Sunday, August 14, 2011

Roost

  
This is a beautiful, thoughtful blog.  Check it out by clicking here...

Saturday, August 6, 2011

365 Days of Patty

Today I celebrate the privilege of being blessed with another year of life!

35 was arguably the most difficult 365 days of my life.  (Mostly because I allowed them to be.)  The good news is I am feeling refreshed and renewed for year 36.  And....I hear (from all the folks out here) that Mercury is in retrograde so this deep longing for internal "cleansing" and "reflecting" is apparently quite normal!  Who knew? 

Last night I went to a classical music concert at The Hollywood Bowl and I started considering all the absolutely amazing events that happened....despite the turbulence of year 35.  I sort of reflected chronologically and here are a few of the things I came up with....but these aren't in order....nor is this list exhaustive.....

1) I attended my first UT Football game!  Go Horns!  Thank you Ramsey Kay!
2) I was introduced to Rancho de Bearden...my new place of rest.  Thank you Ciara and Ryan!
3) I visited Santa Fe, New Mexico and fell in love!  Thank you Sylvia and Peter!
4) I saw Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt at The Majestic Theater!
5) I reconnected with my dear friend Brandon and am so blessed to call him my friend.
6) I spent a week at Horseshoe Bay.  Thank you Mom, Dad and The Doege's!
7) I spent a week in Destin, Florida.  Thank you Mom, Dad and The Harper Family!
8) Para-sailed!!!!!!!!
9) Jeeped!!!!!!!!! Or Wheeled!!!!!!!!! Whichever....
10) Met my camera.  Thank you Mom!
11) Spent my lunches at St. Dominic's Chapel getting "right."  
12) Saw my dad acquire his own business...finally!  He is his own boss and it is about time!
13) Ate El Pato with Ramsey, Lisa and Crissy.
14) Chaired Silent Auction and was once again awed by true and simple generosity.
15) Was invited into Angela Rabke and Sharon Turner's book club.
16) Spent a weekend at Port A with Leandra, Rebecca and Jenni.  (Watched dolphins, as well!)
17) Was asked by be Noah Mendez's Godmother.
18) Watched my Goddaughter finish high school and prepare for college.
19) Met Alison Wright.
20) Spent New Year's Eve with Valerie and Nick.
21) Watched Marisa on TV during the Superbowl!
22) Became friends with Shameka, Jennifer, Gary, Lisa, Manuel, Hector and Diana!
23) Visited Seaside, Florida.....CHARMING!
24) Saw Robert Earl Keen, Jr. at Stubb's.  
25) Went "home" after Christmas.
26) Was re-introduced to Denise Garcia and her wonderful husband, Ken!
27) Danced on the roof of the Artpace building.  'Twas fun!
28) Drank Blanton's on the Rocks at Bohanans.
29) Ate dinner with Karrie and Doug Pennebecker at Il Sogno.
30) Completed The Pursuit of God with Janie Worth.
31) Ate Capparelli's with Linda and Bill Fugit at their dining table.
32) Observed the strength and courage of Lisa Callan and Tracey Mather.
33) Was included by Meg Stoffer and her group of friends!  Yay!  Lots of new faces.
34) Saw the Eggmen with Ciara and Ryan and Nutty Brown Cafe.
35) Watched all seven seasons of The Gilmore Girls...TWICE!
36) Attended Emma Jolie Terrell's first birthday party, Nicolas Mendez's second birthday party, Gianna Mery's second birthday party, Justin and Minnie's December celebrations and Meriweather Rabke's second birthday party
37) Had a morning porch picnic and pajama day with Ella James Bearden.
38) Witnessed Meg Stoffer marry Justin Walker....so wonderful!
39) Witnessed Bryn Carson marry Andrew Auld...so gracious to include me. 
40) Purchased a painting by Andree Hudson at Waxlander Gallery on Canyon Road, Santa Fe.
41) Walked in the snow...TWICE!
42) Spent Sangeeta's birthday at Wildfish.
43) Took a private Pilates lesson with Wendy.  Thank you, Mom!
44) Ripped the carpet out of my house...NOW WHAT?  Yikes!
45) Hosted a garage sale forcing me to purge.
46) Moved a reformer into my garage!  Thank you, Mom!
47) Took a yoga class while facing Manhattan Beach.
48) Completed Principles of Accounting!
49) Realized things have to change....profoundly....starting with me.
50) Had my photos taken by my insanely talented cousin...and jumped for joy!
Photo by: Marisa Q Photography

AND THE VERY, VERY, VERY BEST (AND MOST CHALLENGING) ENDEAVOR THIS YEAR....
My girl, Mary Gertrude!



Monday, August 1, 2011

Two Hundred

According to my post count....this is my 200th blog!  
We are living large at Fete....and by "we"...I mean me.  Check out this HEB cake, which with my coupon cost a total of 4.25....including the banner reading, "Happy 200."  (Imagine the quizzical looks I got from the bakery when I asked them to write "Happy 200."  I assured them it was an "inside joke" and that did little to clarify the request.)  Yes...I did eat a sliver of cake...I just dug my fork in, (1 year old birthday style) ate a piece and winced in pain because the sugar literally ate away at the dentin immediately.  Cake went into the trash bin straightaway.  

Thank you to my precious few (and I do mean FEW) readers who have read each and every one of those 200 posts.  It's been an interesting ride, right?  In truth...those 200 posts have been written during the most challenging times of my life.  While I wasn't always consistent...and still am not...this certainly has been a saving grace.
I am loving that House Beautiful created this nifty design insert located just inside the July/August 2011 issue.  They perforated the edge for an easy tear out.  I will keep this tucked neatly away in my inspiration book.  The only hint I would add....center of wall hanging should be 48-51 inches from floor for gallery height hanging.  

Pin it, print it, share it....

(In honor of a conversation I had earlier today.)
Lorelai: Man I love email.  Everyday Rory and I write to each other, multiple times.  It's great.
Luke: You enjoy typing to people more than talking to them?
Lorelai: Wrong perspective.  Email is a return to the romantic days of letter writing.  It's pure Dickens.