In A New York Minute

Quick and Full

Our trip to NYC was over in the blink of an eye and packed with people and places we love.


I'll share it more in depth over the course of this week, but here's a synopsis of what we did.

We did get to sit and talk around my Godmother's kitchen table before we headed all the way downtown on Thursday. We stayed in the Seaport/Financial district two blocks away from our friend's Irish Pub. We were welcomed like regulars....it's like Cheers....where everybody knows your name. There are some serious characters at TJ Byrne's.

On Friday, we hoofed it about the city.

We walked to Freedom Tower and Saint Paul's on Friday. What a glorious day. Not a cloud.  I'll share those pics with you on Wednesday.

From there up to Washington Square Park. Never disappoints. People playing chess, sunbathing, people watching and always great musicians.

Over to Mulberry Street where we enjoyed lunch across the street from where my Grampy Cocciardi was born.

Back downtown to the Seaport.

Explored a new park right on the water where we are definitely having a picnic some day.

Then we took a really great happy hour boat ride on the Zephyr. An hour and a half of sunset heavenly views of the city.  Up the East River a ways...............

...then back down and around the tip .............up to the Empire State...

....back down to the tip (that's Freedom Tower on the right)....

.....and a quick visit with my lady friend. The evening could not have been nicer. Yes, I was teary eyed at Lady Liberty and it was one of the best boat rides ever (check that off the Summer to do list).

Saturday we headed out of the city and up to Yonkers where my parent's were born. It was time to celebrate my Aunt Joan and Uncle Bobby's (my mother's baby brother) 50th Anniversary!!!  We are fuzzy because everyone who tried had trouble operating my camera to get a pic Gar and I with the guests of honor!

Visited with cousins and aunts and uncles we don't get to see nearly enough of which is always fun.  

We were lucky enough to fit in another visit with the Anniversary couple in the morning before we headed to see my Godmother again.  We lucked out and were able to be the surprise guests at her Granddaughter's First Birthday party. So I got to see my other set of cousins.

Lots of reminiscing, hugging, kissing, love and a LOT of laughter this weekend.  I'll bring you along for a more in depth visit to NYC - just wanted to give you a teaser.  Great time and wish it didn't have to end.

However..........reality calls.

Ciao for now,

 PS- man o man do  I need to pull my yoga mat and walking shoes out..........or dancing shoes. Anybody else?

An Island Afterall

Surrounded By Water

One of our favorite things to do when we get to NYC is to get out on the water. Slow boat, fast boat, it doesn't matter to us. It's just a great way to see the city from an entirely different perspective. It's also a great way to cool off on a hot day.

This time around, we went with the fast boat. The Shark. It's a giant speed boat. It had to be the emptiest we'd ever seen it, maybe because we took the last ride of the day. Everytime we take a ride on this thing, you get off with sore ribs from laughing so hard. It's a hoot and a half.

Leaving the pier, our niece Ali knows what she's in for because she's taken a ride before, but her boyfriend Jay doesn't.

The boat screams around the tip of Manhattan from the Seaport, through the harbor and up the other side. See the Lady Liberty behind us? Don't worry, we'll get closer.  Can't you tell we're all having a terrible time? All you want, is for the captain to go even faster.

Always lots of beautiful boats in the harbor.

Now up the Hudson just a bit to get a good view of downtown. The boat was moving and grooving, twisting and turning up spray the entire time. (The first time Gar and I took this ride we sat in the 'wet' seats. We were drenched. This time we sat up front where you get a good bit of spray but still walk off with dry pants.)

Then a little closer to Freedom Tower. I'm sure there is lots of progress from last year, but not a ton from the outside.

Now a u-turn and past Ellis Island to the Statue of Liberty for a photo op.

She really is something to see.

Back around the tip and by the Staten Island Ferry.



The East River is calling and so is the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan Bridge in the background.

And before you know it, you're pulling back into the Pier. We didn't want it to end. It was a perfect day for a boat ride.

I simply love this part of the city. Just beyond the boats is Wall Street and the Financial District.

What a day!

Today, back in NH, the sun is shining. Not sure for how long though. There is supposed to be rain coming in.  I'll have to get some shots of the rose bush by the front door before it does rain because it is full bloom (a week or two early, like everything this year). The neighborhoodlums were marveling at it yesterday evening. It couldn't be more covered in roses.

Take time to smell the flowers today and make it a great one.

