Gotta Play, Gotta Play!

We often have lunch at the golf clubhouse here in our little berg.  The food is great and the casual atmosphere in view of the beautiful golf course with the lake beyond is always refreshing.  Ol' Abner has been dusting off his clubs and has been invited to play with several of the old codgers that frequent the course.  This afternoon a large number of couples arrived at the end of some sort of organized contest.  It isn't as though I'm not having enough fun these days, but suddenly a gap opened in my realm of experiences.  I mentioned that it just might be time for me to learn the game.

Ol' Abner immediately escorted me over to the pro-shop to check on scheduling some lessons.  Within a few minutes, we were headed to the golf cart dealer.  Even though our membership includes a cart, we can get a nice discount if we have our own.  I don't have clubs yet, but I'm now the proud owner of an EZ Go golf cart.  It will be outfitted and delivered next week.  I'm wondering if I can be outfitted so soon...

Just Stand UP!

After nearly two weeks of travel, my backside refuses to remain in a sitting position for long.  The last forty-eight hours have involved a ride to the Seattle airport before dawn to catch a plane to Little Rock with a layover for lunch (at breakfast time in Phoenix), ending with a shuttle from the Little Rock airport in bumper to bumper, stop and creep traffic.  I was able to stretch my legs for a few minutes as I checked on my car in the parking garage, resisted the urge to go down the waterfront and join the RiverFest activities, and strolled across the street to a sandwich shop instead.  I crawled in bed before the sky was even dark to sleep for a few hours.

On Saturday morning, as in a few minutes after midnight, I loaded my belongings into my waiting car and began the drive from Little Rock to Lago Vista.  Nearly nine hours later, my numb behind, was unloaded again.  Another shower to refresh my sagging hair was necessary before I loaded, this time as a passenger, into another vehicle to head for Houston to a memorial service for an old friend.  Ol' Abner and I shared memories of this giant of a man (no kidding, 6'6" and boasted quite a copius girth for many years) with such a giant heart, sense of humor and intense loyalty.  He was actually a month younger than Ol' Abner, further reminding us of our own mortality.  Sitting politely through the service and loving the chance to stand and visit afterward, I dreaded the repeat of another couple of hours travel.  (Did I actually say that?  I DREADED travel!)  On the way home, we stopped at a revered BarBQ place and of course, sat to eat.

This morning, I'm standing to type and considering a walk to take some of the pup's girth down to size. She seems to have expanded a bit while I was gone.

Travelogue from Canada

The Parliament Building
Victoria is the capitol of British Columbia

I'm traveling with delight!  My collection of state capitols is growing.  The views are spectacular, the food is wonderful and the people are so very friendly.  Two friends and I flew into Seattle last week.  Gardener Gal from Dogpatch and her sis-in-law have been visiting with Gardener Gal's son and his family. They  welcomed me into their home and I have fallen in love with all of them.

The famous Empress Hotel
We didn't have time for High Tea

 The morning after our arrival, we traveled to downtown Seattle in early morning traffic.  I was counting my blessings that our driver was familiar with the city streets and highways.  Hopping aboard the Victoria Clipper just in time to sail off into the morning mist, we enjoyed a bit of breakfast at sea.

Craigdarroch Castle
Fascinating!

This was the main reason for MY trip

Our three days in Canada were filled with fun views and activities.  Traveling with two youngsters gave me an exciting perspective on places and  sights.  Beautiful trees became a part of fairytale fantasies and adventures of imagination.  Who knew it would be so much fun to return to the hotel after a day in brisk spring weather and journey downstairs to the beautiful indoor/outdoor pool for an evening splash.

After a busy day of sightseeing we're
 back to take in the view from the balcony!

Oh, the flowers, views of beautiful landscapes were constant candy for my eyes.  The island apparently has a perfect soil and climate for the blooming things I love so much.  The Butchart Gardens are the crown jewel of a landscape in full bloom.  I hear it showcases seasonal flowers yearround.  Now I need to plan at least four more visits (oh yes, they have "five" seasons there).

On the Road Again!

I awoke at 3:20AM and sleep would not return.  Never one to hug the mattress when other options are available, I got out of bed to finish preparation for my drive to the Ozarks.  It's about a twelve hour ride to my destination in Dogpatch.  A good night of rest is always nice beforehand.  Maybe the five or so hours I snoozed was all my body needed.  Perhaps I am just so excited about my upcoming trip or anxious to see friends I've missed.  At any rate, sleep is done and I'm about to load my stuff and hit the highway in a couple of hours.

A couple of friends will join me for a flight out of the Arkansas capitol on Thursday.  We will land later the same day in Seattle, a place I've never been.  Why wouldn't I be excited.  A couple of nights on Victoria Island will fall in the middle of the stay, and with family of my friends living in the area, we should enjoy lots of local flavor.  I hear they have a number of interesting excursions on our agenda.

For now, I will bid farewell to Texas and look forward to my return with brand new tales to tell!

Showtime

My neighbor had passes for a movie and free beverage.  When she offered to share, I chipped in for lunch and drove.  She usually prefers to leave her pampered vehicle in the garage and mine lives outside anyway.  I'm glad she's back from a two month long visit to another state.  This has been our first outing since she returned and I told her how much I had missed her presence across the street.  I think we may need to resume our daily exercise reminder affiliation in order to avoid stress in our lives.  Yes, that would be a good idea.  Yesterday was refreshing.

