New Page

A page has been turned, and this weekend was wonderful. 

 

Alice came for a visit and  to celebrate her birthday (technically Monday, February 4th so - happy birthday, Alice!).  She arrived on Friday just in time for a turkey dinner, some conversation, and TV watching before we all tumbled into our beds. 

Saturday it was off to Troy for the Farmer's Market.  It was our first time for the indoor, winter version, and we got there early enough to be able to cruise the entire market before making purchases.  We had breakfast there, bought some items, and left just as the crowd was building.  It is a trip we certainly will make again.  Then we crossed the street and went to one of David's and my favorite independent bookstores.  We all had a good browse and left with some books to read. 

Crossing the river again, we went to the NYS Museum to see both the Seneca Ray Stoddard and Gordan Parks exhibits.  Stoddard was the early photographer of the Adirondacks and was highly influential in the creation of the Adirondack Park.  While I thoroughly enjoyed the photographs of the Adirondacks (especially those of the grand hotels with their guests, the transportation for those guests, and the activities in which they enjoyed their stay at those hotels), I was most pleased to see some (three) of Stoddard's oil paintings which I'd never seen before.  It is an exhibit worth seeing, and the descriptive cards and placards made both the photographs and Stoddard's place in the conservation of the Adirondaks far more clear to me.

 

The second exhibit, also of photography, focused on the work of Gordan Parks.  He was a black man whose career took off in the early 1940's.  He was one of the pioneers of portraying the faces and lives of black women and men who worked in menial jobs, the unseen faces of charladies and their families for example.  There are also some wonderful photos that remind us that children can find joy in play no matter who they are or where they live.  Alice and I particularly enjoyed a photo of a dance class of six or seven little girls jumping from a bench in their white dance not-quite-tutus costumes.  This, too, is an exhibit well worth seeing.

 

And of course, being at the museum, we had to admire the mastodon!

 

Afterwards we lunched at the new deli, Nosh, on Western Avenue near the entrance to Crossgates.  VERY good deli fare, and all three of us recommend it based on D's beef brisket, Alice's tongue, and my Reuben sandwiches. 

 

That evening we had a dinner of pork and sides as well as red velvet cupcakes all selected by Alice.  Then Nancy called to wish her sister happiness, and Alice was finally able to open her gifts (guess what I made for her. You're right, pillowcases!).  More chat and TV and off to warm beds.

 

Which is where I'm headed now - my warm bed.  I'll save the good times of today including some sewing for tomorrow's entry. 

 

Enjoy your Monday!