Getting More for Less

I have always tried to be a good shopper, but it seems that I work harder and harder at finding interesting things at a good price.  The internet helps.  Craigslist.com, TJMaxx, Marshall's, the Salvation Army...so many good places to shop!  My girls are good shoppers, AKA, bargain hunters.  The exciting part of bargain hunting is getting really good things at a great price, like six McGuire chairs for $260 (Audrey got them at a thrift store in Chicago!), a Burberry Coat for $12 at the Salvation Army in Dallas, a Baby Boden coat for $3 at the Salvation Army in Chicago, a Thomasville sofa for $45 in Tucson, and on and on.  I am also a minimalist, so I don't buy lots of stuff.  Still fun to shop for bargains! 

Self

This photo was taken by my cousin Dickie when they visited in July.  We were doing one of my favorite things, hiking.  We stopped for a few minutes in a shallow Indian cave to catch our breath, get a drink, and imagine how the Indians lived centuries ago.  I feel fortunate to have been born in 1957, rather than 1257!  I love the outdoors, hiking, observing nature in many forms, but I also love a hot shower, meals cooked on an electric stove, jet travel, telephones, and the internet!

Morning Hike

Papa and I hiked up a creek this morning to look at all the blooming flowers.  The creek crosses our road about a half mile from home.  There is still water running in the creek from the summer rains. The creek bed is wet and the flowers are beautiful.  We even saw a fingertip size frog.

Globe Trotting Grandchildren

Over the past month, Whitney and Corey went to France for a couple of weeks with Toby and Greta, and Claire and David traveled to Vienna, Austria with Emerson.  All had a good time 

and their travels produced a couple of photos that I love.

Toby at Pont du Gard in the south of France

   Emerson at Schonnbrum Palace in Vienna, Austria

Memories of Jones Creek over the Years

Aunt Rhea and Uncle Wayne started going to Franklin, North Carolina in the 1950's and they purchased a piece of creek front property a few years later.  I have memories of visiting them on Jones Creek, picking wild strawberries, going to the flea market, and playing in the creek, since I was very young.  Over the years, I've taken Papa and our children to visit Jones Creek too.  Much of the scenery along the way hasn't changed much in 50 years.  So many wonderful memories!

OPA!

When in Tucson, Papa and I eat out often.  One of our favorites is OPA!  As soon as guests are seated, the waiters bring complimentary hummus and tzatziki with fresh warm pita slices.  We almost always order Greek Salad and a lamb and beef gyro platter.  The leftovers are good too!

Flamenco Festival

I came across an ad for a Flamenco Festival, September 23-25, in Tucson.  I invited Mary down 

for the weekend, as I was sure she would enjoy it.  Mary has been dancing flamenco for many years.  We enjoyed the Flamenco Festival until the last performance, after 1 a.m.

Flamenco is a genre of music and dance with its foundation in eighteenth century Andalusian music and dance and in whose evolution Andalusian Gypsies played an important part.  The singing, guitar playing, dance and hand clapping are the principal facets of flamenco.  In 2010, UNESCO declared Flamenco one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.  

It is intense and enjoyable to watch and listen to.  

From Dallas

I flew to Dallas on Monday of this week, meeting Papa at the airport.  We spent three nights with Brian, Amy, Emily, and Sarah.  Papa and I made dinner each night, trying to help a bit with their busy schedule.  We went to Sarah's soccer game on Monday night.  Amy teaches 3rd grade in the Bedford School District, about 45 minutes to 1 hour commute each way.  Brian is still in the printing business and gets the girls off to school each morning.  The girls have after school activities, ranging from puppet club, to Girl Scouts, to soccer and volleyball.  They all get home around 6-6:30 each night.  Murry, their pet dog, holds down the fort, laying on the steps most of the day.

Papa and I had lunch with my long time dearest friend, Linda, on Tuesday.  It was such a treat to see her!  Papa testified at a hearing for a friend on Wednesday, so I spent much of the day with Linda.  We walked all around Northpark Mall and had lunch at La Madeleine.  Linda's Mom and sister visited a month or so ago, from Australia, and left lots of date cookies and pine nut cookies in her freezer.  We had coffee and cookies at her house and chatted away.

We enjoyed our years in Dallas, 1982-1992, and again 2000-2001.  It still feels like coming home 

in a way, as we know our way around town and have favorite restaurants and shops.  There is so much traffic and Dallas is such a large city that at this point in our lives, our rural life is easier 

and certainly more quiet.  Still, we had a great time this week!

