Seaside couscous

Recently I had a wonderful couscous at our local bagel shop. The mint in  it was so refreshing. I thought I'd try to re-create something similar here at the beach. Very simple but I have to say it was perfect with a tomato sandwich on the side.

Chopped cucumber and tomato in the bowl, 

Lots and lots of chopped mint leaves  and diced feta. 

I had this beautiful white cucumber from the farmers market. Very mild in flavor but was nice when I minced small to go to with the couscous. this  tomato was perfect. Great flavor, no white core , very juicy. I let it "juice" or drain a little bit on the cutting board so the extra liquid would not go into the couscous salad.

Plain couscous,

A drizzle of the mildest, fruity Italian  olive oil, 

Enjoy! I did. 

Back to the beach! 

Spring in my garden

I traveled to New York, I traveled to Chicago, and then I came home to enjoy my own garden. While I was away things were enjoying the spring rains and growing like crazy. The roses began to bloom, the geraniums held up in spite of the rain, and peonies were just finishing as I returned home. While one climbing rose had given its first blush of roses and was now regrouping, another was just beginning to show its most beautiful blooms. Here's a collection of spring flowers that I somehow just could not stop enjoying.

Spring in the city

I was just in New York to visit my daughters. What a glorious spring weekend. While the days prior to my arrival there had been a lot of rain and wind, I was fortunate to have wonderful weather while I was there. Everywhere where windowboxes and planters full of hopeful color and blooms for summer.

Even the stairway into Saint Marks had a glorious Garland. It was hard not to feel that spring was here as I saw these lovely flowers. I attended the Kips Bay Show house and in each room the designers had placed lovely bouquets of spring flowers to enjoy inside the home.

Even the storefronts are amping for spring!

While my time in New York was filled with a mix of family and soaking up what only New York can offer in terms of fashion and design, the flowers were one of the most wonderful aspects.

New York and the transition to fall

We had a lovely trip up to New York City on the northeast regional train last week. It was easy to tell when I looked out the window that fall is coming, everything was very green but you could see the change in the trees and the fields.

Arriving in New York, walking up one of our favorite streets, seeing an old haunt at JG Melon reminded me how exciting New York can be in the fall!

Had a nice run the next morning around the reservoir

On a friends recommendation, we went to a wonderful exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum called China: through the looking glass. 

It was spectacular! These photos don't do any justice to the wonderful exhibit.

We took a break between exhibits and went to the roof of the metropolitan and enjoyed the views out over Central Park. Was very lush and green and slightly overcast but wonderful.

Next an outstanding exhibit of John Singer Sargent's work. I wish I could explain with these pictures my attraction to how he captured the light. The fabric on the dresses, the light on their faces, stunning!

It felt like I could touch the fringe on the little girls white dress and the green silk on the ladies gown. 

Madame X

We had a terrific summer lunch at Masion Kaiser. What could be better than feta, watermelon, topped with salmon?

Friday evening with the Girls and guys. 

Drinks at Saxon and Parole in the east village.  They make their own tonics and ginger beer. The candied ginger on this Yankee Mule was amazing! 

On to dinner at Narcissa at the Standard Hotel. Dinner in the garden under the lanterns was magical. It was cool, fall like but so pleasant. 

We had some lovely dishes including a crabcake with blueberry sauce and rotisserie chicken. However what I still dream of what's the ricotta gnocchi with wild mushrooms.

To run off that wonderful dinner and dessert: an early morning run around the reservoir and back by the boat pond. 

Saturday morning off to the U.S. open!! A wonderful day of superior tennis snd sights. The grounds are wonderful. We had a great day! 

We could not miss this special U.S. Open drink: honey deuce!

Home for Alabama's first game and we had pizza from Farinellas which took us back to out time in  Rome. The pizza bakers trained at the Forno in Rome, My favorite pizza spot near the Campo. The DOC Marguerita was good but the white pizza with Arugula and Truffle oil was over the top!!

Early morning run with my daughter. Stunning views, tough run trying to keep up!

Brunch included avocado toast. Delish!

Borland kitchen continues to evolve and turn out fantastic meals.

Fall in NYC always includes window shopping on Madison. 

Ralph Lauren windows were lovely. 

I loved this arrangement with the feathers 

A look in Bardith for China

Good bye NYC.