March 13, 2012

White Dog and The White Dog Army were just settling in for a post breakfast nap when Steve high-fived me and said, "Party on, Sue!" and I replied, "Party on, Steve!" WD raised her head and asked, "Time for the Saturday Night Live Retrospective?"

"Nope," Steve said pulling out the picnic bag. "Time for momma birthday Day 2; get ready we are heading into the foothills for some hiking and a picnic!" The White Ones were torn between napping and a hike but as they watched Steve pack artisanal cheeses, a rustic loaf of bread, thick turkey slices, raspberries, oatmeal bars and duck/sweet potato dog cookies, they all shook off the lethergy and got into the spirit.

We headed to the Wilderness Area at the foot of the mountains. It has a marvelous handicap accessable path around a portion of the trails and some nice sheltered areas for a quiet picnic. It was the most gorgeous of Albuquerque Spring days, 68 degrees F and Land of Enchantment blue skies. AND it was mid-day during the week which meant the area was nearly deserted.

The WDA, Steve and I spent a soul-filling couple of hours eating, sharing, walking...it was, as they say here, a good day to be alive.

Back home, later in the evening the very tired White Ones were content to snooze while Steve and I journeyed to France (wel,l a quaint classic French restaurant we love and don't visit enough here in town) for dinner. Romantic and full of ambience, the restaurant sated our senses with soft jazz and a fantastic meal (fresh pea soup, cassoulet and lamb ribs, and warm vanilla bean custard profiteroles).

As we settled in for the night, all cuddled together, YoYoMa looked up. "What should we expect tomorrow, momma?" he asked. "Dear Yo, expect the unexpected, for the next few days we are living in the moment of joyous celebration." "I think that means extra treats," Nuka translated for him.