Time Out

As my daughters became adults, I realized that the time we shared together would become less and less. Trying to think of some way to keep us from drifting apart, I felt that each year it would be nice for the three of us to do something special together. For a time that worked, but along came husbands and then children and our excursions came to a halt. Fortunately, all of us ended up living in Houston making it possible to gather for family dinners and special occasions. And when the hubby and I began spending time in Maine, they were a part of that, too.

Now, that is about to change as one daughter and her family are moving, and all of the family’s emotions are running wild! I can hardly bear the thought of her and her hubby not being close and thinking about their girls not being available for whatever adventure we dream up brings me to my knees. What makes me really sad though is knowing my two girls will be in separate places.

They are as different as night and day, salt and pepper, black and white, but since they became aware of one another they have been best friends.

Only a year separates them, but there has never been a moment’s competition or jealousy between them. They are able to say things to each other that no one else could. Thinking about all this, I wanted one last time for the three of us before everything changed. What to do at the last minute that would be close and something we’d all enjoy?

Lake Austin Spa was the answer and provided just the time we needed.

Time to talk,

to be silly,

to be together,

to say goodbye.
If you are inclined to say a little prayer, please include all of us as we separate and figure out how to adjust.

Dishes With a Story

My mother-in-law was one of those people who always had a pot of coffee brewing for anyone who happened to stop in.  She made everyone feel welcome, she was a good listener, she laughed easily and was never to busy to sit and visit.  Many a day I dropped in, and we always sat in the same place in front of the window where from time to time we could swivel our chairs and look out to see what was happening.  

Most of the years when we visited I was looking across the room toward a cabinet filled with pottery I came to love. Lucky for me no one else was particularly attached,  so the set eventually became part  of my collection of dishes.

I don’t remember how she came to have these hand painted majolica dishes which came from Salerno, Italy.  They are dated 1952, and if Ernestine’s signature is any indication, they were painted by her.

I hadn’t thought about what a perfect match this tablecloth would be when recently it was purchased in Sintra, Portugal.  Since it is a 60″ square, it was placed diagonally on a much larger table and the sides pleated to make a cross between a cloth and a runner.  I love manipulating fabric of any kind on a table.

As luck would have it, the flowers from Mother’s Day were still perky enough to use among crystal and glass bells which are always a delightful addition to any tabletop.

Keep in mind that for me everything doesn’t have to match so I brought out the pink bowls and goblets which had belonged to a very good friend’s grandmother.    Just look at their texture which provides a nice contrast to the pottery’s smooth surface.  I’m so glad to have things other people don’t want!

And for that little something unexpected are the just bought napkins from Anthropologie.  Each one has different design and color, and they add an element of fun.

Now that the table is set, it’s to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

Fish with Tomato Sauce and Almonds

1 1/2-2 pounds of your favorite fish, filleted

1 onion, sliced 

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 16 oz. can diced tomatoes

1/2 c. white wine

1 t. cumin

1/2 c. sliced green or black olives

toasted almonds

chopped cilantro

Salt and pepper fish and bake (350) in lightly greased dish until flaky.

While fish is baking, sauté onions and garlic in olive oil until tender.  Add remaining ingredients and simmer for about 15 minutes.

To serve, place fish on a platter and top with sauce, cilantro and almonds.  Accompany with roasted potatoes or vegetable, green salad and crusty bread for an easy to fix and very tasty meal that will serve 4 people.

Today I’m joining

Let’s Dish

Tablescape Thursday

Thursday Favorite Things

Full Plate Thursday

Foodie Friday

Friday Food

Just Plain Fun

As the nation’s fourth largest city, you can bet there’s always something going on in Houston.  No way can you do it all, but there are some events that draw huge crowds  because they are just plain fun.  This is certainly true of the annual Art Car Parade.

The parade explodes with creativity!

Four wheels

or two,

big

or little, it makes no difference.

The more flamboyant the better

and a sense of humor is a must!

You got wheels?  Come on and join the fun which is the real trademark of this event.

And what happens to these outrageous creations when the parade is over?  Some might end up at the Art Car Museum, one of Houston’s many venues that acknowledges art in a variety of mediums.  From time to time, you might even see one of the cars on a Houston street or at a special event, others who knows.  Wherever they end up, they’ve left a memory both for the folks who spent the hours creating them and the ones who enjoyed the spectacle.

At Home With Friends

With few exceptions, friends are no longer cooking, choosing to eat out or pick up something at one of Houston’s many takeout places.  While I enjoy getting out of the kitchen from time to time, I must confess to enjoying home cooked more than most prepared foods.  So does another friend, so once each week we share dinner at home, taking turns preparing the meal.  Not only does this give each of us a night off, but we thoroughly enjoy the time we and our hubbys spend together. 

Just as comfortable as our time together are our tables, nothing fancy just a simple setting.

Knowing how much I like bottles, a friend had brought these little ones, each filled with flowers that just happened to blend perfectly with the colors in the runner and the bottles that were already on the table.

So, for our casual dinner, all that had to be added were napkins, plates and cutlery.  How simple!

The napkin rings are wooden animal shapes that were purchased in Kenya.  They are always happy reminders of that trip.

