Walking Along the Colorado River

 While Storm Sandy and a Nor'easter were converging

along the Atlantic coastline

this beautiful Hunter's moon was rising over 

the Village where I live.

 And as millions of folks were coming to terms

with the devastation caused by these storms

the dogs (Gertie & Zack) and I 

were able to walk along the beautiful

Colorado River in downtown Bastrop...

 

 ...on a perfectly lovely autumn day.

The river was lazily running downstream

and was low enough in points that

I could see the bottom through

the clear water.

 An overlook gave me a great opportunity

to photograph the still and sparkling water.

 The walk curves along side the river 

for about a mile or so just below Main Street.

 

 The old bridge is now only for pedestrian traffic

and spans the river beside the newer bridge

for automobiles.

It is quite well trafficked as it goes

right to the main intersections of downtown Bastrop.

 

There were a few people out walking at midday.

This woman was quite diligent and put in 

about 3 or 4 miles back and forth on the walkway.

We only walked a couple of miles since

Zack is just getting the hang of these walks, 

Gertie was getting tired, and my knee was aching.

Oh well, things will get better.

Have a great day & I hope it is as beautiful

where you are as it is here!

Willow Manor Ball: Oh the Excitement!

Ah, the Bentley;

oh yes, my favorite means of transportation.

Yes, recently I said I may not be able to come

to the party with the handsome

Liam Neeson.

But I ask you:

 how could I resist those outstretched arms?

(All photos are from the Internet unless otherwise stated.)

Those gorgeous, blue Irish eyes

and the half-smile was just

begging me to allow him to escort me to the

Willow Manor Ball.

This year my dress is from the Ralph Lauren Collection.

It is a strapless gown with gold bodice. 

I love the simplicity of it and always love

the designs of dear Ralph.

The lovely Michelle Dockery is modeling my gown

 at The Met Ball last May 7th.

Before we left for the Willow Manor Ball

we had a pomegranate cocktail

on my patio.

After a delightful drive we arrived to see

others beginning to make their way to the party.

Of course everyone was very much interested

in drinks that graced the lovely bar.

Liam and I decided to live dangerously 

and take our Flaming Cocktails...

...outside on the patio. 

I especially love a house 

with an outdoor fireplace 

on the patio

and this one is elegant & intimate.

The lighting is just the right intensity

to put us in the mood 

to dance under the stars.

After dancing for hours...

Photo by me...

...we watched the moon rise through the pines.

The sky was a deep purple behind

the darkness of the trees.

Finally, it became chilly enough that even

Liam's arms could not warm me...

...so we retired to the beautifully decorated

fireplace inside the manor.

The candles on the fireplace amongst the pumpkins

as well as the apple candles on the tables

provided the perfect ambiance.

Soon it was time to sit down at the lovely
dinner table Tess decorated with such aplomb.

The dinner menu was as follows:

Plated First Course

• salad of Four Seasons Farm spinach, heirloom tomato, shaved baby fennel, and feta with champagne vinaigrette

Served Dinner:

• filet of beef tenderloin with bordelaise au jus and horseradish cream
• Maine crabmeat galette with avocado butter and pineapple/mango chutney
• saffron and garden tomato risotto cake
• Carding Brook Farm haricot vert with sesame dressing
• country style baguette and fig foccacia with olive oil for dipping

Served Dessert:

• lemon mousse napoleon with chocolate almond truffles
• freshly brewed coffees and tea

As all good things must come to an end
we toast the lovely Tess
with sparkling champagne cocktails
and vow to return again next year.

Photo by me

...and now that the sun is beginning to
break through the fog,
I shall leave you with this wonderful poem
by Philip Larkin.

We met at the end of the party
When all the drinks were dead
And all the glasses dirty:
'Have this that's left', you said.
We walked through the last of summer,
When shadows reached long and blue
Across days that were growing shorter:
You said: 'There's autumn too'.
Always for you what's finished
Is nothing, and what survives
Cancels the failed, the famished,
As if we had fresh lives
From that night on, and just living
Could make me unaware
Of June, and the guests arriving,
And I not there.

