Grandma in Mooood for 90th Birthday

Estella Friend’s family wanted to make her 90th birthday Tuesday a memorable one.

Her grandson’s solution was to place 15 miniature plastic cows and a big sign that read “Holy Cow! Stella is 90 today! Happy Birthday Grandma” in the frontyard.

Greg Finnerty, 34, quietly set up the small herd late Monday night and Friend discovered it the next morning.

“I looked out the window and I saw these cows and thought, ‘What in the heck?’ ” Friend said with a laugh.

Friend began to cry when her grandson visited her Tuesday morning to gauge her reaction.

“She couldn’t believe we went to all that trouble,” Finnerty said.

The pint-sized cattle reminded Friend of Hastings, Neb., where she lived until moving to California three years ago to live with her daughter, Roxanna Finnerty.

Friend colored black-and-white photographs for nearly 60 years before she retired at age 75.

A mother of three, Friend worked nights coloring photographs at home while raising her children.

These days, she embroiders blankets and sells her crafts to friends and neighbors. Friend, who is in a local bowling league, said she has competed in 28 national championships.