Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Wednesday Gratitude #11 at Heart and Home: Birthday Celebrations

                          


It's time for another Wednesday Gratitude! Thanks for stopping by, I hope you are having a great day. If you're new to the meme, it's when you can post about "whatever makes you happy and makes your heart sing!" If you're joining the party, please remember to use the URL of your actual gratitude post, and link back to Heart and Home in your post. Thank you!

I'm also linking to Outdoor Wednesday, at A Southern Daydreamer. Thanks, Susan!


"Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul." - Henry Ward Beecher


I love birthdays! I was treated like a queen this weekend and had such a wonderful time. I'm so grateful for the good wishes of my friends, and for the outpouring of love from my family who made me feel so special. After a quick breakfast we headed to the Filoli House and Garden in Woodside, where we enjoyed the beautiful gardens and had lunch outdoors in the courtyard. Filoli was built between 1917 and 1919. The name was created by combining the first two letters from the words Fight, Love, Live, from the credo: "Fight for a just cause, Love your fellow man, Live a good life". Good words to live by, I believe! The propety is part of  The National Trust For Historic Preservation.

Here are a few pictures of the grounds:


Fragrant Lilac, my favorite!

There are thousands of tulips planted everywhere.

Cherry blossoms

The view through the Yew Allee to the High Place.

Delicate magnolia blossoms

It's so peaceful and beautiful in this place! For more information about Filoli, go here. If you have a chance to visit, I would highly recommend it! I know you would love spending an afternoon there as much as I do!



After touring the Filoli grounds and walking around the mansion, we headed up to San Francisco to spend the rest of the day walking in my favorite city. We decided to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge and take in the views. The weather was beautiful, a perfect Spring day. The views were spectacular, and the wind was very brisk. It gave us big appetites for the fabulous dinner we enjoyed that evening in North Beach. There's nothing better than Italian food, served to you by handsome Italian men, after an invigorating afternoon walk across the San Francisco Bay!


The view from SF to Marin/Sausalito area

The exciting City by The Bay, with views of Fort Point below:

Just getting started, I'm all bundled up and ready to walk!
We got home late from a very busy day, tired and happy!

I love celebrating special occasions with my family! I love birthday presents, and cards, and birthday dessert, and streamers and flowers! I'm so thankful for the happy day I was able to spend with my daughters and my husband, celebrating one more candle added to my cake! Or rather, one candle on top of my Lemon souffle with raspberries and caramel sauce. Talk about delicious!! It was as good as it looked, better actually! I'm very thankful daughter #1 is comfortable in the kitchen and likes to try new recipes. She always knows just what to do make the occasion extra special!


And it was! I had an extra special, fun-filled weekend! I love birthdays!!

Thank you for stopping by today! Come back again, soon! Remember to leave a comment, and I'd be honored if you'd like to become a follower.

Until next time,
XO
Heidi 

22 comments:

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

Fabulous pics Heidi! Looks like your birthday was a super one and that dessert, oh my, it's a 10!
Cindy

vignette design said...

It looks like it was such a fun day for you Heidi! Love the pictures! See you soon!!!

Blondie's Journal said...

Happy Birthday, Heidi!! What a fun day you had! I enjoyed each and every picture, such pretty sights. The lemon souffle look marvelous! Your daughter is a great baker!!

Happy Outdoor Wednesday! :-)

xoxo
Janie

Unknown said...

What a beautiful post. Heidi, you are so cute! :o)

Andrea said...

Awesome pictures!
Happy Belated Birthday!
Blessings,
andrea

Suzanne said...

Thanks so much for dropping by my blog and leaving such a nice comment.

First of all -- Happy Birthday. What a wonderful day you must have had! The lemon souffle would have been enough -- but Filoli and the Golden Gates Bridge to boot. So wonderful.

BTW - I know that area quite well. I grew up in Los Gatos. ;o)

Peg said...

You certainly had a wonderful birthday! The photos are beautiful and that dessert looks fantastic!

a quiet life said...

great pics, i love filoli~

eileeninmd said...

Stopping by from Susan's Outdoor Wednesday. Happy Belated Birthday. It looks like you had a wonderful day. Great photos.

Cathy M~(checkitoff) said...

sounds like a perfect birthday to me! WOW! luv the part of "served to you by handsome Italian men" ~funny! You can read about my visit to Italy with my family on my blog at http://cathymarquardt.blogspot.com

Jocelyn said...

Very beautiful pictures. And birthday greetings :-)

Jocelyn
http://justalittlesouthernhospitality.blogspot.com

Tracy F. said...

Happy Birthday, Heidi. The gardens look beautiful and San Francisco has to be one of my favorite spots n the world. I'm glad you had such a special day! I always enjoy your posts very much.

Cindy said...

Happy Birthday Heidi! Fioli is s pretty...I'm going there with my girlfriends next month and then we are going shopping at Stanford! We are so lucky to live in Northern California! I think it's one of the most beautiful places in the world!

kelee Katillac said...

Happy Birthday Heidi!

What a lovely day! I do love San Fran....been there a few times. You deserve an incredible week! The flowers look like you! SOOOOOOOO pretty!

Here is whats funny: You know that white coat you are wearing? I have the same coat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So far today: Kim at Daisy Cottage and I are both obsessed with granola and bananas and you and I have the same coat. We are soul sisters!

I am grateful for signs like these that lead us to our own! This in Gratitude Wednesday!

love you!

kelee

My name is Riet said...

Happy belated birthday Heidi. You made beautiful pictures of your wonderful day.

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Happy Birthday! What a beautiful day you had too! I love San Fransisco....I have only been there once just to drive through on my way to Sonoma, but it was beautiful.

Maria@ChicaBellaCrafts said...

Happy Birthday! you look great in those pictures. Love all the flowers, thanks for posting all those pictures. I'll have to vist SF one day.

The Single Nester said...

Happy Bday and lovely photos!

Olga Poltava said...

My God, this is the third time this week I hear about the Filoli Garden. I definitely should go there as it's only about an hour away from my home.
Thank you for sharing the pictures and Happy Birthday!

kay ellen said...

Happy Birthday!
Looks like a wonderful getaway too!
So nice to meet you:)

Happy Outdoor Wednesday~~~

Kay Ellen

Cape Cod Rambling Rose said...

How GORGEOUS! I love wisteria a lilacs. Those old brick buildings are so charming, especially when you toss in some garden statuary! ;) Happy Birthday to you (I just had mine yesterday)! ;) Thank you for commenting on my blog!

Imagery by Kimberly said...

Happy Belated Birthday Dear Heidi!!

What a wonderful day you had - and I am sooooo glad! Gorgeous photos and places... heavenly indeed!

Here's to another wonderful and blessed year - I am very thankful to be in Blogland and this world with YOU.


Love,
Kim