I couldn't have scripted a better birthday if I had organized it myself. I owe that credit largely to my daughter, who filled the day with special moments.

First, we had breakfast en famille, enjoying bagels that Mel had made yesterday evening while Chris and I were volunteering at Bluesfest.

Then the four of us—Chris, Shane, Mel and me—headed over to Andrew Haydon Park in Ottawa's west end for a walk and photo shoot. The bonus visual tonight (second one, below) includes a selection of photos from our shoot: just the four of us and a cell phone. One kind woman, whose children were scampering over the rocks at the waterfall, offered to take a photo of the four of us. It turned out to be one of my favourites from this morning. The funniest discovery in the photos (not included below) is one where Shane can be seen carrying a huge garbage can in the background of the shot because I didn't want it in our photos. It makes me laugh every time I look at that pic.

We returned home and split into two groups: Chris and Shane to run errands in the city, Mel and I to enjoy our community. She and I walked over to Katimavik Elementary School to play pickleball, after a successful first outing on Canada Day. It was tremendous fun, though it did leave us red-faced and sweaty.

After all that exercise (and a second shower), we felt that we had merited a treat at Chocolats Favoris, which is a short walk from our house. Though we ordered baby cones—mine, a waffle cone with vanilla ice cream dipped in crunchy hazelnut chocolate, Mel's, a waffle cone with raspberry sorbet dipped in original dark chocolate—they were much bigger than we had expected. Mel said, "You don't have to eat it all, Mom." But, of course, we both consumed our treats in their entirety and enjoyed them immensely. Ice cream and sorbet for lunch on your birthday? Why not?

After Mel and I returned home, my neighbour texted to ask whether I was in my house. "Sim," I said, replying in Portuguese that I was, indeed, at home. When I went outside, she, her husband and her son emerged from their house with a present and a card, singing happy birthday to me in Portuguese. Their card was lovely (especially their son's drawing of him and me reading a book on their couch), but their present was beyond what I could ever have expected: brand new running shoes. My neighbour explained that the choice of colour (and perhaps even the idea) was her son's. He said that I like to walk and that my shoes should be pink and black. Coincidentally, I was wearing a pink t-shirt, black shorts and a black hat, one of several outfit changes after all the activity today. "How did you know my shoe size?" I asked my neighbour. She told me that she had peaked at my shoes on one of the occasions I had gone to her house to read in French with her son. I was immensely touched and so excited to have new running shoes, perfectly suited to me.

For supper, Chris, Mel and I went to a local food truck: Ay Dios Mio Tacos in Kanata. It was my second visit in a week and Mel's third. On our first visit, she and I both had fish tacos, which were delicious. Yesterday, while Chris and I were at Bluesfest, Mel returned and had the jerk chicken taco, declaring it an 11 out of 10. On the basis of that experience, we decided to have my birthday supper at Ay Dios Mio Tacos, which is beside Kunstadt Sports and across from Farm Boy on Hazeldean Road. Given the popularity of the jerk chicken taco, it was all sold out by the time we arrived late in the day. So we enjoyed another fish taco and a couple of vegan tacos (absolutely scrumptious), and committed to returning soon to try the jerk chicken option. When we had finished our tacos, the owner said, "Don't go away." Moments later, he appeared with a plate of freshly made churros, wishing me a happy birthday. (Mel had mentioned when we ordered that it was my birthday.) The churros were crispy on the outside, soft and yielding to the bite on the inside. They were lightly sugared and came with a creamy chocolate sauce. The dessert was heavenly, truly the cherry on the top of my proverbial birthday sundae.

I finish my day feeling full, literally and figuratively. I haven't even begun to acknowledge all the birthday wishes I received today, including my mom's card and gift, which she gave to me when we met at the strawberry social in Appleton a few weeks ago.

I feel blessed and grateful. Thank you for all the love.

Bonus visual: the best pics of this morning's photo shoot at Andrew Haydon Park.