Flutterbys

There is always something special going on in town (Ft. Worth, Texas that is).

Seems tomorrow, there is a Butterfly Exhibit going on at the Botanical Gardens. Butterflies of Asia that is. I think that sounds like something to see.

They flanked the entrance pond with butterfly topiaries

Hopefully they will cover these, as we are expecting yet another freeze on Sunday night.... even though it is 80 degrees today! I hope that Spring is on the way to you....or make that Fall for you Grace!

The Two Buildings

On Monday of this week, I talked about attending a lecture on the new addition to the Kimbell Art Museum. I guess I should clarify that the addition was not actually built on to the existing structure. You see the Louis Khan building completed in 1972, is the original building housing The Kimbell Art Museum's permanent collection, and is a work of art its self,  not something that you would just.... add on to.

 click on photos to enlarge

This world famous piece of  modern architecture was designed by the gifted Luis Khan, who was born on an island off of Estonia, in 1901. He moved, with his family, to Pennsylvania, at the age of four and later became an American citizen., and an award winning architect.

Entering the building, you pass fountains of softly flowing water

before entering a path through an arbor of trees. All of this to relax you physically and mentally, enabling you to enjoy the works of art that you are about to see.

Across the expanse of lawn, there on the left, is where Renzo Piano (who is a famous Italian architect) built the much needed, energy efficient, beautifully designed Renzo Pavilion. As Renzo himself said: " Close enough for a conversation , not too close, and not too far away" 

The Renzo Pavilion....a place you need to see for yourself!

Parking can be a problem in the museum district. Part to the new pavilion construction, included a new parking garage, built under that grassy section between the two buildings. Best of all, it is free...and seems to me that folks haven't found it yet? Shhh!

Why do I like color?

Don't know about you...but I like color, especially the color red. When I travel, I usually wear darker colors though. Like black.  Do I wear this color because it doesn't show dirt, spilled coffee, etc. or because it makes me fit in?

I notice that when I am in New York and other large cities around the world, I usually find people dressed like this:

and even when they are more casual, they tend to look like this:

Sometimes, I wonder why I love color so much. Maybe, I owe this to my grandmother. She made a lot of mine and my sisters clothing, as children, especially at Easter time. For some reason, she always picked out a green fabric for my oldest sister, a soft blue for the next in line, and when it came to me... it was red. This looks a lot like many of my Easter dresses.

So, I wonder if you can convince a child that they favor a certain color? I am thinking probably so. The love of color also carries over to my home furnishing; bright colors seem to make me happy.. I have to tell you a funny story.

I was visiting my youngest daughter in Chicago one Spring. We were walking down Michigan Ave.( the main shopping street downtown) on an unusually warm day. I was wearing a jacket ..not unlike this one:

I suddenly became aware that almost every other woman, walking down the street, was dressed like a New Yorker, yep....different shades of black. I began to feel very self-conscious. When we stopped at a crosswalk, my daughter, who wasn't aware of how uncomfortable I was, exclaimed," Look Mom there is a bee on your jacket"!! Much to my chagrin, what seemed like a huge crowd of people, turned to look.

The New Addition

Attended a lecture at the Fort Worth Woman's Club, as a guest of my sister Nancy,  to hear a very interesting, and informative lecture on the new addition to the Kimbell Art Museum. The new space was designed by renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano, and is a much needed and welcome addition to the Kimbell's main building, the Louis Kahn Building.

Connie B. (the speaker) is the Senior Museum Educator at the Kimbell, with degrees from Emory  and Southern Methodist Universities, and has been with the museum for fifteen years. Connie is also a family friend.

Nancy invited all of her sisters L to R: Polly, Me, Nancy, Suzanne and Dotty

I have visited the Kimball since I moved to town and the new Renzo Piano building. Sure wish I had attended the lecture prior to going. Now I can't wait to return. At that time, I will photograph both of these amazing buildings!

Friends

In the summer we live high in the San Juan Mountains, in a tiny Colorado town. We have some wonderful friends there, and I would like you to meet two of them.

 

We got to know Yogi and Bear because they built, and operated, the best little Pizza restaurant in town. They are also both hairdressers, and operate our towns only spa...where Yogi is famous for his massages and Bear for her wonderful facials...both of course can also cut your hair.. Their Yoga classes are very well attended....and are free...their gift to our town..

