Holidays

Christmas 2010 is just a memory now, but what a wonderful one it is.

I went to The Nutcracker this year! Karan and I met Julie, Noah and Libby in downtown Fort Worth for dinner and the ballet. Our grandchildren were the most adorable children ever. Libby had on the fanciest dress, and Noah was wearing his tux and cowboy boots. They certainly made heads turn. And they loved the ballet. Me, too.

The next day Laura and Nikhil arrived, and we had a family dinner at Joe T's. That was one of the only requests that they had made. Delicious, as always.

Then Mom and Dad arrived. More food, more fun. And a lovely Christmas eve service at Lakeside Baptist Church. I'd never visited there before, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Christmas morning was at Julie and Jeremy's house. There is nothing more fun than watching sleepy, but excited children peek around the corner to see if Santa really came. He did! To finish our evening, Mitch fixed us a gourmet Christmas dinner. And I helped.

Now Mom and Dad are home; Laura and Nikhil are home; Julie and Jeremy and the grandblessings have restored order to their home. Our Christmas things are packed up, too.

Mitch and I are looking forward to welcoming in the New Year together. We've been doing that since we started dating 34 years ago.

That seems like yesterday.

Once In A Lifetime

There are many "once in a lifetime" moments we experience that just take our breath away and send us to our knees to thank God for this life that he has given us.

The one I experienced last night doesn't exactly fall in to that category, but it sure was fun. I went to a World Series baseball game! Just me and 52,418 other baseball fans. And did I mention -- we WON!

Here's what makes it once in a lifetime:
1. The Rangers will never again be in their first World Series.
2. The Rangers will never again play their first World Series game in their own ballpark.
3. The Rangers will never again win their first World Series game in their own ballpark.

Here's what I hope isn't once in a lifetime:
1. My presence at a World Series game.

Go Rangers!

Not Created Equal

Five days ago I treated myself to a manicure and pedicure. With polish. Toes AND fingers. All ten toes still look beautiful. And so do all ten fingers!! What's up with that?

The secret is a new polish that the nail tech encouraged me to try. She promised TWO WEEKS with no chips. Seriously? I can't go two DAYS without a chip.

It's called UV gel polish. She painted it on like regular polish, but between each coat my hand went under a UV light. It's the only way this polish will dry. (Kind of like Sherwin-Williams meets the Easy Bake Oven.) So you walk out of the salon ready to go - no worries about messing up your nails.

After housework - no chips. After yard work (no gloves!) - no chips. Bathing and hair washing - no chips. I'm sold.

Make your appointment today.

What I Would Wear: Hiking

My apologies to Laura's friend Stephanie for stealing this title. But it is the perfect title for this perfect outfit.

Shirt and vest from Old Navy. All other clothing from her closet. Hiking stick from Grandad's garage.

And it just doesn't get any cuter than that.

Wooden It Be Nice?

Did you have one of these in your backyard when you were growing up?

We did. I remember that Dad got it from Old Mexico, and we spent lots of time playing house. It was always cozy, clean and tidy. Just like my house now! A good number of mud pies began in that kitchen.

When we were in Aunt LuRene's backyard, we played with something entirely different.

Know what it is? Well, it depends. It could be a table, full of pimento cheese sandwiches and pickles. Or it could be a stage with a tiny performer on top, singing her latest hit. Or - if three or four were lined up - it could be a runway, where the current Miss America was waving to her adoring fans.

Whatever it was, it was fun!

Treated Like a Queen

I've just finished celebrating my birthday and it's been a wonderful day -- uh, make that a wonderful four days! Why limit yourself to one?

At the United Way Fund Raiser a couple of weeks ago, Mitch and I bid on and won a "Romance Package": three nights away at three romantic destinations. So we picked one and started celebrating. And it was a doozy.

Rough Creek Lodge in the countryside near Glen Rose, Texas. The essence of casual elegance (at least that's what their website says!) A delicious 3 course dinner prepared by Chef Gerard Thompson, a luxurious guestroom, a full-spread breakfast buffet, and to finish it off -- couples massages!

We staggered out of there and headed off to the Texas Ranger's first ever American League Championship Series game. Against the Yankees. And the Rangers did great -- until the top of the 8th. Ouch. Close, but no win. But it was great fun, and I loved every minute of it.

Saturday was a play-day with Julie and my precious grandchildren. Today they were all here for lunch. I love every second I get to spend with them. I love their happy smiles, their energy, their giggles and shrieks. My heart actually swells when I'm with them. I know this is true. I feel it happen. They are the best!

Another comment on my birthday: Mitch gave me a wonderful gift. (And I mean a physical gift -- in addition to the gift of his time and attention.) A few weeks ago we spent time in New Mexico watching the aspen trees change colors. It was so pretty and we enjoyed it very much. So he takes me to the James Avery Jewelry Store, buys me this aspen leaf pendant, and places it on a beautiful silver chain.

I just love a guy that comes up with a sentimental gift.

And I love a guy that makes something special like this, too!

It's true. It's good to be Queen.

