A little bit of NYC and after

Really quick as it is late

(I had 101 emails again! Some were reminders only

so those and others were all taken care of; back to 83 backlog...)

I had a great day with my friend from my far-away church!

We had breakfast and talked and talked...

then we went to get tickets for the Downton Abby Exhibition. 

I admit to only watching a bit of the very first episode,

however I knew I would enjoy seeing the dresses and the dining room (Swoon!!)...

so we then ended up going to the Russian Tea Room, an old iconic NYC institution.

It was fancy and over-the-top in terms of decorations.... 

we were not planning on going, but then it was 2018 Restaurant Week 

and a lot more affordable than otherwise for lunch

and so we went... then went and saw the Downton Abby exhibition. 

Then I went off to a bakery and found the jam that I loved in Holland

(I had loved that jam so much that I emailed the company who makes it

to see if I could get it Stateside.  I got an email back saying that while they don't 

have it available Stateside, they did make jam for a bakery that was in NYC

(and other places) and today was the day that I got that jam!

I hope it is as good.... 

Then I went to Trader Joes and stocked up on somethings...

and then back home 

(it got too late for me to stay for dinner as I had hoped to

but that was fine)... I talked to my Mom while I put things away...

and we were surprised with a gift of chocolate from Mr Husband's parents!

Very generous of them!

So I have lots more pictures from today, but that will have to wait for another day,

God willing!  

I am happy to say that my foot only twinged a few times and that 

today was a really nice day with my friend and then in 

Trader Joes :) 

Thanks everyone for your comments on yesterday's post;

that was a really special quiet day! 

Tomorrow is clean up the house and make the chocolate torte day!

House Blessing this Sunday night, God willing!  

Beautiful Day in NYC with my cousin and her son!

We saw Lady Liberty

and enjoyed the Ferry ride to her and then to NYC,

Battery Park!

My Cousin and I had fun here, her son held our things and we ran through! 

It was a super hot day so this was super refreshing!

They had a WWII memorial for all of those lost at sea.

It was moving to see and the prayer at the end, I wish more today would know it:

Into Thy Hands, O Lord...

Beautiful.

Reminded me of Elizabeth Goudge's Scent of Water.

We enjoyed being at Battery Park before we 

caught a cab to Mr. Husband's work for lunch!

I have no pictures, but I enjoyed a wonderful salad and veggie burger! 

***

Then we went to Chelsea Market (I love the French scented soaps!),

and then the high-line Park, which is above ground, on an old train track...

***

And then we cabbed to the Strand!

We had done a lot of walking and were glad for the cabs we

were able to flag down!

(I walked at least 8K steps according to my phone)

We visited the Strand and got some great books!

I got some Madeleine L'Engle and Donald Hall, am very pleased about this!

We went to an Italian Restaurant that we have been to a few times before

and I had an enjoyable dish of clams with Pasta!

***

We were all really tired by that time and Mr. Husband suggested we take a

cab back home, and so we did, having conversations about architecture, beauty 

and how important they are for us.

***

And that was our day in NYC!

{Crafting Fun} ~ Purl SoHo and the adventures I had

So, I made it to the

famed Purl SoHo

where I was surprised that the feel of it

was more trendy-hippie than trendy;

to be honest their website at times seemed

so professional-Martha-Stewart level

that one day I was talking to a local who knew the businesses and 

said, oh the store that one of the founders worked before

for Martha Stewart? And then I understood everything.

*

So, with more adjusting to my new NJ-near-NYC-environment,

I am finding myself much more well, myself.

And with that I was ready to finally make the treck for the first time

to the SoHo area of NYC.

*

When I finally was there on a warm May day that was July like in weather,

it was fun, easy and natural.

I think the first thing I noticed,

after acknowledging the beauty and simplicity of the store front when walking by....

Is the burst of colour....

From thread and skeinettes, 

to quilting yarn for hand quilting, 

So many cute knits and crafts made and inviting

pattern searches....

COLOUR is the first thing that comes to mind,

second all those craft projects, the cute-factor, the colours,

the warm throws, the knit swatches... 

These vintage coin purses (They sell a kit for them)

are super cute (though the fabric felt not as durable as I would need

personally),

The adorable toys, 

the wall displays and the YARN, Oh the COLOURS of YARN.

A lot of beautiful soft dream yarns.

Oh yes, a knitter's treasure trove for sure...

I think I am in love with this turtle, what a perfect

young tot toy!

The ribbons, the quilting supplies, 

The many sections of felt (bottom of picture above)

The multitude of fabrics...

I got a lovely set of fat quarters for a future

quilt for my godson;

between the charm packs I already have and these,

I should have enough for a quilt top and would only need to get

a bottom layer of fabric, the batting I think I have enough of already....

*

So it was fun and in general I felt it was very relaxed and very friendly,

without doubt.

*

So. Lovely Store. So fun.

I instagrammed while I was there and the community I have

there and I were having fun and I wished that ALL of them

were with me at Purl SoHo!

*

They will be quite friendly and helpful; 

one of the ladies there helped me find the exact amount of fabric 

in a pile of Rowan fat quarters and did not seem to think

anything of the fact that what she showed me

was half the price of a taller pile of Rowan Fat Quarters with

more colours.

*

They clearly have a calm relaxed atmosphere,

their staff is helpful and at good terms with each other,

and were kind.

*

So if you were to go to the iconic Purl Soho,

go, enjoy the colour immensity.....

They have beautiful things there!

At Purl SoHo ~ a fun Yarn Along :)

My blanket has little progress

as I did not go to my far away church

which meant my 2 + hours of knitting did not happen...

Last week was super busy with things,

including dinner party prep and not a lot of knitting time... 

But some progress has been made...

see top of the section on the right of these pictures...

Cleo is clearly quite interested in this blanket :)

So today, Tuesday, I went for the first time to 

Purl Soho.

It was fun! 

I had brought my knitting to NYC 

and took a picture of Wanda's wonderful bag

with me for a photo shoot at Purl Soho :)

Tada! 

Inside the bag are three projects, which explains why it is so

bulky... I really need to get another one :)

It was super fun to be at Purl Soho and Instagram with friends

about being there :)

The store is really cute and has tons of craft ideas

for knitting and sewing!

*

I looked briefly at this sewing book:

Looks super fun!  As do the other books...

Other than reading a bit of this book,

I am slowly working on Willa Cather's Song of the Lark 

but other than this, just trying to keep up with my

Synaxarion reading ... 

Wednesday is St. George day (Julian Calendar) and I LOVE 

Saint George!!

So that's fun!

*

Speaking of fun, I got this set of fabric fat quarters for 

a future DV quilt for my godson...

I figured he needs one too :)

I am hoping to get some 'boyish' print fabric later on

to go with these solids...

But I think that this fabric will be a great start for

the quilt top!

*

Hopefully next week I will have a bit more time

for sewing and knitting!

Last week my creativity was all spent in 

making a great dinner last Sunday

but I am looking forward to more quiet crafting soon!

*

So what are you reading and creating?

Yarn Along with us!