East Texas Adventure

Happy Early Spring from Yours Truly!  I'm ever optimistic that I'll wake up and the sun WILL shine!  It's been windy and dreary for so many days....I've almost forgotten what the sunshine actually looks like.  None the less....it's trying!

This weekend Yours Truly and her beloved made a very quick road trip to visit our fabulous friends, Russ & Lori Nuss, in Sulphur Springs/Winnsboro, Texas.  We arrived at the Nuss Retreat late Friday night and what a comforting sight we did behold when we turned off the CR into their driveway and saw them sitting outside, fire pit burnin' and beer chillin', as they waited for us!!  I don't think there is anything much better than sitting around a fire pit, having a cold beverage, the gentlemen smoking cigars and catching up with good friends!! 

Saturday morning we headed into town where our adventures began!  Russ had to leave early and work as the city was hosting the 30 East Music Festival in their fabulously renovated downtown square.  Lori, West and I made our way to town and right off the bat...we found a great little shop to visit.  It was called Sweet and Salty and it is a popcorn/candy shop that sells all the OLD SCHOOL candy that we all grew up with and hold near and dear to our hearts!!  Astro Pops, Giant Pixy Sticks, licorice sticks, bubble gum cigars, candy cigarettes, you name it...they had it!!  They are working on their website but Like them on Facebook...they'll ship anything you want!!

We caught up with Russ and then decided since he was working, that we would make our way to The Red Barn for a bit of breakfast.  This is just a local little cafe serving up some good ole boy type breakfasts!  Of course this included biscuits and sausage gravy, topped with a scrambled egg and plate of hash browns for YT.  I did show some restraint and ordered just the 1/2 breakfast, which for $2.95 you just couldn't beat!

Back to downtown we headed.  We unloaded our coolers and chairs and claimed a spot near the stage for the day.  Once settled in, West, Lori and I made our way through several of the antique shops around the square.  Rick found his treasure in the first shop....and believe it or not, it was an old sign for a BBQ joint.  It's going to look great at the Casa Del West En El Rio!!  While West finished his transaction, Lori and I made our way down to the street to one of my fave-o-rite places to visit, LouViney Winery & Restaurant.  We have been visiting LouViney's since it was just a small winery located on Hwy 11 in Winnsboro, Texas.  Since they moved to the "big city" of Sulphur Springs, they have expanded and are now a full service bar/pub and they have a wonderful menu!!  I'm happy to say I got to see a good friend Will Briggs, who is one of the owners. 

Now, this Music Festival was already underway and after a little more shopping, we made our way back to our seats.  The music line up was fairly interesting.  One of the bands we enjoyed most was called Home By Hovercraft.  Very unique style of music, complete with the "back up dancer" that does Irish foot dancing, I believe it's called.  Oh, and did I mention....the band has a TUBA player?  Yeah, that's right.  Tuba.  You don't see or hear that too much out of the marching/concert band arena!  Check them out though!  Another really great band was The Venetian Sailors. This band was just flat out awesome!!  They had a chrome bass, mouth piano, and xylophone.  The last of the 3 bands we all enjoyed most was Goodnight Ned. 

The weather was threatening throughout the day and finally it started misting so we decided to call it a day and head back to the Nuss Retreat.  Before we packed up, I was very happy to get to see Susanne & Nancy Briggs, also part of the LouViney gang!  Sunday morning arrived and West and I got up bright and early. After loading up the car, and bidding the Nuss's a fond farewell, we pointed it back to Memphis....in the rain! 

And so another adventurous weekend came to an end.  That Mississippi River Bridge was a sight for sore eyes....even through the heavy rain!  Niles The Wonder Cat was glad to see his people and my head was happy to meet my pillow last night! 

Yours Truly reminds you, as always, to be nice to people, and tell the ones you love how much you love them!!  Until next time -

I remain,  Yours Truly

February Follies in M-Town

Greetings from Yours Truly!  Life has been busy and fun here in M-Town and I've been neglectful of my blog.  I'll try to make amends!  West and I have been into lots of things since the start of 2013.  Primarily we are keeping ourselves downtown since it offers so much to do! The weather has been fairly mild, with a few snowy days thrown in here and there and we have hibernated a bit more than usual. 

