To Be or Not to Be

Alright - so just how often do you get to start off with Shakespeare!?

So it's been awhile, but I had to take care of some things and make a decision about whether or not to continue my blog.  I ran for office, and got elected.  So I thought perhaps I should not blog.  But after giving it a lot of thought - and realizing that I actually do refer to this blog for photos, recipes, etc. - and hearing from my family about how they actually were reading the darn thing.  I decided to keep it going.

Especially since Christmas is coming and I have cookie baking to do!

So there it is.

If you're looking for political talk or anything like that, please go to my facebook page (facebook.com\councilwomanhitselberger).

If you're looking for baking, knitting, dogginess, commuting, traffic, architecture, nature - you're in the right place!

So there you have it.

Dreary

9 times out of 10 I can find the "good" out of my day. From a latte to our pup, there's always something that makes that silver lining.

Today was the 10th day. I was reminded today of everything that is horrible and awful about living in the city, the worst of commuting and the abject evil that is within some people.

I'm not sure what tomorrow will bring. But hopefully since I've spent today living "the 10th day", tomorrow will be one of the nine!

Pink and blue

The bridge was washed in pink tonight even though the sky was blue. It's that time of year when the sun sets at just the right time to make everything pink.

I think it has something to do with Valentine's Day.

So do you think that if Valentine's Day was in the fall, the official colors would be yellow, red and gold?

Hey, it could happen.

Iron Lace

I'm really sure I've talked about this before. Not just because I kind of remember doing so, more because I just must have. But if I did (or didn't) it's worth revisiting.

I just can't help but love all of the ironwork in the city. From a distance it's light airy and blends into the architecture. But when you get up close, you see how substantial and in some cases how foreboding it is.

This section of railing separates the sidewalk from the walkway leading below a building. They could have gone all brick - or (ugh) wall topped with barbed wire. But instead the chose this elegant ironwork which looks like filigree lace from a distance.

Love that.

So medieval in concept. Could you imagine carrying a spear around? But so graceful in execution. Maybe that's the wrong word here! I love that they took the time to design it, but more so that they take the time to maintain it.

Black and White Day

No, I'm not talking about those really good cookies. Today was just all greyed out. No color. No sunshine.

On days like this I feel I have to go out of my way to be extra cheerful and nice because if I don't, the weather will turn it into a miserable day. I don't think that grey days should be miserable at all. They should be soft days. Very calm. Very "tea and biscuits" kind of days.

Of course the skyline across the river always looks flat. A children's pop-up book for kids who are really into architecture.

Not too hopeful. But not hopeless either.

A neutral kind of moment.

Returning Light

One of the hardest things about commuting from country to city each day is living in darkness for about 8 months out of the year. I leave for work in the dark and come home in the dark.

This is why I love the weekend! Well, that and the usual reasons for loving the weekend.

But today I noticed then beginning of lightness as I was boarding the train on my way home. I could see a little blue in the sky. There was definitely a bit of light remaining.

It wasn't much, but I'll take it! It's the start of what will eventually be Spring.

My Favorite Place

Today was my first day back to the city after the holidays. Initially I was looking forward to getting back to work. It seemed odd to travel so far - purposeless - there ought to be some place closer to home where I can work. The city smelled like low tide and raw sewage as usual. The streets were wet and dirty. The people were rude, shouting at each other. Work was the stress of 2 weeks shoved into 1 day.

Then I got home, ran 2 hours of errands, did laundry, fixed a compute, fed the dog and did her training exercises. Talked yo my DH so he would remember who I was. Watched his team as they try to win a football game. It doesn't look good for them.

But after all of that, I curled up under my quilt with the heater running and heating pad on my knee, sipping a glass of egg nog. And remembered that my day started out really well and good.

That's what I'm going to focus on.

City Waterfront, Country Waterfront

I was down at the waterfront in midtown yesterday.  The amount of equipment they have right on the waterfront never ceases to surprise me.  Aside from the boats and docks and all, they have the cranes there for moving freight and then there are the dredgers.  The Hudson has a lot of silt that builds up pretty quickly - at least I think it does considering that they always seem to be dredging.  Quite the busy little waterfront.

Today I was down at the waterfront up by our bucolic manor.  It was busy in its' own way.  You know, what with the water flowing down the river - and then more water - and then some more water.   Bust little waterfront.  Yup.

City vs country...which to choose?

Sheep in the City

Today I played hooky from work this morning and headed down to midtown.  To see some sheep.

Normally there aren't any sheep in midtown, but the Campaign for Wool was having an event, so they shipped in some sheep from way upstate, along with some yarn art, displays about wool and how using wool is a much better environmental choice than say - plastic.

The entrances were flanked by these cute sculptures of sheep in dyed fleeces.  And since the whole thing was started by Prince Charles, they had some mannikins dressed up in English military outfits.  Made from wool, of course.

This little sheep was all about promoting the English roots of the wool event.  He even brought along his umbrella.  I had to laugh!

No wool event these days is complete without a "yarn bombing".  That's where they take an object and coat it in yarn.  They took it one step further in the fountain, though.  They made water out of yarn.

Well, actually it was roving - unspun fibers.  But I think it really gave the artist the ability to show a lot of movement in the wooly water.

I just loved the colors though.  I could definitely make a nice pair of mittens out of that mossy green, or a sweater out of the grey...  But I'm here to see the sheep!

They had 2 types of sheep - the Katahdins still have their fleece on.

They were all about eating the hay that the farmer put out for them.  Well, eating the hay and staying away from all of the people that were right up against the glass fencing.

I was sitting back, enjoying my coffee and knitting, of course.

This must have come from that guy over on the right.  The color sort of matches, don't you think?

The sheep came from a farm pretty close to where our bucolic manor is.  Just down the road aways.  I was happy that they didn't have to take the train down to the city.  That would have made for one smelly ride.  Bryant Park had their own guy acting as the shepherd - he was shepherding the people from leaning on the fence.  The sheep totally behaved themselves, though.

That is, until Dog-Z came by.  Dog-Z is a chow that lives in the area.  His owner had no idea that there were sheep in Bryant Park - until Dog-Z pulled him at a full run right up to the fence.  At that point, the owner lost the leash and Dog-Z was on his own.  Fortunately for the sheep, Dog-Z really had no idea what to make of them.  They stared at each other through the plexiglas - sizing each other up.  And then I noticed...

Look closely - that Katahdin is sticking it's tongue out at the chow!  That's one tough talking country sheep.

The 2nd type of sheep were the Southdowns.  Unfortunately for them, they had recently been sheared.  Alone, bald and ostracized by the Katahdins, they hung out around the outside of the pen.  The joke is on the Katahdins.  They're bred for meat - the Southdowns are bred for wool.

Overall it was a wonderful way to spend the morning.  I felt as if my two lives were colliding!  Sheep in Bryant Park, right!?

But all good things must come to and end - so off to the subway and back to the office.  I'll see the sheep again when I get home tonight.