Bermuda Trip - Day 3 New York City and Board Carnival Venezia

Good Morning!  It is another change venue day for us and an errand has to happen before we check out of our hotel.   Hello Empire State Building - perhaps next visit we'll make our second journey up to your lookout.

Bermuda Trip - Day 2 New York City - Statue of Liberty Crown Visit

 Good Morning!!!  We have looked forward to today since I bought tickets last March.  However, they have to be picked up at Will Call early this morning.  We hit the subway early and have arrived at Castle Clinton for retrieval of said items.

Bermuda Trip - Day 1 New York City - Back We Go

 Vacation Day is here!  We have a SUPER early flight and are thankful that a Lyft person wanted to pick us up at 4:30 a.m.  Whew.  We made it in plenty of time and are now up, up, and away.

Road Trip - Days 39 - 40 - Road Trip Home

We are officially on the road back home, but . . . coffee.  Yes, coffee.  Mister found this place earlier in the week and wanted to share it with me.  Come along for a step back in time.

Road Trip - Days 35 - 39 - Billings

 After a very busy day yesterday, I okay with some calm for the morning.  This is my view as I drink my coffee and recoup some energy.

Road Trip - Day 34 - Billings Fourth of July

 Happy Independence Day!!!!  We have a party to attend at Matt's house this evening, but until then there are still hours to use up.  Elena has to work until around 3 so the rest of us are off to the park for a bit.  It's been a few years since I was down at Pioneer Park and it's still as pretty as I remember it.

Road Trip - Days 31- 33 - Billings

 Today is July 1st and that marks Day 31 of this trip.  We are in grandparent mode and taking care of four grands while their parents take a vacation and few days together.  We're in Billings, MT and starting to get into the structure of littles and teens.  What a combo!  Oldest teen works for her uncle during the day and that leaves us with three.  Today, we are attempting to water the lawn AND teach Mariel that water is not of the devil.  She is truly afraid and runs from the water for quite awhile before venturing close to it but running alongside it.

Road Trip - Days 23-30 - Billings

 One more week left in June and we are staying at Matt's house.  However, Rhiana is throwing a birthday party for Isla today and she doesn't know we are in town yet, so Gammy and Grandpa will surprise her.  When we arrive, it's GREAT!  Littles are excited and my daughter is so surprised.  This is so fun.  Now to just play and enjoy the day.

Road Trip - Days 16-22 - Bigfork and Travel to Billings

 We are halfway through June and loving the weather and time with family.  This morning we went to Echo Lake Cafe for breakfast and met up with Jill and her family.  The grounds around the restaurant are simply beautiful.

Road Trip - Days 9-15 - Bigfork

 We are at Moms and blessed with a visit from our Niece/Nephew and grands.  Yep, any form of grand works for us.  We love time with them all.  Here they come and I can't believe how much Avrielle has grown.

Road Trip - Days 7 & 8, Last Day in Provo and Travel to MT

 It's our last day in Provo due to a booking error by me.  It sucks, but every now and then I blow it.  This is one of the nows.  We have to check out of our little house this morning and once the work is done and the car loaded, we are off to meet Cassie and then - THE ZOO for the day.  It is about a 45 minute drive, but at least the traffic isn't terrible.  In we go with my reciprocal membership for the adults and Cass's coupons for the little.  The first thing we see are chalk drawings happening all over the grounds.

Road Trip - Days 5 & 6 Provo, UT

 Good morning!  I am off to play the day away and that is just what we do.

Road Trip - Days 3 & 4 in Provo, UT

 Yay for time with grands and my daughter.  I treasure this each year as we get a chance to reconnect and talk while spending time with the littles.  Today, I've left Mister alone at the house so he can work and am off to the library for some fun.

The Road Trip Begins - Days 1 and 2

 It is the first of June and we are hitting the road.  This one is a LONG trip.  We will be back sometime in July and then I will leave again the very next day for the rest of that month.  Let's get on the road.  See ya around the states.

