Celebrations!
First I would just like to say thank you for all the Birthday wishes yesterday! There were so many and even more by email. Wow!
I am so excited to announce the eleven winners of yesterday's contest. Don't you just love Random Integer Generator? Anyway as I promised I would award the winners in the order picked by RGI and assign them to the books in the order they were listed on yesterday's post. Here it goes:
#208 Karen Deborah from Fresh Fixins winner of The Cake Book by Tish Boyle. Her comment...
"Happy happy birthday baby! Your just a sweet young thing! Well, there is that dark side, but...you make the most wonderful goodies. So what's your special birthday dinner going to be?"
#45 Laura from Camacho TV winner of The Art Of Simple Food by Alice Waters. Her comment...
"Even if I don't win, I'm going to use this list as a reference point; they all look great!"
#99 Courtney from Prescription For Good Food winner of Secret Ingredients: The New Yorker Book Of Food And Drink edited by David Remnick. Her comment...
"Happy Birthday! I really enjoy your blog."
#146 Michelle Ewing winner of King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion The Essential Cookie Cookbook by King Arthur Flour. Her comment...
"Happy birthday Cathy! I'm a rarely new reader and the day I stumbled uponed it I made two recipes, better than money and the blueberry crumblies! We love them so much!! I'd love to see what books inspire you!"
#24 Mental P Mama from The Mental Pause Chronicles winner of 1080 Recipes by Simone Ortega. Her comment...
"Happy Birthday! Maybe this what what I was supposed to remember today...."
#65 Starwoodgal from Something's Burning winner of Pure Dessert by Alice Medrich. Her comment...
"Oh! To look 28, feel like 20, and have all the wisdom of life I have now at 47. That would be AWESOME. Hope you have a happy B-Day."
#23 Barbie with a T winner of The Elements of Cooking by Michael Ruhlman. Her comment...
"Happy Birthday Cathy! I am not quite twice your age yet, but I can tell you that the second half of my life has been twice as good as the first half, if that is any consolation. All of the above books sound very interesting. Thank you for thinking about your readers once again!"
#135 Tammy W from Munchkin Heads winner of How to Cook Everything Vegetarian by Mark Bittman. Her comment...
"Oh Oh Oh Happy Birthday. Boy I am a food book addict. I'm sure all six of my kids appreciate that though. Thank you for the opportunity!"
#36 Sassy from Just Once Around The Sun winner of The Food Snob's Dictionary by David Kamp. Her comment...
"Happy Birthday Cathy, I agree with you, it is more pleasurable to give, and this is a great giveaway. Have a great day!"
#202 TJ from Humble Origins winner of Martha Stewart Cookies by Martha Stewart. Her comment...
"Happy Birthday!" I agree, it is so much more fun to give than to receive but I so love even numbers...lol...Here's hoping your day is spectacular and full of laughter and love...Blessings birthday girl... *<:o)"
#76 Dlyn from Dlynz winner of The Bread Bible by Rose Levy Beranbaum. Her comment...
"Happy Birthday Cathy - hope it is a great one. A fun giveaway is a great way to celebrate!"
Congratulations to all the winners and send me an email with an address I can mail your book to!
Now since I am currently away from home, I didn't have the leisurely Birthday I might have hoped for, but accomplishing things is always a good feeling too.
I am on the road again in Oregon, trying to take care of some odds and ends with our property in the Willamette Valley.
Here is of course what I call "Pinot Noir Hill". A nice gentle slope that will be perfect once planted with grapes.
Bugs were out in full force today, enjoying the cool summer rain.
The oldest hooligan found his stick he left here six weeks ago.
And silliness was all around.
The wildlife on our property is very apparent with the many "gifts" they leave behind.
I don't do wildlife or isolated wilderness without my pistol. NO WAY! Don't worry, the safety is on.
The blackberries are still EVERYWHERE...
And fill little hands.
Life in the slow lane is actually enjoyable when you take time to look around.
The boys had a great day hiking the roads of our property.
But had even more fun in the jacuzzi tub that sits in the middle of our hotel room's living room.
Overall, my Birthday was a great day. Thanks for helping make it special!
Oooh lucky people & naughty RIG...never picks me up. Beautfiul post Cathy...& wonderful property, hooligans, silliness, blackberries (swoon), bugs on flowers, flowers & bugs...all in all, looks like you've had a wonderful birthday! My offer stands...do let me know whenever you have the time!! Ciao for now!!
