Wildflowers in Brooklyn

The weather today was so perfect, and I needed to paint so I went over to Brooklyn Botanic.

No thunderstorms to crash my painting today!

I didn't have anything specific in mind today, so i wandered around the garden to find what i could find.

As it turned out, the wildflowers on the terrace by the rose garden and cherry esplanade wanted to be painted!

This was interesting because the view was different than what I usually do. 

It's not traditional landscape.

The colors though--- the garden is so colorful right now!

So, I decided to do something different and challenge myself today.

There are a few tweaky things I wish I had noticed but they are minor and overall I am very happy with this painting.

Also it was really fun to paint! A perfect use for my Vasaris!

8x10 oil

Here are some assorted pictures from the garden.

BBG is a very special place for me.

I have been going there for over 30 years..... wow!

Just like the river, I never get tired of it.

Dance + Dance

Daya is very interested in a company called Ballet BC.

Despite the name, they are not a ballet company.

They are Canadian.

She got to take company class with them over the summer.

They performed in the Fall for Dance festival we have every year.

Daya asked me to go with her.

So, last night we had a nice dinner and then saw a lovely dance performance at City Center.

It's a gorgeous building.

Amazing Islamic design!!

Three companies were on stage- Ballet BC (I liked their piece the best), classical ballet from The Netherlands who did the pas de deux from Romeo and Juliet.

The third dance was a whole production...movie screens, singer,, musicians... it was about tango.

Neither Daya nor I cared for it, and for the same reasons.

It wasn't so much as showcasing dance as it was about a bunch of different elements telling a wider story.

I know nothing about dance and Daya knows everything about dance, so it was very validating we had the same perspective.

*********

Tonight, Daya performed with the workshop dances at Juilliard.

Basically, workshop is side-project dances that people do either solo or in groups.

They also work with a choreographer.

Daya danced to the theme from The Long Dark, which is SO COOL since that's pretty much my favorite game since early 2015, and I raised Daya on it.

I raised my kid playing The Long Dark and the theme ended up danced on stage (well, informal theater floor) at Juilliard.

I'm going to take a moment to congratulate myself on good parenting.

Daya was such an incredible presence performing, as she always is.

She was glowing and looked happy and she let me take her picture.

Happy New Year

My amazing friend Sharon invited me for dinner today, for Rosh Hashanah.

It wasn't seder, just a nice dinner. She isn't religious.

I DEFINITELY need a new year.

I'll join anyone's new year, as long as it is a new year.

So, today I am honorary Jewish and am celebrating the new year.

It was a wonderful, lovely time with good company.

Sunrise Peace

This morning I was on the water again early, before the public program.

You never know what you'll get with the river.

Sometimes it is liquid glass, sometimes it's choppy, sometimes it's basically a landfill.

With big floating dead fish.

This morning it was smooth liquid glass and felt more like a lake than the river.

There isn't much time left to enjoy these mornings.

I will miss it.

Being out this early on the water is a particular kind of deep peace.

Hiking..... without paint

Yeah it was weird to go hiking without paint.

I wanted to bring paint, but my friend (who also paints) said it isn't a painting day.

Even I realize (grudgingly) that we have to make non-painting room for friends.

Yes it felt weird and yes I could absolutely have gotten a painting done in the 45 minutes we spent sitting around mid-trail but sometimes you just have to do the right thing, even when it means "don't paint".

We were up in Rockland County.

It was a nice day.

Good river views.

*********

The group photo......

Daya is cat sitting and sent me this picture while we were on our way home.....

Looking at these 2 pictures, it occurs to me there's some phrase about apples not falling far from trees..... or something.

My Amazing Orange Disco

Oh my god I love the orange disco!

There is a blue one in the boathouse also, it's the exact same boat except for the color, but somehow the orange one fits me better.

I think it's the leg straps, which you need (usually) with this boat.

It is a French boat, so perhaps it is a matter of je ne sais quoi!

I did announce that we are having an affair.

None of my boathouse friends judged this.

It was another 12 lap day.

Some of us stayed on the water til just after dark.

Then there was a very nice impromptu dinner party.

I'll be so sad when the season ends!

Sunrise Light

Being on the water at sunrise is so peaceful.

It's a very early wake-up, but it's worth it.

It's a special time of day with its own unique feeling of peace.

The light was particularly nice today.

There are some early runners out this early; more come out as the morning passes.

I always think to myself how much nicer it is to be on the water than running.