to one lady with a Sparkly Personality! Mary Lou!

 
This is Mary Lou...I met Mary Lou when she drove over on her scooter {she is paralyzed on her left side due to a stroke} with gifts for the girls when we moved into the "old" house, about 7 years ago.  She wanted to welcome us to the neighborhood.  She has always been there when I ever needed to borrow an egg, tomato paste or a ladder.  Mary Lou LOVES to celebrate her birthday..

 
She turned 84 this year.  You might of remembered this post when we had her over to our home for dinner and cake.   That was a couple of years ago and she loved every minute of it.  Since we moved we don't see her as much but I needed to borrow her ladder again to repaint the cottage bookcase in the Living room so I went over to get it and this is how the conversation went:

Me:  Can I borrow your ladder?

ML: Yes, you know where it is..you know I've been 2 times to visit you at your new house and how many times have you been to mine?  {i'm thinking to myself, I just moved, I'm getting settled, holy cow}

Me:  I'm sorry, I've been busy.

ML: Well you know my birthday is coming up and I'll be 84! And Fran is having me over for hot dogs and the club {her seniors club} is celebrating it on Saturday.  Oh you know that Dahlia you got me for my 80th Birthday, well it never came back this year but I saw one at The Home Depot but it wouldn't fit in my basket.  {hint, hint}

So I say goodbye and I'll be better about coming by and load the ladder up in my car.

Her actually bday was a week ago Thursday so I called her up and wished her happy birthday...she said Fran must of forgot about the hot dogs because she never called.  So I ask her what are you doing on Sunday, would she like to come over for a birthday dinner and cake?.....

 
So we made her a Lemon Cake with whipped cream frosting...MacKenzie made the banner which has been seen all over the internet and you can buy them on etsy.  But dang I got scrapbook paper so I showed her the tutorial {on I do crafts} and she went to town.  I bought the sparklers at this store in Pasadena but you can go here to get them, I know Pasadena is not just around the corner for everyone. {I love old town Pasdena, by the way} and  I love "old time" sparklers like the ones we had growning up and these are exactly like them!  I used them on this cake at 4th of July this year and on Mr. Incredible's birthday Cake in June...everyone loves them! It makes it so festive, but you got to light them fast!  

 
We couldn't find her a Dahlia at HD but we did find this cute yellow plant which will grow into a bush..it has a funny name...I'll get back to you on that.