Success!

Whew, sorry about the late entry, but after getting home this morning, I spent some time getting caught up on reading blogs, then we had a family get-together this afternoon. This evening, we've both been catching up on more blog reading, and I just got my pictures edited. I thought about a little nap, but I think I've caught my second wind. I have a feeling I'm going to sleep like a baby rock tonight, though!

Dinner at Tippecanoe Place went wonderfully, and we got very positive feedback from the conference attendees. My Ahi Tuna was cooked perfectly, nice and pink in the middle, and with a delicious smoky flavor. Ken's Beef Tenderloin was also delicious and very tender, with a sherry sauce. The wines were good, although the white was a little sweet, but everyone really raved about the desserts: a Chocolate Decadence cake (very intense chocolate), deep dish pecan pie, and an apricot tart that had such a good flavor. I will be writing to Katie and telling her what a wonderful job they did, and what a great impression of South Bend they gave to the out-of-towners!

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I'll put some random pictures in here of Tippecanoe Place, just so you can see the beautiful woodwork that is throughout the place, and make additional comments if warranted. The room where we ate, above, is the original dining room. Tippecanoe Place remains one of my favorite places in town, for its history as well as its beauty. It was built in 1889 by Clement Studebaker, one of the five brothers who started the Studebaker company (which began as a blacksmith shop). The mansion is 26,000 square feet (2,400 square meters). It is a U.S. National Historic Landmark, and on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Its name probably comes from the campaign slogan of President William Henry Harrison: "Tippecanoe and Tyler too!"

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I love the big staircase! Look at that beautiful wood!

Clement Studebaker died at the age of 70 in his South Bend home. He died in Tippecanoe Place! I wonder if he haunts the place? It's been a very successful restaurant for many years now, and I'm sure there's usually so much activity that Clement's specter would go unnoticed. But if someone were working late at night, after everyone else had gone home, and the mansion settled into silence...who knows what they might see? Or hear...what if the old elevator were to begin running when no one had started it? Oooo, scary!

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Left to right, the ballroom, the lobby, and a lounge in the women’s bathroom, apparently in case a lady feels faint and needs to recline for a moment!

After dinner, a group of us headed down the street to Club Lasalle, the cigar bar. It was Martooni time, and I had a Limelight (okay, I had two), which has Citron vodka and Midori Liqueur. Mmm, tasty--and a lovely shade of almost fluorescent green! I also indulged in a small, mild cigar. Since you don't inhale a cigar, I felt okay about having one, and it's a very rare occurrence, anyway. I enjoyed it thoroughly, and have no desire to take up smoking again! A very nice bunch of people, and quite interesting. Several people from Canada, including one from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan! A guy who is on the board with Ken in the local chapter, and who is originally from Mexico City. A guy originally from Jamaica, and wouldn't it be cool to have an accent that made you sound almost as if you were singing when you spoke? I love a Jamaican accent. A guy from Chicago who was sort of a typical tough Chicago guy, and really nice and funny. A guy from Bloomington, Illinois who I talked to about Route 66, since Bloomington is right on the Route. Just really enjoyable and fun people, and I think they all had a nice time.

I felt quite proud to be from South Bend, as I think everyone we dealt with did a very good job. It's always interesting to see your town through the eyes of someone from different places, and it was nice to know a little Studebaker history as we looked at the rooms in the mansion. Oh, and as we were walking from the restaurant to the bar, the fireworks at the minor league baseball stadium began! Ken told everyone that he'd ordered the fireworks up just for them. Ha!

A very pleasant night, although I think we're happy to have it behind us. Now we can just think about the big move in a couple of weeks. Yikes! I think I'll pull a Scarlett and say I'll think about that tomorrow!

Speaking of tomorrow..."Star Trek!" Oh boy oh boy oh boy!

Lucky Seven

It's a special day here at Nutwood for me and Ken: it's our anniversary! Yep, 7 years and counting.

It really is hard to believe that 7 years have gone by so quickly--and without an itch! Hey, get it? Without a (h)itch? Seven year itch? HA!

Anyhoo, we got married at Tippecanoe Place, which is one of the nicer restaurants in town. But what is special about it is that it was the mansion built by one of the Studebaker brothers (Clement). It was his home, and after going through a couple of different incarnations, it ended up as a restaurant. We were married in George and Ada Studebaker's room. I like our Studebaker connection. It was a very small wedding, with just immediate family (and Cousin Shane, of course!) and a few good friends, like Bill and Mary Sue from Michigan.

It feels like we've accomplished a lot in 7 years, and I guess that's what happens when people work together, with a common goal. (Are you listening, Washington?) We've also had a lot of fun, and been to some really neat places, and that's what happens when people have common interests (such as traveling). And all without ever having a fight. I suppose there are some who find that hard to believe, but that tells me more about your modus operandi than anything else! If someone can't even begin to comprehend living in peace and quiet, or that there are some planets on which the native species discuss things in a rational manner, that's kind of pathetic and sad. Different things work for different people, and if you really get off on the histrionics and drama, hey, knock yourself out. Or knock each other out, as the case may be! Ken and I work quite well together, thank you very much, and our plan is to keep doing what we're doing. We'll see what the next 7 years bring our way. I'm sure there will be some interesting adventures in there somewhere!

My Dad said a nice thing to me last week. We were over at my niece's, and Dad and I were chatting. He stopped and said, "You know, you look really good, Honey!" He said I looked like I'd put on a little weight (I have, from quitting smoking), and that I didn't look so "gaunt." Ha ha! He and Mom were always trying to fatten me up, and thought I was too skinny. I said I'd probably had a net gain of about 5 pounds, and he said, "Well, you just look really good. I think the happiness shows!" I think he's probably right.

Nothing real special tonight. We're not the going out type (unless we're on vacation), and we had our dress-up night on Saturday. I thought I'd try new recipe, though. How about blackened tuna steaks with mango salsa? Probably some rice, and a nice white wine. Sounds kind of yummy, eh? I'll let you know how it turns out.

I was awakened this morning by a diffuse white light filling our bedroom with hateful intensity. I remembered that "look" from last year, and I wasn't mistaken: we got about 6 inches of snow here last night, and the morning sun was shining off of a white world. It's pretty and all, sticking to the trees, and one of my favorite things is to play pioneer woman and spot the different animal tracks in the snow. (This morning I saw deer tracks and some big cat tracks...if by "big" we're talking the average housecat.) But why do I not feel mentally prepared for winter this year? At least I don't have to drive to work in it this year, which I'm very pleased about. Ken took the truck this morning, so I knew he'd be safe. I suppose the spring and summer just flew by so quickly that winter kind of snuck up on me this year.

So it's our first good-sized snow of the season. They're really getting socked a little further west of here. Up to a foot in some areas. Urgh! It does feel nice to be cozy inside, with the cat curled up on my lap. He's been here for a while, though...I think my butt is going numb.