tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46056633714852902212024-02-06T21:20:57.215-08:006 weeks in New YorkMarijkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07067433608013964750noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4605663371485290221.post-46953075712952131302007-06-27T12:18:00.000-07:002007-06-27T13:20:20.362-07:00A Botanical Supper - and a recipe for Perdeberg<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsxJ629cRANWynFJGMD_LXFreFNWGWam6fMMm-uz48rYGLYcx3cP-dgAANH5SnlO971ASmVUz_fmJBzCs1kuPEu9izBOYFvTkiXEAdnr0HPj4BwHLMUwidtpQIEYucE2Lan0aO2l8cvk8/s1600-h/cooking.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080825965924182146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsxJ629cRANWynFJGMD_LXFreFNWGWam6fMMm-uz48rYGLYcx3cP-dgAANH5SnlO971ASmVUz_fmJBzCs1kuPEu9izBOYFvTkiXEAdnr0HPj4BwHLMUwidtpQIEYucE2Lan0aO2l8cvk8/s320/cooking.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> Cooking supper...but what's that bag of stuff? They're plant samples - I thought I'd ID them while making myself some pasta.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkEvpucQDxp7J1MewrQYJLjCAawJCJIXvGvd8fS1hLIiJqlvbk-3YHIX7AsrsUijRIkprA0LIWmK94vjt3YX6XO2jihg55F4RC7v9GeJQK_Mc4d-ijeQmjC8Ld4NxVZEo0qFcm0xe6LdA/s1600-h/supper.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080825970219149458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkEvpucQDxp7J1MewrQYJLjCAawJCJIXvGvd8fS1hLIiJqlvbk-3YHIX7AsrsUijRIkprA0LIWmK94vjt3YX6XO2jihg55F4RC7v9GeJQK_Mc4d-ijeQmjC8Ld4NxVZEo0qFcm0xe6LdA/s320/supper.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> So there's my meal - with fresh arugula and parsley from my garden (not bad for winter!). Haven't made too much progress on the karoo samples....</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOs2KXe_NAgrL9zfTqcSqLCz1O5v2SS2-WEo1mlQteQbdiy_KoffMRP7Td_SKWc0knzyaJ9I6sJvdhplsl_mRmSyQScUFBAZnwpVYUsn_obP6SI9tTmyv_XW1j6Q0BoIx5FKLLz6nHgV4/s1600-h/botanicalid.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080825978809084066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOs2KXe_NAgrL9zfTqcSqLCz1O5v2SS2-WEo1mlQteQbdiy_KoffMRP7Td_SKWc0knzyaJ9I6sJvdhplsl_mRmSyQScUFBAZnwpVYUsn_obP6SI9tTmyv_XW1j6Q0BoIx5FKLLz6nHgV4/s320/botanicalid.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">All Done! Managed to guess the genus (at least) and species (sometimes) of 24 species - most of which were dry eco-scraps with no flowers or seeds to speak of..... </span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#999999;">Mike, an architect friend, asked if I would help him plant some trees and re-establish the 'veld' around his new house at Perdeberg, in the Tankwa karoo. It's about 3.5 hours drive from CT, in an arid zone with an annual rainfall of about 200mm/8". So I suggested he bring me a couple of samples of plants growing around the farm and the koppie, to give me a clue ...help me decide what plants to take up. </span></p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#999999;">So the day before I left for NYC Mike dropped off FOUR bags full of plant samples! I think he asked his kids to do the collecting, and they enjoyed the game. Anyway I just stuffed the most important looking bag in my fridge, and left the rest in my office. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#999999;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#999999;">Now, 2 months later, I decided to tackle the plant identification - no mean task since the samples were collected at the end of a hot dry summer and had no fruits / seeds. But I know these karoo guys...after years of plant-watching the woody stems & tiny curled-up leaves speak to me...and even thought I don't know the EXACT species, I get the general gist. This 'je ne sais quoi' is not the kind of thing a proper botanist should say - I know - but the species names are pretty academic anyway because they're not commercially available. So I'll have to buy ecological equivalents. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#999999;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#999999;">At least I have the Perdeberg plant recipe to guide me: it's a smorgasbord of arid fynbos, with typical karoo aromatics (wild rosemary, harrpuisbos), some renosterveld bits and the usual awkward woody shrubs. It might not sound delightful, but trust me - when combined with karoo koppies and a long horizon it's Yum. </span>Marijkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07067433608013964750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4605663371485290221.post-8021182508829889202007-06-27T12:07:00.001-07:002007-06-27T12:17:52.649-07:00Today's Walk<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivsCXB0FHZS2XpnkOHI9F9p7MdVZDg5ZKLkNWv1eJBhky-eZP7IhnABp5NmjT3tE7lPxVR2XFW20aIwgtHiU1snd8t1tmNK1dHJ8RU-HzHKUtLUFaKoLIvbexRSH09Wuf8zsleQmjX0SQ/s1600-h/peter&+jill.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080823406123673650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivsCXB0FHZS2XpnkOHI9F9p7MdVZDg5ZKLkNWv1eJBhky-eZP7IhnABp5NmjT3tE7lPxVR2XFW20aIwgtHiU1snd8t1tmNK1dHJ8RU-HzHKUtLUFaKoLIvbexRSH09Wuf8zsleQmjX0SQ/s320/peter&+jill.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> At 4pm today I decided to go for a walk - first up through the suburb, past Peter & Jills house (I see she hasn't felt inspired to finish the mosaic yet). </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /><p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj95N8yhW7FSRXXBYozLkyuf5a-ZVKwVX7Fl0K0zQVDSRFFvHAfDz0NA_2TyHAlycc2RQmTOi2Z96ytGyLuevDqkb0r6O-LdodCsEqUHZUfVvVqS0yNGi57EJFwI8Mr8Sn0hTxQ7ROe4KM/s1600-h/gate.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080823410418640962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj95N8yhW7FSRXXBYozLkyuf5a-ZVKwVX7Fl0K0zQVDSRFFvHAfDz0NA_2TyHAlycc2RQmTOi2Z96ytGyLuevDqkb0r6O-LdodCsEqUHZUfVvVqS0yNGi57EJFwI8Mr8Sn0hTxQ7ROe4KM/s320/gate.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> After 8mins walk up the hill, there's the gate at the end which gives access to the forest & mountain.</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirvnBfPyqhzw5tXvPrAuP5_Cn0tq3Yx3ugcuB0GJAJHxLAra8iTcKojVKj2r-prSidebD6BeNj_Jta6HMedA0C0lLTn1ID03dEsimEaTEH7Gn-cPY1zH7lxmIwhPSgSKUZKmM3Q69Ht0A/s1600-h/greenery.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080823414713608274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirvnBfPyqhzw5tXvPrAuP5_Cn0tq3Yx3ugcuB0GJAJHxLAra8iTcKojVKj2r-prSidebD6BeNj_Jta6HMedA0C0lLTn1ID03dEsimEaTEH7Gn-cPY1zH7lxmIwhPSgSKUZKmM3Q69Ht0A/s320/greenery.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> Sheez - everything is so electric green! Winter clearly separates alien plants from indigenous here - since native plants are virtually all evergreen, the exotic oaks etc stand out a mile.<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh55pVn27wjC4V0jY-aadNs46ZR0d-uMnnrPav3BmCmI4x94UgATmZqsz9VS58hiVcCi29inywWQdI-ZcczX-hkBpGrb9q366FXNNFttis__aKfCUvSPmsmAqQt-FThexxWE_MC-wp1bA/s1600-h/path.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080823419008575586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh55pVn27wjC4V0jY-aadNs46ZR0d-uMnnrPav3BmCmI4x94UgATmZqsz9VS58hiVcCi29inywWQdI-ZcczX-hkBpGrb9q366FXNNFttis__aKfCUvSPmsmAqQt-FThexxWE_MC-wp1bA/s320/path.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> Mickey revels in the smells and trails left by animals...dashing this way and that.<br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg36t4MKdLHgN66AwKfQT0ZwZF1EXFZz7gDY69yz9r-0zYVol4gNpB0RbA1Zt-BqHvwbiIVq425XIEfvr0PZicGCic2WaNayrWYjbJaXNV-6cUvG4HO0pXFeKWUT6lMWwVxfDTWUaUeZUw/s1600-h/berries.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080823423303542898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg36t4MKdLHgN66AwKfQT0ZwZF1EXFZz7gDY69yz9r-0zYVol4gNpB0RbA1Zt-BqHvwbiIVq425XIEfvr0PZicGCic2WaNayrWYjbJaXNV-6cUvG4HO0pXFeKWUT6lMWwVxfDTWUaUeZUw/s320/berries.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;">Not quite an amelanchier - but a forest grape or monkey rope (Rhoicissus digitata)</span><br /></p>Marijkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07067433608013964750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4605663371485290221.post-11860654485116408442007-06-27T11:55:00.000-07:002007-06-27T12:07:09.584-07:00Today's walk<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQWwLN0y65MeSM2rwgWyYAgUu2jk37O8KyXURCgQdmcLqZ69C2hTUp6SITFyeiSxyBAJBTMNGeu5pJskk99VuBOfK9TYIMQe4-m7y1Cma45c0OEyDjHb_fA_wpPoxDAt48ULQzBUouIa8/s1600-h/chasmanthe.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080821331654469618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQWwLN0y65MeSM2rwgWyYAgUu2jk37O8KyXURCgQdmcLqZ69C2hTUp6SITFyeiSxyBAJBTMNGeu5pJskk99VuBOfK9TYIMQe4-m7y1Cma45c0OEyDjHb_fA_wpPoxDAt48ULQzBUouIa8/s320/chasmanthe.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"> Chasmanthe aethiopica is the first of a rolling display of bulbs in winter / spring</span><br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWOKXx9YlmnN2gOnjdSGLJDjCxs9sDtu29-nVyFryGk9In6Fn20DcIksj8BgD8RH0nIQyLmkm9CycK8OOHpp9uPmhCpEHDodHori0jlECJzHht-ZGO6XZx5XmJSPCzjTOl8HfTGWyAvo8/s1600-h/storm.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080821340244404226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWOKXx9YlmnN2gOnjdSGLJDjCxs9sDtu29-nVyFryGk9In6Fn20DcIksj8BgD8RH0nIQyLmkm9CycK8OOHpp9uPmhCpEHDodHori0jlECJzHht-ZGO6XZx5XmJSPCzjTOl8HfTGWyAvo8/s320/storm.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span style="font-size:85%;">Storm - the large boulder is about 12 feet high & dwarfed by a massive forest tree which fell last year.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZGoT5WMH_j83nbz6hjl2LP_s0Kkq7DCKhhN0ft7I8QWuQLycqp47sq6RESQcwHoH_-2uRNPLR7YZ4vGngPr4kCDT4d00VZDbbP2Iy7aIFLc5NGJcdE6TlIIaMgHcqFIeOP8b6qHANdo/s1600-h/river.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080821348834338834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZGoT5WMH_j83nbz6hjl2LP_s0Kkq7DCKhhN0ft7I8QWuQLycqp47sq6RESQcwHoH_-2uRNPLR7YZ4vGngPr4kCDT4d00VZDbbP2Iy7aIFLc5NGJcdE6TlIIaMgHcqFIeOP8b6qHANdo/s320/river.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNbtTGJ4yMpouy66zQi2wLvLX7V51ktQHfeqwFvtSTaTvGYB1_7kfmj4m_cHx3losXvUbvL9jTMiTspFanQresqiEIbf1lulciZl8FcqrbHjWOrQimNxnTzLF3RuLMzBzYyv6kWgVe7c/s1600-h/perspective.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080821353129306146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNbtTGJ4yMpouy66zQi2wLvLX7V51ktQHfeqwFvtSTaTvGYB1_7kfmj4m_cHx3losXvUbvL9jTMiTspFanQresqiEIbf1lulciZl8FcqrbHjWOrQimNxnTzLF3RuLMzBzYyv6kWgVe7c/s320/perspective.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> I find this view of the city gives me perspective - the trees are so majestic and large, the houses so small.</span><br /></span></p>Marijkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07067433608013964750noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4605663371485290221.post-74287788303540756422007-06-26T11:17:00.000-07:002007-06-26T12:39:22.350-07:00Back to work.... and play<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Bx5BqBz_1x_wPINvTmyN7odViodfdjyGSs0vUy0JG6pS9BRJBvxRhTRYm65YMmb9dRr4yGcAkNDNJg5J4xAgJoKd-cWdbRTPMskTSe8CuSIborRTeox_qupPhlwxoawSfpDvBAVtkuI/s1600-h/greenroof.