regular life for change

while we were away there was big and ugly storm at the shack. certain someone's mom was house and dog sitting and had to deal with huge old birch falling down on power lines. fortunaly the falling birch didn't cut the lines, power company guys worked for 4 hours to clear the mess. this stub was left standing







this is where it broke







we'll be getting tons of firewood







since it was such a nice, sunny and crispy autumn day, i decided to "clean" the garden a bit. these were still green but not in their prime any more







took out all the potted plants and washed the planters for next year







don't i have a fancy potting shed? well, the mirror is from a hallway piece of furniture that certain someone didn't want in the house but didn't want to dispose of either...you never know when you might need it, oh yes, you never do







last crop of sage and lovage, these will be dried. i so need to move the lovage to another place, it's getting huge







one of the very few apples in the trees. i just might get a few apple pies out of them







the dog was basking in the sun

nyc, day 3, oct 5th

monday started chilly and windy but sunny. we walked the few blocks up from our hotel to this building. every time i've gone there before there's been a very long line, not now, maybe it was us being there bright and early. oh, they've hiked up the tickets from $13 to $20. they have made some improvements but $20 is a bit steep






view down to macy's







so much for anonymity







view to north







this birdy liked to pose for pics







lunch from street cart, his was sweet italian sausage roll







mine was falafel, which was way tastier than any falafel i've tasted before







city of new york has made some changes on broadway around macy's, so much better for pedestrians, looks almost european...







another view of empire state building







certain someone had to take a nap in the afternoon, i headed out and about and found myself at union square green market. this stand had dozen kinds of tomatoes







herbs







we met moushi (aunt of A) for dinner at chinese mirch, appetizers: gobi manchurian (cauliflower florets with fresh ginger and garlic) and fried okra pods with smoky chili seasoning and asian vinaigrette







our entrees: crispy szechuan lamb (spicy!!!), chicken manchurian (spicy!!!) and kung pao chicken (spicy!!), everything was very tasty, my poor stomach was suffering, though







soothing dessert of green tea icecream, pecans and fried figs, hmmmm. as i've mentioned, no flash in restaurants







met life tower at night







i had eaten (nothing new) too much and i had to watch 3 episodes of law & order SUV re-runs before being able to go to bed

nyc, day 2, oct 4th

sunday was a very sunny and warm day, almost warmer than summer in finland... we took off from 23rd str station





took the 1 train to south ferry station







and staten island ferry to sail past this







we hopped right back on to manhattan bound ferry, after landing and a snack of tuna sandwiches we visited briefly museum of american indian. it had changed a lot since my last visit, i liked these new costumes







walked on to ground zero, which isn't a big hole in the ground any more. still gives me the chills, though







south street seaport was next. there was indians in america festival going on, this part of fulton str wasn't that crowded







gotta walk the brooklyn bridge







we did, and there's pics to prove it







by the time we got to the brooklyn side and DUMBO, we were quite hungry. we tried my favourite, the water street restaurant, but and although i have nothing agaist live music, we had to turn away at the door, the music was way too loud. sorry, i have always enjoyed my lunches there, and will probably go back next visit, on a weekday. tried another restaurant, bubby's close by, same thing, too loud. am i getting old for wanting to eat my meals in some peace and quiet?







took the train from york str to chelsea and wandered around looking for a decent place to eat in. by this time hunger was starting to take the better of us and having done quite a bit of walking during the day didn't help. we stumbled on outback on west 23rd str. my appetizer: classic blue cheese wedge salad, not that big of a fan of blue cheese, but hey, with crispy bacon anything goes!







my entree, lobster tails with garlic mashed potatoes







he had baby back ribs






i seem to remember we had a few beers as well...after the very late lunch we went shopping, there was a levi's store close by, 2 pairs of jeans came with us. later on stopped at chelsea whole foods for late and light dinner

nyc, day 1, oct 3rd

i had first read about harvest fest somewhere (probably martha) approx 4 yrs ago and then decided that if i'm ever in nyc at the time of the fest i will attend, this year it worked. our initial plan had been to take metro north's hudson line to tarrytown and a cab from there on to stone barns. luckily, i had asked my frieds A & F to join us, they accepted and were kind enough to come and pick us up from our hotel and drive us to pocantico hills where stone barns is situated







pulled pork sandwich on yesterday's entry came from one like this. the hog takes 5 hrs on the pit to get done







i guess the carving guy got thirsty...no wonder, the beer was excellent and made from stone barns's hops







some of the crowd. weather was cloudy and sticky at times, until 2 pm when it started raining








this was growing in the vegetable patch. i'm sorry, but it's common name is hairy balls, think what you like... the latin name is fancier gomphocarpus physocarpus







astrograss from brooklyn provided music







breads from balthazar bakery







produce stand







gourds







wool from local sheep, natural colors, don't you love the shades?







after we had tasted all that was offered, and drank some beer, it was time to take off. we had planned to stop at tarrytown and walk around in the (small) town center and maybe visit some of the stores, but it started raining. first just a regular rain, but after a while it pouring down with it (actually, i have only once seen rain fall that plenty, it was 1989 in michigan when marie and her parents were taking me to detroit airport, but that is another story).

it was decided that F would drive around and show us fancy houses on north coast of long island. there were plenty of gorgeous, and huge, houses, this one was my favourite. it was all of 100 meters from the shore of long island sound







we stopped at sands point. originally this was built as a stable... you should see the main house, correct, castle







eventually it started getting dark and we got hungry, again. F took us to mombar for egyptian food. i had been there before, so i knew it was good. as a rule i took pics of all the food we ate, but i don't like using the flash, especially in restaurants. that is why you only get a pic of our appetizer: baba ganoush, hummus, another chickpea paste with apple slices (F, feel free to correct if i got it wrong...) we all ate different dishes, all very delicious. this restaurant was on my list to visit anyway, so it was nice that F & A took us there







after a long day we even got chauffeured back to the hotel. thank you again, what a great day!







right now it's getting way too late, or early, for me to be up... i did sleep 14 hrs last night so maybe that's why i'm not tired yet

back home

not that i wouldn't have liked to stay another few months... i managed to get a few hours of sleep on the plane but have been fighting to stay awake for the rest of the day. here are a few tasters from nyc

on oct 3rd we went to stone barns for harvest fest with A & F







they had all sorts of goodies to taste, we had some slow roasted pork sandwiches. A was so sad to see how a cute pork was being slow roasted (you'll see the pics later)







pork being the subject, this pie was in the pie baking contest, it took 3rd prize, first 2 went to apple pie variations







this is the view from A & F's balcony. yes, i'm very very jealous, of the view and the apt, and if i could have gotten away with it, i would have taken their stove with me!







i so need to go to bed before i fall asleep at my laptop... more of nyc later on