Like many of the "locals" sometimes they head south, for warmer weather, in the winter. Several winters, they lived on their sailboat in the Caribbean, which I think they finally sold, and landed on the western coast of Mexico, where the above photo was taken. Not too many years ago, they made a trip to Thailand where they attended a  meditation retreat at a monastery,: no talking allowed....like for weeks! That trip made an enormous impression on them ...so this year they headed back to Thailand.

This is the view from their cottage, on the little island of Ko Samui in the Gulf of Thailand

There is an elephant living right next door....and Bear has helped with his bath.

Their days are filled with exploring, meditating and honing their massage and yoga skills. Recently, they both worked at a meditation retreat on a neighboring island. Bear teaching Yoga, and Yogi helping out in the kitchen.

I am wondering if they are going to add this feature to their spa...Nibble fish that feed on the dry skin on your feet. ... maybe not for everyone?

I have so looked forward to their updates...that Bear titles Thailand Musings. Here, they are in a small village (traveling by motor bike), in the northern mountains, where they found children in native dress.
Bear's musings always end with a motivational quote:

As I let go of the need to arrange my life, the universe brings abundant good to me...unknown

Boo!

I know, I know..it is not Halloween!

This lady...who is my normally beautiful friend Jenna, recently had eyelid surgery (on both eyes). She sent this photo, in an email, the day after, to let me know she was doing well.....I have no words to describe her goofball husband Phil..(yes it is a mask)..but I do find this very supportive...and kind of sweet.

 *and yes, she gave me permission to post this :)

Family Night Out

On a previous blog I showed you photos of the Bass Hall in Ft. Worth and said I would be going soon... for the first time.

...so last night I was able to take some pictures inside.

We attended Ghost...the musical on stage

A shot at the ceiling in the lobby.

A look at the open, winding staircase

The balconies inside

and the ceiling above our heads

We attended with three of my four sisters L to R: Polly, Nancy, that's me, and Suzanne

Oh yes. Our husbands came along too!

It is so much fun living in the same town with family!

Now That is A Good Pizza

One of the chores you have, when moving to a new town, is finding your favorite places to eat. Ft. Worth, Texas, our new home, seems to have more than it's share of privately owned Mom and Pop businesses.....and we are loving it. Maybe we were only use to chain restaurants, because we have lived for so many years in suburbia (Houston). Well, now in our retirement, we have chosen to live in the city. Recently I told you about finding a great hamburger...and yesterday we found a great pizza.

 

Some of you probably like deep dish pizza, but I like a thin crispy crust and  a lot of toppings, including..... yes jalapenos....and this one certainly fit the bill.

Campisi's Italian Restaurant started in Dallas back in 1946 by a young couple who had immigrated from Sicily; opening first a grocery store. There are several of these places (all still family owned) in neighboring Dallas. 

 

It was also a plus that the place had great ambiance, friendly good service and fresh flowers on the table.

It is so much fun to exploring our new hometown!

With Dreams of Moscow

I know many of us are enjoying watching the Olympic Games in Sochi. Seeing the Olympics in Russia brings back memories of 1980, when then U. S.  President Carter, made the decision to boycott the summer Olympics in Moscow.
 I am not writing this with a political opinion. My memory is of the athletics that didn't get to go. That memory is very personal to members of  our family. Meet my sister's step-daughter, Vincent, who was part of the fencing team heading to those Olympics. Beautiful, 6ft tall Vinnie ,went on to be USFA National Champion in '84 and National Epee champion '82 '83 '84 and '86. She did make it four years later, to Los Angeles, but didn't medal.

Vinnie

Always a champion to us!

The Selections

We seem to spend several days each week making important selections for our new place. Floors, granite, bathroom tiles etc. etc. To some people this is fun, but for me it is almost over whelming. We loved our large kitchen suite in Houston (pictured below), which was almost the entire width of the back of the house. The colors we chose there were warm yellows, golds and burgundies...

click on photo to enlarge

We are also having white cabinets in Ft. Worth but I am going with almost white granite as well, with probably white subway tiles as a back splash. That way we can add color with our decorations.

 

This time, the living room will be at the opposite end of the kitchen. We are keeping the sofa, coffee table and rug...but will have new chairs. We are going to be playing up the blue a lot more. I hope I am nor confusing you...I know I am confusing myself from time to time.

 

Hard to imagine a slab of this

So we went out into the unheated warehouse (it's very cold here this week) to look at larger selections

I promise it will look great when it is all finished...I think?

Oh My!

May not be too exciting to you. But, I have recently moved from south Texas to north Texas. ....and this is pretty exciting to me!

Polly' Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas

Someone requested this recipe: The Chopped salad recipe link is in the previous blogs comments..

