A momentous birthday yesterday (Ugh) and as is my custom I took the day off from work.  A little on the chilly side but the sun was shinning so it was a good day for photography.  I decided to stay pretty much in Dubuque to shoot.  I ended up with 498 images for the day, saw a surprising number of eagles and none of them were at the river.

Both of my children called me to wish me happy birthday and that alone was a wonderful gift.  They are both adults now and to still be a part of their lives is very special indeed.  Mark sent me a card that arrived on my birthday.  He’s working two jobs and a full-time student so that’s pretty remarkable.  I was able to have dinner with Angie, Josh, and Ben so she hand delivered her card. 🙂

Yes I know, “another Mallard Duck.”  What can I say.  I love the stream over on 14th street and it was nothing but Mallards yesterday.  After about an hour there a few geese did show up but I enjoy shooting Mallards.  I have over 100 from yesterday.

So after having a nice dinner at Star Brewery I came home and shot the moon.  It is not as sharp as I would like it, but to be honest it was cold, I was tried and it looked better in the little LED screen.

I told Jeanne that I didn’t want any birthday cake or ice cream (I suppose I was thinking the restaurant would offer some type of dessert for the birthday boy), (not so.)  Anyway on the way home I lamented that this was the first birthday in 65 of them that I didn’t have a “Wacky Cake.”

Some will know what that is.  If you don’t, it is a chocolate cake made with water as an ingredient instead of milk.  I grew up having one almost every week.  When Jeanne and I got married she used the recipe from Mom to carry on the tradition.

When I was on my own, I made them quite often.  I had to call the Social Security office yesterday <sigh>.  It does certainly beat the alternative and it is after all only a number.

Thanks for stopping by.  Enjoy your day, it’s going to be cold.  Be careful.