Happy Mothers Day - to Roger

Roger's birthday fell on Mothers Day this year - we think it's a good idea.  Lots of celebrations - lots of food - lots of presents.

Max caught up the chart that we colour in to mark the months till Alec returns - it's starting to look good at last.

Then it was on to baking.

 And relaxing.

 And a little bit of tidying even though it was Sunday since Anne, Lee & Joan and Thomas & Kathleen were all coming for dinner.

This was a good year for presents - which included a big stack of handmade tortillas for me to freeze from Tom and Kathleen, photos from Peet for Roger and I, food from Louisa, soap and a game from Max, manly presents for  Roger including a bullet puller, a thermos, and a book and for me a quilt from Jesse.  It's divine - the backing is part of a blanket Lee brought from Canada more than 50 years ago.

I love it - and I am not alone.

The days menu went:
Breakfast - baked oatmeal.
Lunch - make your own left overs
Dinner - a cheese board as an entree followed by roast venison with a rocket, pear, blue cheese and walnut salad and a warm pumpkin, feta and beetroot salad, and a three milk cake for dessert - delicious.

And then Alec phoned - and we talked for a couple of hours.  Max and Louisa both sobbed intermittently and only managed a few words.  Alec sounds happy, complete, and fulfilled - and looking forward to coming home.  Not as much as we are looking forward to having him home though.

The day ended with family prayer with a long list of grateful things.