Wayfarers

When Lettuce visited, we sometimes spent most of the day walking and taking pictures. I took this one in Manhattan when we were on our way to meet Steve. These carefree times were the highlight of my summer.


A few days later Lettuce and I hit thrift shops where I found this old photo of an elegant man standing next to his car. This was probably everyday elegance back then. (My parents always looked pretty spiffy and I liked that.)


Our wanderings took us into an offbeat drug store where they had an odd selection of old classic perfumes and a fresh tester of Vol de Nuit. I sampled a bit, knowing I already liked it, but it's always nice to get something that smells real good, for free.

Vol de Nuit (1933 Jacques Guerlain)
Head notes of bergamot and petitgrain
Heart notes of jasmine, daffodil, and spices
Soul notes of rare woods, forest notes, amber and vanilla.

Third photo: Ched with his Guerlain Encyclopedia. (2007)

Dragonfly

I see a lot of dragonflies in the Hudson River Valley and Catskill region, but this one was more meaningful than most. (Click on photos to enlarge) In some cultures the dragonfly represents swiftness or happiness.





A few days ago I was driving along and decided on a whim to stop in a rather deserted place to take pictures. A place that was busy a decade ago, but abandoned now. It was a silent place, and it was one of those perfect weather days, just made for rambling around, so I thought why not stop...

and take a closer look?




The dragonfly was visiting the little oasis in this picture--
I was very surprised to find this! (You really have to enlarge the photo to get the full effect.)

Mother Nature decided it was time to reclaim a bit of what man made and then abandoned, a parking lot and a strip mall in Monticello, New York. In what seems to be not much more than a deep puddle, she grew cattails and other water loving plants that attracted the dragonfly.

It's not surprising that the dragonfly also symbolizes renewal.

I am a Cat

Ched (circa 2006) "We're running low on Fritos."


For the last few weeks I've been wearing Shalimar. Summer is a tough time to sample scents for many reasons. (they don't last in hot weather, we're busier in summer, we're swimming, traveling, we need to simplify, scent-wise.) Some of those big ass florals really attract bugs, too. But Shalimar has enough citrus & smoke to ward off bugs. Bugs seem to hate bergamot.


Last month I wore Mitsouko a lot. I switched from the heavy perfume to the lighter, peachier EdT. Nice for summer nights. It seems when I get bored with perfumes, I just go back to basics. A nice vacation from sampling, just savoring an old reliable favorite.



I Shall Be Released by Bob Dylan

They say everything can be replaced
They say every distance is not near
So I remember every face
Of every man who put me here.

I see my light come shining
From the west unto the east
Any day now, any day now,
I shall be released.

They say every man needs protection
They say every man must fall
So I swear I see my reflection
Someplace so high above this wall.

I see my light come shining
from the west unto the east
Any day now, any day now,
I shall be released.

Standing next to me in this lonely crowd
Is a man who swears he's not to blame
All day long I hear him shout so loud
Crying out that he was framed.

I see my light come shining
from the west unto the east
Any day now, any day now,
I shall be released.

Chrissy Hyndes covers this song wonderfully. go to Youtube:
( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YSoDaTcH8g )
if you're interested in seeing / hearing her.

Fly Away Home: Sky Friday

I was walking across a parking lot with Lettuce and Steve when these migratory birds flew over.




A few days later Lettuce was walking up these stairs at Newark Airport. We were both so tired, it was like a dream sequence.



She walked into this blue carpeted area. Of course I added more blue to the photo. I was very sad to see her go, but it was time for her to fly away home. Later she e mailed to say she'd had a very nice flight. (Her wings were a little tired, but otherwise...)

Stairs are Everywheres

We usually don't notice stairs very much...



Unless they are difficult to climb while carrying bags of groceries, or they have snow on them, and then we only notice them in a "I must be careful" sort of way.



How many times have I run down these very steps to catch a train that had just pulled into the station? Thousands of times. I ran up and down these steps almost daily when I worked on one of the top floors of a nearby skyscraper.

~The old W.T. Grant Building, now known as One Astor Plaza. More than 50 stories tall... one day, there was a power failure in the building and of course the elevators didn't work, so we had to walk down the stairs. As we were walking down, the Big Lunkhead Bossman complained that it was so very tiring and asked those of us who were forced to walk with him,
"Is it easier to walk down or up a flight of stairs?"

Someone answered that down was easier, while the rest of us pretended we didn't know. But the boss wasn't sure... he mumbled something about something he'd learned in physics class. I remembered thinking it would be lots easier to shove him down the stairs than up, anyway.


I like stairs, and I like ladders, but I didn't have a good photo of a ladder to post. This was the best I could do, re: Ladders.


“That's my Stepladder, my real ladder left when I was seven”
~ Noel Coward

Kerhonkson to Bethel

On Sunday we stopped in Kerhonkson to check out the world's largest garden gnome. I don't usually care all that much for gnomes, but he had a good vibe.

It really was amazing to stand next to this giant. This was a great thing to sandwich in between the Mt. Tremper Kaleidoscope and Hippiefest in Bethel.

It was a perfect day from start to finish. Check out the sky. It gets very cool and slightly damp in the mountains starting at dusk, even if the day has been hot and muggy. Later that night it was clear and you could see so many stars it was incredible.

Kaatskill Kaleidoscope, Mt. Tremper, NY

Before we went to Hippiefest in Bethel, we went inside a huge kaleidoscope (where I took this very short video while lying flat on my back.) The Kaleidoscope was once an old silo.

