Lakefront Blogger

Barn swallows are wonderful birds. Since our first summer here, these little things have provided us with so much entertainment and joy and, yes, some tears (when the snake got the whole nest of babies, when the first "jumper" died on the concrete before we discovered him, when a pair of them banged into a window during the spring "chase" - where they swoop after one another at top speed as part of the mating ritual - and one was instantly dead while the other was stunned and I held her and talked to her for a couple of hours until she was able to fly again).

To us now, the return of the swallows marks the beginning of the outdoor season. We've had some remarkable triumphs, too. When I rescued the fallen baby last year and fed him cat food every ten to fifteen minutes for a day and a half, the year we had the late freeze, after the eggs were laid, but they still hatched anyway, the baby who was reluctant to leave the nest and when he did, ended up hanging upside down by his feet, but got turned over and learned to fly. And of course, the six or seven rescues of this year's "wild child" when he would get rambunctious and tumble off the ledge onto the blanket and I'd have to go out and scoop him up and put him back where he belonged.

This morning, I woke up to a cacophony of bird calls. I had checked on them around 5:45 (as I've gotten in the habit of doing since the falling began) and they were fine. I went back to sleep, and around 7:30 I heard the adult birds making a huge noise; it was their “something’s wrong” cries, so I got up and hurried upstairs and just as I got to the top of the stairs, I could see them (about ten or twelve of them) dive bombing something on the bedroom roof next to the balcony. I saw a blur of movement from something bigger than them and then by the time I got into the office to the door leading out to the balcony, it was gone. I think it was a squirrel but not sure – it could have been a cat or even a hawk but the nature of the movement just made me think "squirrel."

Anyway, the adults continued to circle and give their alarm cries, and flutter up to the nest and around and around. But there was no movement from the nest – usually when the adult birds fly in, the babies raise their heads up and start cheeping for food. It was deathly silent, but I could see that there were babies in the nest. After a while, I couldn’t stand it so I went out there and climbed up on the table to look more closely. The babies were all piled on top of each other, perfectly still, eyes open. I waved my hand in front of them – no movement at all.  

I woke Tom up and told him I thought the babies were dead. He came upstairs and we watched for half an hour or so, as the adult birds continued to circle and cry like they did when the snake took the babies last year. We were both just sick about losing another brood so close to fledging time, especially after all we’ve gone through, watching for the  little “wild child” to jump out and picking him up and put him back in the nest every time. We discussed whether to try to get them out and bury them, but decided to wait a while for the adults to calm down.

Well, a few minutes later I was going to the bedroom and I glanced up through the top windows at the nest and I saw something moving. I called to Tom – “hey, one of them is alive.”  He didn’t believe me at first, but then he saw it too. Then we saw two little mouths open up. What a relief that they weren’t all gone. After a few minutes, we saw two more heads pop up. We figured the squirrel or cat or whatever it was had gotten one and scared the others. But then, a few minutes ago, Tom called me and told me he saw all five babies.

So apparently all those dive-bombing birds scared the predator away before it could get anyone – and it seems the babies are smart enough to play dead when something comes up there. They certainly fooled me. Come to think of it, a few times when I’ve climbed up to put the fallen one back in the nest, the others would be “asleep.” I guess it’s a tactic of theirs, although I can’t find anything about it on the web. Maybe I have the first documented case (well, sort of documented).

Anyway, all’s well that ends well and all our babies are alive and well. Not sure whether Darwin was thwarted or proven right in this case. I guess the fittest DID survive.

Here's a picture of the daddy bird that I love, as it looks to me as if he's laughing with joy. It was taken a few days ago, but it expresses exactly how I felt this morning when we realized they were all alive.

Daddy bird, laughing

 
deb@shinder.net

This is going to be a long post. If you like reading my bird stories, sit back and enjoy. We've had more adventures than usual with the season's first brood of baby swallows.

Helping raise birds isn’t always easy (as I found out last year, when I played surrogate mommy to the baby who fell out of the nest). This year I'm a little more experienced and knowledgeable about them - which is a good thing because this would have been a challenge otherwise.

We have five baby swallows in this brood and the nest quickly got too crowded. One night we noticed that one of them had found its way out onto the ledge. We kept an eye on him and sure enough, he ended up falling off. We had placed a blanket under the nest just in case, after that experience last year with the one who fell out.

Knowing a bit more about it this year (having learned that it’s a myth that the parents will abandon them if you handle them), I scooped him up and put him back in the nest. Boy, did the mom and dad birds get excited. They started flying ‘round and ‘round and within two minutes, there were at least twenty swallows there, all flying in circles while I was putting him back in. But after I backed off, the mom bird came back to the nest and starting feeding them again, including the wayward one.

