instant summer

Two weeks ago, when Alison was visiting, it snowed. Today it is +30 with a humidex warning. Crazy. But apparently this "isn't normal." That's what everyone said about the winter as well. At least a May heat wave can't be blamed on me. More than one person told me I'd brought Manitoba winter with me. As if I'd do that!

Cleo and I have been enjoying lots of time in the back yard. Things will be stupidly busy as of Monday so trying to relax a little on my last couple of days off. Her routine is: eat grass, throw up, lounge and occasionally show too much interest in a bumble bee. My routine is: find a shady spot and read books for pleasure, while keeping one eye on Cleo.

chowin' down!

crooked mountain

7:30 a.m. Saturday

6:30 p.m. Sunday

And oh, I did not want to come home...

birthdays

Took Ayva to Brush Fire yesterday for a very belated birthday date. Was way more fun than I expected and I now understand why painting ceramics was all the rage back in the what... 60s? 70s? My kitchen scrubby frog definitely seems of a 70s vintage. I painted a new water bowl for the cats, O painted a bulls eye dish and Ayva did a frog. But not a scrubby frog....

This was followed by a trip to Dairy Queen, so a pretty darn good evening. Looking forward to next week when we get to pick up our ceramic masterpieces. But in the meantime...

My beautiful sister and I are heading to our cabin at Crooked Mountain this weekend for some birthday celebrating of our own. We're about half way between each of our birthdays so we'll make some toasts, eat some birthday cookies and engage in some highly competitive Aggravation playing. Can't wait!!!

new york diary - day 19

Still here. Bonus day thanks to my flight being canceled for reasons unknown to me. Since it is beyond my control, I'm just enjoying the extra time with my friends and away from winter. Kana is jetlagged but we still had a chance to hang out this morning and went for lunch with Brad. Molly and I had another long walk this afternoon. Quiet evening in front of the fire. Early to bed. We'll try heading home again same time tomorrow.

new york diary - day 18

My last day here. It didn't feel like it was going by fast but now that it's basically over.... man, did it fly by! Kana and Brad arrived safely around noon. Tired, of course, so it will be a quiet evening.

Tomorrow it's back into the city to catch my flight home. Looking forward to being there but not looking forward to -4 (feels like -14) and scattered flurries. Have loved extending fall until December!

new york diary - day 17

Drove to Ossining this morning to get my legs waxed. Since I was there (a whole two towns over), I thought I might check out the museum as Brad told me it had an interesting and gruesome collection on the infamous Sing-Sing Prison. Alas, they are open by appointment only. So I went grocery shopping instead and then drove home to do a bit of cleaning. Had an email from Kana as they were boarding their flight from Seoul to New York. They'll be home tomorrow around lunch time. Hard to believe my trip is almost over!

This evening was spent working on my resume and cover letter for yet another job application, and creating a Linkedin profile. I had planned to have a fire and spend the evening reading with a glass of wine but time got away on me. I think I'll vacuum (with that glass of wine) just to work out the kinks after hours spend at the computer, then early to bed.

And since it has been a couple of days since I've posted a picture, here's one more of Molly!

Variations on a theme...

new york diary - day 16

An absolutely do-nothing day. Drove Deb to the train station first thing this morning. Watched the snow falling. Walked with Molly. Ordered pizza for delivery and got called 'sir' on the phone. Surfed for info on yarn from angora goats. And then got sidetracked looking at pictures of baby angora goats, which then turned into looking at pictures of angora rabbits. Read Middlemarch. Talked to my mom. Zoned out. Needed to coccoon after yesterday in the city.

new york diary - day 15

I almost had a fantastic day.

Deb was supposed to leave this morning but she found out that her sister would be speaking at the Culinary Institue of America in NYC today, so she bumped her departure until tomorrow. We took an early train to Grand Central Station and then parted ways. She, to have breakfast with her sister. Me, to visit the American Museum of Natural History.

It takes about an hour to walk from Grand Central to the Museum. I headed up 5th Ave and was feeling irritated by the crush of people, oppressed by the buildings and the honking and all the Christmas lights and music, and depressed by the terrible poverty next to such extreme luxury. And then everything was alright. I could see Central Park probably 10 blocks before I got there. The skyscrapers just end and my spirits lifted.

Central Park is amazing! If I'd known how wonderful it is I would have planned a day there instead of at the Museum. But on my way there I just cut through, stopping to take a picture of the angel for O. And that's when my day went from fantastic to just okay. I forgot my memory card for my camera in the computer. So no picture taking today, just lugging my camera around for nothing.

Feeling like an idiot, I continued on and had pretty good time at the Museum. I guess it is quite spectacular but sociology has kind of ruined things like this for me. Went to the Our Global Kitchen exhibit; it was really interesting and well put together but the content was thin. All of the content of the Museum was a bit thin, actually. And very American. Which makes sense, of course, but I left feeling a bit underwhelmed. The most interesting part for me was the exhibit on the State of NY, including history, flora and fauna, and geology, which answered my one big question: what kind of rock is Kana and Brad's house built on? Answer: gneiss.