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080440170934155186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Bx5BqBz_1x_wPINvTmyN7odViodfdjyGSs0vUy0JG6pS9BRJBvxRhTRYm65YMmb9dRr4yGcAkNDNJg5J4xAgJoKd-cWdbRTPMskTSe8CuSIborRTeox_qupPhlwxoawSfpDvBAVtkuI/s320/greenroof.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"> Here's a job I've been working on. The courtyard will be home to a magnificent Coral tree - yet to be found. I casually - no - more likely enthusiatically - said to the Architect 'how about a green roof?' and he said yes - let's do it on the low roof (seen above). 160m2 = 1450sq ft. I'm not sure yet that it's the right place / client/project - we'll see.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBTGsMsnSgaNjzTGrYYqXRK8OzUxupJP1TeN5ncprvB6X_vBKFQ3T53WbO2J8-_p9M0JnjQSLdcYkEtt-ewQksQGfjFo-UhOxxR3CpHHSzY_a8AIX63moe9_eVhWWCxvMKYSGJaw6U1k/s1600-h/tablemnt.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080440170934155202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBTGsMsnSgaNjzTGrYYqXRK8OzUxupJP1TeN5ncprvB6X_vBKFQ3T53WbO2J8-_p9M0JnjQSLdcYkEtt-ewQksQGfjFo-UhOxxR3CpHHSzY_a8AIX63moe9_eVhWWCxvMKYSGJaw6U1k/s320/tablemnt.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"> After the site meeting I collected the dogs - waiting patiently on my pickup - and crossed the road for a walk. What view.... I love that mountain!<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3ffd1cGDz-EJQWiJ4uTF93RkWYAbxdAXyOvy0ccW2HIBnyx4i0EumH7mBLz8lbze2l6vsqTe_bIwjoMFRfaec35Ozbwfla_6LrnJudL8pXBn69pUcjt6uNGFUYfnq_RGd0R2m4W8RHQ/s1600-h/mickey-walk.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080440175229122514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3ffd1cGDz-EJQWiJ4uTF93RkWYAbxdAXyOvy0ccW2HIBnyx4i0EumH7mBLz8lbze2l6vsqTe_bIwjoMFRfaec35Ozbwfla_6LrnJudL8pXBn69pUcjt6uNGFUYfnq_RGd0R2m4W8RHQ/s320/mickey-walk.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"> And Mickey sniffing about in the low evening light</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqCIrNQxrOR3jAUS2My63yESj_9TU0CAjSKZMY5KY_-iAqmZ1jyQA_X5BrQk9PEDgUkoQioSG22IwlN3ewT0J5H52h0rdChkg3l9GqPtR0yWdgkBT4xXw11pFNuKG631hoQ1g5DRG3ZjY/s1600-h/protea.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080440179524089826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqCIrNQxrOR3jAUS2My63yESj_9TU0CAjSKZMY5KY_-iAqmZ1jyQA_X5BrQk9PEDgUkoQioSG22IwlN3ewT0J5H52h0rdChkg3l9GqPtR0yWdgkBT4xXw11pFNuKG631hoQ1g5DRG3ZjY/s320/protea.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span >Above: It's protea season - there were a few cream flowers among the pinks (snap! for the calendar).<br /></span><span >Below: And after gaining a bit of altitude the view of the city below.....hmmmm, it's good to be back home.</span></span><span style="font-size:78%;"> </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mMdfZI4iYawllae6eENIp4oYPLi59JOxlfY48KVLNDrpTWqwCKpb7ox8Qf-Q1BVPMbii1Uoddx9HuLrwJFj2JjvElhhJG-FSYcpOax4jlCr-_jiaLc_V2bEr5snLigWKVsTPv6RdcpI/s1600-h/walk.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080440179524089842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mMdfZI4iYawllae6eENIp4oYPLi59JOxlfY48KVLNDrpTWqwCKpb7ox8Qf-Q1BVPMbii1Uoddx9HuLrwJFj2JjvElhhJG-FSYcpOax4jlCr-_jiaLc_V2bEr5snLigWKVsTPv6RdcpI/s320/walk.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Had a 3.15pm site meeting today at House Gubbins. Conveniently situated on a high level road against the mountain so I loaded up the dogs to go for a walk afterwards. Not too bad, hey? While the rest of the city is trying to get home, or stuck in traffic...</span></div><div></div>Marijkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07067433608013964750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4605663371485290221.post-13592905501281109662007-06-26T10:56:00.000-07:002007-06-26T11:17:12.427-07:00Coming home<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilRTpyxjL2aWll9Fek3xAfPTzXaydF3GLDozSW3_5VmN0xf_RIz_VuSHUB_wzYUJ0puCiFK8oABrUMLCkoVLBtvJVlou4WI9T0B2ScF_3p4kbvSDUWTtnXIHRRlgxyCIgfirim-oh7PG4/s1600-h/mnt.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080435760002742114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilRTpyxjL2aWll9Fek3xAfPTzXaydF3GLDozSW3_5VmN0xf_RIz_VuSHUB_wzYUJ0puCiFK8oABrUMLCkoVLBtvJVlou4WI9T0B2ScF_3p4kbvSDUWTtnXIHRRlgxyCIgfirim-oh7PG4/s320/mnt.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;"> First sight in the morning - ah! the mountain. Seen from my garden. It's been a long time since I've been on the 'pulpit' - the little blip on the right</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_iY5dr0dWENovhVt-gzcC3jw5Ph9soLP55sLorbI4Zl0eBPWqg_klaO_Xbc24i2_IPcGl9hpABomk55NnBZawHpsRyDvg0lyYJ2PDJrtueQH1Fc2pLe4A-WPYKbTNvjscpQVfrEv48wc/s1600-h/garden.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080435764297709426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_iY5dr0dWENovhVt-gzcC3jw5Ph9soLP55sLorbI4Zl0eBPWqg_klaO_Xbc24i2_IPcGl9hpABomk55NnBZawHpsRyDvg0lyYJ2PDJrtueQH1Fc2pLe4A-WPYKbTNvjscpQVfrEv48wc/s320/garden.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;"> My garden - looking green, a bit water-logged and wintry but grasses still look lovely with backlighting. And can't believe that red salvia is still going Pity I missed the <em>Kniphofias </em>doing their red hot fire poker thing.<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjNZAcrq-hhz1bS7nO6jvzh71zLczmbVD6grMmAOU7HScXsf2tmMsHzekH_OxQtRpT5YkKNuVzQsgkJnTxH-EtzlMRRqL3CG59lcCoDVf3cQuM1AlkmVimqCqH5Xz0bIBJtWMQJQmL8-A/s1600-h/mickey.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080435768592676738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjNZAcrq-hhz1bS7nO6jvzh71zLczmbVD6grMmAOU7HScXsf2tmMsHzekH_OxQtRpT5YkKNuVzQsgkJnTxH-EtzlMRRqL3CG59lcCoDVf3cQuM1AlkmVimqCqH5Xz0bIBJtWMQJQmL8-A/s320/mickey.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;"> Mickey is glad to have me back - a play partner at last</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGM_v6JsTbx6U6ivmYU3GINf2Ded6jHm6GTWPewQFwxMd3T3FF6q4-ElTe_OmqBTnlKC-y4hHbk3FZ_ataZ7QRtXzA5Kkayw_fbqah7WYBKn-251J91QgIEiK-LxLako-A61IWYY-hRco/s1600-h/bokaap.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080435772887644050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGM_v6JsTbx6U6ivmYU3GINf2Ded6jHm6GTWPewQFwxMd3T3FF6q4-ElTe_OmqBTnlKC-y4hHbk3FZ_ataZ7QRtXzA5Kkayw_fbqah7WYBKn-251J91QgIEiK-LxLako-A61IWYY-hRco/s320/bokaap.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;"> Housewarming at my brother's new flat in Bo-Kaap on Friday - a big family gathering with presents flying this way & that because it was my mom's and Paul's birthday (on that day, 22nd June), and my boet's housewarming, and I had gifts from NY and they'd remembered my birthday too, and plenty of stories & exchanges to fill the air until 1am. Phew. The girls (Pia and Josie) were lying on Paul's bed with a magnificent view of the city below..........and couldn't get to sleep because of the trillions of lights and the harbour blinking in the distance.....what a feeling.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfOBRYfJSYnECMLT8v2aFcHFfhyphenhyphen6M0rTyzIFHdDCOx8_Pa58wHjfOon-iCP6QxB4tPXh_SH60AplKQjgzNe7_Bk8TbYHnZ86YYbUvtgNtnpGHpj2phSnKmjTr414omTCCCqakhoGhyphenhyphenL1E/s1600-h/dinner.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080435772887644066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfOBRYfJSYnECMLT8v2aFcHFfhyphenhyphen6M0rTyzIFHdDCOx8_Pa58wHjfOon-iCP6QxB4tPXh_SH60AplKQjgzNe7_Bk8TbYHnZ86YYbUvtgNtnpGHpj2phSnKmjTr414omTCCCqakhoGhyphenhyphenL1E/s320/dinner.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">A mellow supper at my house with friends on saturday night - thick flank cooked for 2 hours on my wood stove</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It's funny - it has taken me a week to arrive. What with the jet lag and 2 days of hot berg wind here, waking up at 3am to let the dogs out, and a cold / flu, and work to re-engage with ......I've felt completely spaced out and odd. My brain just wouldn't make the shift and click......but since the weather broke and now it's storming & wintry I feel I'm all here, which is a relief. Work has piled up, my roof is leaking and new clients to see...plenty to do!</span></div><div></div>Marijkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07067433608013964750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4605663371485290221.post-45373226785187198402007-06-20T13:46:00.000-07:002007-06-20T14:04:08.835-07:00NYC - I was starting to get the hang of itNo really, I was.<br /><br />* at work: the inches, gallons and feet; to use the tap marked 'H' in the bathroom (piping hot water gushes out of the 'C' tap)<br /><br />* the accent and inflections: the questioning lilt as one speaks - almost checking if the other is following; the open a's, the rolled r's (still catch myself now, back in SA!)<br /><br />* the commute to work: cycling through Park Slope and Boerum place, along leafy Clinton rd. Dodging commuters at crossings, the taxi cabs, the potholes and double-parked delivery vans...<br /><br />* how to get a good coffee at half the price ('a double expresso with a little milk please')<br /><br />* the subway - which trains run express; settling on the F local to go home; a sort of 6th sense which kicks in when one has arrived at the desired station....and the last minute dash to the door to get out.... excuse me! excuse me!; and that one needs to swipe your metro card at speed (otherwise it doesn't work)<br /><br />* that Houghston is 'howsten' not 'hewsten'<br /><br />* that Manhattan is pretty flat but there's a proper little hill between Nicolas avenue and Riverside around 145th street (and of course Fort Tyrone park). Try it on a bike without gears - it's fun to balance /stand on the pedals, only just moving forward<br /><br />* which produce to buy at the farmer's market in Union square - ramps, apples (mutzos are good), fresh cider and a healthy carrot and date bread/cake thing which I liked<br /><br />* and of course some favourite trees - crab apple, tilia, amelanchier and plants (pieris, skimmia, tiarella, heucheras)<br /><br />So many little things - I never thought of myself as much of a chameleon, but I've noticed I can adapt and change colour. It's been fun.Marijkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07067433608013964750noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4605663371485290221.post-74939606840482857722007-06-20T13:11:00.000-07:002010-11-03T02:10:38.275-07:00Urban berries<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Ever since Marie introduced me to shadberries (Amelanchier), I began to see them everywhere in the city - in urban parks... along streets....on a rooftop in Battery Park and growing wild in the dunes on Fire island. It seems to be a bumper year for fruit. </span><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">On Friday Marie & I had a rendezvous in a teeny park under the Manhatten bridge - our mission: to pick a few pounds for a special dessert: amelanchier berry pie. The pie was perfect, and much to our surprise there was a strong aftertaste of marzipan - probably the seeds. Turns out we'd picked enough berries for pancakes, jam and a fruit salad...