Gadding About at the City Club of Raleigh

My friend Jeanette invited me to lunch earlier this week at the City Club of Raleigh where her son David works part-time.

Jeanette and her son David.  

It was a treat: the ambiance quiet, the decor contemporary, and the varied selection of food delicious.  We were greeted cordially by Carla, Manager of the dining room, who gave us a tour of the Club before we had lunch.

Carla

Contemporary decor. 

We had lunch in the 919 dining room.  Named for the area code here in Raleigh.

From the 28th and 29th floors of the Wells Fargo Building there are magnificent views out across the city.

The ballroom on the 29th floor provides a stunning venue for a special party or wedding. 

Thanks Jeanette and David for a wonderful lunch, and thanks Carla for your gracious hospitality.

Gadding About at Leila's Birthday Party: The Food

In my last post about Leila's first birthday party, I mentioned that the food was so special that I had to devote a separate post to it.  Casey had chosen a "woodland" or "forest" theme for the party, and she, her mother, and her grandmother prepared the food perfectly to fit this theme.  It was really quite a spread---and delish!

The vegetable tray with dip was created to look like an owl.  Very clever.

Forest friend, the owl.

Forest berries. 

Left:  Ham and cheese logs.  Right : Trees. 

Cheese ball to look like a porcupine.

Rainbow trout fish. 

Of course if you go camping in the forest, you will want to have a campfire to cook the hotdogs.  Gather up some twigs to get the flames going.

Hotdogs with all the trimmings.  

The dessert table continued with the woodland or forest theme: cupcakes to resemble mushrooms or ones covered with moss, and candy to represent "bear poop".

The dessert table.  

Bear poop candy made by RaRa (Photo by Kelly Snellings.)

Casey is so creative, and I'm already looking forward to Leila's Second Birthday Party.

Gadding About at Leila's Birthday Party

Enjoying her first birthday cake!

My little great grand niece, Leila, turned one and she had a grand birthday party in Shelby and I was there.  What fun!

Leila with her daddy Adam. 

Leila with her mommy Casey. 

Her RaRa (grandmother) Kelly taking photos of the birthday girl. 

Her cousin Cason was there. 

Cousin Brayton (Bays) with his mom Kristin. 

The presents. 

The food was a whole new experience for me at a child's birthday party.  I'll devote another blog to that.

Art in Bloom at the NC Museum of Art

Art in Bloom at the NC Museum of Art sponsored by PNC.  

What an exciting weekend I've had gadding about in Raleigh and Cary.  I've taken in the Young Life Run/Walk, had ice cream at the Grand Opening of Local Fresh Ice Cream in Cary, but I believe the highlight was the beautiful Art in Bloom Exhibit at the NC Museum of Art that I took in this morning. .  The floral arrangers were to show their inspiration based upon a work of art at the Musuem. Without further ado, I'll just share some photographs of the beautiful floral arrangements exhibited.

Cream whites.  

Based on the painting to the right of the two saints. (One of my favorites.)

The Director's Award based on painting on the right.  

Closeup of the Director's Award.  

An outdoor arrangement. 

I'm already looking forward to the exhibit next year.