A couple of days after we were back from our trip, a package arrived for us in the mail. 
It turned out to be a box full of amazing anniversary gifts from my family, who'd hoped of course it would've arrived before we left but yeah ... US Postal service .. absolutely worthless!

Inside the box we found: a home-made card, party hats, a garland, silver (for a 25th anniversary of course) balloons, an enormous (once inflated) cellophane number 2 and 5 balloon, silver tea lights, a little bit of rice in a decorative little baggie, 2 engraved egg cups, a jigsaw puzzle of a Japanese temple and an embroidered bell cord with Japanese scenes. 

           

The Japanese theme of course had to do with the fact that we met in Japan after which, as the card shows, we married in The Netherlands and than proceeded to live in the USA.

The bell-cord with it's Japanese images is actually a heirloom piece, handed down to me in this way by my mom, who inherited it from my dad's mother, who actually embroidered it herself ... are you still with me?
We really don't have much wall-space to hang it but I have a sliver of a vertical area next to the slide in the bedroom where it fits just perfectly:

                                                    

Although the box arrived unfortunately a little 'late to the party', I promised my sister that we would just extend our anniversary celebrations for a little longer.
So we happily bought some more cake, brought out the alcohol and toasted our together-ness several times more:

As you can see we had some fun with everything this weekend, especially with the party-hats!
(Alcohol might have been involved in some of the pics and I wouldn't recommend showering with a party-hat .. 😂!)

But everything must come to an end and this week it's back to the grind-stone.

James actually got to do something like his previous job, working up a sweat while working with his hands again, for a day, helping our landlord Bret to put the trusses on the new barn.

His son Josh works for a truss company and came over with a big crane which made easy work of the lifting:

                                                

They were very fortunate it was an overcast, fairly cool day and after starting at 8am, and a half hour break for lunch, they finished at 4pm.

                                             

                                                 

Yeah, Hon', you're the man! Now put one of those tools down and grab something to hold on to will you! (Btw, where's your harness?)

I had another job for him to do on Friday. One that involved a little more delicate and precise work:

          

I've been on the fence for months now to finally cut (more of) my hair (since my sister cut of a foot last year) ... or not .. and finally made the decision to do it!

                                    

James (yes, him himself from the fairly unknown hair-salon 'Chez James' 😁) did a great job.
Just take off a good bit, I said, and that he did!

                           

                                              

            

I'm so happy with it! It's very funny, and easy, to brush or wash my hair now .. there's just nothing to it! (quite literary)
 
The rest of the week wasn't half as interesting, just the usual going-on.
My Morning Glory continues to pop out more flowers:

                                                                    

Since our absence, when they were not fed, we haven't seen many birds around the feeders.
I guess they went to 'greener pastures'. Ungrateful little buggers ...

But the little Sparrows, and even a Spotted Towhee, have discovered the birdbath and are using it pretty much every day:

                                     

They're so cute to watch. They take their bathing very serious!

OK, that was all. Tomorrow it is the first day of September and also Labor Day, and we have nothing on the agenda but grilling a steak on the BBQ in the evening.
The weather this year is going to be very decent, compared to previous very hot ones, with a maximum temp of only 78F so it's going to be a nice day.
                                              Sounds pretty perfect to me!