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,

She sells sea shells

Perhaps my love of shells came from growing up a mile from the beach and spending many hours playing in the sand as a kid, or walking it as an adult. Then again, it could simply be that they are hard to resist because they're so pretty. Either way, I have a bowl of them sitting on our bathroom vanity, and I think they're all equally pretty in their own rite.  I also have lots of beach rocks, which I always fill my pockets with too, but that's another post.

Here's one from the bowl. I think I got this one from my former boss Sheila (who was too much fun to work with). I believe it came from Florida.

This gnarly one I picked up in Clifden, Galway/Ireland. We loved Clifden so much, we stayed another day. Quiet town on the sea with the mountains behind it. But back to the gnarly shell.

Some may think of the mussel as a throw away shell, but I really like the peach and purple tones inside.

Just look at that gorgeous purple color!

Pretty, right?


I think this might be another Florida shell. Looks like a scallop.  Maybe this is where the color mauve came from.

The bowl isn't the only place I display shells. I also have a couple with some small pieces of driftwood on the vanity.  All came from Ireland.  Love that little brown and white snail shell. Too sweet.

My shells are another collection of sorts. It's really more about the treasure hunting on the beach and the beauty of shells than building a collection. Also that most of them have some meaning to me. I guess that's probably the best kind.

Have a great Wednesday wherever you are.

Pam

No Shelves Today- Sunday Adventure PART 2

Sunday Adventure Part Two

Heading out of Durham on our way to Portsmouth on Sunday, we passed Wagon Hill.  Hhhmmm, wonder why they call it that?

Once we hit Portsmouth, we headed straight for the historic port area along the Piscataqua River and the mouth of the bay. Lots of decks to choose from........we had a margarita on Poco Diablo's deck, made by our neighbor's son Andrew. Forgot to take a pic of the bartender- whoops! For that matter, forgot to get a pic of the decks too.

Here's the Carly A. Turecam Tug and a big cargo ship, the Saimmaagracht from Amsterdam, probably loading a ton of salt from the salt piles. You know, the kind of salt that goes on the road in winter, not the kind that went on the rim of our margaritas.

Spied my favorite sign of the day at Macro Unleashed, as we headed away from the decks.

"If you don't talk to your cat about catnip, who will?" Cracked me right up.

Onto lunch at RiRa, a great Irish pub with a good pint of Guinness (which is not always easy to come by). Beyond the pint, RiRa is housed in a former bank in Market Square and the building is gorgeous. Just look at this dome. It's really something else.

Then my second favorite sign of the day.



There is nothing like the late night chipper when you're out at the pubs in Dublin....or Portsmouth.

Another shot of the dome, and the beautiful lights that hang from the ceiling of RiRa. Beautiful deco style.

Whenever we go to RiRa, there are always a few people that come in just to stare at the ceiling. Easy to see why.

Even the molding detail at the bottom of the dome is impressive.



Thought I'd finish the adventure today, but more pics to share tomorrow including art and a brief lesson in lino cut.

Sunset Meadows

Mom called last night to let me know it looked like a beautiful sunset. I was in the pool -it was in the 90s again yesterday.  Luckily, I'd already captured this shot before I jumped into the water. Yup, I'm a lucky girl. Pool. Sunsets. Pool. Sunsets. VERY lucky indeed.

Have a great Tuesday in your part of the world.