Hyacinth Season
Thursday, July 17, 2025
It's hyacinth season
It's totally definitely summer in New York. Summer isn't my favorite season here. I'm more of a spring and fall fan, and it's been hot, hot, hot waiting for a bus this last week. But amidst the hot and sweaty walking days, there are hydrangea. I once thought of hydrangea outside beach cottages and down country lanes, but in the last few years there seem to be hydrangea all over Manhattan. And I am so here for it. I'm not sure where I photographed these beauties, but it was some where not very far from home.
After the birthday whirlwind it's been an almost totally ordinary week; grocery shopping, the dentist, Pilates class, and a visit to the Frick Collection, a post for another day. The one exception, which kept me mostly home for two days, was discovering a pool of water in my kitchen. The dishwasher was overflowing.
Fortunately, it wasn't the water pipes and it was a relatively easy fix from a very pleasant repair person. But the repair person couldn't come on Monday -- when I first saw a puddle on my kitchen floor -- and the first appointment was Tuesday afternoon. I stayed in to bail water from the dishwasher, which kept me inside and on the lookout for a watery kitchen.
I like to think that I'm thankful for everyday things, and for the most part, I am. But I definitely took a working dishwasher, and its kitchen buddies, the stove and refrigerator, for granted. I especially took the dishwasher for granted. It's relatively new and in very good condition. But it was a good lesson that even a tiny thing can become a big problem. It was a good wakeup/gift that it's always time to appreciate everything. In the midst of the daily whirl, it's time to stop and appreciate the hydrangea and the dishwasher and a good dental appointment, just for starters.
What are the great and small pleasures that you're appreciating this summer?
As ever, thanks for visiting and enjoy the pleasures of summer.
Now I'm 75
Tuesday, July 8, 2025
The Victoria Falls Hotel, Victoria Falls Zimbabwe, May 2025
Today is a milestone birthday, 75, three quarters of a century. Yes, it's a big, big birthday, but very happily it wasn't a day that much out of the ordinary, and friends, I have no complaints or regrets. I made coffee, answered emails, texts and Facebook and Instagram messages. I had a great lunch with two of my dearest friends and then dropped into Starbucks for my birthday "reward" beverage. I came home and answered more email, did an Instagram post, ate dinner and now I'm blogging.
Several people advised me that I needed to do something spectacular today, out of the norm and memorable. But after the Africa trip -- out of the norm, memorable and spectacular -- nothing came to mind. Instead I enjoyed my not very out of the ordinary day, grateful for lunch plans, phone calls, messages of all varieties and a terrific and somewhat extravagant iced coffee, thanks to Starbucks.
Those who know me well know that my favorite play is "Our Town," by Thornton Wilder. I first saw it with my mother in 1970 and Henry Fonda played the Stage Manager. I most recently saw it last year and Jim Parsons (somewhat miscast in my opinion) played the Stage Manager. The lesson I've taken away from "Our Town," each time I've seen it and each time I've thought about it, isn't complex. But it's taken a lot of years for that lesson to come clear to me. A not very out of the ordinary day is memorable and spectacular, and the most ordinary day is also memorable and spectacular.
Here's to a most spectacular day at Victoria Falls in May, and to my not very out of the ordinary 75th birthday today and to all the ordinary and yet, spectacular days to come. And a toast and thanks to all who have wished me a happy birthday. You're all memorable and spectacular.
As ever, thanks for visiting and lots of love.
A Moment in the Mountains
Monday, July 7, 2025
Welcome to Breckinridge, Colorado
Before my visit to Breckinridge slips into memory, I want to be sure to share a few photographs. I'd been to Breckinridge in 2021 and had a great time. I remembered that it was lovely, but my memory didn't prepare me for the beauty that I (re) found on this return visit. Breckinridge is surrounded by mountains and the center of town includes the Blue River. Many of my photographs show the river, but for now I find them too upsetting to post. Tonight we're staying with mountains.
