Finally Friday - Anniversary and Labor Day Weekend

If you would be loved, love, and be lovable - Ben Franklin

It will be 35 years of wedded bliss on Sunday, September 1st.    Wow!

The proof  of true love is to be unsparing in criticism - Moliere

"Ray, are you sure that's what you are wearing  today?"     "Hmmm". 
 

I enjoy his sporty stuff.   He's become a museum guy.   You have  to grow  together, but also  have separate hobbies too.  Then you have  fresh stuff  to talk about.  I  truly believe in that. 

And you have to find the magic, keep the magic, revere the magic, and laugh together. 

Love ya , Ray!!  Thanks  for putting up with me.  And yes, he's put up with a month  of me after rotator cuff surgery.   When you say "for better or worse", this medical  issue is  part  of the  "worse". 

Also, Happy Labor Day Weekend to all of my worker bee blog friends who enjoy a three day weekend. When retired, it's just another great weekend!

Cheers  all.  

Whatever Wednesday - Renaissance Tapestries

Once again the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth brings us Renaissance treasures to enjoy.  This stunning Italian armor is  our introduction to the Battle of Pavia, fought on February 24, 1525 by the forces of Charles V (Habsburg ruler, Holy Roman Emperor) versus the King of France, Francis I. 

After a long siege in Pavia in northern Italy, Charles V proved the victor. His technological superiority was thanks to powerful weapons and riflemen. 

 Seven tapestries were designed by court artist Bernard van Orley and woven in the Brussels atelier of Willem and Jan Dermoyne.  They were presented as a gift in 1531.  They've been restored and are now on display.  Absolutely stunning in color, depth, detail, and size.  I was in awe as I spent over an hour studying the detail and historical story told in these tapestries. 

Here's an example of just one teensy piece. Notice the rich colors, the teeming masses, action, detail, and expressions.   Every piece has a huge story to tell of battle, Pavian life, and death. 

Along with the tapestries are pieces from the Farnese Armory - masterworks of steel carving and fretwork. 

Thank you Kimbell Art  Museum in Fort Worth.  Go visit and support your local museums.  They are a treasure unto themselves. 
 

Monday Moments - Robot Pour

 Here's your Monday moment from the All Star Saturday event.    Adam the Robot Bartender

Looked cool, but wasn't working. Maybe on strike?  Called in sick?   Gee, you just can't get good  help  these days. 

I didn't take a picture, but we watched a teen getting cotton candy from a machine.  Yep - stick in your credit card and you watch the sugar magic spinning on the stick.   Ding - ready to come out.  It  looked pretty  good.  He said it was sugarlicious!       $12  yes    twelve dollars from a machine.  (No tip required)

Oh, it's a crazy world.  Happy Monday. 

Finally Friday - John Stamos memoir

 John Stamos's memoir If You Would Have Told Me is an easy read and rather interesting. He's a celebrity star we've grown up with - from General Hospital soap opera teen idol star, to comedy on Full House, and drama on ER.   He's pushed boundaries on Broadway (the emcee in Cabaret!), and has musical chops - actually playing with the Beach Boys. 

He's had substance abuse issues, never thought he'd find true love, and fortunately had a strong family and good friends that were his rock. 

cover blurb - A universal story about friendship, love, loss, and the courage to embrace love once more, John Stamos's memoir is filled with some of the most memorable names in Hollywood, old and new. Funny, deeply poignant, and brutally honest, this book is a portrait of a boy who went  from believing  in Disney magic to a man who leans that we have to create our own magical moments in life. 

I enjoyed his story and he seems like a decent guy who's just damn good looking and is aging well. 

Whatever Wednesday - Trust Her by Flynn Berry

 Wow and whoa - aye, it's the Troubles again.  In Trust Her by Flynn Berry, we revisit Northern Irish sisters, Tessa and Marian.  They've been relocated from Belfast to Dublin under aliases.  Life is good with new jobs, kids, and just life. 

But the past resurfaces and danger looms.  What to do?  Search out an old handler, Eamonn, and try to convert him to an IRA informant.   ????  Is that a good idea and will it work? 

So many twists and turns in this book.  Flynn Berry can make  your stomach drop and your heart ache. 

We want the children to stay safe and the sisters to survive.  Quite the thriller and I truly did not know how this book would end. 

Whew!   Grand writing and a page turning finish.      Enjoy! 

Monday Moments - Salsa

 So - Salsa!!!

Did you think dancing?   Ha Ha Ha.   Part  of our wedding agreement 35 years ago involved a no dance policy.  Well, maybe one slow dance.... (yes, I like that)    But there is no choreography involved. 

Salsa in the Faries house means sauce for Tex-Mex.  Oh yeah!  And my sweetie Ray is awesome.  He spent an afternoon with daughter-in-law, Maria, and they created some kick-ass Salsa!

Ray said as they cooked it, the aroma was compelling.  He tasted and it smoldered. 

16 jars later....we have 8 pieces of precious concoction. 

Anyone care to join us for fajitas?   or chips and salsa on the patio?

C'mon!     Hey, even with one arm working, I can dip!

Finally Friday - Farewell for real, absolutely over

This is the absolute end of the story for 224 Oakland Place in PA

My brother mowed the yard and for the final time left on Saturday, July 20th.   Last Crowther leaving. 

Oh my heart.  62 years of my life here.   on the driveway - roller skating, biking, sledding, shoveling

on the lawn - wiffle ball, playing in a sprinkler, croquet

Big Sigh!

