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Just in Case You Missed National Lobster Day

In the past we've celebrated National Licorice Day and National Milk Chocolate Day. Except for the vagaries of my tablet and Blogger, we would have celebrated National Lobster Day yesterday. But the technical details seem to be working and we are happily celebrating National Lobster Day tonight with a visit to McLoon's Lobster for what may be the best lobster roll on the East coast.


I know there may be people who will debate that statement with me, but after my lobster tastings in Connecticut this summer, I'm choosing McLoons for best lobster roll of the summer of 2017.  All of my tastings were in nice seaside settings and all of the lobster was good, but McLoons tipped the balance with the quantity of lobster, the perfect arrangement of the lobster in the roll -- I prefer the toasted hot dog bun -- and the weather worn picnic tables.

This was the view as I ate my perfect and delicious lobster roll.



The menu -- I'm tempted by the Maine crabmeat roll or perhaps a crab cake, but when there's fresh lobster the temptation quickly evaporates.

I'm now back from Maine for a little over a week, though it feels like I've been back a month. Rosh Hashanah was lovely and spiritually inspiring. I got to spend time with dear friends and eat way too much. But between the holiday and being in Maine I'm not easily back in the routine of walking, yoga, reading and blogging. I think the ninety degree weather on the first day of fall totally threw me off and I've been taking refuge in front of the air conditioner.

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care. My heart and prayers are in Puerto Rico tonight.
 

Happy 5778


"For the Lord thy G'd bringeth thee into a good land...a land of wheat and barley,
and vines and fig trees and pomegranates."
 Deuteronomy 8 7:8 
 
The Jewish new year -- 5778 -- begins at sunset tonight. With this celebration begins ten days of prayer, repentance and reflection. It's a time to recharge, reflect and grow closer to G'd and those we love. It's also a time to pray. As I've written before my congregation's services are long, from three to four hours. The prayers and music are beautiful, but despite my very best intentions my mind wanders. I've found that bringing a list of prayer requests is the best way for me to refocus during the service. I would be honored to bring any requests you have with me tomorrow morning, Friday and next Saturday on Yom Kippur. 
 
My wishes to all for good health, happiness and a sweet new year, and a heartfelt prayer for peace on earth. 


I'd Love to Go to Chase's Daily Every Day

My visit to Maine was fabulous. Whether it was a wooded walk to a private beach -- first photograph below -- or blissfully watching the sunset from the sun porch -- second photograph below -- I had a wonderful visit. The only problem was blogging, or lack of blogging. I was for the most part off the grid and blogger was highly uncooperative. There's at least one more Maine post to come with additional pictures of the land and seascape.
 


Besides visiting, sitting on the porch and enjoying the view, eating was a prime activity. There were several lobster treats, but also a trip to the very fabulous Chase's Daily in Belfast, Maine. Family run and focused on vegetables, I had one of the best meals of the summer there. During the summer season there is always a line to be seated, but after Labor Day it wasn't as crowded when we arrived. However, by one o'clock every table was taken.    

Choosing my meal -- I was joined by two college friends -- wasn't easy. Everything looked good.
 
We all started with the soup of the day, tomato spinach. The spinach and the seasoning took this bowl of soup a long way from the classic red can. It was sophisticated and delicious and one of my goals for the fall is to try a variation at home. We followed the soup with tacos and ended our meal with a dessert buffet -- chocolate crinkle cookies, raspberry tart and an apple blackberry tart. If you have the good fortune to be in Belfast, Maine -- about two hours north of Portland -- I strongly suggest scheduling breakfast or dinner at Chase's Daily. 
 
There were beautifully displayed vegetables and flowers for sale in the back of the restaurant.
 
Maine is slipping back into memory now that I'm home. It's back to laundry, grocery shopping and doing my daily walking. I neglected the latter while I was in Maine and it's time to enjoy the almost autumn days outdoors. 
 
Sadness continues and my heart is in Mexico City and Puerto Rico tonight. Prayers for safety and recovery for both areas. 
 
As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care.  

My View



Blogger is being very temperamental, so let's have the photographs tell the story.This is my view in mid-coast Maine. I'm two hours north of Portland visiting a college friend. Enjoying the view, the company, the snap of autumn in the air and feeling very grateful. 


Sixteen Years Later

 
Remembering and honoring the memory of those who died on a beautiful September morning. You are never forgotten.
 
I did my first post about September 11 eight years ago. I included the notes I sent to family and friends after I got home on that tragic day. I can remember the day, but I can't do a better job of describing my feelings and my experiences.  
 
Sixteen years after later I still can remember where I was at almost every moment of the day. I don't think about it often, but it's not that I've "moved on." I have been able not to think about it as often, but it remains an enormous piece of my life.
 
I'm sharing this post with my friends at Pink Saturday. I'm out of town -- leaving tomorrow morning. I hope to be able to post, but I will generally be out of internet range. If I don't get to post I promise great pictures of a week in Maine.
 
As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care. Prayers for all, especially those in the path of Irma.


