Mister's Bday - Bagels, Arboretum, Jimmy's, OHB, and more.

 Mister's Birthday is today and he is in charge - I'm along for the ride and happy to do so.  First up is Lubbies Bagels - a new-to-us shop.

It's pretty cute inside and I manage to snag us a table.

Bagel with a smear for me and Mister has a bagel with lox.  Add some coffee and it's a great start to the day.

Next up is the Arboretum.  It is actually opening day for Dallas Blooms, but with our weather being what it has been - we don't have high hopes.  This day is usually PACKED, but there are very few other humans out and about.  It's still pretty cold out.

However, that doesn't mean the arboretum won't yield her own beauty.  First of all - there is a new Seward Johnson exhibit of sculptures around and I plan to find as many as I can.  This skateboarder is in A Tasteful Place.

Looking towards the fountain, I spot this fella next.

We make our way to the main lawn.  I take this picture every year for Dallas Blooms (here is a LINK to opening day two years ago).  I'll get another one this next weekend.  Not too much color just yet.

The tulips are trying, though.

THIS next sculpture is pretty hard to miss.  Yep, that's Mister nearby.  They are HUGE.

There are daffodils nearby.

Even the other flowers are thinking twice about peeking out.

I love the detail on these sculptures.  He even has a wallet.

Heading into the Women's Garden, one of my favorite items is the wisteria.  It'll be awhile here too.

Just to give you an idea of how chilly it is today - Ice on the Water!!

Ya gotta look close, but it's there.

Two lovely ladies out for a stroll.

Now - we are in a shady area and on the "ice" alert.  Check these out.

If you look towards the back of this water feature, you can see how thick the ice is.

The little lovely was a little shy about letting me see its head.

However, Mr. Bright Red Cardinal, has no such qualms.

Empty Rose bushes.  HAHAHAHA - there's a theme here.

Looking towards the lake - one lone pelican cruises by.

Some areas have a scattering of tulips showing up.

THIS!!!  They are all in the deepest part of the water and not moving.  Not a bit.  It's kind of creepy to see in real life - nothing moves in pictures, but . . .

Same thing in the little nursery we located years ago.  It's full of babies and nothing is moving.

Even in the main pond - there must be a water outlet near, because they are ALL right there and, once again, not moving.

Mister does his thing and fixes the fisherman.  It always seems to need to be straightened out.

No greenery on the large wisteria plants.  I do see buds, though.

Even Fogelson Fountain has ice.  Y'all just thought I was joking when I said it was chilly out.

If it was warmer out - I might have missed this one - she looks pretty real.

Nearby is another that if the day was nicer, might be overlooked, but the ground is too cold to sit on.

Over in Magnolia Glen - 

Another bed that is really trying.

However - a sure sign of spring - they are mowing the lawns.

Yum.

There are two of these little fountain/ponds (?).  This one has the ice still in place.

The second one has the ice pulled out and on the grass.  Look how thick it is.

Usually there are red and yellow flowers on the bushes behind these shy tulips.

Direct sunshine on this bed helps.

We've done the loop - back to the main lawn.

This squirrel let me get VERY close after I took the picture.

This shows how empty the entrance plaza is.  Mister off getting some coffee.

We had to backtrack for one last sculpture - by the DeGolyer House.  

Back to the entrance/exit.  This is the ONE spot that the flowers look like they normally do at this time.

A few pots on the way out.

One pretty empty parking lot.  Very odd indeed.

Next up - Jimmy's Food Store to meet a winemaker from Italy and pick up a few items.  We then went to OHB for a bit and home for naps before our dinner plans.

Dinner is at Kalachandji's - Mister is soooo happy.

Our final stop for the night is at Boxcar and after hunting for parking and getting crazy lucky, we go in.  It is packed and finding a spot to sit is definitely challenging, but I keep on it while Mister finds a couple of drinks.  The premise here is that you will feel like you are in a boxcar, riding the rails.

By the time he has drinks - I have found a place to sit.  My espresso martini is so very good.  Happy camper.

I tried to take a video of the place - not very successful, but you might get the idea.  Well, that's it for today - birthday season continues tomorrow.