60/365: Not 77

60/365: Not 77, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

March 1st

This morning, at breakfast, dad suddenly stopped eating, his face frozen in an expression of shock.

"Wait...wait a minute. It's not 2012 yet! I'm...I'm only seventy-six years old today!"

Well, true. But we didn't have any other candles.

The cake was made by my mum and was a big hit. It's flourless- all ground nuts to make the base. And the cream is coffee.

There was also some singing by Marcin and Orzełek.

And it wouldn't have been a proper birthday without Dad giving numerous speeches:

75/365:Drawing board

75/365:Drawing board, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

March 16th

I made it yesterday for my birthday. It's pretty basic, not at all like the one I meant to make, but that didn't work out as planned. It's good enough for now. And the cat likes it, because it allows him to make stealth attacks on my eraser.

And here's the doodle from the pad, a quick and rough selfportrait with yesterday's enormous sun:

74/365:Legionów looks almost clean in the snow

74/365:Legionów looks almost clean in the snow, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

March 15th

On my birthday, the snow came back. It's fluffy and pretty. I'm sick of it.

The Dandelion

The Dandelion, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

65/365: 5th Birthday Party

65/365: 5th Birthday Party, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

March 6th

March is the month for birthdays. The 6th is actually my mother's, but we went to see my nephew Maks that weekend, since he had turned five on the 2nd. Just like his great-grandpa, he got a big sparkler on his cake.

I had to do lots of editing on these photos, I just haven't got the lenses or flash arrangement for good indoor evening photography. Everything is always dark and grainy. Very annoying. I can't wait for springtime when there is more light and people are more likely to go outside...

63/365: Birches in Arkadia

63/365: Birches in Arkadia, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

March 4th

I've already put a picture of birchwood in my 365 this year, but the sun was so fantastic today I just had to do it again. Spring is coming. Despite this sunny proof there is no doubt we will have snow again this March, as previous years have proven, somewhere towards the end of the month. My mother tells me it was snowing on my birthday, 27 years ago, and my birthday is in March.

There is a saying that goes "W marcu jak w garncu", and I call upon it every year: it means "March is like a pot of broth", ergo there will be sunshine in March, and snow, and rains, and whatever you please save any semblance of meteorological sanity. Furthermore there will be no respite come April, as folk wisdom gives that month just as bad a reputation: "Kwiecień, plecień, bo przeplata, trochę zimy, trochę lata", which in English renders: "April weaves summer and winter together."

In any case, it is nice to see some sunshine, and the birches look their best when bathed in it. The Silver Birch (Betula Pendula) is the most popular birch in Poland, and something of a symbol for that; whenever I see white bark I know I am home.

Here are some more. From January this year, birches in winter:

A birch in autumn:

Birches in spring:

And birches in summer:

60/365: My dad's 75th birthday

60/365: My dad's 75th birthday, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

March 1st

This year, my dad told my mum: "Let's not invite anyone. We'll see who shows up."

Well, about thirty people passed that test. :D It's a good thing we prepared some food just in case. ;)

I could say a lot about my dad (that's him in the centre of the photo). I could tell you he's a poet, a writer, an author of musicals and songs, a man with a hundred stories to tell. I could link you to his poetry- but most of it is in Polish. Instead I am going to give you a tiny little glimpse of how he celebrated his birthday last year.

And more photos from this year's most excellent party follow:

My sister lights the candles on the cake as my mother tries not to get burned- and dad's great-grandson, who is exactly 70 years and one day younger than him, looks on.

Dad singing 'Happy Birthday' for my mother- whose birthday is on March 6th.

Saying hello to the youngest in our family, his great-granddaughter who is just eight months old.:) By the way, the hat was a gift, and dad liked it so much he refused to take it off all evening.