Monday, June 20, 2016

City Views, Country Dreams

Good evening from New York on the night when a strawberry full moon will rise in an hour or so.


I bought these and some more strawberries at the farmers market and have enjoyed this collection with heavy cream for dessert tonight.

It's been a tough time recently, and I have decided to keep the details to myself.  Instead, let me show you a few other finds from the farmers market.


Taking another look at these photographs that I took last week reminds me of the beauty that arrives with every day.


Here is another reminder.


The next photograph is a huge bundle of chamomile flowers.  I have some chamomile tea bags in a tin in my kitchen.


It's a treat to help yourself to some sugar snap peas that were picked earlier that very day.


A complete change of topic with the next photograph from a door over on the Upper East Side.  The door knocker is similar to one that Tom Stevenson recently saw in Spain.


This is a tiny construction site of a white and lavender cardi being knit for a friend's soon to arrive baby.  Bamboo needles.  Postcard in the background of a Scandinavian wooden toy I saw in an exhibit months ago.


Reading a variety of books is another way for me to take my mind off worrisome current goings on.  Dark Money can tell you about the Koch brothers, and more.


John Claridge's wonderful photographic essay on London's East End is a book whose publication I helped to underwrite.  It's a book well worth looking at.


If the countryside is more your thing, as it is in my dreams, I would recommend to you, The Running Hare.


This is not a well thought out or written post, but I just wanted to take time to post something to say hello to you all.  I really appreciate your visits to my blogs and your comments.



57 comments:

  1. Dear Frances, whatever it is, I send you boatloads of good wishes and hope they will all find their way over to you. I absolutely love the baby knitting you are busy with ;-), as always your colour combinations are gorgeous. We were away to the UK, baby welcoming and house-hunting and then off to North Germany for a family do. Some 4000 km in just one week. We will relax now in rainy wet and cold Belgium. With lots of love, Anke

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    1. Wow, Bayou, you all really covered a huge territory! I loved your post about getting ready for that new little baby.
      Enjoy relaxing a bit now, even if the Belgium is a bit damp
      Thanks also for your kind words. xo

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  2. Hi Frances! I sending you a warm hug...
    Take your time now. What a lovely farmers market, I wish we could have some here around! Have a lovely tuesday.
    Love from Titti

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    1. Titti, our large Union Square farmers market is truly a grand place...something for everyone to enjoy. Hugs back to you. xo

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  3. I hope all will be well. Sending a hug.

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  4. The knitting is lovely - as are the flowers!
    Talk to you very soon.

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    1. Can you believe that I've also got another couple of knit projects underway? Good that June is remaining a bit on the cool side.

      Look forward to seeing you. xo

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  5. Sending you warm and healing thoughts in the hope that your 'tough time' disappears.
    Hugs from The UK-x-

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    1. Thanks Sheila. Wishing that I had a magic wand. Healing thoughts are quite welcome. xo

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  6. Strawberries and cream. What could be better than that? Maybe white peaches and cream. What a beautiful farmer's market. I've seen one on a program (by Brooklyn?) where a guy is famous for his canned pickles. I tried to email you and hope for the best. Big hug.

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    1. Donna, thanks for your wishes. Peaches are just beginning to appear at the market. For now, I am going to savor the perfectly ripe strawberries while they are available.

      xo

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  7. Dear Frances, I'm so sorry to hear that you're going through it - you have warmest wishes from me and Tom and our sincere hope that matters resolve themselves to your satisfaction. I'm going to try to attach a little 'strawberry moon' silhouette that formed in my study last night as I think you would like to see it.

    Hmm, that didn't work so I've deleted my original post and will email it to you instead. I do know that countryside and nature writing works for me too in troubled times. I'm currently reading John Lewis-Stempel's 'Meadowland' about a year in the life of an English field. With love, Cxx

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    1. Thanks so much Chris. Meadowland is a fabulous book. I didn't want it to end! My library actually bought the UK edition of The Running Hare at my request, since it has not yet been published over here.

      I'll keep an eye out for your email. xo

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  8. Dear Frances, I hope that you are not thinking too much about the recent shooting. There is nothing you can do about it.
    I hope that you are not in ill health. That would be very worrisome. I'm sending positive thoughts to you and hope that whatever is making you sad will soon resolve itself.
    Sending much love. Gina

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    1. Dear Gina, I appreciate your comment very much. Positive thoughts are surely the way to go. xo

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  9. Positive thoughts winging their way across the Atlantic from me too Frances.

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    1. Dear Weaver, your thoughts have made a gentle landing here, and I thank you very much. xo

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  10. I very much hope your worries will soon pass. I will enjoy some strawberries and cream this evening and send you my very best wishes for better times to come your way.

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    1. Lucille, life is always a bit of a mixture, and it's good to try and keep space for the good times...like strawberry and cream season. xo

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  11. I like to hear your views on my blog so I hope that joining in with me, and other blogs of course, helps you to get through difficult times. I like to see the Market you go to. It has been very hot here today and humid. Summer seems to have arrived.x

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    1. Rachel, it's always refreshing to discover fresh ways of looking at familiar situations, or even to discover fresh situations to contemplate. Even when some situations aren't all that peachy, I hope to learn something, or perhaps even be able to help someone else.

      Sometimes, though, a tangle is a tangle. One of my NYC friends kids me about my trying to solve problems, rather than taking another approach...that there might be another problem solver out there.

      Thank you for all your very interesting posts about all sorts of topics, and very much for this comment.

      Summer is surely here, too. xo

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    1. It might be. I will take another look at that farmers stand when I get back to the market. For now...let's call it delphinium.

