Make Mine A Corn…..Tortilla

Song - Nobody Knows Me by Lyle Lovett

Saturday - April 5

Mr. B and I are traveling through the Southwest for a couple weeks. Our son, Andy and his cute little sidekick, Henry drove us to the airport. We flew into Phoenix and jumped into our Rav4 and headed north to Prescott, AZ, passing through mountains of huge Saguaro cactus and mountains that looked like they were from another planet. We pulled into The Hassayampa in old downtown Prescott just two blocks from Whiskey Row and there was a courtyard and lobby full of people dressed in elegant Roaring 20’s attire ready for a party  I felt totally underdressed!

We rode the 1927 employee operated elevator to the fourth floor, unpacked & went downstairs for a cocktail & live music in the  bar.  Jim enjoyed taking to the band, R & D (Robbie & David) husband & wife team (vocal & guitar). The hotel has an amazing restaurant where we shared a delicious grilled pear salad and I had a perfect filet minion and Jim had the lamb shank with polenta. Tomorrow we will visit with Mr. B’s sister!

Wooden Boats

 SONG -  If I Had A Boat by Lyle Lovett

Day 17 - Thurs. May 16

About 8 miles north of our hotel is Rydal Hall & gardens which we visited on Thursday. A perfect day of sunshine, birdsong and waterfalls.

The waterfall come down off of the Cumbrian mountains and flow past the grounds tea room, under a stone bridge and on past the “Grot” built in 1668.

We then drove into the village of Ambleside on the Northern tip of Lake Windermere.  It’s was filled with hikers, runner’s & pack packers of all ages. We however were there to visit The Bridge House, a local church and scope out our dinner restaurant for the evening.

“ A tiny building, originally an apple store for nearby Ambleside Hall, was built over Stock Beck to escape land tax. Once five mills were driven by the power of Stock Beck and some may still be seen nearby. It is said that at some time a family with six children lived here in the two rooms.” - quote from “Visit Cumbria

We didn’t visit the upstairs bedroom as these were the stairs…

We walked down several streets to arrive at St Mary’s Church built in 1850. We had seen the spire while driving into town and thought it might be worth a visit. 

Later in the afternoon we took a walk along Lake Windermere and enjoyed watching the boats, ducks, swans & people. 

Oh and the Wray castle across the lake. 

We then drove to dinner in Ambleside at Bellis restaurant and headed home for a glass of wine at the bar where we bumped into & joined Robert, Jennifer & Poppy from Glasgow!

Who's There?

Song - Step Inside This House by Lyle Lovett



 Still knocking......

This is a pair of beautiful gate grill ornaments from Paris, France

And a fire breathing door latch on Josephine Bakers home in the Dordogne.

 An elegant door knocker from Umbria, Italy on a beautiful wooden door.



"Personality can open doors,
 but only character can keep them open."

--Elmer G. Letterman

Wild Women

Song - That's Right You're Not From Texas by Lyle Lovett & His Large Band

On Tuesday evening Mr. B took me to a lovely restaurant.  The food was exceptional as were the drinks.

Light and refreshing on a warm summer evening.  Guess what this was called?


.......the Lyle Spritzer.

Now you might think that this is a funny name for a drink unless you look closely at the menu and take note of the first cocktail offered - a  Lovett Old Fashioned.  And if you put the two together, you might think we were going to see Lyle Lovett and His Large Band at Wente Vineyards. 


And you would be right!

But first dessert.....mmm......an Apricot and Berry Tart with Lemon Verbena Whipped Cream. It just melted in my mouth.  We actually had an incredible 4 course dinner but we were enjoying it so much that I forgot to take photos. You can just trust me on that one!

For my birthday in June, Mr. B gave me two tickets to see Lyle Lovett & His LARGE Band and it was the perfect evening under the stars.

I have seen Lyle a number of times and what is always so striking to me is what a "gentleman" he is. Not sure if it's a Texan thing or if he was just brought up right! He has this incredible dry sense of humor.  He has 13 other people on stage with him and shares stories about each one.  Funny little tidbits that had the audience rolling in the isles.

One of my favorite members of his band is Ms. Francine Reed who grew up singing in her local church. Click HERE to get a sample of her style with Wild Women!

 This woman sings with great passion and you can just tell that she enjoys it with her whole heart and soul!

Lyle did as well and as he encouraged each musician to share in a solo portion, he just grinned on like a proud papa!

 Thank you Mr. B for the great tickets and for being my wine Sherpa for the evening!

"Women always go through the door first. Even ardent feminists would admit it's nice. It's not an acknowledgment of women as the weaker sex; it's perhaps an acknowledgment of women as the stronger sex." --Lyle Lovett

Imperfect Beauty

Song - Nobody Knows Me by Lyle Lovett

"Adopt the pace of nature;

her secret is patience.

Sometimes you don't need

the things you "need"

to enjoy the simple

things, quiet times, 

friends, family."

--Amish Proveb

If I Had A Boat

Song - If I Had A Boat by Lyle Lovett

Busy as a bee.....

The roses are in full bloom.

The iris are just beginning to bloom.

Tomato plants (18) have been put in the vegetable garden.

 The shade garden is happily showing her beauty.

Dogwood

 

Hosta

Azalea

Fern

Fern

And the geese are doing a little hanky-panky up on our rooftop every morning.

Our neighbors roof

Then it got cold.

Very cold in comparison to the weather California has been used to. Which has been Summertime in the Winter!



Easter was held inside this year due to the rain and cold.

Yesterday it rained and then hailed.  Weird weather.

But we need the rain so much that no one is complaining.

It rained enough to bring this rowboat down the creek and lodge in some brambles by our property.



The Governor is placing California on a 25% water reduction plan starting soon.

Luckily Mr. B and I were already changing our overhead sprinklers to a drip system and Sherman (our drip guy) said his phone is ringing off the hook with jobs.

We are also collecting grey water, you know the clean water we get from waiting for the hot water to come on, water from rinsing veggies & fruit, etc.  I have buckets in both showers and pitchers near each sink to gather the water.  Then I go outside and water my potted plants. 

Today I just ordered a 50 gal. rain barrel but it's not for rainwater (because we have none) but for all of these buckets and pitchers of water.  It is truly amazing how much water can be reused.  I am now looking into organic shampoo's, soaps, etc., so that we can collect even more.

"The farmer will never be happy again; 

He carries his heart in his boots;

For either the rain is destroying his grain

Or the drought is destroying his roots." 

--Alan Patrick Herbert