What I Did This Summer, Part 1

My stint as pet sitter for my daughter and her husband (!) was exhausting and exhilarating. I was very lucky that I had relatively mild weather the first week, which allowed me to spend every day outside without much discomfort. The second week brought hot temperatures and heat advisories, and slowed me down just a bit.

 

I was also lucky to have had a friend come up from Friday through Monday, which made exploring the city even more fun, and as she is also an avid knitter, we made sure to visit some great knitting shops.

 

I thought I would blog more, but between organizing my photos on Facebook, and fulfilling my pet sitting duties, I didn't make the time. Here are just a few highlights of my visit during the first four days:

Outpost Lounge, a coffee shop and bar, just around the corner from the kids' apartment. They don't like going, but I love the place!

Meredith and Ryan, getting their marriage license, at Brooklyn City Hall.

So cute!

 

The High Line, probably the highlight of my sightseeing.

 

 

Empire State Building.

 

Lion Brand Yarn Studio.

 

Columbus Circle, where I had the best falafel sandwich ever!

 

Central Park.

 

 

The Dakota Building, where John Lennon lived. I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing, when I heard the news of his murder.

School recycling art.

 

Sugar and Plum, a bakery/restaurant, that I stumbled upon on my wanderings.

Knitty City, whose owner is extremely friendly.

 

A treat on a hot afternoon.

Subway art at the 81st street station.

Ollie, hoping I don't make her take another walk. She is trying to avoid eye contact here.

Subway knitting!

The cat, Sinon, demonstrating exhaustion. From lying around all day. Tough job, guarding the place while I was out gallivanting.

Street market, by Manhattan's City Hall.

 

A couple in a photo shoot; I assume for their wedding photos, but it could have been an advertisement shoot, for all I know. Aren't they gorgeous?

The new World Trade Center Building.

And these pictures are just from the first four days!

 

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Summer

Going away as soon as school was out was a great way to jump into the summer vacation mode. Sightseeing in Brooklyn and Manhattan for two weeks got me into the habit of walking daily and the restaurants were all serving lemonade with a variety of fruit juices, which was a helpful way to wean myself off of the soda habit. I'm looking forward to continuing both of these habits once I get home. Another change I made was forgoing my daily routine of blow drying and hot rolling my hair and despite the fact I think I look a little unkempt, I'm going to continue with the summer look.

I bought a number of books on my trip and I hope to get back to a regular routine of reading, rather than wasting so much time on my iPad. I'm reading Anna Quindlen's latest, Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake, and I plan on regifting the book to a friend of mine who got me through my thirties and early forties in exactly the way Quindlen writes about in the book. I also picked up the sequel to Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall, Bringing Up the Bodies, and How to be a Woman, by Caitlin Moran. Between reading, knitting, and decluttering, the first two which can and will be done on the beach, I think my summer schedule is set. Oh, and the walking, also to be done on the beach. And cooking healthy foods. And picking fresh produce and putting it up in some way.

I finished the wedding shawl I made for my daughter's wedding gift, and took some photos of it in the back garden area of a coffee shop in Brooklyn that I enjoy visiting. It was the Cedar Leaf Shawlette pattern and I used two skeins of Cascade Sunseeker, which is cotton with a bit of sparkle. I loved both the pattern and the yarn, and even though Meredith didn't use it for her wedding, I thoroughly enjoyed making it while thinking of her impending marriage.

 

 

 

I'm also working on the first of two baby blankets for a set of twin boys due in August. I am using nine colors of Knit Picks Comfy Worsted and a log cabin pattern.

I don't love it, but it is super soft and colorful, so I'm sure it will be just fine. The second one will have the same colors, just arranged in a different order.

I will post with photos from New York next time. Meanwhile, I hope you are having a wonderful summer!

 

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Meredith and Ryan's Tahiti Wedding

 

I love the look on their faces!

 

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NYC Plans

So I've been jotting down some ideas about what I'm interested in doing in New York while I'm pet sitting and it seems like most of my list is free. I checked the weather and the forecast looks pretty awesome for June, which is great, since at least half of my ideas are out of doors.