</span></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj13KUXNoimNanX6Gt6l9avndUNEKoDZTjZfeDONESAaQnygsWW3eGyujAAC9Ekf67fGDfi5_cMNUvx1dYf9zq2zviolEpSRdQ8B1zhKB_gUe2nwguKtGX_t4kEYKgA1zHvEmatC04IRHc/s1600-h/amelanchier.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078244970199496482" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj13KUXNoimNanX6Gt6l9avndUNEKoDZTjZfeDONESAaQnygsWW3eGyujAAC9Ekf67fGDfi5_cMNUvx1dYf9zq2zviolEpSRdQ8B1zhKB_gUe2nwguKtGX_t4kEYKgA1zHvEmatC04IRHc/s320/amelanchier.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Amelanchier - don't they look delectable? Nature is so bountiful - each bush was laden with with ripe berries - enough to feed a small crowd.</span><br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHmg0J_OsDH7eK5YJ1Ibro2lEOcXP0-QaOFP0CoFgF70-ri5zQcXGMM7DikYfhviJEwmPmK5kC5eW3yp91GknYvvM_leomgFtzannDUSLHwy7W5Ahn4zK7p3q_nyjMQ5agI9DbjflMuQ/s1600-h/urban+berries.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078244987379365682" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHmg0J_OsDH7eK5YJ1Ibro2lEOcXP0-QaOFP0CoFgF70-ri5zQcXGMM7DikYfhviJEwmPmK5kC5eW3yp91GknYvvM_leomgFtzannDUSLHwy7W5Ahn4zK7p3q_nyjMQ5agI9DbjflMuQ/s320/urban+berries.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >I love the context - the trains going klakkety klak on the Manhattan bridge overhead...</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO3TktdDX9oFIFx9lCTmLdsvJ3W8Z1Y_8C4ZviCEUz319kay56iIw6jQoVsyhvHRRIKAPhtTtLBwMI18KTH8EtE9Po66gXhVEtOYCtuQqb9UFvpxDHm4LEKZJcO0LDHDHbCViBBhOie5E/s1600-h/picking.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078245000264267586" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO3TktdDX9oFIFx9lCTmLdsvJ3W8Z1Y_8C4ZviCEUz319kay56iIw6jQoVsyhvHRRIKAPhtTtLBwMI18KTH8EtE9Po66gXhVEtOYCtuQqb9UFvpxDHm4LEKZJcO0LDHDHbCViBBhOie5E/s320/picking.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvSPHV-G5ga6LZ8WTtdXvKwZBRNvG5JDvYA8mrlNJQlQ8j453__Q2AFRrWfFrkAQmuy3cZeUaGDRfXlSBtAyf7fmZ9lK9X5LgOVHrFj1GA4xDmv_FPwg_PFbHGJMqHyJyBg-ApoAdMHBo/s1600-h/birds.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078245008854202194" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvSPHV-G5ga6LZ8WTtdXvKwZBRNvG5JDvYA8mrlNJQlQ8j453__Q2AFRrWfFrkAQmuy3cZeUaGDRfXlSBtAyf7fmZ9lK9X5LgOVHrFj1GA4xDmv_FPwg_PFbHGJMqHyJyBg-ApoAdMHBo/s320/birds.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">My best bird shot to date! I thought pigeons were seed eaters - didn't know they were omnivores.</span><br /></span>Marijkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07067433608013964750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4605663371485290221.post-35750082637755532612007-06-20T12:49:00.000-07:002007-06-20T13:11:53.018-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1QT43sXIrXBNgdM93gx63tibVqsdyWlO5QftPTtUMLD40ZF16vK_unn95pKQt4c9fRqVRjB_WAjDCvw2wvYH2Gz5qGm699qCkha_SGigbZgwgdbL5MgMtGez3MCir35EyRZBNvCTqDnA/s1600-h/pancakes.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078240301570045698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1QT43sXIrXBNgdM93gx63tibVqsdyWlO5QftPTtUMLD40ZF16vK_unn95pKQt4c9fRqVRjB_WAjDCvw2wvYH2Gz5qGm699qCkha_SGigbZgwgdbL5MgMtGez3MCir35EyRZBNvCTqDnA/s320/pancakes.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"> Sunday: Natalie made american pancakes with them - and they're excellent.</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL5QEwcwxQwjnu5cMbrlEJ7fmJiXcO4_1bDIGTRXuA1EkllTJiLubbAPM4-J6zktu9hbPKCCjhFn-lEPMw9QPrLNE6fpjqP8TPKW8b0XjBUigIIDCbRb8-WY-WzkLdXNfd4u65iRjkJHQ/s1600-h/fruit+salad.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078240314454947602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL5QEwcwxQwjnu5cMbrlEJ7fmJiXcO4_1bDIGTRXuA1EkllTJiLubbAPM4-J6zktu9hbPKCCjhFn-lEPMw9QPrLNE6fpjqP8TPKW8b0XjBUigIIDCbRb8-WY-WzkLdXNfd4u65iRjkJHQ/s320/fruit+salad.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">My last meal in NYC: fruit salad with shadberries. Call me a purist, but I think they're best just like this - fresh and delicious!<br /></span><br /><br /><div></div>Marijkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07067433608013964750noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4605663371485290221.post-74436608268943024922007-06-16T15:21:00.000-07:002007-06-20T12:48:34.655-07:00Happy Birthday Thomas!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PWGbcRRTzgE11xt7ganD05QSIePpxSgygDul8nB5JIG5SajXDYmtDTYVYGisw93h2AKaJSyT9ONZWpRdtHib0W0QZBBEvhMOxMm2AGSV6HK4fzBNaSnpkHP09hH4cacmFd06NJe6jOM/s1600-h/T&J2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076793039325214418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PWGbcRRTzgE11xt7ganD05QSIePpxSgygDul8nB5JIG5SajXDYmtDTYVYGisw93h2AKaJSyT9ONZWpRdtHib0W0QZBBEvhMOxMm2AGSV6HK4fzBNaSnpkHP09hH4cacmFd06NJe6jOM/s320/T&J2.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Thomas and Jasmien - only a few months left in NYC - enjoy every minute!</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrHWerztDJ5gS9J2w2SPf160U9xBccOUkToL9qsoTV8DhhgVs9qvJc2EMQkogVmwvJMoMTh8ZoJFq-ywLk7H5XaxcmLusFm8iJf45Hf_JASHEwlnBc1Y-H1Va9yZb5MNoPa0iAmP_JJ_0/s1600-h/T&J6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076793039325214434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrHWerztDJ5gS9J2w2SPf160U9xBccOUkToL9qsoTV8DhhgVs9qvJc2EMQkogVmwvJMoMTh8ZoJFq-ywLk7H5XaxcmLusFm8iJf45Hf_JASHEwlnBc1Y-H1Va9yZb5MNoPa0iAmP_JJ_0/s320/T&J6.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"> Outdoor terrace at Robin de Bois in Smith street</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wJSOJoC7mOCxlgrFxeL0ywZWgig0aEpFNZZl_433JbuPlG0DwUOohQrnwzJmGEQev-cvEegThsdv6W-6f1ZTWYuL5xfFRK_pAcjMqwOfmuMwFWmuOsLRfowmIsKmDeC1XTmFYiBmpi4/s1600-h/T&J4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076793039325214450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wJSOJoC7mOCxlgrFxeL0ywZWgig0aEpFNZZl_433JbuPlG0DwUOohQrnwzJmGEQev-cvEegThsdv6W-6f1ZTWYuL5xfFRK_pAcjMqwOfmuMwFWmuOsLRfowmIsKmDeC1XTmFYiBmpi4/s320/T&J4.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"> Shop front of Robin de Bois - it started off as a kind of specialised junk shop, and then people used to linger, and the owner would start cooking and pour glasses of wine, and so it transformed into a cafe. I think you can still make an offer on the furniture, like this skiboat, or.....</span><br /><a id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076791909748815506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXe6WvuXgJyVs7JLgqc0yqG5muZjWty6iPFzV2LAQWBjNJjJUDfuYH9ngYACQ1tz9Nmvk4P0Rpkjza0Bs3aSMgjbJ9kfe40jir9FUItCL43XdngPZVTCmnhqOnMVQc_YIHvhScf4jB-SA/s320/T&J2.jpg" border="0"></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Saturday I met Thomas and Jasmien for brunch at Robin de Bois in Smith street - to celebrate his birthday (forgot to ask how many years, T?). A french cafe with funky decor and a leafy green courtyard terrace. The weather was warm - perfect for outdoor eating. I enjoyed listening to the stories about your trip to California - not to mention anecdotes of your folks' / in-laws' TEN day visit to NYC. I know family dynamics are stressful at the time, but hell - they're entertaining and make excellent material for retelling...</span><a></div></a>Marijkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07067433608013964750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4605663371485290221.post-79507784331231800102007-06-16T15:12:00.000-07:002007-06-20T12:49:22.087-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6nIN93ynWKaAiRt4YC0DBFLmphWP0zgpQo9uYRRqUAfmyegMBtj7BSGNmR7mVozb_OHZZQVSRK5IapTV5GhDaKiGdKWFoSnE9bnl6Pxc59BMYR3EApghbysxmZr9PNyCS13P_YVHcvo/s1600-h/T&J1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076788976286152258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6nIN93ynWKaAiRt4YC0DBFLmphWP0zgpQo9uYRRqUAfmyegMBtj7BSGNmR7mVozb_OHZZQVSRK5IapTV5GhDaKiGdKWFoSnE9bnl6Pxc59BMYR3EApghbysxmZr9PNyCS13P_YVHcvo/s320/T&J1.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> Having brunch at the back courtyard</span><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsdmYkU5OBVS1oBWqD57EnJIcBukng0UxC9dOO2O_7e8sr3_GszvOd_0K3ORS6kuunk_0Oz4GIS0Bpmbd1qFjKuy-CiQpHGh_uvQ4ugKMn3uYXkdmlqgNt6lZdz458vmndJYdomy4g74/s1600-h/T&J3.jpg"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiysHYH_rRXO3lMsX01HinkHh_5DUZqySygZqXiJQ5y85GaKbBfpy-K2saOLgRoVqOhh958sd5pZ_tYNSHLduaxhF6cAIxYOGG7QLeiF7X-cC2Q07eAsm3MVXx6hPEN-IvOnFXA4DVb2NQ/s1600-h/T&J3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076788980581119586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiysHYH_rRXO3lMsX01HinkHh_5DUZqySygZqXiJQ5y85GaKbBfpy-K2saOLgRoVqOhh958sd5pZ_tYNSHLduaxhF6cAIxYOGG7QLeiF7X-cC2Q07eAsm3MVXx6hPEN-IvOnFXA4DVb2NQ/s320/T&J3.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;"> Self portrait inside</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6Awq71jwc7dP_MpgKGBGkN3DU2NhLgItH8fli0mwKosNAS-y73NXjGSXbhbR6H_XL9YUBn5ExKcMagP7lbC5WtqJ-UYLNMlEQNtXcVgxUl_xzE6UQGUchZgAv2jp3WjkPoijnV6lif0/s1600-h/T&J5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076788984876086898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6Awq71jwc7dP_MpgKGBGkN3DU2NhLgItH8fli0mwKosNAS-y73NXjGSXbhbR6H_XL9YUBn5ExKcMagP7lbC5WtqJ-UYLNMlEQNtXcVgxUl_xzE6UQGUchZgAv2jp3WjkPoijnV6lif0/s320/T&J5.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;"> Interior of Robin de Bois - the big mirror (self-portrait) is on the left, and the big forest (reflected) is on the right<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjsAUva0cyQ8Tr5YfNOxtrphOP9kWrt-8doICciqqDI7gDrsvMj6402uu8In7n89BGeVoOq0EAwbv08SBzBg573CdwFY4otMZncTdZDCBC-6A4w3uJfbdOhGRU5bivcTlXV-l8hVF4Ow/s1600-h/T&J7.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076788984876086914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjsAUva0cyQ8Tr5YfNOxtrphOP9kWrt-8doICciqqDI7gDrsvMj6402uu8In7n89BGeVoOq0EAwbv08SBzBg573CdwFY4otMZncTdZDCBC-6A4w3uJfbdOhGRU5bivcTlXV-l8hVF4Ow/s320/T&J7.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;">Jasmien & Thomas - just after they'd kissed. ...such romantics!</span> <div></div>Marijkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07067433608013964750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4605663371485290221.post-14912324251307799432007-06-16T14:32:00.000-07:002007-06-16T15:04:42.063-07:00Highlights of the Met<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMV68R1AHGNK0jlMcNNpeiq-NypuMKRkADjJGB_zpNuwZQX6qfy-CMa15LrtwuGCrNMbvNmtqsPOFNi5GZ7WoEADLnOyfGTDsmcUYOATmJPOxrl5-Cb3cRB4I6CacOiHEVlgk1UWlIP8E/s1600-h/Met4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076784698498725410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMV68R1AHGNK0jlMcNNpeiq-NypuMKRkADjJGB_zpNuwZQX6qfy-CMa15LrtwuGCrNMbvNmtqsPOFNi5GZ7WoEADLnOyfGTDsmcUYOATmJPOxrl5-Cb3cRB4I6CacOiHEVlgk1UWlIP8E/s320/Met4.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;">Entrance foyer at the Metropolitan museum - busy, even on a weekday</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtRmkz-Qntc4gGItuMyGwwpGgDcqDpLt281LOHI0G2EAjS8NjYyt1Ffjb1s8GOI_slejJ0NJcY8ixSNlGPwVaDLtKxW7XBOSpgG62SeiRh9DMIWicbTYPW3vP_PiI9wY6V452T9AO_cTk/s1600-h/Met6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076784707088660018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtRmkz-Qntc4gGItuMyGwwpGgDcqDpLt281LOHI0G2EAjS8NjYyt1Ffjb1s8GOI_slejJ0NJcY8ixSNlGPwVaDLtKxW7XBOSpgG62SeiRh9DMIWicbTYPW3vP_PiI9wY6V452T9AO_cTk/s320/Met6.