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by Sharon S. Furner on 3/26/2010 8:34:42 AM
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Princess Furilla is counting the hours, minutes and seconds until H.esq. returns from vacation. We tempted her with a new friend to play with......
But Furilla found her a bit to quiet and stiff-lipped. Next we tempted her with.....
Sushi, but even crab and avocado did not appeal to her fancy taste. So we sat down and had a little chat. We thought if she was entertained a bit with tales of our adventures it would cheer her up and help the time pass until her family returned in the evening.
There have been so many wonderful experiences that we weren't sure where to begin, but this is what we shared.
Gorgeous Easter candy displays that totally took our breath away. But the pocketbook couldn't really afford these little lovelies, however, we did find a great way to buy candy in Theater Square. We went to see
After we picked up our tickets, we walked the theater district...and stumbled upon TWO GIANT CANDY STORES.
Furilla loved this part of the story. She watched us pack our suitcase with four LARGE sacks of CHOCOLATE yummies.
Because the Princess loves to chase a dangling feather from a stick we thought she would love our pictures of the Flags at Rockefeller Square. It was a gorgeous day, and the flags have never been more beautiful!!!
Adieu, Furilla, Goodbye New York City, we leave you with this beautiful gift of springtime...just days away.
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Wandering in Chinatown without Furilla
by Sharon S. Furner on 3/25/2010 9:07:05 AM
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25.3.10
We invited Princess Furilla to accompany us to Chinatown, despite the rain and gloomy-gray sky. She declined, preferring to stay dry, warm, nibble snacks and be lazy. Thus she cozied back in her bed of brilliant ribbons. Yes, she is a Princess.
We left without her, knowing she would be happier living in her daydreams than hanging onto a wispy umbrella as the wind and rain buffeted us about.
The day started out fantastic. Being a painter, after Anthropologie, Pearl Paint is the next eye candy experience. VERY STEEP steps take us to four rooms filled from bottom to top with every paint supply one could dream of. Let Furilla dream of fields of catnip, I will fantasize at Pearl Paint! Once you step through the grungy black doors you enter a burgeoning of temptations, all the wants and desires and the overwhelming cravings to try it all!!! RESTRAINT had to be the word for the day. And I managed pretty well, until I spied a travel size Koi Watercolor Set. Tiny little thing, hmm very pretty, a little pricey...just tuck it under the necessary oil paints and pencils and let it be a SURPRISE at the check out counter. The very jolly clerk, after tallying my BILL, gulp!, allowed us to leave the package of "valuables" and return for them later....BEFORE 7:00PM. Of course we would return I said. It took selling one whole painting in order to pay for that small sack of painting supplies (and the Koi Watercolor Set which I forgot to remove, ahem).
Now it was time for the two of us to traipse through the tourist-packed Canal Street...on foot, umbrellas buffeting everyone's umbrellas, my open back shoes filling with rain, jeans soaking up street water like a Slurpee straw and then this sudden urge to stop at McDonalds. McDonalds in Chinatown, you got to be kidding. Nope, it was morning and Howard wanted an ice cream cone and I salivated over a hot fudge sundae with nuts! ENTER. Yuck it was a rather dismal, dirty McDonalds but we stood determined in line, then raced outside with our goodies. Ever tried to eat ice cream, carrying a huge messenger bag, camera and clinging to a wavering umbrella all at the same time? Let's say it was a contortionist's act for sure.
Well all of this sweetness nudged us into a certain feeling, an urge for a moment or two of spiritual repose. Walking the full length of Canal Street we arrived slightly out of breath at the Buddhist Temple. It stands soldier-like wedged between old, teetering buildings. It stands clean, majestic...white, red and gold.
When one enters a Temple from the worldly, noisy, bustle of the outside, one instantly feels the warmth like a wool shawl about their body and spirit. The incense, glowing candles, stillness and reverence calms the mind and body. It is a good place to take respite.
Isn't this a beautiful photograph, the crimson lotus grill framing an altar of fresh flowers, oranges and offerings. Behind this delicate, red screen worshipers bow in prayer.
Soft music wafted through the temple and a clerk kindly let me buy a copy for a friend who is in need. The funny side of the story is that the woman spent half an hour wanting me to listen to other clips of music, all the time she is speaking Chinese. Sweet lady. And speaking of ladies, just outside the temple I tried to discreetly take this photo....another side of NY.
