Saturday, October 15, 2016

Every Day Is Special



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! 

10 comments:

Sioux Roslawski said...

Claudia--Happy birthday. It sounds like you had a semi-nice celebration. At least your traveling companions were pleasant. ;)

Elephant's Child said...

A very happy birthday to you.
And heres to better days.

Rebecca said...

I'm a bit bummed that I didn't get a card sent! It sounds like a lovely way to celebrate. It's been awhile since I read the FLW book that was all the rage awhile back...I wonder if OTHER of his homes have been moved? That fascinated me. I hope you DO plan and execute some more special days after the "worst is over". Post when you can, OK?

Mevely317 said...

Happy Birth-day dear Bookie .... happy birthday to youuuuuu!!!

What a HUGE (I adore using that word) disappointment at the tea room. Just hearing it's locale is a bit of a disconnect. I always envision cute little clapboard homes with chintz window treatments. Kudos for y'all making the best of a weird situation!

BECKY said...

Happy Birthday, again, Claudia! I'm so happy you received lots of birthday cards! Sorry about the dreary weather and not-so-great tea room experience. But, you did get to see the FLW house, and along came Biscuit! (I love that name for a doggie!)

Linda O'Connell said...

Happy birthday. So glad you got to take a trip.

Linda O'Connell said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Susan said...

Hello Claudia...Happy Birthday Month! You know I always celebrate my birthday for an entire month. ha! Try to do something nice for yourself every day that is left and there are still quite a few.

Wish you didn't have to endure the chemo but, if it's life-saving, it just has to be endured. Right? I will be thinking of you and praying for you on Tuesday and every day, actually.

Good to see your email, my dear friend. Hugs. Susan

Lisa Ricard Claro said...

Happy belated birthday, my friend. My day was on the 17th and we celebrated this past weekend with a trip to the mountains. I'm so glad you were able to take that trip. :) I will be thinking of you as you continue the chemo treatments. Sending hugs!

Lynn said...

Glad you were able to get out for a while... hope you're feeling okay. Sending love...