Hippiefest 2008 Bethel, NY

All of the performers were excellent, and Bethel is a beautiful place. The acts were surprisingly good, with The Turtles, Badfinger, The amazing Eric Burdon and Jack Bruce, and lone female Melanie doing a long cute version of her Rollerskate song. Melanie talked a lot, but I was walking around taking pics, so I only caught part of what she was saying. It seemed like the same exact thing she's done at other concerts at Bethel, so I felt I wasn't missing anything by focusing on the concertgoers while she did her shtick. Eric Burdon did have one female musician, (base player, I think) but it was mainly a fest of hippie guys. The Turtles made brief, funny jokes, and after singing "It Ain't Me Babe" said Thank You Mr. Zimmerman, Sir!

Eric Burdon covered a Stone's song. Paint it Black, and did it very well. Burdon was a powerhouse. All of the acts were strong.

Storm King Art Center

On Wednesday we visited Storm King Art Center in Mountainville, NY. The 500 acre sculpture park was founded in 1960.


We pretty much walked around in the 90 plus degree heat for over five hours, and still, the security staff had to come and find us close to closing time. We were, of course in the far reaches of the park having just discovered a whole mess of cool sculptures, small and large, that we hadn't seen yet.

We had to trot quickly over many acres of hills and through wooded areas so as not to annoy employees who wanted to go home. We annoyed them anyway, by being 30 seconds late. They were waiting next to my truck, glaring. They didn't respond at all when we smiled and said goodnight.


Since there were many wooded areas, and massive trees here and there, we were able to survive the mugginess of the day. There is no restaurant on sight, so picnicking and lounging around is encouraged.

top photo: The Storm King Wall by Andy Goldsworthy (very small section seen here)
middle photo: Suspended by Menashe Kadishman
bottom photo: 3 by Mark Di Suvero



Other artists works include: Magdalena Abakanowicz, David Smith, Louise Nevelson, Nam June Paik, Alexander Calder, Henry Moore, Isamu Noguchi, Richard Serra, Siah Armajani, Louise Bourgeoisie, Johnny Swing, (and many more.)

Girl With The Red Ice Cream Cone

I'm really enjoying taking portraits of people. Took this picture a few days ago in Central Valley, NY.

Friends

I met these men on Tuesday and they had a very nice vibe. The man on the left explained that they were best friends. He said the man on the right was like a father to him in fact.

Yesterday: People

Met these tourists on 29th Street in Manhattan

Took a portrait of a friendly Ice Cream Vendor on 43rd Street


Lettuce in a deli joking around


On the streets of Williamsburg, Brooklyn

At The Shore

When Lettuce and I arrived at Coney Island, the sky had already turned stormy.


A thunderstorm hit and the rides were shut down. Crowds of people fled.


We sought refuge at a clam bar where we huddled under an awning with a small group of people for quite some time.


Everyone was in a good mood and I think we had more fun than we would have if it had simply been hot and sunny.


As we were leaving I saw this group trying to decide what to do next.

Random Pictures

Today we stayed close to home, and took a leisurely six mile stroll.
(Click to enlarge)

We walked up and down and all around, went to a gospel concert, (where Lettuce showed me how to use the video function on my new camera) and sat for a while just looking out at the river. Grateful for the cool breeze on an otherwise sultry day.


It was one of those days where nothing much is happening, but a lot a nice things happen.

Strange

Chedwick (L.) and Eddy touch noses.




Chedwick on the sofa. Proof that it's impossible to take a bad picture of a cat.




Mysterious fluffs are rolling around outside like little pink tumbleweeds. Neighbors a half mile away are watching them roll by, asking "what are those things?" They are the seedy spent blossoms of the Smoke Tree. On a very windy day it's like pink snow flurries, as we live on the side of a hill where the wind is often eddying. The fluffs fly up and sideways and down, they go everywhere like all the seed pods in spring. Some are fairly large though, and scare people.

Lettuce Arrives from London

Lettuce is here and all is well


I picked Lettuce up at the Airport and we are about to go out for a drink.

Happy Happy Door Door!

I know a lot of people would love to have this door, but it's just too fancy for my taste ~ I'd expect some Danny Elfman music to start playing every time I went in or out. Or some nice calliope music anyway, and I'd have to start wearing big Victorian hats if this was my door. Oh, and the apartment would have to live up to the door~you wouldn't expect to see squalor on the other side.

This mailbox was right outside the colorful door. I liked the way the Queen's Ann's Lace looked growing there. Ever since I was a toddler, this weed has been one of my favorite flowers. I finally figured it out today ~ reminds me of snowflakes, which have always seemed magical to me.

Knockin' on Heaven's Door

See the Video with Bob (and Roger McGuinn) here

In Praise of Coffee

This past week we had a heat wave, so I spent more time in my local coffee shops than I normally do. I read a very interesting book, too.


I met a shy man on the street. He had a cup of coffee and a mask.


Kim had the right idea thinking we should just spend the month of July celebrating birthdays. One month of non-stop celebrating would make us realize how fortunate we all are to have each other. Famous people born on this day include Haile Selassie, Raymond Chandler, and The Coffee Messiah.


I could sing the praises of coffee, but could never do it as well as The Coffee Messiah does. His blog has made me appreciate coffee more, try new blends, brew it with more thought, and drink an extra cup every day.


The Coffee Messiah recommended this book, Pre Raphaelites in Love by Gay Daly. It's so well written, I really enjoyed it, and it took me back to a time long ago when some of these paintings meant a great deal to me. (of course I was just staring at small reproductions of them in an art book.) Now that I know something about the artists and the models, I'd like to see some of these paintings and wonder how many of them are in museum collections today.