A FULL HEART

So many emotions and activities packed into not just one day but an entire birthday week. It definitely was a wild week of ups and downs which ended on a very sad note... 

I dedicate my birthday week to a dear friend, Marty, with whom our friendship grew these past 2 years. We will miss the man whose heart was so full it just gave out at 84 years young. We have so many nice memories spent around the table sharing stories, jokes and life due to his bride Karol who made their house alive again with company.    

This past Monday I brought milkshakes to the hospital only to find out the chest pain that had brought Marty in the wee hours of the morning unveiled a lot more going on... He wouldn't be polishing off the milkshake nor able to undergo any operation to alleviate the problems so the decision was made to go home on palliative care. From almost losing him that Monday night, each consecutive day he appeared stronger, more talkative, witty, hungry, and even independent. The man rallied and gave us all almost another week with him.

Besides short visits to their home,  I filled my week with attending a forum with our district's 3 candidates for the House of Representatives, viewing Mama Mia 2 with 10 of the Jazzercise gals (do note the Jazz hands), caught  4 more greedy mice in the garage,

made a new recipe of Zucchini Ravioli to share with Marty and his family, completed an overdue visit with my 91 year old friend, Jean, discussing everything from politics to family. That evening Natureman and I went to Moon Tunes to groove to MoTown favorites.



Natureman had a full day planned Friday for my birthday but one surprise he didn't expect was the joy of Natureman capturing of Raccoon #7. Unfortunately he also discovered our corn all gone... 
                                  Oh well, there was still
Jazzercise for me and a visit to see Marty sitting up having lunch, making my birthday lunch even lovelier on the patio of the Waterfront Restaurant and a birthday dessert of a delicious frozen chocolate mocha treat on lady fingers, followed by a Miata ride to Wabasha, MN for River Boat Days and then on to Elmaro Vineyards to end the birth day with a cheese tray and a birthday bottle of wine from buddy JoEllen,  Elmaro's  La Crescent wine while we fawned over the entertainment, Jo Ellen's husband David. :)

David dedicated Shangri-la to this bday girl...

 The birthday weekend continued on Saturday with services and another visit pleased to hear good news how Marty had eaten breakfast and  lunch in the kitchen no less. He was a bit restless and since he had other guests we headed over to the University Art Show. Glass artist friend Laurel bestowed upon me a lovely glass leaf necklace to match my dress. Sweeeet.


Sunday was a mixed bag as we received the call Marty had not awoken that morning... The early morning fog cleared and the skies were a beautiful blue. 
More music awaited us at nearby Branches Winery with locals Dan Sebranek and Mary Cortesi. 

 But what happened there is absolutely amazing as it concerns, Jordy, their dog.
 We had just sat down and gotten comfortable in our lawn chairs when this dog beelines straight to us and sits down inbetween Natureman and me waiting to be petted. Mary quips on the mike not to mind the dog as he's used to going with her to work, he's a therapy dog. Okay, somehow that dog sensed that we, of all the people there, needed to pet her as one, we had just lost Marty and two, our dog was put to sleep the week before.  It gives me shivers to think how intuitive Jordy was. Jordy didn't go to anybody else...

Sunday was one of those days we needed to be at more than one place so we headed to town.  Peoplefest was going on with 3 organizations we belong to as sponsors. 




The talent we saw was from China, Centro Latino, the Hmong Community and Congregation Sons of Abraham.

We ate our picnic dinner
and enjoyed the delightful presentations.



My birthday weekend wasn't quite over as Natureman had to leave for Tahara, the ritual bathing to prepare Marty for his burial. I, in turn worked on the condolence meal which will follow the burial.

What a birthday week to say the least and my heart is full.  

One never knows when it will be our last day so we have to do everything we can to make the most of each day... Marty, we will miss you.
   

Food for the Soul...

I do have one complaint about living in the End of the Rainbow Valley re:food and that is that we really don't have much choice regarding going out to dinner. Yet every time I return to Little Rock, there are always new restaurants to try and of course the old favorites.