Closing was July 23rd.  I hope the new family has as much fun as we did.  I hope they settle in, meet neighbors, walk the block, rake leaves, and enjoy. 

End of an era folks.   A long  era. 

sniffle.........
 

Whatever Wednesday - Country Road

 An old friend from high school posted this picture from PA on her way home from work.

This sums up my past in the suburbs. 

Just nostalgia here for me. 

Enjoy a moment.  Thanks!

Monday Moments - Water Baby

 Yes I am probably on drugs now and in PT with my shoulder stuff.

Meanwhile - we had the family for a swim and Levi got his first pool Sunday.  What a pro at nine months.  Nifty pool floatie thing - that helped.

But he was a happy boy and kicked his feet a bunch in the water.  No fear, no tears. 

Oh yeah - he's a Faries!   Good job, kid-o

Finally Friday - Closed for Repair

 Well - dang

I  am having rotator cuff surgery today.   Drat. 

My life of mostly desk  job  and reading got blown  up when  I retired.  Suddenly I became sporty spice - water aerobics, yoga(!),  E-gym machines (ugh!), and pickleball. 

Which one did me in?   Hmmm.  Hard  to say

Anyway - my surgery is today.  90 minutes.  Out patient. 

Then the tough stuff begins - PT    Ugh.  I am crying now as I write this.  I truly have tried to avoid pain my entire life.  And  now sport crap has killed me. 

So, wish me luck and bear with me.  I am pre-posting some stuff to give me a head start. 

Then we'll see what I can type coherently.  It's my left shoulder and I am left handed.

Which means, I'm kinda ambi.   You  can't grow up in this world left handed without being able to do a lot right handed.  BUT - Ray shall be doing a  ton for me.  He's a saint - we know  that. 

Hang with me, my friends and root  for me  to conquer  PT.  

I love you all.  Sorry I may not  comment  on your posts, but I shall be reading.  This is a very long haul  for me............like  4-6 months.  But I am still your friend and I love you a LOT.   

Whatever Wednesday - Marjorie Post fictionalized

 Marjorie Merriweather Post was a woman for the ages.  Her Magnificent Lives is captured in fiction by Allison Pataki. I'd say the author did her research well and had a blast putting it into a very captivating story. 

Raised modestly in the Midwest, even after her father founded Post (cereals), she had a good head on her shoulders for business, never took success for granted, and appreciated what she earned and made a point of giving  back. 

Her only foible was men.  Married four times - Edward Close, E.F. (Ned) Hutton, Joe Davies, Herb May. Oh my, they all had issues.  But through it all, she held her head high, managed her properties, and stayed close with her daughters.   She's famous (or should I say infamous at this juncture in America) for creating Mar-A-Lago (Yikes). (Frankly, I bet she is rolling in her grave. Sigh!) 

back  blurb- Before turning thirty she controlled millions, becoming the wealthiest woman in the U.S., but it was her life force, advocacy, passion, and adventurous spirit that led to her stunning legacy. This author has crafted an epic reimagining of a remarkable life...an intimate portrait of a larger-than-life figure and a powerful story of one  woman finding her voice and embracing her power, while shaping  history in the process. 

Truly fun and informative read. It made me look up some  real  life  facts.  Very impressive woman for the times - Marjorie Merriweather Post.  Magnificent!

Monday Moments - Deadpool and Wolverine

As part of Ray's birthday celebration on August 1st, we caught a matinee of Deadpool and Wolverine. 

What a hoot. From the opener on, we chuckled, snickered, and laughed out loud. Deadpool ( Ryan Reynolds) is the king of snark. Just a continuous patter of current and past references. Hilarious. 

Meanwhile, Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) tries to contain himself as he puts up with this guy. Big sigh. He's gruff, quick to temper and bare those claws. He's just so cool. 

The duo have to work through the time continuum thing to stop the end of all lives. The problem was started by Matthew MacFadyen's Mobius, and Emma Corrin's Cassandra (stuck in the Void).  

Whatever - the "plot" (we'll call it that loosely) is ridiculous. The key to the film is the Reynolds/Jackman chemistry - total bro connection and that makes the film very fun on the big screen. 

I will probably watch it again  when it comes to the Marvel row on Disney, just to listen for more funny references in all of the patter. 
 

Finally Friday - All-Stars Weekend

I declared that my late father (thanks to some funds) would treat us to the All-Star Baseball Saturday events on July 13th. We had no idea how it would  be, but hey it's baseball stuff.   Sure enough, here's Ray with a huge baseball in the background.  Arlington's stadium area was decked out. It was hot, but they did have hydration stations (free water!), spritzer tents, and shaded tents. 

I'm in front of the E-Sports building (thankfully airconditioned).  We  wandered in  there to see exhibits on the Negro Leagues, the early Ladies involved in baseball, auction items - always good to see a Mickey Mantle autograph - and other baseball gear. 

 Decent pic of us ready for The Show

We also bought tickets for some baseball game events.  The celebrity softball tournament that night was silly fun. Tiffany Haddish is funny as hell, but can't really pitch.  Ha!

In the afternoon, we enjoyed The All Star  Futures Game - young bucks trying  to make it to the big show.  They are in AA or AAA  ball.  Eighteen years old with signing bonuses and potential.  We were impressed by some batting power and accuracy. 

All in all, thanks Dad - we  had a full day of fun and treated ourselves  to Hurtado BBQ - the best!