Polly’s Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas with Tomatillo Sauce

Ingredients

16 ounce carton sour cream

½ cup milk

½ cup chicken stock

3 T. Butter

3T. Flour

1 tsp ground cumin

Salt

Ground Black Pepper

1 16 ounce Jar Tomatillo Sauce**

12 corn tortillas*

3 cups cooked chicken breast meat, shredded

2 cups Jalapeno Jack Cheese

1 cup Mexican Mix Cheese

¼ cup fresh cilantro chopped fine. 

Directions;

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Mix milk, sour cream, and chicken stock together in measuring cup and microwave until warm.  Make a roux out of butter and flour, whisking until golden over medium heat in skillet.  Add in the milk/sour cream mixture a little at a time continually whisking.  Cook at a simmer, continuing to whisk about 5 minutes to get rid of the flour taste and you have a thick gravy.  Add cumin, then salt and pepper to taste.

Remove from heat and stir in jar of Tomatillo sauce.

Spray and 9X13 casserole dish with non stick spray and spoon a thin layer of sauce on the bottom.  Tear four of the tortillas into small pieces and place over sauce. Layer on ½ of the chicken and top with 1/3 of the cheese.  Repeat, sauce, tortillas, chicken and cheese, then tortillas and finally mix the cilantro into the last 1/3 cheese and top casserole. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.  Let sit for 10 minutes before serving. 

*(for best results use Trader Joe’s ½ corn and ½ wheat-they only come in package of 8 so I buy three packages and split them into two groups of 12 and freeze the 2^nd package)

** I used Kroger brand mild Tomatillo sauce

Game Night

Last night my sister Polly asked me to be a substitute Po Ke No player . Their group of twelve ladies  play once a month. That way you only have to host it at your house one time a year. This is the second time that I have been asked to sub. Po Ke No is similar to Bingo. The only difference I saw was that cards were drawn by the dealer.

One duty of the hostess is to provide dinner. Polly made these delicious Sour Cream Enchiladas.

Accompanied by a Mexican chopped salad that was chock full of black beans, avocados, cojita cheese and dressed with cilantro lime dressing.

and since it was February, she made (and decorated) heart shaped sugar cookies. The food was delicious and I enjoyed playing Po Ke No with my sister's friends.

It has been unusually cold here in North Texas. I hope to get outside  before long....and take some pictures to share

Live in a Department Store

In a previous blog  post titled: Not What They Use To Be Here 

I showed you three buildings that had been recycled, near where our new home is being built, but I forgot to show you the one that started it all ....on the same street!

In 1928 Montgomery Ward, built the largest store in the country (and the biggest building in the state of Texas) which was a combination store and catalog fulfillment headquarters.The then U shaped, building made it possible for the train to deliver goods between the buildings. Montgomery Ward went out of business in 2001, and much discussion went on about what to do with the huge buildings. Several business were considered, including a grocery store. Finally, after major remodeling, a luxury condominium/shopping area opened in 2006. Two hundred and forty condos with forty seven different floors plans, many with views of the Trinity River and the skyline of Ft. Worth. The front facade was craved all the way through making room for a street down the middle, that is lined with restaurants, terraces, boutiques and coffee shops. Good job Ft. Worth.

The Fan

A lot of people I know have a fan like this above their bed. There are even folks I know who can't sleep unless it is humming away. Well, I am not a fan person....never have been . So this fan, the actual one that is above my bed in this rental apartment, is never turned on. Okay, maybe if I lived here in the summer, I would use it to cut down on the air conditioning bill...but I don't think so. So, it sits above me quietly. But, the darn thing is keeping me awake. I am not use to it being there. So, when I wake up in the night....it actually scares me. I have imagined it is a giant spider about to attack. You can't image how many things it has looked like ...hanging there ...looking like it is about to leap.

I bet you might be laughing, that I would be frightened by a harmless fan in the middle of the night?

Even when I try to make the photo scary...it probably just looks like a fan to you. You must be wondering how I can see it in the dark of night? Well, that is another whole story. There is a neighbor, only twenty feet away, who must not like the dark of night......and keeps a chandelier, yes a chandelier blazing above her kitchen sink ALL night long and it is directly across from our bedroom.

This isn't it, and okay, it could slightly smaller....but you get the idea. Even with the blinds in our bedroom closed, I swear you could read a book ....therefore it is hard not to see the fan when I glance up.

I guess I am ready for our place to be finished ....and why am I writing about this? Well, Tom asked me if we should put a fan above our bed in the new house.....