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;"> The roof terrace </span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZGxWCWje9fdUKSpcxtb8QCne0r3usX5vY1OjkiphbRdqQwgCLXgpkN_jjHMhobbrEWz4jFk7al19qDIfqUP3mePu-greERIkZXJT4s_f-zyrY4FLalRa5KRi3UvD79zH0s3beqHEUHY/s1600-h/Met1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076782125813315026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZGxWCWje9fdUKSpcxtb8QCne0r3usX5vY1OjkiphbRdqQwgCLXgpkN_jjHMhobbrEWz4jFk7al19qDIfqUP3mePu-greERIkZXJT4s_f-zyrY4FLalRa5KRi3UvD79zH0s3beqHEUHY/s320/Met1.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"> Mycenae - decorated pot</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbjI8qiFf716ZHOuimdAq4pIwFLpWGJ7pwAqRUquc7lZHNe6mOk8agshugGL-M7aC6gfPzwXu1RVpm6irvTQHHfts3o4SpInum6tF9ystTPcVkP2DERi-LvSf8BKphE7M-cGuLtYEzuoo/s1600-h/Met2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076782130108282338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbjI8qiFf716ZHOuimdAq4pIwFLpWGJ7pwAqRUquc7lZHNe6mOk8agshugGL-M7aC6gfPzwXu1RVpm6irvTQHHfts3o4SpInum6tF9ystTPcVkP2DERi-LvSf8BKphE7M-cGuLtYEzuoo/s320/Met2.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;"> Amazon</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGnmAJErtFTbZwv-mmNDAk4RUg5V6U1LGCItWv6lfEb1WOB8tMMxOc-0wgFuLSmqZ5gSR0fhDnCPiZIMMQI13S7qsTrSAfu3bZDIBndIXYAfV6qWwBAvn8j5guhaNtsG-wqAM2h99-QM/s1600-h/Met3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076782130108282354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGnmAJErtFTbZwv-mmNDAk4RUg5V6U1LGCItWv6lfEb1WOB8tMMxOc-0wgFuLSmqZ5gSR0fhDnCPiZIMMQI13S7qsTrSAfu3bZDIBndIXYAfV6qWwBAvn8j5guhaNtsG-wqAM2h99-QM/s320/Met3.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;"> Bamako, Mali</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHSkiPjizb6Si8B12CRbcv5foDHlNiciA4LxjzMZU0OHG5gd4bRdcotT7VzWWwJD5UvIPTWbqbPm2JIPens_crop7HxJDDNISWeucFxa7o1ZJgWO7p-6K0XoAW0D9B-9aFps0DAiY36Q/s1600-h/Met5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076782130108282370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHSkiPjizb6Si8B12CRbcv5foDHlNiciA4LxjzMZU0OHG5gd4bRdcotT7VzWWwJD5UvIPTWbqbPm2JIPens_crop7HxJDDNISWeucFxa7o1ZJgWO7p-6K0XoAW0D9B-9aFps0DAiY36Q/s320/Met5.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;">Even though the museum is too big, my stamina too short, I'm glad I went. I love the great halls, the grand setting for the pieces.</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuADD0CC7uoHt5yDh9HOIbvm38-Ri1U6cXU1iDk53K5B3MwmB3IeEJtZ8Tbnf24gxpuJS1BuDPp9urY9bVEBC1Xt7he6fITlky5_hFQzsapJ7iVa_LS1NDfitSuA318kqvR1LF2ZUfkcc/s1600-h/Met7.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076782134403249682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuADD0CC7uoHt5yDh9HOIbvm38-Ri1U6cXU1iDk53K5B3MwmB3IeEJtZ8Tbnf24gxpuJS1BuDPp9urY9bVEBC1Xt7he6fITlky5_hFQzsapJ7iVa_LS1NDfitSuA318kqvR1LF2ZUfkcc/s320/Met7.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Time is flying, no swooshing by - too quickly to keep up with the blog! </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">On Friday I took the day off to go to the Metropolitan Museum. I was going to focus on the Greeks and Romans, but soon got saturated with the marble statues, and painted vases.... can confirm I still prefer the older Mycenean and minoan stuff to the red and black figure Greek vases. Then I started wandering and pausing at things which caught my fancy. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">I stumbled across a temporary exhibition on Paul Poiret, a fashion designer around the turn of the century, during the belle epoch. His creations are truly breath-taking - the fabric, the way it was draped, the combinations of colours & textures, the design - I've never seen anything like it. Many looked inspired by the orient, others were typical of the art deco period. I'm glad I had this chance encounter in the museum.</span></div><br /><br /><div></div></div>Marijkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07067433608013964750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4605663371485290221.post-72367239179391950772007-06-11T20:41:00.000-07:002007-06-11T21:07:31.686-07:00Al di La - a taste sensation<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjquRYw5bUCixDWeDjxG56tSN6xwAMcuI-cphMGkTR-eZJAZiaU6y2labe9hkGEGxC49hm15-0PqFsFv9xx6BqYVygh-esU_yaUntT4OKNmfw-e5ANlxWHlwm-9IJ7ytFfYFSyc7wBX_es/s1600-h/aldila.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075022675280639426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjquRYw5bUCixDWeDjxG56tSN6xwAMcuI-cphMGkTR-eZJAZiaU6y2labe9hkGEGxC49hm15-0PqFsFv9xx6BqYVygh-esU_yaUntT4OKNmfw-e5ANlxWHlwm-9IJ7ytFfYFSyc7wBX_es/s320/aldila.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Oops - I forget to post this pic, because it required a special posting! Marie treated Chris and I for a farewell dinner at Al di La - her favourite italian restaurant. It's on Carroll street, cnr of 5th avenue, Brooklyn. And what an amazing dining experience it is - from the waiters who treat her like a regular local, the gracious decor and ambience, to the fine food. We shared and tasted 3 starters: the spring salad, gnocchi (with a paper thin wrapping and melt-in-the-mouth fine spinach inside) and oxtail &squid served with polenta. For main I had a 'hanger steak' which was soft and tender, with arugula and a delicate and delicious balsamic reduction. And a pear and dark chocolate tort for desert. It was Yum. Thank you for an unforgettable evening. </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">Have you been yet to Marie's and Chris' blog? Check it out at <a href="http://www.onemonkeyshow.blogspot.com">www.onemonkeyshow.blogspot.com</a> and </span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"><a href="mailto:66squarefeet@blogspot.com">66squarefeet@blogspot.com</a>. They write well and are aces at this bleedin' bloggin' thing.</span></div><br /><div></div>Marijkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07067433608013964750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4605663371485290221.post-33062659866925848242007-06-10T21:32:00.001-07:002007-06-10T21:49:58.165-07:00Sunday cycle<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcvH6bOUWfDU3y2bUhhfIKSzc8ityCGBCmVcZwkMOakqrTXQRAZ9RpQKBUMRkGBaAy2KarSEand-RRckwImaM6b-uFLEO6JTvE9K_h5CfkiMDhFiN3_hVcaURTqIp4GXuqDgABGRfOeM/s1600-h/veggiegarden.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074660373314385250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcvH6bOUWfDU3y2bUhhfIKSzc8ityCGBCmVcZwkMOakqrTXQRAZ9RpQKBUMRkGBaAy2KarSEand-RRckwImaM6b-uFLEO6JTvE9K_h5CfkiMDhFiN3_hVcaURTqIp4GXuqDgABGRfOeM/s320/veggiegarden.bmp" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;"> Sunday I took the subway to 155th street and cycled home. I stopped at this veggie garden in Haarlem and chatted to the gardeners (below). They were growing not only veggies, but grape vines on the fence, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and a peach tree.</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZ5DZT12fe6DSRxDm6xBQsYz5OCXWTH6Hbfi7-csteyfigMxfB9CO-M2-i2B80S4LftPvvrA0SHTjDRWDWhlJP3Ua_bxkfmknetuf001IAMg4ow3CTG-zX6f0VlD1Kz3h0V-R4x5XHcM/s1600-h/veggiegrowers.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074660373314385266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZ5DZT12fe6DSRxDm6xBQsYz5OCXWTH6Hbfi7-csteyfigMxfB9CO-M2-i2B80S4LftPvvrA0SHTjDRWDWhlJP3Ua_bxkfmknetuf001IAMg4ow3CTG-zX6f0VlD1Kz3h0V-R4x5XHcM/s320/veggiegrowers.bmp" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;"> Then I cycled in Riverside Park along the Hudson river - here looking north<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghrGztrA_vRzbAoNG5HfGjT9oAYHr7qNVChhIQNHX5jq6yTGioKdY27knwqs5RbHP7azJlLkvyRLIx6TwLAUCwU94vJZHUoDixSkbsU7mh3oFdP_y4pe_jaA7YAFstxEUBYxaoxnt694/s1600-h/hudson.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074660377609352578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghrGztrA_vRzbAoNG5HfGjT9oAYHr7qNVChhIQNHX5jq6yTGioKdY27knwqs5RbHP7azJlLkvyRLIx6TwLAUCwU94vJZHUoDixSkbsU7mh3oFdP_y4pe_jaA7YAFstxEUBYxaoxnt694/s320/hudson.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC3SFlzLZIzym406erLqz8RbMeunLfK3blXoFJW3LyrfqiHbK2dY0o0ByFrSBe8f8JCL4UZ_KFIu45KOi2k-qdYyUjKqK6fH5vFEFO1pQRz857i87raPLxiW-pqqKZMWe2_IMBr0wSwug/s1600-h/hippopark.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074660377609352594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC3SFlzLZIzym406erLqz8RbMeunLfK3blXoFJW3LyrfqiHbK2dY0o0ByFrSBe8f8JCL4UZ_KFIu45KOi2k-qdYyUjKqK6fH5vFEFO1pQRz857i87raPLxiW-pqqKZMWe2_IMBr0wSwug/s320/hippopark.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;"> where I spotted some hippos<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_qAloXLO8OuEse9BcvmmVolG-q6mfkItgFCN4KIkLFhahiZdUyE7XTO5Dv-Sz4Mle03dRQDY3I-7Fb-AK0SBJMrhx2p0QwgbsVLmeWwlTygUSihYqZmtQ7d2W685QhOM2zwOhoF8XPs/s1600-h/kaas.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074660381904319906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_qAloXLO8OuEse9BcvmmVolG-q6mfkItgFCN4KIkLFhahiZdUyE7XTO5Dv-Sz4Mle03dRQDY3I-7Fb-AK0SBJMrhx2p0QwgbsVLmeWwlTygUSihYqZmtQ7d2W685QhOM2zwOhoF8XPs/s320/kaas.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> Later I crossed through west village and spotted this teeny shop called 'Kaas'</span><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIMFOmQJYnBxFMElkNeVY3oBqeU4qbMtgu22JmAH4a4WhH-GYfMjPiKz6Va-8aEp2sfC6L6DPV6qSToEchk4H-f17GKXI7wBKWSlpE61pBSgftOeOBXCflbeYn_sT-hblpf0X_rDxQr9Y/s1600-h/spotted+pig.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074660540818109874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIMFOmQJYnBxFMElkNeVY3oBqeU4qbMtgu22JmAH4a4WhH-GYfMjPiKz6Va-8aEp2sfC6L6DPV6qSToEchk4H-f17GKXI7wBKWSlpE61pBSgftOeOBXCflbeYn_sT-hblpf0X_rDxQr9Y/s320/spotted+pig.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;"> And stopped at this pub called the Spotted Pig for a beer (which I pointed at and which turned out to be cider). Despite the friendly local exterior, the people inside seemed loud and pretentious.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Look - I have to say this blogging is fun but bloody time-consuming - resizing the pics and uploading them. I'm looking forward to next week sunday when it officially ends! In the mean time keep tracking it - there is something to be said about arm chair travel when it's raining non-stop in CT, not so?</span> </span>Marijkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07067433608013964750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4605663371485290221.post-86559046134729257332007-06-10T21:20:00.000-07:002007-06-10T21:32:09.846-07:00Shopping at the Food Co-op<span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHHpDRZSSdeeDWhPjDpFyRctomzC8EUrk83lpIf-vF2Q3o1anSEFm4uWUPFQ3qIjcY5SSpYidGoNkIEk55JWHDPsWe5zeQR2LrblFDuhbgNP842LywDVgsc0d98epfb0uEDmq94kWW_8/s1600-h/foodcop.