Changes

The past few weeks have been wonderful -- busy, busy, and just a bit crazy. 

First, I'm going to be a grandmother!  Due at Christmas - I just wanted earrings, but no, my daughter and son-in-law insist - a baby before the New Year.  Our family is growing - how exciting!  Someone new to love.  Sigh.

Also, my son graduated from Texas A&M and we now have a second lieutenant in the family.  He's off on adventures of his own, much loved and thought of, and we are very proud of him. 

I've visited with many of my family and friends lately (still have a few on my list that I hope to see soon) - you are all loved.  Hope you are happy and doing well and, if any of you are coming to visit, please call an hour before you arrive so I can change the sheets and clean the bathroom...

In all the excitement I forgot to mail a package to Betty Lou at American Vintage Quilts so tomorrow I'm off to the post office to mail some fabric to her.  Fabric I promised her in June has been sitting here gathering dust while I've been out having fun.

I'm going to try to post on a more regular basis, it helps me get things done and lets my mother and my children know that I'm still here.

Mr. J&C and I have been harvesting okra and having all kinds of fun cleaning house and ---- o.k., we have harvested and eaten okra from our garden a few times.  We've also been to a few college football games, slept in a several hotels, eaten delicious food, and traveled a bunch (two oil changes in two months a bunch).  One of us may have to dust - soon - I hope it will be fun.

Well, I sat down to get you caught up on my adventures and I almost forgot to tell you about the big change here at the house...

 

I moved the hummingbird feeder to the front yard, next to the dining room window - now meals are livelier on both sides of the window.

Happy Monday!


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It's A Sign

It has been a week since I slept in my own bed.  I am fortunate enough to be traveling around Texas in springtime.  It's beautiful here folks.

I was in San Antonio on Tuesday as tornadoes tore across North Texas.  I have talked with a few neighbors and know that our home is still there, safe and sound. 

I am curious to see my garden.  Like a young child, gardens change daily and each day you are not there you are missing something.

Life is full of trade offs.  I have had a chance to visit with friends and do a little sightseeing.  All those bluebonnet pictures showing up online are true - Texas wildflowers are at their peak this time of year.  Even Interstates, my least favorite way to travel, have color. 

This morning I head home up US Highway 281 through the Texas Hill County.  When I drive this stretch of highway I take it as a sign that we are all loved, and I always feel like the road between San Antonio and Stephenville was created just for me to enjoy.

This morning I woke up 'under' this sign -

I can hardly wait to see where the day will take me.


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Vacation Anyone?

I never travel without my diary.  One should always have something sensational to read....  Oscar Wilde 

What does this month hold for you?  For me, travel is in my present and my future.  Not just any travel, this week I'm in New Orleans.  It's my first visit to this beautiful, dirty, charming city. 

Window Boxes

Even the down spouts are pretty. 

 I'm a big fan of functional art.

Wonder what it's like to live above the shop...

Wonder who cleans up the fertilizer...

I have this thing for doors, even doors that are under construction. There was a huge red poppy painted on the inside wall.  This looked like the beginning of a beautiful shop.

Bloom (grow) where you are planted.

I've walked around the French Quarters visiting so many wonderful shops.  Cooking and food stores, a dress shop or two, antique, art and jewelry shops have entertained me for the last few days.  And I must confess a few tourist trap/junk shops - and a nearby Walgreens - we needed Tums (way too much fried food).

Antiques de Provence is a shop I saw online and hoped someday to visit.  I got my chance this week and loved it.  The shop is great, a little above my price range, but just the chance to see these beautiful pieces made for a fun afternoon.  There were several rooms to explore and a garden (courtyard) area.

This lamp was for sale for almost $900, it was wooden and the paint finish looked more gold than silver, all the colors were kind of muddled with a bit of wood showing through here and there. Funny thing - it reminds me of a lamp I have at home, simple, wooden and painted silver for a "Star Wars" bedroom.

I enjoyed these two room, especially the matching chandeliers.

My photos are o.k., check out their website to see how beautiful everything is.  http://www.antiquesdeprovencellc.com/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx

My husband is here on business so at night we've done a little sight seeing and had some great meals - lots of seafood.  A simple dessert of coffee and beignets at Cafe Du Monde was one of our favorite adventures. 

Delicious and hot (I can't believe this is what we had on such a hot night), the atmosphere was friendly - noisy, all kinds of people, laughter and music (a group of young men trying to become a street band).  A couple of days later I bought the beignet mix and a tin of coffee, someday at home we're going to try and recreate our adventure - when the weather is much cooler.

My favorite lunch was Caesar salad with Blackened Shrimp - it was so good and the Bloody Mary I had with it might have lived up to the restaurant's claim of "Best Bloody Marys in Town."

I found a Christmas ornament (I like to bring home an ornament from our trips and vacations) and a few Christmas gifts. 

It has been a nice break.  The afternoons have been very hot so I have had a chance to just sit and read.  It's been great fun not having to do housework.  Yes, the garden, garage, and guest room await my return.  I'll get to them, for now it is summer and we are on vacation - well, I am on vacation.  Life is good.