Perfect Timing

We had a special outing yesterday to Inn of the Mountain Gods. While there we did a little reminiscing.

We had been spending time at a Lucas family reunion in Colorado and were heading back home. Something came up at Mitch's work that required him to return, so he booked a flight in Albuquerque. The girls and I dropped him off there, and we drove on down to Ruidoso and began our stay with the Mountain Gods.

Here's what I remember about our girl time there:

1. Room service for dinner

2. ... with dessert!

3. Paddling around the lake in a canoe

4. ... and Julie being the only decent paddler in the boat!

Mitch took care of the work problem and was back with us in New Mexico before dinner the next day. And we had a fancy one in the Inn's dining room that night where everything was a production. With dessert, I had a cup of hot tea and even that was a show -- me making my selection from their box of assorted teas. Little eyes were watching.

Next morning at breakfast, Laura excitedly ordered a cup of hot tea. She was so disappointed when a Lipton tea bag showed up in her cup of hot water. Mitch realized what was wrong, had a quiet conversation with our waiter, and soon there was a sweet little girl deciding just which tea bag she would choose from the selection box. It made for a happy girl -- and a happy memory for us.

I think we will have lots of happy memories from this week that we've been at our New Mexico home. One of them will be the changing leaves of the Aspen trees. We have perfect timing for that this year. The leaves of these beautiful trees change from a summery green to a pale gold to a rich deep red. We're in the gold stage today.

Come on red!

Aromas In the Air

And the aroma is -- pinon wood! Pinon has a very distinctive fragrance, and it's common to smell it burning in chimineas and firepits here in New Mexico. This one just happened to be on our back porch this evening.

And there was another scent in the air in Texas -- birthday cake! Well, I really don't know if there was cake or not but there should have been. Today is my dad's birthday. The 78th one he's celebrated. Happy Birthday, Dad! (And here's a little photo of him during a birth day we celebrated earlier this year.)

When I was little I always loved it when Dad would sing. I think it happened twice a year, most years anyway. One song was at Christmas -- Up On the Rooftop. He sang the Ho-Ho-Ho. Beautifully, I might add. And we loved it. It's a favorite Christmas memory of mine.

The other song was Perry Como's A - You're Adorable. It goes like this: A - you're adorable; B - you're so beautiful; C - you're a cutie full of charm. Etc.) I can't remember him ever singing past the T, but it didn't matter. We loved the song, and we loved him singing it.

So, as his birthday comes to a close, I'd like my dad to remember this sentimental sentiment: Alphabetically speaking, you're OK.

Love you, Dad!

Our Slice of Heaven

We are blessed to be spending this week in our cabin in New Mexico. The breeze is cool, but the sun is warm. The trees are majestic, the air is clean, and -- what is that I smell?? It's homemade bread!

Mitch got up this morning and made a loaf of honey sunflower whole wheat bread. Absolutely yummy.

I guess I have a couple of slices today.

Youth Leaders

One of my favorite things to do growing up was going to Sunday night youth group. It started in junior high, and it was over with when high school ended.

The junior high leader was Mrs. Rader. She, her husband, and their two children - Pat and Paula - lived in a modest home in a modest neighborhood. She could be counted on to keep everyone in line, make everything run smoothly, and always let us know that she loved us through and through. Even if you were a rascal. But I wasn't.

Mr. Rader went on to heaven on a schedule that I thought was too soon. Pat and Paula still live nearby, although I've not kept in touch with either of them. But Mrs. Rader is still around, going to the same church, and - I'm sure - still keeping things running in smooth order and showing God's love to His children, no matter their age.

Our senior high leaders were Burl and Suzanne. (There was another couple that lead before them, and they taught valuable lessons too. But they were the "bad" example sort.) Burl and Suzanne lived in a big house in a fancy part of town. They had a house full of little boys and the energy to match them. And they still had the energy for us, too. Loving, giving, hearts open to everyone. That described them then, and it still describes them now.

Like Mrs. Rader, Burl and Suzanne are still around, too. Different church now, but still involved - with their kids and grandkids, with their friends, and with who knows what project or cause. I'm convinced that Suzanne has a special gift with prayer. Not so much reciting one out loud, although I'm sure she does that well. I mean she has a special prayerful spirit that God finds favor with. All I know is that if I have something that I really think needs praying over, I want Suzanne to know about it.

And then there are my friends that grew up in youth group with me. My cousin Sherry and I always went together, so I think of her first. She's gone on to heaven. Been there 10 years now. I still miss her every day. The girls: me, Karen, Jan, Candice, Sharon. We're spread out but I could find each of them quickly. The guys: Butch, Joe, Johnny, Pat. They are all still in our hometown. Good men, but I expect they still have their rascally days!

You shall teach them (God's laws) to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
(Deuteronomy 11:19 ESV)

Sew, I'm Back!

Two months of no blogging. Shame on me. Did you miss me? Well, I didn't really think you would. But now I'm back. And there's lots going on in my life. So get ready for a little daily ramble from me.

