Sunday, June 20, 2010

Lunch With A Good Friend

My hometown of Bartlesville hosts the OK Mozart Festival every year in June. For those who aren't fans of classical music, it's not all classical. In fact this year's finale was "An Evening with Gershwin."

But the festival isn't what this post is about.

Just a short drive west of downtown is the home of Keepsake Candles. I can't remember if I've mentioned this before or not but about 32 years ago I went to work at the candle factory. I was part of the staff for almost 10 years (before going to work for Phillips Petroleum Company.)

Originally I was part of the candle making team. Later I worked as the secretary/bookkeeper as well as in the store. But that's not what this post is about either.

This is a photo of Alice Ririe and me from last Saturday. She and her husband developed the process of making their unique candles back in the late 60's. The candles that are produced in the factory are wax replicas of antique glassware - from toothpick holders to vases. Check their website to see the variety of candles that are handcrafted there.

Yard in front of the candle factory.

Several years ago Alice decided to host Cafe Keepsake during OK Mozart. Wonderful lunches are served on the porch throughout the festival.


Wall decoration on the porch of Keepsake Candles

I invited my friend, Kristin, to lunch at Cafe Keepsake. Since she's a working girl and an hour isn't hardly long enough for a good visit, I picked her up on Saturday and we drove out.


There were 3 choices on the menu that day. I chose 7-layer salad accompanied by a bit of fruit. Some of you know that I'm not a coffee or tea drinker but that day I chose Island Breeze Herbal tea. Both the salad and herbal tea were very nice on a hot day.


Kristin's choice was the salmon and artichoke sandwich, also accompanied by fruit. She said it was very good.

Ah - and then, dessert. There were a variety of pies to choose from. I had a slice of frozen Strawberry Margarita pie. Sorry about the half-eaten piece. Kristin and I were enjoying our time together talking and eating and I totally forgot to take a picture before taking a few bites.


Kristin had the Chocolate Mocha pie. She was actually the one to ask if I wanted a picture of the pies. You can tell we both liked our choices!

Of course, after lunch we had to do a bit of shopping. The shop sells many lines of candles besides the ones that are made there. Honestly, it didn't cross my mind to snap a photo of Keepsake's classic line of candles - the ones that I used to help make. Shame on me! However, if you enlarge the photo, on the right hand side you can see some small "teapot candles" that are made there.

The reason I took this photo is because, back in the day, AD built those 2 display cabinets in the very middle of the picture.

Personal note to Kristin: I know you'll read this. Saturday was just the best! Let's plan to do it again next year.

PS. If any of you are ever in the area, I'd invite you to visit Keepsake Candles. And, if you do, give me a shout. I'd love to meet you out there.

25 comments:

  1. Thanks for finding me. I love, love your blog and now you have a new follower. So glad we met. Talk to you soon.

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  2. Love you blog's new look!

    The salad in the jar is so cute! Must have been fun just eating it from that jar. Looks like a wonderful day. Someday, someday I am going to get up to that Mozart Festival.

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  3. What a terrific lunch! I love candles so I'm definitely checking out the website. I actually just bookmarked it!

    The red enamel spatterware is precious and I haven't seen that for many years! It brought back certain memories of camping and visiting elder relatives as a child. And I love the food presentation--that seven layer salad was classic!

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  4. I love Keepsake candles. They are so unique. I have been to that shop and I love it.

    Maxine

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  5. That looks like a fun place to go visit and your lunch looked pretty delish too.Its always nice to go meet up with a friend.
    Diane

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  6. oh my....the food....looks delicious....it looks just like my kind of place! Cafe Keepsake is a great name too! I am so glad you had a nice day with your friend!

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  7. What a fun day! Good friend, good food, good weather.

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  8. How wonderful!!! I love places like that! And... oh my goodness! What a cute idea to put the layered salad in a jar like that. That salad was one of my favorites growing up.

    And I love the new look of your blog and your profile picture!

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  9. Good to see you and Alice again. I've run ito her a couple of times and she is as lovely and sweet as ever. The salad in the jar... now that is a wonderful idea!! Thanks for sharing as always, Debby. Luvya

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  10. I love candles and will have to check out that site. Those pies look absolutely delicious!

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  11. Two of the prettiest lunches I've seen in a while! I do love to lunch...a pretty salad, a little fresh fruit, cold tea with a good friend. Sounds like fun!

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  12. Wow, looks like an awesome time together! Glad the two of you got to share it. I love your new profile photo!!

    We've been having company from Minnesota so I've been busy. They've heading out for home tomorrow so I'll be back to normal.

    Have a great week!

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  13. I have mostly lost interest in food for the past month. I eat knowing I must but not really enjoying it very much. Looking at your delicious lunch--well, I feel stirrings in the gut! And I am 5 foot 4 inches, which is not really short at all; it just looks short when you have two friends that are 5-10 at least.

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  14. What a fun day. I ♥ your blog and you have a new follower. :) Me! Gerry

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  15. What fun!!! That salad looks so good. Can you tell me the layers???

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  16. Sounds like another wonderful adventure! I've never seen a salad served like that but what a fun and creative presentation! I love the new look of your blog and the haircut you are sporting! The photographs of the finches below are beautiful. What kind of camera do you have?

    Your Friend,
    Deborah

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  17. Miss Paula, I don't think I can name all 7 layers. The ones I remember are lettuce, tiny shell pasta, thin small pieces of ham, thawed frozen peas, cheese and dressing.

    Deborah, I have a Nikon D80 with a couple of different lenses. It's a fairly powerful camera but I still don't know all its capabilities. I wish some classes were offered around here. I bought a very good book for it but I'm more of a "see and do" type of student, if you know what I mean.

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  18. Wonderful pictures... looks like a grand day :)

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  19. Thanks Granny!!! I wish I knew your first name!!

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  20. You took a friend to visit a friend. Sounds like a great day to me!!!

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  21. I want to tell you I feel terrible saying I thought my neighbor walking his cat was strange. It was actually a very considerate thing. I should always think before speaking (or writing), I think Mom used to tell me that!

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  22. What a wonderful day that was!

    Hey...I didn't post the video I meant to on that surfing dog post. Please visit again with more tissues.

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  23. Yum Yum, makes me hungry and I just finished eating.

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  24. I had a great time that day! We will definitely have to make this a tradition.

    Kristin

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  25. Great post! This one made me a bit teary. I miss my best girlfriend days. What great memories!!

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