The big 3-0!

When my youngest daughter graduated from Vet School, I never thought she'd move away....

but she did.

Here she is in cap and gown at last year's graduation

I even made a graduation outfit for her dog Polaris....she named her that because Polaris is the North Star...her guiding light.  Here, Polaris posed like a champ right in front of the Vet School, along with a bronze cat and horse.  I hope you can see the humor in it!

Now, my daughter lives in California and sends me wonderful pictures of her going to amazing places like one of my favorite bakeries....I have this adorable cookbook.  

Miette

I miss hanging out with her, baking with her, and shopping with her, too....

Entering a cupcake baking contest

But, she's got an adventurous side, for sure....I would NEVER handle a snake, not even a pretend one.  That's just yucky.  But I guess if you're going to be a vet, you need to work with all kinds of animals...

When she worked at The Wilds in Ohio

She likes exotic animals, too....and she'll be traveling to Africa this summer to do more research on her PhD project.  She certainly keeps entertained!

She may be a doctor, a wife, a colleague, a friend, a neighbor...

but she's still my little girl...

so I was SO EXCITED when she said she was coming HOME to celebrate her 30th birthday with me!

So, while she was here, we went to a local nursery so I could give her some gardening tips, since she and her husband now have a garden of their own...

We went out to dinner to celebrate....

Another shot of a local nursery....but don't get any ideas...we do not plant here until after May 15th, unless you just want frozen plants!

We went shopping for bridesmaids' dresses, since she's going to be a bridesmaid in her sister's wedding. The colors are mint green and peachy-coral.

Of course, when she saw this baby goat....she just had to pick it up!

And, after dinner, we came home to dessert.  I had made her a genoise with pastry cream and whipped cream on top with fresh raspberries.  We also had some gelato, coffee, tea, milk

And then we opened presents.  She got a new water bottle....

Blew out her 3-0 candles

Got a new pitcher in her favorite color....

Even found some paw wrapping paper....

Had a great breakfast before they had to leave...

It was a whirlwind weekend...but on Monday, the 15th...

We woke up to this....

So, on the day she had to leave here to go home, they had a long, slow drive to the airport in the snow...

What a day...

And also the day of the Boston Marathon and all the horrific news that unfolded throughout the day....

Counting my blessings and not years

Grateful for her visit

The snow

The heroes

For Life

xoxo