An Auspicious Day

Happy birthday to the_cornettist and happy early birthday to gilda_elise, gryphonrhi, and jpsorrow. May all of you have a wonderful birthday and a fabulous year to come!


Today also is the birthday of J.R.R. Tolkien, creator of Hobbits and Dwarves and Elves and all of Middle-earth, who was born this day in 1892. I hope everyone will participate in The Tolkien Society's International Birthday Toast for 2010. Thank you, Professor, for your words!


Last but definitely not least, happy birthday to The Shire's Virginia Lórien, a.k.a. Virginia, the world's most beautiful Boston terrier and our very best friend, who was born this day in 2002. We love you, Sweetheart!



As always, more pictures of Virginia are here.


The quote for the day is from The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien, and one of Virginia's favorite songs (because, after all, it mentions part of her name):

"Gandalf's Song of Lórien"

In Dwimordene, in Lórien
Seldom have walked the feet of Men,
Few mortal eyes have seen the light
That lies there ever, long and bright.
Galadriel! Galadriel!
Clear is the water of your well;
White is the star in your white hand;
Unmarred, unstained is leaf and land
In Dwimordene, in Lórien
More fair than thoughts of Mortal Men.