Day 7 - Vedging Out with Emily

My niece Emily and I have started a tradition
 of meeting to dine at the best in Philly. 

We have been doing this since she was 12 or so. 
Tonight we tried "Vedge" -
a spectacular Vegan Restaurant on Locust Street.

There is no better dining companion. 

She enjoys the art of it. 

She loves always trying the new and unknown.

She is simply fabulous company!
 

I LOVE this tradition we've started.

Hope it goes on until I am old and gray!

And we ended it with...

 lavendar, lemon pistachio cheesecake!!!!

Day 6 - A Lovely Spot to R.I.P.

I am greeted by this scene everyday I open my car door after arriving at my workplace. 

Resting in Peace ...

 better later than soon...

But if you have to RIP,

this is the place to do it!

Day 4 - A walk in the woods with a friend and my dogs!!

Nothing starts my day off better than a walk in the woods. 

My dogs are happy. 

 Friends catch up. 

 And the woods? 

My Church! 

There is no holier place on earth! 

Day One - Emma Lily - the Photo Challenge Returns!

So Glad to begin Susannah Conway's "August Break" Photo Challenge again. 

 Nothing can lift your spirits more than to figuratively or literally "find a beautiful picture" every day. 

 30 pictures entered in 30 days! 

 I had an impromptu photo session yesterday with Emma Lily - the 3 month old babe of my friend Eileen!

What better way to start the challenge than with Dear Sweet Emma!  

To the Big Apple and Back ... in a day!

So about 2 years ago, I innocently started to follow a lovely gal from Bath, England on her photo blog.  I learned she had lost her fiance (from sudden death)  8 years ago and that photography was what dragged

her out from her depression. I join her 30 day challenge to take your best photo - to literally and figuratively -  find the beauty of the day - and in doing so drag myself from a bit of a funk myself.

She writes so poignantly and includes videos where you can't help but appreciate her strong, self-effacing, down to earth, childlike and joyous spirit.  So I sign on for her online photo class, "Unraveling", that proves to be more therapy than photo instruction.  I LOVED the class.  It proved to be the best thing I have done in years, for many reasons.

But when I hear her first book is published I purchased it in a NY minute. 

 I loved it.   highlighting many a segment.  So when I hear NYC is one of her stops on her book promotion,

and feeling in some strange way, "we are old friends".

 I book a spot and a Megabus ticket to join the event.

But it is hot as hell...

and I have been working like a dog...

and my dogs have been neglected and need a hike...

and I have a lot of chores to do...

(you know the drill)

and think "forget it" but...

Today, at noon, I last minute thought, 

"NOPE, I'M GOING!" 

I tossed my 'to do" list to the wind, jumped in the shower,

drove to 30th Street Station, jumped on my megabus, got off in NYC

and  through the kindness of NY strangers

(who often get the wrap of being a cold and callous lot)
 I reach my destination.

 I find my destination in Brooklyn, NY

(arriving a little late - my MO)

where I am to meet Susannah Conway! 

The event was held on the second floor of an incredible

old winery/restaurant with ambiance abundant.

(okay, these pix don't capture it, but trust me, it was a cool spot)

She individually took time to talk to all,

sign our books and part with a hug as she departs back to England.

She did not disappoint!

 A great Event!

So here I am tonight,  "there and back", "safe and sound" in one day!

So what did I learn this week? 

Impulsive Spontaneity Rocks!

A good book can lead you to great places! 

And this ....

Ahhh... New York!!!

 

Earthly Desires

 Just back from my trip to Ethiopia,
I can't help but get a little dreamy reminiscing about

the fabulous people I've met and places I've visited. 
What an amazing gift travel has been.

i've walked the Great Wall of China,

worked in the famine camps of Ethiopia,

i've been lost in the souks of Marakesh,

mesmerized by the Taj Mahal,

rode the Marakesh Express to Casablanca, 

heard opera in the ancient theatres of Belgium,

shopped Portobello road and climbed the Tower of London,

drank hot chocolate by an inn's hearth at the Grand Place of Belgium,

ate my first truffles in Brussels,  

wandered cobbled streets of Praque where I caught a classical concert in an old cathedral,

saw the Mona Lisa at the Louvre,

walked among the heavenly Himalayas,

watched pink dolphins bob their heads in the muddy water of the Amazon,
perused Jacque Cousteau's Museum in Monaco,

walked freely on the cobbled stone Red Square in Moscow,
and wandered in the glorius St. Basil's Cathedral,

ate at Goethe's cafe in Frankfurt,

was serenaded by a retired violinist as he played the Blue Danube on an endless Siberian night,
visited my birthplace of beautiful Vancouver,
bought a puppet from the vendors on the muddy roads of Tijauna...

 still so much more to see.
more people to meet,
laughs to share.
How blessed I have been for the gift of travel,
and all it has taught me. 

   “One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.”

‎”If at some point you don’t ask yourself, ‘What have I gotten myself into?’ then you’re not doing it right.”

“I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.”

“If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home.”

“To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries.”

“One of the great things about travel is that you find out how many good, kind people there are.”

Sweet Sweet Etta

A little mini-tribute

to my sweet old neighbor Etta..

Dear Sweet Etta was my neighbor who was my

welcome mat to Manayunk in 1994.

She LOVED Kenya!

and as she cared for her cranky old friend Joe until his dying day,

they both enjoyed sweet Kenya

and even taught him to sing. 

She watched my home,

she got my mail,

she enjoyed my family and friends,

she brought me stuffed-pepper dinners and homemade baked goods,

and was just always so simply kind...

and LOVED - LOVED my boys...

The best neighbor EVER..

not a mean bone in her body.

When she later moved away

(just up the street)

she was always ready with dog treats when we came to visit.

And even tried just this past August  

 to teach Freddie how to sing like Kenya...

and always cuddle with ole Ollie on her lap
(just a few months ago)

Luckily,

 last night,

I was able to leave work early at 7-pm

and head to Bryn Mawr hospital

where I was able to say good bye to Etta.

At 92, she died hours later.

 ~ Etta ~ 

the kindest, sweetest, dog lovin' neighbor and friend - 

a kind, loving constant in my life in Manayunk. 

Dogs the world over will mourn her passing,

and so will I.  

 

~ Etta Groener ~ 

May she rest in Peace!