Fairytale Pictures Day 11

Do you remember looking at fairytale books as a kid?  Filled with whimsical characters and make-believe places these pictures get stuck in our minds.  When I was little I loved to look at forest scenes and remember the funny-looking red and white polka dot mushrooms.  How much more "un-real" can you get right? Everyone knows mushrooms are white or beige or brown.  Well here in Scotland they grow their mushrooms just like in fairytales!

We arrived today at 10:00a.m. to partly sunny skies and our friend David aka Dougie pronounced Doogie, was waiting for us in his usual spot.  Gordon and Dougie have known each other since they were youngsters and he is a taxi driver living and working in the City of Edinburgh.  We are prepared for the last leg of our journey - the hour and one half scenic drive south to our little village of Moffat.  We are in a kind of daze at this point.  We  departed Newark, NJ at 10:20pm and flew through the night without sleep.  Altered states!  But we need to try to stay up as long as possible so we can begin to switch our time.

Once we arrive in town we always stop off at the little grocer on the High Street for milk and single cream, known as half and half back home, so Gordon goes for those items and I nip off to the local "deli" for fresh baked cheddar cheese scones, rock cakes and slices of freshly baked ham quiche.  Yum!  Are you seeing a pattern here with baked goods?  Our friend Maureen has come by the house earlier to "open" it up and turn the heat on......it's stifling upon our arrival.   So, "we put the kettle on" and begin opening windows and doors to cool off and I'm glimpsing the garden we've been working on over the last two years.  I'm itching to get out in it and really have a good look around but by now the sky is spitting rain and a cup of coffee and a sniggle of food and face to face with Dougie are in order.

Once Dougie leaves the real process of settling in begins.  Unpack the suitcases; set up the bathroom stuff; sort through the mail; start the laundry and wait for our groceries.  Gordon and I now feel like we're on a cruise ship bouncing over swells in the ocean!  A little giddy and wobbly from lack of sleep - put an intense light on us and we'll tell you anything! 

Our grocery order arrives by way of the VERY FRIENDLY Tesco driver and I have discovered that our order consists mostly of wine and milk.  I'm not good with the millileter thing and we've got about 2 gallons of skim milk plus the little one we bought earlier and another one that Maureen purchased and left in the refrigerator.  AND I've ordered single cream for Gordon's coffee use but I ordered it in a size TOO HUGE and I've ordered 2 of them.  CRAP.  So it looks like we'll be drinking various liquids while here and mass quantities of half and half.  Seriously though, I've stocked the refer with organic fruits and veggies and whole grains and we're good to go for home food preparation.

By now it's 4:00 and our tummies are thinking serious Scottish food so we shower, change and head off down the street for a pint and food. 

These are just two buildings with lovely plants just down our street.

So a mini-pub crawl seems in order.  Off to the Balmoral for a 1/2 pint for me and a pint for Gordon.  Ah, feeling better.  Then to the Buccleuch (pronounced buck-loo or, if you are our friend Ken, buck-luck) for another pint and dinner.  Gordon gets the "Earl", a yummy steak pie, and I have the Irish Stew which is simmered local lamb.  OMG, delicious and very satisfying.  We skip the sticky toffee pudding and head out for a walk. 

The back side of the Black Bull with the old church on the High Street in the back ground.

A pretty garden.

A scary gargoyle!

Once we got back home we couldn't get in bed fast enough.  It's 7:30pm but oh well.  We fall into deep sleep immediately and the phone starts ringing.  Apparently we are more popular here than back home but we catch 4 hours anyway.

So day one in Scotland complete and time to try the sleep thing again.....until tomorrow.

Changing Time Zones - Day 10

The day began with a gentle drizzle.  Jillian started back to work today after her long weekend.  She had left without her umbrella but returned as soon as she stepped foot through her building front door to retrieve it.  My plan was to have a slow morning; re-pack my suitcase which I've been living out of since last Saturday; finish off a few chores; play with Sasha, that sort of thing. 

By the time I got around to venturing out it was noon and pouring rain.  You can't really know what the weather is like when you're in Jillie's new apartment because all the windows face small and narrow courtyards.  I had know idea how much rain was coming down.  And the fact that these courtyards are so tight, there is very little natural light that comes in.  From Jill's room you literally have to crane your neck to see the sky.  Her room is dark and she is used to morning light.  She needs more than the small bedside light and make-up mirror light.  Add a floor lamp to the chore list.