The second time he fell out, I got some cardboard and tacked it to the ledge, creating a small "edge" to hold him back. That worked for a while, but after managing to stay up there for two whole days, the baby worked his way past the cardboard across the ledge and was down on the blanket again a couple of mornings later. So I got to put him back up again and crossed my fingers.

Didn't work. Next time there were two of them on the ground. But the adult birds were getting used to the routine. They weren't raising nearly such a fuss when I went out to put them back up now.

No falling for a couple of days, but our "wild child" started inching his way across the ledge again. When he got about eight or ten feet from the nest, I couldn't stand it anymore. I was afraid the mom might lose track of him and stop feeding him. So I got the ladder, got up there and grabbed him and put him back at the nest, and this time I bent a piece of very thick corrugated cardboard to wedge it in and create a barrier so he couldn't go more than about two feet from the nest.

I fully expected him to fall off when he got over there to the barrier, and he did, one last time. This time when I got close to the French door that goes out to the balcony where the nest is, the adult birds started flying from me to the baby on the ground and back, as though they were telling me to please pick him up and put him back. Of course, I obliged. I also extended the cardboard edge almost (but not quite) to the barrier. I left room for the mom bird to land and get in.

That seemed to do the trick, as my little loner rejoined his siblings in the nest, and now we can't tell them apart. As your reward for reading this far, here's a photo of all five, mouths open and ready to be fed.

 
Five open mouths

 
deb@shinder.net

This is shaping up to be a record year for birds here on the lakefront. The swallows came in early this year, back in the first part of April. There are lots of them around now. "Our" pair has built a new nest on the ledge that we added under the roof of the upstairs balcony. We're glad they've gone up there, as we figure they'll be safer from the snakes in the higher place. (Click on the pictures to enlarge them).

Mom bird working on the nest

Whenever the mom bird is in the nest, the dad bird sits on the balcony rail under it and watches to make sure nothing/nobody comes near.

Dad bird on the balcony rail

The dad bird got into a big "argument" with my Siamese yesterday. She saw him on the railing and went up to the French door, doing that "chattering" thing that cats do when they're stalking birds. He saw her through the door, and started chirping and clicking and fussing at her - this went on for at least fifteen minutes until she apparently lost interest and fell asleep, whereupon he decided she was no longer a threat and flew away.


Dad bird looking in at me and the cats through the French door

But it's not just swallows that are visiting us this year. We had a mockingbird who was making a nest in our honeysuckle vine, until the first big storm of the season apparently washed her out.

The garden has blossomed out beautifully already. The honeysuckle and jasmine are blooming, and so are the red sage and the roses.

 
The garden in bloom

There's a little green hummingbird who comes by most afternoons to partake of the flowers. And yesterday, we noticed a small dove-type bird sitting on the ground under the sage bushes.

Baby dove landed in our garden right after fledging

We were worried that it was hurt and unable to fly, and watched it for a couple of hours. Then a pair of large mourning doves flew in and stayed with it for a long time. The little one would follow them around and they would feed it, from their mouths to its. So we figured out it must be their baby.

 
Big dove feeding the baby

After much coaxing on the part of the bigger birds (they would fly up on the fence, then back down to the baby, then back up on the fence), the baby finally flew and joined them on the fence. After sitting there for half an hour or so, they all flew away. Apparently we'd gotten to see part of the fledging process.

Baby dove makes it up on the fence with mom

We also have a brand new type of bird this year. After asking around and doing some research on the web, we've identified him as a scissor tail flycatcher. He has the longest tail I've ever seen on a bird.

 
Our brand new friend: scissor tail flycatcher

There are plenty of old friends, too, such as the beautiful red cardinals.

Cardinal shows his colors

A few mornings ago, there were three baby egrets by the lake, but they flew before I was able to get the camera and get back to them. Summer hasn't even really begun yet, and already we have all these great birds. I can't wait to get more photos of them.

deb@shinder.net

Primo's on the lake in Garland (by Bass Pro Shop) opened a while back, but we've been waiting 'til we were in the mood for Tex-Mex before trying it out. Last Sunday we found ourselves in the mood and it was our choice for a late Easter lunch.

Primo's has been around since the 1980s but neither of us had been to one. This new one has a prime lakefront location, with an upper level that really takes advantage of the view. We were seated downstairs, but in the back by the window so we had a view of the lake (which would have been even better if they hadn't had stacks of chairs in the way).

