a warm summer sunday

it's been very warm these past few days. there was also the gay pride parade today which kicked off at noon, so i was out early to pick up a few things from the health food store as they had been closed yesterday. we spent a quiet day at home listening to everyone talking and shouting in the distance, having a fun time even with the horns honking and the sirens going by. it's quiet now and the fireworks just ended, along with the party in the courtyard which we passed a few times on our way to the laundry room. i listened to first unitarian's church service this morning. they looked a little warm too . . as the service was in the chapel rather than the sanctuary. 

 

the first dinner i've cooked in a week . . chicken with arugula salad (olive oil, sea salt and lemon juice as a dressing) and sweet potatoes. 

korrina just facetimed on my cousin's phone. she's been relaxing by their pool all weekend and tonight they went out for steamers and fish and chips. there was a nice breeze and it looked like good food and a good time. wash had already gone to nap beneath the bed so i couldn't put him on to say hi (it's one of the coolest spots in the apartment), but i did send this pic and movie earlier so she could see what he's been up to.

bird watching . .

that tail!

birthday neighborhood walk and celebration

 greg and i went for a walk sunday afternoon after the unitarian general assembly service:

(the general assembly virtual choir with soloist dr. ysaÿe barnwell)

 we walked along west 11th street to fifth avenue . . 

 and then to 10th street where i got sidetracked from our destination (veniero's) and decided to have an affogato at amorino's instead.

 it was so rich that i asked for a bag and brought mine home.

 gathering recycling cans for deposit . . 

grace church . . 

there were a few marches happening for the 50th anniversary of gay pride. we ran into one of them on the way home at sixth avenue.

i apologize for my poor filming . . i can never stop bopping around to a drumbeat . . 

 i was giving instructions on how i would like the picture to be taken . . 

 physical distancing while on line at dagostino's . . 

greg conked out while i talked on the phone with my cousin and my sister, my childhood friend maryann, and my friend kendall . . 

 pluto kept him company . .

 it was finally time to order dinner from the local restaurant . . (chanda and i had take out, greg had leftovers from home).

 it's a rather fancy restaurant that greg doesn't enjoy going to. however, he did pick up the order for us.

 halibut with fava beans and potatoes in a cherry sauce. it was incredibly delicious. i had actually decided to order the rabbit dish (i've never had rabbit before, and thought it would be good to try) after talking with chanda and my friend kendall about my ordering dilemma . . but then unwittingly ordered the halibut anyway. ah well, i guess i subsconsciously i felt that eating rabbit was like eating one's pet . .

 apples to apples from chanda, korrina and morgana . .

 sachtorte . .

 and a thunderstorm . . 

with a double rainbow afterwards . . 

 scattergories . . 

 with korrina . .

 and then a round of apples to apples . . 

which i won.

much later, when i was snuggled in bed, morgan called, and we had the nicest chat before i fell asleep.

changes . .

 did you think morgana was a little too contemplative yesterday . . maybe a bit melancholy? well, she was deeply unhappy with her job at the restaurant and after talking with greg and i this morning, she decided to leave. she thanked the manager for giving her the opportunity but he didn't question her decision, and so she had tonight free to come with me to the last dance performance. during the day we worked on making over a section of korrina's room to be her's. we sorted knick knacks and sewing needles, papers and books, took down posters and pictures (transferred a few into chanda's room) and cleaned and vacuumed. we still have much to do, but it's a start and she's happy to be creating a space for herself.

 we stopped in time to have a lunch/dinner together before chanda left for the theatre.

 madeline kept an eye on things . . 

 the show tonight was beautiful and morgana and i reminisced about having string stravaganzas in the church space, and also about when she did duncan dancing with her two sisters. 

 the church space was just perfect for the show, with it's pillars and stairs and archway; very greek looking. after the show, all chairs were quickly moved into position for tomorrow morning's church service. st. mark's is the oldest standing church in the city that has had continuous religious practice. trinity church was established earlier, but their current church building was built later, after the first had a fire.

 taking down the lights . . 

 there was a reception afterwards and i enjoyed talking with my friend deborah whose daughter also performed in the show. we've been homeschooling friends for years and have really enjoyed that the girls were able to perform with catherine gallant (in the black dress) and loretta thomas (second from the right). they have been so supportive and appreciative of the girls and we feel blessed to have met them.

 we walked out the back way with third street music school directly across the street and m and c enjoyed telling amelia a few third street stories . . 

walking home tonight was different from other nights. tomorrow is the gay pride parade and everyone is out with friends celebrating. the freedom tower is decorated in rainbow colors. tomorrow will be a big day.