A Jazzy Hodgepodge

It is good to be back on the Hodgepodge this week.

Click HERE to see what the other bloggers have to say.

 

1. April is National Jazz Appreciation Month. Are you a fan? If so what's a favorite you'd recommend to someone new to jazz listening?

I occasionally listen to soft jazz but it is not my favorite.

2. Mandolin, ukulele, harp, accordion or banjo...which would you be most interested in learning to play? Or do you already play one of the instruments listed?

I always wanted to learn to play the harp, but never did.  Don't care about playing any of the others.

3. Do you judge a book by it's cover? Elaborate. You may answer in either/both the literal or figurative sense of the word.

Yes, both figuratively and literally.  First impressions are powerful.  It is said that it takes a mere two seconds to make an in-depth and long-lasting impression about a person.  I also judge a literal book by it's cover before reading about it.  So, unfortunately, we DO judge a book/person by its cover.  Our brains just happen to work that way - it forms an overall impression that is sometimes difficult to alter.

4. According to a recent study the ten most nutritious foods are-almonds, cherimoya (supposed to taste like a cross between a pineapple/banana), ocean perch, flatfish (such as flounder and halibut), chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, swiss chard, pork fat (shocking! but I don't think they mean bacon), beet greens, and red snapper. Are any of these foods a regular part of your diet? Any you've never ever tasted? Which would you be most inclined to add to your diet?

Actually, there are several I have never tasted, such as cherimoya (but I think I would like to), swiss chard and pork fat.  The only thing on the list that would be a regular part of our diet would be the seafood.  I do eat slivered/sliced almonds in cereals but don't eat them on a regular bases because of the fat content.  This list is shocking in a way, because there are so many more healthy foods then these.

5. Besides a major holiday what is the most recent thing you've celebrated with your people? Tell us how.

And, who are my people?  If you are talking about family, then it would have been when we watched our youngest granddaughter in her performance of Sound of Music a few weeks ago.  We celebrated being together to support our budding actress and adorable grand girl.

If it's friends, then it would have been Easter Sunday when we had a couple friend over for lunch after church.  We celebrated the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Speaking of Grandchildren, I think it's time for a picture catch-up.

I'll start with the Dallas Grands

Chandler celebrated her 25th birthday this past Sunday.  She is loving her teaching job and she and Brad are looking forward to traveling across Italy in June.  They have been to some amazing places since getting married 3 years ago.

Cassidy, our adventurous world traveler, made a solo trip to D. C. last weekend.  She is so brave, and scares me to death.  She is enjoying her work with a fashion blogger in Dallas.

Emily is working and attending Cosmetology school in Fayetteville, AR.  She is the high-energy one in the family and as you can tell by this smile, also full of life.

Ava Grace, 11 is busy with singing and acting classes as well as several sports.  She will have a lead role in the Prestonwood Children's Music program in a couple weeks.  She is a very busy and social 5th grader.

Now for our Indiana Grands. 

Jackson has an internship job lined up for the summer in his field of Supply Chain and Business Management before returning to WMU for his final semester and another season of Rugby in the fall.  Here he is with his adorable girl friend, McKenna for an outing in Chicago.

These two beauties sent me this picture this past Sunday on their way to see "Phantom of the Opera" with their parents at the Morris Theater in South Bend, IN.
Mary-Elizabeth, on left, is a high school junior and spending every available hour studying.
Savannah will complete her first year at Trine University in a few weeks and will begin  rigorous training for another year of soccer.

As for their parents,

They are all staying busy keeping up with their offspring.

Christy & Chuck

John & Michelle

And that is the bunch and we could not be more proud of every one of them.

MAKING A STATEMENT AD TOUR

Have you been inside Architectural Digest lately?

Then let me take you.

The April 2018 issue cover is titled 

"Making a Statement."

  

From the front cover to the back, this issue doesn't disappoint.  It is all about making a statement.

Page 34

There is an interesting story behind this chair design.

Back in the early 1930's, a Dutch department store asked architect Gerrit Rietveld to do something unprecedented and that was to design a chair for mass production.

His design was a Z-shaped chair made from four slices of wood.  In his own words, Gerrit described them this way, "It is not a chair but a designer's joke!"

Little did he know that some 80 years later, his practical joke would be sought after and selling well into the thousands of dollars.

Are you familiar with Zedd?

I had never heard of this scruffy, baby-faced multi-millionaire celebrity.  But, it appears he is a Grammy-winning music producer and songwriter whose real name is Anton Zaslavski, a.k.a. Zedd.

Zedd says, “I saw an ad for this house, which was way too expensive, but I asked if I could look at it for inspiration—like, if I wanted to build my own house. I drove down the gate of the house and my brain went immediately to: This is something Steve Jobs would have enjoyed.” 

“I walked in here and it was so perfect.” 