Lake view from our table at Primo's

Outdoor seating wasn't available that day, which was okay since it was windy and a bit cold. The place was fairly full, but there was no wait for a table. 

The first test of any Mexican restaurant is the tortilla chips. These were crisp and warm, not too greasy. They weren't the best chips I've tasted, but they were perfectly good. The spinach queso dip took a while to get to us, but when it did, it was also quite good. A little runnier than I'd have preferred and the portion was small, but the taste was great.

Tom started with a queso flameado, a flaming cheese dish. Once the fire was out, here's what was left:

 
Queso Flameado

He didn't finish it; this is a dish that doesn't stay good for long. As it cools, it starts to congeal, and you can see the streaks of grease through it. He loved the first few bites, though.

Next, he got fried stuffed jalapenos:

 
Tom's "good bad" food

They looked good, with a light batter and a pretty generous portion.

I went with my old standby: chicken fajitas. You can tell a lot about a restaurant by its fajitas. These were just exactly the way I like them. There was a huge mound of chicken, with lots of thickly sliced onions and just enough peppers to give it flavor:

 
My chicken fajitas

The chicken was cooked just right - thoroughly cooked but not dry, and not greasy at all as fajitas sometimes are. There was so much of it that I had to take half home in a "to go" box, and had another good meal the next day.

Service was decent, though not spectacular. It took a while to get our drinks and appetizers, but that may have been due to the Easter crowd. The waiter was very friendly and polite.

All in all, I'd pronounce Primo's a good value for the money in an excellent, relaxing location. We'll undoubtedly be going back next time we get a hankering for Mexican food.

deb@shinder.net

What a wild ride the Texas weather has given us recently. Less than two weeks ago, we had snow:

Okay, so it wasn't a lot of snow - but it was snow. Temps were in the 20s - darn cold for March here.

Then we had over a week of quasi-summer: temps in the high 70s, got up to 80 a couple of times. Beautiful.

Then yesterday, the rains came. I was getting ready to build an ark (already have a start with two cats). It rained and rained and rained ... not just steady but hard rain, all day long.

Today, it's pretty and sunny again, but cool (50s). And the lake is the highest it's been since we moved here. The docks look as if they're floating on the water; their support legs are completely covered:

Click to enlarge

A far cry from summer before last, when we had beaches that extended out beyond the docks.

Oh, and the swallows have returned. We have a lone one living under our balcony now. I hope he/she finds a mate. I've grown very accustomed to sharing in the nesting, laying, hatching, feeding and fledging processes.

deb@shinder.net

Yesterday, we tried another new restaurant in the Rockwall Harbor District: Agave. They're on the south end, down toward the new Hilton. When we arrived at 5:00 p.m. on a Sunday, the place was pretty well deserted.

Decor is what I call "New Yorky minimalist." Very plain lines, simple furnishings with a bit of an Asian look:

It's not my favorite style, but I know it's a popular one at trendy restaurants these days.

The hostess/waitress was polite and friendly and we got a table by the window with a nice lake view. although it was marred somewhat by the overcast day:

The menu was definitely eclectic, with a smattering of dishes of different types, from Tex-Mex to "exotic" (the latter included duck breast and "wabbit"). Tom started with calamari, and I had a taste. The portion was small in comparison to other restaurants (about half what you get at Valore's just down the walk) but it was tender and tasty.

In keeping with my current efforts to eat a more healthy diet, I got a Caesar salad to begin:

It was a fairly generous portion but definitely not the best Caesar I've had. It was a bit dry; in fact, I wondered at first if there was any Caesar dressing on it at all. The Romaine lettuce was almost all hard "stems" rather than the leaves. Valore's wins hands-down in the salad department.

Tom first attempted to order a Philly cheese steak but was told that they were out, so he went with his second choice, a Kobe burger (which he ate before I got a chance to take a photo). It was a large burger and he said it was very good and cooked to order. It came with a huge side order of fries, which were neither particularly crispy nor particularly mushy but were very salty.

I went with the grilled swordfish:

It was a large swordfish steak and was well cooked, but a little overwhelmed by the pineapple in which it was cooked. It came with what was described in the menu as Spanish rice, but was not like any Spanish rice I'd ever tasted. It had a very strong citrus flavor (too much so for my tastes). At $16, it was neither overpriced nor a great bargain.

Service was decent, although nothing to rave about. We were, after all, the only ones in the place for at least half the meal. Overall, I'd give it a 3 out of 5, maybe a 3.5 taking Tom's assessment of the burger into consideration. 