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074659600220271938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHHpDRZSSdeeDWhPjDpFyRctomzC8EUrk83lpIf-vF2Q3o1anSEFm4uWUPFQ3qIjcY5SSpYidGoNkIEk55JWHDPsWe5zeQR2LrblFDuhbgNP842LywDVgsc0d98epfb0uEDmq94kWW_8/s320/foodcop.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrmWUErKrtg-2ATWziCH2NGs91GUSskcHJ8b54-eCgjIkxD4gAWnvcw3zGKwk7AmIu08FjoLj374eg9cjxDu_tj_7LestrHfwI5T_15Po4TrHXGIUZi7B-AxsOU82PtDbObhma1KvaFE/s1600-h/foodcop2.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074659604515239250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrmWUErKrtg-2ATWziCH2NGs91GUSskcHJ8b54-eCgjIkxD4gAWnvcw3zGKwk7AmIu08FjoLj374eg9cjxDu_tj_7LestrHfwI5T_15Po4TrHXGIUZi7B-AxsOU82PtDbObhma1KvaFE/s320/foodcop2.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Sunday I went with Natalie to the Food Co-op - around the corner in Union street. It's a members only co-op which has been going since the 1960s (?) where one can buy fresh local produce and most other goods. To be a member you have to work 2 and 3/4 hours a month - helping with packing, stock-taking, cleaning, etc. And Adriana gets to organise this temporary always changing once-in-a-while work force. And, she tells me, all the permanent staff get paid the same, irrespective of how many years they've been working there (10 years in her case) or what you do - whether it's managing people or sweeping the floor. Can you imagine? </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">It was fun to get an inside view and see the variety of produce. Lukas has discovered back bends and spent most of his time with his head back, looking at the ceiling. So much for all the colourful merchandising and branding... </span></div><div> </div>Marijkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07067433608013964750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4605663371485290221.post-249851263595929812007-06-10T21:03:00.000-07:002007-06-10T21:19:51.056-07:00Saturday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkajk4GYwoP4lwrAKWHbm-gswUAb0JGht0v8JVq3X1Ks43x2H7MoLxAAqB4rcTrZ9VOsrl_m5gmQwbKK-zh49ECjjCrliFYBHENx1VG_lsnU-gzT6Fi9UV8CRtG5cW5RHtduNHyw7_DI/s1600-h/dumbo.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074653990992983330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkajk4GYwoP4lwrAKWHbm-gswUAb0JGht0v8JVq3X1Ks43x2H7MoLxAAqB4rcTrZ9VOsrl_m5gmQwbKK-zh49ECjjCrliFYBHENx1VG_lsnU-gzT6Fi9UV8CRtG5cW5RHtduNHyw7_DI/s200/dumbo.bmp" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;">Saturday I went for a walk with Natalie and Lukas in the stroller. We went past Dumbo (Down Under the Mahatten Bridge) which is one of the areas being gentrified - lots of warehouses converted into lofts and office studios. I like it there.</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwvuLSSCxtAbDvqvrT52G-CjRZEalG4DIOUNVScEnyv6Ij8T57BHj5IInJ1H4Hpgm6bBRmFwzgEClR27YnISi_7FIdK5UJqnYRR3HFjQrBR-Rez5gV-u7et9fhPDnviwlUWOXwMQtPmno/s1600-h/sidewalk.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074653995287950642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwvuLSSCxtAbDvqvrT52G-CjRZEalG4DIOUNVScEnyv6Ij8T57BHj5IInJ1H4Hpgm6bBRmFwzgEClR27YnISi_7FIdK5UJqnYRR3HFjQrBR-Rez5gV-u7et9fhPDnviwlUWOXwMQtPmno/s200/sidewalk.bmp" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;">We passed four side-walk sales...people selling stuff they no longer want or need. Natalie bought a fan for 5 bucks.</span><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnBzcwqq4w3yIHBBoJ9S0Pkw99yeXi-wqcQVJvq-7RdrvevQBq3vqd41U-K_5C1lUoROYflD8uEFwQ5gnDiXXyDG7Di9b-WqAOfCJoOqJeY2LxWdEtpNLn4jfeK_fYCoR1roSPpzitpk/s1600-h/LowerManhatten.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074653617330828498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnBzcwqq4w3yIHBBoJ9S0Pkw99yeXi-wqcQVJvq-7RdrvevQBq3vqd41U-K_5C1lUoROYflD8uEFwQ5gnDiXXyDG7Di9b-WqAOfCJoOqJeY2LxWdEtpNLn4jfeK_fYCoR1roSPpzitpk/s200/LowerManhatten.bmp" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> I took the ferry to Staten island - a cheap way (it's free) to see the Statue of Liberty and get some perspective on Manhatten island.</span><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHU19-l1vsPKF3Gczl_9fSIzbVuJ6mfBX3xs6LmVrLn9nRLS5wG63Oi6TLqxGCSMuBRC-yVrhXEzPhufyj0JpNs_voQI8SwHO2BrnsvnQrV-r69xaqplm5Vciu8vCilTAR_rnUVT4GEUc/s1600-h/statueof+lib.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074653617330828514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHU19-l1vsPKF3Gczl_9fSIzbVuJ6mfBX3xs6LmVrLn9nRLS5wG63Oi6TLqxGCSMuBRC-yVrhXEzPhufyj0JpNs_voQI8SwHO2BrnsvnQrV-r69xaqplm5Vciu8vCilTAR_rnUVT4GEUc/s200/statueof+lib.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRaqrr8N_dAP74XXdQeTI7AUbBnISidKLbg-_nIgiQKbqYYNf7R9kedZyk97dm6AzrwPadLlkm0yLCrQvwAhUuE2UOCwAeqNiOnt5Sw14X1HZC-iws2jaZc4aBNo4k7KQiCjQoibt8pjU/s1600-h/fulton+walk.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074653621625795826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRaqrr8N_dAP74XXdQeTI7AUbBnISidKLbg-_nIgiQKbqYYNf7R9kedZyk97dm6AzrwPadLlkm0yLCrQvwAhUuE2UOCwAeqNiOnt5Sw14X1HZC-iws2jaZc4aBNo4k7KQiCjQoibt8pjU/s200/fulton+walk.bmp" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> <span style="font-size:78%;">Then to Fulton street (it's a bit like the Golden acre) to a specialist shoe shop where I found warm furry boots in the sale - my first boots ever!</span><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJkHPLkmqpvuFbyBxGOk5XOTAbdp-PtX-bN4-qbpHzTW6mGOEgDbdjtmJTky-e7g2GnYDFEHx9F1zlcJvlr8NIkThoiBdFs2nEl5ESwQeTYkc_Mmau21JTeUiyBUeD5_f0LQRlaTA3MU/s1600-h/parkwalk.bmp"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074653621625795842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJkHPLkmqpvuFbyBxGOk5XOTAbdp-PtX-bN4-qbpHzTW6mGOEgDbdjtmJTky-e7g2GnYDFEHx9F1zlcJvlr8NIkThoiBdFs2nEl5ESwQeTYkc_Mmau21JTeUiyBUeD5_f0LQRlaTA3MU/s200/parkwalk.bmp" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;"> A new little park under the Manhatten bridge, with pretty views back towards Brooklyn Bridge</span><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIHe21s-xf-XppyjTlpuIur6yH6oQjpkPnBVcEq8qHMo1x_f05hVeoB1WBhevO2Np1-9KW_wptQhyWrLmmHYgS29Sk7EzlIqx5pWP97GFe8VvNg8Z22omJlxQvxkkVdEXKTip3X9ZeTMw/s1600-h/brooklynbridge.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074653625920763154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIHe21s-xf-XppyjTlpuIur6yH6oQjpkPnBVcEq8qHMo1x_f05hVeoB1WBhevO2Np1-9KW_wptQhyWrLmmHYgS29Sk7EzlIqx5pWP97GFe8VvNg8Z22omJlxQvxkkVdEXKTip3X9ZeTMw/s200/brooklynbridge.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div></div>Marijkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07067433608013964750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4605663371485290221.post-27078200256858597222007-06-10T20:44:00.000-07:002007-06-10T21:03:07.700-07:00Farewell on Marie's terrace<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhinMxrc4-VLD0W_no2mRm73WGs7Q1PqHkZ9VZfanHL0JZ9AG9PR2BkGe4cuBEMJwM3Pl0jwyCWpK5A3Ho0SHuPLMFoEE7sBmBwwRHreLcLfL49pk5hBU6PImCVMWMslhGnlQ89OfVPTtk/s1600-h/terrace.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074649094730265762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhinMxrc4-VLD0W_no2mRm73WGs7Q1PqHkZ9VZfanHL0JZ9AG9PR2BkGe4cuBEMJwM3Pl0jwyCWpK5A3Ho0SHuPLMFoEE7sBmBwwRHreLcLfL49pk5hBU6PImCVMWMslhGnlQ89OfVPTtk/s320/terrace.bmp" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;">Pre-party terrace: the roses are recovering after a spectacular show. Now the lilies are in bloom.</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiTzAvd0V0WZyoeoX0X3vz7jcg-70GJ2xvu9jrzcM9yo7-8gTV44bx30jMAUu9mwXqaNwJHv-HpT2FNtDCa0xSX7VNft4Wjp4l0mgyedDgRM9DVxmjdA4QhxVWviTcYAsKWkGsg8WQ3N0/s1600-h/marie&chris.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074649081845363810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiTzAvd0V0WZyoeoX0X3vz7jcg-70GJ2xvu9jrzcM9yo7-8gTV44bx30jMAUu9mwXqaNwJHv-HpT2FNtDCa0xSX7VNft4Wjp4l0mgyedDgRM9DVxmjdA4QhxVWviTcYAsKWkGsg8WQ3N0/s320/marie&chris.bmp" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;"> Chris & marie looking very composed (note glasses half-full)</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm06zcyM0xt_RF3fCSCPU10rjPq2rbGzPkpq0yP06OhROGmIkGUmP9m5KOAPW4sRTFQoKg7zXcDOCTE4qNAXOEbfOjpPgr9OgDPf84MvP9R34_-TFo7z6TXIc-xYP5S6DoYj3Ou3sRyQk/s1600-h/nat&lukas.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074649086140331122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm06zcyM0xt_RF3fCSCPU10rjPq2rbGzPkpq0yP06OhROGmIkGUmP9m5KOAPW4sRTFQoKg7zXcDOCTE4qNAXOEbfOjpPgr9OgDPf84MvP9R34_-TFo7z6TXIc-xYP5S6DoYj3Ou3sRyQk/s320/nat&lukas.bmp" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;"> Natalie and Lukas really got the party going....</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhmOCcbvmRkxLhA1mnqCQCEqeU0cCB-L7YPl-0f2n3xefmiExXdHroWbIggwmXD3Bb7zFpKPnf3p3UWIUpmqxNdLEBLPGO3NTgaWgC1VxwMYqIzaDK2AJ3H7CVSuDyoCtRJ8qFEWBQmo/s1600-h/laughing2.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074649090435298434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhmOCcbvmRkxLhA1mnqCQCEqeU0cCB-L7YPl-0f2n3xefmiExXdHroWbIggwmXD3Bb7zFpKPnf3p3UWIUpmqxNdLEBLPGO3NTgaWgC1VxwMYqIzaDK2AJ3H7CVSuDyoCtRJ8qFEWBQmo/s320/laughing2.bmp" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;"> ....much laughing and hilarity...<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7O69g8M5OBv_ZLHPQ6HIhGvOMNhBudb5LyVAhAg99YRP0cfdqI_hoFWkyK8PT5mDg0lapAIqaK2zVKu6hFvKCARR0cVggTW5d8Xb0UtNEIfpJyfQkGt7ezohVh8LYSxlb-blp29qbAE/s1600-h/marie.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074649094730265746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7O69g8M5OBv_ZLHPQ6HIhGvOMNhBudb5LyVAhAg99YRP0cfdqI_hoFWkyK8PT5mDg0lapAIqaK2zVKu6hFvKCARR0cVggTW5d8Xb0UtNEIfpJyfQkGt7ezohVh8LYSxlb-blp29qbAE/s320/marie.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6S1WTWShBFs588G7oyqaatHiykIkI9qUbFD1BZmYLtmPrrcy_Ho5oWPZWzCf04BTaF9uOimVnx4wbFwrH9bgn3sFD2_hd8-xhCMaN1Ehi4NPLfUrnt9vBn17ZX1OfWwGZwX6eyPmXAxI/s1600-h/estorbo.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074650361745618114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6S1WTWShBFs588G7oyqaatHiykIkI9qUbFD1BZmYLtmPrrcy_Ho5oWPZWzCf04BTaF9uOimVnx4wbFwrH9bgn3sFD2_hd8-xhCMaN1Ehi4NPLfUrnt9vBn17ZX1OfWwGZwX6eyPmXAxI/s320/estorbo.bmp" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;">.... while Estorbo looks on from a safe distance</span><br /><div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Marie's terrace has become an integral part of my stay in NYC. My first experience was a superb thick steak which she deftly cooked on the barbeque. Then there was the Rose Party, followed later by a long evening chatting, with 'shrimps on the grill' (a.k.a. braai'd prawns). And now she had invited friends for moghita's in honour of my departure.<br /><br />Every time it's a sensory experience of note - there are new flowers in bloom, the familiar crunch of the pebbles underfoot, easy conversation and laughter, and of course the food - tasty & delicious - and the overall experience is just Yum.<br /><br />So Friday evening Natalie, baby Lukas, Chris, Marie and I were gathered on the tiny terrace, sipping some seriously strong moghitas and I had a chance to fire away with my new camera. Here are the results.