pastel morning ……. crystal clear day

I woke to a pastel painting with the moon in the sky and the fog on the ground!

It was my day off, and I was headed to my favorite place…..

take the trip with me and see what I got.

As I leave my country surroundings, passing the farms, buffalo, horses and cattle… I finally get to town. Once in town the closest mall is another 30 minutes away and we must go over the lake.

Even though I travel over the lake each day to work, I go over a different part of the lake and the senior care center I work at is on the lake shore. But to head to the nearest mall we will take a quick jaunt on the freeway. Coming from California, traveling on the freeway to go anywhere is the norm ~ so when we first moved to the Dallas area and our realtor told us that the people in our community seldom go “over the lake” (as if they were going on a huge excursion)….. we laughed and laughed at the small town mentality. Well, three years later, going over the lake and leaving the community has become a “huge ordeal”. Who’s got the last laugh now? Hubby and I are such “creatures of habit”, as my sweet sister-in-law once told me! So, today, is “big ordeal” day!

Oh, but let me back up just a bit…..

On the way to the freeway, there are so many beautiful homes on the lake. Today, I wanted to share one of a hundred of my favorites. I love the contrast of the stone house with the metal roof and the up & down wrap around porches!!! Thought you might like it too!

And while stopped to capture the picture above, I couldn’t help but to look up! Always remember to look up!

Blue skies and pine cones!

Shades of red and sunshine!!

Nature never did betray the heart that loved her.

by William Wordsworth

Ok, back on track. I, so easily get off track while driving to town. So, across the lake we go…

whoa, this may be hard on the eyes at 60 miles an hour ~

Impressive. See how I focused on the car behind me in my side mirror? (To be honest, it was not intentional ~ cool shot ~ if I say so, myself)….. And I tell my son not to text and drive!!! Such a great example I set.

We made it. Over the lake and back on side streets. Phew!

And here we are………

This is a great outdoor mall with every store you can imagine. It is like a little village that you drive around in. Someday, not today, I will show you around. Summer is best ~ when all the flowers are in bloom.

And, what is my favorite store, you ask…….?

Barnes & Noble, of course. And it is not the first time it’s picture has been found on my blog!

And what was I here for?

PW’s cookbook!

and who was it for? ……..

My son’s girl! Favorite color purple.

Why did I buy her PW’s cookbook?

Well, when I first found PW, and started to read her love story, it captured my heart and I spent the next 8 hours reading each chapter until I finished. My hope was that “this Birthday Girl” above, would not only enjoy some “cowboy” recipes to learn to cook up, but would get caught up in the love story as well. Those of us who are familiar with PW, know that she is hysterically funny, a great cook, an accomplished photographer, and so much more ….who, on top of it all, adores her husband and loves her (in her words) 4 little punks!

In other words, she puts us all to shame and we keep going back for more!

She is an inspiration for all women. That is why I felt her story was a great gift for this young woman.

Have a beautiful week!

ox ~Cheryl