Will I go back? Probably. I'd like to try the lump crabcakes, although the price ($23) is a little off-putting. If I want value for the money, I'll go to Valore's. But if you're looking for a place at the Harbor to take a group of people, some of whom don't like Italian food, and you don't want to pay the premium (but worth it) prices of Blue Canyon but want something a little nicer than Ruby Tuesday, Agave fits the bill.

Meanwhile, we're eagerly awaiting the opening of Mistra at the Hilton.

deb@shinder.net

Last Friday night, Tom and I attended the Rockwall County GOP's dinner in honor and memory of President Ronald Reagan, at the brand new Hilton hotel in the Harbor District.

What we saw of the hotel (the conference center) is very nice, and the event was a lot of fun. Here's a photo of the room:

Kay Bailey Hutchison was the keynote speaker and she gave a great talk, but even more inspiring were the tributes to our military personnel (yes, I'm biased on that one due to being a proud Navy Mom with a daughter in Afghanistan right now).

Here's a copy of the program:

We were invited by Rowlett Mayor John Harper and sat at one of his two tables. We got to meet more of our city councilmembers and candidates, and were especially excited by the enthusiasm shown by Councilmember Todd Gottel, who has many great plans for the city.

It was also an opportunity to get all spiffed up (Tom even bought a new suit for the occasion). Here are some photos of us in our finery:

The menu was the same menu served at President Reagan's first inaugural dinner. It consisted of a salad and rolls, a very tasty chicken and rice dish (and unlike at many such functions, the portions were very generous) and a strawberry and cream dessert.  Here's what our table looked like:

All in all, it was a very pleasant evening and the only complaint I have is the parking situation. They had valet parking for the event, and it worked great for dropping the cars off, but retrieving them went very slowly. Finding a parking place without valet service would have been a challenge.

We continue to be amazed and pleased with the Harbor development, and just wish we could get something similar in Rowlett.

deb@shinder.net

I've read every one of Stephen King's more than forty novels (including those written under the name of Richard Bachman). He is one of a handful of authors whose books I buy in hardback, at full price if necessary, as soon as they're released. I've watched his writing grow and change over the years, and I've enjoyed some stories more than others, but I've enjoyed them all.

That said, I have to admit to a little disappointment in the last few books. The Colorado Kid was a cute little exercise, but it didn't grab me like a King novel is supposed to.

Cell was pure King in concept: take an ordinary, everyday thing, maybe one that annoys you a bit (in this case, the cell phone) and turn it into a monster. But as good as the premise was, the writing wasn't as sharp and tangy as I expect from King. The story didn't seem to be fleshed out enough. Although coming from any other writer, it would have been good enough, it fell short of my expectations of what a novel with Steve's name on the front should be. It seemed more like a draft than a finished product - even down to the typos, something I rarely find in a King book.

Lisey's Story was another so-so effort. Entertaining enough to keep me reading, for sure, but there were none of those brilliant flashes of insight, those incredible plays on words that stand out in your memory years after you put down the book. In fact, I had trouble remembering the plot and had to refresh my memory by re-reading the jacket blurbs before I wrote this.

Maybe it was because these followed the last three Dark Tower books that they were such a let-down. That series was a tough act to follow. I actually began to think that maybe King had poured so much of his fire into it that none of his subsequent books would quite reach that magical realm again.

Then along came Duma Key. Usually I know about the impending release of a King novel months in advance and anxiously await it. This one I stumbled across at the grocery store, a totally unexpected little surprise. There was only one copy on the shelf, so I quickly scooped it up and ensconced it in the cart between my Pepperidge Farm whole wheat English muffins and my Weight Watcher double fudge frozen cakes.

What a silly title, I thought, but I also noted that this one was satisfyingly fat - over 700 pages. The last three had been far too slim, and were over much too soon to provide the proper Kingly experience.

I settled in with the book on a weekend and finished it up within a week, despite a heavy work schedule (by sacrificing non-essential time such as that I would otherwise have spent sleeping). The story was enjoyable and King was at the top of his wordsmithing game once again. His protagonist, a one-armed artist named Edgar, is likable enough to keep you on his side and just obnoxious enough to make him seem human.

The interweaving of his story with that of "Libbit" - the child prodigy of the 1920s who grew up to be the elderly Elizabeth who owns most of the island to which Edgar flees after his marriage breaks up in the wake of his accident, injury and associated personality changes - makes for a fascinating tale. Other supporting characters (Edgar's daughter Ilse, who has always been his favorite, Edgar's shrink, Dr. Kamen, Edgar's hired hand, Jack, and Edgar's new friend, Wireman) are all nicely developed and come alive in King's hands and in readers' minds.

