Five Things!

This might be ten things so be prepared.

1. First of all, this was this morning. Yes. Girls are really into matching every.little.thing. In ten years, when they inevitably blame me for their fashion and hair missteps and also the twin-like matching dresses, I will show them this post and say they insisted on it. I also think it’s adorable so maybe they can blame me a little bit?

2. This was last night. Picture Moonlight Sonata playing mournfully in the background and this was the final, spectacular lift of the routine. It was hard to keep a straight face.

3. Telfer and I had a wonderful time in New York last weekend. We went to 16 bookshops but we enjoyed all the walking and just being in the city. Saturday night we saw Molly and Ryan and then immediately met Eleanor who had just returned to the city from a conference. It was like my cup runneth over in every sense. Molly and Eleanor are two of my persons and it was so meaningful to connect. I basically didn’t sleep until we were on the plane early Sunday morning. Such a young, hip thing to do!

4. Buvette is the best and most beautiful restaurant I have ever had the pleasure of dining. Telfer gifted me the cookbook for Mother’s Day last year and I have made all sorts of wonderful bits from it. But actually going was so fun. The wait time can be prohibitive but we managed to be seated at our tiny and perfect table in less than ten minutes (it was 3:00 PM on a Friday). Also, the average Manhattan cocktail has gone up to $16. $16! I had the most perfect eggs benedict and I must confess, was full, and *then* we ordered the cheese plate and ate the entire thing. It was amazing.

5. Also, one of my most favorite things about New York is the hot nut stand. Seriously. We walked through the park on our way to the MET on Friday night and found a nut stand. Two bags for $5! Cashews! I just think it’s the best snack in the entire world. Which is probably why my good cholesterol is through the roof. Sidenote: I went to the MET approximately 52 times while we lived in New York. Telfer, never. He worked pretty hard that year so I really wanted to go with him. We went through the Plains Indians exhibit and did a brief stroll through swaths of the rest of the museum.

6. The bookshops, oh the bookshops. This is where we went (all linked):
Manhattan Day:
Housing Works Bookstore & Cafe
McNally Jackson
McNally Jackson Goods for the Study
The Strand
Argosy
Three Lives and Company
Book Culture (112th)
Book Culture on Broadway

Brooklyn Day:
Terrace Books
Community Books
BookCourt
P.S. Bookshop
Powerhouse Books
Spoonbill & Sugartown

That’s a lot of bookshops in two days. On our Brooklyn day, it snowed both in the morning and in the evening. At the very end of March. So cold! You can look at a lot of bookshop pictures on Flickr if you are interested, but as you can imagine, it was very inspirational to go to that many working shops in two days. I am encouraged by the business we are building and my thoughts and ideas are just swirling around me this week. There’s still so much still to do and build and think through.

6. Of course we missed the girls. Cate requested black and white cookies which we happily obliged and we picked up Brooklyn t-shirts for the girls at the flea market. Grammy and Papa had them for the weekend and by all accounts, it went well. We so appreciate G&P.

7. We took so many pictures at the different shops. I didn’t want to buy much since you know, I own a bookstore now, but at a few places, when the employees noticed how many photographs I was taking, I felt like I should purchase something. These were the three books (one, two, three) that made the cut. Such beautiful books all three. Can’t wait to read.

8. This bag was at the Strand and I obviously love the sentiment. Most of you have seen this on Facebook or Instagram but the shop was profiled on Thurston Talks this week. Such a wonderful article!

And now it’s Easter weekend (He is Risen!). The girls and I are planning to dye eggs in the morning. I am also trying to get it together enough to make a coconut cake. We are gathering with Luke and Sherry and kiddos at Chris and Mendy’s house on Easter afternoon. And as for tonight, Telfer and I got a babysitter so we could work at the bookshop. So glamorous over here. I am preparing to go down there in my ripped jeans and beanie and yellow cons, picking up burritos on the way. Date night!

Whew, not quite ten but definitely more than five!