With little effort, we are ready for our shared dinner.

This night we are having  Grace Young’s Stir Fried Shrimp with Rum.  Stir frying is one of my favorite methods of cooking, and as you can see my wok is much used!  What I like about stir frying is that it doesn’t require large quantities of anything, it is a simple  and healthy way to cook and the result is always tasty.

Stir Fried Shrimp with Rum

1 lb. large shrimp

Juice of 1/2 lime

3 T. ketchup

3 T. rum

2 t. soy sauce

1/4 t. ground white pepper

2 T. peanut or coconut oil

1 T. minced garlic

1 T. minced ginger

1/2 t. salt

1 tomato, cut into thin wedges

1 green pepper, cut into thin strips

1 onion, cut into thin wedges

1 T. finely chopped cilantro

Combine ketchup, rum, soy sauce and ground white pepper in a small bowl.

Heat wok over high heat until a bead of water vaporizes within 1-2 seconds.  Swirl in the oil, add the garlic and ginger.  Stir fry 10 seconds or until the aromatics are fragrant.  Push the aromatics to the sides of the wok, add the shrimp evenly in one layer.  Cook undisturbed 1 minute.  Sprinkle with salt and stir fry until shrimp begins to turn orange.  Add tomatoes, bell pepper and onions and stir fry 1 minute or until the shrimp have turned almost totally orange.  Swirl the ketchup mixture into the wok and stir fry an additional minute.  Add cilantro.

Serve over rice for a 4 person  main course.  Enjoy!

For more tablescapes and recipes, visit

Let’s Dish

Tablescape Thursday

Thursday Favorite Things

Foodie Friday

Just Thoughts

It doesn’t seem so long ago I was writing my mom notes for Mother’s Day or that my girls would come jump on my bed squealing in childish voices,”Happy Mother’s Day!” Then, with their dad’s help, they would serve me breakfast in bed. Ah, those were the days!

Today, as I sat at dinner with my family that has grown to include husbands and grandchildren, it dawned on me that I am now the senior mom, that I am the one to whom the mantle of family matriarch has passed. What a weird feeling it is to realize that I am now top of the food chain, the one that will fix a child’s favorite dish and spoil the young ones in the family.

This is part of life’s reality I suppose, and there is some sadness to accepting the truth that comes with the loss of parents who, for so long, grounded me, allowed me to retain some of my kid self. Fortunately, the sadness is lessened by the joy of looking down the table and seeing my family, hearing their laughter, knowing that there are memories to cherish and more to make.

Are these changes what we call passages?

Remembering the Mothers

Our mothers won’t be with us Mother’s Day, but they will be remembered as the table is all about them.

I will start with these pieces, all of which are very special to me.

The placemats were crocheted by my mother-in-law to go with the china (Richelieu by Bavarian) that belonged to my mother.  She collected it piece by piece over a number of years.  She gave it to me some time ago, and I will be passing it on to one of my daughters when I can bear to part with it.

The napkin rings were a gift from Mother.  Once, when we were together, I admired them and she bought them as an early birthday present. As fragile as they are, it’s amazing they have survived so long.

The Fostoria glasses also belonged to Mother.  I remember there being many more, and when I asked her what had happened to them she said she had given most away to one person or another.  Eight water glasses are all I managed to claim!

For as long as I can remember I have collected glass and crystal bells, and both Mother and my mother-in-law added to my collection.  Since this table is set in their honor, the bells have to be included and I’m betting their sweet sound will be heard on Mother’s Day.

Both women loved flowers, and the lilies and alstromeria remind me of each.  Mother was always excited to receive flowers and the more pink the better. The lily’s fragrance reminds me of my mother-in-law’s sweet spirit.  She loved us all so well.

Though neither of these much loved mothers will be with us, as I walked through the dining room tonight I felt their presence and was very happy to have all they left behind.

Enjoy your day with family or with your own special memories.

Joining Let’s Dish, Tablescape Thursday,  Thursday Favorite Things and Pink Saturday.

Let’s Go! Part VII

Now that we have journeyed along the coasts of Portugal and Spain, sampled the food and drink of both countries, experienced a touch of rough seas  and enjoyed the amenities aboard Le Boreal, we arrive at our final destination: Paris.

Of course, we see all the familiar sites: the Eiffel Tower

the Arc de Triomphe as well as monuments galore and the incredible architecture for which Paris is famous.

As interesting as all these things are, what I love are the street scenes with people taking time to visit

or to enjoy afternoon refreshment at sidewalk cafes.

I can’t help but wonder why the sidewalk air is smoke filled when the warning on the cigarette pack is so graphic!

I love the markets

and clever window displays.  My weaver’s heart sang at all these cones of colorful fiber, and I wondered how I could get my hands on them.

I love the creative, colorful and tempting presentations in restaurants and shops.

After taking in the sights and smells of Paris, I love the luxury of a beautiful hotel room and the thickness of the robe waiting to envelope me.  As good as these travels have been, it’s time to leave all this behind and ready for the long journey home.

Thank you for traveling with me.  I hope you have enjoyed the journey.

