Stepping Away from the Edge

Back Home Again!

Carole's back from her vacation. . . meaning Ten on Tuesday is back . . . with a vacation-related topic!  This week, Carole has us thinking about 10 Good Things About Coming Home From a Vacation.

I really like vacations, and I really like traveling to far away places.  But I also like coming home!  Here are 10 things I like best . . . about being back home again:

1. Being reunited with Jenny (there's nothing like a greeting from your dog!)
2. Sleeping in my own bed  (ahhhhhh!  and my own pillow, too!)
3. Drinking my local tap water (that familiar taste -- and no pathogens!)
4. Not eating in restaurants (sure, it's fun for a time. . . but after a while, it gets old)
5. Being in the "right" time zone (I hates the jet lag!)
6. Not living out of a suitcase (I like to dive back in to the full spectrum of my closet)
7. Reliable internet and cell phone service (although this is getting better all the time)
8. Downloading and organizing your trip photos (almost as good as being there!)
9. Going through the mail (even though it's mostly junk)
10. Getting back to my regular routine (creature of habit, I am!)

How about YOU?  What do you like about returning home from a vacation?

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Join the fun!  Sign up for Ten on Tuesday here.

There's No Place Like Paris

A year ago, I was just returning from a lovely trip to Paris (and Amsterdam!) with my sister. 

We've both found our thoughts returning to Paris lately.  I think it's just something about . . . Paris in the spring.  Such a perfect time. . . to be in such a perfectly delightful place!

For my birthday (a few weeks ago), my sister created a lovely memory of our time together in Paris.

She even included some unbelievably wicked Parisienne chocolat!

Oo la la!

Such lovely reminders of our lovely time in Paris!

Last week I found this card. . . and sent it to my sister.

There really isn't, you know.

(And, no offense to any Kansans out there, but Paris is a much more exotic destination to wish for . . . if you have a pair of Ruby Red Slippers!)

Enjoy your weekend!

Field Trip

Yesterday, I boarded a charter bus with my friends Sandie and Jackie and headed to Chicago for the annual Flower & Garden Show.  We had a great time!

Sandie and Jackie at the entrance.  (Before we had pinned on our flashing flower pins!)

The Flower & Garden show brings together ideas. . .

Trust me, succulents remain BIG for the upcoming season!  They were everywhere.

This was a wall made of cement blocks.  They tucked pots of fern and moss, and hung little baskets of succulents.  I want one!

 Feeding my current love of the terrarium!

This garden flower was made from a soda can!  They looked so cool popping up here and there in one of the gardens.

charm and whimsy. . .

Bunnies.  In knit cardigans!  Couldn't resist.

Look at theses drawer pulls!  Charmed, I'm sure.

Flower umbrellas hanging above.

Painted tire planters!

Glass sculpture at the main entrance.

and shopping. . .

The shop (in Naperville) is as cool as their sign!

I bought one of these hanging terrariums (only in a teardrop shape), with a few air plants, to hang in my kitchen window.

There are plenty of classes and workshops, too.  (Attended a few; no pictures.)

It was an unbelievably beautiful day in Chicago.  Unseasonably warm (80s).  Who ever would have thought we'd be eating OUTSIDE on Navy Pier in mid-March?  Unthinkable!

It felt like summer! 

It looked like summer!

There were even sailboats out on the Lake!

As an added bonus -- there was a stained glass exhibit on Navy Pier (unrelated to the Flower & Garden Show).  Most of the designs were floral in nature. . .

(This one is Tiffany.)

but there were grids, too!

Back at the Flower & Garden Show, there was an exhibit of aprons created by the a Chicago area fiber artist group, Women's Journeys in Fiber.  Very powerful -- and creative!

The best part of the day for me, though, was being able to see these guys . . . up close and personal! 

Meet Mr. Barred Owl. . .

and Mr. Great Horned Owl. . .

My photos just don't do these awesome creatures justice!  They are just so So SO cool!

So much to see!  So much to do!  As you can imagine, by the end, we were quite weary.   This was a welcome sight. . .

And the bus ride gave me some time to knit!

Just a perfect field trip, and a great day, all the way around!

 

 

Close Encounters. . . of the Eiffel Kind

As many of you will remember, last April my sister and I took a little trip to Paris.

I had wanted to visit Paris since junior high . . . when I started taking French in school.  I was always so intrigued by everything Paris, and dreamed of seeing the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral, la Tour Eiffel.  I wanted to sip a café crème on the Champs-Élysées. 