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Aaah, what a great photo of you and your boys! Happy Birthday! And, welcome back to Oregon! The weather has taken a cool turn again today. Love the pictures of your property, and your boys look right at home!
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Great photos Cathy. Love them ALL. You have such a nice looking family! Those handsome hooligans are going to have the girls chasing right after them! (if they don't already - they start young ya know! lol)
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so gorgeous those little piglets of yours! And you are not bad yourself, Miss Hottie. I guess I expected someone as gluttonous as yourself to show it, but you don't!! Love you! That property is something else. How fun and exciting... Happy Belated Birthday.
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First of all congratulations to all those winners! My husband and I are still fighting over the book I won a few days ago, Red, White and Drunk All Over: A Wine-Soaked Journey from Grape to Glass. Thank you again Cathy! Your boys are so adorable and the property still looks beautiful.
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Oh no! I missed your birthday! Well, have a happy day after then
The photo of the teasel against the backdrop of hills and valley is really very striking. Love it!
Dinner the other night was delish. Everyone loved your porkchop recipe. Dh got all excited and opened the wine made by our friends in California before the elderberry wine. We did open the elderberry wine at the end of the meal and most preferred that over the dryer (I think that's the right description) cabernet merlot. The lady at Wyldewood Cellars (where I got the elderberry wine) said most people start out preferring sweeter wines and then gravitate towards dryer wines. That seems to be the case for all of the unsophisticated tastebuds here. Half of those were kids 11-17 though. Dh and I did like our friend's wine, but I think we'll like it better once we become more accustomed to that kind of taste.
Well, once again I say a very merry unbirthday to you!
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LOL! I am an idiot. And I shouldn't type comments at 5:30 in the morning before a full cup of coffee. On the drive to drop ds off at football practice something I typed was bothering me. "Cabernet merlot"? I looked at the bottle again. They have printed labels, and while both cabernet and merlot is listed, only the cabernet is circled with a silver marker. Doh!
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Lovin the cuties in the hot tub! Hehe
And Happy Belated birthday! Better late than never huh? X
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Your property looks wonderful! I love the berries and landscape. It looks like a hidden wonderland!
And you and your two boys are beautiful! You look just as I pictured! So cool!
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OHHHHHHH I am so excited to see several of my blog buddies were drawn (maybe I can beg and borrow books from them LOL) Oh better yet beg an invite to come try some of thier products that they cook
HUGS Laura
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oh and is that a 45? I love corys(my sons) Glock one day I will trade in my revolver for one they are great pistols!
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Congrats to all of the winners!
I'm happy you enjoyed your birthday. Thankyou for the pictures they have made my morning. They are wonderful.
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Cute picture! Glad you had a great birthday!
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Yay! I won! I won! Hope the rest of your birthday week is just as fun. And stay away from those bears. Yikes.
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I am so jealous! What a wonderful thing to look forward to. That property looks amazing and to know one day there will be grapes planted there. How fascinating!
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Congratulations all the winners!! Cathy It looks like your property is in God's Country , it looks beautiful. I bet you have envisioned the vines already growing down that slope, it must be so exciting to be there and know your dream has become reality! I 'm glad you had a good birthday with your boys you pistol packin mama you!! Gorgeous picture of you and the boys!
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Congrats to all the winners !!
Cathy, looks like you had a perfect BD with your family.
#1
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Happy belated birthday! Your property looks awesome, and I love your photo essays - keep 'em coming
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absolutely beautiful country. Lucky you!
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Your property looks absolutely beautiful,. Cathy ! You are so lucky to have a piece of land like that !
Glad you and the boys enjoyed your birthday
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I am so sorry! I missed your birthday!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, late!
Beautiful pics of the future wine field! Looks like the hooligans were having a lot of fun on and off the future wine field. I'll bet you can't wait to get started and get your hands dirty!
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Happy Happy Birthday!
I am just so jealous that you are still able to wear jackets!!!
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Any woman who wears a pistol is a winner in my book. Glad your birthday was good!
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Beautiful photos. I'm envious of the blackberries. We used to have tons of bushes on the property of the barn where I ride, but most of them have died out over hte past two years. I miss being able to go out and pick to my heart's content.
Your boys are so cute. I like a kid who doesn't mind being silly!
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Hip Hip Hooray! My first blog win! Congrats to all the other winners! And yes, Cathy has awesome land, and i`d hate to be the bear that pisses her off!
