warm days, a cafe visit and a card game

after the few chilly nights last weekend and the chilly autumn air of monday, this week it's been back to warm and humid summertime weather. the cats and i have felt quite soporific again (and it was a little difficult sleeping at night - no cool breeze!).

i did manage to walk cross town to visit with my friend sacha at cafe abraço. (it was such a nice visit and we caught up on all our news.) (i checked for chestnut honey at the health food store and at raffetto's, but neither place had it - here's hoping they replenish the supply soon!).

i walked home along houston street to see what was happening with the feast of san gennaro . . everyone was busy setting up for the grand opening which was this evening. greg and i hope to visit sometime next week.

michaelmas daisies at the garden on la guardia and houston . . 

it's a special garden as it was created in homage to the lost forests of manhattan by environmental artist alan sonfist.

this placard explains his concept titled "time landscape."

it was so warm this evening that i didn't feel like cooking . . so we just had sandwiches . . 

we're up to round four in our "may i" game. so far i've been in the lead . . here's hoping i can maintain this streak!

coffee and dinner

 
i did a lot of walking today . . first to meet korrina for coffee before she began work, and second to visit sacha and charlotte for dinner in brooklyn (coming home in between) . . 

the beautiful fig tree in front of the cafe . .

besides sitting down for coffee and perusing shawl patterns on ravelry (she's searching for something for the two skeins sitting on the table), i was picking up keys from her that i had left at the house when we were there together. i also managed to do an incredibly graceful flat out fall on the floor of the cafe while maneuvering between other patrons sitting in chairs packed too tightly back to back . . 

there's a very nice thrift store across the street with well priced clothes . . korrina found a black cotton dress for $9.

maybe i've posted this black cat before? i'm always surprised to see it.

i stopped at mcnally jackson on the way home as the book i had ordered was in (in my mother's footsteps).

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in brooklyn now . . 

pookie the cat . . they have another cat adopted just four weeks prior who was still in hiding mode underneath their kitchen sink. they lost their sweet bunny half a year ago (he was quite old), but still have one adorable little mouse who poked his up from the little basket he was in. all these years sacha has been able to keep two little mice on a single shelf attached to the wall in her bedroom. however, she thinks the new mouse may have gotten one . . pookie is missing a tail and doesn't jump at all which is why they think it might be the new cat. (the new cat is very sweet but also very shy.) she may have to figure out something else for the mouse.

the chef busy preparing dinner . .

the menu and a delicious grapefruit lime spritz . . 

charlotte made the most delicious salad with black beans, red peppers, mango, avocado, cucumber and a delicious dressing.

greg met me afterwards (he had taken a walk on the esplanade) and we went home together.

lunch out with friends

today was a day for noticing pretty flowers sprouting from window boxes. 

cafe himalaya, where i was supposed to meet reina and sacha, was closed today.

we found a nearby thai place instead . . 

and got caught up with our personal news and with what our children are doing . . (news about college, middle school, baseball and musical theatre . . )

flowers everywhere today, even if they're not all real, they're pretty . . 

someone planted hyacinths . . 

blue sky . . . warm sunshine . . i think spring is on its way.

two in the afternoon

grace church

tea with sacha at peace cafe (after an acupuncture appointment in union square) . . 

we shared a slice of vegan carrot cake (tofu cream cheese which i wasn't sure if i would like, but it was very good!). we missed seeing reina. she wasn't feeling well today.