Old Blog, New Tricks

This is a quick test to see if I can write in Word and publish on my blog. If we can read this, it can be done.

Oh my goodness, it worked.

An old dog is learning new tricks!!!!!!!!!!!!!

a rainy day in Manhattan

This is what we did yesterday, a rainy day in Manhattan:

1. buy our all day Fun Passes for the subway
2. coffee and rolls at Corrado Bread and Pastry at Lex & 70th
3. visit the Fricke Collection. we went to see the 5 paintings on loan from the Norton Simon collection, and were wowed by the entire place. we will definitely be back.
4. too wet to explore the knit shops in the neghborhood, so we took the subway down to the West Village
5. lunch at A Salt and Battery. possibly the best fish and chips ever. only 7 stools, but we perservered and got 2 stools by the time our fish was ready. while sitting in the window, munching our fish, we watched both the hipsters and the yoga practioners walk by.
6. a very long stroll in the rain to the Lion Brand shop. they had a darling window, but guess what? Closed for Easter holiday.
7. a very long trudge back to the subway and home

I don't think I've been as wet since I was a little girl in Portland, Oregon, walking to school in the rain. Taylor reminded me that we had a wet day in Manhattan with Syvart about 5 years ago. Then I remembered a very wet hike along the Washington coast with our friends the Andrews, and our 4 children. Of course, Cheryl and I used to get soaked running in the rain in Olympia, Washington. I've been wet before. Each time just feels the wettest.

By the way, we've got blue sky and sunshine today.

Jay Ford

1942-March 27, 2009

I MUST go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,

And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,

And a gray mist on the sea's face, and a gray dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide

Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;

And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,

And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,

To the gull's way and the whale's way,

where the wind's like a whetted knife;

And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,

And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

Sea Fever, by John Masefield

We will be toasting you, Jay, on April 19 at 3:30 PST. We miss you.

April Hibiscus

Boy, was I excited when I came downstairs this morning.

This is why:

I had to walk all around it to believe what I actually saw.
This is one of two hibiscus that sat on my front porch last summer.
I decided to bring this one indoors for the winter to see what would happen.
Now I wish I had brought both of them inside.
Now I know what happens.
Good things happen.

Happy Spring, Happy Birthday

When I took Franklin Habit's lace knitting workshop the other weekend (yes, I was in the same room with the real Franklin Habit, blogger superb, in addition to being a mighty fine knitter) - he told me the secret to being a good blogger was to blog daily. Well, that seems near impossible to me because I have so little to say. However, today is my birthday and I bought myself a present worthy of blogging about: an orchid - or to those of us now in the know, a Phalaenopsis.

Here it is. I want proof that I actually had a Phalaenopsis for a while, hence the photo. I received one as a gift when we lived in Connecticut and I killed it within 2 months. I'm newly inspired by both my friend Gretchen and my uncle Gordon, who both grow orchids successfully.

Isn't it pretty in the close up? I'll retake the photos in 4 months and see what I've got. I think I may have to research how to take care of this baby - which will cut into my blogging time.

In addition to Phalaenopsis, I succumbed to adding a Spring Cactus to my houseplant collection. Now, I have not had a houseplant since I was in college, so I wonder if I'm having a midlife crisis - two houseplants in one day. Anyway, my mother in law always had a huge, and I mean HUGE, Christmas Cactus. It looked just like this one, except it had red flowers. I have no idea if it's the same plant or a different one from hers, but I thought, "Why not?" and took it to the cash register with Phalaenopsis (I hope if I say and write the name enough times I'll remember what it is).

So, happy spring indoors, and happy birthday to me.

Camp for Grownups

March 17 - 20
March Madness at Mohonk Mountain House.

This was my annual girl trip to Mohonk Mountain House.

I've had people say to me, "Why do you go there? What is there to do? They don't even have TVs in the rooms?" That is exactly why I go there. There's not a lot to do, and there are no TVs in the room, and cell phone connection is bad. But the place has a serene beauty that reminds me of the Northwest. Actually, it makes me think of camp - for grownups. It's the kind of place where you put your regular life to the side, and simply soak up the atmosphere and live for the moment. In too short a time, you go back to real life - refreshed.



This year, when Lisa, and I got to our room, one little Mohonk fox greeted us with a banner across his chest saying, "Welcome Back." We both fell in love with the little guy, and when the bellman asked if there was anything he could do for us, we said, "Yes. We have one little fox, but two of us are sharing the room." He said, "I'll take care of it." And he did. Shortly afterward, a person from housekeeping showed up with another fox. My fox now lives on my bedside table, reminding me of the peace of Mohonk.

The first day we were there was Founder's Day. After dinner we had our picture taken with Albert Smiley. He looks pretty good for being over a hundred years old.

The next morning, Lisa and I hiked up to Sky Top. Taylor and I had been there in December - on skies. Now there was no snow and I got a good look at the tower. There'a a fireplace on the first floor. This would be a good spot for hot cocoa and a sit by the fire. But this is Mohonk - no touristy stuff here.

Then we climbed up all 102 steps to the top. It was pretty darn cold up there, as well as windy. I was very happy to have my ear muffs.

After doing Mohonk things all day - yoga, nature walks, hiking, knitting, reading, massage, soaking in the mineral pool, sitting by the fire - we got ourselves cleaned up for dinner.

In December I skied on these trails. On this March day it was foggy and drippy in the woods. It almost looked like a fall day with the leaves crunching beneath my feet, but I could smell spring.

I love the surprise of an occasional summer house along the cliffs.

I also love hiking along and not seeing any other people.

For a Northwest girl, Mohonk has become one of my favorite East Coast destinations. Camp for grownups.

Hedgehog Love

If this isn't love at first sight I don't know what is.

Baby Fiona and her Hedgehog.

I'm pretty sure that even Fiona is cuter than the very cute Hedgehog.

A match made in heaven.

May they have many adventures in the future.