First 100 steps: Wall across the street from our apartment building.
Second 100 steps: A tree stump with plenty of character.
Third 100 steps: A flower box filled with winter-worn plants.
Fourth 100 steps: A metallic-green painted fence.
5th 100 steps (maybe 2 extra to get inside to order my coffee): Chandelier.
And finally at home. One last picture to complete the circle. A yummy espresso chocolate cupcake. I've been thinking of it all week!
While reading through blogs this morning, I found a reference to Picnik, a site that can be used to edit pictures (a little easier than Photoshop). I'd never heard of it, but the photographer's pictures are wonderful, so I knew I had to try it out! Here's my first creation. Now I'm heading out to take the 100 Step Challenge posted on Shutter Sisters yesterday. (Book club plans kept me from pulling out my camera yesterday after work... I had a lovely time again, meeting 4 new girls and enjoying a few bottles of wine and many laughs.) I think I'm going to do a few rounds of it and see where I end up around the neighborhood. I hope I end up at the coffee shop getting a wonderful warm drink and an espresso cupcake. I'll be back with pictures soon!
Lilies inside. I can't wait for the lilies outside. There is a wonderful garden area at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden filled with Lilies. Last time I was there, the lilies were breath-taking.
This was Mom's favorite part (or a top on her list...) She actually said I could just leave her there! Above, she's very happily taking in the scent of Rosemary... and below, she found a piece that had fallen off the plant to bring along home. It was a nice little nook in one of the pavilions.
Happily, she holds a small bag with postcards for family and friends (sending New York greetings), a list of cacti (or cactuses, if you prefer), and a twig of rosemary for her nose's delight.
I love the purple glow of these flowers as they catch the sunlight. I also captured bokeh in the background.
Such brilliant colors. I took many, many pictures of these flowers.
Beautiful mini-trees in the Bonsai Museum. There were so many different trees on display.
The Bonsai room. I loved how this one was growing out of its own mini mound of moss on a rock platform.
This one stood at the entrance. A special tree on its own stage. The blooms glowing and capturing the attention of all who enter.
As we walked through the Japanese garden, I was taken by the calm of the water and the perfection of the reflection.
Another sign of the warmth and life coming. I need these signs.... I must have these reminders. I survived January and February rather surprisingly this year. Maybe I still have the excitement of the city running through my veins.
What a charm to see Spring colors in this flowering tree. I wouldn't mind having one of these in my yard... If I had a yard.
Along the path to the Steinhardt Conservatory I was happy to find a few buds and even a leaf beginning to grow! I've been sending this little guy happy thoughts since I saw him!
Surviving the winter in true winter colors.
Immediately upon arrival in the Conservatory, we were greeted by these beautiful and fragrant orchids. My grandmother had orchids at her house last time I visited. I've been asking Seth for one for a while now... this picture and the memory will have to suffice for now. (I'd probably kill it anyway, especially with the way my house plants are currently looking.)
The Calliandra Emarginata. Brilliant color. (By the way, I don't happen to know the name of this flower off the top of my head, just saw it on this link along with other flowers blooming this month!)
Cactus from the Desert Pavilion. Stepped in here after a nice lunch of split pea soup and tomato basil soup from the cafe in the Conservatory.
A desert flower.
Into the Tropical Pavilion. The heat and humidity made my memories of summer seem more real. My camera lens quickly fogged over with the drastic change in temperature, making this picture seem dreamy-like.
Mom was so happy to go with me as we explored the city. She was also wonderfully patient as I snapped and snapped picture after picture (about 1,200 total for the week...) She even let me snap a few of her!
Happy in the heat! Sweating by the end and ready to walk on to other cooler areas, but none the less, I'm still ready for warmer weather... Another post of pictures from the Botanical Garden to come... for now, I'm off to bed!
For some reason, I've only recently realized how much I love asparagus and how much Seth loves it as well (I think he knew prior to today!). Last week, while walking by this wonderful fresh veggie and fruit market, we decided to stop in and get a few things for our dinner... asparagus being one. With plenty left over from the yummy salad, I decided tonight I'd boil them up before they went bad in the back of my fridge (as forgotten food tends to go when pushed to the back of the fridge...)
Framing thought.
Framing stilettos.
Paintings of bunnies. Many paintings of bunnies.
Here are a few of the treasures Mom found while here (minus the button, it fell of her sweater). She also found the fun red pot these treasures are placed in. Some of those rocks are from the Brooklyn Bridge Park, others from Central Park.
My baby sister has two bitty baby twins. Here's one like her twins, waiting for a child's love.
Bitty Baby in the Bitty Baby High Chair with all the other Bitty Babies... and a Bitty Baby Teddy Bear.
The walls were decorated in pretty girl colors with quotes of encouragement!
American Girl has changed so much since I was younger. I remember when I first started reading the American Girl books. Kirsten was the first girl I read and loved.
The covers of the books are much different. They were creamy white when I was younger, and I'd get them from the Scholastic Book order. I still own my small collection of American Girl books...
Felicity was another one of the American Girls I read and loved. I would have given anything to have a real American Girl doll.
With the addition to the Bitty Baby, you can also get the doll that looks like you. So many options... Sadly, there wasn't really a doll that looked like me.
Even cooler, when you get your doll, you can bring it to the American Girl Place and get her hair done just like you would if you went to the salon! Imagine your job as a doll hair stylist... So what do you do? I style hair... doll's hair. (I wonder if you have to have a license to do doll hair?)
I want this book. I know, I'm an adult, but I still want it. Hopefully our first child will be a girl. :) Then I'll feel ok about getting this book!
Last, but definitely not least... The American Girl Llama. I almost walked out the store without a picture of this soft stuffed animal. Momma would have gotten me for that! :) Something about the llamas... Maybe it's to blame on whoever found this youtube video. (Dad? Trish? Kev?) If you havent' seen the llama video, click here. You must watch the whole thing. O... and while I was looking for the link to the llama song, I found this funny version of the llama song called the Obama Llama song.