This past week was chock full o' adventure and fun for YT!  Tuesday night was trivia night for team "Beading Off On Fat Tuesday"....yeah, little risque but that's the nature of the team names at the Double J's!  We were on a mission to continue our 2 week winning streak....but sadly....it wasn't meant to be that night.  We did, however, put up a good fight and it was a close call!  But, primarily...we had fun and met some new people!  We were invited to Bill's "plating party", which will be held next Saturday at The Flying Saucer.  He has fulfilled the requirements and gets to hang his plate on the FS Hall of Fame, so to speak.  He was super nice and I'm looking forward to this event!



Wednesday night was a blast!  Yours Truly attended her first Memphis Tigers basketball game, with my great friend Clare Myers!  We started out at Double J's since they offer complimentary limo service for patrons attending events at the FedEx Forum.  Thanks to Mikey who is THE BEST and NICEST limo driver ON THE PLANET!!!
Clare had obtained floor seats so this was indeed a great inaugural game for me!  We were smack dab in the middle of the AWESOME band and the tiny cheerleaders and the manly cheer guys....able to lift these tiny cheerleaders like they were picking up their laundry!  It was a fun spot to be in!  It was even better when a couple of the players came tumbling into the mix...well, not fun for them given the loud THUD as they hit that floor.  What was even more fun was my discovery of the picture on the Commercial Appeal's website the next day!  PRICELESS!!! 

Thursday night.....Love was in the air!  West had made Valentines dinner reservations for us at Rizzo's Diner.  A cute little place right next door to Double J's, which we have walked past numerous times but never eaten there.  They had a lovely menu for V-Day.  Yours Truly started her meal with lobster risotto baked in puff pastry...in the shape of a heart!  Yes, a heart!  It was WONDERFUL!!  West had duck bisque!  For my salad course, a lovely sauteed shitake mushroom and spinach salad with a wonderful citrus vinaigrette.  My entree was pepper crusted skirt steak with a chimichurri sauce - delish!  And, last but not least was a vanilla and caramel mousse with fresh blueberries!!  West had gotten a bottle of red, bottle of white so we had wonderful wine for this fabulous meal!  Hats off to Chef Michael Patrick and team Rizzo for a great meal!

Friday night found us both WORN OUT so we just kept ourselves home for the evening, with YT heading to bed early....very early!!!  But the sleep was wonderful and much appreciated.  I woke up Saturday morning feeling GREAT!  Since I had procrastinated all week and did NOT get my Krogering done, the cupboards were bare in the breakfast food category so we decided to head back to Double J's since they have a breakfast menu that we have been wanting to try.  It was SO good!  I had the good Southern standard - biscuits and gravy with sausage while Rick had the "Double J Gunslinger"....a waffle, hash browns, 2 eggs, bacon, and a biscuits.  I enjoyed a nice Mimosa since it was close to noon and it WAS brunch!

Saturday afternoon....1:30 to 3:00 was ME TIME....fully devoted to Sly at Massage Envy on Union Avenue in Midtown.  Now, Sly uses reflexology and if you have never had this type of massage....let me recommend you give it a try!  Yours Truly has had stiffness in her ankles and other joints that are sadly probably related to arthritis.  But, Sly....dear, sweet, wonderful Sly...he has been targeting these pesky trouble spots for several visits and I can tell you IT'S WORKING!!!  Now, this isn't your typical foo-foo lay there and be pampered massage...it's rough. I'm not gonna lie.  It sometimes hurts...just a wee bit...but the benefits far outweigh the temporary discomfort.  It's so worth it....give it a try!
After the massage, while West thought I would go straight home and have my customary 4 hour post-massage nap....I proved him wrong and FINALLY got my Krogering done!  I headed back to CdW Downtown and put all of my purchases away.  I settled down on the sofa with a nice glass of vino and watched a few of my DVR'd shows.  When West got home, I was watching The Sandwich King.  Wouldn't you know it...he was making a lobster roll.....so what did we immediately start craving??  If you said LOBSTER ROLL....well, you were absolutely right!  So, we whip out our IPads....visit our new best friend - Yelp.com - and lo and behold....we find the ONLY place in Memphis (according to Yelp) that serves a Lobster Roll. 