As with most of King's best works, it all starts out as a character study with some slightly out of the ordinary but not at all implausible events and eventually builds to a thoroughly paranormal climax. It's vintage King, and his long time fans will leave satisfied.

One thing I wished for, in light of the subject matter, was an illustrated version of this book. Something along the lines of the drawings in the Dark Tower series, which really weren't vital to that story. Because Edgar's paintings are important elements in this story, I'd like to see them. On the other hand, perhaps real pictures couldn't carry quite the mystique that our imaginations can give them.

All in all, it was a good read. Not, perhaps, quite the classic that The Shining, 'Salem's Lot, The Stand, The Green Mile and the Dead Zone were, but right up there with Pet Sematary, It, Misery, Cujo and The Dark Half, books whose plots I won't forget anytime soon.

 
             deb@shinder.net

The latest new restaurant to open in the Rockwall Harbor District is also - so far, at least - the best. And that's saying a lot, as we love both Gloria's and Valore's. But the Blue Canyon is a cut above the rest.

There are some great places around Ray Hubbard to have a nice meal, but when we wanted something really special, we had to go into Dallas, to the Mansion or Fearing's. Now we may never have to leave the lake; that's how good the food was at Blue Canyon when we visited a few days after they opened.

There are several different dining areas, each with a slightly different feel. I read that some folks were surprised when the Executive Chef decided to open this restaurant in Rockwall rather than Dallas, Addison, Plano or Frisco where many of the area's best restaurants are. Well, the view of the lake certainly beats looking out at city streets or parking lots as you do in most of those other places.

Just a look at the leather-covered menu (and the prices on it) tells you this is going to be an upscale dining experience. But with appetizers like lobster nachos (as a friend said: "wow - combining my two favorite food groups), who needs entrees?

Tom opted to start with the lobster and crawfish bisque, and I tried the lobster corn dogs (Maine meets the Texas State Fair). Both were quite good, but only a warm-up for what was to come.

The lobster was tender and succulent, and I was beginning to believe what our waiter had told us about how they have the freshest seafood in the area, flying it in daily.

Tom knew right off the bat what he wanted for dinner. He's a steak person, so he went for the Cowboy Beef Ribeye. He usually has trouble getting his steaks cooked exactly right; even at Fearing's, they come out overdone. He pronounced the ribeye here ($29.99) to be the best steak he's ever had. Ruth's Chris previously held that title.

For me, making a selection was a little tougher. I was torn between the seared sea scallops and the intriguing Lobster Mac and Cheese. Both went for $23. Finally I settled on the sea scallops at the recommendation of the waiter. He explained that not only were they flown in that day, but were "dry packed" to prevent them from shrinking (apparently a common problem). I didn't regret my choice when they were brought out. There were five huge, plump scallops cooked to perfection, neither dry nor watery. Of course, the magic is in the sauce, and this sauce was truly magical. Again, I was reminded of Dean Fearing's cooking - and that's a very good thing.

My scallops came with whipped Yukon gold potatoes and butter fried garlic green beans in smoked tomato corn butter. It was a perfect pairing with the scallops. Tom got a side order of "Lobster and Green Onion Mashers, which I tasted as well. Basically it's mashed potatoes with big chunks of lobster and onion. Oh, yum. Yet another combination of favorite food groups.

The reason you don't see any photos of the entrees is that, well, they looked so good that we both dug in and forgot to take pictures. At least it gives us a good excuse to go back again soon.

The entree portions were perfect. They weren't tiny little four-bite servings that leave you wanting to stop by McDonald's on the way home just to get some actual nourishment, as you sometimes find at upscale places. But they also weren't the enormous portions that some of my favorite places serve, that leave you either asking for a doggie bag to take half of it home, or wishing that you had. In fact - and this is a rare occurrence for us - we actually had room left for dessert.

We both ordered something called a chocolate malt mousse ball. We had seen it when someone at the next table got it and it looked wonderful. And it tasted just as wonderful as it looked - the inside was a white chocolate mousse that melts in your mouth, literally. It was glazed in a dark chocolate shell, and the whole thing sits on top of a thin chocolate cake. Because the mousse is so light, you don't get that aftertaste that sometimes happens with too-rich desserts.

My only real complaint is a minor one; I tried to order a glass of white zinfandel only to find that they don't carry it. I know many wine snobs look down on white zinf, but it's an extremely popular wine and back when we frequented the Mansion (how much more upscale can you get, at least in the metroplex?), I never had trouble getting a glass of white zinf there. I tried a red zinf instead, and it was okay, but they really ought to add a white one to their otherwise fairly extensive wine list.

