Thursday Tunes: Music and the Spoken Word

When we were in Utah, we got to attend a broadcast of Music and the Spoken Word.  During the summer, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir performances are held in the Conference Center.  It was a neat experience.  (Don't worry - I took pictures at the end, when they said we could.)

Don't Cry, Shopgirl

To remember Nora Ephron, I think we should all watch You've Got Mail today.  So lovely.

Yellowstone

On our trip out West, we were able to visit Yellowstone for a couple of days.  It is incredible.  We agree with Ken Burns that the National Parks were an excellent idea.  The land is so beautiful - we are glad that it's been preserved for all of us.

Farr's Idaho Huckleberry Cordial

Huckleberries are all over the West, and they are delicious!  When we were passing through Idaho, we got one of these Farr's Idaho Huckleberry Cordials.  Yum!

Friday Featured Art: Beauty and Belief

While we were in Utah we visited a fabulous art exhibit.  It was at that school in Provo that I'm not allowed to name (big rivals...).  The exhibit, Beauty and Belief, included Islamic art from all over the world.  Some of the pieces were easily identifiable as Turkish.  This fragment is from Spain.  You should definitely go if you get a chance.

Thursday Tunes: Shepherd's Hey

We heard Percy Grainger's Shepherd's Hey on our local classical station the other day.  It's such a fun song!  Here's a version from the BBC Proms.

Barr-Co. Oatmeal Soap

When we were at the Missouri Botanical Garden last month, we discovered a fabulous new soap company from St. Louis.  Barr-Co. soaps smell delightful - their original scent is a kind of oatmeal.  Lovely.

The Windsor Chair Shop

Earlier in the spring, we were passing through Clarksville, Missouri, and we came across the Windsor Chair Shop.  Ralph and Caron make exquisite traditional Windsor chairs.  I'll have to save my money!

Sour Cherry Juice

We recently found a great store near us that carries Middle Eastern foods: Mediterranean Oasis.  When we went there, we bought so many things from Turkey that the owner asked if we were Turkish!  One of the things that we love is the sour cherry juice that they drink in Turkey.  Yum!

Friday Featured Art: Gabbeh Rugs

The "art" for today is something that I discovered when we stayed at the Hotel Frederick in Boonville, Missouri, last month.  There are lovely rugs all over the hotel.  I learned that they are Persian, and this type of rug is called a gabbeh carpet.  The designs are simple and quite modern looking, and the rugs are soft.