<br /></span></div></div>Marijkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07067433608013964750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4605663371485290221.post-50134521166013148832007-06-10T20:02:00.000-07:002007-06-10T20:44:09.115-07:00Thursday at the Met<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9_puEreqTI6BkWyAhMSPYj7ywyZjiz6cWQo3OSwVSXcpOTsQ2ULNRLR7RfI3XbBOQ1RdbRPA_QOgdz8R8pOQ7TA-U_Vr6I6zEyVB8li0Mfh6nhVsNp7T1P9oJU7WC4iYYxj1Cgle4w0/s1600-h/Metopera1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074644670913950786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9_puEreqTI6BkWyAhMSPYj7ywyZjiz6cWQo3OSwVSXcpOTsQ2ULNRLR7RfI3XbBOQ1RdbRPA_QOgdz8R8pOQ7TA-U_Vr6I6zEyVB8li0Mfh6nhVsNp7T1P9oJU7WC4iYYxj1Cgle4w0/s320/Metopera1.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;"> The Metropolitan Opera house - pic taken today at 4pm in stark white afternoon light. It doesn't convey Thursday's evening magic.</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvbpmz585igWaRfhmKEMI5ehBU0K8woYinYMfgoUOTCuxit2AAWyr_yV6H55kitDWnIsTQABvrafr-GRMrvJ57jHQy3iD_AzEKj-RPe7r8RkB5JAY8x18MKbCUZY2tqeChK67-pUDNgAU/s1600-h/Metopera2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074644670913950802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvbpmz585igWaRfhmKEMI5ehBU0K8woYinYMfgoUOTCuxit2AAWyr_yV6H55kitDWnIsTQABvrafr-GRMrvJ57jHQy3iD_AzEKj-RPe7r8RkB5JAY8x18MKbCUZY2tqeChK67-pUDNgAU/s320/Metopera2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Thomas had suggested that I go to the Metropolitan Opera house. Unfortunately the opera season closed in May, so there is only ballet for the summer season. Ballet is not my favourite, but I was keen enough to experience the space. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">T</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">hursday evening I was in Midtown and made a spontaneous decision to go to the Met. En route in the subway at 14th street I stopped to listen to a brass band from Harlem - about 8 guys playing tuba, trombone, trumpet and sax. I listened and watched for a long while as a constant stream of commuters flowed past and through us, trains coming and going on several different layers....such great music in a trippy space. Loved it.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">Went up to 65th street and was swept up in a totally different flow ....a throng of well-dressed people in evening gear, hurriedly clip-clopping their way to the Opera house. The Lincoln Centre is beautiful – 3 buildings around a central plaza with a fountain. The façade of the Met Opera looked exquisite - beautifully lit as it was becoming dusk and two enormous colourful Matisse panels visible through the arched windows. I was expecting a classical Pantheon-style opera house ....but this was far more beautiful. Breath-taking. </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">The choreography of Sleeping Beauty was very traditional – it felt like something straight out of the 70s - I didn’t know such dinosaur productions still existed. I confess I don’t appreciate classical ballet: the dozens of identical pirouettes, the symmetry (4 steps and a turn to the left, 4 steps and a turn to the R), and the general overpopulation on stage with dozens of dancers doing the same thing … it just doesn’t inspire me. Nevertheless there were a few great male solos, and I thoroughly enjoyed looking at the sumptious interior of the opera house - the gold ceiling, scalloped like an abstract flower, with a constellation of central lights, the wood panelling, the red carpets. And in the vestibule the sweeping flights of stairs which seem to wind their way organically, like the interior structure of a shell. It was an experience not to be missed. </span></div>Marijkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07067433608013964750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4605663371485290221.post-35942002010290945942007-06-10T07:43:00.000-07:002007-06-10T08:37:42.997-07:00Out with the old, in with the new<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgITzJ9EUQ7zvNUv6Zhm4WoJRUCiDbjrAsZEAtTYkwzlB6QeZEYR0DVaTJK5oyzY02LeJ_nKO6PBHrqjfXc5yonPBNlqA0GnZaiBKu8kGGdKigjRixLUFEjoBIqjrcqMknytONQ6kRdo3I/s1600-h/Marijke's+camera+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074459961550418994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgITzJ9EUQ7zvNUv6Zhm4WoJRUCiDbjrAsZEAtTYkwzlB6QeZEYR0DVaTJK5oyzY02LeJ_nKO6PBHrqjfXc5yonPBNlqA0GnZaiBKu8kGGdKigjRixLUFEjoBIqjrcqMknytONQ6kRdo3I/s200/Marijke%2527s+camera+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Buying a new camera has been an interesting experience: during the research phase I realised my Nikon had some great features which I wouldn't have in the new camera. On some level I felt that buying a new camera was an act of betrayal toward my trusty Nikon coolpix which has served me so well the past 6 years. On the way back from B&H Photo I saw my reflection in mirror glass and had fun with the swivel lens....and took half a dozen self portraits (those ones of me in the pink shirt in a previous blog). I felt a bit emotional about it all and decided I would definitely continue to use the coolpix...it's been such a great camera.</span></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">On my ride home I took a nostalgic sunset pic on Atlantic avenue, with the East river in the distance. While chaining my bike the Nikon fell out of the carrier basket....on the tarmac, but in its well-padded case, I was pretty sure it would be fine. Excited with my new Canon purchase, I spent the evening like a kid with a new toy, unwrapping memory cards, charging the battery, flatpacking the packaging for recycling, the usual.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">Next day I wanted to take a pic with the Nikon, but the screen remained black. Huh? The camera works but no image... a sinking feeling. So I phoned a repair shop and they said it's most likely to be the electronics. Minimum $100 to repair, probably more. </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">I was stunned....and got all emotional....apart from the stupidity of dropping the camera, was this IT? </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">Marie and Chris were in the office while I shed a tear and tried to explain. They immediately jumped into action... took special memorial pics of the Nikon and posted it on their blogs. R.I.P. They captured the moment very well - <a href="http://www.66squarefeet@blogspot.com">www.66squarefeet@blogspot.com</a> and <a href="http://www.onemonkeyshow.blogspot.com">www.onemonkeyshow.blogspot.com</a>. </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">No more sentimental pics, no slow transition phase. </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">Better figure out how the new one works....</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div> </div></div>Marijkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07067433608013964750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4605663371485290221.post-14677848894492569892007-06-06T20:38:00.001-07:002007-06-06T20:51:14.019-07:00Today - a few impressions<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykWeL9qhqi1kj1N_tHApKt-Y2fWmqFWA7mcJg_BR2oFzNXP36alz_RU4Omzriejenxlq8qM2xq_niuOu61x4Pw26fz8uoiavHDLroITpQbTO0AYu1igmgkhndyjqznuuuSuw9Ipa0IIc/s1600-h/newyorker.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073162387505787842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="181" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykWeL9qhqi1kj1N_tHApKt-Y2fWmqFWA7mcJg_BR2oFzNXP36alz_RU4Omzriejenxlq8qM2xq_niuOu61x4Pw26fz8uoiavHDLroITpQbTO0AYu1igmgkhndyjqznuuuSuw9Ipa0IIc/s320/newyorker.bmp" width="241" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;">Neil - I took this specially for you. A pity it's not in the original font.</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkDqOIfO-vPNZEcXGOnk_hO0e8KIhXxitV8bTO0dAoMEj00sUlrlnZZl_UYPO53qYZ1ZjXzAb2EoYrcNJ1RVUqIl1gWgUzDGhelgGZiuzn3CQNq3Us8XgU0r3PDQG9sieQwXh5GmlXek/s1600-h/dimsum.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073162387505787858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 241px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 164px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="200" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkDqOIfO-vPNZEcXGOnk_hO0e8KIhXxitV8bTO0dAoMEj00sUlrlnZZl_UYPO53qYZ1ZjXzAb2EoYrcNJ1RVUqIl1gWgUzDGhelgGZiuzn3CQNq3Us8XgU0r3PDQG9sieQwXh5GmlXek/s320/dimsum.bmp" width="280" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;">Apparently I haven't lived until I've had Dim sum at Gogo - it's on my agenda!<br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxA-rQFPkMQRxcrruCGVaI13DOhBQSMxz69geKChzel7Rwtd2LPf1E9XmBbqBow1mySO16Hes5GVMZcSKJt0a2XrczXmilUcJ6EU5FWs8kJzAiZmMWDsv6-vo8j8sShF3Da1pvzBYflW8/s1600-h/pretty.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073162387505787874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 175px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 250px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="276" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxA-rQFPkMQRxcrruCGVaI13DOhBQSMxz69geKChzel7Rwtd2LPf1E9XmBbqBow1mySO16Hes5GVMZcSKJt0a2XrczXmilUcJ6EU5FWs8kJzAiZmMWDsv6-vo8j8sShF3Da1pvzBYflW8/s320/pretty.bmp" width="200" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Lr-kSVVmzGpWzFjHlWDke4SG_Mz7AWub4_kH1KF2od_bE-GCK0IFo2X-axfj2qkZJ7IuhthtUigHJ9sjXJIeCtJrWhMJACeiNnGEK3beo32GqKYf7ASKbXWQIGuiMZ8SBND4emUAzJk/s1600-h/groundzero.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073162391800755186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Lr-kSVVmzGpWzFjHlWDke4SG_Mz7AWub4_kH1KF2od_bE-GCK0IFo2X-axfj2qkZJ7IuhthtUigHJ9sjXJIeCtJrWhMJACeiNnGEK3beo32GqKYf7ASKbXWQIGuiMZ8SBND4emUAzJk/s320/groundzero.bmp" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:78%;">Downtown: there is 39 billion dollars' worth of construction activity happening at the moment - said to be the highest concentration of capex in the world. If you look carefully, you'll see the soil of ground zero at the base of the black building - they've started work on the new towers.<br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3OWxADKmifImWCxw9RoF3mGUCdHkhCy0MLZdxQes0toG4UNgbpYSoYDTyKV-nnVfW2ew_Pibq1b-h35uKZyysCw2VhDm2Xdvlwf3ybDJNncBgSZzZiTi2DpJznrJmsZh6ia7i9P_7U1Q/s1600-h/sunset.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073162391800755202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="181" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3OWxADKmifImWCxw9RoF3mGUCdHkhCy0MLZdxQes0toG4UNgbpYSoYDTyKV-nnVfW2ew_Pibq1b-h35uKZyysCw2VhDm2Xdvlwf3ybDJNncBgSZzZiTi2DpJznrJmsZh6ia7i9P_7U1Q/s320/sunset.bmp" width="253" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;">On my cycle home - looking west down Atlantic ave in Brooklyn</span><br /><br /><div></div>Marijkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07067433608013964750noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4605663371485290221.post-13184258902047289822007-06-06T20:16:00.000-07:002007-06-06T20:38:31.336-07:00A new camera<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">I bought a new camera today. Not the sensible Panasonic Lumix which came highly recommended...it was just too ugly, and it felt awful - too light, too plasticky. I just couldn't. So I bought something which looks and feels beautiful....a Canon Powershot G7 - I hope will love it as much as my Nikon and use it for years.