Ciao for now,

Ten Years Gone

Just This Kind of Day

The sky gave no warning of the darkness that would befall the day. It was bright blue and the sun was shining strong in the September sky. Just like today.

I remember my friend Charlie calling to say that the World Trade Center had been hit by a plane. I had no idea because I didn't have the TV on yet. As we talked on the phone while watching the coverage, we witnessed the second plane hitting Tower II. 

Charlie Gibson on Good Morning America sounded as shocked and confused as we were. It was unbelievable. Surreal. It was hard to believe that this was all taking place against the back drop of a stunning blue sky.

As the events unfolded, I cried my heart out and filled up a notepad with thoughts and feelings. I wrote every little snippet of what the reporters where saying about who was responsible. To watch the evil acts carried out on our beloved New York City and the people who lived there was beyond sad. Then to realize it didn't stop there, even sadder. Next, the Pentagon.  I kept calling Gar to update him on what was happening. It was hard to explain what I was witnessing. When would it stop? Next, Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Who knows where that plane would have ended up had it not been for the courageous passengers and crew. They had phone connections to the outside world for a time and learned what their fate would be at the hands of the terrorists. Instead, they decided to put their fate back in their own hands.

Gar's brother Fran was over from Ireland and working in Jersey City that day and could see all that was happening. He saw horrific things from across the river. Heartbreaking, gut wrenching events. Things he will never ever forget. Things none of us should ever forget. 

As I sat in my home watching as the Twin Towers fell- first Tower I, then Tower II- it was truly unfathomable.  A cloud of ash engulfing the tip of Manhattan. A horrifying picture that will never be gone from my mind. Worse, was the thought of the many many people who worked in the Towers and the number of people who visited the Towers everyday for various reasons. To think they could all have perished was too much to bear.  To say that the first responders were heroes doesn't quite do them justice.  They were the hearts and souls of all Americans who could only sit and watch their TVs stupefied. There efforts saved so many who otherwise would have perished. So many gave their lives to save others.

The stories of the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and Shanksville are of many ordinary people doing extraordinary things in the face of evil.

The terrorists did not succeed in their mission of crushing America's heart and soul or our love of freedom. Instead they made it grow stronger. It didn't divide us. It made our convictions of liberty and freedom stronger. The country pulled together to support each other while the skies fell silent for days.

When we visited New York in November that year, there were still pictures and posters in search of loved ones hung on every surface. It was heartbreaking to know that most of these people did not survive. To peek through the wall at the site, to see the devastation first hand, to see the only thing standing.....the bit of facade from the Twin Towers.....felt like a blow to the gut.

Ten years later, much has happened. Workers gave their all in trying to recover bodies and still people's remains are being identified which must give some measure of comfort to those families. The construction workers are ferocious in their mission to build the freedom tower and the memorial.

In April, I captured the tower and its cranes reaching toward the orange sunset.

The next day, the progress was apparent in the sun.

In August, the Freedom Tower and it's cranes shone bright in the Manhattan night sky.

The next day, up close, the progress made me feel good inside.

When it is done, it will be a heartfelt memorial to those who did not survive and to those who did. It's beauty already shines.

As I sit hear listening to the names of those lost at the WTC being read, the events of  9/11 are still vivid in my mind. And that's how I want them to stay.

Do me a favor today. Do something to remember the events of 9/11. Do something to show evil that good is much stronger. That evil will never be the victor. That good will always stand taller.

Farmer in The Dell, or was it Jersey City?- NYC Part 3

Fresh Picked Goodness Right Outside Our Door

I thought the Farmer's Market Gar found while we were in Jersey City deserved some more attention. After his report that there was a farmer's market, but he had nothing to show for it, I went back downstairs with him. You could see the farmer's market from the stoop..............how's that for happiness? A mere block away. 

This farmer's market was small, but packed with good stuff.  Vegetables galore, fruit, home baked pies, breads, jams and even meat and homemade sausage. I could have gone nuts there.

Had I not been travelling, these eggplants would have come home with me. Yes, vegetables can most definitely be beautiful.

Ah, garlic. One of the best ingredients on earth.

Green cabbage looking lovely. Isn't this variety pretty with it's green leaf and purple veining?

This okra was just looking for someone who was ready to make gumbo. Yup, and more eggplant too.

Here comes the sun.

Big, beautiful, happy sunflowers.