I hate to make a 'pig' of myself but hey I'm down South. Even the smokers look like Razorbacks.

This stay has been filled with lots of dining out. You could say I am getting my 'fill.' I had a brother-in-law who always judged his trips by his gastronomic experiences. For me it definitely is the company at the dinner table more than the food...

So that's what bugs me about eating at a buffet even if it gives people food choices, as everybody spends alot of the dining experience time getting up and down and conversation is disjointed. Do you know what I mean? Since my Dad chooses his favorite restaurant by quantity served, it's a guarantee that we end up at a Chinese buffet. For the last 5 years (?) it's been this one in Maumelle about 20 minutes away.

You all have been to one like it. There are rows upon rows of steamed trays of both Asian and American fare. This particular buffet even has a sushi bar and mongolian grill but I tend to people watch as plates are stacked with food and as they return more than once for refills. It actually turns my stomach/ is that I too take too much?

My brother Marc, niece Becky and I visited a new place for some Mexican cuisine and we nearly froze as the AC was determined to keep the ice in our drinks from melting. Service staff was running every where except to our table. And even though we didn't have chips for the dip and 'beef' orders were all 'chicken,' we had some really good laughs and a good memory. I bet the Sangria didn't hurt either. :)

I have already written about the Chicken n Dumpling dinner at Homer's as my sister-in-law Terri, niece Becky and Mispocha Elizabeth and I all ordered this Southern special. Unfortunately I let a phone call interrupt our visit. Mental note.. calls can wait. A blog entry for another day.

A craving of Trio's Spinach dip and crispy seasoned pita chips was humored by a High School Scout buddy Lou Ann. I have to admit I almost licked the bowl clean.

Although Lou Ann and I never frequented Trio's together when I lived here, the owner is a high school classmate.


How could we resist a dessert once we saw this dessert tray?

We did split a piece of the Key Lime pie and left with a couple desserts to share with others. Aren't we nice to share the calories?

Then I have also been spoiled by some great home cooking by my brother in addition to that chick fil sandwich lunch together. I have to admit that I even ate a 'white bread' sandwich with mayo! Now if that isn't nostalgic, what is? Permit me to digress a bit as my olfactory senses brought back elementary school field trips to the Wonder Bread factory where the motto was 'untouched by human hands'. I used to envision Monkeys working there.

Sunday evening Jim, my friend Chris's husband outdid himself with this amazing grilled steak dinner. Doesn't that plate just make your mouth water? It was so good. And we even ate in front of the TV, a rarity for me.

AND You can't visit the South and not get bar-b-que. Thanks to my buddy Debbie I was indulged with a great bar-b- que beef sandwich accompanied with bar-b-que potato chips at Whole Hog.

There were sauces for every palate - sweet, vinegary,mustardy, spicy, traditional- and you know it was made all gone as it was washed down with what else but sweet tea, of course.

Sky featured Italian fare my last patio visit but now is now Asian fusion and friend Becky and I had a spicy Chicken dish to 'warm' us up. We I think we had at least 3 drink refills each. WE had a lot to catch up on.

Wednesday was reserved for Kaye and Shep for a Chinese dumpling tutorial with onion cakes and bok choy accompanied by rice. Shep was kind enough to reciprocate by sharing his Mom's Hot Water cornbread recipe with of course a dollop of butter. They had to roll me out the front to leave as I was full of both our conversation and midday meal.

I accompanied my brother and niece to the Dixie Cafe but really didn't have any room to order a dinner. Besides you know it's all about the company not the food. AND you know from this entry that I am not lacking caloric intake...

I do have a new food factoid for you re: Chicken and Dumplings since Becky ordered them again. I learned that there are sliders and floaters regarding those dumplings and their shape and densities. Flat ones are the sliders and the bulbous are called floaters. There you go... Thanks to Kaye and Shep for the enlightenment.

An Indian outing was next on the agenda but it doesn't matter if I don't have room because nothing beats the company of friends around a dinner table whether I am in Little Rock or in the End of the Rainbow Valley.