October Morning

Purple fall asters... my absolute favorite.

For those of you who read my previous post:

Zack is here to stay!
(Zack continues to be camera shy, have to work on that.)

...and Miss Kitty has come out from hiding!

Esperanza or Yellow Bell in full bloom.

Everywhere I go around home, Gertie goes.

She does not want to miss out on whatever I am doing.

Gertie

Gertie is taking a few minutes to smell the mint

while keeping me company as I photograph 

what is blooming in our back yard.

Wild Mexican Petunias

I am so-o-o bad at remember in the names of plants,

so if it isn't labeled it's because I've forgotten its name.

(Ellen has told me these are Wild Mexican Petunias, I love it.)

Beauty Berry Bush

Calla Lillis look better now than they have all summer... thanks to cooler temps.

Artemisia and various cacti

Before we left on our trip to GA & FL at the end of August

I severely pruned the artemisia.

Now it is coming on with a vengeance, I suppose

I need to prune the rest of it in the front yard

and maybe it will come back stronger & more lush, too.

The house on the right in the distance was newly
built by neighbors who were burned out in the
fires Labor Day of 2011.
We have three families who are rebuilding and returning
for this we are grateful.

Meet Zack...

This is Zack!

When the G-man & I returned from our Arkansas trip Tuesday night

I could barely wait until the next morning to pick up Gertie

at Best Friends Kennel.

When I arrived there on Wednesday morning one of the women was very sad

because she had just been received a call that one of 

their long-time customers died the evening before. 

The wife of the gentleman wanted to find a home for Zack.

I asked what kind of dog & was told a little black Schnauzer.

Zack came out and was happy to be out and about again.

He had been in the kennel off and on for about 4 or 5 months

because the gentleman would come home from the hospital

and then a few days later have to return, so back to the kennel Zack would go.

Gertie met Zack and they seemed to get along just fine

in the few minutes they were together.

After a quick call to the G-man to see if we could "try out" the dog,

the three of us, Gertie, Zack & Cheryl, were on our way home.

This little fellow is so smart and he absolutely loves the G-man

(well who wouldn't love him).

Zack has settled in just fine. When the G-man sits in his chair

Zack immediately jumps in his lap... he is a man's dog.

The only problem that has arisen is with Miss Kitty.

She is not happy at all & just doesn't want to be around the patio

where she usually likes to hang out.

I'm hoping that she will soon adjust... she did have a 

period of adjustment when Gertie & I came into their lives.

As some of you on Facebook know, I had a terrible night on Wednesday.
I couldn't stop thinking of all the reasons why we don't need another dog,
experiencing sadness for the loss of Zack's master,
and wondering how I can get Miss Kitty to accept a new family member.
Miss Kitty had such trauma because of the Labor Day fires in 2011
and she is just getting over it.
She's been so skittish of sounds of workers & big trucks in the neighborhood
and she has settled back in when I bring home a new animal.
Thursday morning and today dawned bright, beautiful & cool which
gave me a more upbeat perspective on all my concerns.

The funeral for the gentleman was at 2 PM today & the kennel owner
went to it and the woman immediately wanted to know if she'd
found a home for Zack.
Now she wants to give us his bed and favorite toys
and is so glad Zack has a wonderful new home.
It's difficult to find a home for an eight year old dog,
but I hope he will be happy here (I think he is)
and that he will have a good life.

You'll probably be reading more about Gertie & Zack in the months to come.

Photos may be a problem... he didn't like seeing the iPhone or the camera

pointed in his direction... I wonder what that is all about?

Scupture Garden at Crystal Bridges

"Yield", Aluminum by Roxy Paine, American born 1966 at entrance

As you can tell I have fallen in love with the town of Bentonville, Arkansas.

