Concrete and Sky

time flies...

The week has flown by without a new update on this little blog and I felt that I needed to drop in, even if just for a moment, and post SOMEthing to make me feel better.

I finally finished "A Certain Slant of Light" and I will definitely write a review of that in my next post. I started the next book in the Kathy Reichs series, Deadly Decisions and will report more on my initial thoughts. I just hope this reading frenzy doesn't quit anytime soon as I am really enjoying it.

I have managed a hectic week at work, writing and posting holiday cards and final shopping for the season. We bought our Christmas tree last weekend and decorated it. The house feels more like the holidays and I love the smell of fresh pine. The cats have managed very little damage to the tree so far.

I am happy to be seeing friends from Houston tonight for dinner. Tomorrow I am very excited about taking part in the Help Portrait Project in NYC. Photographers are pulling together to use their talent and skill to take portraits for families in need. Each family will receive a free 8x10 portrait.  It feels good to give back to the community.  You can read more about the project here.

Gotta run but hope everyone has a great weekend!

 

surprises...

I love surprises. Who doesn't?!  When I returned from our trip there was a slip letting me know a package was waiting for me at the post office (we have tiny little mailboxes here in NY!). I was smiling when I saw it was from Iliana. In my little box was the cutest camera key chain (it makes a shutter sound and flashes when you press the button) and a lovely photo album that looks like the exterior of an old camera (see photo). I am lucky to have such a thoughtful friend!!

I am about 50 pages into A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb and really enjoying it. It is beautifully written - has very lyrical like prose. I think it is also quite an original take on a ghost story entwined with star crossed lovers. A page turner so far.  I will report back when I have finally finish.

I can hardly believe that Christmas is almost here. I swear it sneaks up on me every year. I need to work on holiday cards and a little shopping.  We are off to buy a tree this weekend and decorate the house. We are planning a visit to see the tree at Rockefeller Center.  It really is spectacular and festive.

I am also excited about an exhibition currently at the MoMA on Tim Burton. The exhibition consists of drawings, paintings, photographs, moving images, conceptual art, storyboards, puppets, maquettes, costumes, and cinematic ephemera. Should be a really fun. 

They also have a few other exhibits of interest as well - New Photography 2009, In Situ: Architecture and Landscape, Bauhaus 1919–1933: Workshops for Modernity. It will be great to visit since we have not been in a long time.

It has been a really long day so I am going to wrap this up here and will be back later with more news.

post holiday...

We had a lovely time in Vermont and arrived back home on Saturday. The house we rented was really beautiful and comfortable. The village of Woodstock and the surrounding area was charming. Vermont reminds me of England in many ways. Historical homes and restaurants, rolling hills and farms. We did plenty of relaxing, reading by warm fires and exploring. My only wish was the weather would have been a little nicer for taking photographs.  We managed to visit Enfield Shaker Museum and Sugarbush Farm and see friends who live in Vermont about an hour from where we were staying. My husband even participated in a Turkey Trot Run on Thanksgiving day where the proceeds went towards a local charity. We cooked a lovely meal and remembered what we were thankful for.

It was a lovely holiday.  I managed to finish my book Death Du Jour by Kathy Reichs.  I am really enjoying her books and so I have ordered the next two in the series - Deadly Decisions and Fatal Voyage. 

Speaking of books, before we went away I received two wonderful gifts from friends for my birthday. Claire sent me Through the Lens - National Geographic Greatest Photographs and Calvin sent me a signed copy of Rodney Smith's The Book of Books (and there was even a signed card inside from Rodney Smith wishing me a Happy Birthday).  I will be drawing inspiration from these books and I am blessed to have such thoughtful friends. Thank you so much!!

I am going to keep this post a little short.  I have a few things to get done this evening and then it is back to the work week. I am going to crack open a new book to read as well, A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb.

Hope everyone has a good start to the week!