Brand New Day

An Evening in Louisville

Gary and I traveled to Louisville a few weeks ago to attend a Louisville School of Law Recognition event with Emma.  Emma recently traveled to NYC with a fellow law student and their mentor/professor to compete in an Immigration Moot Court.  She came home with all kinds of good experience in Immigration Law, as well as the fun experience of a weekend in a fun city.  Anyhow, this was an evening to recognize law students for their achievements during the year.

The evening started with a reception in the Club House at the Universityof Louisville.  The Club House was a beautiful building with lots of wood, leather, and brass.  The hors d'oeuvres were so tasty, I had to sneak a picture.

 

 

Emma's Immigration Law Professor, Emma, and Josh.

 

Too much flash!

We had fun getting to put faces to names of Emma's friends of the past two years and meeting some of her Law Professors.  After recognitions were done, we headed to one of Louisville's fun neighborhoods for dinner at The Grape Leaf.

 

Al Fresco dining on a beautiful evening. It looks like midday, but we were actually eating dinner about 8 pm.

 

Our yummy avacado/pita appetizer.

 

My dish--a grilled chicken dish over rice, with a creamy mustard yogurt sauce--also very yummy!

 

After a leisurely dinner, we stepped back out onto the street.  At about 10 pm. (and after our Ohio bedtime) the street is busy, and there are parties going on everywhere.  Seriously, this part of town is really happening. There was a trolly car dropping people off, families, children, old people, lots of young urbans, and music everywhere!  We crossed the street for dessert.

 

When we stepped into this pie shop, there was a coffee shop pit area with someone playing acousitic guitar.  There was also an upstairs with a party going on there.  We never really made it past the pie shop--oh so many pies to choose from.

 

This gets me thinking here.  I believe that you can really tell a lot about a person by the kind of pie he/she chooses.  Have you ever thought about that?

Apple pie a la mode--Apple pie/All American/down to earth/vanilla ice cream.

Reese Cup Pie--Chocolate/Reese Cups/ Flirty/Adventurous!

Coconut Cream Pie--Home/Comfort/Bake Sale.

And there you have it--can you put the pie with the person? Just having some fun here.

This seriously looked like the eating tour of Louisville, but I assure you there was lots of hugs, conversation and laughs.  We are full though and it is late, so we head back to Emma's apartment.  After Gary falls asleep, I try to stay awake to watch some Gypsy Wedding show with Emma.  I fall asleep to sounds of the city--sirens, airport noise, and the parties on the street.

 

View from city bedroom window the next morning.  Emma has to study, and we have to head home.  Bess came home to spend the night with Grace, and since we have been gone, there have been major storms though our area. There is a raccoon, (yes a raccoon) on our roof that has kept the dog barking for hours until he was chased inside by storms. From city excitement to country excitement!

Prom 2012

This past weekend was our high school's prom. Grace was asked to go by one of her band buddies and she was so excited. 

The LHS Prom is a far cry from the Sr. Prom in Williamstown WV. We stayed busy for days leading up to the prom by making these huge crepe paper flowers.  It was held in the National Guard Armory?! in another town. I remember there was lots of plastic table cloths and crepe paper and Barry Manilow.  And did I mention crepe paper--yeah, there was lots of that!

This prom was held in Paul Brown Stadium, smack dab in the heart of Cincinnati.  There is the beautiful Cincinnati Skyline on one side and the Ohio River and hills of Kentucky on the other.  Paul Brown is a very cool venue. I bet there was not a crepe paper flower anywhere near that place.

 

 

I'll back up a little bit.  Our day started at Starbucks with lattes and then on to the town florist to pick up her date's flower.  We made a  few more stops, then back home for a quick lunch and then back in town again for a hair appointment.  The salon was buzzing with energy as girls came in for their prom hair.

 

Grace's appointment took about 1 1/2 hours due to her thick mass of hair.  She came with a picture of what she would like to have done, and Laryn did a great job--it was just what Grace asked for.

