It's The Month To Give Thanks

November is the month we give thanks.

Today I'm going to give thanks for the new restaurant just across the street!

Once, a restaurant named FRED'S was located in the space.

FRED'S was in this location long before we moved into our house.
It was a neighborhood hang out.

They served Italian food.

Then Fred died, his family took over for awhile,
but ended up selling to folks who

 didn't pay their rent and the space went empty.

It's now ECLAIR PARIS, FRENCH BISTRO AND PATISSERE.
They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The interior is very different from the past.

Light and Bright.

So far, I've only been there for breakfast and 

the Eggs Benedict are yummy!

I met a friend for breakfast and she tried the Avocado Toast.
Another vote for YUMMY!

Then there are the pastries!
Oh, my! 

I have tried the Chocolate Croissant and the apricot tart.
YUM!

I'm going to have to watch how many times I visit ECLAIR.
Too many times and I might not be able to fit through the door!

I've also noticed that the employees are recognizing me.
They are telling me what their favorite menu items are.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Share Your Cup Thursday

Willy Nilly Friday

Mosaic Monday

SaveSave

Potpourri

Looking out my window this morning,

it is cloudy and the wind is blowing.

A cold front is on the way.

At least, what qualifies as a cold front for us! 
We might even get some much needed rain.

*

This week I took a dear friend to lunch to celebrate her birthday.

We went to one of Houston's top restaurants,

Helen Greek Food and Wine.

It gives an upscale name to "hole in the wall".

Walking down the street, if you blink at the wrong time,

you will miss it! 

 

A warm, intimate setting with it's narrow brick clad rooms.

An award winning all Greek Wine selection.

Lets get to the food!
 We shared the citrus and fennel salad (their winter salad).
Fennel, orange, grapefruit, blood orange, red onions, calamata olives, feta.
Delicious!





And, the Green 'n Cheese pie.
Phyllo, four different greens and three different Greek cheeses.
 YUM!




Helen Greek Food and Wine is an easy walk from my house.
I'll be going back ... soon!
There is nothing else like it in town. 

*

For me, the holiday season begins when the Houston Zoo 
has the members opening for Zoo Lights.

The weather was perfect.
The kettle korn and gingerbread cookies were pretty wonderful, too!  

 

A brief look at the magic forest.

Wishing You well and much joy!



Willy Nilly Friday

Mosaic Monday

SaveSave

More Art In The Park

More Art In The Park 

Celebrating the Centennial of Hermann Park.

Wind Waves, made in 2009, is by Mexican artist, Yvonne Domenge (1946).

She was on hand to supervise its placement near the Museum of Natural Science.

From a distance, this Ferrari red orb looks as if it is floating in air.

Wind Waves is thirteen feet in diameter and weighs close to 6 tons.

Demenge draws on organic curvilinear forms for her sculptures.

Wishing YOU well and much joy.

A big thank you to the Our World Hosts.

Meet Julia

I met Julia Longwing last week at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Dryas iulia commonly called the Julia Butterfly, Julia Heliconian, The Flame, or Flambeau, is a species of brush-footed butterfly. The sole representative of its genus Dryas, it is native from Brazil to southern Texas and Florida, and in summer can sometimes be found as far north as eastern Nebraska. Over 15 subspecies have been described.

Its wingspan ranges from 82 to 92 mm, and it is colored orange (brighter in male specimens) with black markings; this species is somewhat unpalatable to birds.

This butterfly is a fast flier and frequents clearings, paths, and margins of forests and woodlands. It feeds on the nectar of flowers, such as lantanas (Lantana) and Shepherd's-needle (Scandix pecten-veneris). Its caterpillar feeds on leaves of passion vines including Passiflora affinis and Yellow Passionflower (P. lutea) in Texas.

The species is popular in butterfly houses because it is long-lived and active throughout the day.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Thank you to Eileen for Saturday Critters.

Thanks, Misty!

My World: Hermann Park Centennial

Hermann Park is undergoing a transformation.

A giant maze constructed from saplings can be seen sprouting out of the ground

near the Japanese Garden. Constructed with over 1000 volunteer hours, it is the first of nine works of art that will grace Hermann Park as part of the park's centennial celebration.The maze was designed and created by artist, Patrick Dougherty.

Fun!  

I'd like to thank the wonderful hosts of My World.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Good Morning!

 This is what Autumn looks like in Houston!

Japanese Garden, Hermann Park, Houston

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.

~Lao Tzu

Skyline

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Nature Never Goes Out of Style

Last Friday I went to Hermann Park.
It was a cool morning and I got there early so that I could find a good parking place.
I also had the Japanese Garden to myself along with the birds and the squirrels.
An early celebration of Earth Day.

The garden is so lush this time of year.

So different from my last visit.

See the new little pine tree?

Lots of work going on because of the drought.

So quiet.

Hard to believe that the Texas Medical Center is just a hop over the fence.

I missed the azaleas blooming, but the iris were lovely.

A real pop of color.

The crape myrtles will be next.

Peaceful

I took over 200 images on Friday.

The ones you see here are straight out of the camera.

You'll be seeing more.

Zoo photos to come!

Would you believe I'm listening to Christmas music?

I'm trying to make my way through all of the CD collection and this one just happened to be on top.

Instrumental of *old* music.

It's a keeper.

Thank you to Mary for hosting Mosaic Monday.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Good Morning!

Healing After Loss

Reflections: Japanese Garden, Hermann Park

"Grief turns out to be a place none of us know until we reach it."

~Joan Didion: THE YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING

Cocktails With An Owl

The Houston Zoo had a cocktail party to celebrate the reopening of the

Sea Lion exhibit -- a new pool, covered areas for the public, new paint job.

When the zoo celebrates they bring out their Ambassadors and one of them is

this beautiful, female Great Horned Owl.

It was a fun evening.

Thank you to Misty for hosting Camera Critters each week.

Wishing YOU well and a joy filled weekend.

Living

“It is not uncommon for people to spend their whole life waiting to start living.” 

~Eckhart Tolle

My World: Sweet Paris

I promised myself if the *cool* front arrived and the lows were in the 60s,

I would walk into the village on Sunday and have crepes for breakfast.

And I did!

This is Sweet Paris

a creperie and cafe where

they are reviving the art of eating crepes

and no passport is needed!

I arrived early so I could take pictures without bothering other patrons.

By the time I was finished with my crepe and had read a chapter in my book,

Sweet Paris was filling up quickly.

It is very bright and cheerful with French music playing in the background.

They call the decor French Industrial Chic.

Love the chandeliers.

The mirror makes this small cafe feel larger.

This is THE FEAST:

two eggs scrambled, feta, ricotta and mozzarella, tomatoes, spinach, and mushrooms.

It was delicious.

They have breakfast crepes, sweet crepes and savory crepes.

If I have a quibble -- they don't serve hot tea. 

Sweet Paris makes a promise:

For each crepe purchased, they will donate one school meal to a child in need through the U.N. World Food Programme USA.

"Eat Here, Feed There"

Thank you to the hosts of OUR WORLD.

Wishing you well and much joy!

Around The Town

A Look Around Houston

1. Mushroom, 2. Glassell School of Art, 3. Rolled Steel, 4. Train in Hermann Park

1. Zoo Entrance, 2. Surls Sculpture, 3. Lee & Joe Jamail Plaza, 4. Sculpture in the Garden

Thank you to Mary for hosting Mosaic Monday

and the hosts of Our World.