Friends

Tucked away in the historic district of Lexington, is a new restaurant, 6 Friends.  Offering an eclectic menu, they offer sweet and savory crepes. Making crepes... looks so cool.  The cooks squirt the batter on a hot flat griddle. Then, they take a small  rounded wooden tool to spread a very thin amount of the batter of the surface of the griddle..   Depending on the crepe's filling, it  is  prepared very quickly

Beverly, Elise and Brooke gave the restaurant rave reviews.  Lunch was under $6.50.  Good food at reasonable prices... perfect. Next week, Brooke travels to China. Safe travels ...

Welcome

"Welcome "

Even before you enter a home, the entrance says,  please come in, we are waiting for you.

Fresh flowers and a welcome sign

 A Happy Summer Sign

Tim and Lisa

Thank you for your hospitality

Pink Lemonade

 

 A silver turtle is holding my name.

One part of a spoon collection....

Training Dogs

Can you teach an old dog new tricks?  According to some dog trainers it is possible to train older dogs.  Experienced dog handlers work with dogs to learn new skills.  Can Jackson learn new skills? It may be challenging, but it can be done.. 

Hooch is saying, "momma" for his treat. Yes, it really sounds like he is saying momma.

 For best results, I think you should start early and have one of those collars.   Hooch makes his home in Kansas.  

Dolly  waits on the carpet for her treat.  She lives in Omaha.

Advice... patience...push the pause button

Visiting my daughter and son  this week was a joy.   A few highlights... attending church at Sunny Slope Church of Christ...singing hymns .. sharing meals...laughing till I cried...visiting museums.... dancing to old school music...playing cards...painting Jara's toenails twisted pink.... attending a summer party ...visiting Jara's workplace.... exercising @ the Downtown Omaha YMCA...visiting with Kenley at the museum... watching World Cup Games and College World Series games...savoring the time... making every day count...

In the midst of it all, I am still learning how to be a good "mother in law"

...using my attending skills to be a good listener, giving words of affirmation, and asking, "How can I help?"

I don't remember giving any advice, but I do have one piece of advice to the newlyweds...

This little gem is from, the Crimson Window blog..The author suggested...the biggest piece of advice to newlyweds is "Patience"  ... this word should be plastered all over the house.  He also mentioned the "Pause Principle"  The blog ended with this quote," You can really reduce the number of conflicts in your marriage if you're not in the full-time business of starting them." 

Wow, that sounds like good advice for an old married couple like J & J!

 

The newlyweds

2010 NBA Draft

Last evening, we had a  lovely dinner with friends in Kansas.  Traveling over nine hours, we arrived home tonight at 6:30 p.m.  A travel milestone... I have overcome my fear of bridges...gephyrophbia! 
This milestone is the result of prayer.

Watching the 2010 NBA Draft with neighbors.

UK Basketball makes history as John Wall becomes the first UK player to be the #1 draft selection.  

Dessert

Good Neighbors are a blessing.

Visiting the Durham Museum and Joslyn Art Museum

Breakfast @ Market Basket Egg White Omelet

Durham Museum...Union Pacific Station

After visiting the Durham Museum, we went to the Joslyn Art Museum. At the Joslyn we saw the exhibit Landscapes from  the Age of Impressions...  art on loan from the Brooklyn Museum of Art and the Boston Museum of Fine Art.

Sioux Warrior on Horseback at the Joslyn Museum

Our day ended with Jara and Kenley

Dinner

Green Salad

Salmon Patties

Asparagus

Chilled Water

Monday in Omaha

Last night there was a violent thunderstorm... it literally rattled the windows.  More storms are forecast for this evening.  A great  way to begin the day... working out @ the YMCA...taking a minute to snap a picture of the minutes I exercised.

Katie's Greek Restaurant in Omaha

My Greek Salad

This afternoon...reading, relaxing, doing laundry.

 Later today, there will be a party to celebrate the first day of summer. 

Before going to the celebration, we pick up Daphne...

Delightful Daphne and Ann Marie  have started... Del Marie Creamery.

Yummy yogurt....http://www.delmariecreamery.com/blog/

... yogurt, and fresh fruit... what is better than that?

Fresh raspberries

A garden in the middle of the city.

Sunday in Omaha

Jara and Kenley live in a charming  apartmartment that was built in 1918.  Hardwood floors,  a curvy staircase, built in bookcases, six paned windows, family pictures, and  faint scent of cinnamon... visiting with my daughter and son in law....After Sunday Worship service, I am resting...so is Dolly their dog

On the road again

Home four days... on the road again...visiting family in St. Louis...

Sunny and 95 degrees in St. Louis. What is the heat index?  I don't want to know

It was a home game for the Cardinals... too hot for us...

