a panorama image of gasworks park, looking south over south lake union. the day is sunny, the lake is calm, and the path lays at your feet

Musings and Mumblings

It's (Almost) My Birthday!

by: Rey, Sat, Aug 09, 2025

Blaugust, birthday, slice of life

One more day of being 42. I'm feeling all kinds of ways about it.

On one hand, I feel... normal, healthy, thriving, in my lane, and whatnot. But also, like, holy shit, middle age snuck up on me, and I am not impressed. I kind of have to remind myself that there's no 'dignified adult' police, come to enforce how to be a 43 year old woman. So If I want to go to the zoo for my birthday? I'm going to! And if my nephews are in town - John's sister's kids, not the usual neibling crew - then they can come, too! :P

I'm gonna bring my camera, and take fun pictures, and have a slurpee.

In the meantime, I got my hair cut, today, and hit up my favorite plant store on the way home. When I got home I informed john that he had gotten me a plant for my birthday, and would he like to see it? Upon being presented with a Thai Constellation Monstera Deliciosa (which for you non-plant nerds means "a split leaf plant that has variegated white-splotched leaves), he looked at me and asked "is it okay?" He asked the same thing when he was checking out the aquarium & noticed the Scindapsus leaves have white flecks... I'm not sure why he thinks patterned leaves are diseased but I have reassured him in both cases. I have to wonder what he'll say when he see's the paph that also came home!

My friend Hollie also sent me delightful hand-stitched sashiko-patterned coasters, they're so well done and pretty! It's been a good birthday-eve! Hopefully tomorrow lives up to it's promise!

a slipper orchid bloom, the lip is a dark maroon while the top petal is white with maroon pinstripes and the side petals are mostly maroon with white stripes near the center. The very middle of the plant has a greenish tint.
Totally looks like something a fairy would wear when getting out of bed, right? (You know, 'cuz it's a slipper orchid?)
The base of the plant, which are alternating pairs of leaves broad long leaves coming out of a center point. Each leaf is mostly white with green stripes running the length, and bits of green streaking between the stripes.
This foliage is the show, more than the flower is, I think. Tonight we google care! I'm not used to the terrestrial orchids! ...yet!
a closeup of the blooms and spiky pods of a thistle plant. each branch ends in a round shape tapered at the top about an inch tall, and covered in spikes. The top is a tuft of purple narrow purple petals sticking up and out all over the top.
I used to have short purple hair that stuck up like this, and I have been thinking of thistles as "me-flowers" for years, even after I've grown my hair back out!
a
Aquarium Update! Still no lid, but look at that water! I'm so relieved!
An array of five fabric coasters laid out over a laptop. Each one has white stitching in a traditional sashiko motif. one is interlaced squares, one is staggered rows of arches, one is a 6 pointed star, one is a diagonal nested square pattern, and the last is interlocked rings.
Look how beautiful the stitching is!! I sat and stared at the round ones for awhile just admiring them, getting things to look curved with straight stitches can be a challenge!!