I want to spend some solid time in Central Park, specifically, Strawberry Fields and the Imagine mosaic, which I have never seen! I also want to take a look at the Alice in Wonderland statue, especially since I remember seeing the Peter Pan one in London many years ago. I want to walk on the High Line too, and read somewhere that the best time is early on weekdays, so that's in my itinerary.

I've never seen the Cloisters, and I think this trip will be the perfect time to go; since its so far north, I never seem to have a day to devote to it, which is the amount of time I feel it will take. If it doesn't take as long as I anticipate, I'll spend the rest of that day in The Met, as one can never have enough time there.

My daughter has given me a list of cool places to see in the Garment District, so if I am reading the map correctly, I may combine that with a wander around the TriBeCa area, but I'm wrong, I'll just wander somewhere else that day.

If I need any more outdoor time, I will visit the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens and/or Prospect Park. I definitely plan on some down time, in bookshops, knit shops, and coffee shops. And I'm hoping to see a lot of Brooklyn on my walks with Ollie-dog.

For now, I have some knitting projects to pack. I will definitely post some photos over the next two weeks! Ciao!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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All Over The Map

I am going in lots of directions at once right now and my knitting projects reflect this. I set aside All the Shades of Truth to begin the first of two baby blankets I want to make for a dear friend, then put that aside to work on something for my soon-to-be-married daughter.

 

Steve and I had a great weekend in Baltimore, and stopped in Richmond to take Stephanie to dinner on the way home. I love the restaurant that this bathtub is home to, but right after I took this photo, we found out they had just closed for the evening. I love this picture anyway.

This post was started at least a week ago and finally it is summer for me. The last week of school chewed me right up but a good night's sleep and just hanging out today is putting me on the road to healthy again. I suspect I will sleep most of the way up to Brooklyn on Monday, which is another reason I love to travel by train.

This was the first high school graduation I was a part of and it was great to see students I had taught in 8th grade walk the stage. This beautiful young woman was in my first class of AVID students, just four years ago.

Events like these rejuvenate me.

 

And eating oat grass and catnip rejuvenate Gracie.

Happy summer, people!

 

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Habit

If you don't already, go check out habit right away. Some days I look there and am discouraged by the beauty I see, thinking everyone else has got it together, and some days I look and remember that I've already gotten more than I deserve in this wonderful, messy, scary, beautiful life of mine. This is one of the best end of the school years I have had in awhile. The kids are great, I'm more relaxed than I usually am about the process, and Steve and I are even taking a short trip this weekend.

 

Knitting progress:

The Cedar Leaf Shawlette, four leaves done, twenty-six to go. Love the pattern and hoping to knit quite a few more leaves on our way to Baltimore tomorrow!

Hope you have a happy weekend!

 

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Mostly Gracie

This is one of the busiest times of year for me; wrapping up the end of the school year. Consequently, I haven't been knitting as much as I like to, nor have I blogged much. I have been outside a great deal though, so I definitely do not feel sorry for myself.

I repotted this geranium, which was a gift from my mother. She got it for me when I injured myself and had to get stitches. Did I tell that story? I can't remember. Isn't it lovely?

While I was watering my little garden yesterday, I noticed that I have a few tomatoes already!!

I am testing out whether the hay bale garden concept works as well as the five gallon bucket one, and so far the bucket is ahead. I did fertilize the bales again yesterday, so we will see.

Taking photos of Gracie continues to be my primary hobby, at least according to my photos. But she's so darn cute!

Isn't her expression adorable?

And who could resist this face?

If I'm on the couch, she's usually curled up beside me. Can you stand those little curled paws?

Lavender, in our flower bed.

I've also made it to the beach a few times, which is always relaxing.

Another piece of news I may or may not have shared yet is that my oldest daughter is getting married on June 22nd, on an island near Tahiti. It will be just the two of them and while they are gone, I am staying at their apartment in Brooklyn to pet sit for their cat and dog. I'm taking the train up, leaving on the 17th and returning on the 28th, and I'm really looking forward to it. Only two weeks left and so much to do!

 

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