August 18, 2023
And onward to the second national park during this short trip: Nevada’s Great Basin National Park. This park, which is also an International Dark Sky-certified park, has such a diversity of offerings… the chance to step into a glacier, an emerald-hued alpine lake, caves, tremendous conifers, towering cliffs and rock Read more…
July 22, 2021
Even more into the green now, I’d spend my third night without running water in the gorgeous Spruce Knob Lake within the Monongahela National Forest, driving up to the highest elevation of the state. With starry eyes, I thought I’d see the stars best here–but weather was uncooperative once again Read more…
August 16, 2018
I was so happy to learn that the Brooklyn Botanical Garden is *free* before noon on Fridays. With my free Fridays dwindling, I set out to beat the rain. The grounds are gorgeous, lush and teeming with color, texture, activity–and it’s totally possible to see everything in several hours, unlike Read more…
August 11, 2018
When I visit a place, I look into its history, find its hidden goodies, look at with curiosity and hunger. Doesn’t your home deserve this level of attention to detail, if not more? Determined to not take home for granted and to claim it as all my own, I explored Read more…
October 5, 2017
October’s full moon is the Harvest Moon. This is a rare thing as the Harvest Moon is in September most of the time. I caught it on my way to work, bringing to mind Neil Young’s sweet song. I caught this gaggle of butterflies from the kitchen window that overlooks Read more…
August 17, 2017
Spoilet alert: By the end of this blog post, by the end of my day, I end up… in a cabin in the woods in the mountains within rumbling thunder, the lucky pile of wood between two very vocal mocking birds going on and on about something, perhaps the storm Read more…
July 31, 2017
After several less than active seasons, the butterfly bush has been all a-buzz this summer. So I broke in the new lens for my Nikon and got into the bush to photo-stalk some of the feasting creatures. Like this Monarch butterfly, a big flirt who seemed to content to playfully Read more…
August 12, 2016
I get to see all the backyard goings-on when I am home for the summer. Like hungry bumble bees getting sustenance. Black-eyed Susans looking all badass, ready to intimidate a Daisy. Hibiscus monitoring and managing their sun intake. The sunflowers building their happy faces. Beautiful butterflies feasting then fluttering. Oh, and a Read more…
July 29, 2016
Without the Empire Pass this year, I am not getting to the beach as often as last year. I am stealing the EZ-pass to go, however. This was some mushroom. I wanted to buy it and sit on it with a hookah. The butterfly bush started getting some action. This Read more…
November 21, 2015
Flashback to summer & the butterfly bush. Monarchy. “And the one big eye just blinked…” Oreo pancakes were a bit of a fail… Morning pink.
August 20, 2015
Having a yard is like having your own park that no one else can visit… unless they’re invited of course. I love watching all the life go on in the yard. And I much prefer to see its critters than those urban critters (i.e. millions of people) in NYC. Then, there’s the flora. Read more…
July 19, 2015
Animals, Arts & Crafts, Beautiful Places Close By, Box-free Baking, Eating Out, Pies, Tarts, & Parfaits, Product Reviews
Dad & Sister coconut whip, blueberry, strawberry chocolate cake parfaits. Happy July Birthdays! Fluff keeping cool in the shade. Collaborative craft for a special Momma. 5 people are better than 1! Symmetry is a kind of beauty. This salad is from The Purple Elephant in Northport, Long Island. This Buffalo Read more…
July 3, 2015
We were not the only folks looking to doorbust for one of the all-vegan breakfast options at Pingala Cafe & Eatery in Burlington, an Earthy spot for simple vegan fare. Two minutes after opening time, there was a line at the counter. Perhaps if this sculpture and the wild flow of the Winooski river Read more…
July 26, 2012
It’s going so fast. I am trying to savor each day, but that seems to make them fly by even faster. Here are some images I’d like to hold on to. I become obsessed with the Electrician‘s butterfly bush as the the summer rolls on. Monarchs start fluttering around dancing Read more…
June 30, 2012
I kind of fell in love with this vibrant compilation of summer recipes. It got me thinking more creatively about what would be an tasty snack during these high temps. Easy, fresh, and colorful were musts. I diced some mango and basil and doused with fresh lime juice, the first Read more…
September 19, 2010
You’re kind of the most beautiful thing ever. And I kind of want a black polka-dot face.
July 26, 2010
1. Watching the butterfly activity around the Electrician‘s butterfly bush. 2. Collecting hugs. 3. Trying to return to baking. Here is a two-layer orange cake with lemon glaze icing. For my Pop’s birthday. 4. Weekending in the Hamptons. That’s an outdoor shower next to the “Love Shack”. 5. Seeing the Read more…
July 2, 2010
After crashing hard from the evening before, morning had us ready to hit the road for reals. We had a loose destination, an eatery in Fort Worth, Texas about 3 hours or so north from Austin. But after that… the unknown… kinda. We were going to take it one day Read more…
April 9, 2008
After a day of bus travel, I arrived in Chanthaburi, the City of the Moon. Contrary to the name’s translation, the city’s main draw is gem stones. As the hub of the global gem stone trade, visitors can ooh and aah at piles of gems being inspected and purchased at Read more…
April 1, 2008
With mixed emotions, I headed towards the Donsak pier in Surat Thani to catch a boat to Ko Samui. Surat Thani is the gateway to this heavily developed and very expensive island and my home last night, the slick dealings and price of my room clearly foreshadowing the hell that Read more…
