Conjunction Junction

May 26th found us at NASA Space and Rocket Center for an astronomy lecture and viewing. It was the ideal night to see a triple conjunction, the close alignment of three planets in the sky (some believe the Star of Bethlehem was an example of a very unique conjunction). On this past Sunday evening, it happened to be Venus, Mercury, and Jupiter. You could see it with the naked eye, but the Von Braun Astronomical Society was on hand with many sizes and types of telescopes to give us a close-up view, including several of Jupiter's moons.

But, more fascinating to us was Saturn! After the trio of planets set in the horizon, the astronomers turned their telescopes the opposite direction and honed in on Saturn. I had never seen that particular planet with a good quality ten inch telescope. It was amazing! There is no describing how crisp and clear the planet, its rings, and the moons were. It was a tiny miniature of every drawing or diagram or model I've ever seen. It was so adorable you just wanted to put the little thing in your pocket! After we enjoyed a turn or two, it was fun to stand back and watch other adults and kids catch their first glimpse of the magnified sight. There was real joy and amazement from tiny tots to elderly grandparents. What a treat for all ages!

San Antonio

Jeff had a professional conference in San Antonio earlier this month, so I tagged along. It was beautiful weather and a gorgeous setting right down on the Riverwalk, so I entertained myself during the days and we had fun together in the evenings.

If you've never been to San Antonio, there is so much to do! I went up in the Tour of the Americas (built for the World's Fair) for a bird's eye view of the city. Then down through the parks and walking trails around the Riverwalk. One day I took the bus out of downtown and toured the Japanese Tea Garden and the San Antonio Botanical Gardens.











We, of course, saw the Alamo. It was a very special few weeks for the museum and shrine, as the historic letter written by Commander Travis requesting volunteers and stating their intent to fight (and die, if necessary) was on display inside the church. It had not been on the premises since it was written and sent 177 years ago! It was a very big deal, and there were lines up to five hours long to get in to see it. We toured the plaza, barracks, and other Alamo sites and made plans to come back to see the church and the letter another day. It turned out we saw the letter on the morning of March 6th, the same day the Alamo fell to Santa Anna all those decades ago. What interesting timing!







Since the Spurs were in town, Jeff hoped to see a pro NBA game. Several of his colleagues from the conference were interested, too, so Jeff arranged tickets for all of us to the Wednesday night game against the Chicago Bulls. It was aired on ESPN, so you might have seen us!







Dinners, a riverboat tour, and other enjoyable activities rounded out the week. All in all, a very fulfilling and fun time in Texas.

Hidden Gardens

On Sunday, Jeff and I enjoyed an afternoon in Old Town historic district viewing the hidden gardens tour. It is put on by the residents of the district to showcase their private yards and gardens as a fundraising benefit, and the event draws quite a crowd each year. We got some great ideas, talked to some friendly homeowners, bumped into a couple of friends, tasted the array of homemade refreshments, and generally spent a leisurely few hours relaxing.

So Good it's Wicked!

Jeff took me to see Wicked in Birmingham! I've been wanting to see the hit Broadway musical for some time now. The catchy musical numbers are out there ("Defying Gravity", "For Good", etc.), and I also heard great reviews from the Malones. The intricate story line is the parallel tale of the Wizard of Oz, focused on the misunderstood and maligned Elpheba (who becomes known, of course, as the "Wicked Witch of the West"), and the much adored Glinda (the "Good Witch").

Jeff tolerably enjoys movie musicals (Rogers and Hammerstein and the like), but he really does like musical theater. We saw Les Miserables a few years ago, and he still hums some of the numbers. We didn't know much about Wicked (other than the little I mentioned above), so he was very pleasantly surprised by the humor, quality songs and singing, and overall message of the show.

Because it was a Tuesday evening show down in B'ham, Jeff worked from home so we could be flexible and leave early. I made a light frittata for lunch and we ate outside in the sunshine.

