Are You Still There?

I know, I have been missing in action again, but just wanted to let you know that all is well, and I haven't lost my camera. I know it isn't necessary to explain, but I have been busy getting settled in our winter home, traveling,  having guests, etc. etc.. 

 I have also been baking. I made these little Apple Hand Pies once in Colorado and they were so good, I decided to try them at a more normal altitude.

The recipe is really for apples and caramel, but I couldn't taste the caramel the first time, and omitted it this time.I also dipped them in a glaze , hot from the open. I think what amazes me is the crust. I really like it.What makes it different is that it has sour cream in it.. If you are interested in the recipe, go :HERE.
Tell me about your weekend.
 

Camouflage

 I ran across this decorative fence in the little ski town of Crested Butte.

Some artist put a lot of work into this creation. Birds, flowers and leaves all cut out of metal.

Oops, look closely is that a real bird on the fence? Yep, it is a Magpie...a rather large black and white bird that you see all over Colorado.
Linking to Good Fences : HERE

Don't Judge A Book By It's Cover

I must confess.I have not been out of the house....so going to Paris is always a good idea...or it is for me.

Back in Sept of 2011 I was headed  to Paris with four girl friends...on the 14th to be exact.We had been planning this exciting trip for a whole year. We had monthly meetings, which were always fun....and certainly fueled our excitement. If you were paying attention to the date...You will know why we didn't leave on the 14th of Sept. 2011. That's right. No planes were going anywhere in the U.S.A. A subject that probably needs no further discussion.(no disrespect).... But, back to the trip.....We did finally get to go on our trip that next Spring.

We had so many fun things on our itinerary, but we decided that in addition to our daily activity, each girl (yes I use that term loosely), could choose something she wanted to do that day, and we would all cheerfully go along.

That was until Brenda said she wanted to have lunch at Gare De Lyon Train Station. What? Trying not to sound like the Paris snob...I informed her that the train station was full the homeless pick pockets and all around undesirables. Brenda, who would be right at home at the George V, insisted and someone reminded me of our promise..... so I grudgingly went along. Okay...was I ever wrong!!!!.

This, my folks is the restaurant at the train station! Le Train Bleu

The restaurant or Buffet opened with the train station when it made it's grand debut around 1900 (World Exposition) .Sitting there you can only image who else had dined there...Co Co Chanel, Jean Cocteau, Colette, etc, etc Someone said Hemingway, but I beg to differ. Since he was known to have a pigeon from the Luxembourg Gardens for dinner, I don't think he could afford this place. Unless of course Fitzgerald was paying the bill.. The elegant salon designed by Marius Toudoire,was named after a grand train, by the same name,

That train ran from the northern coast of France all the way to The French Rivera. The English called it the Blue Train. Not to be confused with the one in Africa. It was a night train...a way  for the very wealthy to travel in luxury all the way from Calais to Nice.on the Mediterranean Sea.

These were certainly luxurious accommodations in 1889 when it all began.

So, if you are ever in Paris, you may just want to have lunch, or dinner at Le Train Bleu and tell them Janey sent you. Oh, be sure and take a lot of Euros.....or a functioning credit card. Yes, an older Hemingway could have afforded to eat there...but I am not sure that I can again!

Okay..this train has arrived back in Texas.

Out With The Old

As many of you know, we haven't lived in our new town of Fort Worth, Texas that long....so we are still getting to know the town, and our own neighborhood.. One way we do that is to walk. We have discovered that you see a lot more that way.

Case in point, this sweet little old house in the neighborhood, a neighborhood that has become very desirable. Little old homes like this are being replaced with much larger modern homes. This one looks like no one has lived there for awhile. I was trying to figure out it's age. Not knowing a lot about architecture, I would guess the 1930"s or 40's? What do you think? I also thought it strange that there isn't a window on both sides of the front door? I left a part of the old dead tree in the frame. I wonder if the new home owners, back then, planted this tree? Should this place be saved? Well, it is probably eaten up with termites and bringing it up to date would cost a small fortune,

besides I think it's days are numbered by the equipment sitting on the side yard.

I will keep you up to date as to what is happening on this lot.

I hope that you are having a wonderful weekend, and are in no danger of being replaced by something new and modern :) Janey

Out of Pocket

 Hmmm, out of pocket could be confusing if English is not your native language. You may think it

means paying for something with your own personal funds...instead of it being paid by say insurance

or an expense account. The same phrase or idiom (?), can also mean that you will not be available

for a short time.....which is what I am trying to say.." I will be out of pocket for a few days."

I promise to be back in no time! Janey

A Scorcher

You know, sometimes we don't make the best decisions. Sounded like a great idea

to attend the T.C.U. Iowa State college football game on Saturday.

I had never been to the new stadium. That is downtown Ft. Worth in the distance and the U.S. and Texas flags flank the huge electronic score board.

It appears to be a beautiful day

but the game started at 11:00 am and the temperature rose to 96 degrees. We were sitting in the direct sun and we were so miserable that we left at halftime and watched the second half in our air conditioned living room. I don't think we will attend another game unless it is a night game, or a cool front has arrived. Lesson learned!

A Welcome Home

As most of you know, we have been in the mountains since June 1st, so it was nice to arrive home to a warm welcome from my family.

There was good food

including my sister Polly's famous lasagna.

Not to mention her expertly arranged flower arrangements

There was even a box with my name on it

filled with note cards made from my sister Polly's wonderful pictures she took while visiting us in Colorado.

You see, it was not only a welcome home party, but an early birthday celebration for me, since my birthday is this coming week....and no I did not arrive wearing a tiara!
It is great to be home especially when I have  four sisters in the same town.