Errands. Errands. And more errands!

The rooster was trying to cut in line at Starbucks.

Has it really been 10 days since I blogged? Note to self: Get with the program.

I'm not overwhelmed with the silent auction that is taking place this coming Friday, but close. There are always so many last minute details that take more time than I expect. My living room is filled with art and the dining room table is stacked with wine. I'm ready to open one of the 60+ bottles, but I'm guessing that would be inappropriate.

Today I'm creating a shorter to-do list. Mr. B drove me around town so I could get things I needed and drop off other items. At one point we drove through Starbucks. Look at the pic-of-the-day to see what else was there.

A landmark blog

Today is Mr. B's birthday. Happy 58th, handsome!

Happy birthday Mr. B!

I asked him where he wanted to go to dinner tonight. He said we could cook some steaks at home. We can do that any night, so I made reservations at Brasserie 19. It's one of the restaurants where we've always wanted to go, but have never been. French classicism meets modern luxury, simple French fare is what the website says. It should be fun and tasty, especially the desserts.

Today I'm creating my 1,000th  blog. Can it be true? I have a new idea for a blog that might start in a month or so. In the meantime, I'll just keep writing on this one.

Auction. Auction. Auction.

Thinking about Sweetness and Raff today. They're driving
to Santa Fe for a vaca. How I wish I was with them!

About all I have time for these days is the auction I'm chairing. We don't have nearly enough items so I keep thinking of potential donors I can contact or ones I can suggest that others contact. I know that people have paperwork and items that haven't been turned in, but of course I'm fretting.

On Wednesday or Thursday (not sure which) I'm going to visit my cousin who lives in LaPorte. She's downsizing to move to Katy. I'm getting a small table from her that belonged to my parents. Then we may go to Baytown to look at a collection of tin lunch boxes. I can see lots of jewelry made from the lunch boxes! I had lunch yesterday with a friend who brought me a box filled with tin canisters. A couple in the box really interest me and I can't wait to cut into them.

Today I'm creating plans for Mr. B's birthday, which is tomorrow. I do believe that I'm married to the most difficult man to buy gifts for, but if that's his most annoying trait I guess I should keep him.

A quiet Sunday afternoon

Let's see. PGA Tour. NASCAR Sprint Cup. College Basketball. NBA Countdown. Are these really my choices for television viewing this afternoon? How many channels does U-Verse have and this is the best they have to offer.

Kirby has been the perfect house guest since Wednesday.

I have the slowest growing hair in the universe! Honestly, I have been growing my hair out for about a year. I did have one set back when my hairstylist in Santa Fe cut off more of my hair than I wanted last July. Since then, I've only gotten trims. My hair is still not to my shoulders. And although I want it to keep growing so I can pull it back in the summer, I'm tempted to get two or three inches cut off. I'm looking at photos from last summer and my hair looks better then than it does now. What to do. What to do.

Today I'm creating time for a nap. It looks like it is going to rain (again) so it's perfect napping weather. Rose and Kirby agree about nap time.

Auction magic

Fabulous Miro I saw today. It's part of a private collection.

I had a morning filled with meetings associated with the upcoming Houston Heights Association's 2014 Candlelight Dinner & Auction. In addition to meetings I was picking up donated items and delivering them to our storage house. I love seeing all the auction goodies in advance.

The really fun part of this rainy afternoon involved sitting with a collector of fabulous "works on paper." What an incredible collection! Not only does his collection span years and years, but it's all photographed and cataloged. Amazing.

Today I'm creating dinner for Mr. B. It's raining so I'm thinking that a yummy meatloaf with green beans would be nice. Mr. B will require a starch with his meal, so I'll probably make some rice for him. As for me, I avoid starches whenever possible.

A space for Roz

Azaleas blooming in the front of the Houston house.

This afternoon I picked up Roz's ashes from the vet's office. Of course I started crying again. Her ashes came in a little cedar box with her name on the top. I placed her next to the remains of our other pets who have passed.

