I am in LOVE, People!

We've been having some pretty amazing weather here in Houston - a bit chilly in the mornings but so nice all day long. We had a nice Easter - relaxed and shared a meal that everyone helped prepare. It was nice to be off of work on Friday, although I ran out of steam on Saturday and didn't make it to the Houston & Beyond crop. But I knew better than to schedule it - it just seems like I can't do alot on the weekends.

I did get to check out the new park downtown called Discovery Green. I am absolutely in love with it. And forgive me but I have to bubble on about it and tell you how amazing it is! It's 12 acres and it has everything - my favorite is oak alley (below) and the gardens and I haven't seen the fountains in actions, just pictures of it. There's also a dog park and two restaurants and a boat pond and a couple of ampitheatres where they'll have concerts on Sunday afternoons. Oh and an urban market on Thursdays. Its just going to be amazing. It opens April 13th. These partridge family fixtures are staircases to the parking garage. Next to them are wooden structures that act as ventilation for the garage - they're beautiful - made of a Brazilian hardwood called IPE. I took about 4 photos and my camera died and I didn't feel like going all the way back to the car for batteries so I only got these two shots to give.

I mean to tell you that Houston will be so proud of this park when its opens (on the 13th) and it gets to fall in love with it all on their own. I am very proud of my husband and his company for building it.

This fountain is called a Mist Tree and this photo (below) belongs to Sabotai on flickr. You will also find some FANTASTIC shots taken by Pixeltopia of the park - not sure when they were taken, maybe at the preview party.

A big shout out to my friend, Karen who is celebrating a birthday today! We are celebrating her birthday Saturday at Scrapbook Village along with Sandy Horton - will be fun! And then in two weeks we're off to Nashville for Scrap etc!

Sunday

One of my promises for the New Year was to go to concerts. Not go to more concerts - go to A concert since the last one I had been to was Prince and it wasn't in this decade... Last Saturday night I went to see Michael Buble. Basically anyone performing live is enjoyable to me but I have to say Mr. Buble puts on a great show. Very entertaining. And the opening act was Naturally 7. ... Sorry I was gone for a bit, I had to watch their videos on You Tube. They are simply amazing. Watch both the Paris subway vid and this one in Nurnberg. It makes you want to dance, they were so cool. They sing acapella and make the sound of all the instruments with their voices. Watch Say You Love Me, which is an original song of theirs. Those drums are their voice! I just can't say enough - it was a great evening. My next concert is in April to see Bruce Springsteen with my favourite Canadian, Charleen all the way from Halifax!

Every day I get an email from The Foundation for a Better Life with a quote of the day. Here are some of my favorites:

Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them - every day begin the task anew.

Saint Frances de Sales

In life you can never be too kind or too fair; everyone you meet is carrying a heavy load. When you go through your day expressing kindness and courtesy to all you meet, you leave behind a feeling of warmth and good cheer, and you help alleviate the burdens everyone is struggling with.

Brian Tracy

And this is my favorite - it sits on my desk at work...

Nothing is ever lost by courtesy. It is the cheapest of the pleasures, it costs nothing and conveys much. It pleases him who gives and him who receives, and thus, like mercy, it is twice blessed.

Erastus Wiman I love that - twice blessed. How eloquent.

Okay, can I share some aggravation with you? I hate it when people post photos of their scrap room and invariably they show some great shelf or cabinet from PB or Ikea that you can't buy anymore... It's happened several times now - makes me crazy! I want this Pottery Barn shelf for my room. Is this just a middle-child syndrom?

Oh - and finally, my brother sent me a new website that is pretty cool - Houstonist. They had a great article about the Montrose from August 07. I also learned that there is a place called Peggy's Lake on the Houston Ship Channel, right near Vopak's terminal. Can you believe it! I found it looking at the photopics and then I spent half the morning looking at this man's photos. He is a pilot on the ship channel and takes incredible maritime shots. If you're into that. I am.

I know you need a pic, so here's my Grace. She's going to the beauty shop on Wednesday.

I'm off to download some Itunes. And Tuesday, cross your fingers that Rascal Flatts will actually appear at the Rodeo - we're going to see them ... if they show up!