In February, I’ll be filled with Nostalgia for a vine ripened summer tomato. You can taste the sun. A little salt and freshly ground pepper bring out the flavor.
My sister bought this one at the Union Square market today. Booths were filled with pumpkins, gourds and jugs of apple cider.
There’s no replacement for a summer tomato.
Although I’m back with my sister in NYC tonight, I found these images from our recent Alaska trip.
They are gifts from a rainy day.
University Place NYC
Sunday September 18th
NYU Mascot and Security 
My father bought this puzzle in 1976. He’s the one who got Mark saying Sacramento at age 2, when you’d ask him “what’s the capital of California?”
This summer Mark took his family to see ten more state capitals/ capitols.
The handcrafted wood puzzle was missing New York and Lake Ontario. For years! Missing puzzle pieces is such a bummer. I’m not sure why I waited so long to see if I could get replacements.
Wk, I just received the hand cut replacement pieces and although the wood is a bit thinner these days and the color brighter, it is wonderful to have the puzzle complete again.
Besides New York is my birth state (yes, I grew up in the Garden State- New Joisey)
Thank you Puzzle People Michael and Pat Smith of Philo, California for completing the puzzle once again, 40 years later.
Thanks to my neighbor for giving me the arugula.
Spaghetti Arugula.
Steve brought home the olives and fresh pasta. A recipe from the excellent chef Anna Flevola formerly of La Cucina Flegrea. Garlic, olive oil, a bit of red onion, pine nuts, walnuts, raisins, red pepper flakes and a ladle of pasta water -topped with the rocket/arugula and freshly grated Parmesan.
Ready to serve
This should be photo four but having WP posting issue w photos tonight
Alaskan sock yarn was the quest. And this was the place to find it.
I ‘d researched on the computer from Pittsburgh, prior to our trip.
Knitty Stash is the home of Alaskan Yarn Company , right in Homer, Alaska where we were headed.
Gorgeous hand painted sock yarn with special Alaskan colorway names that invite you to knit your Alaskan experience, right into a pair of socks ( or shawl, cowl, etc) “Our Alaskan color way: Kachemak Bay, Lupine, Arctic Autumn, Northern Lights and Fireweed and Denail Autumn and High Bush Cranberry” You can click here to see what they look like knitted up
Yarn store number three on the great Northwest adventure.
You meet the nicest people. My friend Lisa and I went back on Tuesday night and watched the three women use spinning wheels, turning fiber into yarn.
Meet shop owner Jules and her sweet dog Ruby.
Jules made the knitting artwork out of duct tape with the help of a friend! Weatherproof..
You can see some of the colorways on the wall in this shot. I focused on Jules so the background a bit soft focus.
My quest was satisfied and I mailed some skeins the next day. It was here, waiting for me when I got home. I’ve wound one colorway already. Will keep you posted.
Here are the colors close up, borrowed from Knitty Stash site so you can see how lush they are.
I did not take the yarn photo below, but I wish I had bought all the colors and taken it! Thanks Jules.
p.s. If you missed my 4/27/16 post on The Satisfaction of Sock Knitting you can read it here
When we got home Saturday night after a fun wedding reception, I saw the glow sticks still aglow.
You reflect on the celebration with dear friends, sharing the joy, the wonderful live music and delicious food.
Happy wedding Michelle snd Sean.
Quest. Remember looking for a certain book? I’m talking pre-google, search engines?
Out dad would scour used book stores and stalls for books he wanted for himself or one of us kids. He was always searching for another copy of In Clean Hay to read at Christmas. Nowadays you type a title or author in a narrow white box, press search and voila….options, usually in a few seconds.
An actual physical search can be incredibly satisfying cause chances are you will see another title or volume as you sift through shelves in a cool used book store.
That’s what happened when I found a Peter Spier book from my kids childhood on a upstairs shelf.
Old Inlet Bookshop in Homer, Alaska is such a place. We went there after our Thai lunch in the mermaid themed cafe attached to the bookshop
Meet Andy Wills. Third generation bookseller. 
I don’t know how many books he has in his bookshop but if you are looking for something, he knows where it is. You don’t have to go to Homer, Alaska though You can email him books(at)ak(dot)net Hope that method of writing email address avoids spammers
Here is he taping up the cover of the Peter Spier book.
or should I say- *Photographing Kite Boarding (or Kite Surfing) in Alaska.
Sure looks exciting.
I learned the difference between a WET suit and a DRY suit.
Kite boarders were in both types, the dry suit worn over clothes and keeping you warm and dry.
The beach is in Homer, Alaska on the Spit. (A geographical landform)
Photographing these adventurous sports was enough for me. I was in a sweatshirt jacket and hat and did not get wet. The wind was strong that day as you can see by the waves. I knew I should have lugged my 7-200 lens on vacation. These are taken with a 24-70mm.