So in the pouring rain I walk the two and 1/2 blocks up to the Bed, Bath and Beyond; past the Julliard; past Lincoln Center; cross over Broadway to the intersection of Broadway and Columbus and down into the depths of BB&B.  It's not quite so crowded today and I find what a need.  A ladle; a muddler for cucumber martinis or mojitos; a spoon rest for the kitchen; lint rollers (Sasha has long fur) a coat rack that can be installed on a wall and, of course, a floor lamp.  You've got to love BB&B.

I had two encounters with "New Yorkers" while there.  For the most part I find New Yorkers to be really interesting and fun...not at all the "typical" New Yorkers you hear talked about so much.  Sometimes they just need a little stroking to get them to come out, that's all.  Once in the deepest recesses of BB&B you can take the escalator while your cart rides it's own or you can take an elevator to check-out level.  I chose the elevator and boarded behind a woman pushing a double stroller with a little boy walking behind the stroller.  She seemed frazzled asking the little boy to hurry up and stay with her.  When the doors closed I commented that she had her hands full and she said the children were twins.  Ah, something I know about.  Maybe I can impart some knowledge here - so I say, "oh, I have twins".  And she said, "you look good" "How did you do it" and "I fired the Nanny today and I'm at the end of my rope!"  I thought she looked like she could use a double and I know the feeling..  So I say, "my twins are 20...it gets easier and you'll get through it."  The rain doesn't help and taking 3 year old twins, much less boys, shopping isn't ever fun. She seemed dubious.

As I'm waiting in line at check-out I notice one of the checkers is dour, really dour and secretly I'm hoping to NOT get her as my checker.  Naturally she's who I get so I decide to try and change her mood.  I greet her.  She doesn't crack a smile or greet me back.  I begin to place my items by the register and ask "how's your day?".  Ah, a glimmer of a smile.  I say "you're not missing much outside with the rain pouring down."  She likes the cooler weather.  I said "I had a beautiful evening having an outdoor dinner last night with my daughter and today it's a little cool and rainy and the weather changes fast" .  She "that's New York!"  I tell her I'm from California and our weather doesn't change quite so quickly. She's interested.  "Does your daughter go to school here?" "No, she's working and trying to make a name for herself.  Here's my credit card."  Her mother's name is Sharon too.  "Oh?  She must be a nice person", I say,  "is she a Pisces too?"  "Well yes she is"....big smile.  "Oh what's her birthdate?"   March 12  "Oh mine is March 11".  Now we're high-fiving for some reason and she's laughing and saying how much I've made her happy and she's in a much better mood, etc. ?  Ok, I'm here to help.

Now I've got my bags - it seems I'm always schlepping when I'm in New York - and I'm making my way back to Jill's with 2 large bags and an umbrella.  By the time I get back my tennis shoes AND socks are soaked through and Sasha is curious.   Time to begin the install and build process.  Doh, forgot the light bulb for the floor lamp but the market is only one block down the street the other way so I put on my wet socks and wet tennis shoes and head out again.  It's still raining really hard.  While I'm purchasing the lite bulb I see pre-wrapped black and white cookies.  Jillian mentioned yesterday that I should buy a black and white cookie for Gordon and I forgot till just now.  Magnolia Bakery, one of the best bakeries in New York, is only blocks from here so, even though it's pouring rain, me and my lite bulb head up to the bakery.

Oh the delights of Magnolia!  What to buy and when to stop!?  The choices!  Oh dear!  6 cupcakes, 4 crumb muffins, 1 lemon bar and an apple and walnut scone.  NO black and white cookies but Gordon will love the peach or raspberry muffin.  NOW I can go home finally.  It's pouring out....I haven't seen rain like this since Scotland.  Hmmmmmmm

5:30 rolls around and I'm expecting a limo at 6 and Jill to come home to go to the airport with me.  I have checked and double checked that I can get her through security to have dinner with her Dad and I at this great little Italian restaurant in the domestic terminal.  I know weird right?  A good restaurant in an airport?  By the time Jill gets home the limo is here and she's soaked through her boots and right through her socks.  Even her skirt and the back of her shirt is wet.  She changes and I schlep my suitcase down and wait for her.