Late afternoon, we drove down to Cullman to visit an antique store I've been wanting to see, and then had an early dinner at a (regionally ;-) famous steak restaurant we've been hearing about. The location on the fourth floor of an old bank building afforded a view of the downtown skyline (such as it is in a small Southern city).

We ordered the Chateaubriand for two and enjoyed our meal very much. Jeff was quite enthusiastic about the steak in particular, but it came with rice, baked potato, roasted tomato, mushrooms, asparagus, pearl onions, salad, and a dinner roll. Followed up by their famous sweet orange rolls, of course, as an after dinner sweet.

An easy drive down the interstate found us at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex. Parking was a little tricky, but after I stood in a parking place to hold it until Jeff got the car through the narrow, convoluted, and uni-directional lot, we had ourselves a decently close, free space. We walked a few short blocks and happened to enter on exactly the correct side and entrance, which made finding our seats in the orchestra section painless.

The iPhone doesn't capture it well (and the house lights were still up), but we had a great view of the stage and thoroughly enjoyed the show!

Weekend Warriors

We enjoyed our productive long weekend this past Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Saturday evening was a game night at church, and I learned how to play Mexican train dominoes. I have no idea what makes it a "south of the border" domino version, but it was fun.

We had overnight guests and enjoyed a leisurely breakfast Sunday morning. After their departure, we jumped back into kitchen reno mode and got the faucet installed and started assembling the overhead light fixture. It was such a pretty, sunny day that we took several breaks and picked up pecans. Yes, they are still falling. After every storm, Jeff says surely this is the last of them, but then we find more!

Five bags full of whole pecans!

Also out enjoying the sun were all the pasture animals. We heard Sam the donkey braying and went to give him a little attention (and some carrots). He was nosy about the iPhone, and then wanted to smile for the camera!

Monday saw the kitchen chandelier hung, as well as a date to the plumbing warehouse followed by dinner at Panera Bread. Dance class capped off the evening with two hours of bolero. For a slow, romantic, Latin dance, it sure is a workout for the legs and feet. We fell into bed full, happy, and tired, but ready to face the (admittedly short) week ahead!

Aural Treat

Though we watch very few films, Jeff and I love film scores! Last Saturday evening, we enjoyed a night out at the Huntsville Symphony, treated to an evening of all our favorite cinematic musical composers like John Williams and Ennio Morricone. I was so thrilled to hear Gabriel's Oboe from The Mission in person. It is one of my all-time favorite pieces! Jeff really enjoyed the theme from Jurassic Park and the three movements from Star Wars.

We are the A's

I know next to nothing about baseball. I probably enjoy watching it even less. But I can now say I identify with and appreciate the Oakland A's.

Jeff and I knew we would be a little burned out on remodeling at this point, so we scheduled in a movie date. We go to the theater only two or three times a year, but I had been wanting to take him to Moneyball; it's playing at our (very nice) dollar theater, so we went to the show last night.

The basic premise, based on a true story, is that the general manager of the poorest baseball team in the league revolutionizes the way players are picked and utilized. Using statistics, they make the most of every player and manage to win more consecutive games than any team in history. Essentially, they win games for only two hundred-something thousand dollars per game while the big flashy teams are spending over a million per win! Of course, they don't have the big name players or the fancy stadium, but they accomplish nearly the same results on a much smaller budget.

This concept I love. I think we as a couple strive to do the same thing: live below our means and make smart, thrifty choices while netting the same outcome as the big spenders. It's mostly undeserved blessings, but also some hard work and conscious decisions that yield the fruits. I'm grateful for the opportunity to know and practice this way of life!

Note: I'm not necessarily advocating this particular picture. We liked it, but some might find the movie a touch slow, and it did have a few coarse words. But it was interesting and did not require a large emotional or intellectual investment to follow and enjoy, which was exactly what we needed! I would be a terrible movie critic as I hate to be responsible for another party choosing or not choosing to spend two plus hours of their lives in the dark at my mercurial recommendation!

