Tag Archives: art

The DeWitt continued…. George Washington, creepy dolls, weavings, and more Name That (not) Crap.

 

Aside from all the decorative items, the Dewitt had some pieces of historic interest as well.

 

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Here’s the father of our country casually leaning on a cannon. And if you look closely, you’ll see this…

 

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Yes, they even have George Washington’s jewelry…. which had been lost for nearly two centuries. It was rediscovered in 1990, when the daughter-in-law of a Virginia Beach woman descended from Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall found it in her dead mother-in-law’s jewelry box.

Just think… it could have been put in a yard sale. Or donated to Goodwill.

Damn. Another missed opportunity.

 

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Continuing past the silver, there were vast collections of porcelain and pottery.

 

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Complete with creepy ass vintage dolls.

 

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If you invite this little chicka to a tea party?

She’s going to nibble your fingers like biscuits.

 

 

By the amount of tankers on display, there was some serious beer drinking going on in the 18th century.

 

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Have I mentioned this place went on forever?

 

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It was fabulous.

 

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There was a section dedicated to indigenous art as well.

 

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And these were quite special.

 

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Even the husband was intrigued.

 

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Each piece had a story.

 

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But I’ll just give you one example.

 

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Two years?

 

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Damn. That’s dedication.

 

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George showed up again, though in iron this time.

 

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“Dumb” stoves?

I’ve cursed a few in my lifetime, but never knew they were actually a thing.

After George,  I knew I’d lost the husband.

 

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Because this is his idea of heaven.

They weren’t rusted, but these are just the sort thing he likes to fill our barn with.

( And if his were in good shape and displayed artfully like this? I wouldn’t half mind.)

 

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And because you know I can’t pass up an opportunity, let’s play Name That (not) Crap again.

 

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What is it …. #1?

 

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What is it… #2?

 

 

 

 

 

Cape Cod Day 7… Highfield Hall, some twigs and the last supper.

 

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Since we were in the area we thought we’d check it out.

 

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The Hall however, had other ideas and was locked up tight.

But there were twigs.

 

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Lots and lots….

 

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Of twigs.

 

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Cleverly wound twigs.

 

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Twigs you could walk through.

 

 

Big twigs.

 

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Really big twigs.

 

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Respect the twigs.

Got it.

 

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There was also a sunken garden….

 

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That was mostly dead since it was the middle of November.

 

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But it had whimsical birds on a polka dot tree in the middle, so that more than made up for it.

 

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Photo of the rear of the house we couldn’t get in.

Yes, it was a banner visit.

 

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Good thing there were twigs so it wasn’t a complete waste of time.

Blah, blah, blah… I know, you’re getting bored and are silently screaming for food.

 

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Our last meal in Cape Cod ended up being at the Stomping Grounds Grille in Buzzards Bay.

And while buzzards aren’t usually the best dinner companions…

 

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This place looked promising.

 

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It was basically a lovely old home…

 

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Retro fitted to a restaurant/bar.

 

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And while I was walking around…

 

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I discovered a theme.

 

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A rock and roll theme….

 

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And when I saw Jerry Garcia on the shelf?

I felt right at home.

 

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See? My kind of place…

 

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The cocktail list made me smile and order a few.

 

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As we chatted with the very personable bartender who told me there was a turntable in the back room with an album collection…. and we could play anything we liked.

 

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We were having such a good time I almost forgot to take pictures of the food, but here’s their stellar broccoli cheese soup. Soooo good.

Secret ingredient? Nutmeg.

 

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I’m afraid I don’t even remember what the husband had…. but here’s my crab cake burger with side spinach salad and cole slaw.

Yum.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cape Cod Day 4 … a special moment in Menemsha, Martha’s Vineyard

 

When we left Edgartown I saw a sign saying Menemsha, and something in the deep dark recesses of my brain sparked.

 

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To be honest, I didn’t even know why until I got there.

 

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The art wasn’t familiar.

 

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Neither were the warnings about jellyfish and nude bathing…. two things that should never be experienced together.

So while the husband made a new friend…

 

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I walked around wondering why this particular place had called to me.

 

 

Wind?

Just a wee bit…

 

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It was a lovely spot.

 

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And as I wandered…

 

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I realized what I was doing.

 

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I was walking in my late father’s footsteps.

 

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He was an artist….. and had painted this very spot.

 

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That’s why we were there.

 

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Because all my life….. I’d seen the word Menemsha on a few of his paintings and never knew what it meant.

 

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I lost my father when I was 15.

