Author: robin

Dear Al Jarreau and Random Observations

- robin

I promise that there were a dozen birds at the feeder 5 minutes ago.

They leave so fast…

Shadows on the wall are oddly long this morning

and

I learned yesterday that dear, wonderful, Al Jarreau is ill.

There was a message on the computer

from a friend who knows that we adore Mr Jarreau.

***************

PERSONAL NOTE ALERT

*************************

Dear Al,

May I call you Al? I feel as if I have known you for thirty years.

 I would like to thank you for one evening….. one in particular.

It was a cold evening in Paris.

November 2016.

Larry and I arrived at the Olympia Theater

and

were delighted that our seats were so close to the stage.

We held hands and waited.

When you were announced…the audience gave you a standing ovation.

Tears crept to the corners of my eyes.

Larry squeezed my hand

and the rest of the evening felt like a wonderful dream.

We still talk about you and that amazing evening.

We listen to your music and quietly feel inspired.

Isn’t it amazing how

ARTists have the ability to touch people who need a gentle hug?

The past year, was dismal. Really dismal.

2016 will not be remembered for many happy things for us,

except a charming evening in Paris.

With My Larry and Al Jarreau.

We send love and healing thoughts.

Please remember, that if you smile in your sleep,

the angels shall adore you.

Robin

*******

Love you.

Me

Larry’s Chest

- robin

Last night I took chicken and dressing from the freezer.

Made gravy and steamed corn.

Dessert was tapioca pudding.

I did not think about it at the time,

but I wanted comfort food.

After dinner, we  went back to bed

and

I put my head on Larry’s chest.

We watched a wonderful documentary on the Louvre.

{from 1964}

It was very good.

******

There are five days till Valentine’s Day.

Today’s Love Quote:

Love is the enchanted dawn of every heart.

~alphonse de lamartine~

Happy Wednesday.

Love you,

Me

A Very Good Weekend

- robin

We had the best weekend.

It was busy, you know the kind of busy…

so much fun, that you hate to miss a moment.

On Friday, My Larry and I went to dinner and a Ice Hockey game!

{it was so much fun, {go Allen American’s!}

I cannot wait to repeat the evening and I will take pictures next time}

On Saturday, Larry did our taxes, YAY for refunds! and then we had dinner and a movie.

{Dinner: tacos. Movie was Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children}

Sunday,  We had lunch in Dallas before going to Dallas Children’s’ Theater.

Matilda was in rare form

and the play: Junie B. is not a Crook.

Here is my favorite photo from lunch.

So much is going on in this pano, It makes me smile.

The play was perfection.

When I am at the DCT,

I love listening to the happy voices of the kiddos as much as the play.

On Sunday night, we went to a Super Bowl Party.

Denise and Barry hosted the best party

with the nicest people, food, TV’s and patio!

Have you ever noticed

that there are people who are a natural born host and hostess?

That is Denise and Barry.

Yesterday, I had a dental appointment at 7:00 am.

And then I came home to start my week.

Around 4:00, my Dr called.

The two biopsies from last weeks check up, are basal cell carcinoma.

Skin Cancer.

The surgeon will be calling me today to make appointments for consult and surgery.

I am a bit down about this.

No, lets face it, I hate this.

I am so sick of Dr’s and cancer and feeling old.

Ok, I got that that out of my system and am smiling  now….

Please, go get a total body check at your favorite dermatologist.

Early detection can save your life.

The sun is shining through the dining room patio doors

and Libby is snoring.

Today is going to be a great day.

Love you.

Me

Late Or Missing

- robin

Today’s post might be late or missing.

I must be at the dentist at 7:00 am.

I think that dentists should START their appointments at 10:00 am.

The trauma is just to much to handle before sunrise.

******

There are 7 days till Valentine’s Day.

Today’s Love quote:

Love is the only gold.

~alfred, lord tennyson~

Love you,

Me

Madness

- robin

It is a BUSY Saturday.

What do you do to stay on schedule

and

get everything done on crazy days?

*****

There are 9 days till Valentine’s Day.

Today’s Love Quote:

The madness of love is the greatest of

heaven’s blessings.

~plato~

Love you.

Me

Crêpe Day (and recipe)~ Chef Valentine

- robin

Yesterday, was Crêpe Day.

The Catholic holiday of Candlemas, on 2 February,

is a feast to commemorate the purification of the Virgin Mary and the presentation of baby Jesus.

In France, this holiday is called la Chandeleur, Fête de la Lumière,* or jour des crêpes.

It is traditional to hold a coin in your writing hand and a crêpe pan in the other, and flip the crêpe into the air.

If you manage to catch the crêpe in the pan, your family will be prosperous for the rest of the year.

I read one story, that February 2nd, was when the Baby Jesus

was presented at Temple in Jerusalem.