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Buying the camera at B&H Photo was a bewildering and somewhat sobering experience. I mean my once-in-half-a-decade Major Camera Decision is basically a supermarket transaction. Within seconds the order is a plastic bag on a peg, waiting for collection. Even with six credit card cashiers, they can hardly swipe the cards fast enough. It is a seething mass of consumers, but they are exceptionally well-organised. Computerised orders result in immediate despatch of the goods from the basement via a lift & overhead trolley to the post payment area. It took about 7-8 mins. Mind blowing.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNd7W0-0tLnkjg_3l1oLCYD_owFbbqEmxfRFag00fF6HmloWkdJA7tscft5kIpdot3k2CJrtO5rKCH8c4MvKrBIkww6yMensSJTNDJiH4q5PjzN7DTR7zALiNvenl64JLtpGFM6ltp5yI/s1600-h/new+camera.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073160257202008978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNd7W0-0tLnkjg_3l1oLCYD_owFbbqEmxfRFag00fF6HmloWkdJA7tscft5kIpdot3k2CJrtO5rKCH8c4MvKrBIkww6yMensSJTNDJiH4q5PjzN7DTR7zALiNvenl64JLtpGFM6ltp5yI/s200/new+camera.bmp" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;"> Thousands of dollars moving every minute...hanging briefly on a peg...before it is collected by customers<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6aynUQHujX4FcmGRs6XTUnodDZYaNrZHWjiwXgFQo5Hz0A5VUK-TTaepSoFqs76_eMGxM5n5sGQcN6LIYzGrFQlP-L_bnhhh2UV-pmla6NR5Ik-4sqhRq3suGPscemBa2PkpDLkxmhVE/s1600-h/B&H.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073160257202008994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6aynUQHujX4FcmGRs6XTUnodDZYaNrZHWjiwXgFQo5Hz0A5VUK-TTaepSoFqs76_eMGxM5n5sGQcN6LIYzGrFQlP-L_bnhhh2UV-pmla6NR5Ik-4sqhRq3suGPscemBa2PkpDLkxmhVE/s200/B&H.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3bibsQ1XvSgrYa30AaZJNFDQr0WSZQy0R1WP8IOrfsC9lpbwqAZmkmkzYDjgEi0GU7mDbVoGq-QechduY_DcgB4VY218Op35IWBcoFu7liIsiGni8NFFw_MR9fTbc3_Dl2utXH3a3piI/s1600-h/track.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073160261496976306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3bibsQ1XvSgrYa30AaZJNFDQr0WSZQy0R1WP8IOrfsC9lpbwqAZmkmkzYDjgEi0GU7mDbVoGq-QechduY_DcgB4VY218Op35IWBcoFu7liIsiGni8NFFw_MR9fTbc3_Dl2utXH3a3piI/s200/track.bmp" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;"> Trolley track and goods lift</span><br /><div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span></div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span></div>Marijkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07067433608013964750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4605663371485290221.post-21831925532796429292007-06-06T14:38:00.000-07:002007-06-06T19:56:55.959-07:00Inspiration from Teardrop Park<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">David Kelly introduced me to this new park in Battery Park City, only a stone's throw from Ground zero. It features a variety of native plant habitats and geology on a grand scale - can you see the big rock wall in the pic below? It's about 7m high, with a tunnel going through to the other half of the park! I love the way nature has been made abstract in a carefully constructed landscape, and the 3D nature of the space. There are many paths and changes of level...always something new to discover around the next corner. Designed by a top designer, Van Valckenburg - it was both humbling and inspiring. For more pics and a description of our visit to a green roof nearby visit Marie's blog - <a href="http://66squarefeet.blogspot.com/">http://66squarefeet.blogspot.com/</a> - she captures it very well.<br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCKdljKY8txhhgLSP25jAOdpZVOXkcObTDtWhwIe5L8c1yKzyCXQbF5n1OPezsuRbY-6giN3m0BaEyjogXRER9kIyp0gUeDiutU-T2etSSlFm0T5WIgoIN1n8RyfDVfiGNr-ZXXIZwkXQ/s1600-h/park.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073069650571932482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCKdljKY8txhhgLSP25jAOdpZVOXkcObTDtWhwIe5L8c1yKzyCXQbF5n1OPezsuRbY-6giN3m0BaEyjogXRER9kIyp0gUeDiutU-T2etSSlFm0T5WIgoIN1n8RyfDVfiGNr-ZXXIZwkXQ/s200/park.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;">Marie and Natalie give a sense of scale to the main open area of the park, and its urban context. Incidentally, most of the surrounding buildings have been built according to sustainable design principles (green architecture). </span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;"><br /><p></span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeQTqihwd5nAZud4KUqOn_Tw88yrzWiT9ZWs2Tqs6shKIcVvIhqIRSBmYhIQbSUtVUu4eDUXh6hZehJ6LIyrA9loKZe3K7E6U6VM96HvSV4UY_krg1tRvfGXMoS4MnjSvfMvSNn-0uaM/s1600-h/hill.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073069650571932498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeQTqihwd5nAZud4KUqOn_Tw88yrzWiT9ZWs2Tqs6shKIcVvIhqIRSBmYhIQbSUtVUu4eDUXh6hZehJ6LIyrA9loKZe3K7E6U6VM96HvSV4UY_krg1tRvfGXMoS4MnjSvfMvSNn-0uaM/s200/hill.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEififDWMDcnNNcOJ0sfOAF1PGq0TJccydxOJ7BXPMUTDsqjHoUgTcyn9gOC4yVJWTQuBmkZZnZGttoENnBvIguqhU8TSUWC2OCP5Kxpm2-QPH4hfMH4OB62oHlow6mPNISBzN4O6bkuwfI/s1600-h/fountain.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073069654866899810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEififDWMDcnNNcOJ0sfOAF1PGq0TJccydxOJ7BXPMUTDsqjHoUgTcyn9gOC4yVJWTQuBmkZZnZGttoENnBvIguqhU8TSUWC2OCP5Kxpm2-QPH4hfMH4OB62oHlow6mPNISBzN4O6bkuwfI/s200/fountain.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:78%;">One area has water spouts and jets for kids to play in...</span><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQBlxvdvZ8sCZYsJTUPMeTzSK6aCAqCEpzC5DW-MLxzq9tSYxClQZAYC-FbZoLwBdkgEDGwSlSqUVr2XDx2cM1owMZaD9cwxkN5UYiokr9wPtUyS47OxhXcaIgvVaW7J7xskvh9r9BhM/s1600-h/rockwall.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073069654866899826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQBlxvdvZ8sCZYsJTUPMeTzSK6aCAqCEpzC5DW-MLxzq9tSYxClQZAYC-FbZoLwBdkgEDGwSlSqUVr2XDx2cM1owMZaD9cwxkN5UYiokr9wPtUyS47OxhXcaIgvVaW7J7xskvh9r9BhM/s200/rockwall.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;">Here's the big rock wall, with water dripping down, like a drippy cliff</span><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvxQP5DvPmKWxi_NQqQaD4ElFVeBjPHHwpbIj625qS1vasnQe7fUhZMKjuGRyjmcAbMxLrXjMK5LjC1Q4x_sFg3QRMFd2Jt_ZERCnNfKVuXwsN7Nv2Z3_3dhvPdU2zVOG9_hW2-MTAb4/s1600-h/slide.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073069659161867138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvxQP5DvPmKWxi_NQqQaD4ElFVeBjPHHwpbIj625qS1vasnQe7fUhZMKjuGRyjmcAbMxLrXjMK5LjC1Q4x_sFg3QRMFd2Jt_ZERCnNfKVuXwsN7Nv2Z3_3dhvPdU2zVOG9_hW2-MTAb4/s200/slide.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;"> A long slide ends in a big sandy area which serves as a focal point for kids. Plenty of stairs and rocks for adults to hang out and chat while the kids play. </span></p>Marijkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07067433608013964750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4605663371485290221.post-21459335202638180062007-06-05T18:44:00.000-07:002007-06-05T18:57:15.993-07:00My housemates<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHIBUgGWigCsJ6GUrmNPJCino7OW33FU4dBe37Y5edir8Nkfd43LN5wBuVg6fpL-o2YrJQKS9ifQiZlIzFbDXkhsoCJBtaSEkKBzctJnX6NupNkzwb8GFrPzDGjLXPBWz7OrSI-PQQUl4/s1600-h/natalie.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5072761572567790370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHIBUgGWigCsJ6GUrmNPJCino7OW33FU4dBe37Y5edir8Nkfd43LN5wBuVg6fpL-o2YrJQKS9ifQiZlIzFbDXkhsoCJBtaSEkKBzctJnX6NupNkzwb8GFrPzDGjLXPBWz7OrSI-PQQUl4/s200/natalie.bmp" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">I share the flat with Natalie and baby Lukas. He is so cute I have to resist the urge to eat him or nibble his toes! He's just ....nearly .....almost crawling...it will be another day or two. Natalie is a musician (percussionist), recently completed her degree in landscape architecture and works 3 days a week at HW&V. </span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEges_N13-ZZaLcGwPuHupkzE_0dLu-ljujYuLMcxJHSJRXxkmC3XnkiRRb_gKtprGKer3nOscuOufctsLiMELpzZr_-r-JOqhBb740wGi1nYm5NykIBnv-9PKFL-PPpVPx537Jg2K0Py34/s1600-h/drummer.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5072761576862757682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEges_N13-ZZaLcGwPuHupkzE_0dLu-ljujYuLMcxJHSJRXxkmC3XnkiRRb_gKtprGKer3nOscuOufctsLiMELpzZr_-r-JOqhBb740wGi1nYm5NykIBnv-9PKFL-PPpVPx537Jg2K0Py34/s200/drummer.bmp" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;"> Lukas (he's the blur)...a budding drummer?</span><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Marijkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07067433608013964750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4605663371485290221.post-81080775947518522362007-06-04T18:23:00.000-07:002007-06-04T18:48:09.102-07:00Escape from the Big Apple to Fire Island<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWQpqot5dxC2htAPwwVZ6RXJjeYrRYMhbfQxW_5gppsykm3ipkGGyqQs8WmFQl7ObPszRn1ZVkJvY2_gSAI-ZvEmC594Y5N9b7f9Gta4nZDm3nhmjnbulhqhOQVsLxFG96V0oLVPAO8o/s1600-h/rockstar.bmp"></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Phew! Had such a great weekend - went to Fire Island with friends of Marie's. It's a long narrow 'island' (sand bar) running most of the way along Long island. Only 300 feet wide in places. The house was on the bay (west) side but it takes just 5 mins to the beach! No roads or cars - just lanes with bicycle and trolley 'traffic'. The big ocean, wide open vistas, long beaches and a walk through the dunes - it was real food for my soul. Dan and Nancy were wonderful hosts - I feel lucky to have had this experience. </span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6JZh-IP1n9QCa3G0re_WOUS85PJXOLJsgfJMc0Bb1w7RvuTkmZHnlQzoITikHYOCxMAxMcpaQtZ2vYK6HEfXFFJOZQ5m3Nasepz-_HiRriu18AJYJX_x4VRE_eSigLtjbZhe_9b17M6I/s1600-h/trolley-me.JPG"></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ1EW3OVr5_YZVsbo5pkSQV9vsuDaGiCynpXNUEAKRCA7S4g3m__9Kl7kgf2pwnuL65yKAdrQwxhll0tYtI3hi0_8IOWAW383NGczERB_qKm4RQf-na2Sf4m3z1wEbn4PoBo73TBl9KDg/s1600-h/ferry.JPG.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5072386613332914866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ1EW3OVr5_YZVsbo5pkSQV9vsuDaGiCynpXNUEAKRCA7S4g3m__9Kl7kgf2pwnuL65yKAdrQwxhll0tYtI3hi0_8IOWAW383NGczERB_qKm4RQf-na2Sf4m3z1wEbn4PoBo73TBl9KDg/s200/ferry.JPG.bmp" border="0" /></a><span > <span style="font-size:78%;">Waiting for the ferry from Long Island to Fire island with our hosts - Dan and Nancy</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5pRfjM2ZqJMm94sBd-be_uUUy-J3kF7EE5tKLC9srdMLg4CnQ9tuizGVBehhiBqqIWLcmqRf6xYvkgIcbBXQQV6Fbt4WuLedIoBtOs33CCu5Cl11ABtLfJxb8dzO0mbdjQ7l4mgAshQ/s1600-h/parking+lot.