 

 

With the hair appointment checked off the list, it was home to do nails.  As Grace got the polish out, I suggested that she have her Dad do the paint job. Huh?  Gary has painted my toes a few times and I have found him to be quite the nail technician. Grace was shocked and surprised at how meticulous her Dad was and what a good job he did.  His years of experience at painting those little model cars, airplanes and war tank parts more than qualifies him for the job.

 

C'est bon!

 

Stephanie stopped by with her lovely smile

 

and prom hair.

 

The perfect piece of jewelry

 

and perfect shoes for dancing.

 

We all gathered at a friend's house for pictures and the big send off.    

 

Colorful on a chilly evening.

 

You know, life just doesn't get much better for a 16 year old.  In the past two weeks, Grace has applied for her passport to go to Nicaragua with her youth group.  She has passed her driving test and now has her license to drive.  She has gone to the biggest high school party of the year with her friends.  As her parent, I know how fast these days will fly by and I know how soon it will happen that she will move off to some college dorm. For today, I will savor these times and wish that the milestones would not all come so quickly! 

 

Wildflower Cafe

Gary and I recently drove to Mason for lunch at the Wildflower Cafe.  I'd been hearing good things about this place for the past year or so, and was excited to try it out. 

The restaurant is housed in an older house.  You enter the restaurant through what is a seasonal garden.  We were told that the chef/owners grow a garden out back with veggies and herbs for use in the kitchen.  Our server explained that everything is grown/produced locally and that there is no freezer in the kitchen--everything is made fresh. 

 

The menu board beside our table (we were also given menus.)

 

My delicious salad.  It had mixed greens, slices of local Ohio apples, walnuts, and goat cheese and all tossed with a very light citrus vinagrette.  I've been duplicating this salad at home since I had this one.  The apple crunch was a nice added addition--so good!

My chili (made with beef from a local farm.) 

 

Gary had a mushroom ravioli topped with creamy goat cheese.  I got to sample this and Wow! what a nice tasting dish.  The "swirls" around the plate is a truffle oil concoction that was delicious.

Ok, I'm hungry now and ready to go back.  We will most likely make reservations the next time as it is very popular and not a ton of seating.  Wildflower Cafe reminds me of another favorite restaurant in Athens Ohio--Casa Nueva.  Casa is a co-op restaurant that we started visiting in the early 80's.  The food there is locally grown and freshly made and like Wildflower, has lots of character. We visited there last year, and my favorite dish (a vegetarian burrito) from 1980 was still on the menu and tasted exactly the same:)

Spring

It's all everyone is talking about these days.  Literally, and I do mean Literally, overnight blossoms have popped, flowers have bloomed, and grass has greened.  I did a walk-around in the yard this morning to inspect.

Sun coming up behind Cleveland Pear blossoms.

Blossom from an ornamental cherry tree in the side yard.

 

A very fragrant hyacinth.

 

Garlic planted last fall that is coming up in the garden.

Beautiful peach blossom.  Enjoying life and these beautiful days!

 

Holiday Memories

I pulled the card out of the camera and plugged it into the computer and Yowza! Lots of Holiday shots on there. While that time flew by, I'm glad that there is photographic evidence that we did indeed celebrate those good times.

 

There's my kid's band marching in New York City on Thanksgiving Day!

 

And there's my kid! Bess had so much fun exploring the city with the Miami U. Marching Band.  She had Thanksgiving dinner while floating down the Hudson River on a dinner cruise! She got to see some celebrities in the parade but most importantly, she got to see the biggest celebrity of all--Santa Claus. Miami U. was the "Santa Band" this year that got to usher in Santa and Mrs. Claus  She came home with lots of pictures and stories of Gotham City.  She got to spend black Friday shopping in NYC--how fun was that? We had so much fun watching her!

After the college girls finished their finals, everyone came home.  We took a picture for our Christmas card.  This one made the cut

 

and this one didn't.

 

Gary, Grace and I went to a Cyclones game.

 

We visited Jungle Jim's and drooled over the bakery counter.

 

A bright, beautiful Christmas tree.

