~ I {Heart} New York ~

So ... don't think for one single minute that my lack of blogging activity is due to my need to pack, organize and ... pack.

No sirree ... in the middle of the TONS of things to do right now, I took a week off and spent some time with friends and family in NYC.

I have not a single regret and I do have a plethora of fabulous memories. (I won't say exactly how many of them involve food, but just think ... plethora.)

The occasion for our trip was the 20th Friend-a-versary of my daughter, Mrs. Dub and her bestie, Mrs. Jay. Mrs. Jay's mother ... my bestie ... rounded out our foursome. Sonny Boy and the Mrs. served as our local tour guides. And by "tour guides", I also mean "heavenly food guides."

But don't be expecting much from me in the near future.

Seriously ... I have GOT to pack.

Good Morning New York!

So ... along with being a shout-out to Sonny Boy and the Mrs. who have a *New York Sunrise* in their life every single day, I just wanted to show you that procrastination didn't exactly pay, but it did eventually pay off. Remember how I put myself under the gun and full of stress when I made a last minute decision to make this New York Beauty quilt to teach? Well, I finished it in time and I must say I'm tickled pink about it.

The pattern is my own but was inspired (as was the quilting) by several quilts I saw in Radiant New York Beauties by Valorie Wells. I'll be teaching *New York Sunrise* in August at Bernina Connection. It's on a Saturday, so I know you all can be there.

You heard me. Be there.

So ... in uncharacteristic fashion ... I offer you a picture of ... moi ... as proof that our lovely trip was not just a lovely dream. Try to focus on the Empire State Building.

Here we are at the NBC studios. I actually peeked into the famous "window" but alas, Matt and Meredith had long since left.

This picture is of a cemetery that lies directly across from Ground Zero. The headstones have dates from the 18th & 19th centuries. So ... not only did it withstand the wear of over 200 years, but it withstood the blasts and the fallout from the buildings. The church ... St. Paul's Chapel ... served as a place of refuge for the firefighters and other volunteers. We were very, very touched to be there.

This is a picture of my baby boy, Sonny Boy. When he was even smaller (before he exceeded 6 feet) he loved, loved, loved dinosaurs. It was quite a thrill to see him enjoy this exhibit at the Museum of Natural History. Right after this, I asked him if he would like me to send him his dinosaur sheets ... which I still have in my possession. He politely told me it was all right to keep them at my house. Isn't he sweet?

Sonny Boy and the Mrs. live in Brooklyn so we spent some time there. Yep, we ate hot dogs at Nathans on Coney Island. Probably the most delicious hot dog I have ever consumed. The ambience was superb.

Now this ... this ... was a highlight for sure. We were priviledged to land some 12th row seats at the Gershwin Theatre to see Wicked. I am not entirely certain that I breathed more than once or twice during the entire show. Fab. U. Lous.

But I honestly have to say that this picture depicts what was most awe-inspiring to me about the Big City. The Big-ness. The Crowded-ness. The Thrilling Feelings that those inspire.

Tomorrow (or next time ... I brought home a wicked cold as a souvenir and must be cut some slack) I will bring you some flowers. I will promise you a Rose Garden.

Till then ...

A really big bite from a really big apple

So ... here's a trick question for you: Is the ever-so-lovely picture above ... (a) our home, now that the summer folliage is in bloom, (b) a cottage where small creatures speak in squeaky voices and clean stuff without being asked or (c) Tavern on the Green in Central Park? The answer of course is (c), although we didn't go inside so (b) may still be an option.

Yep, we spent the last 6 days in the Big City. Wow ... is it BIG! What a thrill to see so many things I had read about (and seen on Law & Order) for so many years. (This was my first trip, PDaddy hadn't been there in 30 years.) I am black and blue from the constant pinching. The picture above was taken at the "Top of the Rock" at Rockefeller Center.

This picture of Radio City Music Hall ... not far from our hotel ... was the scene of the Tony Awards just two days later.

This picture is of our lovely and oh-so-serious tour guides, Sonny and Mrs. Boy. It was taken after a most delicious dinner at Joe's Shanghai in Chinatown ... home of the soup dumplings that are so delicious you want to cry.

And just in case you are wondering ... there are blog posts up the ying-yang with just some of the hundreds of pictures we took. Did I mention that we also walked miles and miles and ... miles?

Excuse me while I put my feet up and bask in the memories.