Now, we had planned to head to Double J's to listen to a band that the owner, Jeff, had told us about at brunch so we spiffed up a little, and headed back to Midtown and The Slider Inn.  This is a really funky little place which primarily features sliders of an upscale version on their menu.  But thankfully they also have the coveted lobster roll.  The lobster is flown in from Maine 3 times per week and they had just received it that morning so we were in luck!!  The sandwich was PERFECT and the shoestring french fries were divine!! 

After satisfying this craving, back home where we parked the car and walked 1 block to Double J's.  We visited with a few friends, Jeff and Sarah, and met a man and his wife who live primarily in Nashville but he has lots of business in M-Town so he keeps a condo too.  They were very nice.  The band ended up being 1 guy and his guitar...playing country music.  Now, he was very good but I knew that my girl, Patty Harper and her band, Patty Harper & Faultline, were playing at Wet Willies and it had been a while since we had listened to them and with surprisingly very little coercion needed....West and I were on the trolley and headed to Beale Street!  Yes, we would have normally walked but it was COLD and that was NOT happening!  We arrived at Wet Willies and the band was near the end of their first set.  Got a nice wave from Patty and we lucked out and snagged a table pretty quickly.  It was pretty crowded and we shared our extra chairs with a nice couple cause we roll like that!! 

After a little tambourine playing, a White Russian daiquiri and a few more sets it was time to brave the cold and head home.  Now, on a lazy Sunday morning I've already got West's requested pot of turkey chili simmering on the stove, I'm having some vanilla Greek yogurt with blackberries and feeling good about finally getting my blog current.  Of course, there are a few weeks missing but honestly there is always something going on.  So, I encourage you just to get in your car and come see me....and you'll see for yourself!!  Until then, remember....be nice to people and tell the ones you love how much you love them!! 

Now, I bid you good day! 
Love, Yours Truly

Auld Lang Syne'ing on the River

HAPPY NEW YEAR  from Yours Truly In Memphis!  It's hard to conceive that it's already ANOTHER new year!  West and I had a wonderful NYE full of fun....despite the sloppy, rainy, cold weather!

We started out by hopping on the GE Patterson Trolley headed North.  We rode it up to Beale Street where we then sloshed our way to Wet Willies, aptly named given the weather conditions, to hear my girl Patty Harper & Faultline for a little while.  We were lucky enough to score a couple of seats front and center and got a warm welcome from Patty who promptly handed over the tambourine!  We caught them near the end of their first set but got to enjoy several songs.  With quick good-bye's, we headed on to destination #2, Double J's. 

So back to the trolley we went, making a quick pit stop at the Casa so that West could change out his soaked jacket and Yours Truly took the opportunity to dry her hair a bit and fluff up a little more.  This all done, we headed around the corner to Double J's.  We had plans to meet West's friend, Chip, and listen to a band from Nashville, Karen Waldrup.  She started shortly after we arrived and while the girl has a great voice, it was just her...no band.  Not exactly the riveting NYE party band we had anticipated.  We stayed through a few songs, visiting with Chip and decided this was NOT where we wanted to spend the rest of the evening.  Sorry Karen....again, great voice....great music.....but I didn't want to risk falling asleep on the spot!

Again....back to the trolley and north we headed disembarking at S.O.B.  The good seat gods were once again smiling down upon us as we walked in and snagged a table right away.  No band but always good music and lots of laughter at S.O.B.  We decided to try the caramel apple jello shots - you know, just to get the NYE party going and boy were these things good!  A slice of granny smith apple hollowed out with the caramel jello in the center...whoever put this together has SKILLS!!!  Our waiter, Eric, promptly brought a bowl of the crack...er, I mean MAGIC POPCORN they serve there and we ordered a beverage.  I had the caramel martini and West had the Lazy Magnolia Sweet Potato Stout.  I have to say, this LMSPS...it looked like he was drinking a glass of motor oil...it was dark, thick and was not appealing in the least bit to me.

We decided to order the fried avocados and cheese plate to nibble on since YT had made turkey soft tacos at home for dinner.  The bar filled up pretty quickly and was full of laughter and people having a nice evening.  West and I took some time to contemplate 2012 and had a really good visit.  We decided that we did not want to venture on the trolley any more that evening and actually made our way home at a very reasonable hour. 