Crazy Storm

 It is the 28th of May and we have been woken by tornado sirens and the power out.  As I walk to the front door and check outside, I find the neighbors tree in our yard.  Wow, we were sleeping sound and I cannot believe it didn't hit our house.   I WAS supposed to take the car in this morning and leave in half an hour so obviously that isn't going to work.  A quick call later and it'll be tomorrow morning and today will be an attempt to clean up this mess.

Within 15 minutes a couple of men from our neighborhood arrive with chainsaws and begin the challenge of finding my driveway.  This is just so sweet of them.

They make pretty quick work of it and within an hour have the driveway fairly cleared and piles of branches everywhere.

Right around this point, we lose cell service and all internet as well.  Perfect.  I did manage to get one post out that we were okay, but that's it.  Power company says that the power will be out perhaps until Saturday.  Oh goodness - this is Tuesday and we are supposed to leave Saturday morning.  Mister heads out to find internet for a bit so he can get some work done and discovers that south of us is doing better.  Around 4 in the afternoon, the neighbor has someone there to get the remaining branches out of their tree as they were hanging precariously over our driveway.  They also load up some of the branches and haul them away.

We don't want to open the refrigerator, so off to Lakewood Growler for internet and food.  Mister gets more work done and I use the time to check online and send some messages/make some calls as well.

29th - Still no power but first thing this morning I take the car in maintenance, leaving Mister to work at the coffee shop he found yesterday.  

I returned home after the car maintenance to find that the power is gloriously on and nothing melted in the freezer - that's always a good sign.  In fact, the ice cubes were still loose.  However, still no internet and cell is VERY sketchy.  I can get a weak signal if I stand near the front window.  This lets me make short calls and that is it.

Ducks and a Gorgeous Sunset at White Rock Lake

 It is time to get out of the house.  A trip down to White Rock Lake always calms the soul and allows nature to permeate and relax us.  As we approach the Pelican viewing point, a Mama Duck and her little ducklings catch our eye.  Do you see them?

Still Birthday Season

 My birthday weekend continues.  Today Mister has started out with a brand new coffee/pastry shop and it is sooooo yummy.  I guess calling it a bakery is more apt and they are working to enlarge their offerings.  

Birthday Fun - Dallas Zoo (Hippo Heavy), Davis Coffee, Manhattan Project, and Family

 It's my Birthday!!!  We are off to the zoo bright and early for a member morning and while we are walking around, my phone is constantly buzzing.  I LOVE IT!  Who wouldn't?  I heard from my mom, four children, three grandchildren, and two girlfriends while enjoying the zoo.  Crazy, right?  At any rate, you're more interested in the animals, I bet.  Here ya go:  Baby flamingoes.

A Weekend in the Life With Rain

 There are just some times when ya gotta get out no matter what.  We are having rain, rain, and more rain, but every so often it lets up enough to make a dash someplace.  This morning we are off to breakfast at a new-to-us coffee shop, Middle Ground.  We spotted it last night while at dinner in the same shopping center and want to check it out.  Along the way - ya just never know what you will encounter.

Artscape at the Arboretum and a Beautiful Sunset

 We have tickets to the Member Preview of Artscape at the Arboretum this evening and the weather has given us a small window with which to enjoy it.  Come along for some fun and an evening walk.  Century plant preparing to bloom.

The Impressionist Revolution - Monet to Matisse at DMA

 For those who follow this blog and my quilt blog, you will know that I LOVE Monet.  When this new exhibit was announced, I instantly wanted to see it and cannot believe it has taken me two months to do so.  At any rate, today is the day and you know the drill - I'm going to educate you against your will as this is how I remember and learn.  If you only wish to look at the pics - go for it - they are amazing and these are some of the greatest artists in my humble opinion.  It is the 150th anniversary of the first Impressionist exhibition and this is a fitting celebration for it.  The core members of the Impressionist movement included Claude Monet, Edgar Degas and Berthe Morisot.  They set the foundation which following generations of avant-garde artists reacted, from Paul Gauguin and Vincent van Gogh to Piet Mondrian and Henri Matisse.  Come along with me today and see how many you recognize BEFORE reading to see.  I'll place the pictures first this time.

