Grasses - Green from the Rain

Taken along the trail of Riverside Park South.

The Rainy Season

Today is not unlike many other days so far this summer...rain has routinely been a fixture in the forecast. We've been experiencing storms for several days and this afternoon there was a huge downpour as I was coming home from work. I was fortunate enough to get on the bus just before it started and by the time I reached my stop the sun was shining through.

Going through the 66th Street Central Park Transverse was interesting - flash flooding, and what looked to be water falls coming down the rock walls. I took a few shots through the bus window...it was all very beautiful.

Needing a place to relax...

So it was a long day at the office I needed to relax and prepare myself appropriately for the weekend. Part of me felt like I really wanted a drink, and part of me felt like the calming effect of the park, one of my favorite city spots...so I combined the two. I took the bus to 5th avenue, walked by my favorite spot, by the Bethesda Terrace and to the Central Park Boathouse. I sat at the bar with a good glass of wine and relaxed by watching the water reflecting light into the restaurant...



In the end, it all worked...I felt much better, much more relaxed, and ready to enjoy the weekend. A quick thank you to mother nature for letting the rain hold out long enough.

A Beautiful Sky to Gaze Upon

Softly the evening came. The sun from the western horizon
Like a magician extended his golden wand o'er the landscape;
Twinkling vapors arose; and sky and water and forest
Seemed all on fire at the touch, and melted and mingled together.
-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Just before we left to go to Madison there was one of those rainy days that blackens the sky and pour rain in short bouts. Then in the evening, there was the most magnificent sunset. Luckily for us, our window faces south/southwest and we get an incredible vista of the sky and the Hudson River (when standing at the window that is). Each time I looked over to the window, the sky had become even more amazing - like something out of a painting, and the clouds! wow I've never seen any like it. At one point everything was bathed in a rich pink light. Below are the photos (also more here and here):

Mmmmm....Dumplings

Yesterday I took a part of the late afternoon to make chicken dumplings....mmmm, man I love chicken dumplings. I can't say they are true to authentic dumplings (I always fold them like tortellini), but I certainly enjoy the taste of them, and can think of a few friends that enjoy them as well.

I made a double batch yesterday so that I would have some that I could freeze and use for dinner some night I am feeling lazy. Nicole and Sammi joined felipe and I for dinner later on, and you can bet that those dumplings were practically inhaled, and gone within fifteen minutes.

A photo of the preparations:


Ingedients:
1 pound of ground chicken
3-4 scallions, chopped
1 eggs
Minced garlic to taste
Several dashes of soy sauce
1 packet of wonton wrappers (I use Nasoya)

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Beat another egg and keep to the side. Take one wonton wrapper and place a quarter sized drop of the chicken mixture onto the center of the wrapper. Dip your finger into the egg wash and line two adjoining edges of the wrapper. Fold into a triangle and take the two corners farthest from each other and pinch them together in the shape of a tortellini. I use a rice cooker to steam the dumplings, but any steamer will do.

Enjoy!

Last Vacation Post...

Felipe and I spent a lovely afternoon with my great uncle Marty. Uncle Marty is my paternal grandmother's brother, and the closest I will ever have to a grandfather. He lived for most of my lifetime in California, but several years ago moved back to Midwest. Since then we've been able to enjoy spending a good deal of time together. After graduating from college, I spent seven months living in Madison before I moved to New York City. During that time I saw Uncle Marty about every week, we would chat and play backgammon.

I've played backgammon since I was about six, more realistically since about the age of 12, and learned it mostly from my dad. It was Uncle Marty though that really helped me refine my backgammon skills. I remember the first time I played a set against Uncle Marty, it was before he moved to Madison and was during one of his visits for the family picnic. He beat the pants off of me! I couldn't win a game against him.

At this point, I can hold my own against him, and can even win a set or two! And although we don't get to play weekly any more, we do still enjoy a game or two when I come back to visit. This set...he beat me, two to one. Uncle Marty will be turning 97 years old this August, and by his report - the doctor says he's got the liveliness and health of a 70 year-old!

A Day at the Lake and Michael's Frozen...

The other day felipe and I went over to Lake Wingra and rented a pedal boat for a little while. It was a little cloudy, but the weather was nice none the less. We spent a bit of time on the lake, and enjoyed the peaceful quietness.

Afterward we stopped by Michael's Frozen Custard and picked up a couple of shakes - Felipe got vanilla and I got my new/old favorite - Chocolate and Peanut Butter (yummy!).

Must stop here...Oakcrest Tavern

This is another one of those must stop places for when I come back to Madison for a visit. It's a tiny one room tavern in my old neighborhood that has barely changed since I can remember it back in the 80's and 90's and for probably much longer than that!


Felipe and I stopped in for lunch on Monday and had the typical tavern fare that almost feels like a necessity to order. Their burgers are great and Felipe enjoyed a brat. The burgers are made from meat at Knoche's - a butcher from across the street (I used to stop in this little grocery store on my way to school to pick up bazooka gum!). We shared an order of fries, and of course - the cheese curds! yum!





Now if only I could figure out how to get the bars in New York City to serve fried cheese curds....or alternately how to get the Oakcrest to open a location there - then I would be set!

Owen Park, Madison WI

On Monday, Felipe and I took a stop in Owen Park here in Madison. It's a really peaceful little park off of Old Sauk Road in the neighborhood where I grew up. We were there only briefly, but took a nice walk around the prairie land they have there, and I snapped a few photos with my iPhone.


Here if you look closely you can see this itty bitty bunny that we encountered on the path...super cute!








There were all sorts of flowers in bloom and the plants were beautiful. I used to walk here from our house when I was a kid - sometimes after school. I remember one year too we took a field trip there from my elementary school across the street and my dad came along. What a wonderful park, a real gem in the city.

Feliz Cumpleaños Sergi!

(I know...a bit of a serious photo - but a rather nice one!)

Happy Birthday Sergi! - Felipe and I wish we could be there to celebrate with you and the family! Hugs from across the ocean!

Ah, Sparklers!

So I am a little behind on my posts, as is the nature of vacation, but here's one for the fourth of July - Independence Day! We did not do anything too spectacular. Most of the day we spent at the Memorial Union on Campus - playing cards and settlers and eating fried cheese curds (yum!)


Later on in the evening we went back to my sister's house and when it got dark we had a bit of fun with sparklers and other small fireworks.

Devil's Lake

This is some of the Quartzite at Devil's lake - it had a fantastic purple-lavender color to it.

Felipe and mom and I took a short trip over to Devil's Lake State park last week. We spent a bit of time walking around the lake on the quartzite trail.

Happy Birthday Uncle Bruce!

Hope you have a wonderful day with the family! We're thinking of you!

Vacation: Be Back Shortly

The Prairie at Owen Woods, Madison WI

Sorry guys, have been away from blogging while on vacation in Wisconsin. I will be back shortly with several posts!