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NYC

A few months back, when Peloton announced they were restarting studio rides, one of my friends and I decided a trip to New York was in order to take one. Sadly, we didn’t manage to get ourselves into a ride, but we had a fun long weekend anyway. One day we walked the breadth of the park, another we walked the length. I started to feel competent at navigating via subway only to have our main line rerouted two days into the trip (and then really comfortable when we figured out that reroute). I just wanted to jot down a few favorites (and recommend that if you ever get a chance to see Come From Away, that you take it.)

Memorable Eats: Gallaghers (the mac and cheese was tops from the trip), Il Mulino, Sadelles, The Central Park Boathouse
Shows: The Music Man, Come From Away (definitely in my top 3 shows of all time, very likely number one).
Sights: Jesse and I came across the Flat Iron Building, the New York Public Library, the Central Park Zoo, and the Empire State Building while wandering the city. We also spent a good amount of time wandering the park. I spent a couple hours wandering the Met (I definitely want to go and spend a longer period of time). I loved the Bernd & Hilla Becher exhibit, stumbling upon a Renoir and knowing it without knowing how I knew, and some metal work on display in the Egyptian art collection.

Thursday Things

I couldn’t manage a Tuesday Things this week, but I wanted to say hello, so here I am! Hello!!!!

We’ve had one fall day with all the windows open and breeze blowing and I roasted tomatoes. The 400° oven didn’t trigger rivers of sweat and the kids put on sweatshirts and it was glorious. The very next day, the summer temperatures returned.

The renovation continues. Some days are full of progress and ceaseless banging. Other days the project is stalled for one reason or another. I’m trying to be grateful for the peace when it’s here and the progress when it isn’t.

I don’t have a ton of things but let’s talk the ones I do.

Reading: The Good-Enough Life by Avram Alpert and A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder by Holly Jackson.

Watching: I started watching Pieces of a Woman (Netflix) but had to pause it. I need the house to myself to watch because it’s good, but hard. Head of the Class (HBO). Only about three episodes. I loved it when I was younger. Untold (Netflix) – I’ve watched The Girlfriend Who Didn’t Exist, Operation Flagrant Foul, and The Rise and Fall of And1. I’m not a sports person really, but I find these stories fascinating.

Knitting: I have a pair of socks due for a birthday that are not going to be done in time. (I have just a little bit of the gusset and foot to go, so it should have been doable but LIFE).

Making: Lots of garden stuff – notes for next year, preserving tomatoes and green beans, putting up onions and wishing I had a root cellar. Potatoes will be dug up in the next couple of weeks and I’ll put in the garlic. We also have some rye ground cover to plant in our larger plot for overwinter. My brother got me this book and I can’t wait to cross stitch my Stardew farm! (I did promise my brother I would do his first though.)

So that’s me. Drop a line and let me know about how you are doing!

Tuesday Things

We’re deep into the dog days of summer. Hot, humid, overfull, but some how lazy. I spend hours pruning and weeding and harvesting. I take a certain glee in smushing squash bugs and cabbage caterpillars and scraping eggs into soapy water. When my knees are in the dirt and I’m pushing sweaty hair out of my eyes, it’s easy to feel smug and romanticize the labor that goes into these small acts of feeding my people. I muse about how much better the world would be if we all just hoed our own row, or focused on the work in front of us, or one of a million other platitudes. I know better and still find it so easy to be self-satisfied.

Let’s talk some things.

Reading: I gave up (for the second time) on The Kindest Lie and have decided to start a DNF shelf on Goodreads. While I’m still using the app to keep track of what I’ve read, now that it’s owned by Amazon, I’ve decided to share links using bookshop.org. Shrill: Notes from a Loud Women by Lindy West (★★★★☆), Stolen by Lucy Christopher (★★★☆☆), and People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry (★★☆☆☆) were all read thanks to Libby and my kindle. I just borrowed I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid so I’ll be reading that next. I also read The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune (★★★★☆).

Listening: One of my friends recently sent me this song by Weezer and now I’ve been listening to the whole album. (Their older stuff definitely brings me back to a time in my life when I wasn’t that much older than V is now.)

Watching: A lot of Netflix: Unbelievable was uncomfortable but good, Our Father made my skin crawl. Jennifer Lopez Halftime, Seeing Allred, The Martha Mitchell Effect, Keep Sweet and Obey, Girl in the Picture all kept me company while working on some knitting projects. Persuasion looks amazing so that’s next on my list. RHOBH (purchased season) – Diana is fascinating to me and I love Garcelle this season/all seasons. At the theater, I’ve watched Thor: Love and Thunder and very much enjoyed it.