Enjoy your time there cathy!
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The Oregon hills look perfect for growing grapes. The Okanagan Valley where I live is lush with grape vines thanks to irrigation practices. Thanks for sharing your day with us...love the view to the lake
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Wow! What a lovely spot for a birthday hike. I hope on the day you shoot a bear that you have your camera and can blog the whole thing. I would like to see that!
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Did I miss another contest? Urgh....oh well, Ive so busy I have missed catching my daily noble pig, and my oh my you have been extra busy! Your 2 boys look very happy hanging out with mom! The property looks really lovely...
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I thought you might be at the winery! Love the pictures of the Hooligans enjoying themselves... But that last picture is the absolute best!
So glad your birthday was all you hoped for!
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Those are great pictures Cathy. You look wonderful! I love the picture of you & your boys. Your property is just beautiful!
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glad you had a great day! Enjoy the soon to be winery!
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I was remiss in not wishing you a happy birthday. Taking Hubby to the airport really scrambled my brains for the entire day!
It looks like you had fun at your property. It is a lovely piece of land. So glad that the hooligans found their sticks. After all - what is a hike without a stick?
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Your boys are gorgeous! And that jacuzzi photo is going to make for some pretty nice blackmail one day...
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Glad to hear you had a nice bday! What better place to spend it than that beautiful countryside!! Congrats to the cookbook winners!
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Glad you had a good birthday! Your property is just gorgeous. And the guys seems to love it there. I love the picture of you and them! They are so dang cute!
Fran
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Glad to hear your birthday was good! Have fun in Oregon.
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Happy Birthday (Belated)!!!! I'd sing for you but I like you too much to subject you to that horror.
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Happy (belated) Birthday!! I'm glad you had a wonderful day!!
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Awesome photo of you and the Hooligans!!
Actually ... all the photos rock in this post. I'm glad you had a wonderful birthday.
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Happy belated birthday!
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Glad you had a good birthday!
You are a bad ass with that pistol!
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Beautiful photo of you and your handsome boys! Look at you! Just gorgeous!!!!
I am so glad you are a gun totin' mama... when I saw that bear sign I just about spewed my coffee... I am a bear magnet.. always see them smell them hear them before anyone else...
And what is with the funky hot tub in the living room???? Hilarious! Looks like the right size for boys, and not couples! ...
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Wow, Cathy! Can you be any prettier? You are gorgeous and I love the last pic with you and your boys. How sweet! You just want to scoop them up for hugs.
Congrats to all the winners, how exciting.
Enjoy your trip back up to Oregon. I remember vacationing near there and loving the beauty of it all.
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THANKS!! Love the picchas, and my fat butt needs another cake book!! Let's whip something up. what will it be? I think that hot tub looks pretty fun, but in the living room?
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Whooo! You a pistol-packin' mama!
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Well Bummer I didn't win
The photos are beautiful Cathy, I bet your heart just bursts when you look out on your property. The last picture however is my favorite such handsome young men and of course your gorgeous. Enjoy your time away :o)
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Happy Belated Birthday! The pictures you took are gorgeous!
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That is a great way to spend your birthday! Those hooligans of yours are so gosh darn cute. Enjoy your time at your property.
And, congratulations to all those lucky winners!
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Such wonderful pictures! Congratulations to the 11 winners! Cute kids! (And mom)!
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Happy belated birthday! Adorable kids! It's nice to be able to get away from the city, isn't it? Enjoy your time in Oregon!
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My sister loves your site. She just won a book. I like recipes. And your boys are so cute. We had four of them ourselves and a little girl.
Your property is awesome. How I'd love to do a little camping there. But we are past that now, getting too old. ha ha
Thanks for the nice site.
Ava South
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Gals and guns, HAWT.
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The property looks beautiful, and the berries...Mmmmm.
Great picture of you and the handsome little guys.
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Hope you had an awesome birthday!! I just kicked myself for missing the big giveaway... doh!
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Sorry I am late in wishing you on your actual day! Omg your boys are so gorgeous, and I can tell where they inherit their good genes from, heh ...
Your photography is excellent, love the sharpness & vibrant colours~
have a great year!
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Looks like you had a perfect birthday, and I hope you enjoyed every minute of it!
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Wow, sorry I missed it the other day--happy belated birthday! I hope it was a great one
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY (late)! All wonderful people are born in August.
