So... today is my birthday...

and I've been celebrating almost all weekend.  I started off Saturday by helping out at the sidewalk sale at Paper Vineyard.  There were some early shoppers.

 
 
Then Nicole met me at the store and we drove to Tina's house where she was teaching a vintage bracelet class.  I really enjoyed it - something that I don't normally do - and some parts of it made me a little frustrated, but I still enjoyed it.  I came home and this morning I dug through my own stuff and added a few things.

Tina was very gracious and had snacks for us...

Meet Rosie - this is their pet bird.  She was quite the talker and sounded a lot like a teenager.

This is one of the tables set up prior to our starting class.  Nicole is trying very hard to stay out of my photo, while I am trying very hard to get her into the photo.  Thanks, Tina, we had a great time and it was a wonderful way to start the weekend.

After that we left and went to "Mama's Market" which was a small group of women selling their "wares" at one of their homes.  Nicole saw this advertised on Heidi Swapp's website site, so we thought we would give it a try.  I bought some very small mirrors (wouldn't they look great in the center of a flower?) and some raspberry and peach jam.  Can't wait to try both!

By this time we were really hungry, so we went to Tia Rosa's in East Mesa (McKellips Road).  We sat on the patio even though it was cold.  We wanted to sit much closer to the heaters, but that didn't happen.  The patio was beautiful.

This is the front of the restaurant...

 I love the decor.  It is one of those places where you could sit for a long time and look at a lot of different things.

This is my cheese crisp.  It was very good - thin and crunchy, just the way I like it.

I tried green corn tamales and they were served with black bean salsa.  It was excellent.  Thanks to Nicole for taking me out for my birthday and suggesting this great restaurant.  I will go there again.

More of my birthday weekend to come...