What a busy weekend!

My husband and I had a great weekend. On Saturday we saw the latest Woody Allen movie Vicky Christina Barcelona at the Grand Cinema Theater here in Tacoma. What a great movie! I will use any excuse to spend two hours admiring Javier Bardeim. He is such a versatile actor.

Today we went to Anderson Island, Washington. We have property on the island at the Rivera Club, and will build there in the next couple of years. There is a very nice golf course, restaurant, marina, a co-op garden pea-patch, and a quaint general store. That's it. Very simple, very laid-back resort type location. Click here to read a nice article about Anderson Island published in Sunset Magazine.

There are lots of blackberry bushes in the unincorporated areas of the island. The bushes were just loaded with fat, sweet blackberries! My handsome husband and I spent an hour or so picking them. We wound up with enough for three pies. Two fat bags of berries are in the freezer, and here is the pie I made for my sweetie tonight. Before and after baking. He loves my pies!


It turned out pretty nice!



FRESH WILD BLACKBERRY PIE
INGREDIENTS
• 4 cups fresh blackberries
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1- 9 inch double crust pie
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1/4 cup white sugar

DIRECTIONS
1. Combine 3 1/2 cups berries with the sugar and flour. Spoon the mixture into an unbaked pie shell. Spread the remaining 1/2 cup berries on top of the sweetened berries, and cover with the top crust. Seal and crimp the edges. Brush the top crust with milk, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup sugar.
2. Bake at 425 degree F for 15 minutes. Reduce the temperature of the oven to 375 degrees F, and bake for an additional 20 to 25 minutes.


Apparently the pie was good, as my sweet husband had his fill of it. He is in his favorite chair, watching tv. He will be asleep soon!

Another pair of sandals!

As if I thought summer would last forever, I purchased yet another pair of Navajo sandals. These are Jack Rogers. They are just so incredibly comfortable. I was getting impatient waiting for my Bonanno monograms, so I bought these lovely handmade leather sandals in bronze and silver:



There is quite a rivalry between Bonanno, Rogers and Solario. I like them all equally.

My Latest Purchase - Stephen Bonanno Sandals

Yes, I did it, I retired my old pair of Stephen Bonanno sandals and ordered a pair of sandals in the Emma style, which will have my monogram. I ordered Black with Winter Camel whip-stitch. I hope I get them before summer disappears here in Washington. This is the Emma style:

It was only about 70 today, too cool to ride the Vespa.

Butch Hancock & Jimmie Dale Gilmore

One thing I really miss about Texas is a great music. Here is a favorite of mine,
Jimmie Dale Gilmore along with Butch Hancock (both of Austin, Texas)

I took a raft trip hosted by Far Flung Adventures a few years back and Butch Hancock was the oarsman on my raft. Here is a photo of me getting soaked - Butch Hancock is the guy with a hand one one of the oars:

Trip to Los Angeles

Took a trip with my husband to visit my youngest step-daughter and her sweet daughter, Sydney. Here are some photos from the trip:

Hooray for Hollywood!

Where else can you see Superman strolling down the street?

Of course I had to shop a bit. Bought a cute Hermès scarf!

After some serious shopping, Sydney took a gelato break with Grandpa.

At the Pier at Santa Monica for some super-fun rides and excellent people-watching.

The best set of shoulders in Santa Monica!

Back in Simi Valley, after a very long day.

It's been a very long time....

Since I posted on this blog. I've been busy. Working, taking care of my husband and mother. I get up at 4:15 and rarely get to bed before 11:00pm. I have the one hour commute, work until 3:00, one-hour commute back home. Two hours at Bally's Gym, a quick stop by the grocery store, then home. Clean up after the dog and the husband(who works nights), cook some food for him. I usually have leftovers or a bowl of cereal, mess around on the computer then bed. Then I do it again.

So blogging isn't on the top of my list. I will try to do better in 2008. Really.

Visit with my 76 year old mother

My husband and I recently traveled to Texas to visit my mom. I made a couple of videos of her. She is somthing else!I love her so much, but her love of smoking has dominated her life for so long. I feel like it is killing her.

Here is a photo of my mother. She is 77 years old.