Exciting news today. I have a new iPhone 4! I've been wanting one and my super nice husband ordered me one. The order went out two days ago. I was told to expect it to be shipped in 5 to 10 days and it was to be sent by 2-day delivery. So the delivery today took me by total surprise! Fun to be me today!

Here's a short trip down memory lane. When I was in high school, I was really in to sewing. Specifically making dresses. One year I made a formal for one of my very best friends, Mary Lou. It was blue and I remember the fabric had a design (something like a paisley?) inside of a wide stripe. Horizontal, of course, for that slimming effect. The design and stripe were raised and a little fuzzy. I don't know what that type of material was called, but it was pretty. Really. Before Mary Lou wore it, I entered the dress in the creative arts division of the local stock show/rodeo. And it won. Blue dress -- blue ribbon. See, I told you it was pretty. Mary Lou liked it, too. And she's still my very best friend.

Now going down (wish I had a better) memory lane. What formal occasion were we invited to?

Although I stopped blogging, I didn't stop Postcrossing. I'll share a few every day until I'm caught up.

Amanda from Alabama sent this card of the Gulf Coast, and who wouldn't love to be right there right now? I know I would. If the card isn't enough to droll over, she writes to me about the delicious loaf of sourdough bread she made that morning. Fun to be her!

Vincent Van Gogh's Vase with Carnations was sent by Tori from Connecticut. Her exciting news is that she's getting married! February 19, 2011 is the day she's waiting for. I remember how exciting those times were. Again I'll say: fun to be her!

Lastly, I've received this pretty card from Galya and you'll never guess where it's from. Here's a hint: she says the weather is beautiful, sunny and hot. Ready to guess yet? You'll never get it. She sent the card from Siberia! What?? I thought Siberia was like a freezer. Guess not. You learn something every day!

Today was good. And fun!

Good Times

We have been letting the good times roll lately. Lucky us!

A couple of weeks ago we had the pleasure of staying at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine. Lots of action there. The hotel was all decorated with the Alice in Wonderland theme. It lit up real pretty at night. The room was quiet and cozy. Food was good. Drinks were good. Company was great!

We met up with three of our friends. Dinner was Mexican food at Esparza's. Afterward, we went to the Glass Cactus at the hotel. Fun music by the Spazmatics. We heard it from the balcony overlooking the lake -- and that was close enough! Did I say the chocolate martini was excellent?

We've decided our next get-together will be at The Stoneleigh in Dallas. That will be fun, too.

Good times continued over the 4th of July holiday. Our weather was slightly overcast, so the temperatures were down a little. That always helps! The parade on Saturday was great, as usual. And lunch and visiting with the in-laws is always a good time. Sunday was time to shoot grandson's rockets (who knew how much fun that would be?) and then family and friends settled in for fireworks. Several neighbors put on their own show before the big event over the lake.

The grandkids and I collaborated on Monday morning breakfast. Sausage, biscuits and eggs. They're good cooks.

All in all, we are blessed with good times and fun memories for the future.

And chocolate martinis.

Avalanche *part 2*

In the 4 months that I've been exchanging postcards, I've sent 32 cards and received 32 cards in return. The cards I've sent have traveled a distance of 132,784 miles, and the cards I've received have traveled 136,784 miles. Now here's a little info about the last few cards that have shown up in my mailbox.

Jennifer, from Utah, sends a postcard showing some highlights from her state including the Bingham Copper Mine, the Salt Lake Temple, the State Capitol Building, and the Great Salt Lake - Antelope Island. Jennifer is a career woman who enjoys family, art and photography, boating, and teaching the 4-year-olds at her Temple.

Amelie is an 18-year-old from Stuttgart, Germany who likes American postcards. She sent a card to me that was in a calendar she recieved for her birthday! It shows the Mankind Figure (Maiden) that was cast in 1936 by American Paul Manship. This statue flanks the staircase to the Lower Plaza at Rockefeller Center in New York City.

You might not expect a lady in Knoxville, TN to collect snowmen, but that's just what Diane likes to do. She also likes art, music, and literature. She sends a postcard of the Knoxville Convention Center that is adjacent to their spectacular World's Fair Park near where she works.

Dogs take up most of Marjan's day. She does hunting trials with her Weimeraner and security training with her 3 German Shepherds. Oh, she has a 1 1/2-year-old daugher, too! She lives on the border of Germany and The Netherlands, but she is Dutch. She also likes sewing, cooking, and flowers. She shares a favorite flower with her postcard.

It took 70 days for this postcard from Lena in Siberia to arrive! Lena says that by chosing a card, you show your interests and tastes. So, from this card can you tell that she likes to wake up early, climb high trees, and read? Right now she studies Economics and English, and she is part of a theatrical group that is presenting a 2 year run of "What? Where? When?" Her real dream, however, is to be a translator of children's books.

Petra from Finland knows how to make friends quick. Her card starts out by telling me how gorgeous my grandbabies are! And it's true -- they are. She doesn't have children yet, only pets. 3 dogs, 2 cats. She's studied design and construction painting. They rent a home now but hope to be able to buy one some day. And she has a dream of having a cottage near the lake. I hope her dream comes true. The text on the card translates to "hugs."