Autumn for the Save


I can't say that I've been perky this week. Actually, I've been as sad as I can remember. Yes, I've prayed, I've walked, I've eaten healthy foods, done good deeds and reached out to friends -- all the things one is advised to do to overcome sadness. But to little effectiveness. Until this afternoon.

I stopped into TJMaxx for a rest stop before grocery shopping and found the autumn décor displayed. It's still summer and I'm not one to push the seasons, but I dived headfirst into autumn and Halloween. The folks at TJMaxx were very nice and no one reprimanded me for rearranging the displays. I moved pumpkins, I moved signs and I spent time creating arrangements that made me smile. I think we all need a smile and if I need to rush head long into autumn, I'm going to autumn.

I loved this Halloween display. I spent most of my time at this table moving the owl around. I am tempted to go back to the store and bring the owl home with me, but I resisted today. I think the owl looks best surrounded by all the Halloween decorations and I don't have space recreate this tableau in my teeny tiny apartment.

 
This is not a great picture, but I couldn't resist this tablecloth showcasing dogs in Halloween attire. It's for a 70" round table, if anyone else can't resist it. 

I then moved on to Whole Foods, where it was full autumn. First I saw the mums...

...Then I came to the Halloween jack-o-lanterns. It's too early to buy a pumpkin, but pumpkins always make me smile. 

Finally, the first McIntosh apples of this season. These were the apples I ate most often when I was growing up. As a side note, I just googled them to get the correct spelling and found that they are the national apple of Canada.
 
I'm not forgetting the sorrow all around us -- or those afflicted -- but I'm going to find things that make me smile and I hope, will give you smiles, too. Here's to apples and pumpkins and autumn!
 
As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care -- especially citizens of Buttercupland in Florida.   
 

The First Day of Autumn...


 
Morning glories in Battery Park City gardens and New Jersey across the river


...Is officially the third week of September, but unofficially it began yesterday. The morning was in the sixties and raining and it really was sweater weather. I chose to have a very low key Labor Day weekend and my only plan for the day was to meet my college roommate and do "something" outside. We chose my favorite walk in New York City in Lower Manhattan. We walked from South Ferry at the very southern end of the island to Franklin Street in Tribeca. Because it was raining it wasn't crowded and we had the walking path to ourselves most of the time, a rare occurrence. We walked, drank coffee, took pictures, ate lunch at one of my favorite places and caught up on weeks of life. It was just the perfect something to do.
 
We stopped to explore Le District in Brookfield Place, a very upscale shopping area. The restaurant has a series of sections for different categories of French food. We were taken with the beautiful tin boxes and the goodies that go inside. These boxes were displayed with delicious caramels. It took a lot of will power to restrain ourselves from more than a sample. We were good support for each other.
 
The gardens in this neighborhood make me forget I'm in one of the most densely populated islands in the world. What a delightful and easy escape. 


I can't do a post about this walk without including a picture of my favorite sight in New York City. I posted it on Instagram this morning -- though with a different filter -- and a friend commented that she loved it. I wrote that if I was getting a tattoo -- very unlikely -- I would get the Statue of Liberty. For a few years my work view was this part of New York harbor and I saw the sunset over the Lady in the Harbor every week day. From time to time someone would comment that I probably didn't even notice it after I'd been there for years. My answer was always the same. I am in awe Every.Single.Day and I still am.

I'm not sure if it's the chill in the air over the weekend, but I'm back in a writing mood. I know it won't be a post every day, but I think it will be more than the once a twice a week of my summer hiatus.

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care!
 

Pink Saturday at the New York Botanical Garden

 
 
This morning was chilly and raining -- more autumn than summer. Definitely no air conditioner and a sweater. I know my posts are going to quickly move to autumn thoughts and activities, but I wanted to share one summer adventure, before it's lost to memory. My visit to the Dale Chihuly exhibition of glass at the New York Botanical Garden stands out in my memories of summer, 2017.

 
One of my favorite parts of the installation in one of the beautiful greenhouses. The postcard effect is thanks to Snapseed.

 
This was the first outdoor installation by Chihuly in New York in ten years. I'd seen a fabulous display at the Fairchild Gardens in Miami several years ago and enjoyed this one as much. I love the colors and the way the glass is set in the gardens. 

This is another favorite. It reminded me of a fantastic mythical flower, perhaps something out of the Arabian Nights.
 
One of my favorite parts of the display was the pieces set in pools, mixed with beautiful water lilies. The exhibit runs through the end of October and I'm hoping to find an evening to return to see the installations at night. If I do, you can be sure there will be photographs to share.

I'm linking up with my friends at Pink Saturday. I was delighted that last week's Pink Saturday post was featured. Thanks so much, How Sweet the Sound! Can't thank you enough. My Pink Saturday friends are talented writers and photographers and this means a great deal to me.

Despite the chilly weather I got a great walk today -- five miles! -- in Lower Manhattan through lovely gardens and the magnificent harbor views. I also enjoyed hours of catching up with my college roommate who joined me. Both the walk and the conversation were a complete treat. I'm going to share our afternoon in a post later this week.

I hope you're all enjoying the weekend and have a great day tomorrow. To all in Texas and those who are dealing with wildfires in the west, you're all in my heart and prayers for safety.

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care!