An Autumn Morning

     Yesterday, I completed all my errands, laundry, housecleaning and the restocking of my bar.  Today, I awoke with Lewis--to send him off to work, whilst still in my bathrobe--and decided to enjoy an "early start" to this glorious day!  Sure, I could've loitered in bed longer, but something told me to go out and savor.  Autumn was in the air: I love that.  Leaving the curtains blowing around the open windows of my apartment, I strolled out into the breezy sunshine.  A neighbor's garden was in full late-summer bloom.  Such lusciously bright mums!

     Plucking an autumnal-colored marigold, I slipped it into the buttonhole of my Levi's denim jacket, 

and strolled along towards nourishment.  

     Instead of seeing Christmas decorations as an American indication of Autumn, I prefer to see the arrival of pumpkins and gourds.

     I sauntered to Madame SouSou.  

     Smiley faces (customers and barista) greeted me.  The Egyptian owner was there, and he complimented my attire.

     I admired the display case, chock-full of sweet & savory creations.  I selected a slice of his wife's homemade quiche.  The owner warmed it for me in the oven (not microwave), and he even gave me a complimentary canele... because he liked my smile!  As he attended to other loyal customers, I admired the newly-installed Art Nouveau metal panels that line the eatery.  Such thoughtful details make a small space enchanting.

     Taking the cutely artistic bag that my order came in, 

I walked along the sunny sidewalk...

to my favorite tea shop in the city.  

     Tea Plus Cafe is charmingly well-appointed, run by friendly/knowledgeable Fujianese owners.  (I like the baked goods from SouSou and the tea from Tea Plus).  Candle-heated "wax melts" added a Zen-like perfume to the air.  

Their rear garden umbrellas were spread open, and flowers rustled in the breeze.  Content with my pastry already, I still admired their delectable offering (in such a creative wood display case).

It was 8:38am, and I was their first customer, since opening at 8am.  The fedora-wearing owner/barista helped me choose a tea to match my mood.  We selected "Energize".  How can you go wrong with ingredients like rooibos, cardamom, ginger, juniper, and fennel?

Nestling into their cozy armchairs, I waited while my tea steeped before being served to me.  Stamping my loyalty card (I'm close to a free tea), he wished me well.

     Sauntering along 31st Avenue, I smelled sautéed onions wafting from the open door of a Balkan restaurant.  

The other eateries weren't open yet, but those guys were "advertising" their aromatic cuisine.  It made me notice an overlooked place: something new to try soon! 

(including their garden)...

     Carrying my tea and baked goods, I headed straight (literally) to the East River.  Swinging through the orange gates of Socrates Sculpture Park, 

     I admired the park's seasonally-rotating Art Installations.  It's fun to imagine what is going to be erected, as you visit the park and observe the stages of construction.  

Spotting a solar panel meant that something is going to be installed that lights up or makes sound!  I can't wait to see.

     It reminds me of the time I took a late night stroll to the park, and just as I passed the garden walls, I heard a synchronized beeping.  It was an installation of digital wristwatches--strapped to varied tree branches--to mimic bird calls.  The artist set them to beep throughout the daytime and at 10pm and 11pm.  So, I had simply been in the right time and the right place to experience that unexpected delight!
     Today, the flower beds were a bright attraction, too.

     One of the installations involved enamel-painted metal armchairs.  Designed by Lea Cetera, they're based on Modernist works by the French mastermind, Le Corbusier.  So, I climbed the park's grassy knoll and perched in one of them.  It gave me a nice view of the park, the city skyline, blue jays swerving through the nearby trees, butterflies (still enjoying the purple blossoms of butterfly bushes), jet skis in the river, and joggers on the brick paths.  

     I had wanted something hearty/savory for breakfast and was delighted to discover sausages inside my quiche!  A tasty unexpected surprise.

      As the air felt more chilled, I tossed my trash and returned homeward.  Before leaving the park, I noticed grape vines getting ready for harvest season!

     Walking along, I was amused by these cats who love their "pedestals".  Maybe they're trying to imitate statues?

     Something told me to take a different route.  Turning a corner, I encountered the Astoria Greenmarket, set up on a cobblestone plaza--looking like it belonged in Europe.  

     I loved the booth belonging to Migliorelli Farms.  They are located 2-hours north of NYC in the hamlet of Annandale-On-Hudson, in the Rhinebeck region of Duchess County.  Rhinebeck was named for a colonial Dutch landowner: Wilhelmus Beekman.  The booth had a lovely assortment of pumpkins, freshly picked apples and vegetables.  That helped me decide what to make for dinner tomorrow!  

     Snatching up some Swiss Chard, yellow kale, fennel, celery and scallions, I knew they'd be perfect for a slow-cooker soup for tomorrow's autumn night.  The aromas were earthy and so fresh!  Talk about "nature's fresh", a silk-worm dangled from my kale.  I gently placed him on a cobblestone.  The fruits smelled divine, too.  For snacking, I chose Cortland apples (named after the prominent Dutch Van Cortlandt family that influenced American society since before the Revolutionary War).  

*To see our visit to Van Cortlandt Manor, please click this link:

https://halfwindsorfullthrottle.blogspot.com/2015/11/autumn-getaway-day-1.html

     Out of the ice, I plucked a half-gallon of freshly-squeezed apple cider.  I was grinning as I realized that the Hudson River Valley's apple orchards had come to me!  
     All summer, I had been disappointed by this year's crop of heirloom tomatoes.  Aside from being overpriced at $6+ per pound, none really smelled ripe to me.  Joy of joys, one of these vendors had a crate of heirlooms!  They smelled the way a vine-ripened tomato should.  $3 per pound, too.  I was so happy with that "small joy" because my patience was rewarded--just in time before summer faded entirely.

     Getting home at 11am, I felt so productive.  Playing some Quincy Jones jazz in the background, I admired my earthy bounty, and promptly rinsed the "earth" off all the vegetables.  

(Seen above, I love the garden twine that bundled each item!)

Chopping and dicing, I prepared--in advance--for tomorrow's slow cooker meal.  My kitchen smelled delightfully vegetal.  (Now, all I have to do is put them in the slow cooker tomorrow morning... and serve it when I come home).  I was done by a quarter after noontime!  Bringing a plate of tomato to my iMac, 

I decided to share my experience with you, suggesting that you enjoy your mornings, too, and listen to your hunches.  They often steer us into pleasant encounters.