Knitting: I have so much blocking to do, a pair of socks to finish, and a blanket I’m hoping to have done in a couple of weeks. I’m using this yarn for the blanket and I love the feel of it. I want to get the sheep pillow finished before the end of 2022 since it’s been on my to do list for a few years now.

Making: I bought a couple of cases of peaches and once we had our fill of eating them fresh, I tried my hand at canning. I did the same with strawberries, and made/canned my first batch of jam. The peaches were ugly but tasty. The jam is just okay. I’m learning. Refrigerator pickles and a second batch of peaches (with some tweaks to try) are next on my list of upcoming things. If you have a favorite pickle recipe, please share!

Fingers crossed for a Friday Finds post this week. I have so many links saved to share. So that’s me. Let me know what you are -ing?

44 .

  1. Stay cigarette free. (Two years+ and counting!!)
  2. Finish Chicago embroidery project.
  3. Frame & hang embroidered cities.
  4. Knit a sweater.
  5. Knit the sheep pillow.
  6. Continue to practice unapologetic self-confidence.
  7. Complete the second floor update.
  8. Hang family picture wall.
  9. Celebrate my people.
  10. Take impeccable care of myself.
  11. Get a mole screen.
  12. And a mammogram.
  13. Tend the garden.
  14. Try canning.
  15. Go to Colorado.
  16. And Michigan.
  17. And NYC.
  18. Renew passports.
  19. Take the summer off Instagram and Facebook.
  20. Have a yard sale.
  21. Make a NYC picture book with V.
  22. Celebrate 20 years of marriage with Jesse.
  23. Continue to cultivate a cozy, welcoming home.
  24. Practice boat (and boat trailer) proficiency.
  25. Get Abram through boater’s safety.
  26. And V through driver’s ed.
  27. Refine the home binder & checklists.
  28. Write a short story.
  29. Unsubscribe from email lists/catalogs.
  30. Read.
  31. Go on a picnic.
  32. Purge kitchen cabinets.
  33. Use the state park sticker.
  34. Eat at home for a month challenge.
  35. Make artistic messes.
  36. Donate my time to a cause I care about.
  37. Start planning the deck/patio/garden update.
  38. Complete a 100 day challenge.
  39. Take a ski lesson.
  40. Ride 1500 miles.
  41. Work on flexibility.
  42. Set up a game cart.
  43. Get a birdbath.
  44. Reacquaint myself with my big camera/manual.

Past years: 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 42, 43.

Marco Island 2022

Abram and I decided very much on a whim to head to Marco Island, FL for spring break. Jesse had to work. Violet was going to NYC for a school trip and Abram’s basketball tournament plans were foiled by a mallet injury. My largest take away from this vacation was that I really want to make an effort to take one on one trips with my children.

Stayed: JW Marriott
Memorable Eats: Snook Inn (the jerk chicken wings were SO good), The Oyster Society, Marco Island Farmers Market (we visited a few stands here for breakfast and I definitely recommend).
Activities: Everglades Excursions (U.S.’s smallest post office, airboat tour, Everglades information), Calusa Spirit Tour (dolphin, shelling, dome house)
To remember: My favorite part of the whole trip was walking down the beach looking at all the different shells and if we have the opportunity to go again, I’d love to incorporate a kayaking trip. The Farmers’ Market is a do not miss, but get there early for parking and to avoid crowds.

*Yes, this a post-dated post. Re-entry got hectic so I didn’t get around to sharing when I got home, but with the magic of technology I get to post it where I want it to be archived.

Friday Finds

Source

It’s been a bit. In sorting through my links, I had way too many age out. I guess that just means I need to be doing this more often.

  1. Barkeepers friend, baking soda, and vinegar are all must haves on my list. Do you agree?
  2. Speaking of vinegar, it saved my favorite wool rug this weekend.
  3. Kids’ bathroom mirror inspiration with these colors being the mood.
  4. I have a lot of thoughts/feelings about this.
  5. Creativity as a key to healthy aging?
  6. This happening is a true fear of mine.
  7. And this is a lovely way to create a rainbow.
  8. I read this during an extra long pick up wait. The second suggestion makes a huge difference in our home.
  9. Gorgeous artistry.
  10. Do you have a favorite love language? I don’t know mine (I like them all) but Jesse’s is definitely acts of service.
  11. Netflix this month. Hulu next month.
  12. Yeah. I could throw back a few Dark & Stormys lately.
  13. I have too many projects, but this is so pretty that I want to add it to my ever growing pile.
  14. I would add, “It’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission” to this list.
  15. Polar bears in abandoned buildings.
  16. Fruit flavors pairing chart.

Happy weekend, everyone!!



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