 

Cherished ornaments--like my buddy Luke

 

and an ornament that used to hang on Grandma and Grandpa Lahrmer's tree.

 

 

Christmas morning at our house. This is the last quilt top that my Mother in law, Nora Franklin,  pieced.  I sent it to the Quilting Guild at Mom's church early in the year to have it hand quilted.  Mom made the binding for it and Gary was surprised to tears to receive it.

 

The chickens will be wild about Grace's new farm boots.

 

There was food--lots of food.  This is an old appetizer recipe that can be found in any family or church cookbook.  It was very popular in it's day and my family really likes it. It feels like the 70s all over again everytime I make it!

 

There was a trip to West Virginia to visit Mom.

 

and teenagers--lots of teens and young adults.  It is so much fun getting together with family.  With my brother's children and stepchildren and ours--there are 8 young people between the ages of 16-23! Five of them are in college--exciting times.

 

We brought in New Years Eve Franklin style, sitting in front of the fireplace in our pajamas watching Dick Clark at Times Square:) Good times!

 

 

 

Remember Me?

I've been missing for awhile.  When I started to sign on to my typepad account this afternoon, I had to stop and think what the web address was and then I had to remember the password--Jeesh!  I also dug out the Nikon this morning and dusted it off.  This is definitely not like me! I've taken lots of pictures through the years and even though I took pictures over the holidays, for whatever no good reason, I've not taken many pictures since.  All that changed this morning.

I woke up, looked outside, and big flakes of snow was falling out of the sky.  The ground was white and everything looked so beautiful.  Mac the puppy was happy to frolic in the white stuff and even the chickens seemed to remember and like it? Is that possible?   Even though it didn't last too long, it was pretty and good and familiar. 

 

I felt inspired and got the Nikon out.
And then I thought about my husband/Valentine making his way to the left coast.

 

And then I made my first blog post of 2012.

 

"In your eyes, the light the heat

In your eyes, I am complete

In your eyes, I see the doorways

Of a thousand churches

The resolution of all the fruitless searches

In your eyes." 

(humming Peter Gabriel today--Happy Valentine's Day, Gary)

 

 

Zappa Plays Zappa/Return to Forever

Gary and I went to Riverbend last month to see Zappa Plays Zappa/Return to Forever Tour.  We were very excited to finally get to see the Zappa Band and it was WONDERFUL.  They played old standards--Cheepnis, St. Alphonzo's Pancake Breakfast and a favorite--Peaches en Regalia. 

 

I got to hear Frank in Pittsburg 1988 in what would be his last tour.  Gary, Marty and I drove up.  I was pregnant with Emma and Frank was registering voters in the foyer.  That was a memorable concert and great night of music. I will say the same for this concert.  It was so cool hearing Frank's music played by who Frank would want to be playing it--Dweezil.  He is so very talented.

 

 

After Zappa played, Dweezil graciously greeted fans.  I wanted to meet him so I walked up and ended up getting my ticket stub signed.

While I went to the concert most excited to see the Zappa Band, I enjoyed  Return to Forever just as much.  I'd forgot this old music--Chick Corea, Jean-Luc Ponty and Stanley Clarke--my goodness, these guys are terrific musicians.

 

Stanley Clarke played the upright bass like I have never heard it played before or probably ever will again.  Unbelievable.  Jean-Luc coaxes notes from that violin like none other and Chick plays the keyboard with the same passion he did 30 years ago.

 

 

After the concert, I had the opportunity to shake hands with Chick Corea and thank him for the wonderful music.  The Return to Forever Band played songs familiar to me and some that I want to look up and hear again.  It's time to dig out the old wax and hook the turntable back up!

Hey, the Pavillion at Riverbend is pretty nice.  We've seen Santana/Jeff Beck there years ago but I'd forgotten how nice it was. I like being outdoors but yet under roof.  There was a real light show going on all evening with the lightening/thunder--again, very enjoyable.   Summer evenings just don't get any better than this--sitting beside my guy, sipping a glass of wine, Mother Nature's light show all around, and fabulous music!

