Tuesday, July 7, 2015

How it is


With a move and uncertainty in our near future, I have no garden captions to provide. I flip between optimism and panic several times a day. Nights are worse. In the evenings the Frenchman and I eat out here and I try not to talk about the garden. He works under such pressure daily that this unexpected move is actually worse for him. But we laugh sometimes, and often we hear Don Estorbo's boice joining the conbersation, from either heaven or hell, depending on where they have sent him that day (he spends a lot of time in the elevator).

Yes. It helps to be a little bit mad.


Last night we watched fire flies, and laughed every time one lit up.


The purple beans are working hard.


We'll have friends over for supper tomorrow, probably for the last time. 


And I'll be at beautiful Wave Hill at 1pm on Satuday, talking about Northeastern flavors and books. There will be a herb walk and a book signing. I hope to bring along some wild botanical cordials - if you drink them up there will be fewer to carry when we move!

14 comments:

  1. I would probably be more than a little PO'd in your position. I hope you can find something close to perfect. Appendages crossed!

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    1. Trust me, I am. But not everything is bloggable.

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  2. I'm so sorry to be missing your talk at Wave Hill. I live minutes away from it (Hudson Heights) and it is one of my favorite places. Greetings from sweltering south eastern Europe. Gabriela P.S. I've yet to unpack the teak chairs...

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  3. I hope you find something very soon suited to your needs! By the way, it's looking beautiful!

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  4. I'm feeling a bit tender hearted, thinking of our old friend spending bits of his days in an elevator. Miss him still. I'm guessing many of us feel a bit helpless, with no concrete housing assistance to offer you and Vince. Just do remember that we're your virtual community, all hoping that a wonderful option will soon present itself. Thank you for keeping us posted. Hang in there, Marie.

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  5. How it is sucks. You have created this heaven in Harlem and now you're being cast out to somewhere really special I have to imagine.

    Lucky people who will get to enjoy the last supper, though I'm sure it will be a bittersweet meal in many respects.

    Always love, J

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  6. Wherever Estorbo is, that's where I'd want to be. :-)

    Looking at the photos of this place, I have to remember thinking when you left Brooklyn that you could never create a place even better than that one . . . and yet, you did. The next two months are sure to be exhausting, but I'm just going to hold onto good thoughts (big, strong good thoughts) that in September, you will be sitting on a rooftop patio that will have you exciting and planning nonstop, happier than you were in Harlem, in a better place all around.

    How nice to be hearing the black cat's voice.

    Mary

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    1. Oops, meant to say 'excited.' But you can be exciting too. I'd guess Vince thinks you are! :-)

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  7. My little Rabbit Town house is available but it's way down south in Georgia.

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  8. May your landlord live in interesting times!

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  9. If you do consider the Buffalo area, I can help you find a rental quickly. It would be a house and you could even do rent to own. Overall this area is low crime and low cost of living. I think you'd like it, even if it's not NYC.

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  10. Karen, Jane and Anon all said it better than I can. Full of hope for good results and an even better nest for you all.

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  11. :( Long time reader here, first time commenter. I'm in to this blog, and perhaps I have a vested interest in keeping it local (I'm a decade-long-Manhattan resident, overworked, recently somewhat domesticated, but moved to a neighborhood I would not have previously considered in order to have a garden, which is really starting to come together. But enough about me...).

    I think part of what makes this blog so wonderful is the city-bound (and specifically NYC-bound) aspect of it all. The gardening, the foraging, the farmers markets are so special and soul-lifting precisely because they are in the midst of this crazy city that many of us are inextricably connected to. So, my vote (for what it's worth) is please do what you can to stay. Your blog provides respite and reminders of good things so close by in my otherwise stressed-out daily existence.

    There are deals to be had north of where you are, and as some have mentioned, in Queens. Really not as far or inconvenient as it previously seemed (to me anyway). Brooklyn, at this point (in time and price-point), will put you very, very away from the island. Be strong. And good luck!

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  12. The garden is looking so lush and gorgeous, so sorry you have to move. This happened to me so many times when I was renting, because I'd throw myself into making the place look good, so good the landlord thought he could get more for it. There needs to be more protection for renters. It's also sad as its Estorbos last home. Good luck wherever you land, I'm sure you will make a wonderful home of it, you always do.

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