 Zedd gladly gives us a tour of his 9,400-square-foot home—which he decorated himself.

Blending Baroque and Modern in a 16th Century Maltese palace!

Page 138

When the United Kingdom’s future prime minister Benjamin Disraeli visited Valletta, Malta’s capital, in 1830, he described it as “a city of palaces built by gentlemen for gentlemen.” And it is one of these palaces that Francis Sultana bought 12 years ago to create his own Maltese sanctuary.

Sultana is an AD designer and recently appointed as "Ambassador of Culture" to Malta.

Now this is a terrace with a view!

Manhattan Wall Statement

Rent a Frank Lloyd Wright House?

Yes, you can and I would give my right arm to do so.  Well, maybe not that drastic a desire, but I have had a fascination for all things Frank Lloyd Wright since I did an independent study of him and his works in 9th grade.

This is the Cornwell House in Waimea, Hawaii and can be rented beginning at $800 a night and can be found on the VRBO site HERE

Or, I am thinking this one may be closer for me to try.

This is the Dr. Richard Davis house in Marion, IN, just a mere 103 miles south of where our son lives.

Dr. Richard Davis met Wright when he assisted on the architect’s gallbladder surgery at the Mayo Clinic in 1950. The current owner is Matthew Harris, who has owned the home for 20 years and has restored the property following Wright’s design principles.  It starts at $400 a night and can be rented from This Site..

I hope you have enjoyed this quick but fun tour of Architectural Digest April 2018.

Stars Were Born Today at The Oaks

Future Stars are we!

That is no doubt a huge fabrication of my imagination.

Dick and I were asked to help a friend who was responsible for the filming for future advertisements for a retirement facility near our house.

The Oaks of Louisiana

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Life at The Oaks focuses on living well, living happily and living life to its fullest.

On this beautiful 312-acre campus you’ll find the setting for a healthy, active adult lifestyle with several options for residential living.

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Our modeling job was simply to walk around on the gorgeous walking trail that circles this lovely pond.  Just being able to enjoy the flowers and the sounds of the many fountains was a real treat for us.

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The chapel is the focal point and heart of the campus.

The most imposing structure is The Tower.  This is the largest of the independent living facilities.  It is gorgeous with spacious apartments and too may amenities to even mention here.

This lovely lady had the most beautiful flower beds outside her Garden Apartment.  These are the second option for independent living.

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The other facilities are for Assisted Living

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 and

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Total Care/Rehab

Every area has beautiful views that provide a sense of peace and security for the residents.

It was so much fun doing this today with these lovely ladies.  On the left is our friend Terri who set all this up and next to her is her mother and her friend.  Delightful ladies for sure.

We were being filmed from across one of the little ponds as we enjoyed a nice lady's swing and patio.

It will be interesting to see how they are able to use all the footage they shot today.  And, I'm hoping there aren't any close-up shots of our backside.

I'll keep you updated.

Phase IV Completed!

I am joining with the bloggers who are sharing on

Celebrate Your Story! #122

Click on the link above and see what others are celebrating today.

Today I am celebrating the completion of our screened in back porch!  The final phase of our back yard.

We moved into our Garden Home in 2007 and this was the back yard view a year later.

Phase I!

I loved sitting outside but in the south, outdoor living is very short.  We got a mosquito net which helped with the bugs a little bit but did nothing for the heat.

Phase II!

So, about four years ago we enclosed this area.  This sun room connected the master bedroom on one end with the side entry on the other.

This is where I spent most of my time.  It immediately became my favorite room in the house.

 From here I can enjoy the outdoors in complete comfort.

However, as you can tell, all the morning sunlight poured into the sun room, which we loved, but it reeked havoc on the exposed door, and elevated the electric bill.  Plus the wall eliminated the outdoor living that we had enjoyed.

Phase III!

We decided to add a sturdy, insulated cover over the entry and create a nice place to sit outside.  Back to the initial reason for enclosing the patio in the first place.  LOUISIANA MOSQUITOES! 

Phase IV!

We decided that since we had invested so much into the back porch, it made no sense to not be able to enjoy it.  So, a couple weeks ago we had it screened in.  Now, I can enjoy both the comfort of an air conditioned and heated room with a view AND an outdoor room free of the bugs when the heat isn't intensive.  The best of both worlds!

My view from the sunroom

This was one of the first paintings I did and I thought the colors were perfect for this room.

My orchid even seems to love it out here.

This is my little nest where I can enjoy the birds and flowers and read even at night while listening to music.

And this was one of the best purchases I made.  I love my big poofy ottoman.

This used to hang outside, so I repainted it and Dick hung it inside for me.  I have a pot of succulents in it.

The actual patio is now much reduced, but it seems to be all we need.

My little herb pot and cherry tomato plant is close to the door and can be enjoyed from inside as well.

Our first almost ripe baby!

 

And that completes our building projects for this house as there is no where else to expand.