il cantuccio and ice skates

i stopped by one of my favorite cafes to buy delicious fig and prune cantuccio cookies for my friend marisa for her birthday (which i think was on november 2nd). the shop was already decorated for christmas and looked very festive and pretty. after dropping the gift off for her husband to take to the bronx with him when he visits her (she has been staying with her mom who has been very ill), korrina and i went shopping at paragon sports by union square for ice skates. she's been without skates now for three years. i miss having her skate with us, and these skates will probably last quite a number of years. i don't think her foot is growing much anymore, though i suppose it still could. she'll be eighteen tomorrow.

(before going shopping i took a picture of the crepe myrtle tree in our courtyard. it's been looking particularly lovely lately with it's yellow and green leaves and blue berries.)


(i've also been enjoying shuffling through the leaves on the ground, and listening to the children playing in the courtyard. these guys were little just a few years ago . . now there making a lot of noise all on their own . . )

korrina and i sat in one of the new outdoor tables areas that has sprung up all around the city before going into the sporting goods store. i sipped a peppermint mocha, and she sipped a pumpkin spice latte.

she ended up getting a pair of jackson glaciers, which was the very first skate i bought her years ago when she first started taking lessons at wollman rink in prospect park.