What a revealing picture of determination and concentration. See the ear phones...I wrote previously that most everyone has them selves plugged into something. Wonder what she is listening to or what is in the bags.
Smelling those sweet oranges in the temple reminded us that is was time for lunch.
This is when we got off the tourist track Canal Street and forged anywhere we wanted to go, yes, and it was still raining. So we twisted and turned through the many blocks of shops, vendors, closed down buildings, dry cleaners, tailors, vegetable, fish and meat vendors all that makes a community a community.
Spying a Vietnamese Restaurant, I drug a reluctant husband inside.
When menu is in English you know it isn't quite authentic, and red flags go up. Here is what we dined on. (love to take photos of food with i phone).
You are probably wondering how the bread got on the table, feel the same way. Since when do Asian restaurants serve soft French bread and not rice!!! Howard's
chicken was mild and I expected my curry to be fiery hot, it was mild as baby food! But nourishment it was and I DID succeed in getting my husband into a Vietnamese Restaurant.
It was getting time to go home, we had over an hour to get back to Pearl Paint...remember the treasured Koi Watercolor Set? I was pretty sure that I knew where we were...ahem...but pulled out the gps on the i phone and it went bonkers....got the address to walk back to Pearl Paint...it went double bonkers! So we went the direction I was positive about. After all we only had to get back to Canal Street and all the hawkers and vendors.
The longer we walked, the deeper we got into the Chinese community. Finally in desperation we started asking directions. Where is Pearl Paint, you know the FAMOUS art supply store? Okay then, where is Canal Street? Broken English or no English.
We went into stores, met kids on the block they all sent us in ten different directions. I was ready to stomp on my i phone...Howard was beyond frustrated....and the time had clicked away with each step we took. In desperation we tried to find a cab...guess what, cab drivers take breaks!! Who knew. There we stood next to 20 yellow cabs, the drivers outside chatting. Not one in service. We changed areas, hailed down anything that moved. We had less than half an hour to get to PP. WE DID NOT WANT TO RETURN TO CHINA TOWN TOMORROW, NO WAY!!!!
Truly a beautiful golden chariot pulled up, the driver laughed when we told him where we wanted to go FAST...we told him how we were lost. (typical tourist story I am sure) Then he told us how Canal Street splits in two and THAT is why my i phone looked like a mess of spaghetti! We arrived in front of PP 6:55. I raced up the steep steps found the jolly clerk and he said, Hi, thought you had forgotten to come back and put your things in a storage room. He gave me my blessed package, I bowed a huge thank you. Raced back down the narrow staircase before security locked the doors.
We arrived home, Howard's left over Chinese food slopped out of the Styrofoam box into the thin plastic sack, a huge mess. My shoes and stockings were all the same color from being water logged. We wringed out our pants. My camera was safe and our day was complete.....well after trying out those fun Koi watercolors that is....get this, painted little Indian women in saris. Figure that out if you will.
Until the next adventure...
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Cat-napping (hmmm) Cat-Reading
by Sharon S. Furner on 3/22/2010 10:02:19 PM
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22.3.10
Ms. Furilla does revel in her beauty naps at all times of the day.
BUT
Did you know that Princess is also an avid reader? She loves stories about herbs, especially catnip; birds; gourmet cat food; and CATS.
Before we left for another day's adventure, she told us all about a very special bookstore, Strands. It is near Union Square, not far she said.
So we left her reading her latest book and headed UPTOWN on a beautiful, warm, sunny day.
We felt a tad guilty leaving, but we would bring her back a treat.
New York City STRAND BOOKS is a book lover's fantasy. The store advertises 18 miles of books!!!! The front is pretty inconspicuous, understated, only a few lookers, picking through old wooden shelves of books. Could have walked right past it.
Walk in and WOW this is a book store. Each floor specializes in different categories of used books and collectible/rare books.
I headed for level 2 where thousands of books on art and photography are lodged. Packed would be a better word. The shelves are so full you can hardly pull a volume out!
There is a ladder to climb to the tipsy top of precarious shelves!! Personally I look "low."