Once we'd bought our lot of fresh goods (peach butter, tomatoes,pepper and bread), we walked along the water.



I love the tip of Manhattan. Love the view from Jersey City too.

Along the walkway, we found a nice harbor where we eventually picked up the water ferry/taxi to Manhattan.

All in all, we really enjoyed Exchange Place, the Jersey City neighborhood we stayed in, much to our surprise. Lovely brownstone apartments, waterfront, nice neighborhood cafes (if you go, stop into the Lighthorse Tavern, nice place), easy access to Manhattan....we'd stay there again in a heartbeat.

More Tomatoes Please

When we got home from the weekend, our first tomato was finally ready. We planted a little late this year, so we've been waiting and waiting.

I didn't want to mess with it too much. Had some iceberg in fridge (Yes, I like iceberg. I don't discriminate against any lettuce. Iceberg has great crunch!).  Just sliced that tomato up with a couple of cherries Gar had picked too.

We declared that first tomato delicious! I do hope you're starting to enjoy the crops from your gardens if you have them. Nothing like it.

Sunset Meadows

Last night's sunset was a lovely end to an otherwise gray, ugly, damp day.

Happy Wednesday. Enjoy the middle of the week!

Walk On Up To The Square - NYC Part 2

Our trip to NYC last weekend was fun filled and packed, from our Friday night viewing of the city from across the river, to our morning enjoying the Seaport, and walk up to Little Italy.  As we were leaving Mulberry Street in Little Italy, this man was rolling cigars in front of the Mulberry Street Cigar Company. Every once in awhile Gar will enjoy one, but couldn't get him to bite that day. 

When I say we walked and walked and walked, I mean it. So easy to do in the city. Since the Bates of Clontarf hadn't been up to The Village yet, we headed up to Washington Square Park, one of our old haunts.

One thing I love about New York is that there is always beautiful architectural details to see all around.

Lovely scroll work detail on the way to the square.

Washing Square Park is getting a face lift, so the the older gents weren't out playing dominoes as their corner is still under construction.  Of course, there are always several live performances to enjoy.  Gar and I really liked this band, The Big Nasty.

Conor, Fiona and Rachel listened to them from afar while resting on the 'hot' marble benches. 

I love the Square in the summertime. You can always count on kids playing in the fountain to cool off. 

A close up of the top of the arch at the entrance to Washing Square Park. Something I never noticed before, the Ws decorating the arch (can you find them? look hard..............in between the laurel circles).

After the day of walking we were all getting a little peckish and thirsty. Thankfully we were just around the corner from Panchitos on MacDougal Street, another favorite spot for their Strawberry Daiquiris. I was so sad when the waitress told me that the daiquiri machine was broken. It was a brief sadness, as she followed that statement up with, 'The Margarita machine is working!"

Gar chose to practice his impersonation of The Most Interesting Man In The World, and went for a Dos Equis.

The funny thing about Panchitos is, #1. we've been going there longer than our waitresses have been alive now and #2. there is always some sort of excitement and action whenever we're there. This time, a fire across the street that was quickly dealt with by NYC's firemen from the Bowery Station.

Then it was onto Chinatown Brasserie, thankfully another short walk. We'd had a very nice meal here before and it didn't disappoint. We all got into the spirit of things with our chopsticks.  The boys did it Beatles style..."I am the Walrus."



We had a lovely server who was nice enough to get this picture of all of us.

We all agreed that the Crispy Orange Beef was our favorite dish, though everything was delicious.  

To top it all off, our waiter brought us these yummy warm custard rolls just because we were the only group that didn't ask to be moved away from the air conditioning.

How can you beat that?

We were going to take the subway, but decided it really wasn't 'that' far to where we were going. In case we were confused along the way, there was a sign that let us know where we were.

All in all, a great day in the city.

Sunday we headed up to Yonkers to see my Godparents again and luckily we finally caught up with my cousin Gina too. My Goomba- that's Italian slang for Godfather- is lurking on the right.

We had to cut our visit short as the weather was awful, and we thought we might be able to drive out of it. That didn't happen quickly. There was lots and lots of really weird, scary clouds along the way.

I don't think these pictures really captured how weird these clouds were.

We finally got ahead of the storm when we hit the Massachusetts' border.  Then it caught back up with us after we got home. It rained and rained and rained from Sunday night to Monday night. Today, just gray and damp.

Here's hoping it's nicer in your part of the world on this Tuesday.