Summertime Flashback

I'm slowly coming to terms with the fact that seasons obey the calendar year here. Leaves and flowers aren't going to appear on trees until early April, whereas in California trees have been blossoming and leafing since January. In lieu of the realization that spring isn't going to happen until it's actually spring, I thought I'd share some photos from July in California. I'm not going to be going anywhere warm for Spring Break in a few weeks, so this will be my pretend vacation through space and time. These were taken seven months ago at the Elizabeth Gamble Garden in Palo Alto.

Sun Worshipper

In California, I would often complain about the sun--too hot, too bright, the constant need for sunglasses to shield my eyes and sunscreen to keep my super fair skin from turning lobster-hued. Oh, how wrong I was! Though it hasn't been a particularly cold or snowy winter in Manhattan, it has been a cloudy one. And tall buildings = a lot of sun blockage. So now whenever it's a clear day, I scurry outside and try to soak up as many winter rays as possible. It's ridiculous how much getting direct sunlight recharges me and ups my energy level...I feel like a plant.

Blue sky!

It's even gone so far that I'm buying yellow flowers...

And painting my fingernails to match! At least this way I can bring a little sunshine with me wherever I go.

Ahh.

Too Many Delicious Bites

I love bite-sized food, mostly because it allows me to sample as wide a variety of deliciousness as possible without spending too much or getting too full. Thus, I love sliders, hors d'oeuvres, mini anything, tacos, and dim sum. Today was full of tiny awesomeness. First, we finally found some absolutely amazing dim sum! Yeah, it's like forty minutes away in Chinatown, but good enough to be worth the trek. Red Egg, we love you!

Pork and shrimp and seafood Sui Mai! So good, and with delicious, meaty chunks of shiitake mushrooms.

These. Were. Amazing. Garlic spare ribs!

Red Egg doesn't do the cart rolling-around thing, which I actually sort of prefer. I like being able to look at all my choices and order all at once. It's less stressful and more methodical.

Har Gow! Tiny and full of fresh, yummy shrimp.

Steamed pork bun, a childhood favorite, and still just as scrumptious. I liked that their pork buns were small and delicate.

Red Egg is decorated in a red-and-black-only color scheme. Pretty posh.

Crispy shrimp rolls--diminutive and dangerously good.

This was the surprise show-stealer: Lo Mai Ga (sticky rice and various bits of meat wrapped in lotus leaves)! I always really like this dish, but Red Egg doesn't just do chicken and Chinese sausage inside...also hearty chunks of smoked pork, as well as other surprises!

As if the day could get any better....ACTUAL SUN. And actual warmth emitted by the actual sun. Beautiful!

More miniature delicious things: Yesterday Devin surprised me with an early present of a box of mini cupcakes from Crumb's. Today I ate my three favorites, which are:

Vanilla cake & frosting with mini M&Ms, vanilla cake with raspberry frosting & filling, and the Grasshopper (an amalgamation of various chocolate and mint components). Awesome sakura plate a gift from my brother.

A happy camper!

Here's some of the rest of the gang that will have to wait til later to be devoured. For details on their construction, see my previous post Cupcakes on Broadway.

A glimpse into the genius of Crumbs: frosting on the top and in the middle!

More centers, and the necessary accompaniment, cold almond milk.

And that's not all! My mom sent us a treat from the West Coast, something that's always been a Valentine's staple with my family.

A box of assorted See's chocolates! All dark chocolate covered, of course.

And finally, a tiny, beautiful, sunset-colored orchid from Devin.

Church of the Transfiguration

Earlier this week we went to the Church of the Transfiguration, which is where my grandparents got married in 1945 right before my Grandpa shipped off with the Navy. My grandparents are both from Garden City, Kansas, and my Grandma took a train to New York City all by herself to meet my Grandpa before he was deployed. Thankfully, the war ended shortly after, and my family exists.

The Church of the Transfiguration, which is near Union Square and the Flatiron District, is also known as "The Little Church around the Corner." It was built in 1849 in the Early English Neo-Gothic style, and now it looks very tiny and quaint among the other looming buildings on the street. Visiting it was a bit like stepping back in time--a piece of the city from before it was as huge as it is today.

My grandparents in coordinating plaid shirts.

The exterior of the church.

My grandmother by a different brick wall. Check out those shoes!

Interior of the chapel.

This lovely scarf, a Christmas gift from my uncle, is another little piece of history. Here's why:

Check it out! It's from the 1939 World's Fair, which was held in New York City! I like the various landmarks they chose to depict, and the almost primary color scheme. Looks pretty good next to that subway tile, too.

Devin and me in our lovely apartment building's elevator.

My grandparents, Paul and Barbara Ewing. I love you! Thank you for sharing the story of your marriage with me over winter break.