HYACINTHS FOR THE SOUL

Sunday, September 1, 2024

Tales of the Traveling Tote, Edition #40

Tales of the Traveling Tote

June, the start of summer, found Miss Merri Mac and me on Cape Cod with sand between our toes.

Living the coastal life that always renews my spirit.

We visited long time friends who live year round on the Cape.

~ Beach Roses ~ Ocean Vistas ~ Seagulls ~

~ Salty Air ~ Fresh Seafood ~

I stayed in their charming guest suite, the FROG.

~ Furnished Room Over Garage ~

We spent leisure days under the pergola, catching up

and soaking in the fresh, crisp, cool air.

Look up at our perfect view of

blue skies and blooming wisteria.

Meet my new bestie, Gouda!

I admit, I also indulged in a few of these tasty

delights before heading back home.

Back in Texas, Miss Merri Mac and I hopped on

an express bus and headed up to Dallas.

Vonlane is like flying first class without the hassle of flying.

The service is always exceptional, and that particular Friday Vonlane pampered their customers with a delightful surprise,

Chelles Macarons.

Victoria was in town for Dallas Market,

and we wanted to get in a repeat visit.

The Arte Italica Crown Linen Designs

Dallas Market Showroom is a sight to behold.

How special to see all the products displayed in one space.

The Chef and I began collecting the beautifully crafted Italian pewter

made for Arte Italica in the 1990s, and I continue to add new pieces.

Later, we enjoyed dinner at one of my favorite restaurants.

Rise ~ Salon de Soufflé

Sweet and savory soufflés offered

a classic French experience.

July of course brought annual 4th of July celebrations.

It was too hot to entice us to attend the neighborhood parade,

but that didn't stop us from feeling festive.

Miss Merri Mac is the perfect companion to hold my current needlepoint "works in progress", so the two of us gather weekly with a group of stitchers for conversation, lunch, and stitch therapy.One recent week we took a day trip to Comfort, TX to shop at The Tinsmith's Wife.Wow, what a wonderful resource for anyone who knits or stitches.Click here to check it out. They ship!

The Texas hill country is a bounty of fresh produce

this time of year, so of course we stopped at one

of the local stands on our way out of town.

Nothing like fresh Texas peaches!

Except of course the cool, fresh air of the mountains of Colorado.

Yes, lucky us escaped the heat

for a few weeks in July and August.

I've been traveling to Colorado in the summers since I was a child,

and with every trip the mere sight of the mountains instantly

restores my body with calm and contentment.

WELCOME

Hello from paradise!

Farmer's Markets enticed with

local produce and handmade items.

This family was selling mango on a stick.

Looks pretty tasty and easy to eat.

My sojourn in Colorado extended for two weeks with lots of time to relax and stitch.

We celebrated my cousin's milestone birthday with special dinners out and a beautiful picnic riverside.

Click here to view my post on the picnic.

August also presented another family opportunity whena group of my girl cousins met for a fun weekend in Galveston.

The last time some of us met here was in 2012. Since that gathering, we've sadly lost two, but are overjoyed to welcome an entirely new group of young women who have joined our family, including precious baby, Emily Kathryn.

We celebrated the upcoming wedding of one of the young girls marrying into the family and the expected birth of another cousin's first child - a baby boy due in January.