Saturday

Saturday morning, I slept in until 6:00 AM. Got up, shaved and then jumped in the shower. I had called Clyde Smith and Sons to find a flowering plum tree, but they were all out. Called Randazzo's, a local fruit and vegetable store that also sells plants and trees, and they still had a few left. Asked what time the opened and they said 6:00 AM!

So, got over to Westland and first went to Lowe's. I wanted some chain to replace the old ones on the swings, so on Sunday, Riese could swing if she wanted (Jeremy and his family are coming over, along with Jake and Carla, for Father's Day). Found the ones like the old ones (chain is covered with a sleeve of plastic) but I needed about 50 feet and that chain was $3.49 US a foot!!! Found the same sized chain, but it is sprayed with plastic for $0.49 US a foot, so bought that. Also got some tree fertilizer spikes made by Miracle Grow (my tree guy said the spots on the evergreens that grew into the neighbor's cottonwood will grow back if I fertilized them). Then off to Randazzo's.

At Randazzo's, there were five flowering plums left (all "Thunderclouds"). I carefully selected the one I thought was the best and bought it (along with a now-discounted flat of Impients). I gladly gave them $55.00 US, but, then came the problem! How to fit it in my car!?! Tried everything, but it was just too damn big (now that it's planted, I'd guess it's just over 8 feet tall). Finally, with the help of an elderly Italian gentlemen who parked next to me, I opened the passenger side window, lowered the 7 gallon bucket through it to the floor and left the trunk, branches and leaves sticking up and outside. He (the Italian) was worried that the wind would rub away the bark, so we each searched our cars for a rag or "something." I had nothing, but he had some heavy vinyl, which I bungee-corded around the trunk. I then slowly (to the annoyance of other drivers) drove home, trying to keep my speed under 30 MPH.

Got it home without a problem (other than other drivers honking and cursing at me) and got it out of the car (this was easier with the Italian guy, BTW), put it on the patio and left for Farmer Jack's. Did my two week grocery shopping and went back home to unpack. BTW, Carla's supposed to be over around 11:00 AM with balloons and the cake - she had already dropped a TON of stuff off on Friday for both Saturday's meal and Sunday's cookout - my fridge was BULGING at the seams!). Got the groceries put away, (forgot the trash bags, dammit) and planted the tree. Watered everything in back and had just moved to the front when Carla pulled in. Neat cake! Had a picture of the two of them on it (see photos). While I finished watering, she set up her "tablescape," a paper tablecloth (so she could sprinkle confetti, but not trash the house) matching plates and napkins, and a galvanized wash tub with three kinds of German beer on ice. She left and then returned with the balloons - four each of silver, gold and burgundy. Then she left to go and kidnap Jake (he, like myself, is not big on "surprise" anything).

When they got here, we began the "Jake's birthday, all-day, all-German" celebration. We played cards (I lost again... I hate that card game!) then Carla made bratwurst, first boiled in 6 bottles of German dark beer with onions, mustard seeds, caraway seeds, fresh ginger and coriander seeds, then grilled, served with German mustard, hot German potato salad, red cabbage sauerkraut (fresh red cabbage, boiled in water, oil, red wine vinegar garlic and mustard seeds) and even German pickles. (The bratwurst were the best I have ever tasted, the potato salad was excellent, the sauerkraut was fresh and crisp, but the pickles were sweet, so a bit odd).

At one point while she was bustling about, she said, "You Dad would say, 'I like that little black chick. She's good!'" I told her he was probably up in heaven, smiling right now!

Later in the day and into the German beer, we decided to play Frisbee (my arms are still sore) out in the 90 degree F temperatures, then they went and rented a movie. I went to bed in the office around 9:00 PM and they watched the movie in my room. A nice ending to a really nice day...