Holding Court

The doyenne of the Mistah side of the family has a big day this week.

Well, all her days are big. She is, after all, the doyenne . . .

. . . She's the Mumsie!

While we terribly missed my side of things whooping it up in Chicago, we got to welcome some interstellar -- wait, no, that's the book I'm reading -- international family to Planet Ear--, er New London this past weekend . . .

Our Tree welcomed them . . .

. . . as did I. That's the only photo of me; enjoy it.

We got to see the lovely Iona and Chloe . . .

. . . and the lovely Dave fraternizing with our lovely neighbor Frankie . . .

. . . and the lovely Sue and Kelly . . .

. . .  and the lovely Charlotte. With the equally lovely but non-alien -- sorry! I keep doing that! -- non-Brit Rebecca.

Everybody was lovely, and it was so nice to surround ourselves with family . . .

. . . but the best part was watching the young adorables interact with their Auntie Beryl, who was, as a doyenne should, Holding Court . . .

"Tell us another story, Mumsie . . . "

Happy Birthday, Mumsie!