That's it for now. But maybe the postman will bring a surprise today.

It's An Avalanche! *part 1*

My postcards have been piling up, but today I'm ready to share! Here goes....

Albert, from The Netherlands, is seriously into all things mail -- but mostly stamps, which he has been collecting for the past 50 years. He exchanges them, he paints them, he exhibits them. He belongs to stamp clubs. He coordinates stamp juries. He is editor of a stamp magazine. And he mails postcards with stamps on them to people like me. This postcard shows the town of Castel San Pietro Terme, Italy. (I guess he travels, too.)

Carmen, from Seattle, Washington, is a nurse that lives right beside the Space Needle. She says she "lives in the moment and savors it." Good advice, I'd say. She also enjoys random images and feels that they are oddly beautiful. I can agree with that, too.

L'viv, Ukraine is where Oxana makes her home. She, too, is a nurse and her hobbies include movies, the internet, and cosmetics! Her postcard shows King Danylo Galytskiy (1201 - 1264) who founded her city of L'viv in 1256.

Tarne is from Vierema, Finland, where it was 12 degrees C and raining when he wrote me this card. (That's 54 degrees F in our world.) His postcard shows the local museum.

Family heritage is important to the people of The Netherlands, and the clothes people wear indicates where they are from, what they do, and how they worship. Or at least it used to, anyway. Aletta, from Antwerp, sent a postcard showing this style of dress and "kap." She says her family is a fishing family and their clothing is more colorful, with a pattern of red flowers. She, however, is a Legal Advisor, mostly hired by the government to be their representative in court. So her grandmother wore the traditional style of clothes. Aletta wears a suit.

Monika from Taiwan shared part of her holiday with me. She and some co-workers went to Sabah, a beautiful island in Malaysia. They stayed at Nexus Resort & Spa and Villas Suites Karambunai. The resort's slogan is "Some Say it's Heaven", and Monika agrees that it just might be. When not on holiday, 26-year-old Monika enjoys swimming, movies, shopping, eating delicious food, and taking photos.

What's the number for reservations?

We Took A Vacation!

Somehow, the vacation gods were smiling down on us. We managed to be tucked away in New Mexico for a week -- and he didn't get called back for any crises! Seriously, it was a huge blessing to be able to get away and re-focus. Here's how we did it.

We spent three of the days painting. Painting walls. Painting ceilings. Painting doors. And it looks mar-va-lus!

We also managed to sneak in a 750 piece puzzle (100 cats and a worm), a book (Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol), several DVDs (I DO NOT recommend The Book of Eli -- I don't know what Denzil was thinking), and a theater movie (The Karate Kid -- sure go see it, but there are no surprises.)

And there's more. We camped out one night.

We drove around and saw herds and herds of elk.

We visited Three Rivers Petroglyphs.

We enjoyed the beauty of nature.

And although I have no photographic proof, we also went to the Space Museum, and we enjoyed a pot luck dinner with our new NM friends!

When can we go back?

Looking Back - Fourth

It was a great occasion to celebrate, even if the weather didn't cooperate. My nephew was donned in his purple cap and gown -- multiple honor cords around his neck -- and gracefully made his way across the graduation stage with not even a tiny stumble. I don't think he was concerned about the stumble at all, that's just me. Anyway, with diploma in hand and a smile on his face, Bryan left high school headed toward a big and bright future. In his case, said future includes Purdue University and a spot in the College of Engineering studying Astronautical Engineering.

So, here's my hopes for him as he begins his college career:

• He'll always find a sandwich in his launch box.
• He'll never find an unidentified frying object in the cafeteria.
• He'll remain down-to-earth.
• He won't turn in to a lunartic.
• And, one of these days, he'll have the opportunity to eat in a moon restaurant. (I hear the food is fine, but it lacks atmosphere.)

And a message of caution that we can all learn from:

Jupiter came down to Earth one day and decided to help two criminals to rob a bank. Anyway, to make a long story short, they got caught and the three of them found themselves in court. The judge sentenced the two earthlings to fifteen years, and Jupiter was a bit shocked when he was sentenced to ten years. "But your honor," said Jupiter. "I didn't even take part in the robbery!" "Yes," said the judge. "But you helped them --- Planet!"

Visitors

This past week began with a "first time to be away from home and fly on an airplane by ourselves" visit from my twin nieces. Nine years old. Sweet as can be.

Day one: Celebration dinner of steak and potatoes. A sweet "no thank you" to the garden fresh sliced tomatoes. They are good eaters.

Day one, PS: Begin our game of Monopoly. Begin, you say? Not play a game of Monopoly? No. Begin.....

Day two: Big trip to Fossil Rim Wildlife Park. My three grandbabies come along, too. Everyone is anxious to get to the giraffes. We finally get there. Two wander over, ready to eat all the food we care to share. FYI: If the sun roof is open, the giraffe WILL poke it's head in. And if the feed bag is accessible, the giraffe WILL poke it's head in it. And if you pull the bag away and food falls out of its mouth and down the back of your shirt, the giraffe WILL poke his tongue down to retrieve it. Oh, and giraffes slobber. A lot.

