Views of the Neighborhood – In Search of Blooms

Happy Flag Day.

Today is a cruise of the neighborhood in search of blooms. We are catered by The Kimberly of Austin, and our entertainment is the Statler Brothers.

Menu

T H E 16OZ BONELESS TEXAS WAGYU RIBEYE

10OZ CENTER-CUT FILET

10OZ SLICED FILET CARPET BAG STYLE

BATTER FRIED OYSTERS – sauce bearnaise

C L A S S I C  B E E F  T E N D E R L O I N  F I L E T  W E L L I N G T O N  – in crisp puff pastry, applewood smoked bacon, natural jus, wild mushrooms a la crème, sauce bearnaise

F R E S H  G E N U I N E  D O V E R  S O L E – lightly sautéed with jumbo lump crab, or brown butter almondine, or caviar and fresh dill butter sauce

S A U T É E D  G E N U I N E  A M E R I C A N  R E D  S N A P P E R – fresh jumbo lump crab, fine cut vegetables, shellfish curry broth, ginger vinaigrette

S E A R E D  N O R T H  A T L A N T I C  S C A L L O P S  – citrus filets, brown butter roasted macadamia nuts, micro cilantro

W O O D  R O A S T E D D R Y  A G E D  D U C K  B R E A S T –  spice crust, potato and leek gratin, black currant jus 

W O O D  R O A S T E D  D O U B L E  B R E A S T  O F  C H I C K E N “ A L A G R E Q U E ” – campari tomatoes, artichoke bottoms, roasted potatoes, mediterranean olives, yogurt crema

1 6 O Z V E A L C H O P L I G H T L Y P O U N D E D “ A L A P A R M I G I A N A ” – crushed san marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, spaghettini cacio e pepe

M A F A L D I N E “ C A C I O  E  P E P E ” –  pecorino, chives

S A N  D A N I E L L E  P R O S C I U T T O CAPPELLETTI ALLA PIEMONTESE – braised beef and parmigiana filling, butter, veal jus, fresh truffles

Picture of an old time school bus

Let’s go.

The first crape myrtle and some salvia on the right.

We can always find Lantana.

More lantana. Love the red.

More lantana and a piggy on a rope.

White plumbago.

Mexican birds of paradise.

Salvia.

Morning glories in the afternoon.

More Mexican birds of paradise.

Large salvia.

That concludes our tour for today. It is time to enjoy the food and music. I hope you have a great week.

65 comments

  1. Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.'s avatar

    Wonderful flowers John and thanks for taking us on the tour… not sure I could manage the 16oz ribeye but will give it a damn good try.. hugsx

    Liked by 2 people

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Maybe you could invite a friend to help. 🥩 😀

      Liked by 1 person

  2. equipsblog's avatar

    I would much rather see the flowers and the girls (dogs) rather than watch Trump’s Cage Match!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Glad I’m here then. 😊

      Liked by 1 person

      1. equipsblog's avatar

        We both agree on that! It is supposed to be hot and humid about the time of the Cage Match, or maybe it will also be raining!

        Liked by 1 person

        1. John W. Howell's avatar

          Will keep participants cool if it rains.

          Liked by 1 person

  3. Charles Yallowitz's avatar

    Horticulture seems like a really big thing down there.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Yes, it is. We love our flowers.

      Like

  4. JFRSr's avatar

    You have a beautiful neighborhood, John. The plants and flowers 🌺 all looked so perfect. For my menu selection, I’m going with the 100oz Sliced Filet with the bonus Carpet Bag in case l can’t finish it🐳

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      That is a 10 oz. You could do that as a snack. 😀

      Like

    2. JFRSr's avatar

      Just so you know, l resemble those remarks… you’re a bad man🐳

      Liked by 1 person

  5. tokragly's avatar
    tokragly · · Reply

    First, I want to watch Big Tuna finish that 100 oz sliced filet and the Carpet Bag too ? My must have is the Beef Wellington and a nice glass of red. Love the flowers. Y’all are really ahead of us. We have Day Lillies everywhere. And our Salvia are doing well too. But that’s it. Thanks for the tour.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      always glad to have you along. I think Tuna misread the menu. That’s 10 oz. He would have that much after flossing. 😀

      Like

    2. JFRSr's avatar

      Just so you know, l resemble those remarks…houer a bad man🐳

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Annette Rochelle Aben's avatar

    blooming fun! (was that a piggy, or Miss. Twiggy?) Oh, and when I went to share this on X, they said I had reached my posting limit for the day and had unlock premium to be allowed to continue posting…. we shall see about this

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      I had that happen once. I got a warning, though. I then cut out all the reposts I was doing (they count)

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Tails Around the Ranch's avatar

    What beautiful blooms, John. Love, love, love that gorgeous crape myrtle. Thanks for letting us tag along on a lovely walk.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Thank you, Monika. Always glad to have you along.

