Robin Tolbert

Dinner In Austin

- robin

On Thursday, My Larry and I got up very early and drove to San Antonio. He had meetings and I had my knitting. After his meetings, Instead of staying in San Antonio, we drove back to Austin where we checked into our favorite little hotel.

Sweet, wonderful, Larry. He said that if I kept him company on the trip, he would take me to dinner at my favorite restaurant in Austin for dinner

That is exactly what we did. Our hotel is a few blocks from the restaurant. It is a nice walk in downtown Austin, Texas to and from dinner.

Photo:Dinner in Austin

Are you ready for a brand new year? I think that I am,

Have a happy, wonderful day….it is Sunday dinner and movie day!

Love you,

Me.

Sunday, Dinner and A Movie

- robin

Yesterday, Sunday Dinner and Movie was a blessing. The stress of the holiday had caught up to me and Larry made dinner. Potato salad, and grilled burgers.

Our movie was The Holly and The Ivy. {My favorite Christmas Carol}

The movie has an interesting history, it was intense and in the end….well….you will just have to watch it.

I can hardly believe that it is Christmas eve. My heart feels a bit melancholy and I look forward to a brand new, productive new year. 2019 sounds wonderful. {with lots of Sunday, dinner and movies.}

Love you,

Me

Wound Up

- robin

Today started with walking five miles in the fog. The first four miles were a breeze but when I start mile five, cramps kicked in. I suspect this is the pain/gain part of my exercise commitment. I took a picture but it looks like a gray mess….with so much fog. I will be back at the lake tomorrow, perhaps it will be a better day?

I came home from exercise, to wind balls of yarn. Last week, I bought a yarn swift and yarn ball winder. It was shipped in two pieces and I am patiently waiting for the “swift” {ironic isn’t it that the SWIFT is late to arrive?} While waiting, I am making due with the winder. 

I frogged the project I started….to re-wind the balls of yarn that I had wound myself. It is fascinating watching the ball winder. So glad I have THREE MORE TO RE-WIND! Not really. It is interesting though and it is important for me to have the yarn feed from the inside of the ball.

PHOTO: Yarn ball winder and finished ball of yarn.

Here is my primitive set up. I am so excited for the swift to arrive…because I bought the most amazing yarn in France and cannot wait to wind the skeins up. {more about that later}

Larry has gone to meetings in Dallas and I can hear my mothers clock ticking the time and chiming the hours.  How I miss her this time of year. The special way she had of decorating the tree and the wonderful cookies she made.

This  is the time of year to reflect on our faith and remember the special people  who are not with us any longer.  I have a question…..Why does this reflection  change so drastically as we get older?   

I adore hearing from our friends via holiday cards and seeing them at parties. It truly is about the special “moments” and making memories. Good memories.

It is quite true. I am wound up today and ready for anything. Bring it on….Christmas, I am ready!

Love you,

Me.

PS: My friend Molly’s sweet dog passed away this morning. I send you love Molly. XOX …Ricky is with Libby now…..

A Charming Thanksgiving

- robin
Photo: Thanksgiving 2018

On the way to Thanksgiving dinner, in the taxi, I pulled my phone out and checked messages.  

It was on my Facebook, that I saw an unfortunate posting from a friend.

It is there and then,  that I deleted my account.

{I will always remember deleting my account.

Please find me on Instagram!}

We have been to le Grand Colbert before.

It is charming, light, happy and the food is delicious.

Photo: Inside le Grand Colbert


Larry and I ended up having the best Thanksgiving dinner ever.

{and I did not have to prepare it}

PHOTO: My roasted chicken.

My chicken half was brought to me, in a lovely copper pan….

I cut pieces off for my plate as I enjoyed the dinner.

Larry had the duck and perhaps we enjoyed our selves to much.

PHOTO: Larry’s duck and our wine….

No. One can never enjoy himself to much, oui?

After dinner, our waiter helped me on with my coat

and

the manager kissed my hand as we left the restaurant.

It was a charming Thanksgiving evening.

Please do not anyone’s selfish motives ruin your sunny attitude.

Life is to short for that.

Merde. Now I am homesick for  Pareeeee

Love you.

Me

The Music Box

- robin

One cold winter, Larry bought  me a sweet gift.

It was when Lauren lived in California

and

Jami was active duty Air Force, far away.

I was missing them very much and felt quite alone.

The Music Box was a gift of love.

I think of that time each year when Larry brings out the box.