I'd give it a 4.75 out of 5. Will we go back? Just as soon as our budget and diet can justify it. Although pricey, it's less expensive than our favorite upscale Dallas restaurants (the $30 ribeye was the most expensive thing on the menu) and we got a very comparable experience with a much nicer view and without having to fight Dallas traffic. We wish the Blue Canyon much success, as we'd like this restaurant to stay around for a long time.

             deb@shinder.net

It's that time of the year again, when thousands of folks sit around watching HGTV's Dream House giveaway and then hurry off to their computers or post offices to enter the drawing for the $2 million plus grand prize. 

We watched the program on New Year's Day, as we've done for the last few years. We were a bit underwhelmed by this year's house in the Florida Keys (see it for yourself on the HGTV website). Compared to some of the previous dream homes, it was nothing special. Oh, the views are gorgeous, but the house itself? Not so much.

Maybe I'd feel differently if I didn't already live in my own dream house. It's bigger in square footage than the one they're promoting, it has more land (and our pool is our own, not shared with seven other houses), and it sits on the shore of a placid lake, rather than the hurricane-prone Gulf. Oh, and it cost less than a fourth what their dream home is valued at.

Nonetheless, we enjoy seeing what's being offered, but it makes me sad to read the message boards on the website, where people speculate about how they would redecorate or how they'd use the rooms if they won. So many folks don't seem to realize that it's virtually impossible for a winner who isn't wealthy (i.e., making $500,000 year or more) to keep and live in the dream house. Federal income taxes alone will come to over $770,000. Even if you take out a mortgage on the house to pay those, you're looking at annual property taxes in the range of $15,000 or more, probably stiff HOA fees, and how much is flood insurance going to cost in that location (if you can even get it)? Read the rules: you're also responsible for closing costs (typically 1 or 2 percent of the cost of the house, so in this case we're talking $20,000 to $40,000), not to mention all the "little" expenses such as title and transfer fees on the vehicle and so forth.

Of course, if you're smart about it, you can still come out with a nice little chunk of change after selling the house and paying off all those taxes and fees. My guess is that in today's real estate market, you'd likely end up with $500,000 to $700,000 left over. Nothing to sneeze at - but most of those who are imagining they could move in and start living the high life in the house are going to be sadly disappointed if they do win.

The only previous winner who tried it (winners of the 2005 dream house in Tyler, Texas) ended up badly in debt and the family is being forced to auction the house off on January 12th (see http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=7556414 for more info).

If you do win, you're probably in for some major hassle factor after the initial thrill wears off: the usual time and effort involved in getting a house on the market and getting it sold, but on a grander scale. Not that the half a million dollar profit isn't worth the time and trouble. Just remember, before you click that "Submit Entry" button, that there ain't no such thing as a free lunch - or a free house. And if you don't win, well, maybe there'll be just a little relief mixed in there with the disappointment.

deb@shinder.net

Click on the image to enlarge it.

To all of my friends, family, colleagues, clients, students and those who read what I write: thank you for helping to make this one of the best years of my life. Despite challenges (such as having my daughter halfway around the world, helping to rebuild a country ravaged by war), I have more blessings than I count and it all comes down to the wonderful people who have touched my life.

It's amazing to realize that 2008 is already here. I'm not sure where 2007 went, but I know it went fast. In many ways, that's a good thing, as it brings us that much closer to the day when my daughter will be coming home from Afghanistan (at present, she's on course to return to the states in April).

I want to send special good wishes to all those I've met through the Internet over the last two decades. I've had the pleasure of meeting quite a few of you in person over the years and talking to others on the phone. This past summer, several members of mailing lists to which I belong did me the honor of visiting my home and we had a wonderful time. Others I've had the opportunity to get together with when I've traveled to their parts of the country. Several of my 'Net friends who lived far away when I first became acquainted with them have moved to Texas and are now my neighbors.

We've grown old(er) together and shared one another's joys and accomplishments: new jobs, promotions, businesses started, books published, new babies (or grandbabies), new houses, marriages, anniversaries and more. We've also felt one another's pain, as some of us have lost parents, spouses or (worst of all) children.

I continue to be amazed and gratified by the wonders technology has brought into my life, not the least of which is the ability to reach out to people thousands of miles away and become close friends with people I would never have known existed but for the Internet. As this new year begins, my hope is that each of you will find your lives fuller and richer than ever before.

I wish you all the best year ever in 2008.

