27 January 2012

Wildflowers and Waterfalls - The Perfect Birthday

Yesterday was my birthday, double 66's. My daughter, who lives here in Trinidad's Northern Rain Forest,  orchestrated a wonderful day for me and now that I have the magic combination of electricity, phone connection and internet all together, I wanted to share it with you.

The day started with what has been affectioately nicknamed "muffin bread"- made by my daughter, loved by my grands and now by me. Together with coffee and foamed milk, and a flower from the garden, it made for a good start to the day.




How about a drink made from flower petals boiled with cloves and fresh nutmeg from a tree nearby? It's sorrel, a popular beverage this time of year. It's a lovely jewel red color and I just love the whole idea of drinking flowers.





My birthday present from my daughter was a hike to a local waterfalls that I hadn't yet seen. My granddaughter accompanied us. Along the way my granddaughter picked wildflowers for me to make my birthday bouquet. She was excited by all the bright colors she found. I felt like a queen.




The destination of our hike was a series of five waterfalls reached by climbing up the river that connects them. We've had LOTS of rain since I arrived so the river is full and rushing with strong current. It meant that we had to scamper up rocks or bush to the side at times rather than always stay in the river. But I figured if my five year old granddaughter could do it so could I.




The reward for the challenging climb however was this beautiful sight, the fifth waterfalls, carved into a half moon cave and thunderous from recent rain. Our decision to bathe naked in the pool at the foot of the falls was modified somewhat, at least for me, when I felt the cold breeze blowing down the gorge. I backed into it as far as I could before getting too cold to continue. My daughter was far braver than I even through her screams.

A gorgeous, secluded spot. A perfect present. I felt exhilarated and rejuvenated. 



My granddaughter took this photo of me with my daughter at the top- sweaty, dirty, tied but very happy.



My second best present was this photo in the front yard with my grands, ages nine and a half and almost six. Their agreement to one smile a day in a photo was extra special on my special day. My daughter printed this and framed it for me to take home. Precious.



Add to this the fun of playing "Plants vs Zombies" with the grands and learning all kinds of new strategies, coloring with my granddaughter who is seriously into drawing and coloring these days, having home made pizza for lunch, my grands making brownies, the birthday treat I requested, sharing a delicious dinner made by my daughter from produce grown by her husband in their organic garden with three researchers living in a second house on their property who research the mating rituals of hermit hummingbirds and the lek- specific dialects they sing, and finally, in a rare occurrence, beating my daughter in Scrabble. 

I even connected to facebook and email long enough to be inundated with well wishes from around the world and an e card from my Honey. Perfect birthday. I feel loved and grateful for my life.


[Writing this in dial- up internet land is a long process that I am nevertheless glad to be able to do after my hiatus from blogging and my blog friends. The first post mysteriously disappeared when I changed the original title so I've added further details to this post in my eagerness to connect with you again.]

28 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday! What a beautiful day with such beautiful people and one you will always remember with much happiness and many smiles...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. TB, I'll treasure this one for a long time!

      Delete
    2. I have had to hijack this comment to write 'Belated HAppy Birthday, and what a place to celebrate it in'.

      I do not seem to have a comment button anymore?

      Delete
    3. CC, hijack away! Good to be in touch. I'm on my iPad and things look different!

      Delete
  2. Happy Perfect Birthday! Your daughter and the children really know how to make your day special. I can't imagine anything better than (1) being with them, and (2) exploring waterfalls in the rain forest. It's good to hear from you again.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Nancy, It was quite a one, two combination! This has been the longest stretch off line and I've missed my blog friends even while enjoying time with family in the Rain Forest. I'm glad for this reconnect time while it lasts.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow. How many of us can even think of such a birthday celebration? This is just a perfect day that you have described. I'm so happy for you. Congrats on your birthday. You look awesome. Your grandchildren are awesome. Good to hear you are doing so well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, leave it to my daughter to sculpt such a wondrous day!

      Delete
  5. You are all shining and bathed in love! Happy Birthday, Mary.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bathed in love is a great description of how I feel!

      Delete
  6. What a perfect day, Mary! I can't begin to imagine a better birthday! You're very blessed -- and off to a great start at being 66!

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a wonderful, perfect birthday! The pictures show you happy and surrounded by love and beauty. Who could ask for anything more? Happy birthday, and many, many more! :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's hard not to be happy surrounded by love and beauty. Hikes are fabulous too! Remind me to tell you about the 16mile round trip hike to a secluded beach.

      Delete
  8. Happy belated birthday!!!! What a beautiful family you have!! It sounds and looks like you had a perfect day!! Congratulations!!
    Sending hugs ~

    ReplyDelete
  9. Kathy, This wouldn't take a comment under your name but, yes, I am blessed!

    ReplyDelete
  10. A rich birthday glimpse of you, Mary! I've missed you. You already live an exotic life in Italy, and not T&T, wow. The wildflowers and waterfalls (good title for a book!) are a vibrant celebration of your special day, and those beautiful children's smiles and hugs. Happy belated birthday!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've missed you as well, Ruth. I changed the title of this post since I like your suggestion. I've been thinking about you as you start your new role as grandmother to your new grandson. Much joy to you and be prepared for boy exuberance.

      Delete
  11. Phone, internet AND electricity, wow! Tell Kelly I am about to have high-speed fiberoptics whatnots. Which is exciting. But alas, no waterfalls here. Tell Julian et al I said HI! and I am so glad your birthday was good. What a lovely photo of you with those kids, and a perfect smile from Khalil! We were talking about you all this weekend. Chas' birthday was Saturday too!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Nan, High speed anything sounds great as I wait interminably for a dial up connection which can't even do lots of things. I took advantage of it being my birthday to elicit cooperation for the photo! Happy belated to Chas- what a nice young man!

    ReplyDelete
  13. So glad you are having a wonderful time! Those children are precious!!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Happy Birthday my friend. It looks like you had a perfect day. Beautiful waterfall shared with grands....can't beat it!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Happy Birthday, Mary! What a splendid way to celebrate the occasion! I love it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was a lovely, creative present far better then a "thing" present.

      Delete
  16. What a beautiful birthday! Happy belated birthday! Double sixes look MARVELOUS on you!

    ReplyDelete

Let's chat.