Hurricane Distractions

If anyone ever wondered where we live, there are great maps being televised today indicating

the path of HURRICANE ALEX.

In anticipation of ,at the minimum ,heavy rains and no electricity, I thought I’d do a post on what I found at the flea market this past weekend.

That makes sense, right?

I have wanted a tilting coffee server (what is the correct name?) for years, and when I spotted this at my crazy, unpredictable flea market, which is not exactly known for its silver plate treasures, my eyes may have rolled back in my head.

When I asked the price (in Spanish), and the vendor said

“diez dolares” ($10.00),

they rolled back.

Sold.

Do things like that make your eyes roll?

I kept walking , feeling like I was on a roll (sorry), and I found these.

 

 

These three pieces (two coffee servers and a water pitcher) were poised at the end of a table.

I asked the price for all 3.

“ treinta dolares.” ($30.00)

My eyes blinked in slow motion.

The vendor sensing my hesitation , which actually wasn’t the case, said

“veinte siete dolares.” ($27.00)

Sold.

And so as we prepare (seriously) for this new weather onslaught, I am headed outside to talk to my tomatoes and zinnias and to help my husband move lawn furniture.

***

I am linking today to these wonderful blog events today. Just click on the button to see more entries.

Home Sweet Home

After a wonderful trip to the beach , I am grateful to be home.

I cooked (because I wanted to) and read and loved on my girls and grandsons- as much as they would let me- for an entire week.

After eating wonderful salads twice, at the Corner Market on Greenville in Dallas earlier this month, I was inspired to make:

Broccoli Salad with golden raisins , almonds and Poppy Seed dressing

Chicken Salad with Red Grapes, Celery, and Walnuts

Tortellini Salad with Artichokes and Parmesan Cheese

Tuna Salad

Pasta Salad with Black Olives

and I had a tub of

Price’s Pimiento Cheese

For dessert?

Blue Bell in bed, of course.

At the Beach

Hello All.

We are at the beach for a week with family, and if I post, it will be because the urge to write is too strong to resist.

This trip is all about my favorite ‘lows’:

Low Profile, Low Stress , and not Low Calorie.

Today while sitting at the water’s edge under our tent, wearing my new turquoise earrings and turquoise straw hat, everywhere I looked I saw color.

It was in the hot pink case protecting Lauren’s IPod, sitting on her zebra print lay-out mat.

It was in the Guatemalan headband Katherine wore while reading her book poolside.

It was in my new Mexican dress in bright orange ( that I love because it is soft), and it reminds me of the Mexican dresses my friends and I wore years ago . 

Our favorites were from Oaxaca.

Color was in my rock star grandsons’ beach bucket.

Color was in the book jacket of my beach read for the next few days.

I picked this book because of the references to the Aztecs.

I am now obsessed with the Aztecs.

Color popped off of Lauren’s beach bag- the pattern reminds me of coral.

Be back soon!

Where I Create, Unofficially

I so wanted to participate officially in Where Bloggers Create II, but I wasn’t able to meet the deadline.

It was not to be.

I just drove in from Dallas.

***

I had so much fun in my garden shed this spring.

The stained glass window pane I have hanging in an open window belonged to my mother.

I have so enjoyed this special place,  I added a lamp and my

THINKING CHAIR.

I enjoy sitting in this chair (during milder spring temperatures), looking out the shed door at all I have done and all I need to do.

I found it at the flea market and its cane seat is so soft and comfortable.

 

I enjoy using this orange plastic scoop, a beach toy of my girls from many years ago, to scoop out potting soil.

 

I keep my potting soil in an old washtub.

I enjoy using these old pots .  Their stains and worn edges make me feel like a real gardener.

I enjoy the sight of my baskets stacked.And I so enjoy looking around my shed at some of my garden treasures.

 

This terracotta pot with rings on the handles is from San Miguel de Allende. I have had it for years, and I love looking at its shape.

And then there is my tiny front porch.

Welcome to my garden shed.

 

LuLu B’s

Today during a visit to LuLu B’s in Dallas ( a great, funky consignment shop with 2 locations), I fell in love with all things gold.

While Katherine was buying white glossy wrought iron nesting tables, I was staring at these dishes.

I stared A LONG TIME.

Do any of us need more dishes?

Nooooooo…

Step away from the dishes.

Instead enjoy a flashback while listening to a 60’s radio station on this stereo.

Flashback:

It is sometime in the early 60’s on the Santa Rosa Ranch , located outside Riviera, Texas.

My parents are getting ready for a dance, probably at Hubert’s Dance Land.

They are going to stop by the house of some friends first.

While they are getting ready and Ray Charles is playing on the stereo, my father calls down the hall:

“Sister?”

“Yes sir?”

“Will you polish my boots?”

“Yes sir.”

***

I finished my walk around LuLu B’s  , spotting more shiny gold and brass.

I have a thing for punch bowls, and I have always wanted a brass punch bowl.

I am letting that go…

No more punch bowls.

Dallas, Distractions, Half Price Books, and James Taylor

I am in Dallas this weekend ( for a training of trainers’ session on assisting beginning teachers), visiting Katherine (daughter #3) , and after my favorite breakfast (at Cafe Brazil), as well as multiple cups of Brazilian coffee, we headed to my favorite place- Half Price Books.

Although I became distracted by the blooming magnolia tree at the store’s entrance (does distraction hit anyone else?), once inside, I wallowed in the choices of affordably priced books.

So… I bought a box of books.

Disclaimer#1:  I did NOT buy Tete-a-Tete.  I did however buy multiple gardening books- seeking the answer to keeping my plants alive in 110 degree heat and drought, and I replaced my misplaced versions of Alexandra Stoddard’s books on design, but more importantly, LIVING.

Disclaimer #2:  To my English department colleagues from years past, I know the previous sentence is unashamedly a run-on, but I have been set FREE of such rules.

You will be too.  It is AMAZING.

Katherine bought Tete-a-Tete, Black Elk Speaks, and The Glass Castle.

She is making her way through a list of books that she feels she should read.  She is a high school English teacher.

My next distraction was at the check-out counter.

Yes, I need to feed my brain.

While driving to Dallas (no small feat after last week’s mishap- it took 11 hours instead of just 9), I realized I know every single word to James Taylor’s Fire and Rain, but I can’t necessarily remember what happened yesterday.

Whatever.

And then in the parking lot of Half Price Books, I became distracted by my new Yellowbox flip flops and my new red nail polish.

Woohoo!

Everyday is a NEW DAY!