Simple Man:

While listening to the soundtrack to Almost Famous on my ipod, I reviewed the album's list of songs. It's been a long, long time since I'd seen the movie and had forgotten how many really wonderful songs were included: Tiny Dancer (of course!), I've Seen All Good People, Slip Away, Feel Flows, America, and so on. But the one that jumped out at me was Lynyrd Skynyrd's Simple Man. The message made me think of a young man I know (Robert) and his wise mother. What lyrics! I can't stop thinking about the powerful words...

"Mama told me, when I was young

Come sit beside me, my only son.

And listen closely, to what I say.

And if you do this

It will help you some sunny day.

Oh, take your time...

Don't live too fast,

Troubles will come, and they will pass.

Go find a woman and you'll find love,

And don't forget son,

There is Someone up above.

And be a simple kind of man.

And maybe some day you'll love and understand.

Baby, be a simple kind of man.

Won't you do this for me son, If you can?

Forget your lust for the rich man's gold

All that you need is in your soul,

And you can do this if you try.

All that I want for you my son, Is to be satisfied.

Boy, don't you worry... you'll find yourself.

Follow you heart and nothing else.

And you can do this if you try.

All I want for you my son,
Is to be satisfied."

Fall Madness:

It is a B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L day! The sun is shining and there is a slight breeze in the crisp autumn air. Yep, I would call this Fall day absolutely glorious. Wish I could bottle it! There is rain in the forecast, but I don't care because I can bask in today's beauty. God is good, all the time.

SLC:

Four and a half years ago today, my husband died. He was only 52 years old. We were high school sweethearts -- we began dating when he was 16 and I was 15. We dated for 5 years, and had been married over 30 years. He was half my soul... dimidium animae meae.

So much has happened since he died that I can hardly wrap my mind around it. It literally takes my breath away.

"Where you used to be there is a hole in the world which I find myself constantly walking around in the daytime, and falling in at night. I miss you like hell." -Edna St. Vincent Millay

Shot in the Dark:
I had a flu shot Monday morning and that night I was wracked with fever and chills. I was so spent on Tuesday that I could barely lift my head. If that's what people feel like when they have the Swine Flu, all I can say is God bless 'em!

Howdy Stranger:

Can't wait till this weekend! I'm going to one of my favorite restaurants, Tillman's Roadhouse. It's located in Dallas' Bishop Arts District, and is exactly the kind of place I would love to own if I owned a restaurant: cute boys dressed in pearl-buttoned western shirts by Billy Reid; wooden "taxidermy" heads hanging from damask wall panels; saddle leather topped stools; an over-sized, aqua-velvet tufted-chesterfield couch; a movie projector in the bar (usually playing Giant); over-sized crystal chandeliers; plush banquettes and ceiling-tall drapes; fantastic bartenders and fantastic drinks; creative and oh-so-delicious food offerings like popcorn drizzled with truffle oil and hot peanuts both served in darling bird-decorated-over-sized pewter spoons... Trio of Fries (Parmesan black pepper kennebec fries, chili dusted purple peruvian fries and smoked salt scented sweet potato fries with housemade catsup and horseradish pickle mayo)... Venison Frito Pie... The Big Sexy (house-ground foie gras-sirloin burger with tomato, and lettuce or with caramelized shallots, melted brie and madeira aioli)... Grilled Pork Chop (with dallas goat cheese-coffee polenta)... or how about S'mores Table Side (made-from-scratch orange, maple and coffee marshmallows with cinnamon grahams and dark chocolate bark complete with fire and skewers!) There's so much more... Have I made you hungry yet? Ya, I know!

"Tillman's is an update on the classic Texas roadhouse. Regional menu favorites, familiar tunes, no-one is a stranger hospitality — all energized with a modern take."

Perfect Poppers:

My youngest daughter is coming home for Fall Break, and my brother, his daughter-in-law and granddaughter are coming to town for a weekend visit. So Friday night before we load in the car and head over to a favorite restaurant, I'm going open a bottle of good Zinfandel and serve Blue Cheese Popovers with fig preserves and walnuts on the side. So easy and oh-so-good... thank you, Martha Stewart!

Blue Cheese Popovers
2 large eggs
1 cup whole milk
2 T butter (melted and cooled)
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper (freshly ground)
1 1/4 cup blue cheese
1 T fresh thyme (leaves only, chopped)

In a large bowl, use a whisk and combine all ingredients, whisking as you add each one. Cover the bowl and refrigerate OVERNIGHT. The next day, whisk again a little and then pour into mini-muffin tins that have been buttered. Fill to the top of each muffin well. Put rack at highest level and in a preheated 425° oven, bake for 20 minutes till they “pop” and are brown and crusty. Best served hot from the oven!

Colorstrology:

I'm still working with my brother on signage for the new restaurant. My task today is to convert the designer's collection of interior paint colors into PMS colors. (The Pantone Matching System allows designers to "color match" specific colors when a design enters production stage -- regardless of the equipment used to produce the color. This system has been widely adopted by graphic designers, reproduction and printing houses for a number of years now.)

Did you know that Pantone combined with Colorstrology expert Michele Bernhardt to determine a Color of the Year? "Mimosa" (PMS 14-0848) is THE color for 2009. I wasn't even aware that there was such a thing! Where have I been? "Pantone, which provides color standards to design industries, specifically cites mimosa, a vibrant shade illustrated by the flowers of the mimosa tree as well as the brunch-favorite cocktail, as its top shade of the new year, but the company, in general, believes the public will embrace many tones of optimistic yellow. In a time of economic uncertainty and political change, optimism is paramount and no other color expresses hope and reassurance more than yellow. The color yellow exemplifies the warmth and nurturing quality of the sun, properties we as humans are naturally drawn to for reassurance,” explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Mimosa also speaks to enlightenment, as it is a hue that sparks imagination and innovation.”

So, it's Mimosa, as in orange-hued yellow. Not black to symbolize the dismal housing market, ongoing war in Iraq, and perils of global warming. Not beige to represent the hesitation with which fashion designers are creating their collections, fearful that shoppers won't buy anything that's too out there. But yellow. Searingly sanguine yellow. Mimosa "represents hope and optimism," reports British Vogue.

As much as I want to rally against choosing a color the world doesn't feel on the inside right now, I have to hand it to Pantone -- they've embraced a year of change. Wonder what 2010 will bring... Still, I think I'm going to stick to drinking my champagne and orange juice rather than wearing it!