So - how did it all get started?  In 1874 an artist's collective that called itself the Anonymous Society of Painters, Sculptors, Printmakers, Etc. opened the first of what became eight group shows held over the course of twelve years.  The participants in each exhibition varied, and, beyond a shared rejection of artistic tradition, so did their subjects and approaches.  What unified these independent artists we now call the Impressionists was the desire to publicly exhibit their work.  Read that again --- all they wanted to do was exhibit.  Seems innocuous enough.  However, the only public exhibition venue for living artists in 19th-century Paris was the annual Salon organized and juried by the state-run Academy of Fine Arts.  Artists who diverged from Academic tradition (the styles and subject matter favored by the Academy) frequently experienced rejection and were left with no other avenues to garner critical and financial success.  By organizing their own exhibitions, the Impressionists bypassed the official system, an act that was as rebellious as it was entrepreneurial.  Despite the artists' efforts, the Impressionist exhibitions scandalized the Parisian public and were generally considered a failure.  Apart from a few forward-thinking critics and collectors, there was little appreciation or market for this subversive artwork until well after the last show in 1886.  Read that again --- Subversive.  Oh how I laugh when you think of what is subversive today.  Okay - here we go and I love this first one.

A Day in the Life of Mister and Lady - Beauty and Destruction

 Life is so interesting sometimes.  Our day started out like many weekend ones do.  An early morning walk around the Arboretum.  Time together just appreciating the beauty around us.  I am so thankful to have this incredible garden to just roam whenever we wish.  Sooooooo glad we don't have to reserve to attend anymore.  Spur of the moment is just fine.  At any rate, off we go.

Total Eclipse of the Sun in Dallas

 Ever since we went to Portland in 2017 to see the eclipse, we have known about this one in Dallas.  Eighteen months ago plans were made to be at a friends house in East Texas for the event, but the clouds and her sweeties health prevented that from happening.  Instead, we are in our backyard in Dallas and have fingers crossed that Mother Nature is friendly.  A glass of wine, lawn chair, and some glasses are all we need.  

Member Morning Walk at Dallas Zoo

 Taking time for each other never gets old.  With our membership to the zoo, we are blessed to enjoy the early morning member days.  Today the special presentation is in the aviary and it's wonderful.  So much to constantly learn about the animal kingdom that surrounds us daily.  Take a peek at a few pics from today -- not too many today.

Sunset at White Rock Lake

 Evening walks need to come back.  Here we go - off to the lake tonight to check on the birds and watch the sunset.  By the time we get there, we are bit too late for the sunset, but it's still dang pretty.  As we walk up to the dock, a nutria is nearby having his/her dinner.

Easter at Dallas Blooms

 Happy Easter!!!  We opted to wake early and head to the gardens and spend Easter morning with the beauty around us.  Here are a few pics to make you smile.

OHB Easter Egg Hunt

 We don't have a lot of plans for this weekend, but the OHB Easter Egg Hunt is happening and it's always a fun time.  Bobby opts to come along and learn a bit more about craft beer.  All of the sampler glasses in the pic are his.  Too funny.

Dallas Blooms w/Mister

 This year has been challenging to find time to thoroughly enjoy Dallas Blooms.  Some years we manage weekly visits and, yet, this year, not.  I went with my niece last week and have finally made it here with my sweetie.  The tulips are about gone, but the azaleas are FABULOUS.  Enjoy the eye candy and I'll share some fun along the way.  Upon our arrival, we were sent through a different gate for the early morning walk.  At the front gate, people were lining up for an Easter event that included breakfast, pictures, and an egg hunt.  This was our first view.

Mister's Bluebonnet Pictures - A Bit Behind

 Mister's pictures from our 2024 Bluebonnet drive.  His eye is always so cool.  To compare to my picks - here is the LINK to my post.  Enjoy.

