The Search Was On

Another beautiful day and a walk up to the village.

I always take a book with me.

This one is going to be a tear-jerker.
Written in first person plural voice.
Very intimate feel.
The Buddha in the Attic won the Pen Faulkner Award for Fiction.

I met these two cuties while reading my book.
They didn't want to hold still to have their portraits taken. 
Their parents were also visiting Starbucks and enjoying the lovely day.

Just a few steps from Starbucks is Susie Cakes.
Oh, my.
Their cakes are delicious.
But have to admit, I like them because they do this:

I really walked to the village to find the new mural.
I missed it completely on my last visit
and was determined to find it this time!

The Search was on and I found it!

Here's what the Village management said about the mural:

Rice Village District has launched another public art piece with the Space City mural by artist Michael C. Rodriguez. The mural, by the stairs on Amherst Street near SusieCakes and Shake Shack, shows a female astronaut with the Houston skyline in the background.

"Rodriguez has painted over 30 murals in Houston throughout the years including the Houston Zoo, and The Children's Museum," assistant general manager of Rice Village Donna Molho said in an announcement.

"We are thrilled to welcome his talent to Rice Village. His mural helps us to continue to expand the art scene on our property and give our customers a rich, cultural experience while they're shopping and dining on our property."

What a great way to spend a beautiful day.

Wishing YOU well, much joy and a beautiful day.

Willy Nilly Friday

Amaze Me Monday

Mosaic Monday

Keep in Touch

Share Your Cup Thursday

SaveSave

Steep Right Up!

The sun finally came out 

and I enjoyed the day by walking up to the Village.

A stop at the new Starbucks for a Green Tea.
Sitting outside with my book.
Wonderful!

The book, LADY COP MAKES TROUBLE by Amy Stewart
is the second book in the Kopp Sisters Novels.
GIRL WAITS WITH GUN was the first in the series
and I loved it. The books are based on the Kopp sisters'
real life adventures in New York in 1914.
Great covers, too!

Painted in Rice Village after Hurricane Harvey 
by street artist Gonzo247.
This hand embodies the resiliency of the Houston spirit
and even has a little Texas embedded in the center of the palm.

Speaking of tea (!),
I wanted to share my new tea cup.
A dear friend surprised me with this cup and spoon 
from Mud Pie.
"Steep Right Up" to spring!

"Steeping Up" to spring also means
it's time for college baseball!
This was opening night at Reckling Park.
I like to get to the ball park early!


That's my This and That for the last week. 
Wishing YOU well, much joy and sunny skies!

Willy Nilly Friday

Amaze Me Monday

Mosaic Monday

Tuesday Cup of Tea

Keep In Touch

SaveSave

What I Found On My Morning Walk!

I thought I'd take you along with me on my morning walk.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

The world good certainly use a little more Hope and Love.

Wishing YOU well and much joy! 

Willy Nilly Friday

Mosaic Monday

SaveSave

Did Someone Say Breakfast?

On one of the last low humidity days before summer takes hold,

I walked up to my village to have breakfast at the Black Walnut.

Such a nice walk, cool morning, listening to the birds, 

people out walking their dogs with smiles on their faces.

Good Morning!

The Pico Benedict -- delicious.
Having breakfast with my little Buddha reminds to take my time,
enjoy each bite, be thankful to everyone who made the breakfast possible.

*

Another cool morning took me to the zoo.

Did someone say breakfast?
One of the gorillas is happily munching away on his breakfast.
Love those greens!

And, the Black Bears know how to do breakfast right!
A big juicy bone while floating in the pond.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Mosaic Monday

Location, Location, Location

How many times have you heard location, location, location?

One of the best things about living where I do is definitely location.

Living near Rice University there's always plenty going on...

athletics, art, music, community education.

I'm also near the museums and Hermann Park.

There's lots of shopping and good eats in Rice Village.

The latest public art installation in Rice Village is an owl by California artist Nathan Mabry.

A blue origami-like aluminum owl, along with four smaller lifelike owls, 
are a nod to Rice University.

"While researching Rice Village, I became interested in the vibrant history of the neighborhood and proximity to Rice University. I find myself particularly engaged with the mascot of Rice University, the Owl," Mabry said in an announcement.

"It's a powerful symbol in both antiquity and contemporary life. My work has long explored the depiction of birds from all facets of art history."

The Owl weighs 868 pounds and took 8.3 hours to install.
It's a fun addition to the neighborhood.

*

Speaking of location.