      Liked by 1 person

  8. T. W. Dittmer's avatar

    I’m glad you posted those lovely flowers and the girl on a rope, John, and the music by the Statler Brothers is nice. Have a blessed Sunday. 💖🙏

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Thank you, Tim. Wishing you a peaceful Sunday as well.

      Liked by 1 person

  9. noelleg44's avatar

    The Mexican birds of paradise are gorgeous! Our lantana has been blooming too, along with one gigantic sunflower!

    Scallops please! And I hope the Twigs had a good walk!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      She loves her walks. She takes maybe a 1000 sniffs. Scallops coming up. Thanks, Noelle.

      Like

  10. Resa's avatar

    Loving the flowers, thanks John. The hood’s looking good.

    Hey, that menu could use a few more veggies.

    Oh, btw, you misspelled Twiggy’s name. She is soooo cute!

    I’l bet she loves sniffing the blooms. I sure do.

    🌺𝓧 🌸𝓧 🌼 𝓧

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      You mean piggy? 😀X

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Resa's avatar

        YES! 🐷X

        Liked by 1 person

  11. Marie A Bailey's avatar

    My favorite is piggy on a rope 😂 Lovely tour, John!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Thank you, Marie. 😀

      Like

  12. Author Jan Sikes's avatar

    Beautiful! I can almost smell them. 🌸

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Thank you, Jan. 😊

      Liked by 1 person

  13. thomasstigwikman's avatar

    A lot of beautiful photos of the neighborhood and an extensive menu

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Thanks, Thomas. 😊

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Liz Gauffreau's avatar

    Thank you for the tour of your neighborhood flowers! It’s nice to see Twiggy out and about. It’s safe to assume that Tempeste had to stay home, out of temptation? I’m always up for a Statler Brothers song.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Yes, they can’t walk together. Tempeste continues to tease Twiggy. Makes it unpleasant for Twiggy.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Liz Gauffreau's avatar

        I think it helps siblings to have some alone time with their parents.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. John W. Howell's avatar

          I do, too. Twiggy is a slow walk/sniffer. Tempeste wants to cover as much ground as possible. 😊

          Liked by 1 person

        2. Liz Gauffreau's avatar

          Our husky was a slow walker as he aged. It seems the older he got, the more he wanted to sniff. When he was a young fella, he wanted to lope in search of prey.

          Liked by 1 person

        3. John W. Howell's avatar

          Aw. Sounds nice.

          Like

  15. petespringer's avatar

    Lots of beauty. Did Piggy Twiggy come across any pumas?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      She did not come across pumas. She had her 1000 sniffs, so she was happy. Thanks, Pete

      Liked by 1 person

  16. srbottch's avatar

    Yes, homage to the glorious flag, John. The flowers are fantastic. The beef tenderloin, please. And the Statler Bros are my fav group. Like all their hits and they had plenty.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      They are one of my favorites as well. Thanks,
      Steve. Here’s that filet.😊

      Liked by 1 person

      1. srbottch's avatar

        Just arrived via Amazin drone😉

        Liked by 1 person

  17. NEERAJ SINGH's avatar

    Gorgeous look, flowers looks very beautifull 💯

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Thank you, Neeraaj.

      Like

  18. GP's avatar

    Sorry I’m late, John.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      You are never late, GP. Just delayed is all.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. GP's avatar

        I like that. Thanks!

        Like

  19. coldhandboyack's avatar

    Neighborhood is looking good.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Thanks, Craig.

      Liked by 1 person

  20. Jacqui Murray's avatar

    Those Morning Glories were gorgeous, as was the pup.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Too bad it was taken in the afternoon. They had already decided to call it a day.

      Liked by 1 person

  21. circadianreflections's avatar

    The flowers and bushes of them are beautiful and so colorful. Twiggy looks as if she’s smelling them as she walked along. Good for her! Sniffing all the good things. 😊 Have you had to take your walks earlier to beat the heat?

    Like

  22. robertawrites235681907's avatar

    Beautiful flowers, John. I like the crape myrtle best 💞

    Like

  23. Teri Polen's avatar

    Those birds of paradise bushes are gorgeous. Don’t think I’ve seen them before.

    Like

  24. Sorryless's avatar

    Beautiful blooms, Boss. Just beautiful.

    I always think of Pulp Fiction when I hear this tune.

    Like

  25. dgkaye's avatar

    Birds of Paradise take the ribbon for me. 😁

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      They are beautiful

      Liked by 1 person

  26. Rebecca Cuningham's avatar

    Beautiful neighborhood blooms.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Thank you, Rebecca.

      Like

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