The Bluebird

Nestled in the small town of Stanford, Kentucky sits a cafe that is well worth the drive. It's one I kept hearing about from Kentucky friends and family. On the wedding week-end, a group of young people who arrived from Idaho and California for the event, joined Julia and Rylan made sure they enjoyed a hearty breakfast there before they started their Kentucky day and the busy wedding schedule! 

So, once the wedding was over and we had a day to relax before shuttling family back to the airport to meet their planes, we decided to check out the Bluebird for ourselves.

Now, who in the world would write an entire blog post about a restaurant? Well, I guess I would. Bear with me. There are some yummy food pictures coming up!

Dad was his usual cheerful self. He enjoys talking to people and engaged our waitress in conversation about the restaurant. 
Local. Fresh. Sustainable. Pure.
D E L I C I O U S

Our server was helpful in finding us exactly what we needed to meet our dietary needs. The vegetarian and gluten-free in our group came away happily satisfied with a great selection of foods.

Look at this for freshness! Pasta served with spinach, onion, and artichoke hearts. Add to that roasted red pepper, olives, and a good sprinkling of sunflower seeds.

Gluten free breads were available, like this wrap. They could be served around a variety of delicious gluten-free and vegetarian ingredients.

And you can never go wrong with made-from-scratch potato soup!

I'll admit that we did do some food sharing, simply so we could "try" the yummy looking foods that other family members had ordered. 

Alma looks satisfied. Everything was delicious!

And. . .I was able to buy a BLUE.bird mug so I can remember the experience as I sip on my tea here at home. Connections. LOVE. Memories.

Ye Merrie Sudo Faire

Walks have always been a part of our family life. And walking in any of the area parks always gives us interesting things to see. It keeps us motivated to get our exercise! You never know what you'll see! Recently we discovered a merry group of people at the park. It was late in the day and the sign said "ticket office closed --- please enter and enjoy". So we thought "why not" and headed through the cardboard castle that doubled as a gated entry. We were barely inside when we met a gentleman going out who saw Sudo and started asking a dozen questions. We discovered that we were in the company of a star!

Road signs led us through the encampment. Ye Merrie Faire was full of all sorts of unusual and interesting things. There were booths for vendors, open air theaters, and musical groups. One gentleman called me "my lady" and it made me smile. So quaint.

I enjoyed observing the children. They were having such a fun time and most were dressed in colorful outfits or fairy wings.

We, along with Sudo, discovered that there were other dogs in attendance and they were held in high esteem. The lady in blue smiled for a picture. Her dog was dressed in matching fairy wings! And ye lady of the Scentsy booth was happy to see the gentleman and two little dogs who came to visit her.

Colorful ribbons were beautiful. They were displayed outside a booth. They wafted gently in the breeze and the beads on the headpieces sparkled in the sunshine.

Sudo, ever gentle, allowed people to pet her. Some wanted to hold her, but we respected her right to feel secure and politely said no, and said she doesn't want to be passed around. They seemed to understand. She was a great conversation starter. We talked to all sorts of people whom generally would just walk right on by.

Of course some of the things at Ye Merrie Faire were scary to Sudo. A boy holding axes and shouting at the top of his lungs was not something Sudo enjoyed. She shivered and moved closer.

Clank. Clang. Jousting. Noise! Action! Cheers. Armor protected. Someone down. Then kind assistance to the one down and it was another pairs turn to get into action. Sudo was not sure about all the noise!

Horses, so well trained, patiently waited for the command of their riders. When called upon they'd run down the field and their rider would strike a metal shield with a lance. Again, more cheering.

It was enough to make a little greyhound shiver in her boots!

The costumes and outfits were a sight to behold. Everyone seemed to be having an excellent time as they pretended to be from a bygone era. I overheard one lady telling some gentlemen seated nearby that most of her friends would state their occupation as working as a barista or clerk, but when she's asked, she always says she is a fairy princess. She was an interesting princess though. Her gown was long and flowing, but it was a warm day, so it was hiked up above her knees. Sneakers were on her feet.  A burning cigarette dangled from her fingers. But her fairy wings were in place.

A beautiful girl in a lovely gown posed on the riverbank while her mother took pictures. She looked so sweet.

And these two young ladies fell in love with Sudo, calling her one of the cutest dogs they'd ever seen. We chatted awhile and when it was time to move along on our walk, they told us that they were stationed at that point on the pathway because the archery competition was ahead and we should not pass by any further for our own safety. Their task was to turn people back to go the other way. So we turned around, passing the fairy princess one more time.

Their were actors in their fabulous costumes. They took their roles very seriously.

And a medieval choir sang so professionaly. They were singing Celtic folk songs in beautiful harmony.

Belly dancers put on a show for those who came to watch. They enjoyed a conversation together afterwards.

And young people with their gothic attire seemed to be relaxed and happy to find a place where they could dress up and have their appearance so well received.

Someone said that we needed to stick around for a few more minutes because the Queen would be coming by with her entourage in a few minutes. The Queen's Parade would end the festivities for the day. Soon two girls led the way {can you see the antler crown?}.

And there she was -- the Queen of Ye Merrie Faire -- Queen Elizabeth the First. Flutes and recorders were played liltingly to draw attention to the parade. Singers sang in harmony as they escorted the queen through the faire. Can you see the queen waving in her golden gown? I was told that she made the gown herself and that all the beautiful embroidery on the front of the gown was stitched by her. You can see a portion of it on black velvet in the picture. It was exquisite and in the style of crewel.