It took us 1 hour to get 20 blocks to the entrance of the Lincoln tunnel in rush hour traffic compounded by pouring rain.  Gordon is landing at 7:30 and we're still on the island.  We arrive at Newark at 8 and check my bag and find out that only un-ticketed children 17 and under are allowed through security.   I think that's discrimination and I'm a little annoyed by this since I researched the website pretty thoroughly and no where did it say anything about an age thing but we head to the B terminal from the C terminal to grab something to eat and a cocktail.  I'm actually more annoyed that Gordon isn't answering his phone and apparently his texts either so I'm unable to convey this news to him.  But we finally connect and after a double Grey Goose (mine) and a couple of glasses of Pinot Noir (theirs); 2 slices of pizza and that crumb muffin I was talking about earlier (not exactly the nice Italian restaurant on the other side of security) we leave Jill to a limo ride home and Gordon and I board our plane for Scotland.

Gordon, fresh off the plane, with Jill during our brief cocktail hour!

And it hasn't been a bad flight even though I am the ONLY ONE ON THE ENTIRE FLIGHT WHO DIDN'T HAVE A WORKING TV in front of  their seat!  But the sun is shining above the layer of grey clouds masking the island of the United Kingdom.  It's just after 9 a.m. Scottish time; just after 4 a.m.New York time; and just after 1 a.m. California time.  Whatever zone you fall into I hope you've had an adventuresome day too.


The following pics are street scenes in Jill's neighborhood!

Front of building

Across the street.

Street scenes; left and right.

More street scenes and park next to her building.

The Julliard School

Magnolia Bakery street scenes and pouring rain!

Lovely Day (9)

New York when it's stuck between Summer and Fall is lovely.  You wake up one day it's hot and humid - like you are walking through some film.  Damp and grimy.  The next day the air has cleared from a breeze in the air and everything feels clean.  When you look up the buildings are in focus with blue sky peaking in-and-out between them.  There's a spring in your step.  You are not weighed down by the humidity.

Yesterday was that day here in New York.  With our work in Jillie's apartment almost complete we decided to have a casual day getting personal chores done.  First, where should we try for brunch?  We decided on Alice's Teacup but there was a forty-five minute wait and it was almost noon and we were starving so we changed to Jillian's ex-restaurant  Cafe Lalo for steamed and herbed eggs and a scone.  Again, very yummy.  Is there NO bad food in New York....I'm sure there is but not this weekend!

On the way there we noticed a cute pair of booties in the Ugg store....Jillian now owns them - The Brienne Boot.  After brunch we stopped by Vicky's Secret for new panties; Duane Reade for body and face wash and double sided stickum and a box of Puff's; then off to have her eyebrows waxed and shaped and finally a manicure/pedicure.  Maintenance day!

Later, back at her apartment, Jillian's two roommates return from their long weekends and they are delightful. I met Meredith's Dad Tom too.  The girls were pleased with the additions we have made over the weekend and both said "it feels like a real apartment now".  They just need to get their couch next weekend and they'll be all set.

We went to Tolani Wine Bar on the upper west side at 79th last night.  This is my second taste of this restarant and certainly won't be my last.  The food is a bit pricey but scrumptious.  Jillian had the vegetarian spaghetti (spaghetti squash) and meatballs (grated veggie) and parmesean pasta sauce.....makes my mouth water just to describe it; and I had pan seared scallops with cherry tomatoes and jalapenos.  Two cosmos each to start and a little roasted pear salad with goat cheese!  Delish!

Then we went just around the corner to Coppola's for their Chocolate Bomb and coffee.  Must start working out and cutting back once in Scotland.

So Jillian is off to work today and I'm left to finish off a few more items and to take exterior pictures and just enjoy my day.  After three days of reported rain, today it is finally raining.....a precurser to going to Scotland where, apparently, we are in for 14 straight days of rain and mid to upper 50's weather.  A far cry from the East Coast.  I feel like I'm always working when I'm here with Jillian these last 4 trips but we always manage to squeeze in a lot of fun.  All you have to do is step out of the door!

At 6:00pm we are taking a car over to Newark Airport and meeting up with Gordon and we'll have dinner together the three of us before heading out to the UK.    I'll be sad to leave Jillian but so much more comfortable with her new living situation.....every aspect.  AND I'm looking forward to seeing my husband after 11 days and our upcoming adventures in Scotland and Paris.  AND Jillian is coming home on December 22 for almost 2 weeks and it will be wonderful to have all the girls home under our roof again.