Much too young…

 

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We missed so many things.

 

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But for a moment, on this day….

 

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He walked with me.

 

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And my heart was full.

 

 

 

 

Cape Cod Day 3…. the Pilgrim Trail, Plymouth

 

Behind the (not so historic) grist mill? A path….

 

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That turned out to be more historical than the building we paid to see.

 

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It was a lovely walk….

 

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That followed the brook.

 

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The murals were fun.

 

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And certainly brightened up the underpass.

 

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The path led to a park.

 

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And I have to admit I’ve always been a sucker for a good park.

 

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Maybe it’s because I grew up in New Jersey where large properties are for the uber rich.

 

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Maybe it’s because parks are always a refuge of green open space in the middle of a city.

 

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Maybe it’s because you can tell a lot about a place by what they display in their parks….

 

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Like this statue dedicated to the many immigrants who have flocked to our shores.

 

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Maybe it’s because it’s just a nice place to walk your dog…

 

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Whatever the reason, it was a nice way to approach downtown Plymouth and the harbor.

 

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Where I’d finally get to lay eyes the most famous rock of all time…

Plymouth Rock!

 

 

Come on…

You had to know that was coming, right?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cape Cod Day 3… Plimoth Plantation grist mill and some (literally) corny jokes.

 

The tickets we purchased at the Plantation were actually in 3 parts. The site itself, a grist mill off site and a replica of the Mayflower down at the harbor. Three different locations for one price, how could we lose?

Apparently very easily as it turns out….because after we bought them, we found out the replica Mayflower wasn’t even in the state, but in Mystic, Connecticut undergoing an overhaul for the 400th year anniversary they’ll be celebrating next year. Thanks for that. It would have been nice knowing before I paid to tour it.

 

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And the grist mill?

 

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While attractive…

 

 

Turned out not to be so historic after all.

 

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Yes, the Pilgrims eventually built a mill in 1636 after 10 years of grinding corn by hand. And yes, it was somewhere on Town Brook in Plymouth, though no one knows exactly where.

 

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The mill pictured here was actually built in 1970 with many of it’s parts coming from a salvaged mill near Philly. How’s that for historical accuracy?

 

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But we paid our money so here it is… upstairs, big stones.

 

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And downstairs, big wheel.  I won’t bore you with the more technical details on the inner workings.

 

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But I will share the picture and video of this poor girl sifting cornmeal. The mere thought of having to do that all day makes me appreciate the little blue Jiffy box I use to make muffins soooo much more.

 

 

And it was even louder in person, trust me.

Naturally I had to visit the gift store and buy some freshly ground meal which is when we passed this:

 

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Feel free to groan.

I did.

 

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Sadly I only caught sight of this book when we were leaving and didn’t have a chance to flip through it. Who knew Yetis brewed beer?

 

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Leaving the grist mill, I spotted a scallop shell.

 

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In Tennessee we saw painted bears, in Vermont painted cows, somewhere I can’t remember painted lighthouses.

In Plymouth?

 

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Painted scallop shells.

To each their own…

 

 

 

 

White Mountains trip Day 6.. shopping and scenery.

 

Bethel is a lovely little mountain village with some quirky shops.

 

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With a heavy accent on the Yeti for some reason.

 

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We stopped in a gallery….

 

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Filled with local artists…

 

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Moose…

 

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And numerous paintings of vegetables.

Thanks, but I prefer them on my plate… not my walls.

 

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Heading out of town we passed a gorgeous old Victorian.

 

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And a stately old colonial.

A home like that would be my dream… that, and enough money to buy one of those grand old dames and update their interiors.

New houses have no charm.

 

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We cruised along enjoying the scenery…

 

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And the views.

 

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Damn, could you imagine having that for your back yard?

 

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Not too shabby.

A little farther down the road the husband spotted some new construction and turned in to check them out.

 

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By the look of the views? I knew we couldn’t afford it.

 

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The properties were a good size.

 

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With special attention paid to make sure no home blocked another’s view.

 

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So if I win the lottery?

 

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Look for me living here in the autumn.

Number 15 looks just fine…

 

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We have a version of this sign over our way, so it tickled me to see one in the mountains.

 

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Yes, those really are all the names of Maine towns.

 

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Day 6 done, we headed back to our resort for dinner at Camp.

 

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I liked the upscale rustic theme…

 

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Sitting under a lighted canoe…

 

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And a yummy salt brined citrus roasted chicken dinner.

 

 

 

The baby barn saga continues….

