Rest Stop…Celebrating 70!

Rest Stop…Celebrating 70!

June 10, 2020 Off By Donna Layne
Sherman Gardens, Corona Del Mar

Gardens, Friends, Family and Teacups

Celebrating 70 years old should come with a big bash. Not for me! I decided to do it my way. I invited four friends to go with me to Sherman Gardens. This quiet little garden was even quieter with all the coronavirus restrictions. I would strongly recommend that you visit Sherman Gardens if you have never done so before. After our short but beauty-filled garden walk, we had lunch on the terrace of Café Jardin. We were seated right next to the garden. We toasted with champagne and had a delicious lunch.

At Sherman Gardens.

Next on my birthday garden tour was dinner with my husband Allen at The Farmhouse in Roger’s Garden. We ate out on the terrace overlooking their splendid gardens and plants.

San Clemente Pier. View from the Casa Romantica terrace.

The next day, I took my granddaughter Lauren to Casa Romantica in San Clemente. I had never visited there so it was a first for both of us. We walked along the garden path that overlooked the ocean and the San Clemente pier. Lauren loved that view!

Rock roses at Casa Romantica after being rained on.

The Broken Teacup Saucer

My friend Charlie who now lives in Colorado Springs sent me a special birthday package. She was excited about it and made sure I picked it up from my porch as soon as it was delivered. We share a love of antiques and tea. She sent me a vintage teacup with beautiful blue roses. Unfortunately, after opening the package completely, I discovered that the teacup saucer was broken. While texting with her, I said I would glue the saucer back together and then she suggested to match it up with another saucer. That was a great idea since I have several orphan saucers. Most people have the teacups get broken, not the saucer. I paired her cup with an orphan blue and white saucer that had belonged to one of my favorite teacups. I love the pairing! Happy ending for everyone.

Charlie’s blue rose teacup with my orphan bird saucer.

Now for the Next Decade.

As we get older we start to examine our lives a little more and make decisions on what we really want to do with the years we have left. Several months ago I started to develop my “decade plan” for my 70s. I didn’t get far as I always got distracted with stuff that was happening in “real time”. I have come to realize that there needs to be a balance. Living spontaneously and for the moment while purposely making time for the things that are important to you. I will let life shape me some of the time while I will shape life in other times. Regardless of how this will finally look, I know I will always have time in my life for family, friends, gardens, and tea. This much I know is true.