So here are the pictures of Jillian's new home.  It's difficult to take pictures in such small surroundings but I think you'll get the idea:

kitchen and kitty Sasha!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bathroom obviously!

Front door with door bell!

Bathroom on right and Meredith's bedroom on left.

Meredith's room

Wall where couch will go. There's a chair there now and coffee table of Dad's.

2 rooms!  Ashley's room on left...Jillian's room on right!

View upon entering Jill's room

Kitty throne!

Kitty's throne room all decorated!

Utilizing every teensy-tinsy inch of space!

Look at the size of that closet door.  Think "the Shire!"

View from Jillian's window.  Stunning huh?

Queen Sasha!  Oooooh, the light hurts my eyes!

Look at that face!

A princess with her Queen!

Day 8......Forget the Catnip!

So I thought I was being clever by bringing my new "granddaughter" a little bag of catnip!  She loved it.....and she was pretty much high all night and conducted a party-of-one while Jillian and I tried to sleep!  She was on her vanity....her window ledge, the top of the highboy dresser, my chest licking my neck!  Ugh!  Tonight we ARE NOT letting her have cat-pot, in fact, we are hiding the bag in another room hoping for some peace and quiet.

We were up about 8 this morning drinking coffee and working up the stamina to attack the apartment and begin putting things together; re-arranging, hanging, organizing and, of course, shopping for more organizational pieces.  Fortunately Bed, Bath and Beyond is only a short 3 block walk from Jill's apartment.  But on the way there.....how about a little brunch at Bar Boulud.  If you're ever in New York and on the upper West Side....treat yourself.  Another delicious, outstanding meal.

Then off to BB&B.  Here the BB&B is underground.  AND packed!  We didn't think about the fact that the local universities are just in session and TONS of college students were there.  Julliard and Fordham Universities are just blocks from Jill's new place.  The BB&B runs 3 floors underground and in order to take your cart down....or up....you have to put it on its own escalator.  An escalator just for carts....and you ride along side your cart on your own escalator!  Well that's different!  We get what we need and head back to 64th Street and the "process".  We are so close to done and we've done a good job of organizing the girl and the roommates kitchen and bath area.  Her roommates are both gone this weekend and will, hopefully, be happy when they return.

We are hoping that tomorrow we can walk the Hudson along Riverside Park, which is only a block and 1/2 from Jillie, and truly a beautiful walk.  Or maybe we'll hit the The Highline.

Tonight we are exhausted, AGAIN, and instead of going out in NYC we made minestrone soup, crusty bread and opened a nice Ruffini Chianti and we're about to chill with kitty cat.

Whatever tomorrow holds, I'm sure it will be full of adventure and fun in beautiful New York.  Pictures to follow tomorrow.....too tired tonight!

Day 7 - NEW YORK, NEW YORK

5:30 A.M. is too early for anyone to wake up!  But Sandy got up at 5:38a.m. so, I'm up and thinking about the journey ahead which, technically isn't very far but you still have to go through the entire airport B.S.

You know the movie "Trains, Planes and Automobiles"?  That was me today.  First Sandy drove me the 1/2 hour to the airport.  Hugs and kisses and thank you's goodbye; then in to print my boarding pass (after the line); down to security.  I'm good at security - jacket off, boots off, purse in bucket; not an ounce of fluid, I even take my empty travel bottle of water out.  Guess who got stopped?  Me!  There was nothing there of course, just routine but such a drag.

Then off to the shuttle train between Dulles terminals and up the escalator and then up another escalator and then over and down another escalator and eventually onto a small commuter plane.....3 across 2 on one side one on the other.  I was the one.

Anyway upon my safe arrival into Newark, NJ and after baggage claim I pulled a bitchy female thing!  I called for my limo and was told where to wait.  This is a company I've used 5 or 6 times over the last 2-3 years and it's been entirely hit-or-miss.   Dial 7   can be completely delightful or completely SHIT!  The guy today called me, after I had waited 10-15 minutes for him,  to ask me where I was.  What?  I'm at Newark Airport I was thinking.  NO what terminal?  Bloody Hell, I don't know can't you figure it out.  He's asking me to ask someone.  But they don't know either.  We've all just arrived.  Finally I yelled at him that "YOU NEED TO FIGURE IT OUT"  "I've got on jeans (which are too hot) boots (which are too hot), a raincoat (which is too hot) and I'm waiting between door 2 and 3...."COME GET ME!"  Man, I can turn it on when I need/want to.