I'm also near the Zoo.
The zoo always celebrates Spring with a Spring Fling for some of its members.
Usually it is a breakfast.
This year the zoo decided to make it Breakfast for Dinner and hold the event in the evening.
It was a beautiful night.
Breakfast was delicious -- with the best biscuits and gravy I've had in awhile!

I invited my next door neighbors and can say that a good time was had by all!
There was a hula hoop competition for the kids,
face painting, endless carousel rides and the children's zoo was open with
the petting zoo. 

And even the adults had fun watching the zebu.
He put on quite a show.
His keeper asked him to walk in a circle.
He did and he was given a treat.
Then he kept walking in a circle and back to his keeper --
"treat please"!
We were all laughing --
all except the Llama who seemed quite put out!

*

A good friend took me to lunch.
We went to one of our mutual favorite spots --
the Hobbit Cafe.
The Hobbit has been around since 1972 and for some time was the 
only spot to get good, fresh vegetarian food.
They have now added the "regular" food for those who just can't live without their burger.

I had the "slim" Gandalf.
(Believe it or not, there is a larger version of this sandwich.)
Their wheat bread is amazing.
Avocado, mushrooms and melted cheese.
You can pick your side - black beans for me.

My friend had the Fatty Lumpkin -- tuna salad, tomato, melted cheese
with carrots on the side.

They are knife and fork sandwiches -- 
no way I could get my mouth all the way around to take a bite. 

*

Last and not least for locations--
there is no place like home! 

Wishing you well, much joy and a "Hoppy" Easter!

Five on Friday

Willy Nilly Friday

Mosaic Monday

Monday Social

How To Meet Your Neighbors!

There's a lot going on in the neighborhood.

There was a birthday party.

It was a good way for us "oldsters"  to meet the young families 
living in the neighborhood.
And, it was FUN!








This is the "new" library for our neighborhood.
I walked by to see where it was located.
Found it without any problem.
And, I met some neighbors I did not know --
all of us out for an early walk (before it got too hot) 
and looking for the library.
Too cute and it's full of books.

The neighbor who made the little library 
made it from scraps being tossed out by another neighbor.
Teamwork! 
Recycling at its best.

When you meet your new neighbors,
invite them to walk into the village for a bit to eat.
Stop, and look at the new mural.





Still deciding if I like it.
Better than the brick wall, I guess!

Go to a child's birthday party,
walk around your neighborhood,
make a little library,
look at a new painting.

You might meet your neighbors and make a new friend!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Mosaic Monday

Make It Pretty Monday

Invasion

Invasion by Reindeer in my village.

New decorations for the holiday shopping season.








Fun! 

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

I'm joining:

Mosaic Monday

Unfortunately, Fall Didn't Last Very Long

The weekend brought a hint of things to come.
Lows in the high 60s and highs in the mid 80s.
Low humidity.
Perfect walking weather.
Off to my village I went and breakfast.

A Tex-Mex omelet.
A book.
And a little pocket Buddha.

The Buddha reminds me to slow down and be grateful.
Be grateful for the farmers who grew the corn and beans,
who raised the chickens for the eggs, the wheat for the bread,
the raspberries for the jam, who picked the leaves for tea, 
the chefs who prepared the food, the cashier who took my order,
the nice young man who clears the tables. 

You get the idea. 

Unfortunately, fall didn't last very long ... 
it only lasted two days,
but it was a hint of things to come!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

I'm joining A Spirit of Simplicity and Tuesday Afternoon and

Tea and Wine

We are having our first real fall weekend.

It won't last long.

By Monday the heat and humidity will be back!

To celebrate the nice weather, I walked up to my village this morning to check out

Rosinka, a wine and tea shop.

It is a small spot, very cozy.

When you walk in you see this:

I told the young lady I wasn't much interested in the wine,
but wanted to check out her teas.

She had made Tai Ping Green for tea tasting and offered me a cup.
Cute little cups.

Tai Ping Green is a pressed green tea.
It was a tad on the bitter side and I wondered if perhaps she had steeped it too long.




She had some pretty tea tins.
They have a small menu that looked tasty.

What really caught my eye was this wonderful cozy... straight from Russia.

They have regularly scheduled wine tastings and some special wine events.
I read some of the reviews on Rosinka and we all seem to say the same things ...
small, cozy, looks like something you'd find in Europe.

I may go back one day and try something off the menu, take a book, settle in and people watch!

I'm joining the lovely Judith for Mosaic Monday
and some tea parties:

Tea Time Tuesday

Teacup Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Share Your Cup Thursday

Wishing YOU well, much joy and a wonderful cup of tea!