Because we knew we would be carrying anything we bought ALL day, we were prudent in our purchases. A lovely van Gogh book of selected letters and paintings for 15.00.
Van Gogh in Arles--4.95!
Wow what a bargain. Furilla was correct, it was a bookstore like non other.
All that work sent us straight to another hot dog vendor.
The really old fashion hot dog vendors are almost extinct. This is as close as I have found. Today most vendors are high tech, lots of ethnic food, and the size of a small kitchen on wheels. No nostalgia involved, not even chopped onion and pickles for one's hotdog.!
This photo is an ode to what used to be. Hope he is successful!
Princess wanted to make sure we attended mass at St.
Patrick's Cathedral.
We knew we were close when we watched some nuns scurry across the street toward St. Patrick's.
Perhaps a thousand people were in the cathedral. We stood at the back as we were late. Very difficult to get discreet photos, but we did want you to get a peek inside this beautiful cathedral, with such a rich history.
It was lovely to light a candle for someone whom we know is in need of special prayers. It was the only candle glowing and brought a feeling of peace.
Our thoughts while leaving St. Patrick's was of gratitude that we had attended.
Going from the sacred to the profane in a few short blocks
we found ourselves in the Anthropologie flagship store!!!!
This is by far my favorite store of stores. I had already felt like I was in Heav
en at St. Patrick's but this was floating on the clouds of imagination. Few stores are as clever, intriguing, creative and out-of-this world than Anthropologie.
Howard patiently waited while I took close to 40 photos. It is really quite amazing that security didn't stop me, but they let me be. Many photos will be uploaded to ofoto, let me know if you would like the link. Enjoy the following pictures and maybe float on a few clouds yourself.
  
 
....and the outside windows are unbelievable.
Before we headed home we found the perfect present for Princess Furilla....which would you choose for her?
A Princess Chair or Jewels?
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Ms. Furilla, Day Two
by on 3/21/2010 8:12:32 AM
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21.3.10
Ms. Furilla slept well as a well bred cat should, took her tummy pills rather nicely then proceeded to take her beauty nap. We used the time to plot the day's activities.
Our agenda was larger than our energy and we did about half of what was planned. But that is okay, just leaves more for tomorrow.
First we found a Princess cup for You Know Who......PINK no less. I believe I forgot to tell you that Princess Furilla dines on china. So this Princess cup is perfect.
Now if you are wondering why I have steam coming out of my head?
We were half way to Ground Zero at the World's Trade Center when I remembered I had left the camera batteries charging in the bathroom!! Guess who walked all the way back to retrieve them?
Once the steam cooled down we couldn't MISS this huge metal sculpture.
To tell you the truth I have no idea what this is...what do you think. It looks different from various angles. Is Howard attempting to fly a huge helium balloon?
Speaking of helium balloons, we spotted this woman looking way way high, we also had to turn and see what she was looking at.
This is the Number One building at Ground Zero. We were here two years ago and it was still a pit in the ground. The architecture will be different from the original building.
For nearly a year after the 2001 attack on the World Trade Center, St. Paul's Chapel served as a relief mission for recovery workers at Ground Zero. Over 14,000 volunteers worked in 12 hour shifts to provide solace, comfort and care for 2,000 workers each day. St Paul's Chapel became the spiritual home of Ground Zero. For many it was the first time they had ever volunteered, and they discovered that one individual's efforts does indeed make a difference.
Men, women, young and old shed tears, visibly over come with emotion. When you walk on these hallowed grounds you feel the spiritual dimension of this horrific disaster. It is sobering.
I love the symbolism of the cupped hands holding a chalice over what I interpret to be the twin towers. If we cupped one another this tenderly there would not be a world of conflict, war and despair.
It took a sophisticated bit of subway map reading to work our way up to Greenwich Village. Emerging from the bowels of the earth (we were four floors under) into the flooding sunlight we were soon swallowed up in thousands of New Yorkers reveling in the warmth and the sun. Happiness was in abundance! Immediately we spotted Sheridan Park, its few benches groaning with the weight of so many relaxing, facing the sun. Howard even found a spot to sit, took a few minutes to relax and do a sketch.
These sculptures reminded me of the dried cod we saw at Whole Foods yesterday, hard, rough, only human not fish. The life size sculptures were a monument to our gay men and women....the sculpted figures were seated and standing....mingling with everyone on a warm spring day.