Actually being in Paris was fabulours.  All the sights were wonderful -- just what I'd always dreamed they'd be.

But what I really loved most . . . was the Eiffel Tower!

I was absolutely enchanted from the very first glimpse . . . out our hotel window, over the rooftops and between two chimneys!  It simply . . . delighted me!

And now, nearly a year later, I am still charmed.  In fact, it's kind of like the Close Encounters of the Third Kind . . . only instead of "seeing" the Devil's Tower monument, I'm "seeing" the Eiffel Tower.  Everywhere.

I find myself strangely attraced to the Eiffel Tower.  And I'm surrounding myself with its image.  I carry it with me on my keychain.

(You can even see its image on the calendar page on the wall. . .)

My current journal features the Eiffel.

The opening screen on both my phone and iPad are photos I took of the Eiffel on our trip.

I keep images of the Eiffel Tower in my "inspiration areas" . . . the bulletin board near my desk.

A table in my sewing room.

On the shelves in my library, where I can see it from my "knitting spot."

For me, the Eiffel Tower is a visual reminder of a wonderful trip I shared with my sister.  We send each other little Eiffel mementos now. (She is having a similar "close encounter" experience.)  It's easy to find cards and books. . .

coasters. . .

magnets. . .

notepads. . .

even nail files!

I'm surrounded by images of the Eiffel Tower . . .

and I love it!

Pink in the Garden

Although my own garden is beginning to look, well. . . kind of bad; definitely bedraggled . . . I'm still finding shades of pink (amid the weeds and dying stems).

My Watercolor shrub rose is having a great year (following a couple of years of decline; I almost took this guy out last year -- glad I didn't!).

And parts of my succulent wreath are having a bloomin' party!  (Other parts are . . . not.)

And this?  Why, this is poke weed.  A weed.  Something I did not plant.  But it has such interesting blooms. . . that sometimes I just let it go.

(This particular poke weed is growing strong - with a couple of friends - in a bed I am planning to renovate yet this season.  It would be bleak without the poke weed!)

I've also had the great fortune of visiting several gardens (public and otherwise) this month.  I've seen so many lovely things!  Here are some PINK highlights.

From the Michigan State University Children's Garden:

From my brother-in-law's vegetable garden (the most lovely vegetable garden I've ever seen):

From the Gardens at Spring Creek in Fort Collins, Colorado:

And from the Cheyenne Botanic Garden in Cheyenne, Wyoming:

Have a lovely weekend.  Keep your eyes open for PINK!

It's All A Blur!!!

My sister and I have a lot of fun whenever we're together. 

Here we are with my niece, Jessica.

Oh, we have our serious discussions; our soul-searching moments; our bitch-sessions. . . no doubt about that.  We've gotten each other through some tight spots, that's for sure.  (Truly, my sister was my biggest cheerleader and support throughout my chemo experience.)  But.  Mostly we laugh.

We visit famous landmarks (and I don't mean the Eiffel Tower) together. . . and laugh.

I mean, seriously!  The "best store by a dam site."  Who knew?

We visit monoliths of all manner. . . and laugh.

A giant watering can!  Perfection.

We encourage each other to pursue new (or re-newed) hobbies. . . and laugh.

Yarn purchase!  My sister is going to take up knitting (again).  Next thing you know, she'll be on Ravelry!

We are attracted by The Kitsch. . . and, of course, laugh.

I mean. . . you've just got to stop at a cherry store decorated with red painted jugs, don't you?  What a delight to find out they make the Best. Juice. Ever.

We shop. . . and laugh.

Like. . . we really shop.

In fact, sometimes we shop so much . . . and have such a serious "falling down" in a couple of stores . . . that things need to be shipped.  Because they can't possibly fit in your luggage for the trip home.

But, mostly, we laugh.  In fact, we laugh so much . . . and so hard. . . that it's a challenge to even get a picture of us!

Thanks for a wonderful time, Di!  It was a laugh-a-minute blur . . . and I loved every moment!

Scenic Route

We're back from our quick sojourn Out West.  Now. . . it's time to hit the ground running!  Brian is off to school in a week; I have some work-ish projects to begin; the garden is in "changing seasons" mode.  There is much to be done . . . every where I turn.  Translation:  No Time To Blog.