 

deb@shinder.net

One of the nice things about getting older is that you no longer feel obligated to party hard on New Year's Eve, nor do you have the vague feeling that something's wrong with you if you sleep through the transition from old year to new. It's still nice to celebrate the start of a brand new year, though. This year we stayed close to home to do it.

The special New Year's Eve dinner at Culpepper's Steakhouse turned out to be just the right solution. At $65 per person for a four course meal, the menu was varied enough so that we both were able to get something we really liked.

Everyone started out with the same Amuse Bouche (the French term for a small, bite sized morsel that comes before the appetizer; the literal meaning is "amuse the mouth"). This was a single square of ravioli stuffed with butternut squash and proscuitto in truffle oil. It was rich, but because it was so small, it wasn't overpoweringly so. And it certainly did its job of making you eager for the "real" food.

There were four choices of appetizers. We both went with the lobster, bourbon and corn chowder with jalapeño cheddar cornbread croutons. It might sound like an unlikely combination of ingredients, but they all came together beautifully and whet the appetite even more.

There were eight different entrees offered. I was torn between the pan seared grouper with truffle risotto and smoked tomato broth and the seared diver scallops with sun dried tomato cous cous and vanilla corn sauce, but went with the scallops. They were cooked to perfection (although smaller than the gigantic ones that I had at Old Hickory during our anniversary stay at the Gaylord Texan) and the sauce was delicious.

Tom got the 22 oz. prime ribeye steak with Yukon "smashed" potatoes. Somehow he managed to finish the whole thing.

Then came dessert. All three choices sounded good: vanilla bean creme brulee with shortbread cookie, peach fried pie with Southern Comfort ice cream, and Chocolate Mousse cake - except that the cake included a Grand Marnier cinnamon anglaise. I have a dislike for cinnamon, but I love chocolate, so I asked if it was possible to get the cake without the glaze. Turns out it was, and I totally enjoyed it. Tom got the same thing, and he had extra glaze because they brought mine in a dish on the side and I gave it to him. A win-win situation for all concerned.

The portions were big enough to leave us feeling full (but not overly stuffed), the atmosphere was lively but not frantic, and we didn't have to brave Dallas traffic to get back home way before the midnight hour. It was a nice, enjoyable, gentle way to say hello to 2008.

              deb@shinder.net

Since our anniversary comes right before Christmas (December 23rd), we rarely get a chance to celebrate it with just the two of us. Usually we're too busy with family events, and when Kniki comes home for the holidays, we certainly don't want to leave her on one of the very few days that we get to see her. This year, of course, she's off in Afghanistan. Kris was busy working on a paper, and we decided to forego hosting a big party for the extended family (something we've done for the past five years and just decided it was time for a break). So we actually found ourselves with some extra time.

Consequently, Tom made reservations for us to stay in the Deluxe Suite at the Gaylord Texan last Saturday and Sunday, and it was a weekend to remember. The suite was huge - over 900 square feet.

 
The bedroom of the Deluxe Suite is enormous. Those windows look out onto the atrium

The package deal included the suite, complimentary champagne and fresh flowers in the room, take-home robes, breakfast in the room each morning, dinner at their upscale restaurant, the Old Hickory, valet parking, and use of the fitness center and spa.

The hotel is impressive anyway, much like a Las Vegas theme hotel. The way it was decorated for Christmas was just amazing. The balcony in our room looks down on the huge atrium, shown below.

The atrium features a 40 foot Christmas tree, model trains that run throughout, a replica of the Alamo, a huge oil derrick, trees and rivers and much more

At night, the whole thing takes on an even more magical feeling.

Thousands of lights give the place a magical glow at night

The Alamo, remembered

The replica of the Alamo is inspiring both at night and during the day.

 
Even an oil derrick can look special all lit up

On Saturday night, we first had a drink and appetizer at the Texan Station, a sports bar with a gigantic 52 foot screen and surprisingly good food.

 
Texan Station

Later, we went to the murder mystery dinner play at the Riverwalk Cafe. It was entertaining, although in my opinion not as well put together as those put on by Tim Shane's group back when the old Texas Queen was operating on Lake Ray Hubbard. However, the food was better: a huge buffet with something for just about everyone. They had Mexican food, seafood, pasta, roast beef and turkey carving station, soups and salads and a massive array of desserts.

 
The Riverwalk Cafe

The next morning, we went walking and encountered Hank, a life-like Texas longhorn who provided a popular picture-taking spot.

 
Hank

Finding your way around inside the big self contained dome can be a challenge, but there were plenty of signs to lead the way.

 
Pointing the way

Everywhere there are fountains, waterfalls, man-made rivers and other water features.