Gelato what could be more perfect? We yearned for some coconut gelato, but the lines were a bit off-putting. We opted out and headed for a bakery where we enjoyed creamed squash soup, a turkey sandwich and turkey quiche!
Before heading home, we desired to look for something very special for the Princess.
Don't you think this is perfect? Why, every Princess should have jewels fit for a queen.
Adieu
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Ms. Furilla's Invitation
by on 3/20/2010 10:05:14 AM
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20.3.10
Ms. Furilla, extended an invitation for us to come and visit her in New York City.
Now that is a welcome invitation. Our home was sitting idly on the home market, taxes had been filed, paintings taken to a gallery; what better way to use our new found time than to visit with Ms. Furilla, New York City, Princess.
Upon arrival she purred a welcome to her NYC pent house. She posed, strolled saucily past; but was she subtly asking us if she could pose for a few photos. Happy to oblige.
This is her regal pose, she knows she is a Princess! The little striped stocking in the background belongs to her companion H.esq. H. entertains her royally, and loves to snuggle and cuddle and pull her royal tail.
Ms. Furilla loves to not only have HER portrait taken, under kind lights, please, but also loves to see the sights of New York on the BIG SCREEN, ahem THE blog.
Again happy to oblige, here are a few of our first glimpses of New York, on a warmish day....we were dressed for Maryland's cold weather in sweaters, jackets and jeans while many New Yorkers non-nonchalantly walked the streets in shorts, short sleeves and the accoutrement ipod dangling from their ears!!!
Okay, Ms. Furilla, Princess of New York City this is all for you.
Not wanting to leave the company of Ms. Furilla for too long, we took a little stroll.
Spring time blossoms everywhere. And bouquets of PUSSY WILLOWS for Princess Furilla.
Don't you love it, a few steps away is an ARTS SCHOOL for young and old alike. Shakespeare, writing, acting, you name it. Love the colorful Easter egg motifs painted at the bottom of the windows. This art exhibit was of 'psycho-metaphysical ' paintings. Not sure what that means.
Have you ever been in a full city block size Whole Foods? The entrance is the size of our local grocery store back home!!
We were LOST in a maze of color, smells and textures after passing two aisles. We felt like we had fallen down Alice's hole into Wonderland.
Note the tawny eggs all delightfully tucked into a bed of straw.....the peppers with little green stems all pointing out, begging to be picked up, and miles of fresh fruit.
But we were on a mission to find something delectable for Ms. Furilla
Bacalta Salted Cod? Frankly I thought someone had cleverly dipped a whole fish into plaster Paris...couldn't resist touching it. Yes it felt like plaster Paris. No this wouldn't do, The Princess enjoys only soft foods. So looking further...
This is just what a Princess would love, two huge aisles of beautifully displayed FRESH fish. Every swimmy fish one could dream of ever eating.
Turning the corner we felt we had stumbled upon a Provence market. Olives of every possible type, flavor, color, texture, saltiness and pungency...forget the fish this salty snack was perfect. Who could not photograph such a delectable treat UNLESS IT WERE FOR...................
PASTRIES
Howard knew we really were lost in Alice's world, as he stood, stared, indecisive as to what could be the best treat possible???????
The neighborhood HOT DOG STAND !!!!!!!
Until the next adventure
bon appetit
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So Long, Farewell
by Sharon Furner on 3/8/2010 4:50:04 PM
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So long, farewell... No I am not stopping the writing of blogs, truth be known the time has come to leave our wonderful, sunny home and move on.....(Well after we sell our home we will move on.) We could be here one or two months, or a whole lot of months, it is all up for grabs. But today, bitter-sweet as it is, we listed our home and are now approaching a new path.Never has our home been so sparkly clean and organized. Just visualizing the many feet that will cross our threshold and eyes that will look at EVERYTHING urged us into super-human cleaning machines! I even remembered to clean the air ducts and under the frig; you never know where curious eyes might look. Hmmm, the dilemma, how is one to make this family news more interesting to you, my friends who read my little musings and mumblings. Having the home so spanking clean and organized it needed to be "photo-documented." I have chosen a few pictures that represent some type of artistic merit you might enjoy along with sharing our home that we are sad to leave.
