"my" park

I spent a little time walking around Prospect Park last weekend.
It was so gorgeous and the Gingko trees were amazingly golden...I had to go.
And, of course, I have some pictures to show for it.

Camping in Taconic State Park (a while ago)

When I was in Yellowstone over the summer, I met an employee at the Old Faithful Lodge. When I mentioned I was from New York, he said, "Oh, you have one of the most beautiful states in the Union!" Needless to say, this man was much older than me. I haven't ever heard someone call the U.S. the "union." Nonetheless, I think he was right.

I chaperoned a three-day trip upstate to Taconic State Park with my 6th graders in mid-October. The weather was a little damp and chilly, but not too unbearable. The scenery made up for it by far. I had about 30 minutes to myself over the three days, but those 30 minutes were filled with wide-eyed enjoyment of the colorful scenery and the peaceful woods.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I shared the holiday with friends in Ditmas Park yesterday. We had a feast including turkey, two types of stuffing, green bean casserole, biscuits, sweet potato souffle, baked vegetables, acorn squash and more that I am probably not remembering. I topped all that off with (my) homemade pumpkin pie and a cup of tea along with a game of 'Scene It?'. It was really nice. I wish I had taken more pictures, but here are just a few...

Some of the people just hanging out after dinner.

Kathy and me (and the back of Asher's head).

This is Asher, Kathy's youngest.

Australia or BUST!

I just finished reading this book and the descriptions of Australia have completely intrigued me. I have been talking of saving money for a trip this coming summer. I have a couple friends I could visit, but I have this desire to spend months on end discovering all that this country has to offer. I heartily recommend this book, not just for travelers, but for people who love random facts like I have discovered I do (at least about this far-off country). It's a fast read and also thoroughly enjoyable. (Enjoy it Kathy!)

some pictures from visiting family in florida

this is Hannah. almost 1 year old. she has such gorgeous eyes and dimples.

4 year old princess samantha. she loves dressing up these days.

me and my silly sisters. fun times.

(picture courtesy of brother-in-law andrew)

a first for everything

This is my friend Dawn. She's great. She is leaving Brooklyn in December for the 'greener' pastures of Columbus, Ohio.

She's moving to be near her family and her new neice/nephew, for which I envy her, but she's the first good friend I've had here who is moving away. I wonder if this is a trend that I will have to get used to if I continue living here.

I will be very, very sad to say goodbye to Dawn but will find comfort knowing that the same God who brought her friendship to me will go with her to Ohio and sustain her there and also be with me as I miss her here.

pictures to come

I was in Florida last weekend to visit my (now) 4 year old neice, Samantha. We celebrated her birthday a couple times and it was so much fun seeing her, along with her 11 month old little sister Hannah.

What broke my heart, though, was leaving Samantha. She screamed, she cried, she bit her stuffed animal...she was really upset. I was a wreck for a while afterward, even after talking to her on the phone about 30 minutes after leaving her and hearing her definitely not crying anymore.

She's growing up. She's bonding more with me, with people. She's realizing that saying 'goodbye' means that it will be a while before she sees me again. She's experiencing actual sadness instead of just being fussy. It hurts me to know that she'll have to grow up to understand pain. I wish I could shield her from it.