No need to share my thoughts on the joy of eating out...you all know how I feel :) I've so enjoyed having sister on maternity leave because once a week she and Sally Kate come to Havana to meet me at the Mockingbird Cafe! Today we went and took this picture. Sally Kate is already becoming a regular and the owner knows her by name. She has already frequented 3 times--I am so proud.
Also, my office has decided to go to a four day work week for the month of February!!! Woo-hoo! As awful as it is to be excited, I am. We have several large projects looming in the background but no one seems to be in a hurry to get them started. So I've been given Monday as my day off and all I can say is three.day.weekend. Through all of the economic hoopla I am so very thankful to have a job however, this four day work week could not be a better answer to my prayers! Aren't I just horrible?!
Looking forward to the weekend. Off to Atlanta again to celebrate Kristen's bachelorette soiree! We missed Kristen for the 100th in Tallahassee but all will be made up with our time spent together this weekend...cheers to the bride-to-be!
Finally a moment to breathe as I end the work day...counting down the minutes until leave time...then off to cut camellias to adorn my house for company this weekend. Last weekend was filled with worldly culture. I had a quick weekend trip to the fabulous city of Atlanta for one main reason...Celine Dion! Now don’t go dis Dion just yet. My friends and I bought tickets to her show over a year ago and counted down the days of anticipation until on January 17th our dream finally came true. Hands down a fabulous singer, performer, and concert song list that included all the faves. Even if you are not a fan of Celine, the best singer in the world, you must admit she's got some vocal pipes. The concert was just one of many highlights of our day.
On Saturday morning we picked up Megan who flew in from Tampa. After several laps around the Delta terminal trying to avoid the nasty traffic guards, we whisked her away and headed downtown. We met up with Ms. Kathy and Mr. Gene, other Meghan’s parents, and off we were to the museums. First of all let me make it very clear that is was COLD and the rest of the day was spent walking in the brisk temp as the “wintry mix” clouds engulfed the city. By the afternoon—let there be snow! Albeit we were back in our hotel, 30 floors up, and it only lasted for a couple of minutes, but we saw it…the sweet little snow flurries! It was bliss for a Florida girl. Now, back to the itinerary. We went to the High Museum of Art to see the exhibit The First Emperor: China’s Terracotta Army and then to the CivicCenter to see theKing Tut Exhibit. Both were so fascinating and I’m still trying to grasp the parallels of the universal ruler they each claimed. All before Christ, these two cultures were living simultaneously, geographically not too far from each other, and they both had such bogus and similar views on their leader (pharaoh or emperor) and the afterlife. It intrigues me.
We continued our quest around the world with a dinner at Two Urban Licks and the concert (a dose of Canadian culture, anyone?). My trip is not blogworthy without the mention and detail of the food we ate. Two is this hip industrial restaurant that will blow your tastebuds out of you mouth, almost literally that night at least. It was divine! The food and atmosphere were right up there with each other…I could go on and on. For my dinner I chose wisely only to have pre-selected the dessert I would be ordering to finish things off. I had a mixed greens salad with roasted butternut squash, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, goat cheese, and a delightful honey citrus vinaigrette. The flavor was amazing. I also had a cup of their smoked tomato bisque and hen…pumpkin bread pudding!! to.die.for.
The next morning we went to this local breakfast cafe called the Flying Biscuit in Buckhead. Isn't that the most marvy name! The food was great too and we were quite satisfied as we left Atlanta and headed for home.
This week has been crazy and I figured I needed to get last weekend posted so I wouldn't get behind on the fabulous weekend I'm about to start oh so soon. My ADPi chapter is celebrating 100 years! Let the festivities and visiting friends begin~
jane, meghan, megan and moi at dinner...check out those great magnolia arrangements!
Well just food really, little thought. This week mom has been in Tallahassee to help Holly during the day. It has been so wonderful having her here…of course I get to benefit from her stay as well :) One of many outstanding perks is the food she’s been cooking. Now if you know Kat, she’s a fabulous cook and even better baker but it doesn’t happen that often. Not that this is an issue because a family hobby of ours is eating out. However, each night after work I go to sister’s, love on that baby, and eat a glorious home cooked meal. And I’m talking comfort food home cooked meal…it doesn’t get much better. As part of Holly’s post-surgery diet mom thinks it’s important to prepare things that are not overly spicy which translates to chicken n’dumplings, baked potato soup, and pot roast (which is a dish I do happen to love…the carrots and potatoes that is!) served with brown rice with mushrooms. Is your mouth watering…stomach growling, yet? Well, it has just been an absolute treat! And speaking of treats, we have dessert with each meal as well~ yum. I’m getting used to this routine and thoughts of Kat the mom and Kat the cook leaving this weekend are making me very sad. Oh, but don’t worry because sister has deemed me the post-mom preparer of meals and coordinator of visitors! I will be glad to take the position when time.
Now, a few thoughts: Sally Kate is one week old today!! I can’t believe that one week ago I got the call. A little aside – I did talk to Holly around lunch time last Wednesday but practically hung up on her when I couldn’t handle the medical mumbo jumbo she was telling me/ I didn’t know by Dr. that she was going to the hospital! So what did I do…I ate a leisurely lunch (guilty, my life revolves around food!) from the Mockingbird Café and went about my day with no expectations of having my niece arrive later that evening. Marcus, Holly, and Sally Kate are adjusting well to being at home and everyone is healthy, happy, and getting sleep.
Also, you may have already heard but my work town of Quincy is famous. The fugitive, pilot, investment dude from Indiana was found at a campsite outside Quincy last night. Mom and I heard the breaking news on national tv last night and with that our phones started ringing. The guy was taken to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital and upon release he will be spending time in the Gadsden Jail…lucky guy. There is no other place in the world I would rather not be than the jail in GadsdenCounty. Words cannot describe...but I’ll bet you he’ll be thinking the same thing in a few days.
And last but certainly not least – a very very happy birthday to Heather Lane~ a marvy gal in so many ways! Three cheers to you and your day!
homecoming gown~ grandmother ME made this gown and shoes in the 1949 for her children to wear home from the hospital...it is the dress that mom, holly, me, michael, and more wore home
she enjoyed getting all dolled up
proud daddy with goodies and fanfare
getting ready to leave the hospital...
sally katewrapped in her daddy's homecoming blanket
tour de nursery
she loves her grandaddy...he will be the first to tell you :)
two of my favorite things~sally kate and camellias
lila did not miss a beat...I think this will be "her spot" in the nursery
Ok, it's here...highlights of the past three weeks...boy how time flies! I had the best intentions of posting this a little closer to Christmas/ New Years but as you all know we had a sweet surprise in the midst of it all :) It's just one new celebration after the next! I would say so far this holiday season has been the craziest but it's a close call as last year at this time we were throwing an Ocala wedding. Again, time flies. I feel like I've been in a different city every other day with odd work days sandwiched in between--and it won't even begin to slow down until February. The best news is that I adore all of this holiday hustle, and what a fabulous month to celebrate and cherish everything I love. Cheers to the end of 2008 and the beginning of a new year~
holiday tour at the governor's mansion
visiting hometown friends~always a pleasure
the kids table gang at Christmas lunch in ocala
with sweet lacy lauren
I spent new year's eve and my birthday in the north carolina mountains~
mary caroline (!), alison, and mary caroline
birthday treat from h & m when I got back to tallahassee
with erin and meghan 
