Circles in Mt. Vernon

Today is January 11, 2011. In numbers, that's 1.11.11 I have no idea why I'm telling you this....

I love the way life moves in circles....how one thing leads to another and you never know when it might happen. Take Mary's recent visit to Sue Penn at Fine Lines fabric in Mt. Vernon....
Of course, my major purpose that day was to EAT A PORK TENDERLOIN...as it turns out, we were right across the street from the "Lincoln Diner" -- which is so famous, it's been on Oprah! But, they are closed on Monday -- so we went to the REAL Mt. Vernon restaurant next door, "Chameleon's Pub and Grub"...we were lucky to get a table...kinda cozy, eh?

I wanted to take Sue's picture as she was locking her office door -- do you see the magazine she's holding?

That's right -- our friend Mark Lipinski's latest magazine -- Fabric Trends!! --which I haven't been able to get where I live...

I've heard WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT IT...but since I still haven't got a copy of my own -- I can't tell you much. I can only attest to the TENDERLOIN -- which was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.

Again -- put Mt. Vernon on your list of places to go if you ever get to Iowa. They have two outstanding restaurants in the same block...I could not have been happier.

And by now, you know I consider myself an EXPERT in all-thing-pork-tenderloin.

Thanks for a wonderful lunch, Sue! I'll be back!!

P.S. the other night, I had a dream and Mark was in the bar with us, using his I-phone to send video to Facebook. The next day, people were driving 500 miles to get to the Chameleon Pub & Grub...

A Year In The Life

Lilly was born in March 2009. This is a picture of her first Thanksgiving. She was 8 months old...
And this is my favorite Thanksgiving 2010 picture of Lilly....one year later...


The changes were so subtle...I almost didn't notice...but suddenly -- WOW -- the baby was gone

And that's how it happens. Because just a moment ago, I was sitting in this chair, holding my baby, Elliott -- who is now holding his baby, Lillian...it all moves so fast...



My favorite Broadway Play is Rent. I always cry when I hear the song "Seasons of Love"...I tried to figure out a hyperlink here so you could click and then HEAR THE SONG...but you know how cranky the internet is about music nowadays...if you have never heard the song -- Google "Seasons of Love"...

the first stanza:

Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes,
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Moments so dear.
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
How do you measure, measure a year?

In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights
In cups of coffee
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.
***************
I'm just sayin...

Party at the Blackhawk Hotel

After reading about the Blackhawk Hotel Restoration -- I KNEW this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. My cousin Jackie was going to be home for Christmas(she lives in Oklahoma how) -- so I decided we should have a COUSINS PARTY.

My first surprise guest -- my sister Ronda had absolutely no idea where I was taking her that day...(although she DID know she was helping to set up the "party" at a mystery location). She had NO CLUE -- right up to the moment we pulled up to the eternal flame outside the hotel...


Here we are -- the first TWO to arrive -- I took a shot of us in a hall mirror..

We were STUNNED by the beauty of the new lobby...it was a cold day, we sat by the fire...
The SECOND guest to arrive at the mystery location was my cousin Kim. Ronda & I met her at a store uptown -- then Ronda got in Kim's car. She HAD NO IDEA the party was at the Blackhawk....what is that, Kim -- a bottle of wine??

Jackie arrived with her sisters, Billie and Linda -- and we were all in place, at the lobby entrance, when our GUEST OF HONOR arrived -- my sister Deena!! Deena was working that day, so I delivered a programmed GARMIN to her house -- which talked her through the 30 minute drive to the hotel. Remember -- Deena's birthday is on December 25. So -- this was her official BIRTHDAY PARTY...and we surprised her, alright!!

Here's a picture of the whole crew. Deena, Jackie, Billie, Ronda, me, Kim and Linda...during our official "tour" of the renovated hotel.

I'll be putting up MORE PICTURES of the hotel -- and the cousins party. Garrison, one of the hotel desk managers, took us on a tour -- and we got to see EVERYTHING. The new pool, the old Davenport club, the Gold Room...well....you have noooo idea.

THE TRAIN BOARD

This year, we were late putting up our Christmas tree. Mostly because I had to wait for Ross to come home so he could bring the big hulking TRAIN BOARD up the steps...

Every year, John tries to get out of this chore...but when Ross gets home, he acts like it's no big deal...and in five minutes or less --



VOILA (is that how you spell that word?) ...Ross gets the job done.

I'm writing this because it's time to take the tree down. And I'm missing Ross.

We only see him two or three times a year now....who knew that could happen??

Lillian's Christmas Decorations

In keeping with my simple holiday decorating -- with the focus on "mugs & rugs"...this was what Lillian saw when she opened the door to her room...



I also have quite a collection of Christmas "throws", too -- so I used a couple of them on the twin bed in her room...

When Mary was visiting -- her job was to decorate Lillian's room...and she hung this string of teddy bear Christmas lights...

And then she placed a Santa & reindeer -- which plays music and lights up...sooo cute...

Lillian's favorite space was her little bookcase at the end of the hall. Which had been completely redone with Christmas snow globes and Christmas books...

Oh, yeah, it's true. Christmas is way more fun with a child in the house...(yes, this is Lilly's look of glee)...

Chrismakwanzukkah party

One of my briefest happy moments over Christmas was a visit from my friend, Jeff Lassiter.

To review -- Jeff is an artist who used to live in Chicago, then moved to New Jersey. Last spring, when Ann Sagawa and I went to New York City with our friend Ryliss Bod -- we spent a great day with Jeff. I will ALWAYS remember the day we had lunch at Serendipity -- with the frozen hot chocolate!!

I realized I needed to buy SOMETHING FROM MOOD FABRICS...for the upcoming Sewing & Stitchery Expo....and I asked Jeff to stop in there the next time he was in the neighborhood...

Here's my favorite picture from my visit last spring -- the Hey Rita totebag with the Mood dog. Does anybody remember his name??

So, Jeff went shopping for me....I'm pretty sure this is his usual attire...


AND I am especially grateful, because it is such a busy time of the year. Jeff had a lot to do...prepare for his quick, 48 hour visit back to Iowa, do the final planning for his own holiday party in the New York metro area...

Jeff is a one-of-a-kind individual. His sarcastic point of view about people and life -- his artistic attitude and incredible succinct way with words always makes me think.

Who else would host a "Chrismakwanzukkah" party?

Really. That's just so good, I'm gonna steal it....I love it...

THANKS FOR DOING MY SHOPPING, BUD...

So Long, Christmas...

My cousin Kim sent me the link to this video. Kerrie Roberts singing "O Holy Night".

I know we're all OVER Chistmas...but as I was watching this last night, I remembered that the music is one of my favorite things about Christmas. And this year, I didn't even listen to my Trans-Siberian album. Not even one time.

There's just something wrong with that...and next year, I'm gonna do better.

NO -- WAIT -- I AM GOING TO GO FIND IT RIGHT THIS MINUTE...who knows where I might be next year??

If you were too busy to enjoy your favorite Christmas traditions this year...well, I'm sure you get my point...