      Best wishes.

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  13. Ooh! There's that door-knocker! Also, my father's family were all East-Enders...

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    1. Tom, it took me a while to have my camera in hand when I was walking down that posh block. Hoping it was all right with you for me to include a link to your excellent site.

      Best wishes.

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  14. I am totally bummed, dear Frances, to hear that you're going through a rough patch. "It's always something!" Ain't that the truth? I'm sending you well wishes from the far north (where it's nearly 70 degrees today and beautiful outside) and hoping for some good karma for you. Those strawberries look divine, and I love what you're knitting. Take care Frances. xoxo

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    1. Thank you dear Carol. I guess I am on the outskirts of several bad patches and being the sensitive type, feel their tentacles drawing me in.

      There are so many other parts of each day that is given that are really good...particularly those that include ripe strawberries. xo

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  15. Hi Frances, It's weird that when I saw your photo of the Chamomile flowers, I could nearly smell them! Maybe it's the tea bags on the counter. I love your open farmers markets in NYC, everything looks fresh and yummy. Hope you pass through whatever trial you are going through, in quick time.

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    1. Jeri, tomorrow is Wednesday and an excellent farmers market day. There is a particular veg stand that I only see present on Wednesdays.

      I'll have to check on whether the chamomile bundles are still on offer. I've never actually brewed the tea from the flowers, so that would be an experiment worth doing.

      Experiences as joyful as greeting this summer's produce at the market are wonderful antidotes to any hovering negative stuff. Stuff is a technical term that fits a lot.

      xo

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  16. so enjoyed the photos and sure hope whatever the private issue is that it is resolved quickly and with the outcome you want! Hope all is well

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    1. Thanks very much for those kind wishes. xo

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  17. Those door knockers used to be seen often over here, in fact I did a whole piece about them a few years back. My main observation at the time was how few one now sees; I think antique dealers have been around buying them.

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    1. p.s. I hope you're OK, you sounded a bit 'down'.

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    2. That door knocker looks particularly good when the house is decorated for Halloween.
      Thank you for the p.s., too. My concerns are about people who are dear to me. I am worried about them and don't have a magic wand,

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  18. Dear Frances, whatever your worries or troubles may be I'm sending you warmest wishes that everything will turn out fine. Thinking of you xxx

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  19. I hope you are ok and that all turns out well.
    Best wishes to you.

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    1. I appreciate your comment very much. Thank you.

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  20. Hoping that the worries can be dealt with and that the Strawberry Moon brought a change for the better. I love the little sweater you are knitting!

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    1. Many thanks to you, Vicki, for these kind words, and also for those beautiful pictures of that Strawberry Moon rising over at your place.
      While I was knitting the little sweater, all of a sudden I remembered an even tinier sweater in the same color combination knit for my doll by my great auntie. She's the one who taught me to knit...around 60 years ago. xo

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  21. Another lovely blog my friend, and warmest wishes and huge good vibes heading your way with wishes for all the luck of the [honorary] Irish to you. Whatever it is, may you sail through with your usual grace and determination.

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    1. Dear Irish Eyes, you are such a sweetie to send this message. xo

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  22. Oh dear, Frances, there’s me thinking of you as the eternally blessed and protected and then you go and confess to hard times.

    Is no one safe? I sincerely hope that your problems can be mended and, if not, that you find the strength of mind to deal with them.

    If you feel like off-loading, I will make time for you with a glad heart and kind soul.

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    1. Friko, sorry that I clicked comment rather than reply to reply to your message. xo

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  23. Dear Friko, what is on my mind is more my worrying about others than anything that's directly pointed at me. Still painful, though.

    I'll write you. xo

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  24. Frances, may God bless you during this hard time.

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  25. I had been trying to remember the title of this book as I intend to buy it for my husband's birthday next month,so many thanks for that. It is now noted! I am sorry you have worries weighing on you Frances and hope they will soon resolve. In the meantime, a visit to the market and strawberries and cream always help to lift the spirits xx

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    1. Thank you, Marianne for your kindness. The local strawberry season is just about over...but good news...blueberries are here. Oh, they are so delicious!

      xo

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  26. The flowers look lovely Frances! Did you manage to see the Strawberry moon? Unfortunately it was too clouded in Rotterdam.

    Happy weekend ahead!

    Madelief x

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    1. Can you believe that I didn't actually get outdoors at the time the moon did its dramatic rise. I guess I will have to rely on my memories of many previous dramatic moons! Sometimes clouds in the sky keep me from the view...this time it was my own cloudy memory. xo

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  27. I am happy to meet you here, and am your new follower. Come on over to my blog and say hello. The flowers from the market are beauties and I am a reader too, with the East End of London being especially of interest.

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    1. Thank you for visiting and joining, and for your kind comment. Hope to see you again soon.

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  28. Lovely flowers, strawberries, knitting and books...I hope you enjoy lots of nice things and that your worries will soon lift and you will feel much less troubled. I loved the idea of the strawberry moon...had never heard of it before till my husband told me about it...I didn't see it though! Sending you lots of good wishes dear Frances.
    Helen xox

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    1. Thank you for your message, Helen. I love the idea of a Strawberry Moon, and think it might inspire you to design a quilt.
      Sometimes, time helps us to gain new perspectives. I am hoping for that gift now. xo

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  29. Did you already read Meadowlands by the same author? I wonder if you would like the writing of John Stewart Collis, a British farm hand and farmer from the WWII era who writes beautifully...

    https://gretchenjoanna.com/tag/john-stewart-collis/

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