Labor Day week-end

Joe came to visit me for this last, long week-end before classes begin. Apart from the obvious merit of simply seeing each other, it was a chance for him to discover my new environs, and a chance for me to get some help setting up my new apartment. We ate copiously; we explored. We stocked up on wine. We watched Daria. We set up my internet. All in all, a highly successful goodbye to summer.

Some loot from Saturday's farmer's market excursion.

Saturday night thunder storm.

Walking the Nichols Arboretum.

Apple season is soon upon us...

Rosemary Tom Collins.

Buttermilk biscuit and sorghum syrup from Zingerman's (again).

Parking lot shenanigans.

River Bend Farm

Our Massachusetts week-end came to to a close yesterday morning with a walk along the Blackstone River from River Bend Farm in Uxbridge. And what a perfect late summer day it was for a stroll, too!

Contemplating the river.

Turtle!

A good deal of mushrooms are cropping up in the wooded areas. I wish I hadn't lost my handy mushroom field guide (I had a phase).

Blue sky; bit of moon.

Canal lock; the "liquid carpet" effect of growth on the water.

Saying goodbye: Brooklyn from the Brooklyn Bridge

As part of my continuing efforts to revisit my favorite places before leaving them for a while, I walked over the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan a couple of days ago. My upcoming departure has become the perfect pretext to enjoy some of the more amazing aspects of New York (and Boston this week-end).

Starting off from the Brooklyn side of affairs. I can't help but get the wind kicked out of me when I see this incredible construction. Thank you, Ken Burns.

Looking forward to Manhattan (hello Statue of Liberty!)...

... and backward to Brooklyn.

Saying goodbye: Manhattan from the High Line

I'm deep in nostalgia mode as I prepare to ship off to the midwest. Last night I picked up Joe after work and we walked down the West Side from Columbus Circle. Walking the High Line seemed greatly appropriate. We've been enjoying this park since it opened - the various phases of its building and growing progress throughout the seasons. On a sunny evening like yesterday, it offered stunning views of Manhattan, New Jersey and the river.

In the sunset light...

... and against it.

Both of us share a fascination with the buildings of Manhattan, and the seemingly endless stretches of the its urban grid.

Saturday on the marina

As I had three hours free in my schedule today, I met up with my mother, and we walked from Fort Mason along the marina to take advantage of the fine weather. I proceeded to take pictures of boats with dutiful observance of my family's seafaring history. (Most of us modern generations, I must admit, have long embraced dryer occupations, but we still feel a connection to the ocean.)

Well hello, Bridge!

We rounded back and came to A16 as it was opening, nabbing two walk-up seats for an early dinner before I had to go back for a masterclass.

Beautifully cooked rabbit with wild fennel for my mother.

Monterey squid and halibut over zucchini and eggplant, roasted sunchokes for me.

Back to Fort Mason Center, with one last look at the sea before going into the theater.

Adventures in the dunes

This morning we took a long, adventurous walk in the forest and along the shore in Pebble Beach. Two and half hours later we returned exhausted and fully ready for a lunch by the ocean at Schooner's in Monterey. Let us look back on this périple:

Resting in the forest along Spyglass Hill Golf Course. (Check out my Del Monte Kennel Club Dog Show sweatshirt!)

After a fair amount of to and fro in the woods, we hit the dunes.

Rubber boots do not sand-walking shoes make.

"Maman! Smile for the camera!"

Approaching the shore...

... seemed to take a great deal of time.