The BIG 3-0 Weekend

Yes, I am officially old. But, I have had a pretty fantastic birthday weekend!

On Friday Jeff, some dear friends, and I started the night off with dinner at Simply Fondue. It was fabulous.

I have really been wanting to go to a fondue restaurant so this was quite a treat. The atmosphere is very inviting and you could tell everyone there was having a great time. I think it is nearly impossible not to enjoy yourself while eating fondue!

After dinner we went to Lola's to see our friend's Pablo and the Hemphill 7.

Jeff surprised me with red roses and diamond earrings for my birthday. He said that 30 is a classic birthday and since roses and diamonds are classic, that is what he wanted to give to me. It was a fantastic surprise that I was not expecting at all.

On Saturday, my actual birthday day, I lounged about the house and then went to the birthday party that my parents had for me. It was really nice. We had a New Mexican theme and everything was decorated so cute! I can't believe I did not take any pictures of it! My mom cooked Pinon Chile Beans and Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas for dinner. Both were recipes from our Culinary tour. It was delish (I am channeling Rachel Ray)! She even made guacamole like they do at Gabriel's! I also just realized that it is only 4 months until our return to Santa Fe! Wah Hoo! I can feel that desert mountain air now!

For dessert we had chocolate fondue which kept with my theme for the weekend. Also, my dear friends gave me an electric fondue pot for my birthday. I think a fondue party is in the works soon!

My mother is very in tune with my new found passion for Pyrex and gave me some of my grandmother's old Pyrex. I absolutely love it and it is very special to me.

On Sunday, I slept in, until about 10:45 which I never ever do because I am an early riser. Jeff made me my very first fried egg for breakfast. This is pretty miraculous because the boy does not cook. I usually like my eggs scrambled but I have to admit, a fried egg is not half bad, especially when you enjoy it with your 4th cup of morning coffee!

I lounged around the house and worked on knitting my socks. I got a load of progress done on these socks during the drive home from Arkansas last Monday. I conquered the heel flap and heel gusset!! I am very proud!

It was such a beautiful day today so I cracked open a few windows. While I was knitting, Ziggy was busy trying to figure out a way to make the great escape. We caught him climbing on the window!

Now, for the socks, I am working on shaping the toe and I will be done with my very first pair of hand knit socks.

Yes, it has been a great Birthday weekend.

You know, I have to admit, I kinda like being 30. :-)

Cheers.

Warning, An Official Geeking Out About to Occur, Proceed With Caution...

Boy, did I do some damage today! It was a lovely day. First, I got up bright and early and made some coffee, drank my coffee while enjoying the hilarious Joel McHale on the Soup. I did a bit of power house cleaning, made a yummy breakfast, got all gussied up (well as gussied up as I get for the weekend), and hit up a few garage sales with my family. Then, after the garage sale, we went a fantastic estate sale in the Ryan Place area. The house was lovely on the outside and inside. It almost looked like a castle. I love estate sales but to me they are very surreal. Most of the time they mean an end to a life or the drastic change of a life, sometimes both. You can tell alot about people by what is in their house. I think that is the most fascinating part of estate sales to me. I imagine the lady of the house to be an artist of some sort. She had soooo many wonderful things. There was a room full of sewing fabrics and notions, knitting needles, yarn, embroidery floss and supplies, sewing patterns, and knitting patterns. There was another room full of art supplies such as paint, water color paper, crayons, and scrap booking supplies. It was amazing. The kitchen was fabulous too! Everything about the house said that the people who once lived there were world travelers. They had a lot of artifacts from different countries. I think they were probably very interesting people and I almost felt like I was intruding by rummaging through their belongings. I even saw a flapper dress with the shoes, headdress, and everything!Now, I think she must have been one cool lady!

I was very fortunate to find some fantastic things! So, here is my geek out, prepare yourself.....

When I got to the sewing/knitting room I immediately saw this...and, of course, totally geeked out.

It is full of knitting needles! I think she must have made it herself out of some vintage fabric. I have always wanted a knitting needle roll and I have really been wanting to make one for myself too. I am not sparing anyone at this point and am showing more pictures of this fabulous knitting needle roll so...hang tight for a minute.

I even found 5 pair of double pointed needles for a buck 50! So, I stuck them in the roll too. Ok, major geek out now....just for the sake of it, this is how you roll it up...wow...I am such a dork. Is anyone reading this?? I think I may be embarrassed after I post it. Blushing now......

Okay...on to the next thing. I have always wanted a fondue pot and "lows and behold" as my grandma would say, my destiny was awaiting in the kitchen pantry!

I also picked up a bright red Krups coffee grinder, for a steal by the way. I think I will use it to grind my herbs in...that was my mom's idea.

There were also tables full of kitchen linens and I found a few vintage linens that I absolutely adore. They will be perfect for throwing parties. Come to think of it, the holidays are arriving, I have a fondue pot, and new linens. I need to have a fondue party!

I like to keep my oils, vinegars, and homemade dressings in old beer jars. So, needless to say I was thrilled when I saw this. I don't have one in green yet and can't believe I found it. Normally, I just find them in amber. So, it is a nice addition to my collection.

I swear this is the very last thing! Vintage spools of thread and measuring tapes!

Ok, the official geek out session has ended!

Cheers!