On my way back to the train, I spent more time exploring Central Park. It is truly a gem. As soon as you step in the air is cooler, it is much quieter, it smells better, the people watching is excellent... I wished over and over that I could use my camera. Argh! Next time I'm here I will set a day aside just for this beautiful space.

new york diary - day 14

Our day...

 

Followed by pancakes and beer for dinner.

new york diary - day 13

Today's big outing was to the Peekskill Museum, just a few blocks down the street. We were the only people there and got a personal guided tour, including the maid's quarters on the third floor, which is not open to the public. The only shortcoming of the musuem is that there isn't much signage to explain the displays. But since we had the guide's full attention, this didn't matter. Here are a few pics:

The Museum is in the beautiful Herrick House,
built around 1878.

Bust of Lincoln.

Intricate handiwork.

 

Peekskill's Famous Ball of String
Begun on January 11, 1911 by Jay R. Decatur
Weighs 230 lbs; diameter 30 inches
A penny is at it's centre.

new york diary - day 12

Made cookies last night as Deb and I were craving something sweet after our super healthy dinner. It took an hour to mix the dough. Kana's pantry is so well stocked that each ingredient required a major hunt. It's so much easier to find things when there is nothing in the cupboard! But the results were well worth the time. The recipe is eggless so you basically end up with chocolate chip shortbread. So yummy!

This morning I was up early, having cookies and coffee for breakfast and enjoying the most gorgeous foggy morning. Dropped Deb off at the train at 8:15 for another day in NYC. Contemplated joining her but since it is Black Friday and I decided to spend the day as a country mouse rather than face the mayhem.

Afternoon and evening - reading on the patio in the sunshine, cleaning the house, walking the dog and starting the ethics portion of my thesis.

Cookie Recipe
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup plus 3 tbsp all purpose flour
1/8 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/4 cup chopped pecans

1. Preheat oven to 300 F.
2. Beat butter and sugar in a bowl until light and fluffy.
3. Beat in vanilla.
4. Add flour and baking powder; beat until just mixed.
5. Stir in chocolate chips and pecans (dough will be stiff).
6. Using about 2 tbsp of dough, shape into balls and arrange a couple of inches apart on a cookie sheet; flatten slightly.
7. Bake until cookies are slightly brown at the edges, about 30 minutes.
8. Cool on a wire rack and enjoy!

new york diary - day 11

After a late night yesterday, I slept in properly today. Deb brought me coffee in bed around 10:30 and we spend half an hour chatting and watching the deer. Such a great way to wake up!

Another work day. Finished the MALT grant application. Nice to have it off my plate. Then took Molly for a walk around the nearby lake, which was a total drag. Quite literally. She didn't want to walk.... she just wanted to sniff every single leaf. We had words but explaining that Ceasar says she is not the pack leader didn't seem to help. When we got back, she was done with me and parked herself outside Deb's door until Deb finished doing yoga.

Today is American Thanksgiving, or as they like to say down here... Thanksgiving. We're celebrating with ratatouille (minus the peppers) made by Deb and wine bought by me. Then maybe some knitting or reading by the fire. Tomorrow will be about as exciting as today but I promise, I'll do something besides lounge about on Saturday!

 

new york diary - day 10

Kind of a useless day. Slept in until 7:30 (I know..... big sleep in...), drank coffee, walked Molly and then puttered around doing very little until 2:30 when I convinced Deb that we needed to get outside and enjoy the beautiful day. We took Molly for a long walk around town, picked up a few groceries, and looked for a pub that I enjoyed the last time I was here. Then more wasting time. Mostly surfing the 'net. Sad but true.

However.... the day isn't a total loss because our evening will be spent with Bond, James Bond at the UA Cortlandt Town Center Stadium (that's the movie theatre, folks). The GPS will once again be put to good use but I think I could find my way without it. It is just a few miles past the grocery store that I so successfully located (and then found my way home from) two days ago.

new york diary - day 9

Took the train to the city this morning, cabbed to the High Line, walked the High Line, walked to Purl Soho (bought yarn) and J Crew (bought nothing), walked to Frye (Deb bought badly needed boots), took the subway back to Grand Central. Was a bit of an overwhelming whirlwind trip. Too much to see and do. Too many people. We were both in sensory overload and needed the peaceful train trip back to Peekskill to calm our minds and rest our feet for the long uphill walk back to Brad and Kana's house where sweet Molly greeted us. And needed a walk.

Here are a few pics from the day...

Needs no explanation...

High Line love.
 

View of the High Line with very few people,
which was totally not the reality.

Lip building, for Marilee.