After a stroll through the mall on a window shopping trek, we cruised up the road to a sandwich place and shared a light lunch.  At the mega plus grocery store next door with a little time to kill, we wandered through the store and tasted samples of food and wine.  At the Movie and Eatery theater we picked up our complimentary drink (an Icee) at the concession counter and proceeded to settle into our seats in an empty theater just as the previews began.  Sitting in the center of the room we brazenly propped our feet on the rail in front and chattered during the previews and ads.  We loved the hilarious movie, laughing out loud and making snide comments at some of the antics. In fact, we had the place to ourselves, quite a change from my opening day trip with daughter and her family last week.  We were six people filling half a row in a full theater watching Ironman3 action.  Neighbor and I were solitary viewers watching The Big Wedding.  As we left, we stopped to ask if we could return next week for another "private showing" of the new release.

For today, I may need to return to the world of responsible behavior (at least for a day)  The pantry and fridge  must be restocked after my hiatus from cooking.  A grocery trip for more than tasting and strolling must happen now, but perhaps a call to my friend for a little work out would make the day go more smoothly.

Rock

My kitchen and bathrooms are adorned with lovely stone counter tops now!  The worker bee arrived just before nine yesterday and by the time the house was empty, my counters were not!  The granite is a similar color to the old formica and we didn't have to replace the back splash.  I didn't wage the war for the hammered copper apron sink.  The deep 70/30 undermount stainless sink actually works quite well at 10% of the cost of of the dream sink. Perhaps, someday!  I'm happy with the new look and so glad I don't have to deal with scratchable, burnable, plastic sounding counter tops any longer.

Butterfly Verde Granite

The view above doesn't really show the colors in the granite, but the overall effect of shiny stone counters can be seen.  I am a little disappointed that the photo doesn't look that different from the realtor's photo of the kitchen when we were buying the house.  I know the difference.

Pieces of the same rock have been cut and installed in the bathrooms.  It looks totally different in each of those rooms.  Ol' Abner will get the framing back on the mirrors today and I can begin my next campaign.  I need to reface all these oak cabinets from yesteryear.

Wake up now!

I indulged in a sleep-in this morning.  My bed felt so good, it was hard to give up the squirming and stretching and finally crawl out of it.  The weekend was wonderful and a good night's rest just reaffirmed that I'm not as young as I was once!

We began Thursday with the arrival of Guitar Man and Dancing Girl.  After they closed on their house Friday morning, we reviewed the inventory of things to move in and things to buy.  We had just arrived at a burger place for lunch when Stan the Golfcart man called to tell them he was on his way to deliver the little blue jewel they had purchased.  We finished eating and returned to take delivery...and as yet I'm not sure the wheeled baby has a name, but she cruises between our homes quite well, even with some oversized behinds loaded!  The remainder of the afternoon was spent purchasing nuts and bolts, blinds and appliances to make the new home ready.  A plumber met the men while we finished the purchases, and again I am in awe of Dancing Girl.  She can find a bargain and dicker it down every bit as well as Ol' Abner.  Friday night, exhausted and satisfied that the process was begun, we traveled into town for our favorite steak dinner and West Texas Wine.

Saturday was a day of working at the new home.  An empty house always requires serious cleaning, and Ol' Abner and Guitar Man worked diligently with minor and a few fairly major repairs.  I observed all this industry for a time, then bailed on them to meet Daughter and her family to see the newest action flick episode.  We returned to my house in time for the tired workers to begin cooking on the grill.  Oh yes, I made it just in time to see the Kentucky Derby sans my hat and mint julep.   Dancing Girl sliced and plated vegetables while I made a big pitcher of Lemon-Drop Martinis. Son and Daughter In Law arrived and we all indulged in a few hours of eating, drinking and reminiscing.

Last night our new neighbors/house guests departed for their permanent residence, tired but still excited. They'll be back next weekend with a load of stuff and to take delivery of more purchases.

This morning, at my house, plumbing is disconnected and the granite installers and plumber are on their way...soon I hope.  Breakfast is a bit of a challenge without a kitchen sink or counter tops.  We bought  granite to replace the bathroom counter tops, too.  Now I better go get those cleared.  Oh yes, I did deserve a few extra minutes of snooze time this morning.

They'll be here soon!

They're coming! Finally! Dancing Girl and Guitar Man will be here late this evening and will close on their home in our little community tomorrow morning.  After the fiasco of the last attempt to purchase a home here, I've been reluctant to talk about it for fear of jinxing the outcome.

The house they are buying was one viewed during the initial search and considered.  The one on "my street" trumped it for size and LOCATION!  This house will serve their needs well and if they raise a flag, I can see it from my breakfast room window.  With a golf course backyard and a golf cart garage, Guitar Man has purchased a cart to be delivered tomorrow afternoon.  Ol' Abner may even drag out his clubs and play a few rounds just to test the old painful shoulder.  Perhaps it has healed  enough to make the game fun again.

Our friends will spend the weekend at our house as they do a bit of preliminary painting and preparation before the actual move in.  We'll complete a "full house" with the arrival of Daughter and her family on Saturday.  They are almost as excited as I am to have this special family nearby again.