Yesterday was my birthday. It was also Tuesday and so one with any sense would immediately join the two thoughts and put together a birthday Taco Tuesday. Which, of course, we did.

Before I get into the Taco Tuesday-ness of my birthday, I need to share with you the four items Husband surprised me with on my special day.

1. Two embroidered floor towels. As you can see, we have hardwood floors. Apparently hardwood  floors and water don’t mix. In an effort to be a responsible hardwood floor owner, I have had a boring hand towel on the floor of my kitchen in between the sink and the refrigerator for years. This towel confuses guests who, in an effort to be helpful, pick it up and put it on the counter.  This is gross and so was born my brainchild  –   the  floor  towel.  Now no one will confuse it for a regular towel that has simply lost its way.  I am baffled that my floor towel idea has not taken off.
2. A box of Fairytale Brownies.  Not only are these quite possibly the best brownies I have tasted, but the co-owners of this small business were kindergarten friends who loved brownies. What’s not to love?
3. A third wooden-framed, small, round, mirror from Pier 1. I bought two of these cute mirrors from a Pier 1 store on a serious going out of business sale months ago, but bemoaned the fact that they did not have a third. Apparently I moaned about this long enough and loud enough for Husband to take note and track down a third.
4. Last, but not least, a CD of a band from the 80’s that was never popular but whose music keeps popping into my head. Husband bought the CD, copied it to our Sonos library, and then randomly started playing it. It stopped me in my tracks. “Who in the world is playing Darling Cruel?” I exclaimed. If you have ever had the propensity towards 80’s hairbands and promise not to judge me, give it a go. If not, skip it.

Now, back to the Taco Tuesday part of my birthday…

We live in a cul-de-sac with possibly the best and coolest people you could ever hope to call your neighbors. We have deemed this time to be one of a Cul-De-Sac Quarantine. We are all like minded in regards to social distancing, only leaving the cul-de-sac for essentials, and borderline obsessive hand washing. We are a total of four houses, eleven people, including our family of four. We have decided to social distance together in our cul-de-sac, gathering outside to chat or sit around our fire pot. It helps with my sanity.

Yesterday we had a festive Taco Tuesday in honor of my birthday.

Carter playing cards with one of the two neighbor girls.

After the tacos were eaten, Husband got a fire going in our fire pot. Fireside reading, chatting, and Margarita-ing ensued.

The boys reading by the fire.

We watched as the International Space Station zipped by overhead and I tried but failed to capture the brilliance of the full moon.

I did not get to go out for a birthday dinner but I have to say that I think I rather enjoyed staying close and keeping it simple.

That being said, I can’t wait until the time when we can have company over so I can show off my elegant and sensical floor towels while subjecting them to Darling Cruel.