This is very unlike me who is usually drawn to the desert southwest,

but this town is exceptional.

"Love", fabrication date 1999 by Robert Indiana, American born 1928

 This is the museum that Alice built

in the town that Sam put on the map.

Now that may not be literally so, 

but it appears that way to me.

"Stella" (2009), Bronze, edition 10/30 by Andre Harvey, American born 1941

In just the short time we were there it seems that the Walton family...

the owners' of the Walmart empire...

has made this the vibrant town that it is.

"Shore Lunch" (1999), Bronze, edition 5/9 by Dan Ostermiller, American born 1956

The town square is a lovely, small square where people

gather to sit, play music, and attend the Farmers' Market.

On Saturday in the early evening we had supper

in a restaurant on the Square.

This Saturday was the town's homecoming weekend

and many, many of the young people, dressed to the 9s,

were in the Square having their photos taken by friends and parents.

"The Tortoise"

 "The Tortoise and the Hare" (2009), Silicon Bronze, by Nancy Schon born 1928

Before we left on Monday afternoon, the G-man and I walked

around the Crystal Bridges Sculpture Garden. 

It was a delightful morning for a stroll.

"The Hare"

Overlook at Crystal Bridges

As we walked the Crystal Bridges Art Trail 

we came to an overlook where one can sit and enjoy

the view of the museum.

While we were sitting there several people came by

for a respite from their walk & to enjoy the view.

Whoops???No info...

This was the last sculpture before we walked into the museum

to view the 20th and 21st Century Collection.

I took photos of some of the art from that period on Monday

and I had taken some photos of work from Early American

through the World War II era on Sunday.

I'm sure I shall be posting more about the town and 

surrounding area in the days to come... I am so pleased to have 

found this little gem of a town in Northwest Arkansas 

on my very first trip to the state.

The Architecture of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

Main entrance to museum with an aluminum tree sculpture overlooking the area

 Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is the vision of Alice Walton, daughter of Sam Walton the founder of Walmart and Sam's Club. The museum houses Alice Walton's collection of American art from Early American artists to Contemporary American artists.

Looking down on the main gallery

Part of the park area surrounding the museum

Looking toward the lobby & Restaurant Eleven

The "pool" between the bridges.

Alice's Purpose

Alice Walton learned about the history of America through art. She began collecting at an early age and this grew into her life's work. The exhibit covers American art from the early years of our country through contemporary times. Alice wanted to have a place where all people could come to see this incredible collection free of charge. 

Not only is it free to go to the museum, but it is free to walk the grounds and trails that surround the museum. The museum is open 11 to 6 daily except for Tuesday when it is closed. The grounds and trails are open daily from sunrise to sunset.

Detail of the roof interior

Eleven Restaurant

Another roof detail

Looking toward the auditorium from restaurant

Bridge to "The Light" exhibit

Looking inside out.

Everywhere "nature" is invading the museum

The library area at base of the ravine

Looking up the ravine

"Horse" just one of the beautiful sculptures

Looking across the pond to the restaurant

Moshe Safdie, the Architect

Moshe Safdie, the Architect of Crystal

2005 - 2011~The Building of Crystal Bridges

 The museum design is all about light and how it enhances the art. After years of contemplating and searching Alice learned about Moshe Safdie, an Israeli born architect who moved to Canada as a youngster.  is a world renown architect who designed the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Israel, the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, the Telfair Museum of Art in Savannah, GA, and now the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, AR.

Not your local Walmart store

The photos below are of the Museum Store. As you look at these photos you must realize that all of this is from the huge fortune of the Walton family... the family whose business went from Walton's 5 and 10 in Bentonville to the worldwide empire of Walmart and Sam's Clubs. The items in this "store" are not your typical items found in your local Walmart.

Inside the Museum Store

Woodwork & pottery by local artisans

Art literature

Beautiful lighting in the store

Photo "multiplied".