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Montana Greetings

My view from the bed and breakfast dining room -- where the computer is located -- is a the University of Montana and the river that runs through Missoula. In the distance are snow flecked mountains. It is lovely and while the sky is turning dark now it has been a beautiful clear and sunny morning to explore Missoula. Unfortunately K had flight problems, so we won't be together for another hour. My travel mishap was being delayed for two hours in Denver, but I got in last night and had a lovely dinner with Tom and Julia.

Spent the morning doing some of my favorite things -- walking, looking at historic buildings, browsing a terrific independent bookstore, Fact and Fiction. I had an interesting conversation with the owner and of course, came away with another book and a number of good recommendations. This was followed by browsing at a charming art gallery, the Monte Dollack Gallery, and then lunch with Tom. I completed my sight seeing day with a walk through the East Pine Street Historic District and a stop at the Missoula Art Museum. I loved the walks and looking up with each step and seeing the mountains. I snapped lots of pictures to share when I get back. 

Wishes for a great weekend!

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

Rainy Sunday at the Vegetable Market in Chinatown

Dumpling Store

Fish Market

To respond to a question...Michigan, Kansas, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Nebraska. I'm eager to visit all of them!

Don't know if I'll get to a computer this weekend, so you may not hear from me until mid next week. Wishes for a great weekend and you know there will be pictures! 

V.A.C.A.T.I.O.N......

...and it's another M!

There are times that I feel I don't go away much at all and other times -- like now -- that I'm not home at all. 
I'm leaving Thursday on a long planned getaway to a state -- actually two states -- that are new to me.  I'm leaving for Montana and Idaho. I'm going with my dear friend, K, to visit her son and his fiancee. I blogged about their engagement and now I get to meet Julia and spend time with some of the dearest people I know. 

A longtime goal is to visit all fifty states and this trip will make #41 and #42. K and I are staying in a charming bed and breakfast. I've been visiting the website regularly and promise to share pictures when I get back. We'll be visiting galleries, taking long walks, chatting, laughing and snapping lots of pictures. Any blog friends live in western Montana? 

Big Sky Country, Here I come!

It's Always Breakfast Time Somewhere

I love breakfast and could happily eat breakfast foods for three meals a day. In a parallel universe I would do this and my choices wouldn't be simple and light. I'd choose French toast, awash in syrup and big omelets with a side of breakfast meats and fried potatoes. My breakfast in real life is humbler and generally consists of yogurt (fat free) with fruit or a simple scrambled egg and a bagel for a splurge. In the parallel breakfast universe I'd have a cup of cafe au lait and in real life it's usually a cup of decaf with skim milk

During our trip to Maryland last week we stopped at Marydon and Harold's favorite breakfast spot and had a terrific breakfast. I borrowed from the parallel universe had potatoes with my eggs and a biscuit, and it was delicious.

Since it's always breakfast time somewhere I'd love to get any new ideas for breakfast treats, either simple or splurges. What are favorite foods and favorite places where you like to have breakfast? I'll be photographing my favorite places in the weeks to come to share, because it's always breakfast time somewhere.

Hope you're having a great weekend!

Maryland, My Maryland

One of the great loves of my life is travel. I not only like to travel, but I like to plan to travel. I like reading about places to visit, browsing the guide books at the book store and poring over the NY Times travel section over the weekend. By the time I got to high school I had my first list of places I wanted to see -- London and St. Paul's; Paris and the Louvre and India and the Taj Mahal. From then on the list kept growing. For every place I visited two more popped up. As time went by the places I longed to see became more exotic. Right now Laos and Bhutan are at the very top. I don't know if I will get to either destination, but I enjoy reading about them.


I've been to Maryland a number of times, but had never had the good fortune to spend time in Frederick County and the area where Marydon and Harold live. What a great treat. Not as exotic as Bhutan, but I had a wonderful touring morning. We saw a number of sites related to the Civil War, which was fascinating. A definite high point was a historical marker about Charles Carroll of Carrollton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He also helped form the government of the Maryland, and became US Senator from Maryland. In a fascinating side note -- thank you Wikipedia -- I learned that one of my favorite neighborhoods in Brooklyn, Carroll Gardens, was named for him.

A charming bed and breakfast

Maryland country church

I had a wonderful time during our tourist day. There are few things I enjoy more than seeing historic sites with dear friends who also have a deep interest in history. But I also learned a great lesson. Yes, I still want to visit Bhutan and Laos and Wales and the Lake Country in England. But if I never leave the East Coast there is more than enough to enjoy, to see for the first time and to keep me learning. So please pass me the Maryland guide book. I've got to read about Annapolis. 

Tea Time...


...and the loveliest tea imaginable!


On reflection, it seems a little odd that a weekend can hold so many memories. It's a time span of just 48 hours. I know that there's a television show where the entire season spans only 24 hours and classic plays take place in a day, but in the average 48 hours not much seems to happen. It seems to be rounds of work, commute, grocery shop, do little errands, read the newpaper, read email...But this weekend held enough richness for the weeks where very little seems to happen.

