July 31, 2009

Self Portrait


With the season's hottest accessory, the umbrella.

July 30, 2009

Found!




my apologies for the crappy photographs, they were taken using my phone!

My humble recession decorating job. I found this cool old window on the street a few weeks ago and knew that it had a place in our apartment. With some great paper (I love an excuse to visit the paper stores along w18th street) that I scored in a clearance bin I made it look like this--for under $10. And I love it.

July 29, 2009

All Mixed Up

Today felt like the apocalypse here in NYC. Late this afternoon the skies turned a dramatic shade of yellow and then went pitch black and then the entire sky opened up and those of us lucky enough to be outside were suddenly ankle deep in water. It didn't rain down, it rained sideways but you were too busy covering your ears from the deafening thunder to really notice the way your clothes were suddenly sticking to your body.

So, the brightspot of the day? Wednesday's are CSA pickup days and Laena always comes back with cool vegetables and fruits and fresh eggs that almost make you want to adopt a chicken. Chickens like fire-escape abodes right? I love the CSA and don't let myself read their weekly emails because I love being surprised and forced to cook with whatever arrives from the farm. Really though, the whole point of this post was to mention that last night was about 90 degrees and tonight was a nice, rain chilled 75. Last night we made pizza (and did I mention that it was 90 degrees out? it was about 900 in our apartment). You can read more about that here. Tonight I used the leftover pork and sauteed some fresh summer corn, green chilies and mushrooms (thank you CSA) for some perfect summer tacos. All of this crazy weather is obviously starting to affect my brain. Signing off from the PNW (actually I hear it's over 100 in Seattle today). I'm off to google urban chicken farming.


CSA tacos--TJ's pulled pork, sauteed summer corn, chilies and mushrooms, fresh avocado and tomatoes and yogurt (a great sour cream substitute)

July 25, 2009

Thinking

About summer. And seasons. And trying to soak it all in.

Lately my life has been busy and rewarding and full on so many levels that it leaves me stressed out about fitting everything (especially some summer fun) in. There has only been one trip to the beach so far this year and I just realized that I haven't seen Steph, my closest CA friend since April. April! Life is just rushing by, August is rapidly approaching and I'm having trouble getting it all done.

It seems that when I fall behind at one project it permeates over to other areas of my life and I begin to feel unproductive and unable to accomplish even the simplest task. Lately I have had the luxury of being able to use a car in NYC, whether I am behind the wheel or being driven. This has been an amazing, eye opening experience. What was once an hour trip on the subway to pick up canning jars is suddenly a half hour (complete with a trunk and very little sweat). This has spoiled me--one of the joys (joys?) of living in the city is that you can be completely self sufficient without a car, I must not loose sight of this.

Yes, I am going to start looking at my life as busy and full and, most of the time, a complete blast. I'm going to spend the rest of the summer relishing the small moments in an attempt to get through all of the many demands and projects. A day without rain (ha, maybe that's what feels wrong--the "summer" temperatures are completely off). But you can still find the perfect peach. Or enjoy the breeze in the park--which are all green and lush. You can glimpse an occasional firefly-even here in the city. Or one can spend an evening watching the neighbors from the front stoop, campari and soda in hand. Now that's summer.

July 21, 2009

Movie Night In Bryant Park



My new phone comes with a video camera. Oh the fun to be had!

Found!

On my way to the subway this evening I stumbled across this playing card. Ahh, I thought, this is my Sex in the City moment. I can start collecting cards that I find on streets all over the city and maybe a full deck will lead me to a perfect pair of Manolo Blahniks (or something like that).



But, little did I know that just a few steps away there was another card..............




And then another. Seems like someone dropped their cards in a hurry.....................


The real irony of that evening became even more apparent when I arrived in Bryant Park, wine, picnic and with my own deck of cards to help us pass the two hours before Harold & Maude began I was short 3 cards (and they weren't the ones I had picked up). Good thing the people watching was epic. Happy Summer Picnics to all!

July 9, 2009

ZipCar Trip #1

The thrill/adrenaline rush of driving in NYC is still running through my veins--5 hours later. Getting lost in the Bronx will do that to a person!

July 7, 2009

Fire Escape Garden


Some things seem to actually enjoy the rain!

July 2, 2009

Summer in the City

Last night was one of those perfect summer evenings. A late afternoon shower cooled things off and kept the humidity at bay. I walked the High Line (my new favorite stroll) and admired all sorts of lovely pink wildflowers (yes, wildflowers in the middle of the city!) and then found myself in the Chelsea Market where I treated myself to an ice cream cone and continued my stroll through the Meatpacking district, through the lovely shaded streets of the West Village, across Washington Square Park and over to the East Village and my old neighborhood where I paid a visit to the Strand and trolled their $1 books (picked up a copy of The Beans of Egypt Maine). Ah, summer evenings are lovely!