Dallas Arboretum's Southern Artisan's Market

Today I'm writing about the Southern Artisan's Market because Joy asked me to chair the show at the Dallas Arboretum. How exciting for me. Scheduled for Saturday and Sunday October 10 and 11th, maybe just maybe we will be having tolerable or even cool weather. Let's not get crazy and just hope for tolerable.

The Arboretum only gets better and better as these pictures show. And here's some pictures of artist's work. Mark your calendars. You can attend this even though it's during the State Fair of Texas.

Fabulous Dallas houses

I'm reading The Big Rich, by Bryan Burrough, The Rise and the Fall of the Greatest Texas Oil Fortunes. Really good read. The Three Families of H.L. Hunt is next.

Front Burner blog keeps me up to date daily. Today I noticed the 100 most expensive homes in Dallas listed and clicked looking for a Hunt House. Wouldn't you love to get invited? Bob and I attended a soiree at the Baron House a while back. I tried to pull a picture off their website for you, couldn't. One of the powder rooms is wallpapered in little tiny shells. I said WALLPAPERED - the little outer room and the powder room itself. I like to mosaic, but that commission would have put me in away. Simply beautiful. I went back 3 times without worrying what people thought about my bathroom habits.

My darling Bob escorted the art girlfriends and me to another soiree at the Rachofsky House. (White house pictured.) The house is magnificent and the art inside and out incredible. If you like to get cozy and snuggle this is not the house for you.

The houses listed on d magazine's blog start at around 45 million and have thousands and thousands of square feet. One listing noted how much water the house used - made me think.

Sen. John Carona's house was listed. How can we get invited to a fund raiser at his house? Be worth it to wander around. OK, I admit I love looking in houses and going to open houses just to see inside. Mount Vernon's on my list, especially after visiting Bella Nora, directly across White Rock Lake. I'll carry your purse if you get an invitation. You'll need to be hands free for all the delicious hors d'oeuvres.

Don't miss Monday's article on Examiner.com. I have no idea what the topic will be, probably something made up in my head.

Check out www.lottieminick.com for last year's sculptures at the State Fair of Texas. Soon the new 2009 sculptures will be on.

Tic Tac Hearts

Here's the beginning of my State Fair piece I'm going to put in the Museum Fountain garden bed. You know I call this the Bob Minick Fountain because it's just one of Bob's wonderful designs at the Fair. I took them to Crosslink McKinney powder coaters and they colored my metal green, orange and purple. I'm going to put a mosaic heart in the middle of each tic tac toe and name the piece Tic Tac Hearts.
My totem is stacking tic tac toes like these.

One more piece will go in the Discovery Gardens where we had the butterfly release Thursday night.

While we were wandering around the Women's Expo I showed Andie and Cynthia this moving rock piece I'd love to make into a giant piece. I doubt if I can figure it out by Sculpture Show install date, but you never know.

Did anyone try those butterfly recipes I recommended last post? Who knew this could turn into a cooking blog.

Don't forget to go to Examiner.com for more Facts, Fantasy and Foibles on whatever shiny subject catches my eye. Go to www.lottieminick.com for last year's State Fair Sculpture Show pictures.

More Discovery Garden news

Another great view from the elevated walkway in the butterfly house. Then the butterfly farmer, Dale Clark, and the lovely lady with him. I've lost her card, but she use to run the Discovery Gardens and now coordinates all the various groups at Susan G. Komen. I'm sure I'll find her card as soon as I post this.

Here's the smiling faces of the wonderful volunteers with their cute t-shirts. They made the evening delightful.

Here's a few butterfly recipes. I don't cook, but I really can't imagine butterflies can be tasty?

http://www.momswhothink.com/easy-recipes/easy-kids-recipe-butterfly-snacks.html

Check out the following for more fun reading:

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-15499-Dallas-Gardening-Humor-Examiner~y2009m9d4-Texas-Discovery-Gardens-butterfly-and-insectarium-opening

http://www.examiner.com/x-15499-Dallas-Gardening-Humor-Examiner~y2009m7d24-Friday-plant-of-the-week

http://www.examiner.com/x-15499-Dallas-Gardening-Humor-Examiner~y2009m7d10-The-Turtle-Ladys-Lucky-turtle

http://www.texasdiscoverygardens.org/

Discovery Garden's butterfly house

Thursday, September 3rd at 6:00 pm the “swells” turned out for the VIP cocktail reception for the Rosine Smith Sammons Butterfly House and Insectarium presented by the Texas Discovery Gardens. After speeches, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres; the “swells” climbed the stairs to the three story glassed area where they all received their own butterfly in a small envelope.

On the count of three envelopes opened and Monarchs, Painted Ladies, Peacocks, Viceroys and Tiger Swallowtails flew. Butterflies landed on flowers, hands and noses. Only two known fatalities resulted from overzealous clapping.

The Discovery Gardens will also host sculptors participating in the State Fair Sculpture show this year. Don’t forget to walk through the gardens and discover the sculptures. You might find a fabulous mosaic flamingo by Fascinating Flamingo Artist, Staci Whitten. The State Fair of Texas opens September 25th.

More Women's Expo Exhibitors

The Womens Expo had so many great exhibitors. You might want to check these two out. Beijo bags were beautiful and Touchstone Crystals offered more than just the products, opportunities. Click and find out.

And don't forget for more fun and fantasy always go to: Examiner.com and read my garden humor articles.

Go Sticky - Lint Rollers

More Women's Expo happenings. Here's the Go Sticky - Lint Rolls. The lady in the booth even had an extension so you roll your floor. How cool is that. There were so many products we all really should have.