But this year is different…

The music and skaters, make me feel nostalgic and quiet.

The box is one of very few decorations we put out now

and it is the most important.

Things are always changing

and

many things stay the same…

The one thing  I would like,

is to feel the same way about Christmas

that I felt when my Girls were young.

That’s  all.

Love you,

Me

Moments To Remember

- robin

Larry and I have a good friend who lives in Paris.

We have known his family for 20 years

and

they own the BEST Italian Bistro at Place de Republic.

Bruno helps at the Bistro

and

also works at The Opera house.

This year while in Paris, Bruno invited us to an event.

Photo: Larry and Bruno solving mystery at Palais Garnier~Opera House

It was a fun event and we had to solve the mystery

by finding clues at certain locations in the Palais Garnier.

Photo: Clues to the mystery

 

Photo: Discovering the answers.

 

Photo: A sunny Sunday morning. Opera Garnier~Paris

Next year we will go to an opera , till then, I have the best memories.

{my favorite opera is La Travitia. I asked Bruno to “order it up”….he laughed.}

Love you.

Me

The Red Silk Thread

- robin

Yesterday I had a bla day.

Larry had meetings that went late

and although I had many things to do,

I just sat at my work table, knitting and watching Netflix.

{do you know who Monty Don is?

his current gardening series is now on Netflix!}

Sooooo,

today I have made a list.

It is my “Today List”

A friend who had cancer  once told me,

If you write a list each day,

of the things that you would like to accomplish

and check off  what you do get done,

Photo: The list is on there, somewhere!

you will be pleased with yourself,

even if you do only one thing on the list.

Photo: Formal skirt and top await hemming….

Today there is mail to write,

and a formal to finish.

I must hem the skirt and top with temperamental

red silk thread that knots and tangles easily

if you even look at it with a frown!

There are four miles to walk and

someones {Larry} birthday gifts to wrap.

I started knitting a sweater while in France

and

would like to have it finished

for a holiday brunch on the 22nd of Dec.

The list is full of creative things…

YES! I can get it knocked out…

Dear wonderful Readers.

what is on your list today?

Love you beyond that crazy red silk thread.

Me

Yes, I Cried Too

- robin

First of all, I would like to thank Lauren Miller

for making Word Press my

number one blog once again.

{she FIXED IT!!!}

I am so happy. WP is  my favorite!!!!

***

In the past weeks, strange little things have been happening.

Larry chuckles and says: You just have jet lag.

Today, my phone was a bit stubborn.

I left it at my work table while I took a bath

and when I returned,

it had gone into airplane  mode on its own. {how? why?}

I then had to find a recipe at the shelves,

when I returned and opened  my phone

….Sweet Mitzu’s face was on the screen. {how? Why?}

Photo: Mitzu was Matilda, Lauren & Josh’s pug dog. She has been gone 2 1/2 years now.

 

When Lauren called on her way to Target….

she told me that this morning,

Matilda was  missing Mitzu very badly.

{she cried while on the way to school}

When I told her about Mitzu’s  photo,

she was surprised….like I was.

How wonderful is it that funny little things happen during our day?

Things that remind us, inspire us, support us and most of all, send us love?

Can you hear me sigh?

I loved Mitzu Pug Dog. I miss her very much.

Yes. I cried too.

Love you.

Me

Brain Or Heart?

- robin

He bought me PJ’s.

They are cuddly and cute,

but most of all they are warm.

Photo: New Pajamas-for me! Do you see the heart? {Nordstrom}

Where in our brain or heart, is thoughtfulness located?

Why are some  people more thoughtful than others?

I am married to a selfless, thoughtful man.

I want to be more like him.

Is there someone special in your life

who you would like to be more like?

Have you told them?

Love you.

Me

In Times Of Great Distraction

- robin

In times of great distraction…..

I feel blessed that my adventures have taken me far away.

Photo: by Robin-London 2017. The Mews where we stayed

 

Breathe

by~robin tolbert

 

The air is filled with hope.

Breathing in and out

fills the heart.

 

Accepting the moments.

Knowing that His will

be done.

 

Love, joy and strength.

Keeping the  heart full

of all things good.

*****

Joy is part of my life.

It has  ALWAYS  been part of my life.

I apologize  if you cannot feel it through your screen.

There are people who are only voyeurs in my life…

That is ok,  but please do me a favor?

If you only know me  from the blog,

don’t judge to harshly.

We all do the best we can…..

Love you.

Me