It is very mild and almost muggy today. But I know winter will be here, and I want to be ready.....loving these boots...on sale at Victorias Secret (.com)

The black are so chic and dressy and comfortable ( most inportant, comfort!!!) Even though they will be great with dresses or skirts, they remind me a little of "Puss in Boots" or maybe pirates, or Robin Hood's merry men???

I think I need the brown for a more casual blue jean look, too!
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I am planning to cook this meatloaf recipe tonight. It is my daughter's favorite, she makes it for her family! I think instead of noodles, I'll do some scalloped potatoes!

Lots to report from our 3 day visit to Minneapolis! [That doesn't include the day-long drive going up and back!]
The further north we drove, the more lilacs we saw...and especially around the Interstate in
Minneapolis and St. Paul!

Our first morning there, Friday, Andrew and Mary had to be at their jobs so we were on our own. We had a slow start and then found the Mall of America which is just a few miles from where our kids live. By the time we found it, we had less than an hour to spend there. This was fine, we managed! [ I think we wanted to make the "obligatory" visit there, so we can say "yes" we were there!]

Entering Macy's I found a perfume , "Zen" by Shisheido, which I used to enjoy and bought it again.

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Then we found the Magic Pan crepe stand. This was a treat, as I have been trying to learn to make crepes myself. We ordered one with bananas and Nutella, to share! It was fun to watch them make our crepe! [This link will show crepes being made in the same way near the Eiffel tower in Paris! They use Nutella on many of the crepes there too!]

We quickly "walked off" the crepe by circumnavigating the amusement park in the center of the mall.

Then off to meet Andrew at the university library where he works!

[Continued on next post...Thanks to Blogger, that post is above starting May 3]

I always go a little bit crazy around my birthday, feeling like I need to buy something to celebrate, SO, it didn't help me to "resist" when my daughter sent me on a quest to help her find some boots. To make a long story shorter, I hunted for hers with no luck, in the mean time, she located some. So I could put them out of my mind.....yes????

Today, I was making a quick run to the mall for a charitable donation and passed the shoe/boot section in Penneys.

There they were, the only size left being MY size and ON SALE. So I quickly became my favorite charity and added the boots to the items I was getting for the donation. [BUT I AM KEEPING THESE!]

How should these comfortable boots be worn??? With skinny jeans, or skirts.....for more great looks, check this post.

It also occurs to me that the boots could be featured in a still life with some chrysanthemums and autumn items.

On a mission to find some clothing for our local school system's community children's clothing drive, I found these "PEAR" things. Could I resist and say "NO".

Not this time!

These are from Target, designed by Orla Kiely. They are on closeout. We have been drinking from glass tumblers...and when they tumble, they break! These retro inspired "glasses" are heavy plastic! Yeah!!!!

Question: "Will the guy who no longer wishes to be called "Mr. Pear" mind drinking from one of these?????

I love children's literature.....


This beautiful picture book , "Sugar Cane", is a treasure which I found yesterday and am sending to our son-in-law from Jamaica, and our granddaughter.



Lilia (at 4 years old here, photo by friend Barbara Batson) truly looks like she could be the model for Sugar Cane!


We found the book in a nearby Victorian town, Eureka Springs. This town is always a treat for us to visit and to walk the curvy steep streets, delighting in the gardens and architecture....and lots of "hippie" vibe too!
Mr. Pear and I descended (literally...it is downhill to the main shopping area of the old town!) into this dreamy world late yesterday on a perfect autumn afternoon. The town was full of tourists who had come hoping to see fall color, but enjoying themselves none-the-less in the still lush green forested hills. Hundreds of Victorian cottages and mansions offer bed and breakfast.


Homes and porches are decorated for the season!

This cottage garden had the tallest, most lush bed of cleome I have ever seen....in the shadows here, as the afternoon sun is getting low and striking the treetops behind it.


Shops offer lots of intriquing merchandise! We visited the small bookstore, looking for a birthday card, and there we found the wonderful picture book. Here we are enjoying a snack on the balcony of a Victorian hotel and looking at the book a bit!

Being over in Eureka, even for a few hours is a wonderful escape from routine!We celebrated both of our birthdays....though the gift we bought was for someone else!
(I'm sure we'll get to read it with her when we visit!)

Two new "things"........

This is a magic (I'm sure) hammer....it is purple floral and comes from my friend Macrina who got it for me at the Blue Bird Circle Resale shop in Houston. (The shop is mentioned in the mystery novel/altered book, "Journal: The short Life and Mysterious Death of Amy Zoe Mason" by Kristine and Joyce Atkinson ....)

The hammer handle open and contains several screwdrivers.

Just what a gal needs in her art/sewing studio!

This auburn haired mermaid ornament found me again! She was the only mermaid in a Christmas shop in Flagstaff...all ornaments were on sale.

She seems to be playing a lyre...rather similar to angels!

I am trying to buy fewer "things".....but as an indecisive Libra, I waiver!

Most "things" are made in slave labor camps in China under a brutal regime (they executed a person recently for "errors")....and our balance of trade is way out of wack..

Everything for sale where I work is made in China.....and it was getting to be that way with most of the fabrics in my quilt shop (they might be printed elsewhere, but the goods were woven in China).

the good side is that countries who are trading partners may think twice before going to war.....

I think the only place now to find local goods is in re-sale shops!