Weekend in Chicago

I flew from North Carolina to Chicago on Tuesday, to help Audrey put her nursery together.  We've been busy and made a lot of progress.  There's more to do, but we are pleased so far.  Claire is in the US for a few days and flew to Chicago to join us for the weekend.  We shopped all morning, 

went to the Soupbox for lunch, had gelato at Paciugo, then went for a walk along the lakefront.  

It is a treat for me to spend time with two of my girls at the same time!

Aunt Rhea's 90th Birthday Party

It was a joy to reunite with family and to watch Aunt Rhea reunite with long time friends at her 90th birthday party on Sunday, September 11.  Cousin Jane planned a wonderful party menu. 
We all pitched in the couple of days prior to the party to do whatever Jane asked, to tie up loose ends.  There was so much good food, lots of smiles, and hugs all around. 

Sitting on the Porch on Jones Creek

Since I was a very small child, I've gone to North Carolina on visits to Aunt Rhea and Uncle Wayne's house.  My Dad built their house on Jones Creek in 1976 with a big porch off the kitchen.  Everyone has always gone to the porch to relax, watch the birds, eat together, and watch the creek flow.  This past weekend was no exception.  The porch at Aunt Rhea's house is a special place.

Weekend in North Carolina

Papa and I spent a long weekend in North Carolina, spending time with family to celebrate Aunt Rhea's 90th birthday.  We flew to Atlanta and drove to Franklin, NC last Friday afternoon.  

My Dad came from Kentucky and cousins from Florida.  We pitched in and helped with chores 

to prepare for Sunday's big party.  We enjoyed every moment!  We were reminded of the value of time with family.   We ate wonderful meals together and shared memories from years past while sitting on the porch overlooking Jones Creek.   Was close to perfect! 

Lemon Bars

Again yesterday, I took lunch to the guys gathering cattle on the west end of the ranch.  This time I prepared Mansion on Turtle Creek Roast Beef, French Potato Salad, Cabbage Slaw with Sliced Almonds and Cranberries, Hot Rolls with Raspberry Jam, and Lemon Bars.  Who doesn't love lemon bars?  Fortunately, we had leftovers for our own dinner last night!

Lemon Bars
1 stick butter, softened
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 cup all purpose flour
dash of salt

4 eggs
1 3/4 cups sugar
6 tablespoons all purpose flour
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon grated lemon rind

Mix butter, powdered sugar, 1 cup flour and salt.  Pat into 10x10 pan.
Bake for 20 minutes at 350.

In separate bowl, beat eggs slightly, add sugar, flour, lemon juice and lemon rind.  Pour over baked crust.  Bake again 25-35 minutes at 350 or until not jiggly in the middle.  Sprinkle while hot with powdered sugar.  Cut when cool into small squares.  A 10x10 pan will make 16 squares.  This is rich!

Gather on the West End

Papa was up at 4 today, in time to have breakfast and get down the hill to the corral to prep Oscar for a day of gathering cattle.  I got up at 5 and started lunch.  Around 6:15, I saw Papa meeting up with Colter's dad and grandad, in the Buck Knob pasture.  They were off!

I prepared beef stroganoff, hot rolls, tossed salad, and peanut butter cookies for lunch.  I left home by 10:30 and started toward the west end of the ranch, the long way by road but shorter in time.  Along the way, I saw Carly riding horses with Colter Lee and he wanted to come with me to take lunch to the guys.  He got in the Jeep and off we went.  The guys were a couple of hours later than they expected, so in the meantime Colter Lee and I chased butterflies, watched an amazing bright red summer tanager, skipped rocks on the pond, and he tried to teach me how to rope.  The roping was a lost cause but we had a good time.

The guys gathered over 275 mother cows, calves, and bulls.  After lunch they rode off to gather more.  Colter Lee and I started home.  He opened the gate for me at the ranch boundary.  Soon after, Colter Lee fell asleep and snoozed in the front seat of the Jeep, with his rope falling from his grip as his sleep deepened.  

Home Fabrics

I stopped by my favorite store in Tucson today, Home Fabrics.  They have the best selection of fabrics of any store I know.  I appreciate their customer service, the store's cleanliness, and the always changing selection of well priced fabrics.  After too many sewing projects to count, practically everyone in my family has something that started in Home Fabrics.