What does one do with a zillion paintings, when galleries close and sales evaporate? Where does one hang, display, store canvases, paints, frames...all the accouterments of the PAINTING LIFE? Maybe a few peeks at our home will spark your own ideas for displaying your own precious treasures.
Twenty five years ago I ordered two pine cupboards...they have seen many uses. This one lets me display my favorite small paintings, books and all my Art Journals.
It is fun to make your art area fun and funky, a little bit unusual it just takes a touch of imagination, a little paint and thinking outside of the box. This is the front half of my studio.
We moved a serving counter from the kitchen to the studio. Having installed new carpet we had an extra Asian carpet...well, I had observed in all those glossy, surreal painting magazines that the really "fancy-Nancy" artists have Asian carpets UNDER their easels!!! Hey maybe it will inspire my painting.
Yes, there is a place to actually paint, big girl style...note the remnant carpet not Asian...love the light that streams through the windows. Utility rolling shelves hold supplies and are covered with sheets hung with shower curtain clips. In this area I usually have three easels set up.
Many many moons ago we bought this large cabinet for 25.00. Taking a big breath of air and finding even bigger brushes I decided to paint it. The painting is a bit primitive but oh my, does it hold a lot of art goodies and memories!!!
Last view of my studio...farewell dear studio, you have served me well. And honest to goodness I never once spilled paint on the carpet!!!!!!! Soda pop yes, paint, no!
Take note of the black shelves on the wall. You can buy them at home supply stores. They originally lined the entire wall, making it so easy to display art and not pound nails for hanging paintings. Alas, one day I heard a huge crash, I thought the china cupboard had tipped over....to my great relief it was just a shelf giving way from too many paintings hanging out together!!
This corner cupboard matches the previous shelf in the studio. Open your doors on your furniture and paint some fun motifs, hang pictures, or collage...then display favorite books, sculptures or cute family photos.
This really large china cupboard, greatly reduced in price due to damage, once held our family china and crystal, but now holds my very best, my very favorite art books, seashells, starfish, funky glass and tiny journals. Kind of like an old British "specimen" case!
Years ago my German Grandmother gave my father the bottom of a cupboard for his own use. It had come across the prairies in a wagon. Eventually he gave it to me to decorate. I fell in love with it and he graciously let me "borrow" it indefinitely! The two paintings are copies of Manet's work by my friend Alice Hemming and me, after we had seen an inspiring Manet exhibition. What is more fun than showing/displaying art by your friends or favorite painter?
No I didn't break the doors on our kitchen cupboards, but I did remove them!!! (They are stored away for new owners.) Painted the interior black and displayed my little pottery-tile collection, mostly gifts from wonderful friends and family. The faux curtains are painted canvas that I adhered with double sided carpet tape and if that gives way, a few well placed thumbtacks will keep it neat and tidy!!
Have you priced professional display equipment? If you have you might welcome a brain storm that costs pesos in comparison. Take a trip to your home supply store and purchase metal tubing, with "L" shaped end pieces with screw holes. Attach to wall....rather like a long towel rack!!! Using "S" shaped hooks hang your pictures. Many times I have hung three down, using wire and tiny "S" hooks. Amazing how much you can display, change and rearrange. We will definitely do this in our next home.
Another piece of discarded furniture. The tiny checks are glued on checkered paper, varnished to be more durable. The top is a painted black and white checker motif. When I paint on furniture I use all types of acrylic paint including wall paint. The key is in the primer.
Having no headboards, canvas, wooden plates and wooden boxes are attached to the walls forming a visual if not literal headboard. The boxes were nailed with a single nail, then the lids put back on.
This is an accompanying piece...not sure what happened to the bottom portion of the chest in the photo, oh, well, you can see the point of hanging art with smaller pieces forming a wall collage. This is our Swedish bedroom for guests.
I show these photos to illustrate the point to not be afraid of COLOR! It is amazing what you can put together. This is the only room in our home that has white walls...really too lazy to paint them. However art work really looks spectacular on colored walls. Paint is so inexpensive, it can be your best decorating friend.
If you made it this far, thank you for taking a peek at our colorful home. Hope the new owners aren't beige and white lovers!!
So long, farewell our fun and funky home!!!
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