Snapshots from early summer...

Suddenly it’s summer!

And very hot indeed - in the 90’s today. On Friday we sat up on the roof.

Today I walked up to Union Square where they were having some sort of promotion for Air France and the young girls were looking terrifyingly chic.

Such pretty mini-squash - to be photographed but not eaten.

I went home on the bus as it was too hot to walk.

The other day when my friend Jo was visiting from out of town, we had lunch at ABC Carpet, a most wonderful shop where they have lovely little flower arrangements all over the place.

They also have magical distressed mirrors.

This last photo is of a little ant who came downstairs with me from the roof where the nasturtiums and  lavender are flowering.

ABC Carpet

When outside looks like this:

and people wait for the bus and/or spring - neither of which show any signs of arriving any time soon -  we reflect on the fact that this has been the coldest winter since 1934. We need to escape.

So, we head to ABC Carpet where the decor can be relied upon to be shabby chic and artsy and beautifully weird. Here we come upon this poor Madonna who seems to need to escape too.

Or maybe she finds meditating on metal bits therapeutic. Who knows?

Upstairs there are lace curtains

and reflections

and beds the like of which I'll never sleep in.

At home I'm reduced to photographing flowers.

Snow expected to start about 10am.....

Blog Fodder

I always carry my camera with me just in case I see something I like the look of.

On the way to the park with the dog, the virginia creeper looked picturesque.

On the way back from the park, I saw a man painting a wall white.

Later in the morning, I saw a cream colored table I coveted like mad in ABC Carpet, which is the sort of place you wander into and want to buy everything including the building itself.

 Most things are astoundingly expensive, though I did see a teeny tiny glass vase for $6. I could quite happily move in and live there.

This is in ABC looking down on a bar with lights reflected in glass.

Thence to Union Square (with nice puffs of steam)

where they have quinces

and pumpkins

and green stuff that is good for you

and pears galore. So with all this plethora and jumble of stuff......how to make a post?
Some people wait until they have a sensible topic like BeeDrunken --who writes very elegantly. Some people give you useful information and instruct you. What's rather fun is that there is utterly no point at all in blogging unless you want there to be.

Mirrors and Yellow Shirts

ABC Carpet is a positive gloryhole of almost antiques, ethnic items, jewels -- mirrors with the silvering coming off -- in fact everything you dream of in a Haversham-ish sort of way. 
One would need all sorts of  Victorian cabin trunks and other sorts of luggage to
cart it all away to one's mythical mansion.

This mirror is outside the changing rooms in the new Anthropologie

in Chelsea Market. Sort of monochrome shabby-chic elegance.

Yellow seems to be the color of the moment. It matches the taxis.

Here a character in Chelsea barber checks his messages before the shop opens.

Yellow shoes too! Coffee and carbs on the corner of 23rd Street and 9th Avenue.

Friday Windows and Reflections

Peonies at Union Square. Yum. 

I cannot think why I didn't buy them.

A very shiny tasteful window display at ABC Carpet on Broadway.

A very shiny untasteful window display at a clairvoyant's on 20th Street.

What's this with clairvoyants anyway?

Note the reflection of the psychic traffic cone....

In keeping with the clairvoyant theme, this window

 had sort of ectoplasm in it -- or a sheet.....

Between 5th and 6th Avenues.

Almost chartreuse.

Possible Occupations

If I were a firefighter I could spend Saturday morning washing my house. Such fun to have a really powerful hose.

If I were a princess I could lie in my pretty pink bed..............

.... devouring book upon book.

Working at Zaro's bakery would allow me  to keep company with cheery Lady Liberty.

I suppose I could sell shoes, but this wouldn't be my top choice of occupation.

Flowers are more like it.

When I die, I hope it's like Joe Ades who died in his bed at 75. We will miss his colorful banter.

Mysterious East (Northport) and Other Curious Juxtapositions

Right next to the Twin County Driving School on Vernon Valley Road, we come upon two shopfronts where a melange of things spiritual are displayed.

The Buddah and angels, henna and belly dance.

The shop front next door is a complete puzzle. 

Lots of draperies, crystals (I think) and a sort of palaquin.

A card lies on the frozen ice of the assisted living parking lot. 

After I have photographed it, R. picks it up. 

We are disappointed to discover it is something to do with a video game.

In ABC Carpet the Virgin's Heart beats and we are blessed.

Metal

The skeleton of an old building by the side of the Hudson.

Ghost writing and verdigris.

There is something delicious about  metal decaying.

Time to clean up the house and make things sparkle so candles can reflect light.

Monochrome sparklies in ABC's window --tasteful, kitsch and charming all in one shot. 

I lust after a glittery little deer.

The Salvation Army are out in force and good for them.

Here Music outside Macy's on 34th Street.

ABC Wednesday: Q is for Quiet

This picture taken about seven in the morning.
The rising sun catching the underside of the clouds.


This picture is for Mrs.Nesbitt's ABC Wednesday. Go here for lots of other participants.



This angel is in the window of ABC Carpet which is oddly appropriate.