2024 Bluebonnet Drive and Waxahachie

 Apparently, the bluebonnets are making an early appearance in Texas and since we have some plans for the next two weekends, today is our day to hunt for them.  At first we were worried that it was just too early, but . . . enjoy the eye candy.  We did.  (All my pics except where noted and I feel like bluebonnets would rather be seen with the eye than the camera - they see the lens and hide.)

Artiste at North Park Center

 This just happened.  An advertisement peaked my interest, I mentioned it to Mister, and when work was finished for the day - we made it happen.  In case you can't read the sign:  "Experience the artistry of flowers like never before in Fleurs de Villes ARTISTE, the bespoke floral exhibition on view in Texas for the first time at NorthPark Center.  The exhibition features a curated collection of 15 one-of-a-kind fresh floral mannequins, all created by North Texas' most talented floral designers with themes chosen by the region's vibrant arts and cultural organizations.  Each floral display distinctively showcases the featured institution, encompassing the disciplines of dance, music, theater, visual arts, and more.

Out and About - Shopping and Such

 Upon my return to Dallas this morning, Mister and I were off for some breakfast upon my request.  Dallas Diner it was and then we decided to hunt down a washing machine - or at least try to.  We haven't been to Nebraska Furniture Mart up in The Colony.  Perhaps this will work.

Brock and Jill and Greyson - Round Two - Day 4 - Dallas World Aquarium, Dallas Zoo

 Up, up everyone.  It's a full day and our wonderful visitors have to fly away this afternoon.  We are going to do our best to send them off on a high.  We had early entry to the zoo, but it's still pouring out.  Supposedly that is supposed to end around 11 so we are punting once again.  First stop is the coffee shop.  I didn't have access to this information and made a whole pot of coffee first - but a cake will happen this week now.  It's all good.  With rain really not letting up, we decide to go to the Dallas World Aquarium first.  Maybe we can get both in that way.  Straight downtown and in - it's pretty busy with the rain and all, but we'll still have a good time.  Enjoy the pics, comments only when necessary or helpful.

Brock and Jill and Greyson - Round Two - Day 3 - Grapevine, LEGO Land, Meow Wolf and Ephesians

 Rain, rain, go away --- we want to play!  I don't think it will happen at all today, so a punt is required.  We rarely get rain that is socked in for a full day, but today just such a thing is happening and it will continue until tomorrow.  Be that as it may, as I said - "Punt."  Mister has to work in Irving again all day today, so everyone is up early to drop him off at 8.  Grapevine is just down the road and we have planned our day for that area.  First up --- Breakfast!  We find a spot downtown that is open --- you would think from the picture that it is the bakery, but you would be wrong.  it is Chez Fabien, the Bistro.  Oh, and breakfast is divine.  Truly.  This Strawberry Romanoff Crepe is to die for.  It was large enough that all had a share and even Greyson declared it "Yum."

Brock and Jill and Greyson - Round Two - Day 2 - Northpark Mall and Taste of Fort Worth

What to do - what to do?  I have a driving schedule for today and am trying to figure out how to fit some fun in.  Mister has to be in Irving for meetings from noon to eight.  Brock is in conference until 4.  Jill and Greyson are ready for anything.  We let Brock and Jill sleep in a bit and get Greyson fed and ready for the day.  He and I leave to pick her up and decide to go be mall walkers for a bit (I have to be back at the house by 11 to take Mister to Irving - this is one of those times when one car is a bit harried and Mister's meetings were TOTALLY unexpected when we planned this visit with Brock and Jill).

Brock and Jill and Greyson - Round Two - Day 1 - Arboretum and Klyde Warren

 Spring has arrived in Dallas and so has my niece, Jill, and her family.  I am off to pick her up this morning for a bit of a walkabout.  Dallas Blooms is in its third week and I still haven't been.  It's time.  With quick hugs and looks to hurry from the hotel staff, we start making our way there.  Oh goodness --- the parking lot is pretty full and we have a bit of a walk, but it will be worth it.  I promise.  First stop is the gift shop as Greyson needs a hat.  Done and away we go.

Into the garden and AHHHHH -