Day two, PS: Monopoly game continues.

Day three: Shrek Forever After. Nothing better for a hot afternoon in Texas than an afternoon in a cool theater. Popcorn, coke and a lovable green ogre. We had a good time.

Day three, PS: Monopoly game concludes. It was a long, hard-fought battle. I won. Is that bad?

Day four: Swimming. Need I say more?

Day five: Pack up and head back home. They left wanting more. So did we.

Some things I learned:

• 9 year old girls love to Pictochat. This is a feature in the Nintendo DS. You can write notes back and forth, similar to instant messaging. It was a great way to get a conversation started.
• One minute they are 9, and the next minute you'd swear they are 16. Mature about some things, little girls about others. (Thank goodness!)
• They cook! And they love to discuss recipes. I'm slightly worried about Hot Dog Surprise.....
• Laughing comes very easy. Also snorting!
• Some days there is just no reason to agree on anything. They may be twins, but they sure have minds of their own.
• And although he wouldn't admit to missing the girls, big brother sure kept a close watch on them via Facebook and text messages.

We're still smiling.

Postcards

I continue to enjoy sending and receiving postcards from all around the world. I've been participating for the past 79 days. In this time period, 21 people have found postcards from me waiting in their mailbox. My cards have traveled a distance of 79,275 miles. The longest distance was 9715 miles (to Singapore, China) and the shortest was 30 miles (to the DFW area).

During this same time, 20 postcards have been delivered to my mailbox. They have traveled a combined distance of 83,279 miles. The longest distance was 9261 miles (from Australia) and the shortest was 46 miles (from the DFW area).

This postcard was sent by Heather, from Iowa. As she sent her card, most of her family was gathering in Dallas to witness her nephew's first communion. She couldn't make the trip, but she did have a plan to take her family to a community festival over the weekend. Iowa adopted the wild rose as their state flower in 1897.

The Tatra Mountains in Poland are beautiful and are used for much recreation, including mountain climbing and water sports. Justyna sent the card from her home in Poland, and she's hoping that one day she will be able to live in a small mountain village. She's not a fan of the big city! When she sent her card, it was raining and 15 degrees C. (That's 60 degrees F for us!)

It's fun to get cards that bring back memories for me, and this card from Dianne did just that. I've seen Mt. Rainier a few times when I've traveled to Washington state to visit family. It's breathtaking from any viewpoint -- in the air or on the ground. Dianne reminded me that this year is the 30th anniversary of it's last eruption.

My nieces are here this week, visiting from Arizona. The girls and I had a fun time last night looking over the postcards and reading the messages these strangers sent. There were lots of oohs and giggles.

I can tell this is going to be a good week.

Why I Love You, Lyrically

Today my husband and I celebrate our wedding anniversary. (You should see the beautiful roses he gave me!)

I've decided to profess my love for him lyrically. One line for every year....

You fill up my senses, like a night in the forest.

As time goes on, I realize just what you mean to me.

I love you. You love me. We're a happy family.

Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this.

You're my sunshine after the rain.

Can you feel the love tonight?

I see my whole future in your eyes.

Two hearts that beat as one.

You give me fever when you hold me tight.

You gave your love away, and I'm thankful every day for the gift.

Fill my heart with gladness, take away my sadness, ease my troubles, that's what you do.

I never knew I could feel like this.

I could not love you any better; I love you just the way you are.

When I hold you in my arms I've got all I'll ever need.

In my eyes I see no one else but you.

The miracle of love will take away your pain.

Always and forever, each moment with you is just like a dream to me that somehow came true.

Nobody loves me like you do.

Only you can make this world seem right.

I say love, it is a flower, and you it's only seed.

We're still having fun, and you're still the one.

You're the million reasons why there's love reflecting in my eyes.

Unforgettable, that's what you are.

Strong, strong as a mountain; one you can count on.

It's amazing how you can speak right to my heart.

I can fly higher than an eagle, 'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.

From the first time I saw you it felt like coming home.

You light up my life; You give me hope to carry on.

The first time ever I saw your face, I thought the sun rose in your eyes.

Prince Charming, my angel, my king and my friend.

You're my life, you're my world; you're my rare and precious pearl.

Happy Anniversary! I can't wait for the next 31 years!

Starting Early

We have an anniversary coming up in 3 days so we thought, "Why not start the celebration early?" So Saturday noon we began the festivities.

Where to start? Subway, of course. We've been limiting our calories and lunch is allotted about 300 of them. Subway is a great way to get a good meal without blowing your diet. They should mention this on The Biggest Loser. Oh, wait. They do. Often.

Next stop -- we get all cultural and head to The Modern. We're just in time for the "Andy Warhol - The Last Ten Years" exhibit. Interesting and no crowd. What more could you ask for?