Louisville

Grace and I recently paid Emma an overnight visit.  It's a nice little road trip and it was our first time to see Emma's new apartment.  As has become our custom, we headed to the Highlands when we were ready for supper.

 

Impellizzeri's  boasts the best pizza in Louisville.  It's where the locals go.  It's the only pizza I've tried in that town, but I'd be hard pressed to go anywhere else.  It's pizza made the way that I like it--wood fired, thin crust, lots of herb flavor.  There is usually a wait to get into the place.

 

I am seriously drooling looking at this right now.  YUM!

 

My dinner companions. 

After dinner we drove through an old part of Louisville called "St. Matthews."  The houses in Old Louisville are so beautiful.  A lot of them are single family homes and a lot of them have been converted to apartments.  Emma lives in one of those beautiful old homes.  A lot of the apartments are occupied by students/grad. students.  Anyhow, Old Louisville is known for the many types of architecture.

 

This home is so pretty. I love the chairs adirondack chairs in the front yard.  Emma and I went to a street fair (huge street fair) in St. Matthews last fall.  We stumbled into an open house in one of these old homes.  Wow! The house had an elevator, huge curved staircase in the entry hall, beautiful wordwork and built-ins.  Beautiful.

 

Look at the transoms on the first floor and the 3rd floor bay window.  I also love the columns.

 

I've noticed that quite a few of these homes have courtyard backyards--walled, lots of flowers, strung lights.  I love driving through this part of town.

I'm planning another visit in the next couple of weeks. Emma and I will be hanging curtains in her new place--pics to follow!

Homecoming

Our hometown high school homecoming was this past week/weekend.  It started with classes meeting after school to decorate floats, and ended with a parade, homecoming football game and homecoming dance.  We had a tailgate party in the school parking lot before the "big game" and bundled up for the first weekend of chilly fall weather.  It's all good! 

Emma came home for the weekend.  She caught up on sleep and laundry, got her hair trimmed

 

and curled her sister's hair and hair feather for the dance.

 

 

This group met at Mark and Diana's house for pictures.  Everyone has new dresses and grown up shoes.  The smell of hairspray and cologne filled the air--teen spirit!  They all left for dinner at Ruby Tuesdays and then headed back to the high school cafeteria for the big dance.  Kids, this is the stuff that high school memories are made of!

 

 

Grace (over) reacts to Kuan's corsage.

I can't help but reflect on how fast time passes.  It really doesn't seem that long ago since I was in high school and the time that Emma and Bess spent at the high school went entirely too fast. I know that Grace's time will speed by so I will consciously try to savor these moments. I'll keep my camera close just in case my memories fade!

When Grace looks back, she might remember a new dress (with polka dots!)

 

 

 

awkward moments like learning to pin a flower to your (first) date's shirt in front of your Mom's camera lens 

 

 

embracing friends

 

 

flower corsages that match your dress perfectly

 

 
and first high heel shoes.

Pass those tissues!

Redhawk Football

This past weekend was Parents Weekend at Miami, so Mom, Gary and I traveled to Oxford to see Bess and watch the Miami/Bowling Green football game.  The weather was perfect for MU football.  We had tickets high up in the stands.

 

The view from our seats.

 

 

Bess is marching her trumpet with the MU Marching Band this season.  It was exciting to see the band out on the field--their show has a lot of energy--loved it!  Thanks to one of Bess's friends for taking this picture from the sidelines.

 

 

Appropriate game day attire.

 

 

The post game show.

 

 

Grandma tailgates with a thermos of coffee.

 

 

We caught up with Bess after the game.  Dad carries her trumpet, Grandma gives hugs, and Bess announces the Marching Band's big November gig--marching in the Macy's Day Thanksgiving Parade!  We get invited back to her dorm room "because it's clean."

 

 

OK. "Clean" by college standards means that the room has been doused with Febreze and most of the clothes are up off the floor--some things just never change!

After the game, we headed over to watch the Bellbrook band competition and see Grace march with the Lebanon Band (too dark for pictures.) 

Forever the Parent,

Sue