Every year, Larkspur laments the fact that she was born during flu season. Most years we don’t actually get the flu, but some years we do. Some years we are vomiting. Some years we are just sick with some respiratory thing and it’s unpleasant. On more than one occasion, Larkspur’s birthday has been “ruined.” This year, as the younger children started to show symptoms of illness in the week before her birthday, I prayed that Lark would escape it.
It’s been a long ten days. It’s exhausting caring for so many while trying to keep the house clean and my hands washed (dozens of times a day) in an effort to keep the virus from spreading to those who are well. There have been countless mugs of tea made, special meals, temperature checks, medicine, and a batch of elderberry syrup made. So far, Larkspur hasn’t gotten sick and her fourteenth birthday wasn’t ruined.
Larkspur’s favorite things right now are chickens, her pet rabbit, and Jane Austen. She is my easiest child to buy gifts for. I can even surprise her, which as you probably know, gets harder as kids get older. She wasn’t expecting How to Speak Chicken, though she did see this Jane Austen word search book in my hand at the bookstore and had her suspicions. She requested these chicken boots and knew that I bought them, but I surprised her with chicken socks. And then there were gifts for her rabbit and some other random bits. Maybe too many gifts, but as she reminded me, “Fourteen is a really big deal.” It does feel that way. She seems so much older than she did at thirteen. She truly is a young lady now.
Today it’s sunny and beautiful and Larkspur is working in a new garden bed dedicated to Gus, her very pampered bunny. I’m inside trying to put the house back in order with only moderate success.
All my little guys are mostly recovered and we have moved into the whiny, coughing, and still tired phase. Well, it’s mostly Mabel who is whiny. There have been many, many tears shed. She’s in bed next to me right now as I type and I’m hoping she will fall asleep! She needs to for both of our sakes. Nope-she just got up. She will wait until 6 p.m. or so to fall asleep. And then she’ll get back up at 8 p.m. Between the flu and the time change schedules are a mess around here. No big deal. I’m super flexible and able to roll with whatever without getting overwhelmed or frustrated. (Ahem.)
We found ourselves driving on Lark Dr. last week! I pulled over and insisted that Lark get out for a photo and I took a quick one from the driver’s seat. Silly, but seemed necessary at the time.
All in all, I think we pulled off a very successful birthday.
Happy birthday, Larkspur! I’m so grateful that you are my daughter.
Libby Hallmark Massey says
Happy birthday Larkspur! You’ve grown in a very pretty young woman.
Emanuela says
Happy HappyHappy Birthday Larkspur! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Tanti cari auguri di Buon Compleanno!
karen says
Happy birthday to sweet Lark! Seems like yesterday she was little, at least to me. I’m sorry the bug is going thru your house but hopefully the worst is over and you’ve somehow built immunity!!
Emily says
Happy birthday Larkspur! Hope everyone is soon on the mend, Ginny.
Theresa Boedeker says
Happy birthday Larkspur. How special to get a picture with a street sign with you name. Glad the flue is leaving. So much work for a momma.
Deborah says
Happy, happy birthday sweet Larkspur!?
Sue M. says
Another wonderful post as usual, Ginny! I have thoroughly enjoyed watching your sweet family grow up over the years!
I meant to comment on your post recently when you had gone to see Cinderella with Larkspur. Somehow I forgot and didn’t do it. But when I saw the picture of Larkspur at the end of that post, I had to look again…..and again….and again, just to be sure that could possibly be her! 🙂 What a beautiful young lady she has grown to be! Happy 14th birthday to Larkspur! She reminds me of my granddaughter who is 13 and 1/2 and loves animals — all kinds — from big ones to little goldfish! She just started her own You-Tube channel featuring her pets, especially her Budgies (parakeets) & her rats! It’s called Jazzy’s Critters. I bet your children would enjoy seeing the skits etc. that she does on it.
Larkspur’s bunny in super adorable — I LOVE it!
And Mabel is always so darling! What a cutie pie she is!
I loved the Mulberry Newsletter that Larkspur and Beatrice wrote. It’s so great to see young children be creative like that. Are they taking on subscribers? I would sign on if they are! 🙂 It reminds me of when I was in elementary school and my friends & I would “set-up housekeeping/homes” around the bases of the matured trees in the school-yard.
I hope your family all recovers really quickly and completely from the sicknesses they have had and that you can get the rest that you need for yourself. Taking care of sick children can be very stressful! Whatever it is — it seems to have hit SO many families this season!
All the best to you and yours! Have a great week, Ginny!
GretchenJoanna says
Perfect! What a lovely daughter.
Marilyn says
Larkspur you are such a lovely young lady. Enjoy all your birthday gifts. Glad you had a nice birthday. Blessings to you throughout the year.
HAPPY 14th BIRTHDAY LARKSPUR
Marilyn
Emily DeArdo says
Oh my gosh I LOVE Gus the Rabbit.
Larkspur and I have so much in common! 🙂
Sue Dow says
Happy Birthday!
??♥️
Shannon Dennis says
It’s always important to take a photograph when you come across your name In baked on, weather proof paint! In 15-20 years she will be glad she did! I don’t know why it’s 15-20 years, it just sounds like a good amount of time to pass before any of us appreciate anything that we originally grumbled over. Happy Birthday, Lark! God grant you many years and many impromptu photographs!
Nancy M says
Happy Birthday Larkspur!! I type this on my youngest son’s 15th birthday. I can’t believe my youngest is 15. I love the flowers and your chicken boots. So cute!!
Kathlyn says
Oh my goodness I get so much joy from your family! I have the crud also this week, and this one made me laugh – the big dog on the couch – it’s killing me, can’t stop laughing. And the bunny – so poised on a lovely quilt. My kidlets are all grown and moved away, your pics give me a little Grama fix. Thanks for sharing.
p.s. not sure what a gravatar is, so I’m going to research cuz it sounds like I need one 🙂
Gwen says
You are the best gift giver!! Which reminds me…thank you for the special gift you put in my yarn order. You are such a blessing Ginny! Well my husband said we are having chicks again, so we’ve placed an order for some Sapphire Gems….and I bought the book you got Larkspur from your link. Have you thought of doing “Patreon”? I would totally add you so I could get more of your posts.
Pamela Hans says
What a lovely birthday for Larkspur?. My birthday is tomorrow and frankly I’m glad I’m not 14 again. You are such a great Mom and her best birthday present is you for a Mom. My own Mom died when I was 17 and at 72 tomorrow I’m still missing the idea of a mother. You always enhance that need because you seem to do such a good job of it. Blessings to you both❤️
CyndaP says
Happy birthday, wonderful Larkspur!
Marion says
Larkspur is so lovely. Glad that her birthday was a good one. HAPPY BIRTHDAY LARKSPUR Wishing you a year of happiness and blessings.
Marion
Donna Imel says
Larkspur sounds like a lovely young lady….beautiful! Happy, delightful birthday!
Melissa says
Best Birthday!! This was so much fun to read, and I am so glad you let me come along to enjoy it. Larkspur is such a lovely young woman, and all the kids at the table as she opened her treats was a delight! My Natalya became enamored with chickens & ducks at about the same age (maybe 11 or 12) and to this day still loves them and wants us to have a space like on Kauaii so she can have them again. I need to check out the chicken book you link to.
I do hope everyone heals and you all get moments to just laugh and feel good outside very soon!
~With aloha,
Mel
Joan says
HAPPY 14th BIRTHDAY LARKSPUR. You are an amazing young lady. Happy that you had a nice day for your special day.
Joan