Then the serious celebrating begins. We're off to Dallas. We have a room on the 22nd floor of the Hilton Anatole. Nice. A glass of wine at the Gossip Bar. (We didn't hear any gossip, though.) Change clothes. Arrive right on time for our reservation at Nana, a casually elegant restaurant offering upscale American cuisine with a spectacular view of the Dallas skyline from the 27th floor of said hotel. You can say that again.

We chose to have the seven course tasting menu. (If that sounds gluttony, just know that could have chosen the ten course menu. But we didn't. We thought seven would probably be enough.)

First course: Pumpkin & Red Curry Bisque with Thai Crab Croquettes, Soba Noodles, and Thai Herbs.

Second course: Fire Grilled Shrimp with Porcini Rice and Asparagus

Third course: Day Boat Sea Scallops with Pine Nut-Garlic Sofrito and Black Currant Emulsion

Fourth course: Slow Roasted Berkshire Pork Belly with Rhubarb Chutney and Curried Cauliflower

Fifth course: Grilled Filet of Beef with Candied Olives, Orange and Red Onion

Sixth course: California Strawberries, Strawberry Consomme, Coconut Ice Cream and Candied Lemon

Seventh course: Vahlrona Manjari Gazpacho with Balsamic Vinegar, Hazelnut Oil and Vanilla Gelato. [Note: this was like chocolate sauce poured over ice cream.]

And then, because we were celebrating an anniversary -- and they didn't want us to go away hungry -- they brought out Cheese Cake with Graham Cracker "Earth", Mango Sorbet and Mojito Coulis.

Yum-O. Totally blew the calorie count -- and we loved every bite.

Down To A Trickle

My Postcrossing action has been really, really slow lately. Maybe it's due to the volcano ash. Who knows. Anyway, I am glad to see a few cards show up in my mailbox.

Joanna, from The Netherlands, is a girl my age with four children and one granddaughter. She sent such an interesting postcard. It is made by the company MeMe, the memory alive! Everything they make is developed to stimulate the memory and encourage physical and cognitive skills. Their focus is on people that deal with memory disorders like Alzheimer's, with brain hemorrhages, and with demented and mentally handicapped youth who suffer from dementia.

So, I'm not sure how this postcard stimulates my memory, but I do know that I like it. And I like that Joanna combines having a little fun with doing some good in the world. I'd say Joanna is making a difference.

This next postcard was fun to receive because it was from a place that I've been to before. Vicky in Missouri had me recalling the day my sister and brother-in-law took Mom and me to see St. Louis. I remember the ballpark being really pretty. I also remember that it is close quarters in the top of the arch. And very bendy -- go figure. But you sure can see a long, long way.

Lastly, today's mail brought a postcard from Jan in Allen, TX -- a mere 46 miles away! She obviously keeps herself quite busy. For one thing, she made her own postcard. The photos are local, and quite good I might add. Their old train station has been turned in to a museum now. Love the train tracks. Can you take a bad photo of train tracks?

Jan doesn't stop there. She knits caps for cancer patients. She's a grandmother to two grandchildren. She's passionate about animals. She loves her flowers. And she paints rocks. Paints rocks, you say? Yes. She paints rocks. And they are cute, too. I can tell from her postcard and her blog that she's an upbeat and happy person. Gotta love that.

So that does it for my postcard fun. I'm hoping the action picks up.

Looking Back

I forgot to look forward to our trip to Austin. Once a quarter my hubby goes to a board meeting, and we always have a great time. We usually stay in the Renaissance at the Arboretum area but not this time. Our hotel is determined by the state and they have made another excellent choice: the Westin at The Domain.

The Domain is a new area that has parks and jogging trails combined with shopping, dining, and entertainment. It also has several hotel, condo and apartment options. And office space. The Domain was planned with the principles of Green Urbanism in mind: walk instead of drive, energy-efficient homes, recycled building materials, and lots of trees.

Let's talk about shopping for a minute. This place has serious shopping. Shops I have no reason to wander in to. Neiman Marcus is an anchor! Then there's Burberry, Cole Haan, Michael Kors, and Stuart Weitzman. Several jewelry stores including David Yurman and Tiffany & Co. Sur La Table. Juicy Couture. BCBG. Betsey Johnson. And they promise a Nordstrom's and a Whole Foods.

Now eating. Fleming's Prime Steakhouse. McCormick & Scmick's. Joe DiMaggio's Italian Chophouse. And -- California Pizza Kitchen. (I don't know why CPK always tries to pull me in their door!)

All that being said, I didn't buy a thing. And we didn't eat there. But look out next quarter.

I will come prepared.

Getting Old?

Last week I had lunch with my old work buddies. Once a month, rain or shine, the JMR Lunch Group gets together for food, fun, and information dissemination.

Today I got together with the Villa Girls. Same story, different group.

My daughter tells me "you know you're getting old when you belong to groups with cute little names." Well - those are NOT cute little names. But I get her point.

Maybe she's wrong?

