Happy 16th Birthday Dear Anna,
I remember that early October morning, looking out the hospital window and watching the sun come up. The day you were born. I went to school and was so excited your arrival had made me a grandmother. Everyone was happy for me at school.
Good luck on your driving test. You will do great I know.
2003 seems just a moment ago and now you’re becoming so grown up. Proud of you and all you accomplish. I wish you every happiness, always.
Love, FF Ruthie
Happy Birthday dear DIL Erika. I’m glad I get to spend it with you this year.
You are a wonderful mother to four of my grandchildren.You remind me I’ve much for which to be grateful.
I love this photo of you.
Here you are in the apple orchard (2008) with Anna and Michael, Jack was home napping and you were carrying Maura, due to arrive the next month.
Happy happy Birthday. ❤️Your MIL
Happy 14th Birthday Michael.
Love to you on your birthday and wishing you every happiness, always.
FF Ruthie
Handmade card by Froo Froo Marlene, his other grandmother
Wishing you a happy birthday today, Laura. Love, Ma
“Sabina’s opening monologue from Thornton Wilder’s 1942 Pulitzer Prize winning play The Skin of Our Teeth: “The whole world’s at sixes and sevens, and why the house hasn’t fallen down about our ears long ago is a miracle to me” – Wikipedia
Today I’m sixty seven. That number seemed to come up quickly! Sixty seven isn’t exactly at sixes and sevens -which is defined as “a state of confusion or disarray”- but the phrase certainly came to mind when I thought of my new age for the year. I looked up the origin and meaning of the phrase and you can click the blue phrase for more details.
In light of a recent conversation I was asked, “what would your seventy seven year old self write in a letter as advice to heed now?”
Hmmmm, I didn’t start writing the actual letter yet but here’s a start-
Dear 67 year old Ruth,
What can I tell you from the vantage point and wisdom of 77 years of age?
Are you living your life to the absolute fullest every single day? Come on, be honest.
Tell me how are you coming along with your practice of that Golden Rule? Be kind.
Are you making a point to learn from past mistakes or are you repeating them? What did you learn today? You can still increase your vocabulary.
Be sure to become less judgmental, less critical and always choose to take that elusive high road. Difficult, isn’t it? It will be no easier when you’re 77 years old. Trust me. To whine and complain is tiresome and unattractive. Don’t do it.
Work on your listening skills. Hear what others are saying. Ouch.
You know you should really commit to doing serious physical exercise, eat more dark leafy greens, drink lots of water and by the way, what’s with all that cheese? Take good care of yourself and avoid the sun.
Be sure to clear out all those possessions you’ve accumulated all these years so your grown up kids aren’t burdened later. Just remember- no one wants your stuff.
Becoming 67 today doesn’t mean you’re at sixes and sevens for the year.
Anyway have a good birthday-and be grateful you have one.
Love ❤️.
Multiply it to the nth power.
My baby cup.
Happy fourth birthday Charlie. 
2019
My brother and I are 4,937 miles apart today, on his milestone birthday-also Flag Day in the USA.
A nine hour time difference between Okanogan WA and Berlin. I’m posting birthday greetings as he celebrates so far away.
Today’s photo was taken last Saturday at the Winterfeld Market Platz.
Garlic grown in Poland
At the end of the summer my brother always ships me a box of organic garlic that he’s grown and it’s so fresh and delicious.
Happy Birthday David! Lots of love, Ruthie
An old pic from Twisp WA in Hank’s Market
Yes, it is!
Love and happiness always,
Your Ma
Here’s my son-in-law James creating a Bumblebee Transformer from cardboard, devising a special costume for Charlie this past Halloween. What a transformation! It was impressive. He watched a YouTube video about creating Transformer costumes. Then came up with the plan.
Dear James,
May your birthday today be the beginning of a happy and healthy new year. Lots of love, from your MIL Ruthie
p.s James bought the “Have a Great Day” pen and ink drawing by Addie Cheges and gave it me to several years ago.
May your birthday be the beginning of a super year!
❤️
Love, Ma
Grafenwoehr Germany 1984
P.S. I’m certain that hat band was blue but the Kodak photograph has changed color