Sunday, October 27, 2013

Halloween Luncheon


  Last week,  as I explained in my previous blog, we drove down to Houston for a Rotary Reunion.... Tom also scheduled a dental visit and I was able to accept an invitation.....
to attend a Halloween luncheon hosted by my old friend, Brenda, in The Wine Cellar of Tony's Restaurant.

Brenda and Yours Truly
Actually, she doesn't look that old.

I had just been to my hair dresser, who suggested low lights for my hair. I said yes, although I had no idea what low lights were? Now I do. My hair is much darker...and the jury is still out.


Brenda's invitation said: "Make sure your witches hat matches your shoes". A couple of gals took her literally and wore witch's hats!

I had a wonderful time...a lot more fun than poor Tom (at the dentist) ....and I didn't even keep him company  on the 200+ miles driving  home. Not sure if it was the glass of wine, or that cheesecake... but I slept like a baby!
We are back in North Texas and there are signs of Fall everywhere (a neighbors steps), but we are packing again and are off to Chicago. If our children don't come see us in Colorado, then we go see them in the Fall. We are headed to see my darling granddaughter Hannah (and her family).
If you celebrate.....Have a fun Halloween!
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Monday, October 21, 2013

Special Guests

Meet Frauka and her husband Thomas, here enjoying a glass of Ice Wine, after dinner

They were in Houston this week from Fulda, Germany. Fourteen years ago Frauka, a young German Physician, was part of a Rotary GSE Team that visited Tom's Rotary club.

GSE stands for Group Study Exchange....and I am not sure that it is still a Rotary program. I will try and explain it. A member of a German (or any other country) Rotary club would escort four or five young professionals (not Rotarians) from their district, on an exchange with another Rotary club, somewhere around the world.

They would stay for about a month in what ever district they traveled to. While in that district, (in this case the Germans came to Houston), they would be hosted by Rotarians in various clubs for one week . Houston has like sixty clubs, so only four clubs would take part in their visit. While with your club, you would show them what you considered special about your part of town. Parks, museums, businesses, factories and social service organizations, etc. There would also be parties, lunches and all kinds of social events. One day, during that week, they would go to work with a Rotarian in your club, with a similar job. The candidates would also give presentations (about themselves and their country) to each of the Rotary Clubs.

I felt it was a wonderful program that fostered fellowship and friendship between countries, and also  encouraged those GSE candidates to join Rotary, when they returned to their country. Tom and I took part in countless exchanges.
 We did not host Frauka, when she was here, but we did host another candidate from that group, and gave the going away party.
 We also traveled with the group to a friend's  ranch in the Texas Hill Country. I vividly remember Frauka being so surprised when she saw an armadillo on the ranch. She thought that they were extinct, and part of the prehistoric age! I can still visualize her chasing them through the pasture, with her camera ,until it was almost dark!
Ed (a past district governor of Houston Rotary District 5890) and his wife Robin hosted a dinner (delicious I might add) this week for Frauka and her husband.....which is why we drove to Houston.

We sat up a tripod after dinner and tried for a natural looking picture (ha) of the whole group.

Jenna and Phil, the couple I have yet to mention, hosted Frauka, so many years ago, and they have remained dear friends.
 I forgot to say that it was an exchange. A Houston Rotarian, and a group of young professionals traveled to the German district the same month.

* by young I mean usually between the ages of 25 and 40 years.

Oh dear...I do tend to get wordy when I only post once a week!
See you next Monday!

Monday, October 14, 2013

The Mob, Vampires and Zombies!


I have mentioned my sister Polly's neighborhood, in Ft. Worth, on previous blogs.. We tried in earnest to buy a house  there, before we started building. Well it seems that, in that neighborhood, someone  owns an old 1939 Cadillac.

and....I guess there was this movie director, who was looking for  just such a car, to be in a television movie series.


The neighbor's house (built in 1921) also  fit the bill for filming .. So, that is how it came about, that a television pilot about the mob, vampires and zombies was being filmed there.. Polly, my sister, a part time photographer, and a regular contributor to her neighborhood magazine, was asked to photograph and write an article for an upcoming issue..