In the 1400’s in Rome,

the Pope handed out savory crepes to the crowd as the day was bitter cold.

Larry and I make crepes on Jour Des Crêpes. , usually for dessert.

The batter is from a charming cook-book that Rosemary gave me.

******

Crêpes

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 Tablespoon sugar

pinch salt

2 eggs

About 2 1/4 cups milk

Melted butter for frying

~~~~~

1. Mix, flour, sugar and salt in a bowl.

2. Make a well in the center of dry ingredients and crack in the eggs.

3. Gradually mix the ingredients together, adding enough milk for the batter

to have the consistency of heavy cream

4. Do not over mix as this will make the crêpes rubbery.

5. Refrigerate batter at least one hours or overnight.

6. If the batter has thickened to much, add a bit of milk to make it the correct consistency.

Heat 6-7 inch heavy saute pan.. Brush in melted butter. Pour 3-4 Tablespoons of patter into pan and quickly swirl so the batter covers the inside.

Cook for 1 minute, then loosen the edges with a spatula, turn over and cook for another minute.

Slide out of pan, then repeat to make 10-12 crêpes.

{ I use a larger pan, and make 5-6}

Grease the pan after each crêpe.

*don’t worry. The first one is always a little wrong

**Keep the cooked crêpes warm.

Place them on a baking sheet, cover loosely with foil and place in over at 200 degrees.

We spread them Nutella and slice bananas over top.

You can fold them to make hand-helds….

but I just folded them over once and served them on plates.

The Cottage was a happy place

and there were no left overs.

Until next time,

Valentine

Thou Art To Me

- robin

Last week, while Larry had meetings in Ft Worth

I tagged along.

The MONET exhibit was at the Kimball Museum of Fine ART

and

that is where I spent my time.

Walking through the exhibit a number of times

and each time, discovering things I had not seen before.

Last night,{a week later} My Larry and I went to dinner.

We had salads and looked at the book I bought at the exhibit.

We discussed the paintings and M. Monet.

We talked about Larry’s work, Matilda and a recent Dr visit I had.

What is it about these little moments?

Deliberate moments filled with meaning.

They have the ability to be the memories that last forever.

*******

There are 11 days till Valentine’s Day.

Today’s Love Quote:

Thou art to me a delicious torment.

~ralph waldo emerson~

I wish you sunshine and love today,

happy moments and many smiles….

Love you.

Me

COEURS

- robin

The pillow with hearts {coeurs} on it was designed and made by me.

The process was good. I carried it with me to schools, Dr’s offices

and

just running young girls around.

It is over 20 years old and was made in honor of

Larry proposing to me, on Feb 14th, 1977.

*******

There are 12 days till Valentine’s Day.

Today’s Love Quote:

One does not fall “in” or “out” of love.

One grows in love.

~leo buscaglia~

Oh, and that heart pillow above?

It won a blue ribbon at the Texas State Fair.

Love you beyond the hearts…..

Me

Yesterday’s Healthy Choice

- robin

Here we go, it is Tuesday. YAY!

Yesterday, I was so busy around the house,

I only left once

and

that was to walk to our Neighborhood Wall Mart.

Big deal, right?

The awesome thing is, walking to Wall Mart for a few things

is the healthy choice.

{go on, smile}

It is a few miles, both ways,

and

as politically incorrect it is,

we call it the “white trash” walk.

The “WT”……

and here is proof.

Here I  am, walking home with a cooler and bag of supplies.

It was a beautiful day and the walk gave me time to think.

I am so blessed to be healthy enough to walk to Wall Mart

to buy supplies for a party.

*****

There are 13 day’s till Valentine’s Day.

Today’s Love quote is

“I feel there is nothing more artistic

than loving people.”

~vincent van gogh~

Today’s quote is brought to you by

My dear friend, Karen Cox.

{thank you Karen XOX}

Perhaps today, you will share the love?

Love you.

Me

Bid Me Love

- robin

It is  Monday.

A bright sunny, sweet Monday.

As you can see, I have been playing with the web-site.

Again.

The photo above was take years ago,

on a bitter November day in France.

The disks in the pond were for a beautiful ART exhibit

and

I remember My Larry and I

sitting to the left of the couple in the photo and had a picnic.

Back to today.

It is early here. {I try to publish blog before 9:00 am}

and rambling because….

Before waking up this morning,

I had a dream, that Libby Pug Died.

It felt very real.

She fell over and I held her as she slipped away.

I am crying now, just telling about it.

If you are a new reader to the blog,

here is a portrait of Libby Luna, the moon faced pug

when she was much younger.

She is my true companion.

********

Ok!

Enough of that.

Do you know that there are 14 days till

Valentine’s Day?

Today’s Love Quote:

Bid me love, and I will give a loving heart to thee.

~robert herrick~

Love you.

Me