Friends

While Kevin was attending seminary several years ago, we lived in a triplex with two other couples.  We all moved in within a week of each other.  Three and a half years later we moved out and eventually the others moved out also.  Over those years we established a great friendship with those neighbors that we hope to continue for many years to come.  Mike and Michelle are one of those couples.  They moved to Rhode Island when they left seminary and we haven't seen them in over a year.  They came down for graduation last weekend and we were able to spend some time with them.



When we were in seminary, the guys made a ritual out of sitting in the backyard chatting it up after school/work.  It was difficult getting them inside to eat dinner every night.  Over the years we had lots of cookouts in the backyard and ate lots of homeade ice cream.  Good memories.

Tradition

Jaalla and I have the tradition of attending The Nutcracker ballet every year at Bass Hall in downtown Fort Worth.  



First we dined on some delicious Mexican food, then we attended the show.  Here we are on the balcony at Bass Hall during intermission.

 

Afterwards, per tradition, we went to Marble Slab for ice cream.  Yum!

New Hat

I worked this up one afternoon recently.  I had been wanting a winter hat with brown tones.  

Fine Dining

On Sunday night we had an incredible dining experience.  Our friends had a gift card to The Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas.  The service, setting, and food was all excellent.  Well worth the money.  It was actually not as expensive as we thought it would be.  An average plate is around $40.  Desert it $13.  Here we are waiting to be seated:



I would have taken a picture of the beautiful presentation on our plates, but the former Mayor of Dallas, Laura Miller, was seated at the table beside us and I didn't want to cause a scene.  I had the baby Turbot, a very mild white fish, with a mustard sauce over a bed of leeks, gnocchi, and fava beans.  For desert I had the chocolate and peanut butter torte.  Both were heavenly!  I would highly recommend this place, and I do hope that we go back again sometime. 

Time for a change...

Back to brunette!  My hair was actually starting to show the wear from several years of having the color stripped from it.  It was looking unhealthy and I have been wanting a change.  Anyways, this is a great color for the fall.  



I plan on keeping it this way for quite a while.  I love it! 

Home

 One week from today, we close on our new home.


We are very excited!  It is quite a bit bigger of a house than we planned on buying, but we knew that this was "THE" house.  

My top 8 list of reasons why I love this house:

8.  A deck outside for entertaining.
7.  Fireplace - Can you say s'mores. 
6.  A double-oven in the kitchen.  I can smell a turkey, pumpkin pie, and dressing baking all at the same time.
5.  Dishwasher!!!!!  Gone are the pruney hands!
4.  A garage that will keep me and my groceries from getting wet when it rains.  
3.  Oodles and oodles of cabinet space.  I will no longer have to turn away free wafflemakers and such.
2.  Closer to work!  
1.  And finally....  more than one toilet!!!  (Three to be precise.)

On Sunday afternoon I prepaired myself for an exciting Cowboys game.  I pulled on a sweater (Kevin had it unusually cold in the house), made a cup of hot tea with honey and milk, got out my knitting, and pulled on a pair of handknit wool socks.  I was content...   Then the Cowboys lost.  I thought it couldn't get much worse until I looked down and discovered this...

The horror!  My poor, poor sock.  This was the first pair of socks that I ever made.  They are only 2 years old.  I will now attempt to darn a sock.  Their fate is not the trash can.  I could never bring myself to do something like that!