Looking Back - Third

The trip to DC was so much fun. First of all, just to get to see the historical monuments and buildings is incredible. Drive away from the airport and right in front of your eyes is the Washington Monument. Look over here and see the Capitol Building. Look over there and see the Pentagon. I even saw Arlington National Cemetery. But my first stop was to the National Mall and the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. Yes, just me and every high school, junior high school and elementary school student that happened to be in DC that day!

Strange though. When I went to take a photo of the elephant, the crowds parted and the entry looked practically empty. There were thousands of people there - honestly - but I sure couldn't prove it by this photo!

My favorite exhibit was Nature's Best Photography Awards Exhibition 2009. I've seen this exhibit other years and I was excited to see it again. It lets you "experience nature through the art of photography." You can enjoy the exhibit on the internet at www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/natures_best_2009/gallery/index.html, but here are a couple of my favorites.

I Smithsonianed until my daughter left work, then spent the rest of the weekend with her - and sometimes her boyfriend. We found great places to eat: Indian cuisine at Tandoori Nights, seafood at Kinkeads, tapas at Jaleo. We shopped. We visited. We marveled at the cleaning power of her new Roomba. And on Sunday, we set out to turn her patio into a garden. Success! First, the hanging herb garden.

Then, the container display. My container gardening book says a large pot should "thrill, fill, and spill" so that's what we were going for. I liked how it all turned out, and I think she'll enjoy the flowers throughout the spring and summer.

So as I said, the trip was so much fun. It was hard to leave her, and I wish we lived closer, but I'm so excited for her to have the experience of living and working in our nation's capitol. She's building memories of a lifetime.

I'll be excited to go back!

Here's How It Went Down

All they knew was that they would be picked up at 7:30 for dinner. Commemorating a sixtieth wedding anniversary is a big deal. And a big night deserves big plans.

You have to look good. We really dressed up. He wore his black suit, white shirt and maroon, black-swirl design tie. He looked very handsome. I wore my black three-piece suit with violet trim, gold and violet earrings and pendant. I had spent the afternoon getting my hair and makeup the best I could.

You need a sweet ride. The doorbell rang. There was the longest white limousine I have ever seen parked in front of our house! The windows were dark and the evening was dark. We wondered where we were going. Twin Mountain Steakhouse? No, we were headed near the center of town. Taco Bell? Then we turned at Subway's - but no - we didn't stop there either. We finally turned into the Chicken Farm Art Center and then walked into the Silo House Restaurant.

Good food is a must. We shared the Duck Diablo appetizer and the Hot and Crunchy Batter-fried Avocado. Lobster Bisque for the soup and a tossed salad. For the main course, he chose Tea-smoked Yellow Tuna with Chipotle Ginger Shellac. I chose Ribeye Steak with a Shitake and Carmelized Pearl Onion Glaze. We brought home enough leftovers for two meals! But we ate all of the Creme Brulee and fresh Strawberries as we sipped our decaf coffee.

Add some romantic music. As we were eating dessert, our waitress brought over her guitar and sang a love song she had written years ago.

Remember the good times. Rain had been falling off and on for weeks. The wedding was planned indoors, at the Bruntz's home, with room for 35 people plus the wedding party. It was a special blessing from Our Dear Lord that the sun shone that April 15th, so we could have our wedding in the garden patio. 65 people signed our wedding book!

Head back home. When we got back in the limo, we were given a bottle of champagne. They took us on the long way home - by the river and downtown. It was a treasured memory evening.

Mission Accomplished.

Looking Back - Second

My cousin has been in town for the past 5 days, and she's headed back home tomorrow. We had the opportunity to be together twice -- but that wasn't nearly enough. She was really here to help out and visit with her son and his family. And with his three little ones ages 4 and under, that's a lots of helping and visiting!

I was always close to my cousins growing up. We were together often; not every day but several times a week. Even as adults, there are a couple of cousins I keep in touch with weekly -- this cousin being one of them. The other one was lucky enough to marry one of my best friends from junior high and high school. (And I'm lucky, too, because she's still my BFF!) Although I don't talk to the rest of them often, none would be too surprised to hear me on the other end of the phone line.

Well, maybe one would.

Just Rolling In

When I returned from my trip to the cabin there were a stack of postcards waiting for me. I'm really liking getting something in the mailbox other than junk mail!

Kristin sent this card from Chicago's Museum of Science & Industry where she volunteers, although she lives the next state over in Indiana. She is particularly fond of the lego displays they have there. And she's a Star Trek fan.

Linda sent her card from Vancouver. She loved the hustle and bustle of the city during the Olympics. Her home sits just north of the US border.

Mircea sent his card from Ploiesti, Romania. He wrote nothing but my address on the card! I had to do some research to figure out that this bust is of Julia Hasdeu, daughter of a famous Romanian writer. Julia, who died at age 18, was an accomplished poet and musician. Her father built a castle in her honor after her death, claiming that his daughter's spirit provided the building plans!