An hour spent walking in the park turned into an interesting experience. Sudo was a charming ice breaker for us. It was fun visiting with people along the way. As we headed back to the car the crowd thinned and as Sudo noted that there weren't quite so many people and loud, noisy things going on, she was happy to walk. A simple walk turned into quite an adventure. I wonder --- if I should make Sudo some fairy wings?

Sudo & Sweden

We are loving having Sudo staying with us for awhile. She has adapted to our household very well. In fact, I'm afraid she is becoming very spoiled! The world revolves around her and she thinks that is the way it is supposed to be. Even Ms. Schnauzer has taken a secondary role to sweet Sudo. Every day they spend time playing together; pulling tug-of-war with a pair of socks or taking turns chewing up a piece of cardboard. Such fun! I'm sure she misses her master and mistress, but she doesn't seem to be pining away. It's a good thing, because they are far away.

The master {also called my oldest son} is doing a good job of sending pictures from their journey. This one came with the caption: Somewhere over Nunavut. Sometimes Earth looks very alien. 

Do you know where Nunavut is? I had forgotten and had to look it up again.

• Nunavut is the largest, northernmost and newest territory of Canada. It was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, though the boundaries had been contemplatively drawn in 1993. The creation of Nunavut resulted in the first major change to Canada's political map since the incorporation of the new province of Newfoundland and Labrador in 1949. Nunavut comprises a major portion of Northern Canada, and most of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Its vast territory makes it the fifth-largest country subdivision in the world, as well as the largest in North America. {Wikipedia}

From the bridge connecting Djurgården to Östermalm

Their flight took them to Amsterdam where they changed planes and flew on to Stockholm, Sweden. It is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe that is known for agriculture, vast areas of forestland, and Vikings! After seeing a few pictures, I think it must also be known for its beautiful, cheerful colors! 

Somewhere in Stockholm

It seems timely that Sweden has been in the news this past week with the announcement that Prince Carl Philip is engaged to a lovely woman named Sofia Hellqvist. PrinceCarl Philip is third in line to the throne and the second oldest child of King Carl XVI and Queen Silvia. I'm always interested in royalty, no matter what country they are from. And with Sweden in my radar screen, this was a fitting announcement.

Vaxholm, Sweden

Vaxholm, Sweden

Hembygdsgård Vaxholm 

As a {semi} faithful blogger, I'm always thinking of things that might be fun or interesting to write about. So, when eldest son dropped off Sudo, I asked him to "please send pictures so I have something to blog about --- especially pictures of FOOD". Look at that cute little cafe! It's quaint, old, colorfully painted, and the bicycle out front simply adds to its charm.

Chanterelle quiche, with garden greens and watermelon. Swedish pastries and TEA.

I'm so glad that they remembered the tea!

More food! The breakfast buffet at the hotel. I hear the pineapple is delicious! And look at all those crusty breads.

Sudo is busy playing with Ms. Schnauzer as I type. This is her "hour of terror", at least that is what we call it. It's her play time before she settles down for the night. It's hard play and then deep sleep. Her master and mistress are waking up in Sweden just as we settle down for the night. Well, we will settle down as soon as Sudo does. 

I'm enjoying the armchair travels and Sudo adventures and I hope you are too.

Tea at a Ghost Town

One of my favorite things to do is to go on an excursion with my family and visit ghost towns of the west. From Oregon to Arizona, there are so many interesting, out of the way places to visit. Each is unique and different. Each offers a picture into history. People who sought adventure in the wild west were brave and courageous. Some were greedy and others were just trying to create a new life that gave hope and opportunity to their families.

Recently we decided to head out to a place we'd never been. We drove over mountain passes and fertile valleys until we reached a narrow highway leading off the beat and track to the ghost town of Sumpter, Oregon. We didn't know what to expect, but we'd heard that this was an interesting place to go.

We were not disappointed. It was a very quiet day. We had the street to ourselves as we wandered past old buildings, Victorian houses, markets, and saloons. This was an upscale ghost town compared to many we've visited. Although this town was in its heyday during the early 1900's when gold mining was the center of attraction, it is still a popular place for retired folk who want a summer cabin and for snowmobilers and ATVer's who enjoy riding miles of trails that take them through 40 acres and more of tailings left behind from a huge gold dredge.

The "general store" was closed. Actually, it is a museum now. And as it usually goes, ghost town museums and shops have very limited hours. It seems like we never find them "open". But that's okay. There is a lot to see from the outside looking in.

I wonder what story this old house could tell?

As usual, I am drawn to the front door. I love old doors leading into old houses. They are not only servicable, but usually have ornate or unusual details that were designed to draw one right into the building.

It seems that someone couldn't wait to find the real thing! How's that for one huge gold nugget?

A pretty porch with plants and flowers invites one to come in and sit a spell.

And the old trading post is solidly crafted from bricks that were probably made somewhere nearby. Standing alone, it is still elegant after all these years. Can you see someone looking at you from a window in this building?

How's this? Any better? Mr. Kitty is curious about us as we wander by.

The edge of town reveals other interesting buildings. Some are barns and some are cabins, both old and new. The old hospital is now a "bed and breakfast", its huge front porch facing south for best exposure to sunshine.

We stopped for tea along the shoreline of the lake nearby. The fragrance of the pines on a hot summer day was tantelizing.

Truffles and pretzels were our snack and enjoyed along with Yorkshire Gold tea.

Of course this is what things really looked like behind the scenes! I enjoyed my tea from the teacup after the photo op. The guys? They enjoyed their snack out of hand and bag. And their tea from Teavana mugs. To each their own. Tea is tea, no matter how it's served.

Do you have a favorite kind of family excursion? Would a ghost town be on your list?