So, for today, enjoy some Pretty from our trip!

View from what might just be the Most Lovely Rest Area in the Country; Fort Collins, Colorado.

Wall decor; New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins, Colorado

Highway view, I-25 heading north to Cheyenne

Hollyhocks in Kurt's garden (my brother-in-law)

Sunflower shining at The Gardens on Spring Creek; Fort Collins, Colorado

Aspens shimmering at the Cheyenne Botanical Gardens; Cheyenne, Wyoming

Wall mosaic at The Gardens on Spring Creek; Fort Collins, Colorado

The Big Thompson rolling through Estes Park, Colorado

A swallowtail spotted at Cheyenne Botanical Gardens

Stay tuned.  More to follow.

High-Falootin' Rootin' Tootin'

Son of a gun from old. . .

Yep.  I'm Wyoming-bound. . . for a little visit to my sister.  See you next week!

(And those are lyrics from "Ragtime Cowboy Joe" . . . the University of Wyoming fight song.  Really, the best college fight song ever.)

No Crap on Tap

Now that Erin has graduated, I can't imagine we'll be making any more trips down to central Ohio.  While that doesn't bother me, really, I must admit that I'll miss my couple-of-times-a-year Amy Butler "fix."  Tom, though.  Tom will miss his visits to Brew's Cafe.

Brew's, right there on the main drag in Granville, has a Most Impressive beer selection.  That's right, there's . . .

Tom discovered Brew's when Erin was first moving in to her dorm, as a freshman, at Denison.  The doorknob was so inviting!

The bar so comfortable!

The beer selection so . . . fine!

Many a happy afternoon was spent, hanging out at Brew's, over the past 4 years.

Enjoying a cold one.  On tap.

They only serve beer at Brew's.  No wine.  No margaritas.  No martinis.  Just beer.

And they will gladly help non-beer-drinkers (like my Mom) find a beer they might enjoy. . . with sipping samples.

Yep.  My Mom discovered Lindemans Framboise - a delightful raspberry lambic.  Bottoms up!

So, Brew's?  Farewell.  We'll miss you!

No crap on tap!

Tulip Mania

As I mentioned in one of my earlier "travelogue" posts, my sister and I chose our travel dates based on our own convenience and schedules, not based on where we were headed.  It can only be serendipity, then, that put us in the Netherlands during the peak of . . .

Tulip Mania!

Yes, we arrived in Amsterdam during the peak weak of "tulip time."  So we boarded a charter bus and traveled about 35 miles to Lisse, the tulip capital of the world, to visit Keukenhof Gardens (I like to think of it as The Disneyland of Tulips).  My sister and I are NOT the charter bus types.  At all.  But we just . . . went along for the ride. . . ignoring the schmaltzy charter bus tour guide schtick. . . and laughing with each other. . . about How Had It Come to This?  But, then, we caught a glimpse of this out the bus windows. . .

and remembered why we got on the bus in the first place!

Keukenhof Gardens really is an amazing place.

Acres upon acres. . .

upon acres upon acres. . .

of amazing tulips. . .

and bulbs. . .

of all kinds!

But wait!  There's more!

The garden incorporated the most wonderful collection of outdoor sculpture!

Truly delightful. . .

and a fabulous way to mix the art of gardening with . . . art!

But wait!  There's more!

Not only were there tulips and bulbs and sculpture at every turn. . .

There was also a Spring Garden Show. . .

an Orchid Show. . .

frequent glimpses of surrounding tulip fields. . .

treats . . .

and lots of Dutch heritage!

Trust me, you haven't fully experienced Keukenhof until you are munching on a "Warme Beenham" (basically, a bacon sandwich. . .) surrounded by The Throng of Tourists and listening to a middle-aged Dutch choir sing Songs from the 80s -- in Dutch, of course.  (Yes, I think that WAS "Eye of the Tiger". . .)

But I digress!

The gardens at Keukenhof were totally over the top!  WAY over the top.  Gorgeous and a true treat for the eyes.  As you might guess, though, being in the peak of tulip mania, it was PACKED with tourists.  PACKED!  (Our charter bus was probably one of 500 that afternoon.  No kidding.)  But, unlike Versailles, we were outside and the gardens are huge.  We followed our "Robert Frost Plan" for touring --- always (ALWAYS) taking "the road less traveled."  (And . . . that has made all the difference!)

Di?  We'll always have . . . Keukenhof!