!  When I first spotted it, the auction had days left and there were quite a few bids.  I showed it to Russell before he left and told him I was getting ready to snipe once there were about 45 seconds left.  He told me to put in a bid of $100, just to be safe, because he loves those villages too.  The bidding was at $45.  After he left, I went back to my watch....my heart racing as the minutes and seconds counted down.  5 minutes.  3.  2. 1 minute 30 seconds.  The bids were increasing by $1.  Then at 45 seconds, I swooped in with my $100 bid.  Just to be safe, I did an immediate increase to $115.  Those final 30 seconds took a LIFETIME.  I watched the bids start flying upwards but alas.....5, 4, 3, 2, 1.....'CONGRATULATIONS! YOU WON THE AUCTION'  The final amount was $103.  Here is the set.  There are about 7 extra houses that weren't a part of my parents' set of 8 or 10, but other than that, this is exactly what I grew up with.  A couple of windows needs some minor repairs but I can easily find the red clear plastic for them.  All I need now is a small set of lights to place in the holes in the back so that they light up.

All in all it was an awesome birthday.  I love my life, my friends, family, doggies, and most of all, I love my man.  Life is GREAT!