There was a lot going on in the house. Makeup artists in the basement

Actresses with amazing jewelry

period costumes

and a whole lot of action in the front yard
oh...and I was delighted to be asked  to be her assistant (and take notes) Fun!
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Monday, October 7, 2013

It's Monday!


Okay, it's Monday...and I am wondering if anyone is still with me?

 We had the first cold front of the season blow in (to North Texas) over the weekend...and I'd like to take credit for bringing with me from Colorado. You are welcome! Not too many exciting things going on here.  Tom has spent a lot of time talking to our construction manager, Jared. I will have to get a better picture of him. He is a cutie (Jared :)

We visited another construction site to look at a front door.

It was a very nice neighborhood....and each construction site had one of these cute little huts out in front. Couldn't figure out what they were?

Until, I saw one from the back. Oh my...this neighborhood wouldn't allow a port a can to be seen. These little temporary huts were  to hide an unsightly necessity!
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Saturday, October 5, 2013

Spring and Fall


This was a photo of the pretty tree, just off the deck of our rental. Taken in the Spring, before we left for Colorado.

Back in the rental....this is the same tree. It is not so pretty anymore. I thought surely it would have pretty Fall color, but it is just sort of rusty and dead looking. I hope it is not an omen! 

I have been posting on my blog for almost three years now. It has been a daily endeavor and I have enjoyed it so much. We are back in Texas now....where life isn't quite as interesting. We are spending our days meeting with our builders and sub contractors....and doing mundane things like dental and medical checkups

So, I have decided that I will only post once a week this winter (so that I won't bore you) . Check this blog every Monday please. I promise to post "something".....and if I read your blog...I will continue to do so.

Thanks to my devoted (few) followers, especially those that take the time to leave a comment. I consider you all my friends! Janey


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Friday, October 4, 2013

Home


We are back in Texas for the winter. I wish I could say that this is my new house...but it is actually the house next door. Our foundation has not even been poured. There is a building boom in our town and it took eleven weeks, just to obtain our permit to build . Our place will be similar. This one has a Spanish flair....and ours will be more French, with shutters.


As you can see, we have a long way to go!

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

and finally The Wedding

My nephew Kyle was married, this past Saturday, in the beautiful setting of Beaulieu Garden Estates in Rutherford, which is in the heart of California's wine country... Napa Valley

Callie and Kyle
Bride and Groom

The table settings, at the reception, were simply elegant
The long tables were covered in taupe colored linen and adorned with beautiful white flowers.
The ceiling was a trellis of Sycamore branches (plane trees) woven with twinkling lights

The cake
The festive glow at dinner
A full length of Callie's dress


 The wild and crazy band!

We all has a wonderful three days, and wish the new couple great happiness

An Event Filled Weekend-Napa Part ll


Thursday night, when we arrived, there was a dinner in the garden of the Calistoga Inn...by candle light, with little olive trees adorning the tables
My youngest daughter Katy from Chicago. Can you tell I was happy to see her?

The next morning both of my daughters were there. They stayed in a friend's house and were taking care of her dog Reese. We walked every morning. Perfect weather.
Stacy from Charlotte, NC and Katy again from Chicago
 Most of my family was staying at the quaint Brannon Cottages

Where we gathered in the garden, for alfresco family lunches following wine tours, hikes and bike rides..
A favorite event for me.

 
Friday night, was the rehearsal dinner at Brixs, in Yountsville. All 120 guests were invited. The tables were along the vineyard (with heaters....cool evenings)

I loved the sparkle of the glasses on the tables

Tom, showing you that the grapes are indeed ripe :)
Come back tomorrow for the grand finale...The wedding in the vineyard

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

A Wedding in The Wine Country


We have been away, to a family wedding, in the wine country of California (Napa Valley)
The wedding was actually in the town of Rutherford, but most everyone stayed in the charming little town, at the top of the valley, Calistoga....where this metal sculpture welcomes you to town.

Everywhere you looked there were grapes ready for picking

Especially since it was harvest time. A lot of the grapes are still picked by hand. Cut with knives, and put into these plastic bins. Some fields were even being harvested at night.

The scenery in the Napa Valley is so pretty, and the weather was perfect

There were red grapes

and white grapes

and so many wineries to tour.
Come back tomorrow and I will show you scenes from the wedding.
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