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Week 30: Gardens

Gardens are a bit different in the city and the country. The only edible part of mine is the rosemary, mint, and basil. I am kind of (who am I kidding... I AM) jealous of the tomato plants growing in Mrs. E's son-in-law's garden! Someday, I'll have a yard with a garden - not sure if the tomato plants will look that good though!

Top photo: Metropolitan Magic, me

Bottom photo: Country Charm, Mrs. E

All Over New York City!

In the middle of the New York City summer heatwave, I explored and toured the city with my brother, sister-in-law, and baby nephew... More photos to come! 

On the Roof of the Met

There is something about being on the roof of the Met enjoying the summer sculptures at sunset! The views are absolutely beautiful, and I'm often so shocked that this is even my reality! I think Who am I and how did I end up here!?

Ted, Seth, and Hans posing ;) 

We stayed up there until the roof closed for the evening. What a treat to watch the sun setting with that view!

New York Public Library

Yesterday, as we toured our friends around the city, we made a stop at the New York Public Library. 

Week 29: Bridges

Top Photo: Country Charm, Mrs. E

Bottom Photo: Metropolitan Magic, Me

Night photos on the roof! 

We have friends in town for the weekend. After they got in last night, we headed for the park to watch the world's fastest fiddler (from Ireland). Summer concerts in the park are truly one of my favorites! When it was over, we headed home and climbed to the roof to see the view. Of course we had to try out my new camera (G12 - a gift to myself for working extra this summer). We got some fun group photos with the self-time multiple shot function. It was like we were in our own photobooth! 

Today, we are off to explore the city. :) Love when guests come! I get to be a tourist for a day! 

Baby Shower

One of our favorite couples, Pete and Christina, is expecting their first baby (a boy!) later this summer! Saturday, the girls got together to celebrate Christina and her baby belly over lunch at Fiore (yum!) in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. I wish I'd taken a photo of the wrapping I'd done. I have a hard time actually buying wrapping paper or gift bags. It seems so wasteful to me, even if it's the norm. 

Usually, I repurpose brown paper bags. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to pull it off, but I decided to give it a try. I took a brown paper bag, wrapped the present. Then I found blue rickrack and criss-crossed it around the package. Next, I pulled pages from an old book that I've repurposed for various art projects. I put a number of pages together and cut them into larger circles. I then used the leftover halves and cut smaller circles. Using my scissors, I cut slits into the circles and started folding the edges up in various ways. Then I stapled the circles together in the middle. I took two more funky strings I had (green and orange), tied them in a small bow, and also stapled them to the circles. I attached this paper bow to the rickrack and voila! Another successful wrapping job without having to buy wrapping paper :)  I promise to take a photo next time! 

One of my favorite parts of the shower and this restaurant is a delicious lemon tart. I am now yearning the divine sweet tart now. YUM!

We Have a New Pet??

Since I put my plants out on the fire escape, I have been keeping a close eye on the squirrels. I feel a bit crazy, snapping my eyes out the window every time I see movement (especially because there's a tree that is often blowing its branches in the wind right outside the window.) There has been a particularly daring little guy out there. He was recently teasing me, running up and down the stairs of the fire escape. Each time I knocked on the window or try to shoo him away, he'd come sauntering right back down moments later.

I knew I spotted him out there again!

Turns out, he's a busy guy. He's pulling branches off of a tree to build a nest under the grill lid left propped up against the stairs of the fire escape. I caught him out there... 

He spotted me looking at him.

Look at him hiding. He's slouching down really low behind the herbs. Silly squirrel. 

This shot was even better... He moved a few steps away from his slouched down hiding spot, and I moved out the window a little more to follow him. He automatically froze sprawled out flat on the bottom of the fire escape! Ha ha! I wonder if he thinks we can see him :) 

He continued to work. 

Eventually he got tired of being filmed and photographed, so he ran away and hid. You can't really see him in the photo but he's on the 3rd floor fire escape next door, hiding with his body stretched out on the railing. He thinks he's so sneaky!

Now the question is, do we leave his little spot or do we stop him? I know we should stop him from building a nest on the fire escape, but I feel so bad making all his hard work go to waste! Maybe I'll make Seth go be the home-wrecker...

Through the Viewfinder

Just wanted to share a few photos I took from my phone. I love how they have such an old feel to them...

Birthday Ferry Ride

Yesterday I celebrated my 26th birthday. It was a perfect day: pretty casual, spent with people I love, and showered with birthday wishes from all those I love that don't live in the City with me :) 

I met Seth for lunch in Union Square. Following lunch I headed towards Williamsburg where I met Kendra. We grabbed iced coffees and headed for the pier to take the new East River Ferry towards Wall Street. 

Once we got downtown, we wondered the streets, admiring old landmarks along the way. We found our way to Battery Park and looked out across the water to Lady Liberty. When we felt we had sufficiently sweat enough, we headed towards Stone Street (one of my favorite streets in the City) for an afternoon drink.

Unfortunately our afternoon drink was interrupted by an afternoon down pour - we tried to weather it under our umbrella, but the wind picked up and the rain drops were huge, so we ran inside to finish our beers. 

When the rain stopped and the sun returned, we headed back towards the pier to catch the ferry back to Williamsburg.

Upon returning to Williamsburg, we headed to a new beer garden on the north edge of Williamsburg where we were met by a few friends. Our evening was filled with laughter, talking, and even a tournament of rock, paper, scissors (which I didn't win).

Week 28: Fireworks

4th of July in the city consisted of rooftop climbing in order to try to catch glimpses of fireworks. In small towns things are a little different. Not only does the town have firework shows, but everyone else is shooting off their own. Mrs. E found the evidence of day-after celebrations! 

Top photo: Metropolitan Magic, me

Bottom photo: Country Charm, Mrs. E

4th of July Sunset

A breathtaking sunset tonight. We climbed the stairs, up the ladder, and to the roof to see if we could catch a glimpse of fireworks shows. Unfortunately, the big Macy's show was on the Hudson River and the lowest barge was at 14th street and there is a hospital blocking the view of the city above Chambers Street. At one point, we could see 6 shows going on at one time. They were tiny in the distance, sparkling from North to South. Some were even backdrops to the tiny Lady Liberty in the harbor. 

What did you do for the 4th??