I loved this perfect weather forecast for my birthday last week!
and even more exiting, we went to New York City!

This is the view from the cab leaving Penn station.  We flew into Newark (only just  over an hour from Toronto!).  Stepping out of Penn station, New York is RIGHT THERE! It is such a great first impression.  We arrived just in time for lunchat a funny diner, Big Daddy's,  (careful, there's music on this site!)
near to where we stayed.Paul loves his diners, and he researched a few
fantastic ones that we visited like The comfortand the Empire.

Of course, one of the first things I wanted to do was go here…
Especially because I did not even know about it before Krissy went to NYC!
I was so exited, that I was just in freak out mode. 

Look at this!  It is ALL the Jeu de Paumes books I have been drooling over online for ever.  RIGHT there, at my fingertips! Plus a million other crazy good eye candy books.   And then…

 
MORE!  Sewing, crafting,  anything books.  Plus, bazillion more over on the left hand shelf.
It took all my power to not chatter inanely at the woman next to me.  Luckily she moved on promptly before I could embarrass myself and I was able to go through all the sewing books.  I ended up with two similar pattern books, ( I blame the enabler Paul who helpfully said "why not get two!" 🙂
and one cute decor one.  I went a little nuts.  But who cares! It was my birthday week and I was in New York!

Phew- we did SO much in 5 days, I will try and show you more in the coming days.
It was my 5th time visiting and it was the best trip there ever.  I think it is because we did research ahead of time and we are old enough to not feel dorky going to tourist attractions, which are such for a reason- they are impressive!

Now its back to work, but I hear they have a cake for me at work!  I love my co-workers!

The knit mafia strikes in the lower east side.

Work is going to get busy soon, but stay tuned for more ! 
I will pop in when I can!

tulips

Something interesting is happening to my tulips….

tulips May 2009

They are slowly turning red!

Tulips May 2007

When I planted them three years ago they were all yellow!
🙂

Have a lovely weekend!

inspiration

1. Japanese Apron Book, 2. Summer blouse turned bathing suit cover up, 3. alanna scott: Emily Carr Institute, 4. Summer Blouse #2 (Ashley), 5. dress_022209b, 6. I like this outfut…, 7. 69/365: Hi! It's me., 8. Bit of a splurge!, 9. transitioning into spring

It is that time of year where I want a new dress!  I also want to try and make one and am on the hunt for a idiot proof easy pattern that I can make a few times, and then wear with jeans and long tees in the winter.  I have been favoriting a bunch on flickr.   I love the idea of a uniform, like Brandy.  I did secretly, in march maybe, make this dress.  It just did not suit me.  I used fabric from the stash so it was not a waste and I learned how to do necklines which I didn't know before.  I may cut it in half so it is a skirt, because I feel wierd with waist lines that are tight around my middle.  Perhaps I am entering my muu muu years, but I seem to go for comfort above all else these days! 

Something just like this maybe!  I see a visit to Pomadour in my near future… I could perhaps make this
by playing around… it can't be too hard… I just love these japanese clothing pattern books.

cute!

May is my favorite month

Samosas!
Of all things, I decided to try and make samosas on Saturday afternoon and they were quite yummy!  I had been flipping though the moosewood cookbook and saw the recipe.  I love food in its own package.

I finished the fishtail lace scarf I stared before Christmas, last week- I like it!

Girl cat is still really cute!

 

A tile of New Jersey!  I was born in this place and we moved to Canada when I was three.  I didn't buy the tile because it was $3.99- too much for a tchotchke.  A picture is good enough!

Spring has settled on our neighborhood and wonderful flowers are blooming everywhere.
In my garden, yellow tulips are just opening.  My granny neighbor gave me day lily bulbs which I am thrilled about. Hers look spectacular and hopefully over time mine will spread and multiply like hers have.  I put three in the back and three in the front.

other good things…

• A big long walk on a perfect spring Sunday with my two friends and their two doggies.  High park is gorgeous and when you walk with dog owners you see all the places you forgot exist like the wonderful public allotments gardens and the big sculpture field.  One of the dogs was Nora the pug, my all time favorite dog.
• Tea and muffins afterwards.
• Digging about in the dirt and cleaning up my planters for the back patio.
• Margharitas on a firday night with my honey. (and mexican food)
• Going to see a film at Hot Docs. I cleverly mixed up the date and time.  We had intended to see Laugholgy, but as the lights went down we realised we were at the wrong film and ended up watching Ganesh: Boy Wonder.  I was scared it would be too sad, but it ended up being a very uplifting experience.
• Ice Cream after the movie.
• Watching a fabulous doc about Annie Liebowitz last night on TVO.  It was so interesting and very inspiring!
• birthday sooon!