Carload of Countertops

We went down to the laminate fabricator to pick up our kitchen countertops yesterday. I found a great wholesale place that deals with big box stores all over the region, but also does custom orders with just about any detail, finish, size, etc.

In this kitchen, the counters are not the star of the show asthetically, so I chose a simple pattern that looks very much like soapstone. I did a premium finish, upgraded edge profile, and flat deck (no backsplash so we can do a custom one), all for $15 a linear foot! That is a great price when most cheap stones start at $25-30 per square foot. I'm just not a granite girl, and since marble and soapstone aren't in the budget, I love me some nice laminate!

The counters (stacked backward, so it's a little
hard to appreciate their subtle beauty!)

Since we were in town, we stopped by the architectural salvage place I posted about before here. We were looking for a wooden lower sash to replace the one damaged window in the whole farmhouse, but we found something else instead. More countertops! Just a piece of one, actually, but it's just enough butcherblock to do the island top. I have been planning to buy a piece for around $100, but I got this remnant for $25 (and it's narrow strip maple and oak, which is much better wood than the original product I sourced). What a day for counters!

The unfinished butcherblock (sitting on top of my
next project, the dining room table)

A belated celebration

Since we had such a hectic summer, we didn't really get to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. Well, I thought we had celebrated it, but not in the style Jeff had secretly planned. He surprised me with a trip to western North Carolina to stay at a 1920's inn and a trip to the nearby historic Biltmore House!

We left Friday and enjoyed a very scenic trip through the mountains into South Carolina where we attended church services and stayed two nights. It was nice to catch up with old acquaintances and make new friends. We ate dinner at a Teppanyaki style Japanese steakhouse where they cook right at your table with big flames and the whole nine yards!

Our personal chef preparing the onions

Sunday morning we began our drive north and west to the Asheville area. We stopped at the famous North Carolina apple festival in Hendersonville which has been going on for over 60 years. We enjoyed fresh apples from local growers, tasty treats, street performers, and live entertainment from a nationally ranked dance troup.

Oh, how tasty the Honey Crisp were!

A living statue

A poodle-skirted tap ensemble

Since rain was in the forecast for Monday, we toured the Biltmore Estate gardens and barn area that afternoon and evening. What gorgeous grounds! Even as a lover of old houses and historical architecture, I have often wondered what the fuss over Biltmore was about. Now I know! It is absolutely breathtaking. The remaining 8,000 acres (of the original 18,000) are just amazing. And to think it was crafted from rather overworked open farm fields is even more astounding. Vanderbilt certainly knew how to hire the best men for the job!

A view of the conservatory across the walled gardens

In the Italian Garden

Monday was indeed raining, so it was perfect for spending the day in the enormous house. At 175,000 square feet, it took the better part of the morning to tour. Pictures are not allowed inside, but it rivaled the best castles and palaces we have seen in Europe.

Just a corner of the Biltmore

One of the many fine views from the house

The afternoon involved a tasting and tour of the on-site winery, converted from the very success dairy barn operation. Biltmore Estates was (and continues to be) self-sustaining, which is rather impressive in this day and age. We also saw a temporary exhibit of Tiffany Studio stained glass lamps in the exhibit hall on the grounds, which we loved. The artistry and intricacy were breathtaking, particularly the pieces that took their inspiration from nature. Jeff was particularly fond of the sculpted bronze lamp bases showcasing the fragile shades (being the metallurgist that he is)!

The Biltmore Logo on a wooden barrel

An elegant dinner at the French restaurant capped the long weekend. The rain (at a golf and spa resort) meant very few guests, so we practically had the place to ourselves. Attentive service and fine food marked the occasion.

