lauradodson::art + life

Twinkle, Twinkle...

I worked in the yard today.  I planted orange mums, took out all the pink, and ... drum roll, please ... bought twinkle lights for Jeff to hang. 

They're so sparkly and heart- warming.  I feel all warm fuzzy inside when they're lit.  I also broke out all the candles today.  It's fall, you know.  That means only one thing; the pyromaniac is back. 

We had some friends from church over tonight.  Earlier, I had set the table outside and dressed it.  I was beginning to worry it might be too warm once dinner was ready.  Thankfully, I was wrong.  Breezy, cool, sparkly, moonlit and candle lit night.  The boys ate inside and played XBOX.

Here's a dimly lit look at the mums.  I've decided to start saving all the empty jelly jars, etc. to use as candle holders outside.  They're perfect hurricane lamps.  The candles stayed lit all night.  I put some pebbles in the bottom to weigh them down and a tea light on top.  Voila!  I highly recommend this technique for when you need outdoor up-lighting. 

Tomorrow is the Lord's Day.  I am exhausted so I am headed to bed for some reading time.  Have a wonderful weekend.

home.

Nothing like coming home after a vacation.  I have lots of laundry to do and tons of unpacking but it is gonna feel so good to sleep in our own beds tonight.

The boys were able to bring a friend this year and man, did they have a good time.  Three peas in a pod.  They like this pose.  They entitled it, "Cingular. Raising the bar."  The bars should really be the other way around but that's ok.

We drove to Galveston on Monday and got home today.  Lots of sun, surf, sand, and thankfully, a pool for some sand-less refreshment.  Castles, boogie boards, football, shooting foam rockets, crab hunting, wave riding...a perfect vacay.

Kenny wasn't that ready to go home.  His words, "I like living with y'all."  (I think his Dad has saved up lots of work around the house and their rental properties for the two of them to do.)  He enjoyed the relaxation and loafing around.  Oh. Well. And lots of Gameboy and Legos and Astros, too. 

One day we needed to run to Target and Kenny asked if he could come because he hadn't been to Target since he was six. :o)  That's when the boys all purchased Legos with their own money, of course. 

The pic to the right is an annual picture.  We've taken this pic ever since we started going to The Galvestonian.  I believe Joshua was 3 and Caleb was 1.  I need to put them all in a common frame so we can see how much they've grown.  (Mom, isn't this great! I have your copy.)

Down in the lobby there are two computers for guest use.  I spent about 30 minutes a day hitting all my fave blogs and on Rusted Rhubarb I saw a fun family beach picture.  So, Michelle, if you are reading this...I stole your idea.  We took this our last evening at the beach.  I love it.  I may make it my new banner.  My Summer Vacation Commemoration Banner.  That sounds just right.  :o) 

School starts in two weeks. YIKES.  I better get busy!

See you soon!

Thank You So Much

Thank you all for your condolences and prayers.  Nana's memorial service and funeral were intimate and meaningful, just as she would have liked.

I'll be back soon.  Have lots to catch up on and a boy to get well.

An Evening Out

Last night was an longtime friend's 40th birthday.  Several couples got together and went out to a wonderful, eclectic restaurant for dinner. 

The Huisache Grill is nestled at the rear of a courtyard-ish complex made up of turn of the 20th century buildings that have been restored and made into shops.  There is a grassy knoll for lounging and sipping wine or visiting with friends or family, garden paths, and a very loud Santa Fe train that barrels by every hour.  The ambiance is wonderful.  Over the wine bar is a quote by WC Fields, "We lost our cork screw and were forced to live on bread and water for several days."  I had a Kris Pinot Grigio, Jeff and Rosemont Shiraz, and the others a Riesling which was super sweet...much sweeter than I care for.

There are few things I enjoy more than getting together with friends.  The boys were with a sitter along with the birthday girl's kiddos.  The kids have known each other since our oldest were 6 months old.  Joshua and Lyndsay are great friends.  They've never had an unkind word between them, no arguments, no debates...they just happily do whatever the other is set on doing.

But I digress.

The atmosphere of this courtyard and restaurant one must experience to fully understand.  I cannot capture it on film. I think the second best part of the evening was wandering around taking pictures and just soaking in all this natural, gardeny goodness.  I wanted so much to eat outside but all those spots were taken.

    I leaned over to Jeff in the middle of our evening and suggested we come back for a glass of wine and a dessert to share some evening .  Doesn't that sound wonderful?  There's a huge stone slab resting on stone blocks with chairs all around.  A great place to kick up your feet, nestle back in a cozy Adirondack chair and talk till the stars come out and the moon rises.  That's my kind of date.  If really feels like a tiny slice of Europe.

Oh, Honey!!!