Wordless Wednesday - Still with the Lanterns

 Week by week I'm giving you your own guided tour of the Lanterns in the Park at the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens.   Enjoy

Monday Moments

 Hieroglyphics - what is the tree telling us....

Last weekend I sat on my dad's front porch. This humongous oak stands tall,  looming over the house. It would have been great as a kid to use it for hide and seek.  Look at that trunk.  Wow!
Dad says when a limb cuts loose it "really makes a clunk and shakes the house."  Ya think?
Yowza.

Enjoy this Monday moment.  Hug a tree if you can reach around it.

Oh,  the mighty oak!

Flight Friday

Howdy folks
I'm back from a trip to see my father who will be 88 in July.  Big sigh. As Bette Davis famously said, " Growing old ain't for sissies."   He still lives in the house where I grew up (huge thanks to my brother (lawn service and so much more) and sister (housekeeping and grocery shopper and so much more). It's a typical Northeast home in PA with steep steps,etc.  OMG.

The poor man is just slowly disintegrating - very stooped and has leg pain. He's a trouper. We had plenty of laughs. He's got the oars in the water, but he's rowing slower and sometimes in circles.
It is what it is.

So, that's the senior report.

Now - in regards to air travel.   First I will say I appreciate the miracle that is air flight. It is amazing and the logistics to coordinate so many people going to so many places is fantastic.

I totally understand how weather can mess up that fantastic system.  And the whole USA decided to be under storm watch on Wednesday.  What a cluster.

But....
Here's my rant.
People - when you get on the plane - stow your crap and sit the f@$k down.  Pardon the language.
Stop being a Sherpa with your whole life and way more than the one bag and one personal item. Ridiculous.  Pay the freakin' $30 for baggage.

And American Airlines - if you have a plane at the gate for over an hour...do not decide you have too much fuel and must siphon it off AFTER we have all boarded the plane and are supposed to push away from the gate.  Seriously.  Did someone NOT do the math and know this way ahead of time???

Yes, there were weather problems that messed up some timing, but this just added to the turmoil.  I was lucky - Ray watched the screen all day and picked me up once I finally landed. But lots of folks missed connections in Dallas due to a controllable problem.

Travel is not for the feint of heart. Patience is warranted.  Many things are out of one's hands.
But....

Thanks for reading this.  I have to wait a bit and gird my loins before I schedule another trip back to see Dad.  I'm aiming for summer.  Let some time simmer.

Have a great weekend and Happy Mother's Day to all.

Wordless Wednesday - More Light the Way

as dusk arrived, the lanterns began to glow

It's Wednesday. Hope your time's been good. I'm flying back from Philly today - hope it's not stormy.

Book Review - Conversations with Friends

I read a review of Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney and it interested me.
i.e.  Written with gem-like precision and marked by a sly sense of humor, this book is wonderfully alive to the pleasures and dangers of youth, and the messy edges of female friendship. 

 Now I'll give my review - Sally Rooney, the author, is young herself and very into the zeitgeist of today's youth.

Our two protagonist friends - Frances - cool, observant, student/writer, and Bobbi - beautiful, rich, and rather self-possessed and confidant. They perform on a poetry night and are approached by a well-known photographer journalist (Melissa) interested in doing a story on the duo. As they are drawn into a flashier art world, Frances embarks on a dangerous flirtation with the actor/husband -handsome Nick. This leads to stress in the friendship, jealousy, and some  lessons in really being a grown-up.

I was interested in the story line and many of the bad decisions made by Frances (and Nick). I found some of the dialogue and situations to be too neat and tidy and contrived, but still intriguing. Rooney offers a fresh perspective on youth today, and I have her next book Normal People sitting on my shelf - in my queue. Meanwhile Conversations with Friends was a good patio read.

Light the Way

Fort Worth Botanic Gardens are featuring a very special night time exhibit of Chinese lanterns.  These beautiful creations light up the gardens and add magic to an already lovely place.

Ray and I had a stroll last Sunday and said, "Wow."   I shall be sharing pictures for a while.
We got there at 7 pm and left around 9 pm - perfect blend of light and dark.

(I'm off to PA to see my dad for a short visit. Hope you folks have a super weekend)

Wordless Wednesday - Almost

Gorgeous weekend here and Ray and I enjoyed a jaunt to Southlake for their annual Art in the Square.  Just a fun gathering of artists, musicians, and food in a pleasant setting.

We welcomed some new pieces into our home.   A bit of a zen mixed media piece, and two drawing/acrylic paintings.  They brighten up the front rooms.

An art stroll - take advantage of spring and festivals.  Enjoy!