Our accommodations and site of the restaurant

On the drive home today, we stopped by McKay's Used Books. It's a small chain of huge used bookstores. Jeff had visited the Knoxville location previously, but I had never been in. It was wonderful! I have never seen such a huge room of books (and videos, DVDs, CDs, records, etc). And it was quite busy! It was nice to see so many people still buying, browsing, and reading books. We purchased a small stack of music CDs and a few books to add to our library on landscaping and old house remodeling. What a fitting end to our Labor Day weekend!

Books, books, and more books

Delight in every bite!

Jeff took me on a date yesterday evening. We had purchased a Living Social coupon deal to a little Mediterranean/Italian place a few months back, and it was nearing expiration. So we spiced up a mundane Tuesday with dinner followed by ballroom dancing.

The food was fantastic! This place is a bit out of the way from home, but not too far from Jeff's office. I had the grilled sea trout and Jeff enjoyed the lamb. It was a very elegant presentation, but, sadly, you won't get to see that part. I am not much of a photographer and didn't even think about taking a photo until it was too late. Instead, here is a much rarer sight than an elegant presentation of fish set before yours truly:

A completely empty plate! I could have licked it clean. I can't think of the last time I left a restaurant without a take-home box. We really enjoy these elegant restaurants that prize quality over quantity. As Jeff says, he would rather leave an eatery wanting more as opposed to wishing for less. This was the perfect amount for the entree (allowing me to indulge in the rustic bread served with olive oil beforehand without feeling guilty about spoiling my dinner). We were free to savor every morsel and not be too weighted down to samba, rumba, waltz, and swing our way through the remainder of the evening.

Double Date

We had a lovely weekend with two dates in two days! Saturday evening, Jeff took me the symphony for the last pops concert of the season. It featured two soloist and a choir performing music from Broadway, musicals, filmscores and Disney movies. The female vocalist was the woman who performed the original Ariel in The Little Mermaid! That is probably the first movie I remember seeing in the theater. I was about 9 or 10 and my mom took my sister and me to The Little Mermaid while my dad took my two older brothers to a Star Trek movie (I think that's what it was; some sort of sci-fi anyway).

Jeff and I had great balcony seats for the performance, but we also had the trifecta of concert difficulties; loud talkers behind, tall people in front, and a woman with overwhelming perfume beside! At the intermission, Jeff moved us to some empty seats that had an even better view than the ones we had paid more for, and we were able to thoroughly the enjoy the remainder of the concert in perfect comfort.

Sunday evening, we went to dinner followed by the UAH semi-finals basketball game. It might not sound like much, but the UAH team is ranked 7th in the nation for Division II basketball. That's pretty impressive for a bunch of short, white engineers. Okay, they don't all fit all three of those categories, but I think every one of them fits at least one! It was a very exciting game with UAH finally winning by 3 in overtime. We're off to the final game of the regionals tonight to see if they can hold off Stillman!

The win!

The first time we met (again)

...or, A second chance to make a first impression!

While snuggled up Friday night, Jeff pointed out that Saturday, February 19th is the 11th anniversary of our first meeting. Well, it's actually the date I remember meeting him (and I wouldn't even know the date if it weren't for Jeff recalling it). We had apparently met briefly over two years earlier in a group outing, but I have no recollection of it. Our meeting that is, not the activity. I can remember just about everyone else there and the events of the day, but not meeting Jeff! He assures me he was there and that we met, so it certainly wasn't a case of "love at first sight" (or infatuation at first sight, as the case usually is). Good thing God gave us a second chance a little later on.

A date oh so many years ago!

Superbowl!

Jeff and I enjoyed the Superbowl at a friend's house, after subtly hinting a few weeks prior that she might like to host us (given how infrequently we watch TV, we only have a small model and old rabbit-ear antenna)! The food was tasty, the companionship very enjoyable, the commercials quite entertaining, and the football surprisingly tolerable. All in all, something for everyone!

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(Jeff took the group photo, then proceeded to
take a self-portrait so I could include him!)