Photos from a Going Away Party

The night before I left for LA, we had a little going away shindig at a neighborhood bar in Brooklyn. Jake set up a photobooth — basically, his super fancy camera on a tripod with umbrella lights and a remote control — and it was a huge hit! Jake and Tanveer (also a brilliant photographer, as you recall) do this a lot for weddings and other events, and it’s a great way to make sure you get photos of everyone. Sarah and Kelly made props for people to play with — like moustaches, sunglasses, a heart, tears, signs for NY and CA, and letters spelling out FRYE.

The results are nothing short of incredible. I’ve been looking through them all day! It doesn’t hurt to have really really ridiculously good-looking friends, too, of course!

All of the photos are on Jake’s facebook page, here. I’m not sure if you can access them if you aren’t signed into facebook? If not, here are some highlights!

First Look: Monterey Road digs

Hello from my new little corner of the world! I’ve been in LA for a week now (well, minus a quick business trip to Chicago), and it really does feel like home. You guys are going to love this house — it just feels so nice. It has good bones, I think. Here are some photos, but I warn you: We’re not nearly done unpacking! These can serve as “before” shots — before we spruce up the joint, before we even dig into most of the cardboard!

Here is the living room:

The red sheet on the right is one of our huge front windows — that’s there just so folks can’t look in and wonder what is in all those boxes. Note the cool built in shelf on the right, the beautiful floors (!) and the space along the back wall under the window. Doesn’t it look like a piano would fit there perfectly? It’s on the list of stuff to get!

Next, the other half of the from room, which will be a dining room:

So spacious! Erik wants to build a table! Awesome.

Next, the house headquarters: the kitchen!

The tapestry is there because just outside the windows is a driveway people use to access the condos next door. It’s a little funny to look up from the sink and be staring right at someone who might be walking by! Also: note the ENTIRE WALL OF CABINETS on the left! Wooo! Right now, the kitty’s litter box is where the fridge will go (we just need to switch in some grounded outlets so we can plug it in over there), and once we get a stove, it’ll go across from where the sink is.

Know what’s funny? Since merging our two kitchens, Erik and I have NINE cutting boards! See them stacked up there on the counter? Haha!

Next, here is where I am sitting right this very minute. Voila, my home office:

We’ll finish building the desk sometime this week, and I’ll get actual curtains in a little bit… but it’s cute, right? Note the direct access to the backyard! You can actually only see about half of it, it’s actually a pretty large room. About twice the size of my bedroom in Brooklyn!

Here’s the view out of my office window:

Aww. So lovely! Look at all that room for a hammock… and veggie plants… and tents of visiting brothers… (until we get a couch, anyway)

Last but not least, here is where we spend most of our waking/non-working hours:

Erik built that little table, and we’ve eaten almost all of our meals on it! We’ll get some nicer chairs and cute lights or something, and it’ll probably be where we hang out constantly.

All’s that’s left for you to do is to come visit!

Ellen! Steve!

So, supposedly this marmot is actually saying Alan, but…

…pretty close, right?

I dare you to only watch it once.

Secret anagram identity

I have some adventures to tell you about, including eat a plum that Martin shook down from a tree and finding elks in the dark with Eric. (Two brothers in one week, yes! How exciting!)

But first, I need to share with you your secret anagram identity:

Dad: FANCY FINEST SERVER
Mom: REALLY FILCH REFERENCES
Me: MEALY OR FIERCELY
Eric: JEER IF AS MERCY
Martin: ENJOY FRESH ARMPIT
Rob: THE BARFLY SORCERER

I really can’t pick a favorite! Maybe a tie bewteen the twins?

Swine Stock 2009

Let’s face it. This city girl could use more country in her life.

So when I found out that Ronnybrook (the farm that makes the milk I peddle at the market) was having their annual pig roast — “Swine Stock” — I did what any country-starved city girl would do. Grabbed a handful of friends, some tents, her Chaccos, and got very, very excited.

We got there right at sunset, which meant that minutes later the fireworks started. I’ve never sat that close before! We literally laid down and were looking straight up at them — and they filled almost our entire range of vision.

What follows fireworks? A bonfire, of course!

This one was as big as a house, complete with a boat painted like a shark carrying three little piggies. Very “Kirk E. Wood.”

After that, we made trips back and forth from the keg truck (keg TRUCK!) to the dance floor where there was a cover band playing everything from Marvin Gaye to Blink 182, and just had a whole heck of good old fashioned fun.

