Weekly recap

It's been an odd day, waiting for Hurricane Sandy to really really really hit us. Sandy is sort of here already, but so far it's just rather heavy rain and wind -- and waiting, and listening to newscasters warn us all of impending doom. My workplace is closed today and tomorrow, so I spent the day working from home, which is nice.

I may or may not have storm photos later, but for now I'll just catch up on what has been happening over the past week.

Neil and I saw Verdi's Requiem at the Kimmel Center last Sunday.

The scheduled soprano was out due to allergies, so there was a substitute, Angela Meade, who was fantastic. At the end of the concert the conductor knelt before her on one knee while the audience went wild with cheers.

After the concert, we headed to our old haunt, the Perch Pub, for food and drink (and thanks to a gift card from a thoughtful friend in Illinois!).

Isn't that drink pretty? It's the Saint Nick of Port Richmond, described in the drinks menu behind the glass.

Our bartender/server was very nice. He asked us, after we had exchanged just a few words, "Where are you from?" I replied, "Willow Grove," and he followed up with, "But you didn't grow up there, did you?"

"No, we both grew up in the midwest, in the Chicago area."

"I could tell by the way you pronounce your vowels."

This surprised me, since I don't detect any accent when I speak. It turns out he is a recent graduate of acting school, and had studied American dialects. He's currently working in a small indie production. You can see him reflected in the bar mirror below.

So that was the weekend. Last week we had wonderful fall weather, just beautiful. As always, I appreciate the gardening and landscaping in the city.

As well as the skies and the breeze.

My morning walks with Mr. Bean begin in darkness this time of year.

Last Tuesday I took a group of physicians out to dinner after work. On my way to the restaurant, I walked through Macy's, where the enormous organ (largest working organ in the world, I believe) was being played.

And the shoes and boots were impressive.

And the mannequins were exhausted.

We ate at Varalli, which is located directly underneath the Perch Pub, and is owned by the same people.

Great food, great conversation.

The days leading up to the Big Storm were gorgeous. Bean enjoyed the leaf piles.

And we both admired the neighbors' ingenuity in constructing Halloween decorations as we ambled round the 'hood.

So that was my week. Busy today moving stuff from the lower level (which could flood) to a higher level of the house, and watching and waiting . . . .

Enchant the land with amethyst

Photo from La Pouyette

October

Robert Frost

O hushed October morning mild,

Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;

To-morrow's wind, if it be wild,

Should waste them all.

The crows above the forest call;
To-morrow they may form and go.
O hushed October morning mild,
Begin the hours of this day slow,

Make the day seem to us less brief.
Hearts not averse to being beguiled,
Beguile us in the way you know;
Release one leaf at break of day;

At noon release another leaf;
One from our trees, one far away;
Retard the sun with gentle mist;
Enchant the land with amethyst.

Slow, slow!
For the grapes' sake, if they were all,
Whose leaves already are burnt with frost,
Whose clustered fruit must else be lost -
For the grapes' sake along the wall.

I was led to this poem by a friend who posted it on Facebook, and very glad I am that she did.

Today was such a perfect October day. I was fortunate enough to be working from home today, and able to take three long walks with Bean (morning, noon, and evening), not averse to having my heart beguiled by the lovely weather.

Autumn 2012

It's fall, it's fall, it's fall!

Cool, comfortable mornings.

Straggly tomato plants on the patio producing the last few tomatoes.

Yesterday I made red pepper soup with a balsamic reduction.

Beanie sat on the kitchen floor and watched me cook. He likes to watch any kind of food preparation, even if it is something he probably won't eat (although he did like the soup).

 And so it goes.

Our modest garden

What a difference a summer makes in a garden. Here is the front garden in early June.

And here it is in late August.

And yes, those are two bags of manure in front of the mailbox - we are still working on this thing!

Tim planted some sort of squash that began as a tiny little thing in an itty bitty pot in June (I didn't think to take a picture of it), and has grown into a monster trying to engulf the front steps.

Although I am enjoying the cool evening and mornings very much, we have reached that point in the season when I appreciate the warm days just a little bit more because I know their end is near.

A touch of snow last night

Just a touch. This has been a warm winter.

Here are the tomato planters from last summer.

Kind of pretty. It was all melted by the time I got home from work. When will we have real snow?