Definitely no porch sitting in the arctic wind today. The wind blew the swing and porch pillows out into the yard. My bird friends chowed down all day keeping their stomachs full to keep warm. Every time I opened the front door a flurry of birds would fly up to the trees. And as usual the cardinal pair sat on the naked tree limb outside my window at dusk and enjoyed a carnival ride in the wind.

Had my titty tatty party today with friends from Alexander City. We had the nicest time and laughed ourselves breathless and stuffed our stomachs like the little birdies on the feeders. I forgot to put the whipping cream on the dessert plates so I’ll be enjoying that in my coffee and hot chocolate this week.

My dearest friend and her little dog stayed over after the party to spend the night. She comes to visit often and we wear our matching grinch pjs and drink hot chocolate with whipping cream on top and eat fancy cheese and crackers. She always brings me a bag of thrift store surprises and today the bag was filled with lots of birdie things I loved. Like Christmas morning taking things from the pretty bag. And I got to keep the bag! She spoils me!

I usually board Penelope at middle brother’s vet office during her visits but decided to see if Penelope could be a gracious host to my friend’s dog. They made out fine, had one little fight over a dog toy, enjoyed the party crumbs that dropped from the table, and both left a doggie prize in the hall and lady den! Twice! So I call that a successful day.

Been trying to define the word friend. So many different kind of friends go through life with us. Some are older, some much younger. Some pass through never to be seen or heard from again. But that doesn’t lessen the memories of these friendships. Some friendships last a lifetime. Some are brief and fade from our life. Some friends you don’t see for years but when you get together it’s as if time never passed.

The dictionary defines a friend as a person with whom one has a personal bond of mutual affection — a state of enduring affection, esteem, intimacy, and trust.

My dearest friend and I have 40 years of friendship. We’ve shared joy and sadness together. She’s been my rock so many times. Don’t have to call her or ask her to come. She just instinctively knows and helps me weather whatever storm is passing. And I try to do the same for her.

As I watched the ladies at my party today I was thinking how lucky I was to call them my friends. All ages, all at different roads in their lives, sitting around my dining room table laughing and sharing life’s stories.

I enjoyed every minute!