New Year's Day has been quite nice.  The rain has cleared up but it's very cold out.  We decided since we only had 1 egg in the frig that we would venture forth in search of breakfast, and we had our sights on The Arcade Restaurant.  Sadly, they were closed.  What did we do?  If you guess jumped on the trolley and headed north, well you have been paying attention!  North it was and we jumped off at Peabody Place and walked a few blocks ending up at a place we have been wanting to try, Automatic Slims.  What a great little establishment!  Awesome artwork graced the walls and it had just a funky vibe to it. 

We were seated and greeted promptly by one of the best servers I recall to date, Dennis.  They were offering $2.50 mimosas and bloody Marys so we had to have 1 of each.  The breakfast selections all sounded so good and it was difficult to make a decision but I decided on buttermilk biscuits with Parmesan gravy....yes, PARMESAN GRAVY and some of the BEST cheesy grits I've had since crossing the Mighty Mississippi River.  West had lump crab eggs Benedict with potato hash.  Every bite was scrumptious and we've made plans to visit Automatic Slims soon for dinner!

Now, our final trolley trip of the day (hopefully) dumped us off a half a block from home and I'm sure there is a New Years Day nap somewhere on the horizon.  I am wishing everyone a happy, prosperous, love filled, fun filled 2013 and as always remember....be nice to people, tell the ones you love how much you love them and until next time....

Love, Yours  Truly

Blue Christmas in Memphis

Yours Truly sends you Happy Holiday wishes!  Hoping everyone had a Merry Christmas and plans for a HAPPY New Year!  It was a little blue in Memphis for Christmas since I was separated from my children and family but West and I made the best of it and had a fun time!
 
We started off by spending a quiet Christmas  Eve at the Casa Del West Downtown.  The plan was for me to make us a lovely lasagna for CE dinner and just have a quiet night.  During the Kroger shopping extravaganza earlier that weekend, I forgot to purchase a bell pepper.  So, West and I decided to take a little walk North on Main to the City Market in hopes that they might have one.  Our first stop along the way was to the Center for Southern Folklore.  They are a private non-profit organization dedicated to documenting and presenting the people, music and traditions of the region.  They have a shop and sell all types of art work, music, trinkets, etc.  They have bands that come in and play as well. 
 
The City Market was a SCORE and I secured a rather sad looking bell pepper but a bell pepper none-the-less!  Got a little aluminum pan too since there was a tragedy in my Pyrex cabinet the night before and I lost 2 pans!!  Now that was weird.  They were SHATTERED like maybe Big Foot had stepped on them or something!  I really think it's the vibrations from the Amtrak station across the street that shifts things around and it was just a matter of time before they fell or did whatever caused this tragedy.  But, it's all good.
 
Lasagna got prepared, baked, and most importantly....EATEN!!!  We settled in for a long winter's nap.  Christmas morning came bright and early.  We opened presents, all of which were very nice and well received!  I got West some ORANGE camo New Balance shoes....oh yes, every bit as sexy as I know you think they sound!

I was treated to some of the things I love most....perfume, lotions, bath gels, and makeup!!!  I also bought West a wonderful print from a gallery right down the street, D'Edge Art Gallery.  You can check it out on FB.  They have several artists who display their artwork but my favorite is George Hunt. West had seen this print recently and really liked it.  It's made a handsome edition to what we now refer to as our "Memphis Collection" of art work! 

Since it was just West and YT for the morning, we had made plans to go to Christmas Brunch at the Madison Hotel Eighty3. This was a really nice little restaurant. It was adorned with some really amazing artwork - all graffiti-like in nature.  Beautiful colors and textures!
 After perusing the menu, we both decided to have the Christmas plate special.  Man....what a treat!  Turkey, ham, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, candied carrots, and rolls.  Then for dessert....blueberry bread pudding!  It was quite possibly the best bread pudding Yours Truly has ever had!  It was moist, creamy, and had the best caramel sauce on top....delish!!!


We made our way back home and needless to say....I fell into the bed for a long nap!  I awakened to find that West had conducted the traditional de-decking of the halls on Christmas Day!  Our next destination...the Folks and Family Christmas!  This was YT's first Christmas with the West Clan and was I in for a treat!!!  Marilyn outdid herself and the dinner was DIVINE!!  Beef tenderloin, salmon, ham, spinach and strawberry salad, her to-die-for cheesy potato dish....then fabulous desserts!  Gary made a beautiful coconut cake, there was pecan pie, and I made my Mom's Better Than Sex On The Beach cake....it was just all so good!