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5072386613332914882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5pRfjM2ZqJMm94sBd-be_uUUy-J3kF7EE5tKLC9srdMLg4CnQ9tuizGVBehhiBqqIWLcmqRf6xYvkgIcbBXQQV6Fbt4WuLedIoBtOs33CCu5Cl11ABtLfJxb8dzO0mbdjQ7l4mgAshQ/s200/parking+lot.bmp" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"> 'Parking lot' upon arrival with the ferry. No cars on the island - each household has a trolley to cart their goods home.</span></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmoQf2rLtZaLaoYfY8BpgP__Y_ChD9KiEGcYiuybQuXZ6fg7W8tmLoPrWAS9cHMgkA0kx7-nS6cPqmScv7PkT064eDE7fqxa1pDsX-jCrL-aGPSnLsdvdmocHsz1G4OUIemZwWF4mdyM/s1600-h/lanes.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5072386613332914898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmoQf2rLtZaLaoYfY8BpgP__Y_ChD9KiEGcYiuybQuXZ6fg7W8tmLoPrWAS9cHMgkA0kx7-nS6cPqmScv7PkT064eDE7fqxa1pDsX-jCrL-aGPSnLsdvdmocHsz1G4OUIemZwWF4mdyM/s200/lanes.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPJ20QiZDSzJT-kp0Oeulm4lWfGR5dE4mKbcFM5eNIBJwEIih9aBaroEv68evchoZjtoZjuXyfd31jCwpkMCdD7PSrjraVVWt0MwIFmNCA30QHahgY64a_1kW-pY2rI9O3e2IRL0w8vE/s1600-h/sunset+hour.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5072386617627882210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPJ20QiZDSzJT-kp0Oeulm4lWfGR5dE4mKbcFM5eNIBJwEIih9aBaroEv68evchoZjtoZjuXyfd31jCwpkMCdD7PSrjraVVWt0MwIFmNCA30QHahgY64a_1kW-pY2rI9O3e2IRL0w8vE/s200/sunset+hour.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"> Moghitos for sundowners</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijmegEsN0dT5njHLh75ehbmDk-MVueKvjXiWsPsWWwVyc3ZkrVdmvcay4bii4lBh5EeskN08FyVi7CsTKofz96J1686r2TTlT6N0IMfmoAQm0W4RCSyUD3jcTGqzj1dFLVfIxz4gMx7f8/s1600-h/Marie"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5072386621922849522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijmegEsN0dT5njHLh75ehbmDk-MVueKvjXiWsPsWWwVyc3ZkrVdmvcay4bii4lBh5EeskN08FyVi7CsTKofz96J1686r2TTlT6N0IMfmoAQm0W4RCSyUD3jcTGqzj1dFLVfIxz4gMx7f8/s200/Marie's+blog.bmp" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;"> Marie updating her blog - lots more pics there - check it out at <a href="http://www.66squarefeet.blogspot.com">www.66squarefeet.blogspot.com</a><br /></span><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div></div>Marijkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07067433608013964750noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4605663371485290221.post-68724160085353344662007-06-04T17:55:00.001-07:002007-06-04T18:50:42.025-07:00Yummy plants at Fire Island<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY6lT_lD31cIqSBQQoH-4gLdkjmejp3hDjpmqPitXcr2oDzbO44CgzBA0d5tB65iYSlsWFAdVB4KuStDYIr2hrYiP2_zNQPxWc1lvfB0H8kM8OQxosMUsrzB8ZypwFsJrDdb2ZbLxZv1E/s1600-h/reserve.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5072382378495160946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY6lT_lD31cIqSBQQoH-4gLdkjmejp3hDjpmqPitXcr2oDzbO44CgzBA0d5tB65iYSlsWFAdVB4KuStDYIr2hrYiP2_zNQPxWc1lvfB0H8kM8OQxosMUsrzB8ZypwFsJrDdb2ZbLxZv1E/s200/reserve.bmp" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Went for a walk in a little nature reserve on the island - it was magical. Dunes with grasses and thicket vegetation shaped by wind and salt spray - structurally much like the Cape coastal systems, except they have wild black cherries, beach plums, American holly (that's the right - the xmas stuff), junipers and pines ... can you imagine!</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6TG5ei10J_eLCvfS3N2qEjYUGi74fN25JbhZkbOHPKEbMTFYgmUOJWMmSUDKeM9oihTvZd0KkczLyfEebjJoYVx7cSHFq34BnT-my3MvUHnfqTGBfEksy8J_2ca687ELR0khXyps6J2M/s1600-h/the+art+of+the+close+up.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5072382382790128258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6TG5ei10J_eLCvfS3N2qEjYUGi74fN25JbhZkbOHPKEbMTFYgmUOJWMmSUDKeM9oihTvZd0KkczLyfEebjJoYVx7cSHFq34BnT-my3MvUHnfqTGBfEksy8J_2ca687ELR0khXyps6J2M/s200/the+art+of+the+close+up.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_VuM-PrbAKHwgS7w73lwbpMTR4qpeNaTnBRonTyh42VnQjRtB6h-U9b78eT8Zcdi2_UQooH6MyWq2BdxpVexthJ_5jAjCI_depXsvm2O781PkPvrqwzSC1tXB1JibWiXQiom0Qjd6hsg/s1600-h/red+leaves.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5072382382790128274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_VuM-PrbAKHwgS7w73lwbpMTR4qpeNaTnBRonTyh42VnQjRtB6h-U9b78eT8Zcdi2_UQooH6MyWq2BdxpVexthJ_5jAjCI_depXsvm2O781PkPvrqwzSC1tXB1JibWiXQiom0Qjd6hsg/s200/red+leaves.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_D900UCnCfHTVv8bgOfmrR1HokqO13rCquqjlpDkoNTQssjrl3do1rhOT2KAPuJzu6rsN65d4RAlgQKQCCUAYgOUQE5hKXs3VDPzaV5SMXLxCecAihqjbtdvOwjMdbLwhyCfPyaLEZ4s/s1600-h/blackcherry.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5072382387085095586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_D900UCnCfHTVv8bgOfmrR1HokqO13rCquqjlpDkoNTQssjrl3do1rhOT2KAPuJzu6rsN65d4RAlgQKQCCUAYgOUQE5hKXs3VDPzaV5SMXLxCecAihqjbtdvOwjMdbLwhyCfPyaLEZ4s/s200/blackcherry.bmp" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;">Wild Black Cherry in full bloom<br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwloV7n1sscx5CXWNBc9yanIA4N55matmfdPkNhalzqLEPPSBMwritfGAtqfd0Wy0hGjfnYoRKGmMGWQ4KZkeIthclfchsOT0CcRI64OP6-mTzeT71sdixHQdsKb1qO7w8QlyC1PK8No/s1600-h/reeds.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5072381558156407362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwloV7n1sscx5CXWNBc9yanIA4N55matmfdPkNhalzqLEPPSBMwritfGAtqfd0Wy0hGjfnYoRKGmMGWQ4KZkeIthclfchsOT0CcRI64OP6-mTzeT71sdixHQdsKb1qO7w8QlyC1PK8No/s200/reeds.bmp" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"> a few bogs with Phragmites</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju02NJi6cH4EBUKmhxQe6-RIDp3K0v9ZOCk2wE406rnQTBI1-83-GfIDQzvN7ui09m2QScLLCqUNsQPeUafeX4-So83zil01IZSq2cSIpekq8lnInfkDhZL6YdFfp01OKN7DfhQRwtBlQ/s1600-h/boardwalk.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5072381562451374674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju02NJi6cH4EBUKmhxQe6-RIDp3K0v9ZOCk2wE406rnQTBI1-83-GfIDQzvN7ui09m2QScLLCqUNsQPeUafeX4-So83zil01IZSq2cSIpekq8lnInfkDhZL6YdFfp01OKN7DfhQRwtBlQ/s200/boardwalk.bmp" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> Boardwalk through the 'sunken forest'- a lovely mix of holly, safrasso, shadbush and occasional junipers -</span> felt almost like a milkwood forest</span></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNkIb3_lDYvhFnrqI-iTGtChAlsKtNns_mmpKdM8G_u8P9M-Ae4RpuIyofnIdbK1n5jTQ6cckAPBK0_QzbUjXCiKpWPaECSJ2Yk-F5azTPDBlAljlkNAaADgCX1rukLzdftunerMVbrM/s1600-h/bark.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5072381562451374690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNkIb3_lDYvhFnrqI-iTGtChAlsKtNns_mmpKdM8G_u8P9M-Ae4RpuIyofnIdbK1n5jTQ6cckAPBK0_QzbUjXCiKpWPaECSJ2Yk-F5azTPDBlAljlkNAaADgCX1rukLzdftunerMVbrM/s200/bark.bmp" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"> Woodpecker work</span> <div></div></div>Marijkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07067433608013964750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4605663371485290221.post-72609507451243977412007-06-01T18:12:00.000-07:002007-06-01T20:10:35.639-07:00Temperatures are rising in NYC...<span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">And with the heat comes the smell. Yesterday I took another route to work - Smith street - and ended up on the garbage run. All the cafes and restaurants put out their waste, and occasionally a bag splits emptying food on the pavement. So I was dodging food spills and garbage trucks on my bicycle....I find the stench stomach-churning...aargh! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">It's getting hot and humid - apparently not yet as bad as it gets in July, but enough to make me feel less full of the joys of the city. With the miles of tarmac, paved areas, and black roofs, the urban heat island effect is a stark reality - the city is several degrees warmer than the surrounding country.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">That's why I'm interested in green roofs. Not only do they reduce stormwater runoff by 30% or more, absorb CO2 and mop up pollutants - they insulate buildings very effectively. We went to go and look at a green roof today in 6th avenue at a Cook & Fox Architects. Apparently the day they were installing the green roof the roof temperature was 170 'C - and after they had laid the soil bags it was 100 'C ! (would be interesting to measure again now that the plants are fully grown). They opted to use a very low tech and cost effective system using bags filled with expanded shale (stone) and a little compost. They laid the bags flat, made holes in them, planted the Sedum plugs and viola! in only one year they had 75% plant cover. And it looks amazing.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFx2SRJktvydP8j5-Fbm5rBjnHzkZRrMiqN-HrAEqTuqe_BQiyLY-4zbWcZnoYs6nTqyh1HoBJDAbHZzsvbd-VccVZlKYDUosn1oxUNcObaycBcgGLEzJtIQ-n26jq4BCjG1DT8MX_8Y/s1600-h/DSCN2045b.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071288326240308498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFx2SRJktvydP8j5-Fbm5rBjnHzkZRrMiqN-HrAEqTuqe_BQiyLY-4zbWcZnoYs6nTqyh1HoBJDAbHZzsvbd-VccVZlKYDUosn1oxUNcObaycBcgGLEzJtIQ-n26jq4BCjG1DT8MX_8Y/s320/DSCN2045b.bmp" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"> <span style="font-family:arial;">Natalie looking out over the rooftop from the office (above).</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:78%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:78%;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2A1tledSaYECEDED50auYmoLVNbYpMJ4Z3PqpiD2istUaHv7nd9uWlDUTH8SyhDq1i7xmqllQaqIAItGVEOJorvNhDnlth0Lb9zPKpSvo7Ht9alOiNhho7paMKc8tDjuPyChgvb5YOeY/s1600-h/DSCN2087b.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071288330535275810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2A1tledSaYECEDED50auYmoLVNbYpMJ4Z3PqpiD2istUaHv7nd9uWlDUTH8SyhDq1i7xmqllQaqIAItGVEOJorvNhDnlth0Lb9zPKpSvo7Ht9alOiNhho7paMKc8tDjuPyChgvb5YOeY/s320/DSCN2087b.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_U7D8IdBA1RMGZwtM6fnW7YP046PizajmbBsx3SfpSn2QEEjotq1NQG7VyUs3T_Q9iftYBYWYOHPKr8eLRDyudLj0vw48Gd9fq-H6fXo3tJsv6OCD4CJVrsewJqDGVunfDxfIV2_qY6A/s1600-h/DSCN2109b.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071288330535275826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_U7D8IdBA1RMGZwtM6fnW7YP046PizajmbBsx3SfpSn2QEEjotq1NQG7VyUs3T_Q9iftYBYWYOHPKr8eLRDyudLj0vw48Gd9fq-H6fXo3tJsv6OCD4CJVrsewJqDGVunfDxfIV2_qY6A/s320/DSCN2109b.bmp" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;"> A simple system: bags of expanded shale (special light stone) with three holes and planting in each.</span><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The office of Cook and Fox is a real inspiration - they have refurbished their floor of the building according to sustainable / green architectural principles. They explained their design approach and showed us a range of products they used for the interior - icestone (70% recycled glass), paperstone (made of post-consumer paper waste, makes an excellent work surface), laminated woods, and laminated bamboo (stunning - looks like delicate inlay). All made from recyceld or renewable resources and without nasty resins /solvents.</span> It was an inspiring visit. </span></div><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div> </div>Marijkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07067433608013964750noreply@blogger.com0