As this post was pre-written, I can only assume that I'm up in Seattle having a smashing...no, no...a great, socking Bettysday. Possibly these are the things hanging out in the back of my brain while noshing on crumpets dripping with butter:
- The Great Betty was an amazing woman. How many woman do you know who have the power to inspire commemorations of their birthday 100 years after the fact?
- All my Sister Bettys (totally stealing that, Betty Mary) have been such a fun and delightful part of my life this year. I've loved your insights, in the case of Betty JoDee, your insults (... ;-P Reilof Rocks!) and our general blood feuding over the unsuitability of turbans.
- For the Founding Bettys this has been a rare and wonderful interlude. As sisters (and Sister Bettys) we've had an enormously entertaining time putting this on. We wonder what life beyond The Uncrushable Jersey Dress will be like...
- I'm feeling a little lump in my throat (very Betty Magdalen) that we're all together in spirit today.
- I'm skipping my sister-in-law's 30th birthday party for this--yes, she was born on Bettysday!. Maybe this would be a good time to tell you that my mother-in-law and her mother are/were both named Betty...
P.S. I'm in Seattle. What city are you celebrating in?
But how was the cake?
ReplyDeleteTiburon. BettyJanet here ... and I'm going to buy Blow Hot Blow Cold later today to celebrate. Long may you reign Bettys!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, Betty, from Newbury, Vermont (not a city, not even close). If I'd planned better I'd be having boeuf en croûte.
ReplyDeleteWe're in Betty Henry's walled garden, listening to the gurgling fountain. (How Betty is that? According to Betty JoDee, it's very Betty Neels to be in a walled garden, particularly when the RDD owns a house in Chelsea...)
ReplyDeleteWe've had tea at The Four Seasons: finger sandwiches (cucumber on whole wheat; smoked salmon; crab salad; cream cheese & watercress), scones & clotted cream with lemon curd & raspberry jam, and miniature pastries, one of each type, but too many to describe.
Betty JoDee is lovely (both in spirit and her person) and delightfully chatty, which means she's sharing the work of filling in the silences with my Brit Hubs. We're hanging out now (quietly burning the calories from tea), but in a little while, we'll collect Betty Henry and head off for dinner. We've got a bunch of choices, and the decision will come down to which Betty-worthy dessert we want.
We'll send photos, we promise!
I just got back from spending the day with Betty Keira and Betty Kylene. A lovely time was had by all.
ReplyDeleteWe'll post pictures over the next couple of days...
Via email from Betty Maria:
ReplyDeleteHello,
I've been enjoying so much hearing about everyone's plans, crafts, and T-shirts, and had a blast doing the crossword puzzle!
Although my schedule will not allow me (alas) to roll off in a great socking Bentley with my RDD equivalent to be fed scones and Devon cream, down here in Florida (Tampa Bay area) I am remembering La Neels in my own small way: 1) elevenses with hot coffee and buttered toast at the kitchen table, between chores, 2) reading Damsel in Green, and later on 3) tea with thickly sliced bread and jam and 4) knitting by the light of a prettily shaded lamp. I am afraid my Betty devotion does not run to turning out cupboards, rescuing strays, brooding on my husband's business trip, or falling into a canal. Maybe I'll do a sum or two on the back of an envelope.
Happy Bettysday to everyone, and thanks so much for a blog that has provided a bright spot in many a day.
(BTW, I have some Betty in the wild photos, but I don't know how to upload them from the camera...maybe next week.)
Best,
Betty Maria
Betty Barbara here--
ReplyDeleteWe celebrated Bettysday at Betty Margaret's country home outside Sykesville, MD.
Court shoes were worn and much food was eaten--A fine sugar high was achieved by the Bettys!
Betty Barbara(home town Ellicott City, MD) will be sending a long report and photo to Betty Debbie.
Update from Philadelphia: Betty JoDee has decided that Betty Henry is now fully inducted into the Betty Roll. (Well, he helped her a bit with the crossword, which Betty Ross and I already knew so we couldn't say anything.) Personally, I think he's more than met the minimal standards, as he treated the rest of us to dinner at . . . (cue the relevant references from The Canon) The Ugly American! (I know none of us minds, but it's pretty clear that Betty Neels wasn't a huge fan of Americans.)
ReplyDeleteWe picked The Ugly American because a) it's in South Philly so I knew it would be easy to find parking, b) their online menu had Sticky Toffee Cake (see the post above), and c) the name seemed appropriate. (In point of fact, they didn't have Sticky Toffee Cake, but we didn't mind. Three of us had Peach Cobbler and the fourth had Banana Bread Pudding. I don't think Betty Neels would have turned up her nose at either dessert.)
But there's more! Because it's an overnight stay for Betty JoDee, we're treating breakfast as part of our Bettysday celebration. We're going to the Morning Glory, a local diner, after which we drop Betty JoDee at the station (or wherever she wishes to go), Betty Henry returns to his house so that the furniture delivery men can bring his new chaise longue, and Betty Ross & I are returned to our regularly scheduled life with a trip to the dentist.
Betty Keira and I just arrived home from Seattle and a fantastic Bettysday celebration with Betty Debbie but the fact that I was twice asked not to take pictures leaves me with a bad taste for Seattle-ites.
ReplyDeleteMy Betty's day took a very Araminta turn. I'm writing about it, but too tired to finish tonight. We leave tomorrow for Seattle to attend a family funeral, but will get it posted before Monday.
ReplyDeleteSounds like all the celebrations were wonderful, and in my crazy day, I did get to the Victorian Tea Shop with Betty Beth. Sadly, only two pictures before the camera died....
Happy Betty's Day! The best tribute I can give to Betty is that, over the years, I have lent two friends - going through chemo - my Neels books and it helped them through some rough times. From Bettyellen in S. Florida
ReplyDeleteBetty Ellen, that's just about the nicest thing anyone could say about a Neels selection...perfect comfort reading.
ReplyDelete