Dinner with Dennis and Amanda...

Lunch @ Doodles

This morning, Becky extended an invitation to join her for lunch with her daughter.   As Becky and Bethany were talking, I was thinking... what a tender mother daughter relationship. Our conversation was weaving between the Castle, grandchildren, travel, tempers, and the caring for families.

 Lunch today was @ Doodles

http://www.doodlesrestaurant.com/brunch_menu.htm

   

Why is English so weird?

 "Why is English so weird?   Why is English Pronunciation so Difficult to Learn..professional development offered by Kristen Perry, PhD. from the University of Kentucky on June 16.  Operation Read,volunteers have access to  regular training .   My head was spinning as I left the training.  I was fearful to tip my head, I was concerned all the information would slip out.... To begin the training, she offered this letter published in the London Sunday Time (3 January, 1965)

I take it you already know

Of tough and bough and cough and dough?

Others may stumble but not you,

On hiccough, thorough, laugh, and through,

Well done! And now you wish, perhaps,

To learn of less familiar traps?

Beware of heard, a dreadful word

That looks beard and sound like bird,

And dead:  it's said like bed, not bead --

For goodness' sake don't call it "deed"!

Watch out for meat and great and threat

(They rhyme with suite and straight and debt).

A moth is not a moth in mother

Nor both in bother, broth in brother,

And here is not a match for there

Nor dear and fear for bear and pear,

And then there's dose and rose and lose-

Just look them up --- and goose and choose,

And cork and work and card and ward,

And font and front and word and sword,

And do and go and thwart and cart --

Come, come, I've hardly made a start

A dreadful language? Man alive!

I'd mastered it when I was five!

Volunteers

Kristen Perry, PhD.

Homonym Memory Game

Charlotte Genesse Lighthouse

The beauty of a shared experience....Here are some pictures of my trip to the Lighthouse. Thanks to the  Karen and Kathryn for sharing their pictures.  I must have erased my pictures by mistake.

Home Sweet Home

Leaving Rochester @ 6:00 a.m. 

Breakfast @ Buffalo, New York @ 7:00 a.m.

Lunch in Grove City, Ohio 1:00 p.m.

Home @ 4:00 p.m.

Pick up Jackson @ Hickman Creek Kennels @ 5:00 p.m.

Cleaning...

Casa Larga Vineyards

Casa Larga Vineyards

2287 Turk Hill Road

Fairport, New York

Western New York reminds me of of some small towns in Ohio or Indiana.   As I am traveling to Fairport, I am surprised by the small towns. Another nice surprise as I approach  Casa Larga, the flat landscape suddenly turns a little hilly.   Arriving at the vineyard, I am greeted by Kelly.  She is gracious and gives me a small tour.  When asked if I would like to have a taste of wine... I replied in horror, "No". It sounded really silly, all I had to say was , "No thanks."...after all I was visiting a winery.


Did I sound silly or self righteous  ...definition  convinced of one's own righteousness especially in contrast with the actions and beliefs of others: narrow- minded moralistic... Self - righteous can be a adverb or noun...anyway...

It is rainy and cloudy in Rochester, but I was able to take some pictures.  I better post them before they disappear.  Visit their web site.

http://www.casalarga.com/index.cfm?method=homepage.showpage

Lighthouse

Charlotte Genesse Lighthouse... I climbed to the top of the tower of this lighthouse.  Over forty steps to the top seems very small, unless you are scared of heights.   As I climb up, I am  careful not to look down.  On left, a handrail is made of rope, this rope moves as you reach to steady yourself.   Outside in the museum, I had met sisters Karen and Kathryn.   The sisters, once strangers are now encouraging me to continue the climb.  ...a small part remains... the steel ladder to the very top... Once there you have a glorious view....I missed that view... Going down the steps was more difficult.   But I made it!  I made two trips to the Lighthouse... I had to go back and get my camera... today, when I am ready to post the pictures... the pictures have sadly disappeared....lost in some digital place... waiting to be retrieved.

George Eastman House and Gardens...

One view from the formal garden

One of the fifty rooms in the mansion

Conservatory

Visiting his mansion and walking in his garden, George Eastman left legacy that endures to this day. According to the one publication, more than a hundred thousand visitors come to this National Historic Landmark each year.  George Eastman, universally recognized as the father of popular photography, he founded the Eastman Kodak company.  After the morning's round table, I decided take a tour of the home's garden. Taking a tour of the garden, I slipped away to have a few quiet moments in the garden. Interesting facts I discovered, how his philanthropy established or supported many educational intuitions. Impressed with Booker T. Washington book " Up From Slavery, Mr. Eastman gave a generous donation to the Tuskegee Institute.