Next came presents!  This was so much fun!  I'll not go into details but I'm very happy to report I have added several new cookbooks to my arsenal....particularly pleased that I received several Barefoot Contessa books! After a fun filled evening, we headed back downtown in the cold rain just praying it would not all freeze up by morning!  
So, the blues didn't last too long and now we are looking forward to ringing in a NEW YEAR in style!!  Here's wishing that everyone enjoys the rest of 2012 and remember...be nice to people....tell the ones you love how much you truly love them and until 2013....keep it safe out there!!  Until next time - Love, Yours Truly 

Updatin' In Memphis

Yours Truly has been a little busy lately and neglectful of my blog.  Let me catch ya up!!

West and I have gotten settled into the new place downtown and absolutely love it!!!  About once a week, we walk to dinner and enjoy our little neighborhood.  The last Friday night of each month is the Last Friday Trolley Art Tour.  All of the galleries are open, several have music and there is wine and snacks at most.  We have done this once and it was really fun!  Met several new people and saw some amazing art.

Last night we met West's buddies from college, Chip Grimm & Stephen DiMeglio, and participated in a Live Video taping at a place called Ditty TV.  It was streaming live online and the band was John Paul Keith and the 145's.  It was SO much fun! Their music is amazing...very high energy.  It's a little bit country, a little bit rock n' roll.  Little Americana....little Rock-a-Billy.

After the music, we went across to Ernestine & Hazel's where we met some more friends of Chip's, The Pittman's.  Super nice people!  The guys all shot a couple of games of pool and we all talked and laughed.  After the Pittman's left, we mossied across the street and down the block to Double J's.  There was an AWESOME band playing there, The Tommy Akers Band.  We ran into some other people we've met there and continued to keep the little party going!

It's not a party every night but we are taking advantage of this downtown living.  This past week we trollied and walked to do some Christmas shopping.  We stopped into a local place called The Blind Bear Speakeasy...which offered some wonderful selections indeed.  We split a few appetizers for dinner....creamy mac & cheese with lobster, warm pretzel bread with beer cheese and philly steak egg rolls.  Yum yum indeed.  But the beauty of it is we walked the mile home so I didn't feel too guilty with the nibblies!

So if all this talk of music and food has you ready for some adventure, come on to Memphis and see us!  So remember to be nice to people, and tell the people you love just how much you love them! 

Until next time,I remain Loving it in Memphis, 

Yours Truly.

Sweet Home....Ala....Memphis....

OMG....what an evening in Downtown Memphis! Yours Truly and her beloved, West, walked a block to do a little Christmas shopping...and Lo and Behold...across the street was Ernestine & Hazels. This is an amazing establishment where it has been written "Upstairs was once a noisy brothel; a couple of barflies have apparently turned out to be ghosts. And there you have it, just another all-American dry-goods-store-turned-watering-hole, where God knows how many broken hearts have been avenged and vendettas executed." 

This establishment is just 1 block north and across the street from where West and YT live...I have been just salivating to go in there since it is proclaimed to be "haunted"..."visited"...well, you get the point. So....YT and West...after a little trip to American Apparel....where YT happened to spy and procure a Raspberry Beret...the kind you find in a second hand store...we just directed our feet across the street and strutted right in.  This is a DIVE, with a capital D-I-V-E, bar of the truest nature....NO renovations whatsoever....But, did I mention? They have THE best juke box in all of Memphis-dom....so, we did our usual mosey'ing in....and as we were the only folks there  (besides Keenan the barkeeper) at the moment, we pretty much had the rule of the roost.  

So being Nosy Rosy that I am...and it was reputed to be "haunted"....I took a little venture upstairs ....yes, alone.  It was, admittedly, a little on the creepy side...and I did proceed with a sense of...caution.  
It was dark, shadowy and well....shall I say....creepy.  I did not linger...As I made my decent of the stairs...I was about 4 steps  from the bottom to the door out....the stairs above me....CREEKED....like someone was following me.....yes....the hairs on the back of my neck ....STRAIGHT OUT...,the adrenaline.....shot through me...and I got a COLD CHILL and could not find that door knob fast enough!!  That's all I got to say about that....Oh except I DID have one of their famous SOUL BURGERS...and they DO have the BEST jukebox in alll of Memphis-dom...