Next morning, we ran up a mountain…and I do mean ran. The hike was actually pretty steep, but that meant it just went quickly. You could hardly stop and rest, it was so steep! Worth it for the view, though:

Wouldn’t ya say? That right there is the Hudson Valley, an idyllic place if I ever saw one. Second maybe only to The Shire of Tolkein’s imagination. Or our own Perry County, of course.

Then Pete met us and gave a tour of the farm. It turns out, the cows really do come back to their own stall to be milked each time. Here are the spots for Sassy and Aggie:

And we met some calves who tried to eat our hands:

Before packing up and heading home, there was one last order of business: a dip in a nearby lake.

A pretty perfect 24 hours in the country, wouldn’t you agree?

Check out Tanveer’s blog for some more (gorgeous!!) photos of the fireworks and bonfire:

http://www.tanveerbadal.com/

‘Twas the week before Christmas

Going right from Thanksgiving to Christmas without missing a beat..

Yesterday was the 3rd Annual Holiday Crafternoon at my house. Crafternoon is basically where my friends come over, and everyone brings a project they’re working on. The intention is that folks can get stuff done for the holidays (cards made or written, presents made, cookies baked) — but we can all do it together, with snacks and hot cider and a Muppet movie. Fun, right?

I’ll get some photos up soon, but to give you an idea of what Crafternoon is like, allow me to tell the tale of this year’s that I just posted on my other blog (with apologies to Clement Clarke Moore):

‘Twas the week before Christmas and all through Brooklyn
Not a hipster was stirring (are they just too darn thin?);

Christmas trees were stacked along sidewalks with care,
In hopes that a buyer soon would be there;

But though Christmas was coming at a quickening pace
All things related just felt out of place

Fin’lly Crafternoon dawned, long-awaited all year,
My fave for one reason: Build holiday cheer!

Linds and I prepped the house, and put up the tree
Party favors this year! The thrill left me giddy.

In poured the folks, with cold cheeks from the streets,
I tied on my apron and churned out some treats.

Mugs of nog were nestled all snug in our hands,
“Make it Feel Like Christmas!” our desiring command

Katie took pictures and Lindsy typed cards
And Dory cut squares out of fabric, from yards

Ryan designed thank-you notes for his Ma,
Kurt printed cards, ones that left us in awe.

Sarah crocheted, and Nancy’s knit needles flew
Joined by Rach, Kelly, Lexi: A spectacular crew!

Wiley chopped onions, and Kate trimmed the shrooms
Soon dinner surfaced, then the crafting resumed

We had Sufjan and Ella and Kurt’s fave: Jackson 5
And slowly but surely, Christmas love, it arrived!

Still one thing was missing, a favorite of flicks
The Muppets, of course! Turn them on, quick!

Voila: Kermit, Scooter, then Rizzo the Rat!
We knew every word, had ev’ry song learned down pat

Now Gonzo! Now Rowlfe! And now Miss Piggy!
On Animal, Beaker! Waka waka, Fozzie!

Our eyes — how they twinkled! Our dimples, so merry!
(And cause of the rum?) Our cheeks, red like cherries!

The sky darkened, the tree brightened, the cozier we got
Any holiday joy slack was promptly forgot.

The hour grew late, and folks started to go
But the spark in our eyes, it truly did glow.

And I heard them exclaim, as they went out of sight:
“Great crafternoon, guys! We’ve done it up right!”

—

Also posted at The Lovely Ride.

Happy Anniversary!

Well, I’ve been trying to think about what to post for you guys for a couple days now. Pictures? Poems? James Taylor lyrics? Hmm.

In the end, the best thing I can think of is the simplest:

We are so lucky to have you. We are so lucky that you love each other and have rooted us in that love.

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad.

Breaking Travel News!

My summer work travel plans have just been confirmed!!

But, of course I’m not going to just come out and tell you where I’m going. Let’s play a little game.

First hint: This place is on a continent that starts and ends with A.

Better hints (photos!) are on the way…

Indoor spring

So even though I still have to wear a coat during the day, and an extra blanket* at night, it feels very much like spring in my apartment, thanks to these:

Pear blossoms!

I made the flower guy promise to charge me full price because these were the hottest item at the market last week, but in the end he still only let me trade him for milk.

Whaddya think?

*Bonus points to anyone who can guess which blanket that is!