 
Water features galore

The riverwalk in the daytime

Saturday afternoon, we attended the ICE! exhibit. Sculptors from China are flown in to carve approximately 2 million pounds of ice into cool (in more ways than one) creations.

   
ICE!

On Sunday evening, we had dinner at the Old Hickory. I had lump crab cakes and seared scallops in a great lobster sauce. Tom had lobster bisque and a ribeye that looked like it was about a foot thick. We shared a cheese platter and tasty garlic truffle fries. There was no room for dessert.

Wine bottle Christmas tree and piano man at the Old Hickory

On Monday (Christmas Eve) we had late checkout (1 p.m.) that was included with the package. We made it back home just in time for a casual dinner and gift opening with Kris, then a movie and relaxing evening.

Taking leave: the grand lobby and beautiful star tile pattern at the front door

All in all, it was a great weekend and the Gaylord is highly recommended for a Christmas (or any time of the year) getaway.

deb@shinder.net

Ever since Mom passed away, Thanksgiving hasn't been the same. With Kniki away in the military, it's just the three of us: me, Tom and Kris. Cooking a big turkey dinner doesn't seem worth it - especially when none of us particularly likes turkey. So we've been going out on Thanksgiving the past few years. Luckily for us, more and more restaurants are staying open for the holiday so we have plenty of choices.

This year, Fearing's was our logical choice. We were big fans of the Mansion when Dean was there, and we followed him to the Ritz, attending the grand opening of his new restaurant back in September and then going again in October. The food was stupendous. When we found out they were putting on a special Thanksgiving event, we made reservations.

There are seven different dining areas in the restaurant. We asked for and got seating in the Sendero Room, a beautiful glass walled space that looks out on the poolside dining area on one side and the outdoor bar/patio with a lovely stone fireplace on the other.

Outdoor bar and patio at Fearing's

With temperatures in the 40s, the outdoor space was almost deserted, but it's a great place to gather in friendlier weather.

Even though we'd made reservations for an "off" time - 2:45 pm - the place was full; we obviously weren't the only ones who decided to treat ourselves to a very special Thanksgiving dinner.

The room was full despite the "off" time

Our server, Josh, couldn't have been more enthusiastic or attentive. Some people might be unhappy about working on the holiday, but he seemed thrilled to be able to cater to our every request.  Like the last time we were there, Dean stopped by the table to say hello, too. This is something I really like about the new place. At the Mansion, you almost never saw him. Here, he's out and about, mingling with his guests all the time - and always greets everyone like an old friend. 

Dinner was $95 per person, with your choice of several different options for each course. I started with Nantucket Bay Scallops and a "hushpuppy" shrimp over rice, in a yummy sauce with Oregon white truffles. It was great. Tom had the sampler of griddled jumbo lump crabcakes, barbequed duck tamale and roasted chili-wild mushroom empanada, and Kris went with the roasted butternut squash bisque with pheasant confit and spiced pecan cream. They both seemed to thoroughly enjoy theirs, too.

The entrees, though, were the main event. Tom and Kris both opted for the Bone-in Tenderloin of Beef with "smashed" sweet potatoes, creamed spinach, Oregon black truffles and Madeira sauce. They both said it was the best steak they'd ever had.

Beef Tenderloin

Since I don't eat beef, I chose the Pan-roasted John Dory over root vegetable gratin, with griddled asparagus and a lobster fondue. Oh. My. Goodness. I am a seafood lover and I've tasted a lot of excellent fish, but I have to say this was probably the best I've ever had, too. I had never had John Dory before; according to my web research it's a mean looking little fish that comes mostly from New Zealand. It tastes wonderful, at least the way Dean prepared it. It's a very delicate and tender, slightly flaky white fish that was surprisingly filling.

John Dory: Heaven on a Plate

The third course was a dessert sampler that included miniature cheesecake, a tiny pecan pie with whipped cream and a small pumpkin pie (I didn't finish the last one; by then I was so full I was ready to curl up and take a nap right there in my chair.  Maybe the two glasses of Riesling had something to do with that, too).

Even though the portions looked small on the plates, we all felt appropriately stuffed by the time we were finished. Mom's turkey and dressing it wasn't, but it was a wonderful experience. I only wish Mom and Dad were here so we could've taken them there with us. If I were rating the experience (and I guess I am), I'd have to give it a 5 out of 5.

I didn't want to take the "real" camera and make a production of it, so all these photos were taken with my cell phone. They might not be pro quality pictures, but I think they help to capture the essence of a great meal.

deb@shinder.net