Last weekend was spent as the guest of my youngest daughter at her newly purchased home in Sebastian. Her company gave her the day off on Friday, which was her birthday and she invited me for a long weekend stay. She picked me up in the early afternoon on Friday. I had my own “wing” and a bathroom in her spacious four bedroom home. I also was able to spend time with my grandkitty, Rumi. He’s very special to me and it was fun to hang-out with him again. I don’t know if he realizes it or not, but he’s a very unique individual. He always brings a smile to my heart. He’s enjoying his own bright, sunny room where he likes to spend time sitting in the window that has a perfect vantage point to watch the goings on of the neighborhood.
A close friend of Mahan’s treated us both to a lovely meal at a charming restaurant that evening that was right next door to the historic Cocoa Village Playhouse, established in 1924, to which we went after eating. We saw “Windy City” based on a hit Broadway comedy that has also been remade several times into films. The one best known to me is “His Girl Friday”, made in 1940, starring Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell. The cast were all skilled singers and it was an amusing and entertaining presentation.
The next morning, we took our time getting breakfast and dressed and later met up with a friend of hers at an antique store in Vero Beach. Mahan found five sturdy, painted, dining room chairs that looked as if they had been recently reupholstered…very pretty…and at a price she couldn’t pass up. Now, she’ll have to keep her eye out for a great table to go with them. From there we went to the Vero Beach Museum of Art where antique dealers were having a showing–and selling. We had a great time looking at the high-end, way-out-of-our-league offerings, one painting we admired when we first arrived had a price tag of $86,000.00!
We were meeting her sister and her husband for dinner early that evening but by now had worked up a need for a snack. We decided to go to a nearby Panera and have a cup of soup. But first, Mahan asked me if I wanted some chocolate. Chocolate? Well, sure. She’s discovered a charming little shop called Faith, Hope and Chocolate that she likes to visit when the mood strikes. We both found some to try and Mahan bought some favorites to share, and I ended up buying some dark chocolate nonpareils for Tom’s birthday this week…his favorite.
We later shared a relaxing, mellow dinner with my oldest daughter and son-in-law. It’s always a treat to spend time with all of them together.
After we returned home, Mahan wanted to watch a football game. What?! I’ve never known her to watch football. I don’t watch it..ever. She and I had been Magic fans when they first came to Orlando and she had often attended the games when she lived in the area…but football? I was floored. But some friends of hers were storing their huge-screened television at her house and she said it was fun to watch sports when you can actually see the action so close. Well, okay…so I gave it a try. A guy friend of hers came over and I actually sat through the whole thing…and actually enjoyed it. It was an abysmal match though between Denver and New England. I’m sure all you football fans know all about it…New England won.
On Sunday, we had a late brunch. Mahan has become quite the expert at making omelets with the help of this cool little omelet pan and then she really got industrious and made us pancakes from scratch. Yum! She also likes to buy fresh coffee beans and she served up flavorful cups of coffee each morning using her French press. I’m proud of her domestic abilities and so is my stomach!
Later in the afternoon, the two daughters, son-in-law and I went to a matinee showing of “The Barber of Seville”–my first opera. It’s hard to believe that I hadn’t been before. But we all enjoyed it immensely and had a quick dinner out before Mahan drove me back home and ended what was truly a very lovely weekend. We’ve already talked about doing it again.
Vero Beach Museum of Art



I got squeezed out in the background. Tracy set her camera on a post for a timed photo and ran to get into the frame. From left: Mary, Jan, Gayle, Tracy–cheese!