So, recovering from said weird experience, I send you all the invitation to COME TO MEMPHIS....we'll leave the light on....be nice to one another and tell the ones you love...that you love them!  Until next time, Love....Yours Truly

Shakin' & Movin' in Memphis!!!

 Yours Truly has really fallen behind on the posts lately.  Please forgive me because so much has been going on in MTown..  West and I have FINALLY settled into a place of our own and the last 2 weekends have been dedicated to moving, unpacking, unpacking, and unpacking!  It's looking really good after a lot of HARD WORK!!!! 

The entire move got off to a, well, shall I say, BAD START.  We signed a lease, and were told we could move in on November 3.  So, YT made all of the arrangements...ALL of the arrangements.  Moving company...check; utilities on...check; U-Haul Cargo Van....check; change of address...you guessed it...check!!  Then, I find out 2 days prior to D-Day that ...the current tenants are not going to be OUT November 3 but are MOVING on November 3.  SAY WHAT??  You've got my $$, I have a lease that says NOVEMBER 3, and I can't move in???  This is not making me very happy.  After some back and forth phone calls and emails, it's worked out that THEIR movers are going to be there Saturday from 2 to 4 and we can move in after 4.  Ok, not perfect but it's a plan.

So, the big day arrives.  I have to be there early to meet the furniture delivery truck since West and YT bought new furniture after 20 years.....yes, it's awesome.  I go to the apartment and what do I discover???  She has not even finished PACKING YET!!!!!!  WHAT????  This is NOT happening!!!  But, being YT, I try to make the best of it and help.  West hired a few of his workers to come help us move our local stuff so they get there and what do they end up doing?  Yeah, they MOVED the current tenant out.  Moved almost ALL of their stuff for them!!! 

Well, in the midst of this, my furniture arrives.  So, it's a 3-ring circus to say the least.  Now, I mentioned that her movers were supposed to be there by 2:00.  Guess what DIDN'T happen?  If you guessed that her movers did not show up, well, you get a gold star by your name my friend!  But, Cary and Tyrell, bless their little pea pickin' hearts, they just kept on moving her stuff out...they were work horses!!!  Her husband, who was not there because he was already in Michigan, called at some point, discovered her PRE-PAID movers had not shown up and he called some of his buddies so the Calvary showed up and then it was a 5-ring circus!!!  Now, keep in mind, after 4:00 we had told our movers that they could begin moving us in.  So, begin they did....see 5-ring circus comment! 

Oh, did I mention....she had a DOG that was running around during the middle of all of this?  Oh, yeah, she did.  Poor Cash...he was a good dog....but VERY confused!!!  At long last....their stuff was gone.  Now, she had scheduled someone to come in and clean at 4:00. This place was a pig sty and she was NOT a housekeeper....sweet as could be.....not a planner, not a cleaner.  And, of course, the cleaning service no-showed.  I sensed a pattern developing here.  But, we made due. 

Eventually all of our things were moved in, movers gone, helpers paid and gone and West and I were FINALLY in a new place of our own!!!   We were bone weary and hungry so we cleaned up, walked down the street and found a neat little spot for dinner, Double J Smokehouse and Saloon.  We mossied on in, crawled up onto a bar stool and I had one of the best steaks I've had since leaving Shertown....Shawn at The Library has spoiled me in the steak department.  I now compare everything to his!!!  This one came close, but did not surpass!!  But, we did meet our lovely waitress, Murphy, and she was just sweet as pie!  We had a great meal, dragged ourselves back home and fell exhausted into our bed. 

It was indeed a long day...followed by many more long days but I'm happy to report that the Casa Del West Downtown is 99% unpacked and fully functioning!  We are ready to receive guests and look forward to my daughter Ali and her husband TJ who will be our first when the come for Thanksgiving!  So, I leave you now and remind you....be ever thankful for what you have, tell the ones your love just HOW MUCH you love them and be nice to people!!  Until next time, Love - Yours Truly.