On Saturday Marydon hosted a lovely lunch at a local restaurant. The group of bloggers who came together were warm, lively and fun. I didn't know most of the women and weren't familiar with their blogs, but the ice was broken quickly and our time together flew by. We returned to Marydon's for the lovely tea -- raspberry cheesecake, chocolates, delicate candies -- and as we chatted the conversation flowed.



These are two photos from our luncheon. I've never posted a photo of myself and rarely post pictures of others, but as we are bloggers posing for what were definitely pictures to-be-posted I am making a rare exception and violating my rule. I couldn't get one photo where we all are clearly shown and in every picture somebody's face is covered, but here are two that I liked a lot.  For all those who wondered what I look like, I am right in front in the black sweater and print skirt.

I feel so grateful for our blogger day -- the friendship, the laughter and the memories. My only regret is that more of our blog friends couldn't join us. Thanks, Marydon, and hugs across the miles!

Walking My Baby Back Home

During our fascinating history morning in the Maryland countryside today we came upon this fellow walker. I was taken with his odd dog on the left...and then realized he was walking his goat, along with the two dogs. Yes, folks, that is a goat out for a walk. 

I'm home from our wonderful blog-friends weekend in Maryland. The house is too quiet. I want to be back in Marydon and Harold's warm and lovely house, visiting with them and dear Sherry. Just about this time we would be chuckling at our photos, recalling the beautiful tea and luncheon yesterday and our great day at Arlington National Cemetery today. It may have been a nippy April day, but our hearts were warm. 

Buttercup's blessings are overflowing. Thank you Marydon and Harold for the warmest hospitality imaginable, Sherry for your smiles, friendship and laughter and my cowgirl necklace and my new blogger friends, what lovely women. This is a weekend I will cherish for a long time. Of course, there will be pictures! 

Buttercup is Springing


Spring is springing along, and so am I. In just a little while I am leaving for a blogger get-together in Maryland. I am so excited. I will get to meet Marydon and Sherry and other blogger buddies. Got to go and get organized, so that I can spring down to Maryland. There will be pictures!

Hugs and wishes to all for a great weekend.

Spring Keeps Springing...

...And I love it!

Wishes for bright flowers, sunny days and happy times!

On This Loveliest of Spring Weekends...

Amanda and Chuck were married!

It was a beautiful weekend for a beautiful wedding. It was the perfect spring weekend, clear skies, seventy degrees, bright sunshine and a joyous and happy celebration. Couldn't ask for more! The temperature on the day of Amanda's shower was twelve degrees, but yesterday's beauty made up for the icy wind of January. The service was lovely, the bridesmaids and flower girls looked wonderful and the father of the bride -- my dear friend and colleague -- couldn't have looked more handsome or been happier. The party was terrific. There was great food, a wonderful DJ and lots of dancing.


The cake was lovely and the ducks were a great bride and groom 

What a joy this weekend was. I wish I could bottle the good feelings and ship it to all of you!

Another Sign of Spring


It's officially spring in Buttercupland and the team is getting ready. Pepe is the pitcher and captain and there is quite a group on the team. They may not be the fastest runners or hit the farthest, but there isn't a team around that plays with more enthusiasm. Let's give a cheer for the Pats of Butter!

Spring is Springing


Last Saturday I was in Union Square -- at East 14th Street. I'd spent the afternoon having lunch with friends and seeing a very interesting play, "The Scottsboro Boys. At Union Square there were feathers everywhere. I wasn't sure if there was a demonstration, but after checking with one of the many police officers that were there found there was a pillow fight. I was greatly relieved, but it was still much too crowded for the shoe shopping I hoped to do.


This is the sight that greets me when I emerged from the subway last night on the final leg home. I love spring!

On a very different note, my heart and prayers are in West Virginia.

Happy Easter Wishes


Wishes for a blessed Easter
Pepe is very appreciative of all your good wishes and joins me in wishing everyone a very happy Easter celebration. Hugs and good wishes! 

Of Course I Like the Easter Bunny...


But I love Pepe, the Easter Monkee 

His ears don't quite fit, but his heart is definitely in the right place. Pepe and I will be blog visiting later and leaving our Easter greetings and lots of hugs. 

Wishes for a beautiful spring Saturday!

My Evening with Hungry Girl


I wish you all could have been there. Hungry Girl is more fun in person than in writing. She's helpful, funny and  it was a great evening. Didn't make it to the Laughing Cow/Babybel after party, but got an almost front-row seat at the signing/talk that started the evening.  There were samples of some Hungry Girl favorite foods -- Laughing Cow, VitaTops and Fiber One -- and a great raffle, which included a year's supply of VitaTops.

Lisa -- I feel I know her now -- spoke about her goal when she began her daily emails in 2004. She wanted to be a "best foodie friend," and that's exactly how it felt last night...that I got to meet my best foodie friend. I also feel very inspired to eat more sensibly and tackle a few more pounds. I'll keep you posted on the latter.

Wishes for a great spring day!