This area -- right in town -- is the Bristlecone Woodland. I loved seeing the mountains in the distance, still snowcapped, but I was especially captivated by the birdhouses. It was a serene place to sit, think, read a book and just enjoy the beautiful setting. The Bristlecone Pine is one of three species of pine trees native to the Western United States.
Despite the dramatic clouds, there was very little rain while I was in Breckinridge.
One of the questions I've been asked is "What do you do in a ski town in the summer?" There's lots to do and I definitely didn't have time to do everything I wanted to do. We -- I was with my college friend, Jane -- found two concerts and we had tickets for a community theater production. Breckinridge is a center for summer music programs and the quality was outstanding. We loved hearing a brass orchestra performing Disney Music at the wonderful concert center. There's an area with artist studios we didn't get to explore and several towns in the area, which we also didn't get to.
A very fun evening seeing "Young Frankenstein" at the community theater.
I enjoyed the beauty of the area, the friendliness of the people we met, the cool mountain air and the wonderful arts offerings. I enjoyed it so much that I'm thinking of a return visit next summer. There's an arts festival in August that caught my attention, so there may well be another trip to Colorado in 2026.
Big day tomorrow, friends, Pep and I share a birthday. He will be 31 and I will be the milestone age of 75, which seems impossible even as I type it. I'll be back tomorrow with a few reflections about when I'm 75.
As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care.
By Water
Saturday, July 5, 2025
This is the only post I've ever done without a picture. The pictures would be the girls of Mystic Camp and they are just too heartbreaking. For the last 24 hours my heart and prayers have been in Kerrville, TX, a place that was unknown to me until yesterday.
My thoughts have gone to one of the ritual prayers of the Jewish New Year, Unetanah Tokef. For the last several years the line that has spoken to me is "Who shall perish by water and who by fire." I'm not sure why that thought kept coming back to me, but it did through the years and does tonight. It seemed an archaic thought from the long ago, a thousand years ago, when the prayer was written. Like so many thoughts of long ago, it still has meaning.
Keep safe, friends, and my prayers for those and the loved ones of those who perished by water. May your memories be for blessings, now and always.
On July 4, 1776
Friday, July 4, 2025
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed..."
The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776
(A Few Days After) The Longest Day of the Year
Friday, June 27, 2025
We salute the tallest animal in the world
I started this post for World Giraffe Day on the longest day of the year, June 21, but I got sidetracked. But I didn't want to let June go by without paying homage to one of my favorite animals, the giraffe. Our group encountered this giraffe at Chobe National Park in Botswana. Chobe was the first national park in Botswana and a place with spectacular animal life. I was fortunate to travel with a group that was very enthusiastic about the sights we saw and enjoyed sharing the adventure with them.
Giraffe contemplating destiny
I've realized that I've been home for just about a month, and my trip to Africa, like all trips, has begun to slip into the past. I may do a post or two about Africa moving forward, but I'm back to regular life in New York. I've returned to my gym/Pilates/Weight Watchers/services life at home. I will be away this weekend and then I'm home for the summer, at least that's the plan tonight. I've got some fun things planned in New York and if the heat doesn't return to this week's 100+ weather, it should be a fun summer.
As ever, thanks for visiting and keep cool.
My Dad
Sunday, June 15, 2025
Baby Buttercup and Daddy, June 1951
We're taking a quick break from travel posts to once again share one of my favorite pictures of one of my all-time favorite people, my father.
There aren't many pictures of my father and me -- there aren't all that many pictures of my childhood -- but that's not uncommon in the era before the world went digital. But out of what was probably a roll of film -- that cost an hour's wages to develop -- this one was a keeper and 73 years later, it's even more of a keeper.
On this Father's Day and every day, remembering my father with love and gratitude. I'm one lucky buttercup.
Best to all, whether you're celebrating or simply remembering. I know this can be a tough day with more tears than smiles, so for all with tears I'm sending love and hugs.
As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)