He was a very nice Indian man who has been in the country 2 years and owns his own car which Dial 7 takes 35% of.   I redeemed myself by making a generous tip and arriving at Jillian's new apartment 30 minutes later.

Now, if you don't know, part of the reason Jillian left her OLD apartment was 2-fold - incompatible roommate and BEDBUGS - UGH!

Her new place is like a dream come true.  Truly about the same size as the last place but upper-west side; clean, no bugs, managers who actually look at you and talk to you......real life!  A real winner.

Red, red wine.....

Hugs, kisses, quick look around and delight in seeing her brand new kitty-cat Sasha and off to brunch....we were both starving.

Jillian is in the best neighborhood.  Just a little north of Columbus Circle (think Stuart Weitzman) and west of Lincoln Center.  Close to Magnolia Bakery and a positively lovely residential neighborhood.   We had a delicious brunch at Isabella's; Mimosa's, Bloody Mary's and YUM, YUM food!  Street-side, relaxing and a perfect temp......Irene should make an appearance more often!  Nice walk over to Central Park; shoe shopping and then off to the market and wine shop for dinner.

Made a GREAT dinner(after my power nap)  - more organic cucumber martini's (it's my new favorite thing) - organic dinner, 12 year old bottle of red wine from the St. Emilion Region, and wonderful,  casual conversation with my oldest daughter.  Jill and I will always (hopefully) have a special bond; we laugh; we get serious; we speak openly and honestly and frankly and I always feel "home" with her.  So good to be here.

Too much to drink and an early evening.

Tomorrow we will be arranging furniture, hanging pictures, taking trips to hardware stores and Bed Bath and Beyond, and embarking on the usual "let's fix this place up!"  Really looking forward to it.

We'll see what the weekend holds for us.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH SPA - Day 6

Today has been different than all the other days that I've been here so far.  Today Sandy didn't have to rush off to the office.  Today I had no plans first thing in the morning.  No plans other than going to a spa with Sandy and her friend Maggie!  All my days here have been good but today was relaxing good!

Sandy and I started out sitting on the front porch drinking coffee and chatting.  It's one of my favorite things to do at Sandy and Terry's home and I try to get in a good porch-sit at least once a day.  Here's an example of the view:



Front views from the house.





Side yard view.




Back yard views.



The weather has been near perfect while I've been here and it's been very pleasant sitting out front and on the back patio in the evening enjoying dinners.  Apparently Irene was long-winded enough to blow the humidity away and leave us with partly cloudy skies and just an occasional sprinkle over the last two days.  Rare and unusual weather for August. 

Anyway about 10:30a.m. Maggie came over and the three of us took off to Poplar Springs way out in the middle of no where in the hills of Virginia.  It is completely beautiful there and it wasn't long before we were in our robes, sipping fruited water and waiting for our services.  I had a wonderful hour and a half salt scrub and facial.  It was fabulous.  Afterward I joined the girls poolside for lunch and a bottle of Pinot Grigio....or two!

Soon it was time to get back - get showered and over to pick Dad up to go out for dinner and meet up with Emory and sister Shirley who I hadn't seen yet.   We got Dad and went to a nice little restaurant very close to where Dad lives and had another delicious meal.  Think I'm gaining weight on this trip!  It was great to catch-up with Shirley and Emory and hear about their son Alex (he's a senior in the Naval Academy) and to also learn about their exploits staying on their 50' yacth during Irene's visit!  Everyone survived though and the boat is intact so all is good with them.

It's always difficult leaving "home".  I guess I'll always call it home even though I've lived in California since 1978 - 34 years.  Longer than I had lived in Virginia.  I get a little melancholy saying goodbye.    Saying goodbye to my father tonight was hard mostly because I never know when I'll see him again.  I wish I had the opportunity to see him and Mom every week or even every quarter but I do try to come back as often as I can.  It's nice to know that they are both well looked after and thriving.

So next stop The Big Apple!