a RAINBOW and then a SUNSET

It was quite a violent thunder storm………then a spectacular rainbow in a dark sky.  My terrace was all aglow in fuchsia hues……..

Even the rose took on a rosey glow.

The DINOSAURS have returned………….to my terrace

It was a beautiful sunrise over Manhattan…..if not a bit strange with a super-dark sky.

With a chill in the air……..that was soon burned off by the sun.

It is sad to see summer disappear………

But the colors of Autumn…..and the gorgeous purple kale………..wow!

 

The frost is not yet on the pumpkin!

The last rose of summer.

This little guy drops in…..every morning.

LUNCH!

This little warbler flew in……and is so confused! He should be in Central Park !

FERNAND KHNOPFF / Belgium symbolist

How to spend the 100 hazy lazy days of summer……….catch up on my Art Books.

This was the first.  Fernand Khnopff.………born in 1858……painter of symbols and allegories.

Fernand felt that painting was an inquiry into the meaning hidden in the “soul of things”.

Two of my favorites artists are Dante Gabriele Rossetti and Burne-Jones………..and Fernand was greatly influenced by both of them.

The style of the “Pre-Raphaelites” is so apparent in this drawing.

In 1892 he exhibited in Paris at the first Salon de la Rose and Croix.

He studied at the Académie des Beaux -Arts in Brussels under Xavier Mellery.

This lavender is growing in a huge pot on my terrace……it’s scent wafting across the terrace.

One of his most baffling allegories is “the Caresses”…….or “the Sphinx”….a revision of the story of Oedipus and the Sphinx.

My next book for “terrace reading” is the poems of Christina G. Rossetti……whose themes of isolation and introspection were an influence of Fernand’s art work.

BROWNSTONE on fire on West 68th street

It was a shock to look out from my terrace and see a brownstone on fire.  Dozens of fire engines responded…….and within minutes the blaze was put out.

New York’s finest!

I went around the corner to see the damage…..but the street was closed off.  It was mayhem.

My neighbors were as stunned as I was.

A young woman fled to thew roof with her dog.

My neighbor, Terry on his terrace……….put down his beer long enough to watch the smoke subside.

But over on West 68th street the smoke was still billowing.

 

 

This is the reason no BAR-B-Q’s are allowed on balconies or terraces in New York City.

 

 

 

 

MY TERRACE in the fog

This gallery contains 23 photos.

Even in the rain and fog……….my terrace glistens with drops of water. And when the rain stopped and the fog lifted…………there was a RAINBOW.

My TERRACE is blooming again

It was a brutal cold winter……….but the trees survived………..as did the roses.  The rosemary bush kicked the bucket……………….. [yes, it was planted in a bucket].

The butterflies have returned……….as well as a few warblers……….I am waiting for the hummingbird.

The Iris’ [ the Greek goddess for the Messenger of Love]……. have bloomed……I will BLOG them tomorrow.

A Joke from GOD

If this is a joke from GOD…….he is NOT funny!  Yesterday it was 60º in Manhattan.  Today it was 17º in Central Park…and colder on my terrace.

My Narcissus drooped…….

My Daffs went daffy.

The candle in my Labra……froze.

My Magnolias [Centennial Stars] drooped………

BUT………my Daffy•down•Dillies stood their ground.

Yesterday when I heard the snow was imminent……..I brought in some of my bulbs………….so GOD didn’t get these!

 

SUNDAY is a Rainy Day in New York City

 

The morning was a foggy mess………..

The DAKOTA was hardly visible………

 

 

My terrace…………wet and dreary.

 

Ahhhhhh……….4:39 and the sun is breaking through……….but not for long.

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014

New Years Eve………..went to bed early.   At midnight the fireworks went off in Central Park………..right in front of my terrace.  The BIG BOOM was the starting signal for the midnight marathon.  Thousands of runners is skimpy outfits took off for a four mile run.

I took these photos from my window.  Was way to cold to step outside [in my “Birthday Suit”].

MY TERRACE IN AUTUMN

The view over Central Park was glorious this morning is the muted sunlight.  FIFTH AVENUE was glowing.  Just above the trees……on the left…….the house with the green roof………is where mayor Bloomberg lives.  He chose not to live in the Mayors Mansion on the Upper East Side during his 12 year reign.

Bow Bridge is in the lower right hand corner. Lots of weddings take place on this bridge.

A friend schlepped this lamp back from Istanbul for my terrace.

The little yellow birdie actually chirps ” Tweet…..tweet…….tweet”!

KALE!  I look at it……….I do not cook it!

Will I use this CUCURBITA to make PUMPKIN PIE?  No.  I buy it in a can at Whole Foods.

I thought a bird might built a nest in the basket!  NOT!  The mockingbird chose my holly bush instead.

Another bird house that was not used!

The sunset last night was wild.  Dorothy….are we in Kansas???  No, but there were 40 horrible tornados in the Midwest.

My Viburnam is not a happy camper.  A CARPENTER BEE bore into the trunk…….ate out the insides………and my poor little tree will have to get chopped down tomorrow.

The front terrace is still somewhat green………very wierd for the middle on November.

Harvest Greenman Sculpture……he is supposed to be related to natural vegetative deities……..springs up in different cultures throughout history.

My garden cherub is sad………..winter is coming and his little butt will freeze off !

The autumn view over the roof of the Dakota……never fails to thrill me.

CLICK ON THE VIDEO:  Sarah Vaughn “Autumn in New York”