This week has been cold and dark in more ways than one. This
morning the skies are gray as a gun barrel; it is chilly and windy, but the
afternoon is to be warm and sunny. The weather jumps around like my deteriorating
body, good and bad mixed like a bracing cocktail. This is also the Maple Leaf
Parade Day and it looks to be big crowd as cars are lining my street bumper to
bumper finding parking, and this is three blocks from the end of the parade!
The mailman has run his route about three hours early to try and beat some of
the congestion on this autumn Saturday.
The mailman has brought me a load of birthday cards for two
days. Thank you all who have sent them! Today is my birthday which often falls
on Maple Leaf weekend so it has been hard to celebrate when the town celebrates
first. Of course this year I can’t do the parade and that is okay. I sent DH on
to son’s house to continue siding. They work hard trying to beat winter with
this project and to work between chemo chaos.
On Thursday we called it my birthday early and worked hard
to make it some kind of different day. We so miss our countryside jaunts and
tours. The rainy weather dampened our plans but we worked in a short ride to
Arkansas border on a cold but dry day between rains. Biscuit rode along and we
went to Crystal Bridges to see the Bachman-Wilson house built by Frank Lloyd
Wright. We have longed to it for months. It was a hard press and we did not do
other art, only the house. We have seen other FLW houses but this one was
smallest. Moved from New Jersey and set in an Ozark hollow packed with oaks and
walnuts, the setting is beautiful.
We have always thought the man’s designs both beautiful and
uncomfortable looking. This small home was typical of his concrete, wood, and
glass designs. The house used rich, dark mahogany; the wall of glass made you
feel like you were sitting among the trees from the inside.
Then we went to lunch in a tea room where we were
disappointed. Now you will know me for the tea snob I am! Years ago we went to
lovely tea room in downtown Rogers, Arkansas. They opened a branch in
Bentonville and eventually moved the main tea room to a strip mall out near a
big shopping center. They lost their ambiance. We had never been to Bentonville
one so we gave it a shot. It too lacked ambiance.
Ordering at a cash register, getting your own tea in a
plastic glass, silverware, and small paper napkin does not speak tea room language.
The food was decent but not extraordinary. However, the tea room has lasted and
they had a decent business. Once known for outstanding and special orange rolls
that were light and airy, they still have them on the menu. But alas, they are
not the same. These rolls were heavy, had no orange taste, and now used some
kind of crystallized sugar instead of the orangey glaze that once made them
scrumptious.
We were back home in the early afternoon and as tired as if
we had taken a longer trip. We got quilts, found a good western and called the
day special anyway.
I return to chemo on Tuesday again so will probably be quiet
for a while. I have anti-nausea meds on counter and convenience foods stocked
up. Hopefully, there will be more special days to work in after the worst is
over!
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