With Roz there was a printed card titled The Rainbow Bridge. It's sweet, so I thought I would share it here. "There is a bridge connecting Heaven and Earth. It is called The Rainbow Bridge because of its many colors. Just this side of the Rainbow Bridge there is a land of meadows, hills and valleys with lush green grass.  When a beloved pet dies, the pet goes to this place. There is always food and water and warm spring weather. The old and frail are made young again. Those who are maimed are made whole again. They play all day with each other. There is only one things missing. They are not with their special person who loved them on earth. So, each day they run and play until the day comes when one suddenly stops playing and looks up. The nose twitches. The eyes staring. And this one suddenly runs from the group. You have been seen, and when you and your special friend meet, you take him or her in your arms and embrace. Your face is kissed again and again and again, and you cross the Rainbow Bridge together, never again to be separated."

Today I'm creating straight hair. I've been wearing it curly for months so I decided to blow it dry and then take the hot iron to it. A few minutes later I took Rose out for a walk. It took me 20 minutes to straighten my hair. It only took about two minutes for the humidity to make it wavy and frizzy again.

Taking some time off

I've been away from my blog for a little more than a week. I'm so busy with the auction I'm chairing. My break from auction work involves much needed Spring cleaning of the house. I'm confident that it's all going to get done and I'm going to survive and move on to the next project(s).

I'm also sad to write that the inevitable happened on Monday. Roz's health continued to decline during the past 10 days, so Mr. B and I made the difficult decision. I've cried for most of three days. Even now as I'm writing about her I have tears running down my checks. In the vets office I cradled Roz in my arms just the same as I held my daughters when they were babies. She laid her head against my shoulder and I tilted my head so I could hear her breathing. The vet left for a minute. When she came back into the examination room I almost changed my mind, but knew what was about to happen was best for Roz.

Today I'm creating photographs of two homes that will be on the upcoming home tour (April 5-6). One magazine is insisting on "scouting shots." To me, this seems like something they should do themselves, but I'll play along. Then it's back home for more deep cleaning.

Laissez les bons temps rouler

Let the good times roll!

I was raised in south Texas, which means that during my youth most Sunday mornings were spent at the Baptist Church. But I've been a practicing Episcopalian all of my adult life, so for me today is Mardi Gras (French for Fat Tuesday). Let the good times roll before Ash Wednesday, the first Day of Lent. 

On Fat Tuesday it's typical for Episcopalians to indulge in rich, fatty foods that will be sacrificed for the next 40 days. I don't know when eating pancakes on Fat Tuesday became popular. I'd rather eat a carton of Vanilla French Almond Haagen-Dazs. I can live without pancakes, but that's just me.

Today I'm creating e-blasts and Facebook posts. This may not sound creative, but when I'm posting for clients it is.

Post Oscar Buzz

"Princess Kate" at the 2014 Academy Awards.

Yesterday Mr. B and I did some yard work. The temperature was in the 80s and we were sweating. Then we came inside to clean up to go to a small Oscar party. When we went to get in the car, the temperature was in the 40s. Burr! I was glad I cooked a tender pot roast with potatoes, carrots, mushrooms and onions. It smelled and tasted delicious.

I can't wait to see the reviews tonight of the Oscar gowns. The ones I saw last night were all beautiful. My favorite was Kate Blanchett. It's unimaginable to me that she can look so stunning in a gown that is the color of her skin and hair. It should wash her out, but to me she looked amazing.

Today I'm creating a clean kitchen. The dresses were beautiful, but there were a few women who have gone too far with the botox! Goldie Hawn. Kim Novak. Liza Minelli. What are these women thinking? Do they not have mirrors in their homes? Do they not have friends or family to tell them how ridiculous they look? It was ironical that Kim Novak presented the Academy Award to "Frozen" when that is how I would describe her face.