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.  

Hydrangea love

Hydrangeas are classic for summer. They remind me of my great grandmother. Both of my grandmothers had hydrangeas. My mother had some when we lived in Alabama. I've worked hard in Virginia to cultivate them. I've had many challenging years when I wasn't that successful. This year seems to be a banner crop. I'm not sure why, maybe it was the winter?

We have a variety of hydrangeas all doing very well right now. I'm enjoying them. Truly, I like to cut them and bring them inside. I enjoy seeing them in the garden, but I enjoy them even more when I can have them near me.

This is a new variety we planted called pinky winky and I just love them.The Monarch butterflies seem to like this variety most of all. We have been visited almost every day since they began blooming and this is new for me.

You can see, I did leave a few in the garden.