Thoughts on Homemade and a Giveaway

When I was a child home-made was synonymous with horrid and itchy

and all round no good at all. I couldn't imagine why grownups like my mother, would ever consider a home made present better. I always wanted things bought in shops. Of course,  since then I've started knitting.

And my poor family will be getting home-made stuff from me.

Elf hats are my specialty lately. However below some ideas

 for people who like homemade --but homemade by someone else.

A good place for unusual and lovely presents and accessories from all round the world is Novica's website with super women's silk scarves ( like the ones they sent me above)

and also men's accessories like cuff links and walking sticks. Leave a comment below and I'll put your name in a jar and pick a winner to receive a $50 gift certificate from Novica. 

Drawing next Saturday November 5th. A similar giveaway but $100 this time on my old Moroccan blog.

(Novica are also looking for people who would like to host parties featuring all their fascinating products. Go here to find out more details.) 

Some pumpkins from this morning --a little bit day-afterish

and a link to my other blog......

Trick or Treat

Yes, it's snowing.

Doesn't look very inviting out. It's not meant to snow until Thanksgiving at least.

No one can remember it snowing for Halloween.

It's snowing enough to bend the branches down

and cling to the pin-oak leaves.

This picture looks a bit Christmassy.

Even the dog is confused.......

by Sunday morning

it was pretty much melted.

Wet Day on the High Line

The good thing about having visitors from England

is that they are quite happy to go for walks in the rain. This is a great blessing since the High Line has become a big attraction in its second year now the plantings are becoming established.

So very few other people about to impede one's view of the vegetation.

Visitor's cape/plastic bag/ hoodie a snip at $1.63. Not the most elegant but no one was there to comment....

there were lots and lots of sparrows feasting on the grasses. 

Here they are sitting in a row on the railing.

Here they are all over the place

and  feasting merrily in the tall grass.

Damp grass plumes

damp visitors

learning about the lovely stained glass windows --all the colors of the water

and bits of grass and flowers trying to escape as we go down the stairs by 14th Street.

Happy Halloween.

23rd Street

In the morning, when most people are heading to work, I take the dog for a walk.

On the other side of the road, the bank employees are waiting to be let in

as the taxis rush past.

They are already at work on the brownstone next to the Leo House

all flapping tarps and ghostly lights at night.

On 22nd Street the Virginia creeper catches the light.

The M23 holds the record for the slowest bus in Manhattan.

True indeed. Obviously one hasn't been for ages and ages.

Urban

New York's a town of neutral tones: the buildings, white, gray, brown, tan. 

 People's clothing tends to be neutral too

so the bling-bling colors of graffiti (suitably placed) are rather fun.

(Here outside a club on 22nd St)

I like the layer upon layer, ripped paper, revealing stuff underneath.

 I enjoy the sort of free-for-all-ness of it.

What bubble-gum colors!

An ephemeral art.

Pond

Leaves have started falling in to the pond

to join all the other various things  that lurk under the water.

Mesmerizing to gaze into

or float on top of.

The duck looks reasonably happy.

More and more houses are decorated for the season of pumpkins.

A motif you can even add into a hat.

All photos taken in Huntington LI

October 20th, 2011

Turning

As I walked back from the antiques place the other day, I noticed that the fire hydrant

had a nice shabby-chic patina with a nod to fall colors.

On Sunday we went to supper with friends and the candle flickered. 

This is one of those Where's Waldo things. The dog's

 nemesis is eyeing him from up the tree.

Foliage on 22nd Street.

Little Shop of Horrors

The Antiques Garage at 25th Street off  6th Avenue is my ideaof hell on earth*.

 Obviously lots of people love it

and dress up to go there. Outside of Halloween, I've rarely seen so many people in costume picking over the unwanted possessions, antiques, collectibles, bric-a-brac, clothes, toys and  assorted junk of people who are dead already, probably.

 I have too vivid an imagination, and start wondering where this stuff came from and what sort of lives its owners led. Who sat in this gilt, brocade chair? What are those blobbles?

And who sat on this silver stool in front of the magic mirror putting on make-up?

Yikes!

And then the tortured Christ-figures all ribs and blood-on-the-feet

not to mention the poor dollies boneyard. 

The mannequins' tennis party next door was almost a relief.

* Then why go, you sensibly ask? I wanted to sell some old china dolls. Failed to do so. and will never go there ever again. Karen, take note!