Let's have some fun!

So, I hope everyone had a safe and fun New Years Eve and Day!

I had such a great time in Fayetteville over the holiday visiting with my kids, one of my nephews, and his family! The only drawback was that my husband did not get to go, and every time I talked to him, the poor guy sounded like he was bored to tears.
We had a bottle (ok, a gallon jug) of "Santini's Homemade Muscadine Wine" and and several flavors of Post (my favorite local brand) and we played Apples to Apples to bring in 2012! Well actually, they guys had several kids of beer - chocolate, coffee, orange. 

My nephew’s wife (who is a kitchen maven) made candied orange peels, a delicacy I had not ever heard of. It takes me forever to eat any citrus fruit because I peel every last bit of the pith away before I eat it, so I was not sure what to expect. However, once the peels had boiled down we removed all that and cooked them once again, and once they were finished they were delicious! I still can’t get over it…clever girl!

 We went to Dickson StreetBookstore with basically no time limit, which was awesome! There is nothing better than getting to browse around in all the books and not have to choose quickly. I got a great book about Vincent van Gogh, some pocket books about Cézanne and Degas and one about Chinese art.

Another book had such a multitude of photos by old masters that I bought it even though it is in French, and considering I speak no French, it will truly be a picture book for me! (I still don’t think I could take the book apart to frame any of the plates.) 

And probably the highlight of the trip for me was Crystal Bridges Museum! I had not even thought of going, and once it was suggested I could only hope! The place is awesome! I have tried to decide what my favorite piece is a dozen times, and change my mind each time! At this moment it is an Andrew Wyeth painting in the Wonder World Gallery. Or maybe the Alexander Calder mobile, it’s amazing as well! I will post about it once I make up my mind!

Yield, a 47-foot sculpture by Roxy Paine, stands near the main entrance of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.

Update 1-7-12: I think Yield by Roxy Paine has to be my favorite piece at Crystal Bridges. It has stayed with me this week following our trip. I just love the free feeling that the waving branches on the tree give me every time I remember it!