 

Next up? Permanent walls for the third side.

 

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As opposed to the numerous sets of temporary walls we’ve installed, uninstalled and installed again.

 

 

 

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And it’s finally starting to take enough shape for the husband to hang up a few tools.

 

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Of course…. a chain, a pick ax and a shovel might not bode well for me and my oh so helpful ideas.

 

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The floor is still 2 different levels of dirt thanks to the woodchucks and chipmunks….

 

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But we haven’t had time to deal with it between rain storms.

 

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The husband has also discovered that when I’m busy taking pictures… he can use his head for a brace. It works quite well.

 

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So, walls and roof section on…

 

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The tape was applied.

If you’ve never used the Zip wall and roofing system? Let me tell you… this stuff is golden. I don’t know what the hell they treat it with but once you tape up the seams it stays waterproof for a long time. I think they say 3 months open to the weather, but on our big barn we left it for over a year… through a Maine winter.. and it was fine.

 

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You’re only supposed to use the tape with the Zip pieces, but baby barn has so many gaps and holes we taped everything we could find in preparation for a big upcoming storm.

 

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Did the husband get a little happy with the tar paper caps? Probably, but we get some hellacious wind blowing across the fields.

 

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So, three and half sides are done and it’s battened down for rain and wind.

Maybe it’s just me, but I swear it’s big brother is looking down in disgust.

 

 

Sadly, we may not have time or appropriate weather to finish it this year. I seriously wanted shingles on before the snow flies but my husband says the siding and trim have to go on first… something to do with flashing.

 

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Although what that has to do with anything….

I’m sure I don’t know.

 

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So, fingers crossed we can at least remove that last rotted section soon.

It’s a little too split personality for my taste.

 

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Anne Taintor gets me.

 

Yes… she’s a Maine born, Harvard educated artist.

And yes… she addresses domestic stereotypes with humor and advertisements from a bygone era.

But ya know what?

This woman gets me.

 

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See what I mean?

 

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Shoes!

Her annual engagement calendar always has a prominent place on my desk and it never fails to make me smile.

 

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Oh, those perfect 1950’s housewives…. you know the ones –  perfectly coiffed, wearing high heels and pearls to wash dishes? The ones who got a little too excited over that new Hoover the husband bought them for their anniversary?

 

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I like to imagine they were thinking this way.

 

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I know I would have.

 

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And if my hubby gave me a Hoover on our anniversary?

 

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Yes, Anne.

You get me.

It’s all about the rocks… and some food.

Our last meal in Sedona was a late lunch and of course, it turned out to be the best restaurant we found during our two week trip.

Yes Martin, this is a food filled post.

You’re welcome.

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Perched on top of a hill, the Mariposa Grille had some great views.  (Of rocks.)

Mariposa means butterfly in Spanish, and they featured prominently in the decor at this Latin themed beauty.

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Views  (And rocks! Did you see the rocks?)  aside..

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It was a large…

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And rather impressive place.

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I mean hey, check out that door.

It’s made of rocks!

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There was live music with a Spanish guitar, and more beautiful views.

(Of rocks!)

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I ordered a few Caipirinhas… the national drink of Brazil.

Just to get in the proper mood and spirit of the place.

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And then on the advice of the waiter, we tried the Yuca fries.

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Not to be confused with Yucca… which apparently tastes like soap… the Yuca were too die for!

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To be honest, I had no idea what they were at that point.

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But had I Googled this Yuca meme beforehand?

I most assuredly would have passed.

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Lunch for me was the Funghi Sublime. And sublime it was.

 Scottsdale Burger Battle Judges’s Choice Winner 2018 ~ Smothered in sauteed Mushrooms, finished with imported Truffle Cheese and Truffle Dijonnaise

That burger positively melted in my mouth and was expertly cooked.

My husband ordered the Senor Fish, and was not disappointed either.

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Pan-Fried and Seasoned with their House Rub, Lemon-Caper Aioli, and Shredded Romaine, on a Whole Grain Bun accompanied by 3 Seed Coleslaw.

This was an upscale South American restaurant with Latin inspired cuisine, and everything was served on the most wonderful plates. (Rocks! They were made from rocks!)   I wish we’d found it sooner and been able to go back for a full dinner. I’m sure it would have been marvelous.

How upscale you ask?

There was some interesting artwork hanging on the walls…

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Made with some rather expensive rocks.

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And they were all for sale.

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Yeah.

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Rocks.

Ya gotta love ’em.

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But maybe not that much.