Deb taking a pic of the super yummy beer we had with lunch.
I'm probably not doing it any favours by saying it smelled like cat pee,
but once the brew hit the tongue that totally disappeared (thankfully).

Yarn love, for Elizabeth.

new york diary - day 8

Buoyed by yesterday's success navigating to the grocery store, I decided to make my way to an outlet mall about 40 minutes away. On the map it looked easy. Left turn, drive straight, right turn. No problem. Except that there were 4 roundabouts, a toll bridge and a scary, snaky, skinny highway between me and the mall. I do not love shopping so if I had known I probably would have just spent another day at home.

Was successful in buying a bunch of stuff for very little cash once I got there. 4 pairs of pants, 2 button down shirts, long sleeved t-shirt and two sweaters for about $260. Then, with full knowledge of what lay ahead, I made my way back.

The Bear Mountain Hwy is the second scariest road I have been on. Hwy 1 to Big Sur in California being the first. The snaky was okay it was the skinny I had a hard time with. Nothing like taking a blind corner and meeting a truck that is over the centre line because they are too big for their lane. And I find it weird because Americans like big vehicles.

But anyway.... home safe. Deb made me a lovely dinner and took care of me. Spending the rest of the evening with a big glass of wine.

Stir fried veggies with peanut sauce over rice and lentils
Yummy salad with cashews and avacado
(Photo courtesy of Deb's phone)

new york diary - day 7

The morning was spent in the park, taking pictures of the pretty little lake and all the geese. Molly was interested but not keen on getting too close. Which was fine by me. I only like geese from a distance as well.

This afternoon, I managed to drive to the grocery store and back, thankful the entire way for GPS. The meandering roads make no sense to this "gimme a grid" prairie girl. The only real problem was my lead foot, which I totally had to watch. That 50 on the speedometer is not in kilometers!!!

Okay... before I tell you this next bit, let me assure you that I'm not pregnant or crazy (or pregnant and crazy). After my big excursion, I rewarded myself with my first peanut butter and pickle sandwich. The thing is, on the plane I was reading The Round House, which has this passage:

First, we unstuck the bread slices carefully from the peanut butter. Next we tucked in my mother's famous little crunchy pickles. Last, we closed the sandwiches back up. The pickle juice salted the peanut butter, cut the stickiness so you could swallow each bite, and added just the right hot, sour bite to the nuts.

And when I arrived at Kana and Brad's the same day I read that passage, an article on this Depression-era invention was on their coffee table. I could only take that as a sign. I wanted to make it with sour dough bread but there wasn't any at the grocery store. Used the sweet pickles already in the fridge. The ciabatta was a good bread choice, but bread and butter pickles would be much better. The sweet pickles lacked zing. Natural peanut butter is a must. Will definitely experiment further.

new york diary - day 6

My zen vacation continues. Despite Deb's company the day was still spent walking the dog, drinking coffee and drinking tea. In the afternoon, Deb napped while I watched deer out the back window.

Things got even more zen around 2:30 when the power went out. Brought in fire wood and prepared for an evening of reading by candlelight but it was back on two hours later. Not sure what happened. I didn't mind the thought of an even quieter evening than usual but I'm actually happier having a working furnace.

Deb and I did manage to sort of make plans for next week. High Line, Purl Soho, Tenement Museum (maybe...), New York Botanical Garden... and lots of walking around the city with our cameras. She's off to dance tango and take in the big city for a few days, while Molly and I and keep up our rigorous routine of doing as little as possible.

new york diary - day 5

This was the most exciting thing that happened today. Until 7:45 p.m. when Deb arrived!

new york diary - day 4

Very quiet day. Two long walks, read the New York Times (including a hilariously scathing review of a restaurant I won't be going to), worked on a grant application for MALT, drank tea, read books, drank wine, read more books. Molly helped.

Molly keeping me at the computer by being too cute to disturb.

new york diary - day 3

Yesterday I rode around with Brad in the afternoon while he saw clients and looked at the many trees that came down during Sandy and now have to be cleared. One client was in Sleepy Hollow, which was oddly exciting considering what a truly sleepy town it is. The evening was spent reading, roasting chestnuts and sitting in front of the fire with a dark and stormy while Brad packed. So, about those chestnuts..... it was a first for me and I'm totally smitten. So sweet and delicious!

Score chestnuts using a sharp bread knife.

Place in salted water and bring to a boil.
Then roast in the oven at 425 for 15 minutes.
Remove from oven and cover with a towel or
lid and let steam for 15 minutes.

Peel and enjoy!

Today was productive, if not a thrill a minute. Took Molly on two long walks to survey the storm damage and worked on my MALT duties. This evening will also be spent in front of the fire, reading and drinking wine but alas, no chestnuts. Have I mentioned that I'd like to be retired and wealthy and spend all of my evenings like this?



Molly surveying.

Some of the damage.
Also a few lines still down but presumably turned off.
Didn't test them out!