end of august

It may be hot and humid outside

but the trees know the season is soon to change.

Plump acorns hang from the oak tree,

they crunch under foot as I walk to my car in the morning.

My work schedule is still intense but I am able to knit

a few rows of the pink elbow length gloves each night.

morning thunderstorm

This morning the rain was so heavy that local radio announced

storm drains that blew off their manhole covers and flooded the streets.

It's still quite hot here, even with the rain.

My small orchid that smells of fruit has two more blooms waiting.

weekend

A weekend of puttering about.

Local air show watched from the side of the road.

Ingredients for eggplant lasagna from a roadside stand.

I dyed "mill end" wool from a local factory with Black Cherry Kool-Aid.

Finished Dandelion embroidery, now what will it become?

back home

I'm back home for a while.

My stay in the city was exhausting and allowed

no time for wandering or sight-seeing.

Each morning I walked a block over on 28th street from my hotel

to the subway and then a block from my stop at Union Square to work.

But they were interesting blocks!

28th street is known for its flower markets so each morning the 

street was lined with buckets of beautiful plants and flowers.

Union Square is known for its wonderful farmers' market

and the players who set up their chess boards awaiting an opponent.

The schools are opening and the streets are filled with students

from all over the world...so many aspiring young ones.

It's good to be home where I can sleep in the moonlight

under an open window listening to the ocean of crickets.

toulouse-lautrec

Today I visited my local art museum to see a show of 

Toulouse-Lautrec lithographs and drawings.

The secret to seeing a popular show is to arrive when the doors open.

Only a handful of people wandered the galleries leaving enough space 

for me to stand back and study the artwork properly.

By the time I left the rooms were quite crowded.

Displayed on one wall were a handful of small drawings, 

this rendering of a jockey on a horse was my favorite.

Because photos were not permitted, I went into the gift shop and 

found this reproduction in the show catalog.

I could feel the steely stares of the front desk attendant and 

the store clerk as I snapped this photo from the book!

To show good faith, I purchased a couple of postcards.

hydrangeas

She strode into the store and down the center aisle

in a dress the color of fire with an armful of blue smoke.

The magnificent Hydrangeas are a gift from a dear friend

and her darling young boys men.

great day

watercolors made with honey

I think that I've mentioned I manage an art supply store.

The thing I like most about my job is helping the customers.

Today a friend/customer of many years brought in 

one of her friends to buy some watercolor paint.

The friend owns upwards of 60 original Audubon prints 

and was doing some restoration work on them!

We seemed to 'click' and spent a good amount of time chatting about everything!

She is a semi-retired botanist/chemist who teaches graduate students in NYC and

 has literally field upon field of various lily species (she showed me some photos.)

I love the combination of science and art!

A fascinating woman with wonderful stories...

What a great day.

xo, j

overnight in the mountains

 

Last night I slept under the stars at the foot of the Blue Mountain.

It's been months since I've been camping and I craved the fresh air, 

sounds of the forest and woodsmoke.

The Appalachian Trail runs along the top ridge and I managed a 

quick walk before the bugs and mosquitoes sent me back to camp.

The recent heavy rains left the trail spongy and dotted with mushrooms.

Dry stone walls emerge from a sea of ferns as the familiar

white blaze leads you along the trail.

Early the next morning I sat very still by the cold campfire,

enjoying the family of Tufted Titmice that flew by so close 

I could feel the air from their wings on my cheek.

Just as quietly a first year raccoon made its way up from the creek 

and straight for where I was sitting.

Knowing it's best not to startle a wild one I gently 

moved my leg to alert if of my presence.

It's startled dark face looked up and it quickly turned, hurried back to the creek,

swam across and then continued up stream on the opposite bank.

Probably on it's way to bed after a night of foraging.

Back home I continued my quiet day and read a novel from cover to cover.

Two days of self indulgence...I'm ready for the week ahead!

xo, j

finally friday

It's been a soupy, rainy week but the clouds cleared late in the day

and the weekend forecast looks nice.

This is a corner of my kitchen window, it's my orchid window.

Current count is ten...yes, I have a little problem...*smile*

The magenta  phalaenopsis is dropping its flowers and the 

yellow paphiopedilum is on its sixth and probably final bloom.

Most of my orchids begin blooming in late winter/early spring,

 those are just now dropping flowers and entering their period of rest.

There is a little phalaenopsis that is about to bloom, its flower doesn't 

last very long but, unlike most of its kind, it has a strong, sweet scent.

I'm still loving the handkerchief curtain.

Maybe a quick shrimp salad for dinner.

Have a great weekend!

xo, j

breakfast

I've never been much of a breakfast eater.

 Friends and family remind me it's the most important meal of the day,

but I never seem to wake up hungry, even if my stomach rumbles.

Lately I have been making myself a single egg loosely scrambled in the pan.

The ritual of breakfast causes me to start my day in a less hurried way,

taking a moment to nourish  myself with food and the songs 

through open windows.

A settling sigh and it's off to work.

new york

little italy

purl soho

dean and deluca

packaging!

9.11 memorial pool

While my brother was here we took a day trip into the city,
these are some of the photos from our adventure.

It was hot enough for people to be using umbrellas
and quite busy in the touristy areas.

Lunch was in Little Italy,
I had a pizza and D had a calzone.

Of course there was also some shopping.
We always have a great time.
*smile*

sunday drive

Yesterday's rain has moved out to sea.

I took a drive out into farm country today.

It's the height of summer; all is green, blue and white.

Most of these farms are Amish owned and operated.

I saw a young girl, maybe eight, run from her house to the barn,

barefoot in a gingham dress and apron.

It could have been two hundred years ago...

Some general housekeeping, 

start some bean sprouts, make some granola bars

while a breeze rustles the leaves and crickets sing.

Happy Sunday

xo, j

home

I'm finally home for a while.

My flight from Chicago was cancelled so I stayed an extra night.

(Rain in Philadelphia almost always closes the airport!)

A short work trip to NYC is planned for the end of the month but until

then I can 'nest in' with Sophie, my knitting and fresh food.

Today I stopped by my favorite yarn shop, Conversational Threads,

to pick up one skein to complete a holiday gift project.

Of course I had to take a quick look around!

This yarn from Madelintosh stopped me in my tracks.

It's so much prettier than the photo can convey, I couldn't resist.

It's a DK weight Merino called Ash/Red Leaf.

The cherry color has been hand dyed onto one section of the hank

so the color will pool when knitted up, creating spots of deep cherry

on the cool grey background.

But first to finish the other piece!

It's good to be home.

Hope all is well,

xo, j