Let’s Go! Part VI

Now that we have rested a bit, let’s continue on.  If you have read Ken Follett’s Pillars of the Earth, you will enjoy this visit to Mont-St-Michel as it brings to mind the cathedral in that book.   It is a place heavy with spirituality and full of history.

Mont. St Michelle, its spire reaching to the sky, sits majestically high atop a hill on a rocky island just off the coast of France.

To get to the top requires walking many steps, so take a deep breath and let’s go.

The abbey’s fascinating history dates back to the eighth century. Structurally, it is layer upon layer of halls and chapels built over the centuries and each addition indicates art and technique at the forefront of its time.

It is easy to see how architectural elements changed over the centuries as work continued. 

Fascinating is how the construction was done.  See this wheel?  It was used to hoist large, heavy blocks of limestone.As in Follett’s book, men turned it by walking the interior space.  Think of a hamster going round and round on its wheel and you have the image.  You have to be amazed by the procedures used to build magnificent structures that have endured through the centuries.

Starting from the top down, it is easy to trace the sequence of Mont-St-Michel’s development.  At the higher elevations, the structure is more refined while the lower level with its massive columns  serves as sturdy support for centuries of change.

From its beginnings Mont-St-Michel has been a Benedictine abbey though today it is inhabited by only eight monks.  Were it not for the thousands of visitors who come, it would be a lonely place.

At the base of the abbey is a small town, quite charming and with an abundance of places to eat and shop, that is if you have the energy after exploring Mont-St-Michel for several hours.  

Thank you for traveling along.  I hope you enjoyed the journey.  It is shared at Pink Saturday and Seasonal Sundays.

Many Faces of White

Part of the fun of traveling or just eating away from home is paying attention to tables as you never know from where a new idea for your next tablescape is going to come.  Let’s take a look at some of the tables we’ve enjoyed our last few days traveling.

While most eateries use lots of white for dishes and linens, it is interesting to note the different presentations.

Here, a touch of color appears in the centerpiece, and while I’m sure the water bottles are not intended as part of the decor, their shape and color does add something to the overall effect.  I wouldn’t mind having one of those to add to my collection of bottles that so often appear on my own tables.

Look at how this charger adds a touch of glamor

and  a classic banded plate lends a quiet sophistication.

More playful on a white background are patterned plates

as are ones with interesting shapes.  Hmmm, I like what’s on this plate, too!

Here, I have no idea what the dishes will be, but I am wondering what will go in all these glasses and thinking how glad I am not to have to wash them!  Whatever the table setting I’m betting on a more contemporary look if the shape of the utensils and the simple silver napkin ring are any indication.

So you see, just as we all are different so are the many ways of preparing a table.

I can’t wait to take a look at Let’s Dish, Tablescape  Thursday and Thursday Favorite Things for further inspiration!

Let’s Go! Part V

There is more to share about food, but for today let’s turn our attention to art, another focus of this adventure.

As mentioned several days ago, Lisbon is a city of museums.  There isn’t time to visit all, so let’s go to the highly regarded Gulbenkian Museum. Here we will find a wealthy man’s collection of paintings, sculpture, rugs and decorative art. At one time Calouste Sarkis Gulbenkian, who lived the last 13 years of his life in Portugal, negotiated with the National Gallery in Washington, D.C. as a potential home for this outstanding collection, but it ended up in Lisbon where a specially built facility ensured that it would be kept under one roof.

There are many beautiful things here, but being a fiber person, I am enchanted by the textiles, an example of which is this embroidered Japanese hanging. Can you imagine the ability, to say nothing of the time, it would take to create such an intricate pattern with needle and thread?

Next stop Sintra, a beautiful town in the mountains near Lisbon, which was the summer retreat for Portuguese royalty whose reign ended in 1910. In the royal dwelling, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, two things make a special impression.

One is the painted wood ceilings,

more primitive than frescoed ceilings and charming in their own right.

The other is the tile work done on many of the palace’s wall surfaces and is evidence of Portugal’s long history of tile making.

Imagining the effort that went into the painting of each tile so as to create a cohesive whole is overwhelming.

Though not typically described as art, these copper pots are pretty wonderful.  Wouldn’t you like to have one or two of these?

Moving on to Spain, Bilbao is home to one of the five Guggenheim museums, and it is spectacular.

The exhibitions are impressive, but it is the Frank Gehry designed building that is the real work of art.  (Thanks to the hubby for this terrific photo.)

One could spend hours here studying the building’s angles and interconnecting shapes and photographing it again and again to capture the changing hues of the titanium shingles.

This is a museum not to be missed!

On to Paris, also known for its museums, but rather than visit the familiar ones, let’s go to the Musee Jacquemart-Andre.  Like the Gulbenkian, it represents the acquisitions of a wealthy person with the difference being that they are housed in the family’s residence.

Though the decor is not typical of today’s, it clearly represented the good taste and attention to detail of the mansion’s owners.

Again, fiber caught my attention, this time in the form of Gobelin tapestries woven by hand in the 18th century.

Aren’t we fortunate that art is such an important part of history?

Thanks for traveling with me today.  We still have lots ahead of us.

Joining Tabletop Tuesday