Birthday week at the farmette

It's a bright, sunny, frigid day at the farmette. A chilling -23C as I write this, going up to a balmy -14C. Yikes. The Winter Olympics has started, and we're binging the events. Avoiding news of fresh disaster from south of the border.

It's the first week of February, which means it's a double birthday in the family.

Rob turned 78 on February 1 and niece Rachel turned 30 on February 5th.

Almost every year, we've done a double celebration, either going out for a restaurant meal or staying in for a feast. This year, we're going to Marilynne's in Markdale. Can't wait.

As mentioned last week, Rob and I have been together for a looong time. Actually 36 years, as of last Sunday.

We met in 1990 on his birthday in Toronto. Hard to fathom, really. It was a freezing cold and snowy night and we were set up by my roommate at the time. Double date dinner at Yonge and Lawrence at a lovely little Italian resto (long forgotten name) followed by a walk down Yonge to Fran's at Eglinton for rice pudding. My roommate and her boyfriend had taken a cab home right after the meal and we, ah, wanted some 'fresh air'. Sure.

Anyhow. Here's a shot of Rob on our first long trip out west. Pondering. Per usual. We rented a Mustang convertible and visited friends and family from Calgary to Vancouver to Prince George and back again.

It was stunning, and we figured out that we were pretty good travelling companions. Which is convenient, given the number of trips we took in the ensuing years.

He's still

a corker. Even though the belly has grown (as has mine), and the whiskers are grey, I think I'll keep him. I remain stuck on the dimple. Always the dimple.

Rachel has turned out to be a stunner, too.

Here she is as a wee one in Sunny Acres park, about half a block from where we used to live in Guelph.

Blond, curly haired, and ready for action.

Rachel has always been quietly strong, loyal, smart and a horsey girl since she was just slightly bigger than this photo.

Here she is in one of the many shows she's excelled at over the years.

Now, she's the proud owner of five, count 'em, five horses. She's also involved in the local barrel racing organization and is busy with a full-time job.

Three decades. Holy smokes. With all the crap going on in the world, it's great to be the aunt of such an accomplished young woman. Plus, like her uncle, she has the left-cheek dimple. Killer.

So glad to be attached to these people, and wishing them only the best in the years to come. Until next week.

Gratuitous cat photo courtesy of all five (!) of ours. The fireplace is a big hit on these extremely cold nights. L to R: Bea, Hobbes (against the fire) Wilma (on the ottoman) Calvin (on the chair) and Fred.