I am not sure what is going on with my feeds....do you have any suggestions? I haven't changed anything!!
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Have I ever told you your children are beautiful?
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A very happy belated birthday to you! (Gee, I go away for a few days and all this fun stuff happens. -- *pout*) Enjoy your time in Oregon, dreaming. : )
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Wow - very exciting to win and I love baking bread so that is perfect! Love all the pics from your trip - it looks like a fabulous place and one of these days I am really looking forward to sipping a glass of your wine on my front porch. Email to follow and Happy Birthday again!
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Glad your birthday was a good one. Your property looks a lot like what I grew up on in Upper Michigan. I had my stick too.
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Cathy..
I remember you telling me that you struggle w/ your lighting..The lowel Ego light it the way to go!!!
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HAPPY belated Birthday!!! I'm meant to send you a message yesterday. Kaden's 3rd birthday is today and with all the preparations I lost track of time! Hope you have a wonderful year ahead. Miss ya!
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Happy birthday!
Your photos are great
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Darn! I missed this. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU. Your pictures are great on this post. And a jacuzzzi in the living room? I've never heard of such a thing!
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Great pictures! And Happy belated Birthday.
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Happy Belated Birthday! It's always a good day when you spend it with a couple very good looking young men! LOL
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Congrats to all the winners and a happy birthday to you! (Sorry it is late). I love that photo of you and your boys.
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hey, I go away to have a mammogram and what do you do? Have a birthday!
Happy belated birthday!
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Happy Belated Bday! I feel like I took a mini vacation just reading this post. What a strange and wonderful world you live in.
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Happy b-lated b-day!!!!!!
And your photos are A-W-E-S-O-M-E!!!
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Happy birthday (belatedly) The Willamette Valley is PARADISE !!! You are moving to Paradise, that alone is a lifetime of birthday presents.
We love the Willamette Valley. I am originally from Oregon, and our home, weather and climate here in Western Washington is very, very much like that of the Willamette Valley. When you winery opens we will be there!
Your boys are adorable and I love the impish behavior depicted in your photos. What a great time of life for you and your husband.....fun sons, a new endeavor....enjoy and appreciate. It looks like you do just that . KathyB.
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Nothing like a good day outdoor with loved ones! Happy to read you did enjoy your day. Beautiful family picture by the way.
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Happy B-lated Birthday Cathy...
I was busy with much anticipated new job..
Wishing your next 363 days be filled with much more joy. Til the next B-day again...
Everyday will be as happy as your B-day.
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Lovely posting and such a lovely time with your children... Your son posting was hilarious.
And I will never piss you off... or you will shoot me stealing sour grape at your future vineyard.
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I can't believe I actually won something!! Thanks!!! Maybe I can take this book on vacation with me and read it on the beach!!
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Now that's a perfect b-day! What do I love most? The blackberries and the pistol
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Cathy - you really are living the dream. Oregon vineyards, adorable kids, endless wilderness...
What a fabulous gift to yourself! I hope I can give myself such a gift one day.
happy belated!
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CATHY!!!!!! Sorry for being so late. It has been so busy this summer. But, I hope you had a great birthday and hope you have many many many more!!!
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armed and dangerous, eh? your gun is so cool! (yes, i've suddenly morphed into an easily excitable 10-year-old boy...)
and i'm not a cheek-pincher and i hate the idea of it, but i get a strange urge to do it to your kiddos...
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oh! happy belated birthday!! looks like you're having a fabulous time!!!
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Dang IT! I missed your DAY!!!! You gorgeous fabulous woman!!! I am totally jealous....even though you say it was not leisurely it looks like it was very enjoyable, you were doing what you love, with the ones you love. Beautiful...
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What a great post! I loved looking at all the pictures!
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Congrats to all the winners!! Glad you are having fun on your trip!
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Happy to hear that you had a wonderful birthday celebration!
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Gorgeous photos, spectacular valley, adorable family, so glad you had a terrific bday and...whew, out of breath, Congrats to the winners!!!
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I've been offline for a few days, so I missed the festivities... but I wanted to let you know that I thoroughly enjoyed the photos, and I am glad to hear that you had such a spectacular day!
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Umm....I think a pistol would just piss off an already mad bear....but I may be wrong.
Again, great photos! You could do a coffee table photo book. Seriously. One of those big heavy suckers with the beautiful pictures inside. I mean it!
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Boy those boys of yours are just adorable...what cutie patooties!
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