Brigit in Germany made up for Mircea's lack of writing by squeezing 29 lines of print on her card! And she used a glitter marker, too! She recently moved from Munich to the small town of Meppen. She's a survey engineer who likes to read and skydive. She was excited about visiting her mom over the Easter holidays. The card says: Pit of Nordhorn, Germany ...experience the city of water! (Maybe pit means lake. At least that's my best guess.)

Lastly, I received this cool cut-out card from Maggie in Austria. Vorarlberg is what we would call a state, and it's major cities are shown on this card. Maggie lives in a small village in the Alps.

Join in on the fun.

www.postcrossing.com

In-law Love

My mother- and father-in-law were visiting us a couple of weeks ago, and I love it when they are here. They had some medical appointments, and I took a bit of the stress away by driving them around our metroplex. They always act like I'm doing them a big favor, but I think I'm lucky to be in the right place at the right time with the right contacts to help out. So as I've thought about them today, I've come up with my top five list of why I love my in-laws.

5. They love to go out. They never turn down a good time. Whether it's breakfast at IHOPs or dinner at a 5-star restaurant, they're ready. And they won't pass up a good martini or a glass of Sherry (Drysack, please) either!

4. They have become dear friends. We are abundantly blessed to be able to spend a lot of quality time together. We laugh at crazy things from the past and crazy things now. We talk about family and share stories, hopes, and dreams. We are proud together, we are concerned together. We are happy together, and sometimes we are sad together. We are just more than in-laws. We are family AND friends.

3. They are so committed. To each other -- they celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary today! To their children -- they have five educated, responsible, and loving children. To their grandchildren -- twelve of them that they adore and travel the US to see. To their great-grandchildren -- three of those little angels. To their friends -- they keep in touch by phone and mail with friends they've kept since childhood and beyond.

2. They gave birth to my husband. Duh. Of course I love them for this reason!

and the number 1 reason I love my in-laws:

They love me. And they never fail to let me know.

Happy Anniversary! I love you!

Looking Back - First

The trip to the cabin has come and gone. An old (time, not age) work friend and I left last Saturday and pulled in back home last night. A quick 4 days, but we accomplished a lot. Mostly shopping. But we also ate. Oh, and a little bit of Baileys.

We also carefully watched each sunset. They are absolutely beautiful from the deck of the cabin. The last one was especially pretty with all of the storm clouds that had just rained themselves out. Here's the one from Saturday night:

The basement remodel is going great. I can make out the family area, both bedrooms, and the bathroom. Plumbing is done. The electrician is finished. Next up is insulation and walls.

Time to plan the next trip.

Happy Mailbox

My mailbox made me happy this week! It gave me three different opportunities to get a glimpse of people and places I never knew existed.

First from Brazil. Manoela, a 21 year-young lady, showed me where she lives on the southern coast of Brazil. She is an architecture student working on a pediatric hospital project.

Next, Vitaly showed me where the cruise ships dock in his town of Vladivostok -- Russia's largest port city and home of the Russian Pacific Fleet. He also let me know that he was a fan of the American TV show America's Best Dance Crew. (Aren't we all?)

Today I heard from Yingtao. She, like Manoela, is a university student. Her hometown is hosting the 2011 World University Games. She is preparing to be a student reporter for the games. By the way, that's not her house there on Xiaoputuo Island. It is a pavilion that was built during the Ming Dynasty.

As beautiful as all of these sights are, I am blessed with beauty right before my eyes each and every day right here at home. Our bluebonnets have bloomed and are in abundance this year. The lake is full. The birds are singing and I even saw a scissortail! Yea! No more freezes for us.

The scissortails are never wrong.

New Neighbors

The old neighbors must have slipped out in the dark of the night. Seriously. None of the neighbors saw anything. How can you move out a house full of furniture without someone noticing? They must have figured it out. Anyway, they are gone.

The new neighbors are in. And I have some concerns.

To begin with, they are old. Old? How old is old? In this case, old is 89. Next -- poor vision. He can't use a computer, read a book, drive a car. Her glasses are thick, and not always on her face. "Where are my glasses?" Also -- poor retention, at least with some things. We've talked about trash pick-up and recycling rules three times this week already. On the other hand, they know my phone number by memory.....but not my name!

All of the above is to preface what has been on my heart this week, and it's this: I don't think it's an accident that this couple moved in next door. So, what plan does God have for this relationship? What will my role in their life be?

My eyes and heart are open to the opportunity.

The Lord will guide you always. Isaiah 58:11

Seeing The World

Postcards from near and far continue to show up in my mailbox. Here are the latest ones.

Katja, who is from Germany but lives in Florida, sent this card. Who knew there was a Hollywood on each coast?

Ali, a 21 year old guy, sent a postcard from his home in Turkey. I think he is in love with the idea of being in love as evidenced by his Valentine card - dated over a month after the holiday. He was also impressed with the length of my marriage, commenting that his years living was much less than our years married! (It says February 14 - World Valentine's Day -- in Turkish, of course.)

Lastly, Paavaliina from Finland, sent a weather report from her country. There's been lots and lots of snow. She's ready for Spring. Me, too.

I'm enjoying seeing the world through postcards.