Visiting the Fam
On our way to Folly Beach, we stopped off at Daddy’s place for a visit. Dad is a patriot, a proud Republican, a veteran of three wars, a full-time volunteer for Fighting Abuse In The Home and an elder in his church. I’d say he really kicks ass for an 83-year old!!
Maybe it’s the food that they serve him at Dillard House. Yes, that was for FOUR people. We had a lovely and relaxing time hanging out on the porch, eating fried food, and going into town. Then we headed off to Charleston.
Pics of Dad’s great place in the country are here.
My Little Town
I’m in my good old hometown Atlanta for a few days. Styling in my Thom Filicia designed guest room at the W in Buckhead actually. I love the W. When my bosses got flooded out of their house, they lived at the W in downtown Dallas for months and I think they had to pry them out of their room with a crowbar when their new house was ready. Whatever. Whenever. Indeed.
Les will join me on Thursday, and we’ll have dinner Thursday night with his long-time friend and fellow Brit, Lesley, at Market, Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s fusion restaurant. Friday morning we’re off to visit my father in Lakemont, Georgia. Just about half a mile from where Deliverance was filmed. That’s Tallulah Gorge. Monday, we’ll head off to Folly Beach, South Carolina for a week of sun, surf and seafood.
The Most Beautiful Day of the Year
Sunny and 73. You really can’t get enough days like this. The light this morning was brilliant. I saw a chameleon.
The nasturtiums are still growing like crazy.
The light caught the calendula just so.
Then we took Izzy to the Farmer’s Market. She likes to ride on Daddy’s lap. After, we had brunch on the patio at Vickery Park with a bunch of college students that were nursing hangovers. Was I ever that vapid?
Don’t answer that.
Kicking Off
A busy weekend. We started the weekend with an early dinner at Bolsa. Four Vines Naked Chardonnay, Bruschetta Sampler, Airline Chicken with Cheddar Bread Pudding and Prince Edward Island Mussels with crusty bread. And then we came home to watch a melancholic French film: I‘ve Loved You So Long. Tomorrow, the Etsy Dallas Spring Bash craft show, and then Les is going to some Ducati motorcycle show. I’m going to entertain myself with the Grey’s Anatomy season finale . Sunday the Milestone Farmer’s Market and then off to Costco to get contacts and glasses. I’ve procrastinated long enough!
More From Your Local Audubon Society
I changed the orientation of my desk so that I directly face my wonderful view. I can’t tell you what a difference it makes to look at the sky and the water all day. There are lots of hummingbirds attracted by the Autumn Sage, and a family of bunnies lives in the shrubbery. They are flourishing now that the cemetery construction across the street chased away all the hawks. Today we had a new bird visitor, in addition to the usual daily forays by the blue heron and the ducks. He was amazing when he flew, with an incredible wingspan. Any guess what he is?
Food and Milk
Les made a wonderful dinner of tilapia, grilled shrimp and precious little baby vegetables. But I feel shallow talking about my meal while watching the exquisite Milk. I know so many beautiful gay people and to think of the oppression and suffering that they have lived through makes me really sad. Trite, but true. Glad we’re moving past those days. Equal marriage rights are only a matter of time, in my opinion.
Beautiful Things
Wet plus hot equals good garden. Above is some asparagus fern in a planter with hydrangeas and Mexican feather grass and some sort of mounding grass that are in the front beds .
Nasturtium, Dill and Parsley… there is also Sweet Basil, Purple Ruffle Basil and Calendula in that patch.
Baby Aloe growing in a pot with its momma aloe. There is also trailing and upright rosemary, and mint in pots. And pepper and tomato plants growing by the fence.
We’re about to start square foot gardening along the side of the house. Lettuce, Broccoli, Onions, Garlic, and who knows what else.
Other beautiful things in my garden:
A bird’s nest.
And of course, Izzy.
Blue on Blue
We took a field trip a little north of Miami this afternoon to Hannendale Beach, a suburb of Fort Lauderdale, to see the construction site of the newest store. On the way back, we stopped at the quaint ocean-side neighborhood of Coconut Grove. Everything is just so blue and beautiful there. It made me long for a vacation and a pina colada. However, I consoled myself at Chart House with a glass of Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc and the scallops. The view of the ocean and the marina was delightful. In just two weeks, we’ll be heading towards Folly Beach and some yummy ocean-side time of our own
Slow Food Al Fresco
We took our farmer’s market bounty and made a delicious dinner to enjoy outside.
Eden Creek Farm green garlic and a medley of mushrooms from F.M. 1410. With grilled chicken thigh and pears from Costco. 
Not sure if that qualifies as “slow food” or not. I should try to research where Costco gets it’s meat and produce. Oh, we also grilled a ciabatta roll. It was beautiful to sit outside amid the herb garden and the palms and banana tree.
And then Izzy cleaned our plates.